Paradoxes, Mysteries, Riddles, Enigmas, and Comfort for Christians
A Compilation of Selected Charles H. Spurgeon’s Writings
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I question whether any man understands himself, and I am quite certain that no Christian does so. "Great is the mystery of godliness" in more senses than one. The believer is a great riddle to those who observe him; "he is discerned of no man." He is equally an enigma to himself. The frequency of books like Ralph Venning’s "Orthodox Paradoxes," and good Ralph Erskine’s "Believer’s Riddle," is not at all wonderful; for a thousand riddles may be made about the Christian, since he is a paradox from beginning to end. As Plato used to say of each man that he was two men, so may we with emphasis say of each Christian that he is two men in one. Oftentimes to himself the evil man within him appears to be uppermost, and yet, by the grace of God, it never can be, for the ultimate victory belongs to the new and spiritual life. We see in every Christian what was seen in the Shulamite in the Song of Solomon, "as it were the company of two armies." This is not always known by the believer when he begins the new life. He starts knowing that he is a sinner, and that Jesus is his Savior, but as he proceeds he finds that he is more a sinner than he thought he was. Many surprises await him, and some things which, if he be not prepared for them, will stagger him as though some strange thing as happened to him. Perhaps my discourse on this subject may prevent a new convert from being overwhelmed with unexpected storms, and help him to solve the question which will then arise in his mind, "If I were a child of God, could it be thus with me?" THE CHILD OF LIGHT WALKING IN DARKNESS "Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God." – Isaiah 50:10 SEE how the Lord inquires for his people. In every congregation he asks this question: "Who is among you that feareth the Lord?" The Lord’s heart is toward the hearts that fear him, and he makes enquiry concerning them, because he loves them, and cares for them, and helps them in their day of trouble. Observe how clearly the Lord describes his own people. The description is brief, but remarkably full: "Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant?" Holy reverence within the heart, and careful obedience manifested in the life, these are the two infallible marks of the true man of God. He fears his God, and therefore he obeys that heavenly messenger whom God has sent. No servant of God has such authority over us that we are bound to obey him in all things, except One, that Servus servorum, that Servant of servants, who as also Rex regum, the King of kings. It is the mark of the child of God that he has a holy awe of the Father, and that he pays gracious obedience to the Son of God. The Lord knows them that are his, and from that perfect knowledge he draws this short but sufficient outline of the character of his own. May holy fear and constant obedience be in us and abound! Note that the Lord not only makes an enquiry for these people, but he takes note of their condition. He is not indifferent to their state. When they walk in darkness he is with them, and when they have no light he still beholds them. The Lord is very sensitive to the sorrows of his chosen, and very quick to help them. When he finds them walking in darkness he graciously counsels and advises them, that so he may most effectively help them. Thus said the gracious Lord to the benighted one: "Let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God." That same God who said of his vineyard, "I the Lord do keep it; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day," also spies out his children in the dark; and, looking upon them with an eye of tender love, he directs their course. This is the word of wisdom by which he directs each one of them through the darkness: "Let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God." To come at once to the text without further preface, I shall notice, first, what is this condition in which some of God’s people are found? They walk in darkness, and have no light. Secondly, what is there to trust to when a man is in such a condition? All is dark, and there is no light, and he is then bidden to trust. What is there to trust to? Thirdly, why should we thus trust? What is the warrant for trusting at such a time? And fourthly, what will come of such a trust? If a man really exhibits confidence in God when he has no light, what will be the end of his confidence?
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About the Book
Several years ago I republished the rare Spurgeon book, The Mourner’s Comforter. The printing sold out in a very short time. I have plans to reprint that book again soon. The success of that book has had much to do with my undertaking this new reprint of some of Spurgeon’s sermons on comfort and encouragement. It is especially suitable for persons who struggle with depression. Spurgeon was considered by many in his day as the greatest living preacher of the gospel. Since his death in 1892, his works have been reprinted by many publishers. His primary work was a sixty-three volume set of more than 3,000 sermons. Pilgrim Publications has reprinted the complete set of sermons, with a separate index of the Scripture texts and sermon titles, making it relatively easy to find material on almost any subject. These sermons have also been recorded on a CD ROM disk by the Ages Digital Library. It has been one of the great pleasures of my life to select, arrange, and edit the material in this book. The editing has been confined primarily to spelling (example: "labour" to labor, etc.). Some additions have been made, such as adding the first names of persons not as familiar to the public today. Some time references have been eliminated. For instance, statements such as, "I spoke to you on Thursday last week -- " have been removed as being irrelevant to the message. In some cases I have substituted a new word for one that is not familiarly used today. "Ship" or "boat" was substituted for "barque," etc. However, sentence structure has been left as originally written, and care has been taken not to change the meaning of any statements or doctrines expounded by Mr. Spurgeon. Gerald C. Primm, editor
About the Author
Charles Haddon Spurgeon was a most unusual person. He was a true speed reader with a photographic mind. While reading a book, by flipping the pages slowly, a friend commented that he most certainly could not retain much of what he was reading. Mr. Spurgeon handed the book to him and asked that he call out a page number. When the friend responded by giving him a page number, Mr. Spurgeon began quoting the contents on that page almost verbatim. He was saved at age 15, and almost immediately began to preach in homes near his own home. At age 18 he accepted the call of the Waterbeach Baptist Chapel to serve as pastor. The little church began to grow immediately. Some in London heard of him and he was invited to come as pastor, on a trial basis, to the Park Street Baptist Church in that city. The church had declined considerably over many years; however, soon after Mr. Spurgeon arrived, the church began to fill. It was soon evident to the church that Mr. Spurgeon should be called as pastor on a permanent basis. Shortly after he began as permanent pastor, the church leaders came to the conclusion that a new and larger building would have to be erected to accommodate the large crowds. The new church was named the Metropolitan Tabernacle and from that time forward more than six-thousand people crowded the facility Sunday after Sunday for mere than 38 years to hear this phenomenal man of God. His sermons were recorded by shorthand and each Thursday one of his sermons was printed and distributed throughout the English speaking world. Some of them were translated into a number of different languages. Three years after his death more than 60 million of his weekly sermons were still being sold. The publication of one man’s sermons has never been equaled, either in numbers or in circulation. Another of his magnificent works was the seven volume, 3,218 page commentary on the book of Psalms, which he wrote over a period of twenty years. One of the keys to his spiritual success seems to have been his own struggles with deep depression and overwhelming physical pain in many forms. By overcoming these maladies through faith in the grace and providence of God through Jesus Christ, he was an exceptional counselor to souls in distress, and an overwhelmingly powerful expounder and preacher of God’s Word. The result was a ministry perhaps never before nor since equaled in the English speaking world. ABOUT THE EDITOR Gerald C. Primm is a North Carolinian by birth and by choice. Born in Sanford, he grew up in Raleigh (five years) and Rocky Mount (20 years). He was a WWII P-38 Fighter pilot. He served as an overseas combat pilot in North Africa, Sardinia, Italy, and Corsica. After his military service he, his father, his brother, and one of his father’s long time friends, built and operated Radio Station WWGP in Sanford, NC. While a member of the First Baptist Church in Sanford, he was called into the gospel ministry. He also met and married Ethel Brown, an MRE graduate of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, while she was Educational Secretary of the church. Has served as pastor of the following Southern Baptist churches in North Carolina: Flat Springs, Sanford; Emmaus and Mt. Gilead, Pittsboro; Calvary, Raleigh; and Eller Memorial, Greensboro. Since his retirement from full time pastoral ministry he has served as interim pastor of the following churches: Camp Herman, Brown’s Summit (three times); First Baptist, Summerfield; Rocky Knoll, Greensboro (two times); and First Baptist of Gethsemane, Greensboro. His service in Southern Baptist Convention and related organizations include: Trustee of Campbell University, Buies Creek, NC; Trustee of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY.; Board of Advisors for Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, Memphis, TN.; Board of Advisors for Campbell University and Gardner Webb University in North Carolina; Moderator of Sandy Creek and Piedmont Baptist Associations in North Carolina; and many committee assignments. He has studied the works of and about Charles H. Spurgeon for over fifty years. His Spurgeon library material includes many rare volumes, among which is a complete set of the twenty-seven annual volumes of The Sword and the Trowel, a monthly magazine edited and published by Spurgeon from 1865 to the time of his death in January, 1892. He has also edited several Christian papers, published a number of books by other authors, and written many short articles and booklets.