C. H. Spurgeon's Sermons On SOVEREIGNTY @ Pilgrim Publications

SERMONS ON SOVEREIGNTY

"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tindings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, thy GOD REIGNETH !" [Isaiah 52:7]

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"It is a great thing to begin the Christian life by believing good SOLID DOCTRINE. Some people have received twenty different 'gospels' in as many years; how many more they will accept before they get to their journey's end, it would be difficult to predict.

I THANK God that He early taught me THE Gospel..." [CHS]

(See More Below)

A COLLECTION of 19 of C. H. Spurgeon's outstanding sermons on the Sovereignty of God and Doctrines of Grace, understood from the "Calvinistic" point of view; taken from the New Park Street Pulpit and Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit 63-Volume Sermon Set. Spurgeon preaches the doctrines of Election, Depravity, the Atonement, Effectual Calling, Security, Providence, plus clarifications, in the usual fervent, evangelistic spirit characteristic of him... and not simply as theoretical thought. Sometimes we have seen men become so enamored with these truths that they departed from the primary gospel theme and made shipwreck of their faith. While this is the case with some, it is no fault of the truth itself and should not deter us from believing, preaching, and defending these precious truths.

C. H. Spurgeon is the most unique minister of the Gospel in English history. For years he has been called "the Prince of Preachers." These sermons deal with some of the "strong meat" of the Word of God and we know of no one who was more skilled in delivering it for the hearer's benefit than Mr. Spurgeon. He had a "balance" which is rarely found in this area, having a strong doctrinal stand majoring on the gospel of Salvation by Grace through Faith. He always preached Christ Crucified, even when dealing with such weighty controversial subjects as defended in this book, and is a good "model" for others to follow. Even those who may not be in complete agreement with Spurgeon on the views he holds will find themselves spiritually blessed by the reading of these messages.

In a time when the Theology which is grounded in the theory of "free will" has in many areas descended into mysticism, subjectivism, and humanism — and when the Theology of some of the former strongholds of Calvinism has lost out to denominational priorities, worldly attainment, and other carnal seductions... this book will serve as a trumpet call to heed the old paths of the men of faith who resigned themselves to the Sovereign Will of God and put no confidence in the flesh. This volume is a good "sampler" of what one finds throughout the set of his great sermons. Spurgeon not only served his own generation, but by the grace and providence of God his printed sermons have perpetuated his work to the extent that it may indeed be said of him as it was of Abel, "He being dead yet speaketh."

"We believe in the FIVE GREAT POINTS commonly known as Calvinistic."

SPURGEON'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Vol 1, Page 328

Read More in the

Exposition of the DOCTRINES of GRACE

from the 1861 Grace Conference

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NOTES OF INTEREST

by C. H. Spurgeon

Why the TERM "CALVINIST" ?

The word "Calvinism", is frequently used here as the short word which embraces that part of divine truth which teaches that salvation is by grace alone, but it is not hence to be imagined that we attach any authority to the opinion of John Calvin, other than that which is due to every holy man who is ordained of God to proclaim His Truth.

We use the word simply for shortness of expression, and because the enemies of free grace will then be quite sure of what we mean. It is our firm belief, that what is commonly called Calvinism, is neither more nor less than the good old Gospel of the Puritans, the Martyrs, the Apostles, and of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Here, the proud legalist, the conceited believer in the unaided strength of man, and the self-exalting moralist, will discover very little suitable to their corrupt palate and much to excite their enmity; but the humbled sinner may possibly find words of comfort, and the self-loathing believer will perhaps obtain a glimpse of his Lord.

Our hope is, that inferior matters in dispute will not so much be regarded, as "the things which we have spoken touching the King." JESUS IS THE TRUTH. We believe in Him, — not merely in His Words. He himself is Doctor and Doctrine, Revealer and Revelation, the Illuminator and the Light of Men. He is exalted in every word of truth, because He is its sum and substance. He sits above the gospel, like a prince on His own throne. Doctrine is most precious when we see it distilling from His lips and embodied in His person. Sermons are valuable in proportion as they speak of Him and point to Him.

A Christless gospel is no gospel and a Christless discourse is the cause of Merriment to devils. The Holy Ghost who has ever been our sole instructor, will we trust, teach us more of Jesus, until we comprehend with all saints, what are the heights, and depths, and know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,

only have we laboured to extol; may the Lord himself succeed our endeavours.

C. H. SPURGEON

on the

DOCTRINES

GRACE

SALVATION IS OF THE LORD. That is just an epitome of Calvinism; it is the sum and substance of it. If anyone should ask me what I mean by a Calvinist, I should reply, "He is one who says, 'Salvation is of the Lord.'" I cannot find in Scripture any other doctrine than this. It is the essence of the Bible, "He only is my rock and my salvation." Tell my anything contrary to this truth, and it will be a heresy; tell me a heresy, and I shall find its essence here, that it has departed from this great, this fundamental, this rock-truth, "God is my rock and my salvation..." I have my own private opinion that there is no such thing as preaching Christ and Him crucified, unless we preach what nowadays is called Calvinism. It is a nickname to call it Calvinism; Calvinism is the gospel, and nothing else. I do not believe we can preach the gospel, if we do not preach justification by faith, without works; nor unless we preach the Sovereignty of God in His dispensation of grace; nor unless we exalt the electing, unchangeable, eternal, immutable, conquering love of Jehovah; nor do I think we can preach the gospel, unless we base it upon the special and particular redemption of His elect and chosen people which Christ wrought out upon the cross; nor can I comprehend a gospel which lets saints "fall away" after they are called, and suffers the children of God to be burned in the fires of damnation after having once believed in Jesus—such a gospel I abhor.

When it (Calvinism) is preached there is a something in it which excites thought. A man may hear sermons upon the other theory which shall glance over him as the swallow's wing gently sweeps the brook, but these old doctrines either make a man so angry that he goes home and cannot sleep for very hatred, or else they bring him down into lowliness of thought, feeling the immensity of the things which he has heard. Either way it excites and stirs him up not temporarily, but in a most lasting manner. These doctrines haunt him, he kicks against the pricks, and full often the word forces a way into his soul. And I think this is no small thing for any doctrine to do, in an age given to slumber, and with human hearts so indifferent to the truth of God. I know that many men have gained more good by being made angry under a sermon than by being pleased by it, for being angry they have turned the truth over and over again, and at last the truth has burned its way right into their hearts. They have played with edge-tools, but they have cut themselves at last.

The fact that conversion and salvation are of God, is a humbling truth. It is because of its humbling character that men do not like it. To be told that God must save me if I am saved, and that I am in His hand, as clay is in the hands of the potter, "I do not like it" saith one. Well, I thought you would not; whoever dreamed you would?

"As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For He saith to Moses, I WILL have mercy on whom I WILL have mercy, and I WILL have compassion on whom I WILL have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. For the Scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore hath He mercy on whom He will have mercy, and whom He will He hardeneth." [Romans 9:13-18].

The doctrine of Grace makes a man look down upon himself. "Ah," saith he, "I am nothing, there is nothing in me to merit esteem. I have no goodness of my own. If saved, I cannot praise myself; I cannot in any way ascribe to myself honour; God has done it, God has done it." Nothing makes the man so humble; but nothing makes him so glad; nothing lays him so low at the mercy seat, but nothing makes him so brave to look his fellow man in the face. It is a grand truth: would God ye all knew its mighty power! [See SAFE IN CHRIST !]

HOW I LEARNED OF GRACE

by C. H. Spurgeon

Well can I remember the manner in which I learned the doctrines of Grace in a single instant ?

Born as all of us are by nature, an "Arminian," I still believed the old things I had heard continually from the pulpit, and did not see the Grace of God. When I was coming to Christ, I thought I was doing it all myself, and though I sought the Lord earnestly, I had no idea the Lord was seeking me. I do not think the young convert is at first aware of this.

I can recall the very day and hour when first I received these truths in my own soul — when they were, as John Bunyan says, burnt into my heart as with a hot iron: I can recollect how I felt that I had grown all of a sudden from a babe into a man — that I had made progress in scriptural knowledge, through having found, once for all, the clue to the truth of God.

One week-night when I was sitting in the house of God, I was not thinking much about the preacher's sermon, for I did not believe it. The thought struck me, "how did you come to be a Christian?" (...I sought the Lord). But how did you come to seek the Lord? — (the truth flashed across my mind in a moment) — I should not have sought Him unless there had been some previous influence in my mind to make me seek Him.

I prayed, thought I, but then I asked myself, "How came I to pray?" — I was induced to pray by reading the Scriptures. I did read them; but what led me to do so? — Then, in a moment, I saw that God was at the bottom of it all, and that He was the Author of my faith; and as the whole doctrine of GRACE opened up to me, and from that doctrine I have not departed to this day, and I desire to make it my constant confession.

"I ascribe my change wholly to God."

WAS SPURGEON A "HYPER-CALVINIST" ?

Often those who disagree with the doctrines of grace presented here assail them as "Hyper-Calvinism." Even in Spurgeon's day there were some who referred to him as a "hyper," while those who were in fact hyper-Calvinists looked upon CHS as an Arminian ["theologically" — not the Russian province].

Dr. John R. Rice [1895-1980], editor of The Sword of the Lord [Murfreesboro TN-USA], an excellent author of many fine books (although an Arminian on the doctrines of grace), defended Spurgeon in the May 22, 1970 issue of his paper, stating that Spurgeon was "not a Hyper-Calvinist." Dr. Rice said: "So Spurgeon continually gave a public invitation for 'whosoever will.' He felt as I do, preached as I do on that matter. And by the way, Spurgeon also mentioned occasionally those who criticized him whom he called 'Hyper-Calvinists.'"

Since Dr. Rice had often published articles on hyper-Calvinism in his widely-circulated paper, it may be of significance to some who read this book to know that he does not regard Spurgeon as a Hyper-Calvinist, and consequently would not regard the doctrines preached by him as hyper-Calvinism. I have written 8 articles on this subject as it relates to the "Hardshell" Primitive Baptist faction, as well as a booklet entitled, "The Killing Effects of Calvinism"—Hyper-Calvinistic "Hardshellism" Refuted. [See my Writings].

After reading this book you will no doubt feel the same way about the matter; furthermore, you will have a great understanding of what is involved under the theme, "The Doctrines of Grace." [Bob L. Ross]

PUBLISHER'S FORWARD

SERMONS

Internet Sermons Linked below, HTML courtesy of


	BOOK CONTENTS
1)	A Defense of Calvinism	Jonah 2:9
2)	MISREPRESENTATIONS of True Calvinism Cleared Away	1861 *Grace* Conference Introduction
3)	Divine Sovereignty	Matthew 20:15
4)	The Infallibility of God's Purpose	Job 23:13
5)	Election	2 Thessalonians 2:13-14
6)	Election — Its Defences and Evidences	1 Thessalonians 1:4-6
7)	Particular Redemption	Matthew 20:28
8)	Plenteous Redemption	Psalm 130:9
9)	Prevenient Grace	Galatians 1:15
10)	Human Inability	John 6:44
11)	Effectual Calling	Genesis 7:5
12)	Resurrection With Christ	Ephesians 2:4-5
13)	Free Grace	Ezekiel 36:32
14)	Distinguishing Grace	1 Corinthians 4:7
15)	Salvation Altogether by Grace	2 Timothy 1:9
16)	The Final Perseverance of the Saints	Job 17:9
17)	The Doctrines of Grace Do Not Lead to Sin	Romans 6:14-15
18)	Providence	Matthew 10:30
19)	Providence — from the Book of Esther	Esther 9:1
— Additional 6 Single Sermons Below Sent With Order —
Bonus	Free Will — A Slave	John 5:40
Bonus	Justification by Grace	Romans 3:24
Bonus	Perseverance In Holiness	Jeremiah 32:40
Bonus	A Testimony to Free & Sovereign Grace	Psalm 37:39
Bonus	The Hairs of Your Head Numbered	Matthew 10:30
Bonus	The Withering Work of the Spirit	Isaiah 40:6-8, & 1 Peter 1:23-25
*WWW*	Sovereign Grace and Man's Responsibility [another related sermon, but not available in the book]	Romans 10:20-21