God’s absolute and irresistible proprietorship has been and is being displayed in the spiritual realm as manifestly as in the natural.

Isaac is blessed, but Ishmael is cursed.

Jacob is loved, but Esau is hated.

Israel becomes God’s favored people, while all other nations are suffered to remain in idolatry.

Jesse’s seven sons were all passed by, and David the shepherd-boy was found to be the one after God’s own heart.

The Saviour took on Him the “seed of Abraham” (Heb. 2:16), not the seed of Adam.

His ministry was not worldward, but confined to the people chosen of God. The proud Pharisees were rejected, while publicans and harlots were sweetly compelled by sovereign grace to sit down at the Gospel feast.

was allowed to go away from Christ “sorrowing,” even though he had sought Him with real earnestness and humility, while the fallen Samaritan woman (John 4) who sought Him not is made to rejoice in the forgiveness of her sins.

Two thieves hung by Christ on the cross; they were equally guilty, equally needy, equally near to Him. One of them is moved to cry: “Lord, remember me” and is taken to Paradise, while the other is suffered to die in his sins and sink down into a hopeless eternity.

Many are called, but few are chosen.

Yes, Salvation is God’s sovereign work.

“God does not save a man because he is a sinner, for if so He must save all men, for all are sinners. Nor because he comes to Christ, for `no man can come except the Father draw him;’ nor because he repents, for `God gives repentance unto life;’ nor because he believes,’ for no one can believe `except it were given him from above;’ nor yet because he holds out faithful to the end, for `we are kept by the power of God.’ It is not because of baptism, for many are saved without it, and many are lost with it. It is not because of regeneration, for that would make the new birth a practical duty. It is not because of morality, for the moralist is the hardest to reach, and many of the most immoral are saved—the ground of distinguishing grace is the Sovereignty of God: `Even so Father, for so it seemed good in Thy sight’” (J. B. Moody).¹