Spurgeon's Pulpit Prayers

Want of readiness to receive divine impressions from the word of God. When the heart is soft and tender, it is also humble and contrite, and ready to tremble at the word of God. So it is said of Josiah that "his heart was tender," and "he humbled himself before the LORD," when he heard his word, 2 Kings 22:18,19. This may be wanting in some in a great measure, and they may be sensible of it. They may find in themselves a great unreadiness to comply with divine warnings, reproofs, calls.

Preached for the morning service near Indianapolis IN

Of The Dominion of Sin and Grace Chapter 3 - Part B Some, it may be, will say that indeed they are "unskillful" in this "word of righteousness," as some are, Hebrews 5:13. They know not how to make use of Christ crucified unto this end, nor how to set themselves about it. Other ways of mortification they can understand.

The subject before us is one that needs stressing in these days. The great majority of our pulpits are silent upon it, and the fact that it has so little place in modern preaching is one of the signs of the times, one of the many evidences that the Apostasy must be near at hand. It is true that there are not a few who are praying for a world-wide Revival, but it appears to the writer that it would be more timely, and more scriptural, for prayer to be made to the Lord of the harvest, that He would raise up and thrust forth laborers who would fearlessly and faithfully preach those truths which are calculated to bring about a revival.

There are many in whom the case is dubious and not easily to be determined; for, on the one hand, they may have sundry things in them which may seem repugnant unto the reign of sin, but indeed are not inconsistent with it. All arguments and pleas from them in their vindication may fail them on a trial. And, on the other hand, there may be some in whom the effectual working of sin may be so great and perplexing as to argue that it hath the dominion, when indeed it hath not, but is only a stubborn rebel.

Chapter 2. Partial Apostasy From the Gospel — Pretenses of the Church of Rome Against the Charge of This Evil Examined and Rejected. Chapter 2

Satan assails us through our fellows. He has his apostles, evangelists, and ministers everywhere; nor is he without his house-to-house visitors and tract distributors. With great noise or with none, the drays and chariots of the evil one rush along the road, and will soon run us down unless we get out of their way. This is so difficult a task, that when we have prayed, "Lead us not into temptation," we are bidden to add, "but deliver us from evil;" for the most careful avoidance of evil will not suffice to prevent our being in peril.

1. If fallen man is unable to keep God's law, he cannot be obligated to keep it. Impotence obviously cancels responsibility. A child three or four years of age ought not to be whipped because it does not read and write. A legless man should not be sent to prison because he does not walk. Surely a just and holy God does not require sinful creatures to render perfect obedience to a divine and spiritual law. How is this objection to be met? First, by pointing out that it is not based upon Holy Writ but is merely human reasoning.

A steam-roller at work is the pattern of what a church ought to be; but this particular steam-roller is a type of what many churches are. A church should be "terrible as an army with banners;" but, oftentimes, it is not. "BEWARE OF THE STEAMROLLER!" seemed rather a humorous notice, under the circumstances. Why, a kitten need not be afraid of the huge machine, or its big wheels, when the fire is out.