18 December 2011

Have a Merry Christmas

Your weekly dose of Spurgeon
posted by Phil Johnson

The PyroManiacs devote some space each weekend to highlights from The Spurgeon Archive. The following Excerpt is from a sermon titled "Mary's Song," preached Christmas morning 1865 at the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London.




his is a season when all men expect us to be joyous. We compliment each other with the desire that we may have a "Merry Christmas."

Some Christians who are a little squeamish, do not like the word "merry." It is a right good old Saxon word, having the joy of childhood and the mirth of manhood in it, it brings before one's mind the old song of the waits, and the midnight peal of bells, the holly and the blazing log. I love it for its place in that most tender of all parables, where it is written, that, when the long-lost prodigal returned to his father safe and sound, "They began to be merry."

This is the season when we are expected to be happy; and my heart's desire is, that in the highest and best sense, you who are believers may be "merry."

Mary's heart was merry within her; but here was the mark of her joy, it was all holy merriment, it was every drop of it sacred mirth. It was not such merriment as worldlings will revel in to-day and to-morrow, but such merriment as the angels have around the throne, where they sing, "Glory to God in the highest," while we sing "On earth peace, goodwill towards men."

Such merry hearts have a continual feast. I want you, ye children of the bride-chamber, to possess to-day and to-morrow, yea, all your days, the high and consecrated bliss of Mary, that you may not only read her words, but use them for yourselves, ever experiencing their meaning: "My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior."

C. H. Spurgeon


3 comments:

donsands said...

"... it was every drop of it sacred mirth."

There is something about rejoicing in our Savior's loingkindness, more than any other joy.

As I struggle with all the disappointments in this life, and all the sin in my heart and mind, I can always, always look to my Savior's pierced hands and feet for comfort and joy, and His promise that He is coming back again, just as sure as He came the first time.

Have a Merry "Joy to the world! The Lord has come, Let earth receive her King!" Christmas!

John Dunn said...

Aaaah to be found *in Christ* is abundant cause for unspeakable merriment, praise, exultation, worship, singing, and shouts of joy . . . full of glory and endless delight!

Fill me with thy Love O Lord, fill me with thyself.

Nash Equilibrium said...

That Santa hat makes him look really dour by contrast. But then, maybe that was the point?