George Macdonald, Hope of the Gospel

All good news from heaven, is of truth—essential truth, involving duty, and giving and promising help to the performance of it. There can be no good news for us men, except of uplifting love, and no one can be lifted up who will not rise. If God himself sought to raise his little ones without their consenting effort, they would drop from his foiled endeavour. He will carry us in his arms till we are able to walk ; he will carry us in his arms when we are weary with walking; he will not carry us if we will not walk.  (George Macdonald, Hope of the Gospel, p81)