Messages of Hope and Faith
New Sermons
By
C. H. Spurgeon
With A Sketch Of His Life
By S. P. Spreng
Database © 2009 WORDsearch Corp.
Contents
Messages of Hope and Faith
Chapter 1. Life’s Wreckage Recovered
Chapter 2. The Light Of the Gospel
But One Thing Worth Living For
Chapter 5. My Personal Holdfast
The Exercise of This Confidence
Chapter 6. A Portrait and a Promise
Chapter 7. Knowledge of the Spirit
Chapter 8. Two Essential Things
The Pouring Out of the Dread Vials!
Chapter 10. Personal Responsibility
Will You Separate Your Interests
Chapter 11. The Believing Thief
Those Who Are Ready to Despair!
The Nearness of Eternal Things
Chapter 14. Profession Without Power
No Millennium Till Jesus Comes
A Great Deal of Religious Talk
A Lifeless Possessor in Eternity
Chapter 15. Profitable Mixture
Chapter 18. Precepts, Promises, and Pleas
Chapter 20. The Curse and the Curse-Bearer
Chapter 22. The Marriage of the Lamb
Between the Church and Her Lord
The Antecedents of the Marriage
Chapter 23. The Abiding of the Spirit the Glory of the Church
By Making Them Selfish and Worldly
Doubt Is Natural to Fallen Men
None Shall Be Able to Gainsay!
Fetch Out From Some Chimney Corner
Flood-Tide of His Benign Influences
Chapter 24. Love’s Law and Life
Contradiction of His Revealed Word
The Hearty Love Which Prompts the Deed
Wear Your Fingers to the Bone with Service
Be Installed in Such a Position
There Is Need of the Winnowing Fan
A Trite and Common-Place Question
That Question Hangs in the Balance
In His Soul Yields Hearty Homage
A Christ of Your Own Construction
Look to Him for the Guidance of Your Life
More Glorified by a Consistent Obedience
We Shall Then Obtain That Divine Gift
Somebody has Treated Him Very Badly
That Very Fact Should Make You Thoughtful
Chapter 25. Whither Goest Thou?
Preface
We need offer no apology for this book. Its usefulness and timeliness will become apparent to everyone who reads its pages, containing as they do the ripest thoughts and latest utterances of the foremost preacher of our times. There is food here for the head and especially for the heart. Preachers are given an opportunity to study the methods of a model preacher, and our people will find spiritual food in abundance for their souls—“milk for the babes, and strong meat for them that are of age.” Here is comfort for the afflicted, instruction for the seeker after truth, and help for all who are striving after godliness. These sermons are indeed
“MESSAGES OF HOPE AND FAITH.”
The “Life of Spurgeon” which forms the closing portion of the book will also be found interesting.
It is another illustration of the familiar lines:
“Lives of great men all remind us,
We can make our lives sublime.”
In its compilation we have drawn largely from Geo. C. Needham’s “Life and Labors of C. H. Spurgeon,” and “Stevenson’s Life of Spurgeon”, besides various other sources.
The book is issued as a premium to the readers and subscribers of the Evangelical Messenger for 1890, and as such we commend it to our many readers, with the confidence that it will prove a lasting blessing to all who procure it and read it.
With a prayer to God for His blessing upon this effort to contribute something to the spread of Gospel truth, we send forth these “Messages of Hope and Faith,” humbly trusting that they will brighten the hope and strengthen the faith of every one who reads them.
S. P. S.
Chapter 1
Life’s Wreckage Recovered
Text—“And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten.” Joel 2:25.
The Fruits Of Wasted Years.—Recovered By Larger Grace—I. The Locust-Eaten Years.—What Kind Of Years They Are.—Dead Years Of Sin.—Of Unprofitable Labor.—Of Disappointment.—Of Fruitlessness.—Of Doubt And Depression.—Of A Low State Of Grace.—Of Backsliding.—II. Locust-Eaten Years Restored.—Repentance The First Condition.—Mary Magdalene’s Years.—Sorrow Bringing Fruit In Power To Comfort.—III. What Is To Come Of It.—Satisfaction.—Communion.—Anointing.—The Locusts Blown Away.—
Lost years can never be restored literally. Time once passed is gone forever. Let no man make any mistake about this, or trifle with the present moment under any notion that the flying hour will ever wing its way back to him. As well recall the north wind, or fill again the emptied rain-cloud, or put back into their quiver the arrows of the lord of day. As well bid the river which has hastened onward to the sea, bring back its rolling floods, as imagine that the years that have once gone can ever be restored to us. It will strike you at once that the locusts did not eat the years: the locusts ate the fruits of the years’ labor, the harvests of the fields; so that the meaning of the restoration of the years must be the restoration of those fruits and of those harvests which the locusts consumed. You cannot have back your time; but there is a strange and wonderful way in which God can give back to you the wasted blessings, the unripened fruits of years over which you mourned.
Chapter 2
The Light Of the Gospel
Text—“The Light of the glorious Gospel of Christ.” 2 Cor. 4:4.
Paul’s Perception Of The Glory Of The Gospel.—The One Thing Worth Living For.—What Prevents Men Seeing It.—I. Paul’s Name For The Gospel,—A Gospel Of The Glory Of Christ.—Of His Person—Of His Love.—Of His Incarnation.—Of His Sacrifice.—Of His Resurrection.—Of His Second Coming.—II. The Light Of The Gospel.—A Light Unveiled—Divine.—Revealing.—Photographic—Joy-Imparting.—III. What To Do With The Light.—Look Towards It.—See All Things By It.—Value It.—Keep Christ Always In The Front.
Shining in the centre of the verse, like a pearl in its setting, you find these words. Literally and accurately translated, they run thus: “The light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.” This is the form given to my text in the Revised Version, and I shall follow it, because it, word for word, follows the original.
Paul was a man of one idea. The Gospel of Christ had saturated his soul, as the dew saturated Gideon’s fleece. He could think of nothing else, and speak of nothing else, but the glory of Christ crucified. Important events in politics transpired in the apostle’s day, but I cannot remember an allusion to them. Great social problems were to be solved, but his one and only solution was the preaching of that great Saviour who is to cleanse the Augean stables of the world. For Paul there was
Chapter 3
False Trusts
Text—“Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts” etc. Isa. 46:1–4.
Not A Promise For Old Age Only.—Goodness Of God In All Tenses.—I. False Confidences Passing Away.—The Gods Of Babylon Falling With The Empire.—Their Ignominious Treatment.—False Philosophies Falling Also—The Monkey-God Of Modern Thought To Fall.—II. God Always The Same In The Past.—To His Aged Children.—To All Ages.—In Changing Circumstances.—In Impending Trial.—III. God Ever Will Abide The Same.—A Child Carried Up-Hill.—No Fresh Mercy Needed.—Past Mercies Continued.
The confidence of Babylon is buried among her heaps of rubbish, for her gods have fallen from their thrones. “Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth.” As for us, beloved, our trust is in the living God, who lives to bear and carry His chosen, even in Jehovah, the only true Lord. We begin our spiritual life by faith in Him, for till faith comes we have no power to become the sons of God. Our spiritual life will have to be continued, in the same way of trust in the Lord, “for the just shall live by faith.” We live by faith upon the Son of God, who loved us, and gave Himself for us. We rejoice that we shall never have to change our confidence, for our God will never be carried into captivity, nor torn from His throne. Our faith is built upon a rock that can never be moved. Nothing in the past has shaken the foundation of our faith; nothing in the present can move it; nothing in the future will undermine it. Whatever may occur in the ages to come, there will always be
Chapter 4
Eyes Right!
Text—“Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee? Prov. 4:25.
Directions For Keeping The Members Of The Body.—Persons Living As If In Sleep.—Others Staring Around.—Have A Way, And Let It Be Straight.—I. Let Christ Be Your Way.—Seek To Have Him.—To Know Him.—To Obey Him.—To Be Like Him.—To Win Souls For Him.—II. Set Your Eyes On Him.—To Know The Way Of Life.—Avoid Retrospection.—And Introspection.—And Much Circumspection.—Looking With The Eyelids.—III. Look To Christ Alone.—Not To Secondary Aims.—Look Till Faith Comes.
These words occur in a passage wherein the wise man exhorts us to take care of all parts of our nature, which he indicates by members of the body. “Keep thy heart,” says he, “with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.” It is clear that every part of our nature needs to be carefully watched, lest in any way it should become the cause of sin. Any one member or faculty is readily able to defile all the rest, and, therefore,
Chapter 5
My Personal Holdfast
Text—“My God will hear me.” Micah 7:7.
Confidence In Prayer Essential To Prevailing.—I. The Results Of Confidence.—A Resort In The Worst Of Times.—Not A Forlorn Hope.—A Bulwark Against Despair.—Patience Encouraged.—The Punctuality Of God.—An Answer To Enemies.—Rising Again Assured.—Confidence That Light Will Come.—II. The Reason For The Confidence.—The Faithful Promiser.—Past Experience.—Philosophy Tested By A Post.—III. The Confidence In Exercise.—Leads To Applying To God First.—To Real Prayer.—How To Pray.
Observe that the prophet has no sort of doubt. He insinuates no “if” or “but” or “peradventure,” but he says it straight out as a fact of which he is infallibly convinced—“My God will hear me.” What a blessed thing it is that a child of God knows and feels that this is true; wherever he fails, he will succeed at the throne! If all other friendly ears are closed, his Friend of friends will hear him. Lose your confidence in the power of prayer, and I know not what remains to you. If you are obliged to say, “My God will not hear me”—if that is the language of your unbelieving spirit—the tendon-Achilles is cut, and you cannot stand with confidence, much less run with delight. With faith in prayer you have heaven’s
Chapter 6
A Portrait and a Promise
Text—“To this man I will look, even to him that is poor and.… trembleth at My word.” Isa. 66:2.
A Gallery Of Accurate Portraits.—Saints In Low Estate.—People Who Tremble At God’s Word.—I. Who They Are.—Not A Proud People.—Not Indifferent.—Not Critical.—Not Presumptuous—Not Boasters Of Perfection.—A People Who Believe In The Word Of God.—Are Acquainted With It.—The Origin Of The Name Of Quakers.—II. Why They Tremble.—Because Of God’s Majesty.—Because Of The Searching Power Of The Word.—Lest They Break The Law.—Or Miss The Promises.—III. What God Compares Them To.—What God Does For Them.
Portrait painting is a great art. Many pretend to it, but the masters of the art are few. In the Word of God we have a gallery of portraits so accurate, so striking, that only the hand of the Lord could have drawn them. Most of us have been startled to see our own portrait there. The best of all is, that at the bottom of each likeness we have the Lord’s judgment upon the character, so that we are able to form an estimate of what our true condition is before the Lord. Here you have
Chapter 7
Knowledge of the Spirit
Text—“The Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you” John 14:17.
The Teacher Of Truth.—Works Truthfulness.—Signs Surely Following.—The Distinction Between The World And The Christian.—I. The Spirit Known By Believers.—Through Believing What Is Taught By Christ.—By The Spirit’s Operations.—Convincing, Comforting, Guiding.—As A Person.—II. The Spirit Known Through Himself.—All Other Means Inadequate.—III. A Sacred Intimacy.—In The Church.—In The Home.—In The Body.—IV. The Intimacy To Continue.
The part of the text on which we shall meditate is this: “The Spirit of truth; ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” Observe that the Holy Spirit is here called the Spirit of truth. There is much meaning in this expression. He is the teacher of truth, unalloyed truth, practical, divinely effective truth. He never teaches anything but the truth. If it comes from the Spirit of God, we may receive it from Him without any hesitation.
He is the Spirit of truth in this sense, too, that He works truthfulness in His people. In those with whom the Holy Ghost works effectually “there is no guile;” they are open-hearted, honest, sincere, and true; they have an intense affection for the truth, and a zeal for it. They are by His truthful influence preserved from error. As He is the Spirit of truth, we may be sure that whatever He sets His seal upon is true. He will only bear witness to truth; but He will not assist in maintaining error. Mark this word: careful observation will show that in proportion as the nominal Church of the present day has departed from the truth of God, the Spirit of God has departed from her. He can never set His seal to a lie; the testimony of His sacred operation, in
Chapter 8
Two Essential Things
Text—“Testifying both to the yews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 20:21.
A Puritan Preacher’s Sobriquet.—The Door And Door-Post.—I. A Repentance Not Toward God.—Produced By Shame.—By Painful Consequences.—By Dread Of Hell.—By A Sense Of The Unworthiness Of An Ill Life.—Partial Repentance.—A Cobbler’s Debts Paid.—II. Repentance Toward God.—Consciousness Of Neglecting God.—Of Offending Him.—Of Sin As Sin.—III. Repentant Sinners Permitted To Believe.—IV. Repentance Linked To Faith.—The Result Of An Unperceived Faith.—The Gemini Of The Heavens.—Grow Together.—Increase Each Other.—A Forgetful Minister.
This was the practical drift of Paul’s teaching at Ephesus, and everywhere else. He kept back nothing that was profitable to them; and the main profit he expected them to derive from his teaching the whole counsel of God was this, that they should have “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” This was the great aim of the apostle. I pray that it may be so with all of us who are teachers of the Word; may we never be satisfied if we interest, please, or dazzle; but may we long for the immediate production, by the Spirit of God, of true
Chapter 9
Within the Veil
Text—“Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood, He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” Heb. 9:12.
The Veil In The Temple.—Lifted Once A Year.—Jesus Without The Veil.—In The Place Of Sinful Men.—I. The Sacrifice Of His Entering.—Unique.—Substitutionary.—Personal.—Of Transcendant Value.—Its Reference To Human Guilt.—To God.—II. The Manner Of His Entrance.—The Veil Rent.—III. The Objects Of His Entrance.—To Prepare The Heavenly Places.—As Representative Of His People.—To Perfect Them.—To Abide There.—IV. The Glories Of His Entrance.—The Redemption Eternal.
Under the old covenant the Lord was set forth to the people as dwelling apart, within the veil. A thick tapestry hung before the most holy place, and thus concealed the light which symbolized the presence of God. Within the inner sanctuary Jehovah dwelt apart, and none entered the sacred precincts save one man, and he but once a year. The great teaching was—God is hidden from men; sin has made a division between man and God.
Chapter 10
Personal Responsibility
Text—“Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the kings house, more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4:13, 14.
The Pre-Eminence Of The Anglo-Saxon Race.—Elevated For A Purpose.—The Responsibilities Of Churches.—Individual Responsibility Not Merged.—Four Pointed Words.—I. Hearken.—A Warning Against Isolation.—Separation Impossible.—The Danger Of Living In Polluted Air.—No Man Essential To God’s Purposes.—Possibility Of Losing Opportunity.—II. Consider.—What God Has Given.—Spiritual And Temporal Wealth.—The Character Of The Crisis.—Preparation For Specific Work.—III. Aspire.—Louis Napoleon’s Ambition.—No Insurmountable Obstacles.—God’s Lamps Being Made.—IV. Confide.—Safety Assured.—A Statesman’s Successful Fanaticism.
The appeal of Mordecai in his pressing time of distress was to one single person, namely to Esther. I believe that I shall do better this morning by making my sermon an address to individuals than by speaking of nations or churches. I assuredly believe that England has been raised up as a nation and brought to her present unique position that she may be the means of spreading the Gospel throughout all the nations. I judge that God has blessed
Chapter 11
The Believing Thief
Text—“And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in paradise!’ Luke 23:42, 43.
His Case Typical.—Saved When Jesus Was At His Lowest.—His Power Greater Now.—The Thief’s Remarkable Faith.—I The Last Companion Of Our Lord On Earth.—A Man Convicted Of Crime.—A Man Newly Awakened.—In The Last Extremity.—Could Do No Good Works.—Simply Trusted, And Was Saved.—II. The Companion Of Our Lord At The Gates Of Paradise—Bringing A Specimen Sinner.—A Dream Of The Gates Of Heaven.—The Conversion Of Victorinus.—III. The Lord’s Sermon.—Two Thieves There, But Only One Saved.—The Nearness Of Eternal Things.—Not An Exceptional Case.
The story of the salvation of the dying thief is a standing instance of the power of Christ to save, and of His abundant willingness to receive all that come to Him, in whatever plight they may be. The case of the dying thief is much more similar to our conversion than it is dissimilar; in point of fact, his case may be regarded as typical rather than as an extraordinary incident. So I shall use it at this time. May the Holy Spirit speak through it to the encouragement of
Chapter 12
The Down Grade
Text—“Rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her!” Isa. 66:10.
The Highest Style Of Mourner—A Call To Joy—I. Who The Mourners With Zion Are.—Numerous Causes For Present Depression.—The Absence Of The Gospel From The Pulpit.—The Common Errors Of The Day—The Latter-Day Pantheism.—The Beclouded Holiness Of The Church.—Church-Fair Gambling.—Abandoned Prayer-Meetings.—Sabbath Desecration.—Unconcerned About The Unsaved.—II. Some Reasons For Rejoicing With Zion.—God Has Not Changed.—He Will Appear.—The Church Will Be Aroused.—Men Raised Up For The Work.—III. Personal Examination.
A mourner is always an interesting person. We pass by joyful people without a thought; but when we see the ensigns of woe we pause, and sympathize even if we dare not inquire. The new-made widow, the fatherless child, the bereaved husband, these have a history in which our common humanity is interested. “One touch of nature makes the whole world kin;” and when the nature touched comes from the hand of sorrow, kinship is quick to show itself.
The highest style of mourner is one whose griefs are neither selfish nor grovelling. He who bears spiritual sorrow on account of others is of a nobler order than the man who laments his personal woes. This man has not only bowed his shoulder to the inevitable load of personal trouble, but he is obeying the command, “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” The most excellent style of mourner is the mourner in Zion, the mourner for Zion, the mourner with Zion. If you love the Church of God, you will share her joys; but when she passes through the dark denies of persecution, or the rushing waters of discord, you will mourn with her. Whenever the ways of God languish, and we languish also, it is a mark that grace is in active exercise. Those who have learned this heavenly mourning are called to rejoice: “Rejoice with her, all ye that mourn for her.”
I. Who are those that mourn with Jerusalem? Those that love the Church of God, and desire her prosperity; and when they do not see that prosperity, they are depressed in spirit. At this present time the
Chapter 13
Taking Possession
Text—“Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.” Josh. 1:2, 3.
Unsatisfactory Wanderings.—Near The Inheritance But Not In It.—I. A Survey Of The Inheritance.—Exceeding Broad.—The Limitation Self-Imposed.—The Possessions Attainable.—Assurance.—Sonship.—Holiness Communion.—A Desirable Land.—Full Of Variety.—II. The Title Deeds.—A Valid Covenant.—Gracious.—Righteous.—Sure—III. A Move Toward Possession.—Going Over Jordan.—How Possession Is Taken.—The Bargain Of Penn And The Indians.—How Sin Is Driven Out.—Reasons Why Possession Is Not Taken.—A Hungry Man At A Free Meal.
Under the leadership of Moses the children of Israel had been journeying toward the land of promise. Owing to their waywardness, what might have been done in less than a month occupied many years. They wandered up and down in the wilderness, sometimes close on the border of their inheritance, and anon lost in the great desert. Alas! many of God’s people are still in this unsatisfactory condition: they have come out of Egypt, the depths have swallowed up their adversaries, and they are on the way to the promised heritage: but they have not yet entered into rest. They will, we trust, ultimately reach the peace of God which passeth all understanding, for they have faith sufficient to prove them to be God’s people, and, therefore, the Lord will surely bring them in; but, assuredly they make a great deal of marching for very small progress. For lack of faith they go about, when with a step they might possess
Chapter 14
Profession Without Power
Text—“Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away” 2 Timothy 3:5.
The World To Grow Worse, Not Better.—The Second Advent The Only Hope For The Church.—Surely To Come Before The Millennium.—Interlopers To Be Found In The Church.—I. The Men.—What They Had.—A Form Of Godliness.—Attention To The Ordinances.—Attendance At Church.—Godly Conversation.—Religious Activity.—The Form Sometimes Hereditary.—The Result Of Courtship.—Of Natural Disposition.—Of Desire For Respect.—Or Gain.—What They Did Not Have.—The Power.—II. The Folly Of It.—Degrades The Name Of Christ.—No Value In It.—No Comfort.—Has No Constancy. A Shameful Thing.
Paul warns us of certain characters which will appear in the last times. It is a very terrible list. The like have appeared in other days, but we are led by his warning to apprehend that they will appear in greater numbers in the last days than in any previous age. We are nearing that period at this very time. That these people would, some of them, be within the Church is the most painful part of it; but they will be so, for they are comprehended in this last clause of the black catalogue, which we have taken for our text—“Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.”
Chapter 15
Profitable Mixture
Text—“For unto us was the Gospel preached as well as unto them; but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it? Heb. 4:2.
A Lofty Destiny Missed.—A Grave Instead Of A Throne.—I. Israel’s Hearing Of The Gospel.—A Gospel Of Rest For Slaves.—Of Redemption.—Of Separation.—Of A Prepared Heritage.—Of A Divine Calling.—Of Help Assured.—II. Israel’s Failure To Profit By It.—Clinging To Egypt.—Setting Up Idols.—Despising The Promised Land.—III. The Fatal Cause Of The Calamity.—Not In The Gospel.—Not In The Preacher.—In Lack Of Faith.—Therefore Could Learn Nothing.—Appropriate Nothing.—Could Not Enter The Land.
The people that came out of Egypt were an interesting company, if we think of what God had done on their behalf, and of what He proposed to do for them. They had been lifted up from a state of slavery into one of freedom, and they were on their way to a country where they were to be settled, each one upon his own portion of land, therein to become priests and kings unto God. What an unhappy circumstance that
Chapter 16
Why Jesus Wept
Text—“Jesus wept” John 11:35.
His Whole Nature Stirred.—Confronted With Death, The Product Of Sin.—What Caused The Sinless One To Weep.—I. He Was Truly Man.—With Human Emotions And Sympathies.—The Three Occasions Of His Weeping.—II. Not Ashamed Of Human Weakness.—Admitted His Poverty.—Did Not Conceal His Suffering.—III. An Instructor In Weeping.—In Prayer.—In Awakening Dead Souls.—In Mourning The Loss Of Friends.—IV. As A Comforter.—Experienced In Sorrow.—His Weeping Over.—V. As An Example.—He Wept For Others.—Help Following.
A great storm was stirring the mind of Jesus. We find, on looking at the original, that He was indignant and troubled. We have a very literal translation in the margin of the Revised Version; and instead of reading, “He groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,” we find it, “He was moved with indignation in the spirit, and troubled Himself.” What was this indignation? We cannot think that it was caused by the unbelief of His friends, or even by the pretended sympathy of those malicious Jews who hastened to accuse Him to the Pharisees; but we look further and deeper for the reason of this heat. He now stood face to face with the last enemy, death. He saw what sin had done in destroying life, and even in corrupting the fair handiwork of God in the human body: He marked, also, the share which Satan had in all this, and His indignation was aroused; yea,
Chapter 17
The Promised Rest
Text—“For we which have believed do enter into rest, as He said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into My rest” Hebrews 4:3.
A Promise Embedded In A Threatening.—God’s Rests.—To Be Shared By His People.—I. To Whom The Rest Is Confined.—Those Who Have Believed.—Have Faith In Revelation.—Have Trusted Themselves To Christ.—Are Consistent In Life.—Typical Cases Of Restlessness.—II. The Rest Itself.—Resting In Christ’s Person.—In His Work.—In His Perpetual Life.—Its Limits.—III. The Personal Testimony.—A Positive Assertion Of Experience.—A Minister’s Tearful Confession.—Rest Not Rust.—Silly Boasters Of Perfection.—Obstacles In The Way.—A Parable.
In the text we have a declaration of experience, “We which have believed do enter into rest,” to which is very singularly added, “As He said. As I have sworn in My wrath, if they shall enter into My rest.” The happy declaration is supported by the tremendous oath of judgment, which shut out the unbelieving race. There is a promise embedded in a threatening,
Chapter 18
Precepts, Promises, and Pleas
“Text—“Incline your ear, and come unto Me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.” Isa. 55:3.
A Broad Invitation.—Objections Met.—I. Two Saving Precepts.—Inclined Ears.—Listening And Considering.—The People In Lucknow Listening For The Bagpipes.—Coming Enjoined.—How To Come.—II. Two Saving Promises.—Life And Covenant.—What David’s Mercies Are.—Mercies To A Man Of Many Faults.—III. The Saving Pleas.—Personal.—Urgent.—Magnanimous.—Powerful.—Effective.
This very memorable chapter may be called God’s own Gospel-sermon. In reading it we forget Isaiah, and only remember Jehovah. He speaketh not here by the prophet, but in the first person. God Himself saith, “Incline your ear, and come unto Me.” Now we value every single word of Holy Writ, but especially those words which come direct from the mouth of God Himself; not so much spoken for Him as by Him. Take heed that ye turn not away from Him that speaketh from heaven. These are not my words, but the words of the living God; it is not I that invite your attention to myself; but your Maker, your God, saith to you, “Incline your ear, and come unto Me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.”
From the very beginning, this chapter is a loving pleading with sinners: it is a lifting of stumbling-blocks, and a
Chapter 19
An Impious Taunt
Text—“He trusted in God: let Him deliver Him now, if He will have Him; for He said, I am the Son of God.” Matt. 27:43.
The Sin Bearer Taunted.—I. The Acknowledgment Of His Faith.—The Mockers Said He Trusted In God.—How They Knew.—By His Life.—A Personal Faith.—Makes Men Strong.—The Mentonese And The Prince Of Monaco.—II. The Test The Essence Of The Taunt.—Logical.—An Item For The Devil’s Gazette.—A Brave Patient In Guy’s Hospital.—All Faith Must Be Tried.—III. The Answer.—God Does Deliver.—By Sustaining.—In His Own Way.
It is very painful to the heart to picture our blessed Master in His death-agonies, surrounded by a ribald multitude, who watched Him and mocked Him, made sport of His prayer and insulted His faith. Nothing was sacred to them: they invaded the Holy of Holies of His confidence in God, and taunted Him concerning that faith in Jehovah which they were compelled to admit. Beloved, the treatment of our Lord Jesus Christ by men is the clearest proof of total depravity which can possibly be required or discovered. Those must be stony hearts indeed which can laugh at a dying Saviour, and
Chapter 20
The Curse and the Curse-Bearer
Text—“For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse.… Christ hath redeemed us from, the curse of the law, being made a curse for us. Galatians 3:10–14.
The Gospel Preached To Abraham.—Came To Him By Faith.—I. The Blessing Not Attainable By Works Of The Law.—All Men Under The Law By Nature.—No Exemption On Account Of Rank.—Or General Obedience.—Or Church Attendance.—II. The Blessing For Those Who Are Of Faith.—Redeemed And Changed—Receive The Blessings Of Abraham.—Justification.—The Promise.—Practical Advise.—An Unfashionable Preacher.
The apostle tells us, in the eighth verse, that the Gospel was preached to Abraham. Very briefly, very tersely, but very fully, was the Gospel proclaimed to him in these words, “In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” The true Gospel is no new thing, it is as old as the hills. It was heard in Eden ere man was driven from the garden, and it has since been repeated in sundry ways and in divers places even to this day. Oh that its very antiquity would lead men to venerate it, and then to listen to its voice! It is “Gospel,” or good news—the best of news for fallen men. Oh that they would receive it with gladness!
Chapter 21
Foundation Work
Text—“And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones and hewed stones to lay the foundation of the house.” 1 Kings 5:17.
A Common Mistake In Building.—The Foundation The First Concern.—Though It Is Out Of Sight.—I. God’s Method.—In Creation.—The Foundation Laid Millions Of Years Before Adam.—The Coal In The Cellar.—In Providence.—Mathew Arnold’s Perception Of The Power.—In Redemption.—Jesus The Sure Foundation.—II. The Believer’s Method.—The Private Conflict.—Artesian Grace.—In The Building Of A Church.—In The Sunday-School.—A Dog’s Signature On A Brick.—Ungilded Patches On A Wall.—III. A Wise Method.—Every Building To Be Tested By Fire.
Solomon began to build the temple at the foundation. You smile, and wonder how he could have begun anywhere else. Ah, dear friends! I wish common-sense ruled people in religion as well as in building temples; for many brethren begin their building at the top: To baptize an unbeliever is laying the topstone before the foundation. To gather into church fellowship those who are not gathered to Christ, is attempting to pile on the roof before there are any walls. For any of you to make a profession of religion without being born again, is building the third story before there is any basement. How much we have in this world of
Chapter 22
The Marriage of the Lamb
Text—“The marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white; for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.” Rev. 19:7, 8.
Christ As A Lamb.—Seen On Earth Taking Away Sins.—In Heaven Glorified.—Implies That Sacrifice Is The Essential Quality.—I The Antecedents Of The Marriage.—Destruction Of The Harlot Church.—A Peculiar Voice.—The Response.—II. The Marriage Itself.—The Result Of Eternal Gift.—The Completion Of Betrothal.—The Perfecting Of The Church.—The Home-Bringing—III. The Bridegroom.—IV. The Preparation Of The Bride.
Do not forget that, whenever we read of Christ as a Lamb, it is to remind us of His suffering and death in our room and place and stead, for the putting away of our sin. Under that character we looked to Him, some of us, years ago, and found peace at the first. We are still looking to Him under that same character; and when we attain to heaven, we shall not have to change our thought of Him, but we shall still see Him as a Lamb that has been slain. In our lowest place, when we came out of the Egypt of our bondage, He was the Lamb of God’s passover; and in our highest place, in the heavenly temple, we shall still regard Him as “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” This morning my principal aim shall be to show you that the blessed and glorious union, which is to be celebrated
Chapter 23
The Abiding of the Spirit the Glory of the Church
Text—Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the Lord; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the Lord, and work: for L am with you, saith the Lord of hosts; according to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so My spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not.” Haggai 2:4–5.
Satan Hindering The Work Of God.—The Evils Of The Devil.—I. Discouragement Forbidden.—Discouragement Is Weakening—II. Encouragement Imparted.—The Spirit Is With Us.—To Raise Up Other Useful Men.—To Move The Whole Church.—Flood Tide Of Spiritual Influence.—Shaking The Hosts Of Unbelief.—The Black Horse In The Sea.—III. Encouragement Further Applied.
Satan is always doing his utmost to stay the work of God. He hindered these Jews from building the temple; and today he endeavors to hinder the people of God from spreading the Gospel. A spiritual temple is to be builded for the Most High, and if by any means the evil one can delay its uprising he will stick at nothing; if he can take us off from working with faith and courage for the glory of God, he will be sure to do it. He is very cunning, and knows how to change his argument and yet keep to his design; little cares he how he works, so long as he can hurt the cause of God. In the case of the Jewish people on their return from captivity he sought to prevent the building of the temple
Chapter 24
Love’s Law and Life
Text—“If ye love Me, keep My commandments”—John 14:15.
A Chapter Full Of Ifs.—Uncertainty About Our Prayers.—A Serious If.—Love Prompts The Deed.—Love The Chief Jewel.—See To Your Own Heart.—A Judicious Test.—No Fanatical Challenge.—Jesus Glorified By Consistent Obedience.—True Love Will Endure This Test.—“I Do Not Love The Lord Jesus.”
This is a chapter singularly full of certainties, and remarkably studded with ifs. Concerning most of the great things in it there never can be an “if”; and yet “if” comes up, I think, no less than seven times in the chapter: and “if,” too, not about trifles, but about the most solemn subjects. It is, perhaps, worthy of mention that with each of these “ifs” there is something connected, as following out of it, or appearing to be involved in it, or connected with it.
Look at the second verse. “In my father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.” If there had been no place for us in the glory land Jesus would have told us. If any truth which had not been revealed would have made our hope a folly, our Lord Jesus would have warned us of it; for He has not come to lure us into a fool’s paradise, and at last deceive us. He will tell us all that it is necessary for us to know in order to a wise faith and a sure hope. The Lord hath not spoken in secret, in a. dark place of the earth: He has not spoken in
Chapter 25
Whither Goest Thou?
Text—“But He knoweth the way that I take: When He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold? Job 23:10.
Job’s Appeal.—His Confidence.—Based On God’s Knowledge Of His Way.—Four Questions—I. Do You Know Your Way? Where It Leads?—How You Are Going?—An Inference From Silence.—Are You Drifting?—A Vagabond Lunatic Arrested.—II. Are You Glad God Knows Your Way?—Certain That He Does Know.—Even When The Man Is In Doubt.—III. Have You Met With Trials In The Way?—Trials In All ‘Ways.—Come From God.—As Tests.—Will Have An End.—IV. Have You Confidence In God?—Gold Uninjured By Fire.
Job could not understand the way of God with him; he was greatly perplexed. He could not find the Lord, with whom aforetime he constantly abode. He cries: “Behold, I go forward, but He is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive Him; on the left hand, where He doth work, but I cannot behold Him; He hideth Himself on the right hand, that I cannot see Him.” But if Job knew not the way of the Lord, the Lord knew Job’s way. It is a great comfort that when we cannot see the Lord, He sees us, and perceives the way that we take. It is not so important that we should understand what the Lord is doing as that the Lord should understand what we are doing, and that we should be impressed by the great fact that He does understand it. Our case may be quite beyond our own comprehension, but it is all plain to Him, who seeth the end from the beginning.
Because God knew his way, Job turned from the unjust judgments of his unfeeling friends, and appealed to God Himself. He pleaded
Chapter 26
How to Please God
Text—“But without faith it is impossible to please Him; for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” Heb. 11:6.
The Achievement Possible.—Its Result.—I. Faith Essential.—No Communion Possible Without It.—Nor Confidence.—Nor Common Meeting-Ground.—Nor Prospect Of Love.—Variance On Many Points.—II. Two Essential Points Of Faith.—Belief In The Existence Of God.—In His Being A Rewarder.—III. Practical Lessons.—With Faith It Is Possible To Please God.—Should Be The Chief Object In Life.—The Coming Continual.—Death Only Coming Closer—A Fearful Thing To Be Without Faith.
Men have lived who have pleased God: Enoch was one of them, but he was not the only one. In all ages certain persons have been well-pleasing to God, and their walk in life has been such as was His delight. It should be the aim of every one of us to please God. The thing is possible, notwithstanding all our imperfections and infirmities: let us aim at it in the power of the Holy Ghost. What has been wrought in one man may be wrought in another. We, too, may be well-pleasing unto God; therefore let us seek after it with hopefulness. As Enoch, in a darker age, was pleasing to Him, why should not we, upon whom the Gospel day has dawned? God grant us to find grace in His sight!
If we please God we shall have realized the object of our being. It is written concerning all things, “For His pleasure they are and were created;” and we miss the end of creation if we are not pleasing to the Lord. To fulfil God’s end in our creation is to obtain the highest joy. If we are pleasing to God, although we shall not escape trial, for even the highest qualities must be tested, yet we shall find great peace and special happiness. He is not an unhappy man who is pleasing to God: God hath blessed him, yea, and he shall be blessed. By pleasing God we shall become the means of good to others: our example will rebuke and stimulate; our peace will convince and invite. Being himself well pleasing to God, the godly man will teach transgressors God’s way, and sinners shall be converted unto Him. I therefore, without the slightest hesitancy, set it before you as a thing to be desired by us all, that we should win this testimony—that we are pleasing God.
I. First, then, the apostle asserts that
Charles Spurgeon and S. P. Spreng, Messages of Hope and Faith (WORDsearch, 2000).
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