True Prayer—True Power!

Charles Haddon (C.H.) Spurgeon ( 1834 –  1892) was a British Particular Baptist preacher. Spurgeon remains highly influential among Christians of different denominations, among whom he is known as the "Prince of Preachers". He was a strong figure in the Reformed Baptist tradition, defending the Church in agreement with the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith understanding, and opposing the liberal and pragmatic theological tendencies in the Church of his day.

In his lifetime, Spurgeon preached to around 10,000,000 people, often up to 10 times each week at different places. Spurgeon was the pastor of the congregation of the New Park Street Chapel (later the Metropolitan Tabernacle) in London for 38 years. He was part of several controversies with the Baptist Union of Great Britain and later had to leave the denomination. In 1857, he started a charity organization which is now called Spurgeon's and works globally. He also founded Spurgeon's College, which was named after him posthumously.

Spurgeon was a prolific author of many types of works including sermons, an autobiography, commentaries, books on prayer, devotionals, magazines, poetry, hymns and more. Many sermons were transcribed as he spoke and were translated into many languages during his lifetime. Spurgeon produced powerful sermons of penetrating thought and precise exposition. His oratory skills held throngs of listeners spellbound in the Metropolitan Tabernacle and many Christians have discovered Spurgeon's messages to be among the best in Christian literature.

A controversy among the Baptists flared in 1887 with Spurgeon's first "Down-grade" article, published in The Sword & the Trowel. In the ensuing "Downgrade Controversy," the Metropolitan Tabernacle became disaffiliated from the Baptist Union, effectuating Spurgeon's congregation as the world's largest self-standing church. Contextually the Downgrade Controversy was British Baptists' equivalent of hermeneutic tensions which were starting to divide Protestant fellowships in general.

The Controversy took its name from Spurgeon's use of the term "Downgrade" to describe certain other Baptists' outlook toward the Bible (i.e., they had "downgraded" the Bible and the principle of sola scriptura[1]). Spurgeon alleged that an incremental creeping of the Graf-Wellhausen hypothesis, Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, and other concepts was weakening the Baptist Union and reciprocally explaining the success of his own evangelistic efforts. The standoff even split his pupils trained at the College, each side accused the other of raising issues which did not need to be raised.

[1] Sola scriptura (Latin ablative, "by scripture alone") is the doctrine that the Bible contains all knowledge necessary for salvation and holiness. Consequently, sola scriptura demands only those doctrines are to be admitted or confessed that are found directly within or indirectly by using valid logical deduction or valid deductive reasoning from scripture. However, sola scriptura is not a denial of other authorities governing Christian life and devotion. Rather, it simply demands that all other authorities are subordinate to, and are to be corrected by, the written word of God. Sola scriptura was a foundational doctrinal principle of the Protestant Reformation held by the Reformers and is a formal principle of Protestantism today ([2])

[2]The Five solae are five Latin phrases that emerged during the Protestant Reformation and summarize the Reformers' basic theological beliefs in contradistinction to the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church of the day. The Latin word sola means "alone" or "only" in English. The five solae articulated five fundamental beliefs of the Protestant Reformation, pillars which the Reformers believed to be essentials of the Christian life and practice. All five implicitly rejected or countered the teachings of the then-dominant Catholic Church, which the Reformers claimed had usurped divine attributes or qualities for the Church and its hierarchy, especially its head, the Pope.).

• 1 Sola scriptura ("by Scripture alone")
• 2 Sola fide ("by faith alone")
• 3 Sola gratia ("by grace alone")
• 4 Solus Christus or Solo Christo ("Christ alone" or "through Christ alone")
• 5 Soli Deo gloria ("glory to God alone")

True Prayer—True Power! Delivered on Sabbath Morning, August 12th, 1860, by the REV. C. H. Spurgeon at Exeter Hall, Strand. This sermon should illustrate clearly enough why Charles Spurgeon is considered 'The Prince of Preachers'. This was preached half way through the 19th century: and yet, the message still gets across, loud and cloud, when it is read out the way it was originally preached! Preachers: please notice the excellent structure. A good structure is present in all his sermons. Also, notice how half of the sermon is taken up with actually looking at what the text says. Yet, Spurgeon has a way of doing this without it being really boring! It is so practical and descriptive and real. Spurgeon has a clear purpose and goal in mind: to help us be better at prayer. One of the best messages ever heard from him. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0p-mRMR8m4

Caricature of Spurgeon from Vanity fair (1870)

Not merely believe that "ye shall" but "ye do" receive them—count them as if they were received, reckon them as if you had them already, and act as if you had them—act as if you were sure you should have them—believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. Isn’t that exactly what Neville Goddard taught some 90 years later?

The Spurgeon Archive Brief biography, extensive e-text collection, and links.

10,000 Vistors!

I started this blog as I started researching Phineas Parkhurst Quimby and New Thought. I wanted to know how he healed. I also wanted to know how Myrtle Fillmore healed. I read something from someone sometime back that they would write their fourth book on healing.

I've discovered that's pretty easy.

Only God heals.

As the Quakers say, look to the "Inner Light", the Christ within.

The journey continues.

God is an experiential experience.

Success

TRUST IN GOD;

OR,

THREE DAYS

IN

THE LIFE OF GELLERT

1874.

Christian Furchtegott Gellert was born A. D. 1715, at Haynichen, in Germany, where his father was the pastor for fifty years. After a life of many trials and great bodily infirmities, he fell asleep in the Lord on the 13th of December, A. D. 1769, aged fifty-four years. He was in his forty-eighth year at the close of the Seven Years’ War.
His name is famous in his native land as a writer of sacred hymns, distinguished for their simplicity, fervor, and true devotional feeling, and which of late years have become widely known and appreciated in this country and in England, through the translations of Mrs. Winkworth and other congenial admirers. (From the preface)

It was in the midst of all the horrors of the Seven Years' War, that in a little room in a house in Leipsig called the Black Post, a man might have been seen seated before his table, his head resting on his hands. He appeared sick and weak. A cotton cap covered his head, and his emaciated body was wrapped in a well-worn calico dressing-gown.

It was easy to perceive at the first glance that this closet was the study of a scholar, so many books were piled up all around him, from the enormous folio to the smaller duodecimo. There were, however, only a few on the table, and among them a Bible, which bore the marks of frequent use. It was open at the second chapter of the book of Job, and these words of the tenth verse, "What! shall we receive good

at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil ?" were underscored.

This man was Christian Fiirchtegott Gellert. He was reading over a hymn, with which this passage of Job, just quoted, had that moment inspired him. Gellert  shared the lot of many other generous minds. It was often low tide with his revenues—never very considerable. Such was the case at this time ; and to tell the truth, he did not possess a single kreutzer. The day before, however, he had possessed thirty thalers, which he had put aside to buy wood, for it was freezing hard enough to crack the very stones, and all that he had would last him but a week. As for receipts, he did not expect any. This prospect was not very pleasing to a chilly invalid. The temperature of his room seemed to realize his fears, and the window panes began to be covered with the crystal flowers, without color or 23erfame, which recall few cheerful thoughts to those whose windows they adorn. But when the Tempter, armed with cares, came to disturb his peace, Gellert was accustomed to meet him with. another weapon, always victorious— the Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. He had done s^- at this time, and lighting on this beautiful passage in the book of Job, "bad meditated upon it with prayer, and under the influence of these words, had written his beautiful hymn.
 " I have had my days of blessing," etc.
a true echo of his scriptural thoughts, and of his present frame of mind.

He had just laid down his pen, and, his head resting on his hands, he said to himself, " No, I have no reason to repent of the use of those thirty thalers. Thou knowest it, O Lord, who canst read my soul! This gloom was a temptation, a want of faith! Pardon me; O Lord! I believe—help thou mine unbelief."

At this moment a knock was heard at the door, and before he could say " Come in ! ''' a stout little man entered, and cordially saluted Gellert. " Good morning, doctor,'' said the latter, extending his hand.

The little man seized this emaciated hand, pressed it warmly, put down his hat and cane, rubbed his hands, and cried, "Whew! how cold you are, my dear professor ! This won't do ! You must have more heat. Put on some wood ! Such cold weather ! Do you want to be really ill?"

'' My wood is out," said Gellert, sadly.

*' Well, buy some more!"

"My money is out, too," stammered Gellert, yet more embarrassed. "But —never mind—I will think of it.''

The doctor, who never stopped long at one thing, then cast his eyes on the paper. "Ah !" said he, ''a new

hymn?"

Gellert bowed, but he was evidently vexed. Without more ceremony, the doctor took the sheet and went to the window. “What! frosty panes, too? This is too bad!" Then, after having read it; "What fervor! What energy! What true Christian feeling! My dear sir, I must carry this off to take a copy. I will bring it back to you tomorrow. My wife, who honors you so much, must have the first sight of it. You will allow me?" And without waiting for an answer, he put it in his pocket. Then approaching the professor, whose looks protested in vain against this summary proceeding, lie felt his pulse. "No improvement! Did you sit up too late last night? Decidedly there is something wrong! You must go out—take rides on horseback. This exercise will be good for you. Buy a little horse ; do you hear?”

Gellert smiled. "Buy, always buy! Have you any more prescriptions as economical as this one ? They will be just as much to the purpose!"

"And this stove," said the doctor; “it must be heated if the last faggot goes in it. I will give my orders below. Now, my dear professor, God be with you!" Saying these words, he bowed hastily, and went out, before Gellert; had time to rise to accompany him to the door.

"Kind and skilful man!" said the latter; "but if I followed all his prescriptions, all old Neidhardt's money

would scarcely suffice."

The remembrance of this name gave another direction to Gellert's thoughts. The melancholy expression of his face disappeared, and his features betrayed more pleasant emotions. He was so much absorbed, that, having gone to the window, he did not even hear the noise made by the landlady in putting into the stove the wood ordered by the doctor.

Now, we must relate the history of those thirty thalers which Gellert had set apart to replenish his provision of wood. The day before he had made use of them, which, although it showed the goodness of his heart, rendered his enjoyment of a warm stove during that winter extremely uncertain.

The “Three Days” are about true humility, faith and giving and receiving.

The whole book is only 122 pages.

The man wrote hymns.