190 Tht Plan of the Ages.
that it is conditional. There is a measure of truth, we be- lieve, in both of these views. An ele<5lion on God's part is the expression of his choice for a certain purpose, office or condition. God has elected or chosen that some of his creatures should be angels, that some should be men, that some should be beasts, birds, insects, etc., and that some should be of his own divine nature. And though God se- lects according to certain conditions all who will be admit- ted to the divine nature, yet it cannot be said that these more than others merit it ; for it is purely of favor that any creature has existence on any plane.
" So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy" kindness or favor. (Rom. 9: 16.) It is not because the chosen ones were better than others, that God gave them the invi- tation to the divine nature, for he passed by the angels who had not sinned and called some of the redeemed sin- ners to divine honors. God has a right to do as he pleases with his own j and he chooses to exercise this right for the accomplishment of his plans. Since, then, all we have is of divine favor, " Who art thou, O man, that repliest against God ? Shall the thing formed say unto him who formed it, Why hast thou made me thus ? Hath not the potter power over the clay, to make one vessel unto honor and another unto dishonor" or less honor? (Rom. 9 : 20, 21.) All were treated by the same divine power some to have higher nature and greater honor, and some to have lower nature and less honor.
" Thus saith the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, his [man's] maker : Ask me of things to come. Concerning my chil- dren, and concerning the work of my hands, command ye me? I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even nrp feandc, have stretched out the heavens, and all iheir ha* feave I commanded. " " Thus saith the Lord that
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