"...if anyone makes the assistance of grace depend on the humility or obedience of man and does not agree that it is a gift of grace itself that we are obedient and humble, he contradicts the Apostle who says, "What have you that you did not receive?" (1 Cor. 4:7), and, "But by the grace of God I am what I am" (1 Cor. 15:10). (Council of Orange: Canon 6)
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"If sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish with our arms around their knees, imploring them to stay. If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unprayed for. - C.H. Spurgeon.
Comments
Those of us who are Reformed in our Theology need to read quotes like this quite often. Yes, God saves His elect, but we have no idea who the elect are and neither does our enemy. Therefore, we must do as Spurgeon says and warn everyone of the wrath to come and pray fervently for each to believe and repent.
In Christ
Mike Ratliff
Posted by: Mike Ratliff | June 12, 2006 11:12 AM
"If sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish with our arms around their knees, imploring them to stay. If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unprayed for. - C.H. Spurgeon.
Ha! Yes, let them do all these things, for no amount of "leaping," "leg holding," "imploring," or even "warnings" or "prayer" will change, one iota, the eternal decree, pleasure, and will of God to capriciously damn them, and that irrevocably.
Posted by: Exist-Dissolve | June 12, 2006 11:38 AM
Exist-Dissolve
God ordains both the end and the means which means He does not save people in a void without means ... the very things you ridicule. Election by itself does not save, but the redemption of Christ whom we are united to by the Holy Spirit. So prayer is necessary. That means our that "leaping," "leg holding," "imploring," or even "warnings" or "prayer" (the means of salvation) are only meaningful if God is sovereign. God also decreed our prayers. Prayer and preaching are, therefore, both critical and meaningful in the process of applying the redemptive work of Christ to His elect uniting them to Himself.
Spurgeon himself also said, "Let us arose ourselves to the sternest fidelity, labouring to win souls as much as if it all depended wholly upon ourselves, while we fall back, in faith, upon the glorious fact that everything rests with the eternal God." - C.H. SPURGEON
What use has prayer if God can do nothing for a person to save him? How can an Arminian pray for the unsaved without violating his "free will"? Prayer only makes sense if God is completely sovereign. We pray because we believe only God can save ... while the other option is to believe unregenerate man has the power to save himself apart form the Holy Spirit.
God works concurrently with his church to bring about His appointed ends so our prayers are indeed meaningful. He does not save people in a void, but through the preaching of the gospel. The Holy Spirit germinates the seed of the gospel in His elect that they might believe in Christ and be justified.
Also God, by definition, is not capricious, characterized by or subject to whim or impulsive. He always conspires with His own wisdom to do what is right. All things are defined by Him. He created all things and set the boundaries and rules by which they exist. If who is saved is capricious, then was not your very existence capricous? Yet I don't see you complaining about this? Was it capricious of God to allow some to be born in the midst of squalor, starvation and poverty? Will you blame Him for this? Will you talk back to God and demand that he give an account for Himself? Your comment is presumptious at best.
There is no room for belitting of God here. Scripture is our highest presupporition for authority not the unaided human logic you propose. We can only know God as he has revealed Himself, not as you or I suppose him to be.
This is not about philosophy but revelation
Posted by: John H | June 12, 2006 11:53 AM
KERPOW! Home run refutation right there.
To Exist-Dissolve, please understand that we respect your opinion. Your use of sarcasm and general harshness, however, make you seem decreasingly credible. You aren't even making real arguments, you are just throwing out your emotions. Let's have an enjoyable discussion! You may have more fun than you realize, and you'll learn a lot, even if you don't end up agreeing with us.
Please consider that.
God bless,
A. Shepherd
The Aspiring Theologian
Posted by: Aspiring Theologian | June 12, 2006 07:47 PM
Mmmmm...Heresy.
Posted by: Tony | August 19, 2006 07:12 PM
Hi, I am looking for the original source of Spurgeon's writings in that quote 'If sinners be damned'
Does anyone know where it is?
Posted by: Natty | August 31, 2006 03:34 PM
This quote is from the following sermon:
THE WAILING OF RISCA.
NO. 349
A SERMON DELIVERED ON SABBATH MORNING,
DECEMBER 9TH, 1860
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