Monday, March 31, 2008

Therefore the world hateth you

colorful spring garden

If we were of the world, the world would love its own, but “because,” said Christ, “ye are not of the world but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” “We know,” said he, “it hated me before it hated you.” True Christians are aliens, foreigners, men that speak another speech, men who are actuated by different motives, men who live for different ends, who are governed by different maxims from the rest of the men of this world, therefore it is that their pathway must be one of trial and opposition. All things the Christian teaches are so dead against the pleasures of the worldling and his gain, that it is no wonder he opposes us. Men hate the gospel because the gospel does not like them. That Church is never true to her Christ, nor true to herself which does not draw upon herself the hatred of ungodly men, by a faithful testimony against their sins.

From a sermon entitled "Fire! Fire! Fire!" delivered June 23, 1861. Flickr photo by Anita Martinz; some rights reserved.

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Do we think enough of Heaven?



Brethren, do you and I think enough of heaven? Do we not think too much of earth? Do we not think too much of the toil, and too little of the time when it shall all be over? A few more days and you and I, believers, shall have done fighting with Satan, have done with temptations, have done with cares, have done with woes. An hour’s work and an eternity of rest! One day’s toil; and when I shall have accomplished as an hireling my day, then thou comest, O sweet and gentle rest! "For they rest from their labors, and their works do follow them." Courage, pilgrim courage! Up that crag, man! Now put hand and knee to it — up! — for when you have climbed a little higher, ay, but a very little, you shall lie down to rest, and then no more fatigue or sorrow. And there too, when we come to the top of the hill of God, we shall be above all the clouds of worldly care, and sin, and temptation. Oh! How deep is the rest of the people of God above! How calm is their sky!

From a sermon entitled "Climbing the Mountain," delivered June 16, 1861. Flickr photo by Deepak; some rights reserved.

Friday, March 28, 2008

The spotless life of Christ



I find that many young Christians who are very clear about being saved by the merits of Christ’s death, do not seem to understand the merits of his life. Remember, young believers, that from the first moment when Christ did lie in the cradle until the time when he ascended up on high, he was at work for his people; and from the moment when he was seen in Mary’s arms, till the instant when in the arms of death he “bowed his head and gave up the ghost,” he was at work for your salvation and mine. He completed the work of obedience in his life, and said to his Father, “I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” Then he completed the work of atonement in his death, and knowing that all things were accomplished, he cried, “It is finished.” He was through his life spinning the web for making the royal garment, and in his death he dipped that garment in his blood. In his life he was gathering together the precious gold, in his death he hammered it out to make for us a garment which is of wrought gold. You have as much to thank Christ for loving as for dying, and you should be as reverently and devoutly grateful for his spotless life as for his terrible and fearful death.

From a sermon entitled "The Lord Our Righteousness," delivered June 2, 1861. Flickr photo by Matt McGee ; some rights reserved.

Thursday, March 27, 2008

That the glory may go to God

Springtime flowers

When I have sometimes had it flung in my teeth — “This man was never educated at college; this man came into the ministry in literary attainments totally unprepared for it; he is only fit to address the poor; his ministry is not polite and polished, he has but little classical instruction; he cannot read forty languages,” I say Precisely so; every word of it is true, and a great deal more. I would not stay you, if you will go on, if you will just show me more my folly, if you will just discover to me yet more my want of prudence, if the wise man would say, “This man takes a daring project in hand and does not consult any man, does not able anybody about it, but goes and does it like a madman,” — just so, precisely so; I will agree to the whole of it; but when I have said this I will remind you that “God hath chosen the base things of this world to confound the mighty, and the things that are not to bring to nought the things that are.” On this wise I will put it, in this thing I will become a fool in glorying, — What have your college men done that is comparable to this work? What have the wisest and most instructed of modern ministers done in the conversion of souls compared with the work of the unlettered boy? It was God’s work, and God chose the most unfitting instrument that he might have the more glory.

From a sermon entitled "'Even So, Father!'," delivered May 26, 1861. Flickr photo by Bea; some rights reserved.

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Lessons of wisdom

Red Sky At Night

Amongst the Swiss, the Vaudois, and the Waldenses, every minister trains one young man. Those pastors or shepherds always have a younger brother to travel with them wherever they go. He watches the elder pastor, observes his ways, listens to his holy prayers, is inspired with his spirit, learns to tread the craggy mountains with him, learns to defy the enemy through the courage which he sees in his elder brother. He learns lessons of wisdom which are not to be learnt from books, lessons of practical pastoral training which are not to be gathered from the best professors of the best colleges in the world. And thus the Swiss have ever maintained a succession of men, perhaps not brilliant, but always useful, — perhaps not popular, but always sound and valiant in their defense of the truth. And should it not be so with the Church? If to carry it out it need a laborious ministry, so much the better. If it need a holy and wise ministry, so much the better. No other man should be a minister at all. If it need a watchful Church, and a prayerful Church, and a Church which consecrates liberally of its substance to the Lord, I say so much the better — for so ought every Church to be. The only question is, are we in the right state now to accomplish all the Lord’s purposes? If we be not, let us make it a matter of prayer that we may be brought into this state, for we are never healthy unless we are prepared to do whatever God calls us to do.

From a sermon entitled "The Church — Conservative And Aggressive," delivered May 19, 1861. Flickr photo by Amy Mew ; some rights reserved.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

We need God's wisdom in a world such as this

River


A man must be prudent in such a world as this. He will soon cut his feet if he do not pick his steps. He will soon tear his garments with thorns and briars if he do not choose his way. This is a land full of enemies; we must be wise, or the arrow will suddenly find out a vulnerable place in our armor. We must be cautious, for we are not travelling in noon-day on the king’s highway, but rather at night-fall, and we may, therefore, be attacked by robbers, and may lose our precious treasures. He who is in a wilderness, and in a wilderness infested with robber bands, must handle matters wisely
if he would find good.

From a sermon entitled "Trust In God - True Wisdom," delivered May 12, 1861. Flickr photo by Angela Sevin; some rights reserved.

Saturday, March 22, 2008

A fullness of blessings!

Sunrise

The Daily Spurgeon wishes you a joyous Resurrection Sunday! We'll see you again on Tuesday, March 24.

There is a fullness of atoning efficacy in his blood, for “the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanseth us from all sin.” There is a fullness of justifying righteousness in his life, for “there is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.” There is a fullness of divine providence in his plea, for “he is able to save to the uttermost them that come unto God by him; seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” There is a fullness of victory in his death, for "through death he destroyed him that had the power of death, that is the devil."

There is a fullness of efficacy in his resurrection from the dead, for by it we are "begotten again to a lively hope.” There is a fullness of triumph in his ascension, for “when he ascended up on high he led captivity captive, and received gifts for men.” There is a fullness of blessings unspeakable, unknown; a fullness of grace to pardon, of grace to regenerate, of grace to sanctify, of grace to preserve and of grace to perfect.

From a sermon entitled "The Fulness Of Christ — Received!," delivered October 20, 1861. Flickr photo by Christina Robinson; some rights reserved.

Friday, March 21, 2008

It Is Finished



He is nailed to the tree; the world abhors him, fools gaze, and sinners laugh. Do you lay down your weapons and say, it is idle to defend such a man as this? It is all over now, he bows his head upon the cross. “It is finished,” saith he; and do your unbelieving hearts say, “Ay, indeed, it is finished; his career is over, his hopes are blighted, his prospects withered?” Ah! Little do you know that his shame was the mother of his future glory; that the stooping was the rising, that the crown of thorns was in fact the fruitful root out of which sprang the eternal crown of glory.

From a sermon entitled "The Missionaries' Charge And Charts," delivered April 21, 1861. Photo courtesy of stock.xchng.

Thursday, March 20, 2008

The Last Census



Personal matters alone will come into the great census paper of eternity. There is no truth which we need more frequently to hold up before the eyes of our people than the truth that nothing but personal godliness will ever avail. If you could trace your pedigree through a line of saints up to the apostles, nay, up to Mary herself, the mother of the Savior, yet, unless you did yourself believe in Christ and had yourself been the subject of the personal change, which is called regeneration you should in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven. No connections, however admirable; no relations, however desirable, no proxies, however excellent, shall ever avail for any dying man. We must ourselves stand before God, each man for himself to be acquitted, or to be condemned to hear, “Come, thou blessed,” or “Depart, thou cursed one.”

There may be and there always must be, when we take men in the mass, (and God often in his providence deals with men in the mass) there may be innocent persons who suffer in the common calamity. There are likewise wicked men who rejoice in common mercies. But at the last the evil shall be unto the evil, and the good shall be unto the good. The wheat shall be unmixed with chaff; the wine shall no more be mingled with the water, the gold shall not become dimmed through alloy. God’s people, each of them personally accepted, and the wicked, each of them personally condemned, shall meet their final doom. See to it, sire, each one of you, that you personally have an interest in the blood of the Lamb.

From a sermon entitled "The Last Census," delivered April 14, 1861. Flickr photo by Louise Docker; some rights reserved.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

His Blood cleanses us from all sin

Waterfall

It is a great truth which lies at the foundation of the gospel system, that the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s dear Son, cleanseth us from all sin. When a man is washed in the sacred laver which is filled with the blood of the atonement, he is not partially cleansed, but he is clean every whit. Not so much as the shadow of a spot remains upon the blood-washed. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.” If that cleansing were partial it were unavailing. If it left but one sin still upon us in the sight of God, it would have no power to save. It is only because when once applied by the Holy Spirit and received by faith it makes a total and complete cleansing from all past guilt, that it is of any use whatever to the poor trembling conscience of
the distressed sinner. Let us lay it down then in our own minds as a settled fact which neither our experience nor any of the teachings of diverse heretics shall make us let go, that he who by faith lays hold on Christ, hath his blood cleansed in that same hour, and all his iniquities are put away.

From a sermon entitled "Perfect Cleansing," delivered April 7, 1861. Flickr photo by Jun ; some rights reserved.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Let us all praise the Lord

Lake Pukaki, New Zealand

“It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord...”

What a joyous thing it is to hear the thousands praise God at once; every man contributing to the song; the poor coarse voice belonging to some of us, who never can learn music let us try as much as we will; the flute-like voices of our sisters, the deep resounding mellow bass of the full-developed man; all the different tones, and notes, and voices, perhaps expressive of our different degrees and growths in grace, of our different trials and our different temperaments, all join to swell one common hymn which rolls upward to the throne of God. Every man who refuses to praise God mars the song. Every dumb lip spoils the music. Every silent tongue has a disastrous effect upon the unanimity and oneness of the choir. Let us all praise the Lord. Let all creatures that have breath praise him. Let the heaven of heavens extol him; yea, let the dragons and all deeps howl forth his praise. We can never expect to have God in this house, or in our own houses, or in our own hearts, until we begin to praise him.

From a sermon entitled "Temple Glories," delivered March 31, 1861. Flickr photo by Kevin Grahame; some rights reserved.

Monday, March 17, 2008

We are one with Christ



“We are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his
father and mother, and shall cleave unto his wife, and they twain shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the Church.”

Christ and his Church are one — one as the stones are one with the foundation; one, as the branches are one with the vine; one, as the wife is one with the husband; one, as the members are one with the head; one as the soul is one with the body; nay, if there can be conceived a union closer still, and there is but one, we are one with Christ, even as Christ is one with his Father. “I in them, and thou in me;” for thus the union stands. Now, as soon as ever we are one with Christ, you see at once that Christ must be ours. There is a common property between Christ and his people. All theirs belongs to him; his belongs to them. They have not two stocks, they have but one. He has cast in his wealth, they have cast in their poverty, from that day they have common funds; they have but one purse they have all things in common. All he is and all he has is theirs, and all they are or can be belongs to him.

From a sermon entitled "The Interest of Christ and His People in Each Other," delivered March 29, 1861. Flickr photo by Mazda Hewitt; some rights reserved.

Saturday, March 15, 2008

He now makes intercession for us

Sun and Seashore

He has set forth Christ before every one of you, in the daily preaching of the Word, and in yon Inspired Book, as his anointed to do his work, suffering in the stead and place of all who believe on him. He has set him forth as nailed to Calvary’s cross, that your sins might be nailed there. Set him forth as dying, that your sins might die; nay, buried that your iniquities might be buried; risen, that you might rise to newness of life, ascended, that you might ascend to God; received in triumph, that you might be received in triumph too; made to reign, that you might reign in him, forever loved, forever crowned, that you in him may be forever loved and forever crowned too. Him hath God the Father set forth, that by faith in his blood our sins being put away, you might enjoy the blessing of complete justification. “Who is he that condemneth, Christ hath died, yea rather, hath risen again, and sitteth at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” “Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect?”

From a sermon entitled "Christ Set Forth As A Propitiation," delivered March 29, 1861. Flickr photo by miyukiutada ; some rights reserved.

Friday, March 14, 2008

Special thanks to our readers!

Just a quick note to say hello and thanks to the readership. For the most part, I like to stay out of the way and let the Prince of Preachers speak for himself (and the Lord). But I want you all to know how much I enjoy getting these excerpts out six days a week. The Daily Spurgeon has grown quite a bit since we launched it in June. With minimal advertising we've gotten over 200 RSS subscribers, and over 500 people have installed the Spurgeon application on Facebook. Lots of folks check in every day from around the English-speaking world as well as Scandinavia, Africa and Asia. I suppose this is all proof positive of the fact that people are hungry for good preaching!
Well, Spurgeon was fairly prolific, so we hope to keep giving you a daily dose for quite a while to come.

God bless you all!

Christ The Almighty

Pink Flower With Rainbow

In the days of Paul it was not difficult at once, in one word, to give the sum and substance of the current theology. It was Christ Jesus. Had you asked anyone of those disciples what he believed, he would have replied, “I believe Christ." If you had requested him to show you his Body of Divinity, he would have pointed upward reminding you that divinity never had but one body, the suffering and crucified human frame of Jesus Christ, who ascended up on high. To them, Christ was not a notion refined, but unsubstantial; not an historical personage who had left only the savor of his character behind, but whose person was dead; to them he was not a set of ideas, not a creed, nor an incarnation of an abstract theory, but he was a person, one whom some of them had seen, whose hands they had handled nay one of whose flesh they had all been made to eat, and of whose blood they had spiritually been made to drink. Christ was substance to them; I fear he is too often but shadow to us. He was a reality to their minds; to us — though, perhaps, we would scarcely allow it in so many words — rather a myth than a man; rather a person who was, than he who was, and is, and is to come — the Almighty.

From a sermon entitled "The First Sermon In The Tabernacle," delivered March 25, 1861. Flickr photo by tanakawho; some rights reserved.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Let your enemies be scattered!



Are you serving God in some particular work where many are seeking to undo all that you can accomplish?... Does it seem that what you do in one day is undone in one hour by others? Take it to the throne of grace. Say, “Rise up, Lord, and let thine enemies be scattered.”

Have you a great purpose conceived within your soul, and does providence seem to stand in the way of its accomplishment? Has the Lord commanded you to some special work, and do friends discourage and enemies abuse? This prayer may suit you: “Rise up, Lord.” It needs but that God should make bare his arm; his uprising is enough. As Luther said when opposing the Church of Rome — “They are not strong; God can overthrow them with his little finger.” And so say you. All the foes of the Church with all their battlements behind which they are entrenched are nothing.

From a sermon entitled "The March," delivered March 31, 1861. Flickr photo by Minette Layne; some rights reserved.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Ascribe greatness to our God



We believe that the Father is God, and we ascribe unto him greatness, for we believe that he made the world and settled the pillars thereof; that he fashioned the universe, and that he moves the starry orbs through space. We look up to the wondrous depths of shoreless night, and we see the starry fleet sailing alone, and we believe that God is their captain. We look further still, and as by the aid of science we discover the void illimitable, we believe that God dwells there, and is the infinite Creator and preserver of all things that exist and subsist. We ascribe greatness unto him, the Creator and the Protector of the world.... We solemnly subscribe to the creed of St. Athanasius, that though there are not three Gods, but one God, yet there are three persons in the glorious Trinity in unity of the everlasting Jehovah, unto whom belong the shouts of the universe, the songs of angels, and the ascription of our united praise, Our God, then, is to be understood as Father, Son, Holy Ghost! one God whom we adore, — and the words of Moses apply to the God of Christians as well as to the God of Jews: — “Ascribe ye greatness unto our God.”

From a sermon entitled "The Great Supreme," delivered September 28, 1856. Flickr photo by Brian; some rights reserved.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Bless His Name!

flower

Be thankful unto him.


Let the praise be in your heart as well as on your tongue, and let it all be for him to whom it all belongs.

And bless his name.

He blessed you, bless him in return; bless his name, his character, his person. Whatever he does, be sure that you bless him for it; bless him when he takes away as well as when he gives; bless him as long as you live, under all circumstances; bless him in all his attributes, from whatever point of view you consider him.

From The Treasury Of David, exposition of Psalm 100:4. Flickr photo by Jim; some rights reserved.

Monday, March 10, 2008

A wretch like me



Some years ago, there was a man who had committed murder; he had been indeed, a most dreadful character, but, through the teaching of a minister of Christ, he was converted to God. He had one anxiety, namely, that having believed in Jesus, he might be baptized before he suffered the sentence of the law. It could not be effected according to the law of the country in which he then lived, except he be baptized in chains; and he was baptized in chains. But what mattered it? He was baptized in joy; he knew that he who can save to the uttermost, could save even him, and though in chains, he was free, though guilty before man, pardoned in the sight of God, though punished by human law, saved from the curse by the precious blood of Jesus. There is no knowing how long God’s arm is, these is no telling how precious Christ’s blood is, until you have felt the power of it yourself, and then you will wonder as long as you live, even through eternity, and you will be astonished to think that the blood of Christ could save such a wretch as you are, and make you the monument of his mercy.

From a sermon entitled "The Silver Trumpet," delivered March 24, 1861. Flickr photo by Kenneth Baruch; some rights reserved.

Saturday, March 8, 2008

Men of humility



If we do not come to God’s altar humbly, we cannot come acceptably. Whether we preach or pray, or give alms, or whatsoever we do, it is needful that we bend exceedingly low before we enter upon the work; for if not, self-seeking, self-glorifying will lie at the bottom of all, and God neither can nor will accept us. Look at too many Christians! How little of that humility before service have they. They will pick that position in the Church which will give them most honor, and if there be work to do which will confer no position upon them, they leave that to others. If you require a man to occupy an honorable position in the Church, you can find scores, but if you need one who shall be a menial in the house of God, who shall be the least in God’s heritage, how difficult to find an individual.

From a sermon entitled "Humility," delivered March 17, 1861. Flickr photo by Prabhu; some rights reserved.

Friday, March 7, 2008

Love is strong as death

Chateau de Chillon


None among the sons of Adam can withstand Death’s insidious advances. When his hour is come, none can bid him delay. The most clamorous prayers cannot move the flinty bowels of Death. Insatiable, and not to be appeased, he devoureth and devoureth ever. That scythe is never blunted, that hour-glass never ceases to flow. Mightiest among the mighty art thou O Death. But Christ’s love is strong as death. It too can climb the mountain and lay hold upon the mountaineer, far removed from the sound of the ministration of the gospel. It too can march into the valley, and though Popery with all its clouds of darkness should cover it, yet the love of Christ can will its glorious way. What can stand against it? The stoutest must yield to it, and adamantine hearts are dashed to shivers by one blow of its golden hammer. As the sun dissolves the chains of frost and bids the will rush on in freedom, though once bound as if it were stone so doth this love of Christ wherever it cometh, give life and joy, and liberty, snap the bonds and will its way, never being retarded, never being hindered, because it is written “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” Who can measure the strength of Christ’s love? Men have defied it but their defiance hath been overcome. They have resisted long, but they have been compelled to throw down their weapons. They have crossed it but they have found it hard to kick against the pricks. They have gone on caring for none of these things, but thus the eternal counsel has decreed it — Christ must, he shall have that redeemed man, and he has had him. Jesus Christ’s love is strong as death.

From a sermon entitled "The Shulamite's Choice Prayer," delivered February 24, 1861. Flickr photo by Eric Hill; some rights reserved.

Thursday, March 6, 2008

The Lord is my light and my salvation


“The Lord is my light and my salvation.” - Psalm 27:1

Here is personal interest, “my light,” “my salvation;” the soul is assured of it, and therefore, declaring it boldly. “My light” - into the soul at the new birth divine light is poured as the precursor of salvation; where there is not enough light to see our own darkness and to long for the Lord Jesus, there is no evidence of salvation. Salvation finds us in the dark, but it does not leave us there; it gives light to those who sit in the valley of the shadow of death. After conversion our God is our joy, comfort, guide, teacher, and in every sense our light; he is light within, light around, light reflected from us, and light to be revealed to us. Note, it is not said merely that the Lord gives light, but that he “is” light; nor that he gives salvation, but that he is salvation; he, then, who by faith has laid hold upon God has all covenant blessings in his possession.

From The Treasury of David, exposition of Psalm 27:1. Flickr photo by Amy Mew; some rights reserved.

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Into the depths of the sea

Arctic Sea

As soon as a man believeth in Christ Jesus, his sins are gone from him, and gone away for ever. They are blotted out now. What if a man owe a hundred pounds, yet if he has got a receipt for it, he is free, it is blotted out, there is an erasure made in the book, and the debt is gone. Though the man commit sin yet the debt having been paid before even the debt was acquired, he is no more a debtor to the law of God. Doth not Scripture say, that God has cast his people’s sins into the depths of the sea? Now, if they are in the depths of the sea, they cannot be on his people too. Blessed be his name, in the day when he casts our sins into the depth of the sea, he views us as pure in his sight, and we stand accepted in the beloved. Then he says, “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.” They cannot be removed and be here still. Then if thou believest in Christ, thou art no more in the sight of God a sinner, thou art accepted as though thou wert perfect, as though thou had at kept the law, — for Christ has kept it, and his righteousness is thine. You have broken it, but your sin is his, and he has been punished for it.

From a sermon entitled "None But Jesus," delivered February 17, 1861. Flickr photo by Ville Miettinen; some rights reserved.

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

From everlasting to everlasting



“Before the mountains were brought forth.”


Before those elder giants had struggled forth from nature's womb, as her dread firstborn, the Lord was glorious and self-sufficient. Mountains to him, though hoar with the snows of ages, are but new-born babes, young things whose birth was but yesterday, mere novelties of an hour.

“Or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world.”

Here too the allusion is to a birth. Earth was born but the other day, and her solid land was delivered from the flood but a short while ago.

“Even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God,” or, “thou art, O God.”

God was, when nothing else was. He was God when the earth was not a world but a chaos, when mountains were not upheaved, and the generation of the heavens and the earth had not commenced. In this Eternal One there is a safe abode for the successive generations of men. If God himself were of yesterday, he would not be a suitable refuge for mortal men; if he could change and cease to be God he would be but an uncertain dwelling-place for his people.

From the Treasury of David, exposition of Psalm 90:4. Flickr photo by Christian Abend; some rights reserved.

Monday, March 3, 2008

You shall overcome



...whenever, Christian, thou hast achieved a victory over thy lusts — whenever after hard struggling, thou hast had a temptation dead at thy feet — thou hast had in that day and hour a foretaste of the joy that awaits thee, when the Lord shall shortly tread Satan under thy feet. That victory in the first skirmish, is the pledge and the earnest of the triumph in the last decisive battle. If thou hast overcome one foe, thou shalt overthrow them all.

From a sermon entitled "The Earnest of Heaven," delivered February 3, 1861. Flickr photo by Jason Hollinger; some rights reserved.

Saturday, March 1, 2008

Christ our companion



There was one chosen out of the twelve, as the twelve had been chosen out of the rest, who knew Christ as a dear companion, and as a sweet friend. There was one who knew his bosom as affording a pillow for his weary head, one who had felt his heart beat close to his cheek, one who had been with him on the mountain of Transfiguration, and had enjoyed fellowship with the Father, through his Son Jesus Christ. Now I fear that those who advance as far as John did are not very many. They are doctrinal Christians, and thus they have made an advance upon those who are only trusting Christians and not more. But John had taken a wonderful stride before his fellow men, when he could claim Christ as being dear to him, the companion of his life, the friend of his days. May the Lord teach each of us more and more how to walk with Jesus and to know his love!

From a sermon entitled "The Christ of Patmos," delivered January 27, 1861. Flickr photo by Domenico Salvagnin; some rights reserved.