Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Vol. 04
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Volume 4 PREFACE Page 1 THE NEW PARK STREET PULPIT VOLUME 4 Published in 1858 By Charles Spurgeon PREFACE Perhaps the notes and pastoral letters which are appended to the later sermons of this volume will best explain the feelings which I entertain towards the readers of my sermons. I feel that they are my friends. Many, doubtless, read to cavil, to criticize and to condemn, But a vast number have charity enough to overlook the faults, divine grace enough to profit by the truths and kindness enough to allow me a place in their hearts. Innumerable are the loving epistles which I have received from those to whom these sermons have been blessed. From all denominations of Christians have I received cheering words of sympathy and affection; from none more frequently than from members of the Established Church. I can appreciate the high Christian feeling which has con- strained my brothers and sisters to bear with all the things in which we cannot agree, and cordially to accept me as a beloved brother because of those glorious truths of God in which we alike rejoice. I would, therefore, in this preface salute all the brothers and sisters desiring that grace, mercy, and peace may be multiplied unto them from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. May our prayers be heard for each other when we earnestly pray the Father of Mercies to fill us all with the Spirit of His Son that we may be conformed unto His image in all things and at last may appear with Him in glory. And now what can I say fresh by way of preface to this fourth volume? Assuredly I am shut up to one subject and that involves a repetition of the song of former years. I must sing of judgment and mercy and, at the risk of incurring the charge of egotism, I will here record my praise. Personally I have experienced a twofold and memorable deliverance— once by an escape from a terrible accident at Halifax, of which this vol- ume contains a record, and yet again, by a happy recovery from the most trying and painful sickness. May my life be henceforth doubly devoted unto the service of the Lord! In the ministry, too, the Lord has been very gracious. The people have never failed to gather in immense multitudes, nor have the brothers and sisters ceased to wrestle in prayer that the Word may be prospered. But Volume 4 www.spurgeongems.org Page 1 Volume 4 PREFACE Page 2 my special crown of rejoicing lies in the success which a condescending Master has given to one who feels far more than ever his utter and entire unworthiness of such a favor—for these sermons have upon them the stamp of the Lord’s right hand, seeing that He has employed them for conviction, conversion and edification. It may, perhaps, be interesting to the reader to know that the sermon entitled, “Looking unto Jesus,” has received many and singular seals from the Lord. It has been pre-eminently blessed. At our Church Meet- ings, many conversions are ascribed to its instrumentality as a preached sermon. And from numerous incidents which have come under the no- tice of the saints in all parts of this country, I find that the reading of it has been attended with a like unction from on High. This fact I do not wonder at, for it is but another proof of the sovereignty of God, since the sermon is one of the most simple of the series and would probably be overlooked by those who are seeking for anything original and striking. The Master is in the sermon, and therefore, it has rejoiced the hearts of His people when applied by the Holy Spirit. Another sermon, entitled, “A Call to the Unconverted,” has been the means of awakening very many to a sense of their lost condition. So greatly was it acknowledged of God at the time of its utterance, that it has been reprinted as a little book, so as to be circulated in another form at the usual price of a sermon. Next to these, the discourses upon the following subjects have been the most remarkably used for the conversion of sinners —“Conversion of Saul of Tarsus,” “Paul’s Sermon before Felix,” “What have I Done?” “The World Turned Upside Down” and “The Glorious gospel.” I value a sermon, not by the approbation of men, or the ability manifest in it, but by the ef- fect produced in comforting the saints and awakening the sinner. Is not this, after all, the practical way of estimating all that is spoken or writ- ten? A fresh source of consolation has been opened to me from the infor- mation I receive of the good attendance at the public reading of these printed sermons. In lonely places there are Churches of Christ whose on- ly ministry is found in these pages, save when a passing evangelist is led to open his mouth among them. In rooms in the crowded haunts of pov- erty, these are read to hundreds who could scarcely understand any lan- guage more refined. At races, fairs and even at pilgrimages of the Romish Church, these have been used by earnest brothers as a means of obtain- ing an audience in the open air. In America, more than 150,000 volumes have been sold; in Australia, two local editions have appeared, besides those which have been exported by the London publishers. A Welsh edi- Volume 4 www.spurgeongems.org Page 2 Volume 4 PREFACE Page 3 tion has been issued monthly, and several of the sermons have been translated into Dutch, German, and French, while the English circula- tion remains undiminished. But what of all this, unless the Spirit of the Lord shall apply the Word with power? In vain is true doctrine and faithful warning without His di- vine influence! Brothers and sisters, pray for us, that the Word may be more and more a “savor of life unto life” in the souls of those who shall read these pages. There is one theme of rejoicing to which I am constrained to allude. The importance of the pulpit is evidently beginning to be recognized. I greatly rejoice in the opening of St. Paul’s Cathedral and other large buildings for the ministry of the Word. May the zeal of the Churches in- crease, and may the preaching be the proclamation of the truth as it is in Jesus. Sound doctrine is as essential now as in the days of the Refor- mation. We must not congratulate ourselves on the mere assemblage of crowds, but we must see to it that the gospel is preached, not mere moral maxims and ceremonial observances. I have observed numerous typographical errors in this volume, and would remark that the sermons are printed in haste to supply an eager demand, and that the printers are often so hurried that they cannot pos- sibly afford that careful scrutiny which would be given to a book pre- pared and printed at leisure. With love to all the people of God, I AM, THE SERVANT OF CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH, Charles H. Spurgeon Adapted from The C. H. Spurgeon Collection, Version 1.0, Ages Software. PLEASE PRAY THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL USE THIS SERMON TO BRING MANY TO A SAVING KNOWLEDGE OF JESUS CHRIST. By the grace of God, for all 63 volumes of C. H. Spurgeon sermons in Modern English, and 574 Spanish translations, visit: www.spurgeongems.org Volume 4 www.spurgeongems.org Page 3 Sermon #165 The New Park Street Pulpit 1 THE WARNING NEGLECTED N0. 165 A SERMON DELIVERED ON SABBATH MORNING, NOVEMBER 29, 1857, BY THE REV. C. H. SPURGEON, AT THE MUSIC HALL, ROYAL SURREY GARDENS. “He heard the sound of the trumpet and took not warning: his blood shall be upon him.” Ezekiel 33:5. IN all worldly things men are always awake enough to understand their own interests. There is scarcely a merchant who reads the paper who does not read it in some way or other with a view to his own person- al concerns. If he finds that by the rise or fall of the markets he will be either a gainer or a loser, that part of the day’s news will be the most im- portant to him. In politics— in fact in everything—that concerns temporal affairs, personal interest usually leads the van. Men will always be look- ing out for themselves and personal and home interests will generally en- gross the major part of their thoughts. But in religion it is otherwise. In religion, men love far rather to believe abstract doctrines and to talk of general truths than the searching inquiries which examine their own personal interest in it. You will hear many men admire the preacher who deals in generalities—but when, by-and-by, he comes to press home searching questions, they are offended. If we stand and declare general facts, such as the universal sinnership of mankind, or the need of a Sav- ior, they will give an assent to our doctrine and possibly they may retire greatly delighted with the discourse because it has not affected them. But how often will our audience gnash their teeth and go away in a rage because, like the Pharisees with Jesus, they perceive concerning a faith- ful minister, that he spoke of them? And yet, my brothers and sisters, how foolish this is! If in all other matters we like personalities—if in eve- rything else we look to our own concerns—how much more should we do so in religion? For surely every man must give an account for himself at the day of judgment.