10 August 2014

How to live

Your weekly dose of Spurgeon
The PyroManiacs devote some space each weekend to highlights from the lifetime of works from the Prince of Preachers, Charles Haddon Spurgeon.  The following excerpt is from Speeches at Home and Abroad, pages 68-69, Pilgrim Publications.
"Oh, that we could all live in the light of our last hour."

The old scholars, as we read sometimes, put their candles in a strange candlestick—in a death’s head, where it was held in that memorial of mortality. It might serve for a very beneficial purpose.

What will money do for us when we lie at the gate of death? What will fame or learning do? What reward can we have but souls we have won for Christ? They cannot pave the way to heaven, but they can be goodly company on the road. When the judgment comes, when we rise from our graves, in what light shall we then look upon our lives?

Oh, sirs, some even of our recreations may not bear to be thought of. Certainly, if we have been unfaithful in our ministry—if, as rich men, we have held to our wealth instead of following the mind of God—if we have lived contrary to his mind and will the light of the day of judgment will reveal these things to us.

Another General Assembly will then be held, and you and I shall there appear. Let us then live earnestly, live fast, live hard, live thoroughly, live prayerfully, live like Christ, for no other sort of life will bear inspection in that last great day.

There is another argument. Our Saviour has said—“Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” I beseech you, men and brethren, fathers and sisters in Christ, work hard for him. If he stood here, and asked you to help him, your purse-strings would be loosened, because your hearts would be loosened by his glorious presence.

But I need not say that spiritual minds do not need eyes to see Jesus. In your loving hearts you hear him speak to you. “If ye love me, keep my commandments; and one of my commandments is, ‘Go ye into the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.’ If ye love me, you will reply by obeying; if you do not love me, you will not help and obey.”



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