Page 6 - 1022

Will Not and Cannot Elder Mark Green

Brother Cayce quoted, "Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life," to prove his

doctrine as if it were: "ye cannot." The language clearly refutes the doctrine,
because the language is, "Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life," not, "Ye
cannot " I insist that this, "Ye will not," is the difficulty, and the whole difficulty. The

reason that sinners, those that are passed by, are not saved by our Redeemer is
because "they will not," not because they cannot come. The language implies they
could if they would and this is in harmony with the facts and with the teaching of the

gospel of Jesus Christ [F. B. Srygley, a Campbellite minister, from his debate with
Elder C. H. Cayce in 1911]

If Mr. Srygley wanted to have, "Ye will not," as the whole difficulty, then we would

be glad to let him. We would ask him the question, "Why will they not?" Some men,
the Savior said, will not come to Christ seeking salvation. Why won't they? There

must be a reason. The reason they do not is because they do not desire it and do not
feel to need it. Those who desire it, those who hunger and thirst after righteousness,
are in a blessed condition, the Savior said. He did not say they would begin to be in a

blessed condition IF they would hunger and thirst: but the fact that they did hunger
for righteousness gave evidence of that blessed condition. The hungering and thirst-
ing indicated a soul that felt its unworthiness, a soul that already had been tendered

by the grace of God. Those whom Christ said would not come would not because of
the enmity that was in their heart toward Christ and the self-righteousness which pos-
sessed them.