1 66 Saint Paul admits that CHAP. 



The illustration of the absolute sovereignty of 

 God from the right of the potter over the clay is 

 an allusion to Isaiah Ixiv. 8, and Jeremiah xviii. 1-6. 

 But does Saint Paul mean this as a full account of 

 the matter 1 Does he really mean that the relation 

 of God to His creatures whom He has endowed with 

 capacity to know and to love Him, is fitty and fully 

 symbolised by that of a potter to his vessels 1 I well 

 remember being repelled, during early life, from the 

 study of Saint Paul's writings by the belief that such 

 was his doctrine. But the rest of his works contain 

 ample proof that he did not regard this as the final 

 word on the subject; and the passage before us, 

 alone, is sufficient to show that he does not regard 

 this illustration as exhausting the question. The 

 inconsistency of the metaphorical language shows his 

 consciousness that the illustration is incomplete. 



Has not the Divine Potter a right over the clay 

 of human nature, of the same lump to make one 

 vessel for an honourable and another for a dis- 

 honourable use, but each for its own use 1 ? Moses 

 was a vessel of honour; he honoured God, and 

 was honoured by God. Pharaoh was a vessel of 

 dishonour; he is remembered for his cruelty, pride, 

 and infatuation. But God had his own use for each. 

 Moses willingly and gladly served God, by leading 

 Israel out of Egypt and founding the Israelite 

 nation. Pharaoh also, but unwillingly and blindly, 

 served God by expelling Israel from Egypt ; for if 

 the Israelites had been treated by their masters 



