The others, where are they?

The others, where are they? (Octavius Winslow "Evening Thoughts") "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy,  and I will have compassion on whom I will have  compassion." Romans 9:15 Here is the Sovereign! How like Himself He speaks! He carries forward His gracious purposes of infinite wisdom and love—chooses or rejects—reveals or withholds, "working all things after the counsel of His own will," and "giving no account," either to angels or to men, "of any of His matters." Is the reader a child of God? Who and what made you to differ? You have been taken out of your family, your kindred, your friends, your companions. From this circle you alone have been selected, called, and made a child of grace, an heir of glory. The others, where are they? Still dead in trespasses and sin! The others, where are they? Living in the world, and to the world; lovers of pleasure, lovers of self, lovers of sin, hating God, rejecting Christ. The others, where are they? Bursting through every restraint, and bending their footsteps down to the doom of the lost! The others, where are they? Gone, many of them, into eternity; past the confines of mercy, "in hell lifting up their eyes, being in torments." And what are you? A sinner saved by grace; a sinner chosen and called; pardoned and justified; washed and clothed; adopted and sanctified; brought to the foot of the cross; constrained to welcome Jesus, to take up His cross, and to follow Him. Oh the electing love of God! Oh the distinguishing grace of Jesus! Oh the sovereign operation of the Eternal Spirit! Bow down to the sovereignty of His will—silently wonder, and adore Him who says, "Be still, and know that I am God." Oh precious truth! It stains the pride of human merit! It lays the axe at the root of self! It empties and humbles and abases! It ascribes all the praise, honor, and glory of salvation, to the Triune God! "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy,  and I will have compassion on whom I will have  compassion." Romans 9:15