Salvation is By Free Grace, Not By Free Will

If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. - Matthew 27:42

Our blessed Lord was not only crucified between two thieves, but was also surrounded on the cross, and mocked and derided by the very worst sort of thieves, the chief priests, scribes, and elders. These professing ministers of Jehovah did their utmost to rob the prince of life and Lord of glory of that honor which is ever due unto him, of being our Saviour; and, like thieves and robbers, they would enter his kingdom some other way. Verily he is the king of all his spiritual Israel. Every subject of his love will bow to the sovereignty of his grace, kiss the sceptre of his love, glory only in his despised cross, and rejoice that Jesus rules in and reigns over him. Most true, this way of salvation is contrary to the wisdom of the flesh, the reasonings of corrupt nature, and the pride of boasted FREE-WILL. These, by how much the more they are assisted by human learning, are so much the more strengthened and fortified against this self-denying truth, salvation by free-grace, through the cross of a despised Jesus. "Their wisdom and their knowledge had perverted them," says Isaiah, Isaiah 47:10, or they would not have said, "Let him NOW come, and we WILL believe." Poor proud creatures! FREE-WILL is ever the same. Where it reigns it always exalts the creature and opposes the sovereignty of God. It prescribes methods of conviction. It refuses to submit to those of infinite wisdom. Through a life of thirty years, Jesus had afforded them the fullest conviction of their senses, and they believed not on him; neither would their hearts have been persuaded though he had come down from the cross; yea, though he actually did rise again from the dead, still they resisted the fullest evidence; therefore they remained inexcusable.

Outward miracles and wonders may surprize the senses, but cannot work saving faith in the heart. Pride ever reigns in unregenerate hearts, and nothing but sovereign grace can subdue it. Even in hell the notion of free-will prevails. "Nay, but" said Dives, "if one went to them from the dead, they WILL repent."—Luke 16:30. Humble souls are thankful for the gift of precious faith in a precious Christ. They know it is not of themselves that they believe. Therefore they adore and love "the author and finisher of faith," and own it is given of distinguishing love and sovereign grace. Thus all glorying in the flesh is cut off. By faith we glory in the truth and rejoice in Jesus only. "It is not of him who willeth."—Romans 9:16.

Subdue the pride of my free will,
By thy free grace, my Lord;
Strengthen my faith, confirm my hope,
In thine unerring word.

While others tempt, and ask a sign,
In order to believe;
May I rejoice to know thy truth,
And on thy truth to live.

- William Mason, A Spiritual Treasury for the Children of God, Volume 1, December 9

 

Do you have the pdf for both volumes?