Page:A Beacon to the Society of Friends.djvu/89

, that men shall be brought to the knowledge of life and salvation by the instrumentality of man, no well attested exceptions can be brought forward, from the day of Pentecost to the present day, (the case of the Apostle Paul can hardly be considered an exception) would it not be, presumptuously to fly in the face of Divine Wisdom, for us to say, that men are converted without the knowledge of the Gospel by outward means?

Let it be borne in mind, that the question is not what God could have done, nor what it was befitting, according to our apprehension, that he should have done; but it is simply, What is the way which God hath chosen for communicating the knowledge of life and salvation?

"The priests' lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of Hosts." Mal. ii. 7.

"I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were accounted as a strange thing." Hosea, viii. 12.

It may be said, this was under the law. True, but under the Gospel is human agency superseded?

What saith the Scripture?

"I send thee to open their eyes, and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God." Acts, xxvi. 18.

"Preach the word." 2 Tim. iv. 2.

"These are written, that

ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name." Jno. xx. 31.

"By revelation he made known unto me the mystery;—which in other