NO. 108<\/b><\/p>\n
A SERMON DELIVERED ON SABBATH EVENING, AUGUST 31, 1856,<\/b><\/p>\n
BY THE REV. C. H. SPURGEON,<\/i><\/p>\n
AT EXETER HALL, STRAND<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cWill he plead against me with his great power? No, but he would put strength in me.\u201d \u2014 Job 23:6<\/i><\/p>\n
I Shall not tonight consider the connection of these words, or what was particularly intended by Job. I shall use them in, perhaps, another sense from that which he intended. No doubt Job meant to say, that if God would allow him to argue his case before him, it was his firm belief that God, so far from taking advantage of his superior strength in the controversy, would even strengthen him, that the controversy might be fair, and that the judgment might be unbiassed. \u201cHe would not plead against me with his great strength; no, but he would put strength in me.\u201d We shall use the text, however, to night, in another sense.<\/p>\n
It is one of the sure marks of a lost and ruined state when we are careless and indifferent concerning God. One of the peculiar marks of those who are dead in sin is this: they are the wicked who forget God. God is not in all their thoughts; \u201cThe fool hath said in his heart, there is no God.\u201d The sinful man is ever anxious to keep out of his mind the very thought of the being, the existence, or the character of God; and so long as man is unregenerate, there will be nothing more abhorrent to his taste, or his feelings, than anything which deals with the Divine Being. God perhaps, as Creator, he may consider; but the God of the Bible, the infinite Jehovah, judging righteously among the sons of men \u2014 condemning and acquitting \u2014 that God he has no taste for, he is not in all his thoughts, nor does he regard him. And mark you, it is a blessed sign of the work of grace in the heart, when man begins to consider God. He<\/i> is not far from God\u2019s heart who hath meditations of God in his own heart. If we desire to seek after God, to know him, to understand him, and to be at peace with him, it is a sign that God has dealings with our soul, for otherwise we should still have hated his name and abhorred his character.<\/p>\n
There are two things in my text, both of which have relation to the Divine Being. The first is, the question of fear<\/i>: \u201cWill he plead against me with his great power?\u201d and the second is, the answer of faith<\/i>: \u201cNo, but he will put strength in me.\u201d The fearful and the prayerful, who are afraid of sin and fear God, together with those who are faithful and believe in God are in a hopeful state; and hence, both the question of the one, and the answer of the other, have reference to the great Jehovah, our God, who is for ever to be adored.<\/p>\n
\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n
I. <\/b>We shall consider, in the first place, to-night The Inquiry Of Fear. Will he plead against me with his great power?\u201d I shall consider this as a question asked by the convinced sinner. He is seeking salvation, but, when he is bidden to come before his God and find mercy, he is compelled by his intense anxiety to make the trembling inquiry, \u201cWill he plead against me with his great power?\u201d<\/p>\n
1. <\/b>And, first, I gather from this question the fact, that a truly penitent manner has a right idea of many of God\u2019s attributes<\/i>. He does not understand them all, for instance, he does not yet know God\u2019s great mercy; he does not yet understand his unbounded compassion; but so far as his knowledge of God extends, he has an extremely great view of him. To him the everlasting Jehovah appears great in every attribute, and action, and supremely great in his Majesty. The poor worldling knows there is a God; but he is to him a little God. As for the Justice of God, the mere worldly man scarcely ever thinks of it. He considers that there is a God, but he regards him as a Being who has little enough respect for justice. Not so, however, the sinner. When God has once convinced him of his sin, he sees God as a great<\/i> God, a God of great<\/i> justice, and of great<\/i> power. Whoever can misunderstand God\u2019s great justice or God\u2019s great power; a convinced sinner never will. Ask him what he thinks of God\u2019s justice, and he will tell you it is like the great mountains; it is high, he cannot attain unto it. \u201cAh,\u201d saith he, \u201cGod\u2019s justice is very mighty; it must<\/i> smite me. He must hurl an avalanche of woe upon my devoted head. Justice demands that he should punish me. I am so great a sinner that I cannot suppose he would ever pass by my transgression, my iniquity, and my sin.\u201d It is all in vain for you to tell such a man that God is little in his justice; he replies, \u201cNo,\u201d most solemnly \u201cNo,\u201d and you can most plainly read his earnestness in his visage, when he replies, \u201cNo.\u201d He replies, \u201cI feel that God is just; I am even now consumed by his anger; by his wrath am I troubled.\u201d \u201cTell me God is not just,\u201d says he; \u201cI know he is; I feel that within an hour or two hell must swallow me up, unless Divine mercy delivers me. Unless Christ shall wash me in his blood, I feel I can never hope to stand among the ransomed.\u201d He has not that strange idea of God\u2019s justice that some of you have. You think sin is a trifle. You suppose that one brief prayer will wipe it all away. You dream that by attendance at your churches and at your chapels, you will wash away your sins. You suppose that God, for some reason or other, will very easily forgive your sin. But you have no right idea of God\u2019s justice. You have not learned that God never does forgive until he has first punished, and that if he does forgive any one, it is because he has punished Christ first in the stead of that person. But he never forgives without first exacting the punishment. That would be an infringement on his justice; and shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? You have, many of you, lax enough ideas of the justice of the Divine Being; but not so the sinner who is laboring under a knowledge of sin.<\/p>\n
An awakened soul feels that God is greatly powerful<\/i>. Tell him that God is but a weak God, and he will answer you; and shall I tell you what illustrations he will give you, to prove that God is great in power. He will say, \u201cOh, sir God is great in power as well in justice; look up yonder: can you not see in the dark past, when rebel angels sinned against God, they were so mighty that each one of them might have devastated Eden and Shaken the earth. But God, with ease, hurled Satan and the rebel angels out of heaven, and drove them down to hell.\u201d \u201cSir,\u201d saith the sinner, \u201cis he not mighty?\u201d And then he will go on to tell you how God unbound the swaddling bands of the great ocean, that it might leap upon the earth; and how he bade it swallow up the whole of mortal race, save those who were hidden in the ark. And the sinner says, with his eyes well nigh starting from their sockets – \u201cSir, does not this prove that he is great in power, and will by no means acquit the wicked?\u201d And then he proceeds, \u201cLook again at the Red Sea; mark how Pharaoh was enticed into its depths, and how the parted sea, that stood aloof for awhile to give the Israelites an easy passage, embraced with eager joy, locked the adverse host within their arms, and swallowed them up quick;\u201d and as he thinks he sees, the Red Sea rolling o\u2019er the slain, he exclaims, \u201cSir, God is great in power; I feel he must be, when I think of what he has done.\u201d And as if he had not finished his oration, and would let us know the whole of the greatness of God\u2019s power, he continues his narration of the deeds of vengeance. \u201cO sir, remember, he must be great in power, for I know that he hath digged a hell, which is deep and large, without bottom. He hath made a Tophet \u2014 the pile thereof is fire and much wood, and the breath of the Lord, like a stream of brimstone, shall kindle it.\u201d \u201cYes, beyond a doubt,\u201d groans the trembling soul, \u201che must be great in power. I feel he is, and I feel more than that; I feel that justice has provoked God\u2019s arm of power to smite me, and unless I am covered in that righteousness of Christ, I shall ere long be dashed to pieces, and utterly devoured by the fury of his wrath.\u201d The sinner, as far as the harsher attributes of God\u2019s nature are concerned, when he is under conviction, has a very fair and a just idea of the Divine Being, though, as I have remarked before, not yet understanding the mercy and the infinite compassion of God towards his covenant people, he has too harsh a view of God, dwelling only upon the darker side, and not upon those attributes which shed a more cheering light upon the darkness of our misery. That is the first truth which I gleam from the text.<\/p>\n
2. <\/b>The second truth which I gather from this question, \u201cWill he plead against me with his great power?\u201d is this that the trembling sinner feels that every attribute of God is against him as a sinner<\/i>. \u201cOh!\u201d he will say, \u201cI look to God, and I can see nothing in him but a consuming fire. I look to his justice, and I see it, with sword unsheathed, ready to smite me low. I look to his power, and I behold it, like a mighty mountain, tottering to its fall, to crush me. I look to his immutability, and methinks I see stern justice written on its brow, and I hear it cry, \u201csinner, I will not save, I will condemn thee.\u201d I look to his faithfulness<\/i>, and I mark that all his threatenings are as much \u2019yea and amen\u2019 as his promises. I look to his love, but even his love frowns, and accuses me, saying, \u2019thou hast slighted me.\u2019 I look to his mercy, but even his mercy launches out the thunderbolt, with accusing voice, reminding me of my former hardness of heart, and harshly chiding me thus, \u2019Go thou to justice, and glean what thou canst there. I, even I, am against thee, for thou hast made me wroth!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Oh I trembling penitent, where art thou to-night? Somewhere here, I know thou art. Would to God there were many like thee! I know thou wilt agree with me in this statement, for thou hast a dread apprehension that every attribute of the Divine Being\u2019s character is armed with fire and sword to destroy thee. Thou seest all his attributes like heavy pieces of ordnance, all pointed at thee and ready to be discharged. Oh that thou mayest find a refuge in Christ! And oh! ye who never were convinced of sin, let me for one moment lay judgment to the line and righteousness to the plummet. Know ye this \u2014 perhaps ye laugh at it \u2014 that all God\u2019s attributes are against you if you are not in Christ! If you are not sheltered beneath the wings of Jesus, there is not one single glorious name of God, nor one celestial attribute, which does not curse you. What wouldst thou think, if at thy door tonight there should be planted great pieces of heavy cannon, all loaded, to be discharged against thee? But dost thou know, that where thou sittest to-night there are worse than heavy cannons to be discharged at thee? Yes, I see them, I see them! There is God\u2019s justice, and there is the angel of vengeance, standing with the match, ready to bid it hurl vengeance at thee. There is his power; there is his bare arm, ready to break thy bones, and crush thee into powder. There is his love, all blazing, turned to hate because thou trust rejected it; and there is his mercy, clad with mail, going forth like a warrior to overthrow thee. What sayest thou, O sinner, to-night? Against thee all God\u2019s attributes are pointed. He hath bent his bow and made it ready. The sword of the Lord has been bathed in heaven; it is bright and sharp, it is furbished. How wilt thou escape, when a mighty arm shall bring it down upon thee? or how wilt thou flee, when he shall draw his bow and shoot his arrows at thee, and make thee a mark for all the arrows of his vengeance? Beware, beware, ye that forget God, lest he tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver! For tear you in pieces, he will yet, unless you shelter in the Rock of Ages, and wash yourselves in the stream of his wondrous blood. Fly to him, then, ye chief of sinners, fly. But if ye will not, know ye this, God is against you! He will plead against thee with his great power, unless thou hast our all glorious Jesus to be shine advocate.<\/p>\n
3. <\/b>And just one more hint here. The sinner, when he is laboring on account of guilt, feels that God would be just if he were to \u201cplead against him with his great power.\u201d \u201cOh,\u201d saith he, \u201cIf I go to God in prayer, perhaps instead of hearing me he will crush me as I would a moth.\u201d What, soul, would he be just if he did that? \u201cAy,\u201d saith the sinner, \u201cjust, supremely just. Perhaps I shall have stripped myself of all my ornaments, and like a naked one have flown to him; perhaps then he will lash me harder than before, and I shall feel it all the worse for this my nakedness.\u201d And will he be just, should the flagellation of his vengeance fall upon thy shoulders? \u201cYes,\u201d he saith, \u201cinfallibly just.\u201d And should he smite thee to the lowest hell, would he be just? \u201cYes,\u201d saith the penitent, \u201cjust, infinitely just. I should have no word to say against him. I should feel that I deserved it all. My only question is, not whether he would be just to do it, but will he do it?\u201d \u201cWill he plead against me with his great power?\u201d This is the question of fear. Some here, perhaps, are asking that question.<\/p>\n
Now let them hear the reply of faith; God give them a good deliverance.<\/p>\n
\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n
II. <\/b>The Reply Of Faith Is, \u201cNo.\u201d O sinner, hear that word, \u201cNo;\u201d there are sonnets condensed into it. \u201cWill he plead against me with his great power?\u201d \u201cNo, no,\u201d say the saints in heaven; \u201cno,\u201d say the faithful on earth; \u201cno,\u201d say the promises; \u201cno,\u201d unanimously exclaim the oracles of Scripture; no, most emphatically no, he will not plead against you with his great power, but he will put strength into you.<\/p>\n
1. <\/b>And here we make a similar remark to that with which we commenced the former part of the sermon, namely, this: the fearful soul has a very right view of God in many respects, but the faithful soul has a right view of God in all respects<\/i>. He that hath faith in God knows more of God than he who only fears him. He who believes God understands God better than any man. Why, if I believe God, I can see all his attributes vindicated. I can see the \u201cwrath of justice expiated by yonder bleeding sufferer on the accursed tree. I can see his mercy and his justice joining hands with his wrath. I can see his power now turned on my behalf, and no longer against me. I can see his faithfulness become the guardian of my soul instead of the slaughterer of my hopes. I can see all his attributes standing, each of them conjoined, each of them glorious, each of them lovely, and all united in the work of man\u2019s salvation. He that feareth God, knows half of God; he that believeth God, knoweth all of God that he can know; and the more he believeth God, the more he understandeth God, the more he comprehendeth his glory, his character, his nature, and his attributes.<\/p>\n
2. <\/b>The next thing is, that the believer when he is brought into peace with God doe not tremble at the thought of God\u2019s power<\/i>. He does not ask, \u201cWill he plead against me with his great power?\u201d But he says, \u201cNo, that very power, once my terror, and fear, is now my refuge and my hope, for he shall put that very power in me. I rejoice that God is Almighty, for he will lend me his omnipotence \u2014 \u2019he will put strength into me.\u2019\u201d Now, here is a great thought; if I had power to handle it, it would give me opportunity indeed to preach to you. But I cannot reach the heights of eloquence, I shall therefore simply exhibit the thought for a moment to you. The very power which would have damned my soul, saves my soul. The very power that would have crushed me, God puts into me, that the work of salvation may be accomplished. No, he will not use it to crush me, but he will put that very strength into me. Dost see there the Mighty One upon his throne? Dread Sovereign, I see shine awful arm. What, wilt thou crush the sinner? Wilt thou utterly destroy him with thy strength? \u201cNo,\u201d saith he, \u201cCome hither, child.\u201d And if you go to his Almighty throne, \u201cThere,\u201d saith he \u201cthat self-same arm which made thee quake, see there, I give it to thee. Go out and live. I have made thee mighty as I am, to do my works; I will put strength into thee. The same strength which would have broken thee to pieces on the wheel shall now be put into thee, that thou mayest do mighty works.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now, I will show you how this great strength displays itself. Sometimes it goes out in prayer. Did you ever hear a man pray in whom God had put strength? You have heard some of us poor puny souls pray, I dare say; but have you ever heard a man pray that God had made into a giant? Oh, if you have, you will say it is a mighty thing to hear such a man in supplication. I have seen him as if he had seized the angel, and would pull him down. I have seen him now and then slip in his wrestling; but, like a giant, he has recovered his footing, and seemed like Jacob, to hurl the angel to the ground. I have marked the man lay hold upon the throne of mercy, and declare, \u201cLord, I will never let go, except thou bless me.\u201d I have seen him, when heaven\u2019s gates have been apparently barred, go up to them, and say, \u201cYe gates, open wide in Jesus\u2019 name;\u201d and I have seen the gates fly open before him, as if the man were God himself; for he is armed with God Almighty\u2019s strength. I have seen that man, in prayer, discover some great mountain in his way; and he prayed it down, until it became a very molehill. He has beaten the hills and made them like chaff, by the immensity of his might. Some of you think I am talking enthusiasm; but such cases have been, and are now. Oh! to have heard Luther pray! Luther, you know, when Melancthon was dying, went to his death-bed, and said, \u201cMelancthon, you shall not die!\u201d \u201cOh,\u201d said Melancthon, \u201cI must die! It is a world of toil and trouble,\u201d \u201cMelancthon,\u201d said he, \u201cI have need of thee, and God\u2019s cause has need of thee, and as my name is Luther, thou shalt not die!\u201d The physician said he would. Well, down went Luther on his knees, and began to tug at death. Old death struggled mightily for Melancthon, and he had got him well nigh on his shoulders. \u201cDrop him,\u201d said Luther, \u201cdrop him, I want him.\u201d \u201cHo,\u201d said death, \u201che is my prey, I will take him!\u201d \u201cDown with him,\u201d said Luther, \u201cdown with him, death, or I will wrestle with thee!\u201d And he seemed; to take hold of the grim monster, and hurl him to the ground; and he came off victorious, like an Orpheus, with his wife, up from the very shades of death; he had delivered Melancthon from death by prayer! \u201cOh,\u201d say you, \u201cthat is an extraordinary case.\u201d No, beloved, not one-half so extraordinary as you dream. I have men and women here who have done the same in other cases; that have asked a thing of God, and have had it; that have been to the throne, and showed a promise, and said they would not come away without its fulfillment, and have come back from God\u2019s throne conquerors of the Almighty; for prayer moves the arm that moves the world. \u201cPrayer is the sinew of God,\u201d said one, \u201cit moves his arm ;\u201d and so it is. Verily, in prayer, with the strength of the faithful heart, there is a beautiful fulfillment of the text, \u201cHe will put strength in me.\u201d<\/p>\n
A second illustration. Not only in prayer, but in duty<\/i>, the man who has great faith in God, and whom God has girded with strength, how gigantic does he become?<\/p>\n
Have you never read of those great heroes who put to eight whole armies, and scattered kings like the snow on Salmon? Have you never read of those men that were fearless of foes, and stalked onward before all their opposers, as if they would as soon die as live? I read, this day, of a case in the old kirk of Scotland, before that King James who wished to force the black prelacy upon them. Andrew Melville and some of his associates were deputed to wait upon the king, and as they were going with a scroll ready written, they were warned to take care and return, for their lives were at stake. They paused a moment, and Andrew said, \u201cI am not afraid, thank God, nor feeble-spirited in the cause and message of Christ; come what pleases God to send, our commission shall be executed.\u201d At these words the deputation took courage, and went forward. On reaching the palace, and having obtained an audience, they found his majesty attended by Lennox and Arran, and several other lords, all of whom were English. They presented their remonstrance. Arran lifted it from the table, and glancing over it, he then turned to the ministers, and furiously demanded, \u201cWho dares sign these treasonable articles?\u201d \u201cWE Dare.\u201d said Andrew Melville, \u201cand will render our lives in the cause.\u201d Having thus spoken, he came forward to the table, took the pen, subscribed his name, and was followed by his brethren. Arran and Lennox were confounded; the king looked on in silence, and the nobles in surprise. Thus did our good forefathers appear before kings, and yet were not ashamed. \u201cThe proud had them greatly in derision, yet they declined not from the law of God.\u201d Having thus discharged their duty, after a brief conference, the ministers were permitted to depart in peace. The king trembled more at them than if a whole army had been at his gates; and why was this? It was because God had put his own strength into them, to make them masters of their duty. And you have some such in your midst now. Despised they may be; but God has made them like the lion-like men of David, who would go down into the pit in the depth of winter, and take the lion by the throat and slay him. We have some in our churches \u2014 but a remnant, I admit \u2014 who are not afraid to serve their God, like Abdiel, \u201cfaithful amongst the faithless found.\u201d We hare some who are superior to the customs of the age, and scorn to bow at mammon\u2019s knee, who will not use the trimming language of too many modern ministers, but stand out for God\u2019s gospel, and the pure white banner of Christ, unstained and unsullied by the doctrines of men. Then are they mighty! Why they are mighty is, because God has put strength in them.<\/p>\n
Still, some say, I have dealt with extraordinary cases. Come then, now we will have a home-case, one of your own sort, that will be like yourselves. Did you ever stand and take a view of heaven? Have you discerned the hills which lie between your soul and paradise? Have you counted the lions you have to fight, the giants to be slain, and the rivers to be crossed? Did you ever notice the many temptations with which you must be beset, the trials you have to endure, the difficulties you have to overcome, the dangers you have to avoid? Did you ever take a bird\u2019s-eye view of heaven, and all the dangers which are strewn thickly along the path thither? And didst thou ever ask thyself this question, \u201cHow shall I, a poor feeble worm, ever get there?\u201d Didst thou ever say within thyself, \u201cI am not a match for all my foes, how shall I arrive at paradise? \u2019If thou hast ever asked this question, I will tell thee what is the only answer for it: thou must be girded with Almighty strength, or else thou wilt never gain the victory. Easy thy path may be, but it is too hard for thy infantile strength, without the Almighty power. Thy path may be one of little temptation, and of shallow trial; but thou wilt be drowned in the floods yet, unless Almighty power preserve thee. Mark me! however smooth thy way, there is nothing short of the bare arm of Deity that can land any one of you in heaven. We must have Divine strength, or else we shall never get there. And there is an illustration of these words: \u201cNo, but he will put his strength in me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd shall I hold on to the end?\u201d says the believer. Yes, thou wilt, for God\u2019s strength is in thee. \u201cShall I be able to bear such-and-such a trial?\u201d Yes, thou wilt. Cannot Omnipotence stem the torrent? And Omnipotence is in thee; for, like Ignatius of old, thou art a God-bearer; thou bearest God about with thee. Thy heart is a temple of the Holy Ghost, and thou shalt yet overcome. \u201cBut can I ever stand firm in such-and-such an evil day?\u201d Oh! yes you will, for he will put his strength in you. I was in company, some time ago, with some ministers; one of them observed, \u201cBrother, if there were to be stakes in Smithfield again, I am afraid they would find very few to burn among us.\u201d \u201cWell,\u201d I said, \u201cI do not know any thing about how you would burn; but this I know right well, that there never will be those who are ready to die for Christ.\u201d \u201cOh!\u201d said he, \u201cbut they are not the right sort of men.\u201d \u201cWell,\u201d said I, \u201cbut do you think they are the Lord\u2019s children?\u201d \u201cYes, I believe they are, but they are not the right sort.\u201d \u201cAh!\u201d said I, \u201cbut you would find them the right sort, if they came to the test, every one of them; they have not got burning grace yet. What would be the use of it?\u201d We do not want the grace till the stakes come; but we should have burning grace in burning moments. If now, to-night, a hundred of us were called to die for Christ, I believe there would not only be found a hundred, but five hundred, that would march to death, and sing all the way. Whenever I find faith, I believe that God will put strength into the man; and I never think anything to be impossible to a man with faith in God, while it is written, \u201cHe will put strength in me.\u201d<\/p>\n
3. <\/b>But now the last observation shall be, we shall all want this at the last; and it is a mercy for us that this is written, for never shall we require it, perhaps, more than then. O believer, dost thou think thou wilt be able to swim the Jordan with shine own sinews<\/i>? Caesar could not swim the Tiber, accoutred as he was; and dost thou hope to swim the Jordan with thy flesh about thee? No, thou wilt sink then, unless Jesus, as AEneas did Anchises, from the flames of Rome, upon his shoulders, lift thee from Jordan, and carry thee across the stream, thou wilt never be able to walk across the river; thou wilt ne\u2019er be able to face that tyrant and smile in his face, unless thou hast something more than mortal. Thou wilt need then to be belted about with the girdle of divinity, or else thy loins will be loosed, and thy strength will fail thee, when thou needst it most. Many a man has ventured to the Jordan in his own strength; but oh I how he has shrieked and howled, when the first wave has touched his feet! But never weakling went to death with God within him, but he found himself mightier than the grave. Go on, Christian, for this is thy promise. \u201cHe will put strength in me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Weak, though I am, yet through his might,
I all things can perform.\u201d<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
Go on; dread not God\u2019s power, but rejoice at this, he will put his strength in you; he will not use his power to crush you.<\/p>\n
Just one word, and then farewell. There is within reach of my voice, I am thoroughly convinced, one who is seeking Christ, whose only fear is this: \u201cSir, I would, but I cannot pray; I would, but I cannot believe; I would, but I cannot love; I would, but I cannot repent.\u201d Oh! hear this, soul: \u201cHe will put his strength in thee.\u201d Go home; and down on thy knees; if thou canst not pray, groan; if thou canst not groan, weep; if thou canst not weep, feel; if thou cans not feel, feel because thou canst not feel; for that is as far as many get. But stop there, mark you, stop there, and he will give you his blessing; do not get up till you have got the blessing. Go there in all thy weakness; if you do not feel it, say, \u201cLord, I do not feel as I ought to feel; but oh that I could! Lord, I cannot repent, as I would repent \u2014 oh that thou wouldst help me!\u201d \u201cOh! sir,\u201d you say, \u201cbut I could not go so far as that, for I don\u2019t think I have got a strong desire.\u201d Go and say, \u201cLord I would desire; help me to desire.\u201d And then sit down and think of your lost estate. Think of your ruin and the remedy, and muse on that; and mark thee, whilst thou art in the way, the Lord will meet with thee. Only believe this, that if thou triest Christ he will never let thee try in vain. Go and risk thy soul on Christ to-night, neck or nothing, sinner. Go now, break or make; go and say, \u201cLord, I know I must be damned if I have not Christ.\u201d Stay there, and say, \u201cIf I perish, I perish only here;\u201d and I tell you, you will never perish. I am bonds man for God. This head to the block if your soul goes to hell, if you pray sincerely and trust Christ. This neck to the gallows, again I say, this neck to the rope and to the hangman\u2019s gallows, if Christ reject you after you have earnestly sought him. Only try that, I beseech thee, poor soul. \u201cOh,\u201d you say, \u201cbut I have not strength enough; I cannot do that.\u201d Well, poor soul, crawl to the mercy-seat, and there lie flat, just as your are. You know that misery often speaks when it utters not a word. The poor mendicant squats himself down in the street. He says nothing. There protrudes a ragged knee, and there is a wounded hand. He says nothing; but with his hands folded on his breast he looks at every passer-by; and though not a word is spoken, he winneth more than if he daily drawled out his tale, or sung it along the street. So do thou sit like Bartimeus by the way-side begging; and if thou hearest him pass by, then cry, \u201cJesus, thou son of David, have mercy upon me.\u201d But if thou canst scarce say that, sit there, and exhibit thy poor wounds; tell the Lord thy desperate condition; strip thy loathsome sores, and let the Almighty see the venom. Turn out thy heart, and let the rank corruption be all inspected by the Almighty eye. \u201cAnd he hath mercies rich and free.\u201d Who can tell poor sinner, who can tell? He may look on thee.<\/p>\n
\u201cJesus died upon the tree
And why, poor sinner, not for thee?\u201d
\u201cHis Sovereign grace is rich and free,
And why, poor sinner, not for thee?\u201d
\u201cOur Jesus loved and saved me
Say why, poor sinner, why not thee?\u201d<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
Only do this and if thou art a sinner, hear this: \u201cThis is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.\u201d He will not \u201cPlead against you with his great power; no, he will put his strength in you!\u201d The Lord dismiss you with his blessing!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
NO. 108 A SERMON DELIVERED ON SABBATH EVENING, AUGUST 31, 1856, BY THE REV. C. H. SPURGEON, AT EXETER HALL, STRAND \u201cWill he plead against me with his great power? No, but he would put strength in me.\u201d \u2014 Job 23:6 I Shall not tonight consider the connection of these words, or what was particularly … Continue reading “THE QUESTION OF FEAR AND THE ANSWER OF FAITH.”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1454","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermons"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1454","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1454"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1454\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1454"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1454"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1454"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}