Wesley Corpus

For if the mighty works which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for thee.” (Matt. xi. 20, &c.) “The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: Because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.” (xii. 41.) But what was this to the purpose, if the men of Nineveh were elected, and this generation of men were not ? “It is given unto you to know the mysteries of the king dom of heaven, but unto them it is not given. For whosoever hath,” (that is, uses what he hath,) “to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: But whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.” (xiii. 11, 12.) “They which were called were not worthy,” (xxii. 8) were shut out from the marriage of the Lamb :--Why so? Because “they would not come.” (Verse 3.) The whole twenty-fifth chapter requires, and will reward, your most serious consideration. If you can reconcile uncon ditional reprobation with this, you may reconcile it with the eighteenth of Ezekiel. “This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men love” (or choose) “darkness rather than light.” (John iii. 19.) “How can ye believe, who receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh of God?”. (v. 44.) Observe the reason why they could not believe: It is not in God, but in themselves. “Thy money perish with thee!” (And so doubtless it did.) “Thou hast neither part, nor lot in this matter; for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.” (Acts viii. 20, &c.) So that St. Peter had no thought of any absolute reprobation even in the case of Simon Magus.