The Spurgeon Series 1855 & 1856. Charles H. Spurgeon
been expounding the text, now I want to enforce it. I would, if my Lord would allow me, speak home to your souls, and so picture the danger of a presumptuous man, that I would make you all cry out to heaven that sooner might you die than presume; that sooner might you be found among those who lie prostrate at the foot of Christ, trembling all their lives, than among those who think they stand, and therefore fall. Christian men, the counsel of Scripture is — “Take heed.”
19. 1. First, take heed, because so many have fallen. My brother, could I take you into the wards of that hospital where lie sick and wounded Christians, I could make you tremble. I would show you one, who, by a sin that occupied him not a single moment, is so severely broken, that his life is one continued scene of misery. I could show you another one, a brilliant genius, who served his God with energy, who is now — not a priest of the devil it is true, but almost that — sitting down in despair, because of his sin. I could point you to another person, who once stood in the church, pious and consistent, but who now comes up to the same house of prayer as if he were ashamed of himself, sits in some remote corner, and is no longer treated with the kindness he formerly received, the brethren themselves being suspicious, because he so greatly deceived them, and brought such dishonour upon the cause of Christ. Oh! did you know the sad pain which those endure who fall. Could you tell how many have fallen, (and have not perished, it is true,) but still have dragged themselves along, in misery, throughout their entire existence, I am sure you would take heed. Come with me to the foot of the mountain of presumption. See there the maimed and writhing forms of many who once soared with Icarian {a} wings in the airy regions of self-confidence; yet there they lie with their bones broken, and their peace destroyed. There lies one who had immortal life within him; see how full of pain he appears, and he looks a mass of helpless matter. He is alive, it is true, but just alive. You know not how some of those enter heaven who are saved, “so as by fire.” One man walks to heaven; he keeps consistent; God is with him, and he is happy all his journey through. Another says, “I am strong, I shall not fall.” He runs aside to pluck a flower; he sees something which the devil has laid in his way; he is caught first in this gin, and then in that trap; and when he comes near the river, instead of finding before him that stream of nectar of which the dying Christian drinks, he sees fire through which he has to pass, blazing upon the surface of the water. The river is on fire, and as he enters it he is scorched and burned. The hand of God is lifted up saying, “Come on, come on”; but as he dips his foot in the stream, he finds the fire kindling around him, and though the hand clutches him by the hair of the head, and drags him through, he stands upon the shore of heaven, and cries, “I am a monument of divine mercy, for I have been saved so as by fire.” Oh! do you want to be saved by fire, Christians? Would you not rather enter heaven, singing songs of praises? Would you not glorify him on earth, and then give your last testimony with, “Victory, victory, victory, to him that loved us”; then shut your eyes on earth, and open them in heaven? If you would do so, presume not. “Let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”
20. 2. Once more, my brother, take heed, because a fall will so much damage the cause of Christ. Nothing has hurt religion one half, or one thousandth part, so much as the fall of God’s people. Ah! when a true believer sins, how will the world point at him. “That man was a deacon, but he knows how to charge exorbitantly. That man was a professor, but he can cheat as well as his neighbours. That man is a minister, and he lives in sin.” Oh! when the mighty fall — it is the rejoicing of the fir tree, for the cedar has fallen — how does the world exult! They chuckle over our sin; they rejoice over our faults; they fly around us, and if they can see one point where we are vulnerable, how will they say, “See these holy people are no better than they should be.” Because there is one hypocrite, men set down all the rest the same. I heard one man say, a little while ago, that he did not believe there was a true Christian living, because he had found out so many hypocrites. I reminded him that there could be no hypocrites if there were no genuine ones. No one would try to forge bank notes if there were no genuine ones. No one would think of passing a bad sovereign if there were no sterling coin. So the fact of their being some hypocrites proves that there are some genuine characters. But let those who are so, take heed; let them always, in their conduct, have the ring of true gold. Let your conversation be such as to become the gospel of Christ, lest by any means the enemy get the advantage over us, and slander the name of Jesus.
21. And especially is this incumbent upon the members of our own denomination, for it is often said that the doctrines we believe have a tendency to lead us to sin. I have heard it asserted most positively, that those high doctrines which we love and which we find in the Scriptures, are licentious ones. I do not know who has the hardihood to make that assertion, when they consider that the holiest of men have been believers in them. I ask the man who dares to say that Calvinism is a licentious religion, what he thinks of the character of Augustine, or Calvin, or Whitfield, who in successive ages were the great exponents of the system of grace; or what will he say of those Puritans, whose works are full of them? Had a man been an Arminian in those days, he would have been accounted the vilest heretic breathing; but now we are looked upon as the heretics, and they the orthodox. We have gone back to the old school; we can trace our descent from the Apostles. It is that vein of free grace running through the sermonising of Baptists, which has saved us as a denomination. Were it not for that, we should not stand where we are. We can run a golden link from hence up to Jesus Christ himself, through a holy succession of mighty fathers, who all held these glorious truths; and we can say to them, where will you find holier and better men in the world? We are not ashamed to say of ourselves, that however much we may be maligned and slandered, you will not find a people who will live closer to God than those who believe that they are saved not by their works, but by free grace alone. But, oh! you believers in free grace, be careful. Our enemies hate the doctrine; and if one falls, “Ah there,” say they “see the tendency of your principles.” Indeed, we might reply, see what is the tendency of your doctrine. The exception in our case proves the rule is true, that after all, our gospel does lead us to holiness. Of all men, those have the most disinterested piety, the sublimest reverence, the most ardent devotion, who believe that they are saved by grace, without works, through faith, and that not of themselves, it is the gift of God. Christian take heed, lest by any means Christ should be crucified afresh, and should be put to an open shame.
22. And now what more can I say? Oh you, my beloved, you my brethren, think not that you stand, lest you should fall. Oh you fellow heirs of everlasting life and glory, we are marching along through this weary pilgrimage; and I, whom God has called to preach to you, would turn affectionately to you little ones, and say, take heed lest you fall. My brother, stumble not. There lies the trap, there the snare. I am come to gather the stones out of the road, and take away the stumblingblocks. But what can I do unless, with due care and caution, you yourselves walk guardedly. Oh, my brethren; be much more in prayer than ever. Spend more time in pious adoration. Read the Scriptures more earnestly and constantly. Watch your lives more carefully. Live nearer to God. Take the best examples for your pattern. Let your conversation be redolent of heaven. Let your hearts be perfumed with affection for men’s souls. So live that men may take knowledge of you that you have been with Jesus, and have learned of him; and when that happy day shall come when he whom you love shall say, “Come up higher,” let it be your happiness to hear him say, “Come my beloved, you have fought a good fight, you have finished your course, and henceforth there is laid up for you a crown of righteousness that fades not away.” On, Christian, with care and caution! On, with holy fear and trembling! On yet, with faith and confidence, for you shall not fall. Read the next verse of this very chapter: “He will not suffer you to be tempted above that which you are able to bear, but will, with the temptation, also make a way to escape.”
23. But I have some here, perhaps, who may never hear my voice again; and I will not let my congregation go, God helping me, without telling them the way of salvation. Sirs, there are some of you who know you have not believed in Christ. If you were to die where you now sit you have no hope that you would rise among the glorified in bliss. How many are there here who if their hearts could speak, must testify that they are without God, without Christ, and strangers from the commonwealth of Israel. Oh, let me tell you then, what you must do to be saved. Does your heart beat high? Do you grieve over your sins? Do you repent of your iniquities? Will you