How are we his? By his own sovereign choice. He chose us and set his love upon us. This he did altogether apart from any goodness in us at the time, or any goodness which he foresaw in us. He had mercy on whom he would have mercy, and ordained a chosen company unto eternal life. Thus we are his by his unconstrained election.

But we are not only his by choice—we are his by purchase. He has bought and paid for us to the uttermost farthing, hence about his title there can be no dispute. Not with corruptible things, as with silver and gold, but with the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord's portion has been fully redeemed. There is no mortgage on his estate! No suits can be raised by opposing claimants! The price was paid in open court, and the Church is the Lord's freehold forever.

See the blood-mark upon all the chosen—invisible to human eye, but known to Christ, for "the Lord knows them that are his." He forgets none of those whom he has redeemed from among men; he counts the sheep for whom he laid down his life, and remembers well the Church for which he gave himself.

We are also his by conquest. What a battle he had in us before we would be won! How long he laid siege to our hearts! How often he sent us terms of capitulation! But we barred our gates and fenced our walls against him.

Do we not remember that glorious hour when he carried our hearts by storm? When he placed his cross against the wall and scaled our ramparts, planting on our strongholds the blood-red flag of his omnipotent mercy? Yes, we are indeed the conquered captives of his omnipotent love.

Thus chosen, purchased, and subdued, the rights of our divine possessor are inalienable. We rejoice that we never can be our own, and we desire, day by day, to do his will and to show forth his glory.