Man is nothing; he hath a free will to go to hell, but none to go to heaven, till God worketh in him" and "you dishonour God by denying election. You plainly make salvation depend, not on God's 'free grace' but on Man's 'free will.'
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the concept of divine grace in salvation, suggesting that human free will alone cannot lead to heaven without God's intervention.
George Whitefield's quote reflects a theological perspective on salvation, highlighting the belief that while humans possess free will, their ability to attain heaven is contingent upon God's grace. It challenges the notion that individuals can achieve salvation through their own efforts, instead arguing that it is a gift from God that must be received rather than earned. This perspective underlines the importance of divine sovereignty in matters of faith and redemption.
In practice
This quote can be shared during a theological discussion about grace and free will in a church setting.
And now let me address all of you, high and low, rich and poor, one with another, to accept of mercy and grace while it is offered to you; Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation; and will you not accept it, now it is offered unto you?
God is well pleased when all our actions proceed from love, love to Himself, and love to immortal souls.
If your souls were not immortal, and you in danger of losing them, I would not thus speak unto you; but the love of your souls constrains me to speak: methinks this would constrain me to speak unto you forever.
Whoever reads the gospel with a single eye, and sincere intentions, will find, that our blessed Lord took all opportunities of reminding his disciples that His Kingdom was not of this world; that His doctrine was a doctrine of the Cross; and that their professing themselves to be His followers, would call them to a constant state of voluntary suffering and self-denial.
The Christian world is in a deep sleep; nothing but a loud shout can awaken them out of it!
What could the Lord Jesus Christ have done for you more than he has? Then do not abuse his mercy, but let your time be spent in thinking and talking of the love of Jesus, who was incarnate for us, who was born of a woman, and made under the law, to redeem us from the wrath to come.
We all dream dreams of unity, of purity; we all dream that there's an authoritative voice out there that will explain things, including ourselves.
What delights, what pleasures does your life offer you that outweigh the raptures of death?
The toughness I was learning was not a martyred doggedness, a dumb heroism, but the art of accommodation. I thought: to be tough is to be fragile; to be tender is to be truly fierce.
I hated labels anyway. People didn't fit in slots--prostitute, housewife, saint--like sorting the mail. We were so mutable, fluid with fear and desire, ideals and angles, changeable as water.
The purpose of all wars, is peace.
I have read descriptions of Paradise that would make any sensible person stop wanting to go there.
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