A gem from C.H. Spurgeon

Greetings All,

It may surprise some fellow Anglo-Catholics to hear this from me, but I believe that Charles Haddon Spurgeon's Morning and Evening is one of the greatest devotional classics in the English language. Spurgeon, or course, was the great English Baptist who has been called "the prince of preachers." He did not have much affection in his heart for the Anglo-Catholic revival in England, nor was he the least bit thrilled about the restored Roman Catholic heirarchy at the See of Westminster. Some of his sermons and writings are filled with quite potent vitriol against "Puseyism" and the "Romish anitchrist." But there were even those who were quite involved in "Puseyism" who gleaned from Spurgeon's insight into Scripture and the life of faith. One was The Rev'd A.H. Stanton (a hero of mine), who, as curate of St. Alban's, Holborn, was in the center of the ritualist controversies. Stanton, who was an outstanding preacher in his own right, rarely consulted commentaries or dictionaries in preparation. But he often looked to see "what Mr. Spurgeon was saying" at the time. Despite his extreme loyalty to Protestantism and dislike of (Roman) Catholicism, there is much in Spurgeon's writings that is of great value to Christians all across the spectrum. I have been continually blessed by Morning and Evening, and would like to share last evenings meditation with you:

"If any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in tohim." --Revelation 3:20

What is your desire this evening? Is it set upon heavenly things? Do you long to enjoy the high doctrine of eternal love?Do you desire liberty in very close communion with God? Do you aspire to know the heights, and depths, and lengths, and breadths? Then you must draw near to Jesus; you must get a clear sight of Him in His preciousness and completeness: you must view Him in His work, in His offices, in His person. He who understands Christ, receives an anointing from the Holy One, by which He knows all things. Christ is the great master-key of all the chambers of God: there is no treasure-house of God which will not open and yield up all its wealth to the soul that lives near to Jesus. Are you saying, "O that He would dwell in my bosom"? "Would that He would make my heart His dwelling-place for ever"? Open the door, beloved, and He will come into yoursouls. He has long been knocking, and all with this object, that He may sup with you, and you with Him. _He sups with you_because you find the house or the heart, and _you with Him_because He brings the provision. He could not sup with you if it were not in your heart, you finding the house; nor could you sup with Him, for you have a bare cupboard, if He did not bringprovision with Him. Fling wide, then, the portals of your soul.He will come with that love which you long to feel; He will come with that joy into which you cannot work your poor depressed spirit; He will bring the peace which now you have not; He will come with His flagons of wine and sweet apples of love, and cheer you till you have no other sickness but that of "love o'erpowering, love divine." Only open the door to Him, drive out His enemies, give Him the keys of your heart, and He will dwell there for ever. Oh, wondrous love, that brings such a guest to dwell in such a heart!

As one who (unlike Spurgeon) holds a high view of Christ's Real Presence in the Eucharist, this reflection fires the heart! I hope you will profit by it as well.

Peace,

RED+