The Spurgeon Series 1855 & 1856. Charles H. Spurgeon
sake, if they would drink clear well aged wine, if they would enjoy holy and happy communion with Jesus; if they would be lifted up above the cares and troubles of this world, let them imitate Jesus Christ. Oh! my brethren, there is nothing that can give you such an advantage, nothing can so prosper you, so assist you, so make you walk towards heaven rapidly, so keep your head upwards towards the sky, and your eyes radiant with glory, like the imitation of Jesus Christ. When by the power of the Holy Spirit, then you are enabled to walk with Jesus in his very footsteps, and tread in his ways, you are most happy, and you are most known to be the sons of God. For your own sake, my brethren, I say, be like Christ.
14. Next, for religions’ sake, strive to imitate Jesus. Ah! poor religion, you have been severely shot at by cruel foes, but you have not been wounded one half so much by them as by your friends. No one has hurt you, oh Christianity, so much as those who profess to be your followers. Who have made these wounds in this fair hand of Godliness? I say, the professor has done this, who has not lived up to his profession; the man, who with pretences, enters the fold, being nothing but a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Such men, sirs, injure the gospel more than others: more than the laughing infidel; more than the sneering critic, does the man hurt our cause, who professes to love it, but in his actions belies his love. Christian, do you love that cause? Is the name of the dear Redeemer precious to you? Would you see the kingdoms of the world become the kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ? Do you wish to see the proud man humbled and the mighty abased? Do you long for the souls of perishing sinners, and are you desirous to win them, and save their souls from everlasting burning? Would you prevent their fall into the regions of the damned? Is it your desire that Christ should see the travail of his soul, and be abundantly satisfied? Does your heart yearn over your fellow mortals? Do you long to see them forgiven? Then be consistent with your religion. Walk before God in the land of the living. Behave as an elect man should do. Remember what manner of people we ought to be, in all holy conversation and godliness. This is the best way to convert the world; yes, such conduct would do more than even the efforts of missionary societies, excellent as they are. Let men only see that our conduct is superior to others, then they will believe there is something in our religion; but if they see us quite the contrary to what we avow, what will they say? These religious people are no better than others! “Why should we go among them?” And they say it quite rightly. It is only a common sense judgment. Ah, my friends, if you love religion, for her own sake be consistent, and walk in the love of God. Follow Christ Jesus.
15. Then, to put it into the strongest form I can, let me say, for Christ’s sake, endeavour to be like him. Oh! could I bring the dying Jesus here, and let him speak to you! My own tongue is tied this morning, but I would make his blood, his scars and his wounds speak. Poor dumb mouths, I bid each of them plead on his behalf. Oh how would Jesus standing here, show you his hands this morning! “My friends,” he would say, “behold me! these hands were pierced for you; and look here at my side. It was opened as the fountain for your salvation. See my feet; there entered the cruel nails. Each of these bones was dislocated for your sake. These eyes gushed with torrents of tears. This head was crowned with thorns. These cheeks were smitten; this hair was plucked; my body became the centre and focus of agony. I hung quivering in the burning sun; and all for you, my people. And will you not love me now? I bid you be like me. Is there any fault in me? Oh! no. You believe that I am fairer than ten thousand fairs, and lovelier than ten thousand loves. Have I injured you? Have I not rather done all for your salvation? And do I not sit at my Father’s throne, and even now intercede on your behalf? If you love me,” — Christian, hear that word, let the sweet syllables ring for ever in your ears, like the prolonged sounding of silver toned bells — “if you love me, if you love me, keep my commandments.” Oh, Christian, let that “if” be put to you this morning. “If you love me.” Glorious Redeemer! is it an “if” at all? You precious, bleeding Lamb can there be an “if?” What, when I see your blood gushing from you; is it an “if?” Yes, I weep to say it is an “if.” Often my thoughts make it an “if,” and oft my words make it an “if.” But yet I think my soul feels it is not an “if,” either.
Not to my eyes is light so dear,
Nor friendship half so sweet.
“Yes, I love you, I know that I love you. Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you”; can the Christian say. “Well then,” says Jesus, looking down with a glance of affectionate approbation, “since you love me, keep my commandments.” Oh beloved, what mightier reason can I give than this? It is the argument of love and affection. Be like Christ, since gratitude demands obedience; so shall the world know that you have been with Jesus.
16. IV. Ah! then you wept, and I perceive you felt the force of pity, and some of you are enquiring, “HOW CAN I IMITATE HIM?” It is my business, then, before you depart, to tell you how you can become transformed into the image of Christ.
17. In the first place, then, my beloved friends, in answer to your enquiry, let me say, you must know Christ as your Redeemer before you can follow him as your Exemplar. Much is said about the example of Jesus, and we scarcely find a man now who does not believe that our Lord was an excellent and holy man, much to be admired. But excellent as his example, it would be impossible to imitate it, had he not also been our sacrifice. Do you this morning know, that his blood was shed for you? Can you join with me in this verse, —
Oh the sweet wonders of that cross,
Where God the Saviour lov’d and died;
Her noblest life my spirit draws,
From his dear wounds and bleeding side.
If so, you are on a fair way to imitate Christ. But do not seek to copy him until you are bathed in the fountain filled with blood, drawn from his veins. It is not possible for you to do so; your passion will be too strong and corrupt, and you will be building without a foundation, a structure which will be about as stable as a dream. You cannot mould your life to his pattern, until you have had his Spirit, until you have been clothed in his righteousness. “Well,” say some, “we have proceeded so far, what next shall we do? We know we have an interest in him, but we are still sensible of our many deficiencies.” Next then, let me entreat you to study Christ’s character. This poor Bible is become an almost obsolete book, even with some Christians. There are so many magazines, periodicals, and such like ephemeral productions, that we are in danger of neglecting to search the Scriptures. Christian, would you know your Master? Look at him. There is a wondrous power about the character of Christ, for the more you regard it the more you will be conformed to it. I view myself in the glass, I go away, and forget what I was. I behold Christ, and I become like Christ. Look at him; then, study him in the evangelists, studiously examine his character. “But,” you say, “we have done that, and we have proceeded only a little farther.” Then, in the next place, correct your poor copy every day. At night, try and recount all the actions of the twenty-four hours, scrupulously putting them under review. When I have proof sheets sent to me of any of my writings, I have to make the corrections in the margin. I might read them over fifty times, and the printers would still put in the errors if I did not mark them. So must you do if you find anything faulty, at night make mark in the margin that you may know where the fault is, and tomorrow may amend it. Do this, day after day continually, noting your faults one by one, so that you may better avoid them. It was a maxim of the old philosophers, that three times in the day we should go over our actions. So let us do; let us not be forgetful; let us rather examine ourselves each night, and see what we have done amiss, that we may reform our lives.
18. Lastly, as the best advice I can give, seek more of the Spirit of God, for this is the way to become Christ-like. All your attempts to be like him are pointless until you have sought his Spirit. Take the cold iron, and attempt to weld it if you can into a certain shape. How fruitless the effort! Lay it on the anvil, seize the black smith’s hammer with all your might; let blow after blow fall upon it, and you shall have done nothing. Twist it, turn it, use all your implements, but you shall not be able to fashion it as you desire. But put it in the fire, let it be softened and made malleable, then lay it on the anvil, and each stroke shall have a mighty effect, so that you may fashion it into any form you may desire. So take your heart, not cold as it is, not stony,