posted by Phil Johnson
The PyroManiacs devote some space each weekend to highlights from The Spurgeon Archive. The following excerpt is from "Israel and Britain: A Note of Warning," first delivered on Sunday morning, June 7th, 1885, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle
o-day the revelation of God is treated with indifference, or talked of as if it deserved no reverence or credit. Unbelief has sapped the foundations of the social fabric. Worst of all,—I must not hold back the charge, many of the avowed ministers of Christ are no ministers of faith at all, but promoters of unbelief. The modern pulpit has taught men to be infidels.What truth is there which has not been doubted by divines, questioned by doctors of divinity, and at length been denounced by the priests of "modern thought"? Nothing remains upon which a certain school of preachers have not spit their scepticism. The experience of the unbelief of Germany is being repeated here.
Among those who are ordained to be the preachers of the gospel of Christ there are many who preach not faith but doubt, and hence they are servants of the devil rather than of the Lord. Think not that I am aiming at the Church of England. With all my objection to a state-church, I am not so unjust as to conceal my belief, that I see in the Episcopal Church at this time less of unbelief than among certain Dissenters: in fact, Nonconformity in certain quarters is eaten through and through with a covert Unitarianism, less tolerable than Unitarianism itself. So frequently are the fundamental doctrines of the gospel assailed, that it becomes needful, before you cross the threshold of many a chapel, to ask the question, "Shall I hear the gospel here to-day, or shall I come out hardly knowing whether the Bible is inspired or not? Shall I not be made to doubt the atonement, the work of the Holy Ghost, the immortality of the soul, the punishment of the wicked, or the deity of Christ?"
I know I shall stir a hornet’s nest by these honest rebukes but I cannot help it. I am burdened and distressed with the state of religion; a pest is in the air; no truth is safe from its withering infection.
No signs can be more alarming than the growing infidelity and worldliness which I see among those who call themselves Christians. Does this nation really intend to cast off the fear of God and the doctrines of Holy Scripture to follow the vain imaginings of the sophists and the fashionable follies of the great? Are we to see again unbelief and luxurious sin walking hand in hand? If so, there be some of us who mean to take up our sorrowful parable, and speak as plainly as we can for truth and holiness, whether we offend or please. Be it ours still to thunder out the law of God, and proclaim with trumpet clearness the gospel of Jesus, not batting one jot of firm belief in the revelation of God, nor winking at sin, nor toning down truth, even though we fear that the only result will be to make this people’s hearts gross, and their ears heavy, and their eyes blind.
If it must be so, my soul shall weep in secret; but still, Oh Lord, here am I, send me. Be of good courage, Oh my heart, for the faithful have not ceased from among men; other voices will cry aloud and spare not, if haply our land may be purged of its present defilement.
7 comments:
Excellent selection, Phil. Thank you!
(Ever considered a weekly dose of Gill? Ah, but you do so much already....)
- Charlie
This is as relevant today as it was 150 years ago.
Compare Spurgeon’s statement,
Are we to see again unbelief and luxurious sin walking hand in hand? If so, there be some of us who mean to take up our sorrowful parable, and speak as plainly as we can for truth and holiness, whether we offend or please. Be it ours still to thunder out the law of God, and proclaim with trumpet clearness the gospel of Jesus, not batting one jot of firm belief in the revelation of God, nor winking at sin, nor toning down truth, even though we fear that the only result will be to make this people’s hearts gross, and their ears heavy, and their eyes blind
with this Rick Warren interview on Hannity & Colmes:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,461685,00.html
Phil and grace brethren,
I am sad to say that the prophetic words concerning Israel as a nation and their unbelief has indeed become true here in the United Kingdom, as brother Spurgeon foresaw.
Indeed pragmatism, universalism, secularism, Inter-denominationalism (As opposed to NON-denominationalism; are all forms of godliness denying the power of YAHWEH, in the work and Persons of the Trinity.
The Reformation has come to an end and the Churches here believe themselve to have attained to a higher intellect than the simplicity of the Gospel and therefore the SUFFICIENCY of Scripture as ALONE enough for life and godliness no longer exists in PRACTICE. Confessions are made with the mouths in the Churches, BUT the hearts of the people are far from the LORD.
It pleases the Church far more to be seen of men and to please men in a temporal sense, than to procliam 100% LAW alonside with 100% GRACE.
Thus it is that the SHAME and REPROACH of the Gospel of our LORD and Messiah Jesus is hiddenn under the beds as lampstands, and now the house is aflame with the just judgement of the Almighty and Jealous One.
Please do urge prayer and missionary zeal amomg the brethren.
Even what where trusted "evangelicals" yesterday like within the FIEC are no longer true "Evangels" in declaring and defending the PRACTICE of faith "Once deliverd for all".
Pray for our evangelistic efforts and for a revival of the Spirit of truth and grace.
Sola Deo Gloria!
Your humbled servant for Christ's Name.
How many times have I written this on a Sunday morning now, but I'm compelled to write it again:
With its technological innovations, scientific advances, massive social changes (in-migration to the cities, development of state education, public health concerns, poor law reforms, etc.), and international trade, 19th-century London really must have been on the cutting edge of society (for better or worse), since it seems to have been a microcosm and portent of every trend that's beset the evangelical church in North America in the 20th and 21st centuries. And praise God that at such a critical time, He gave Londoners Spurgeon, and through him a posterity with which we are still blessed today.
And now I'm off to be in the Lord's house with the Lord's people on the Lord's day.
"I know I shall stir a hornet’s nest by these honest rebukes but I cannot help it.'
Sometimes it's good to stir things up; to goad a person's soul. Not all the time, and it should be the exception to the rule, but the truth needs to have teeth at times.
The Church has become such a cream-puff. I hate it when I'm a cream-puff. I like when the Lord gives me the courage to proclaim the truth without compromise, and always with a heart of grace and thankfulness.
Great post from the great pastor. I'm so grateful to the Lord for keeping this particular pastor of His teachings for His people.
The eternal sovereign holy One has been so gracious to us.
"..a pest is in the air; no truth is safe from its withering infection."
And word has it that the OUP has withdrawn words pertaining to anything "Christian" from a recent dictionary for children. Couldn't provide the links--sorry.
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