What good does it do to me to tell me that the type of religion presented in the Bible is a very fine type of religion and that the thing for me to do is just to start practicing that type of religion now?...I will tell you, my friend. It does me not one tiniest little bit of good...What I need first of all is not exhortation, but a gospel, not directions for saving myself but knowledge of how God has saved me. Have you any good news? That is the question that I ask of you. I know your exhortations will not help me. But if anything has been done to save me, will you not tell me the facts? J. Gretchen Machen
The Arminian's Address
Arise, ye dead, Arminius cries,
Arise, ye dead in sin;
Unstop your ears, unclose your eyes,
And a new life begin.
Why will ye die, ye wretched souls?
Ye dead, why will ye die?
Quicken and make your spirits whole,
To life eternal fly.
The Answer
Deluded seer! but man will lie
Still senseless as a stone!
And you yourself stand fooling by,
Till both are quite undone:
Unless Almighty power be moved
By God's free will, not thine,
To quicken both and make his love
On both your hearts to shine.
From "The Beauties of Erskine" (1745).