An eminent divine of the past generation gave, in one of his sermons, the following illustration of the compatibility, or consistency, of the doctrine of Divine election and sovereignty, with the doctrine of the Scriptural Calvinistic truth of the free offer of the Gospel, with a view to reconciling, on the basis of Scripture and reason, the two professedly Calvinistic sections, generally known as Hyper-Calvinists on the one hand, and believers in the free offer on the other.
A minister sitting in his study saw some boys in his garden stealing melons. He quietly arose, and walking into his garden called them, “Boys, boys.” They immediately fled with the utmost precipitation, tearing through the shrubbery and tumbling over the fences. “Boys,” said the gentleman, “stop, do not be afraid. You may have as many melons as you want. I have more than I know what to do with.” The boys, urged by the consciousness of guilt, fled with increasing speed. They did not like to trust themselves in the gentleman’s hands, neither did they exactly relish the idea of receiving favours from one whose garden they were robbing. The minister continued to entreat them to stop, assuring them that they would not be hurt, and that they might have as many melons as they wished for, but the very sound of his voice only added wings to their speed. They scampered on in every direction with as determined a resolution to elude him as though the gentleman was pursuing them with a horse-whip.
He determined, however, that they would be convinced that he was sincere in his offers, and therefore pursued them. Two of them who could not climb the fence were taken. He led them back, telling them they were welcome to melons whenever they wanted any; and, giving to each of them a couple, allowed them to go home. He sent by them a message to the other boys, that whenever they wanted any melons they were welcome to them, if only they would but come to him for them. The other boys, when they heard of the favours with which the two had been laden, were loud in their expression of their indignation. They accused the minister of gross impartiality, in giving to some without giving to all, and, when reminded that they would not accept of his free offers, but ran away from him as fast as they could, they replied, “What of that? He caught these two boys, and why should he have selected them instead of the rest of us? If he had only run a little faster he might have caught us. It was mean and unfair of him to show such partiality.”
Again they were reminded that the minister was ready to serve them as he did the other two he caught, and give them as many melons as they wanted, if they would only come and ask him for them, thus acknowledging his sovereign right as proprietor. Still the boys would not go near him, but impertinently accused the generous man of injustice and partiality, despite his magnanimous liberality, in doing for two that which he did not do for all. So it is with
obstinate, ungrateful, and incorrigible sinners. God finds all, without exception, guilty, and invites them to come to Him and be forgiven, and receive the richest blessings Heaven can afford, but they all run from Him towards everlasting destruction (from His presence), and from the glory of His power, and the louder He calls the more they try to escape. By His grace He pursued them, and some He overtakes. He loads them with favours, and sends them back to invite their fellow-sinners to return and receive the same. They all with one accord refuse to come, and yet never cease to abuse His mercy. They say, “Why does God select some and not others? Why does He overtake others who are just as bad as we, and not us? This election of some and not others is unjust and partial.” And when the true and faithful minister of God replies, “The invitation is extended to you; whosoever will, let him come and take of the water of life freely,” the sinner heeds it not, but goes on in his sins, still complaining of the injustice and partiality of God in saving some and not all. “Look unto Me all the ends of the earth, and be ye saved, for I am God, and there is none else.” “How often would I, but ye would not.” “Ye will not come unto Me that ye might have life.” “All day long I have stretched forth My hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.” “How shall ye escape if ye neglect so great salvation?” “There remaineth,” (after the final rejection of the great atoning sacrifice of Calvary’s Cross) no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for a judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries,” for our God, Who is love, is a consuming fire, in His infinite holiness and justice, against unpardoned sin and impenitent sinners.—J. P. MacQueen.