Let me supply proof here of what I state. For all the life of him, the learnéd doctor won't be able to. How true the maxim that The wish often father's the thought. I deal in facts. Here's the proof.
It has sometimes been said that
Spurgeon's Calvinism waned as he grew older. This page will refute this
bogus claim. It is not so much that his Calvinism waned, but it did not
become the main battle ground on which he fought in later years. His
last years were taken up with the famous Downgrade controversy where he
was busy defending the fundamentals of the gospel e.g. the Inspiration
of Scripture and the Deity of Christ etc., rather than the Doctrines of
Grace. Many Wesleyans were glad to stand with him in his matter.
However he did maintain his belief in the Calvinist cause right to the
end and the quotes below are given from his sermons etc., all drawn
from the last few years of his life. He died in January 31st 1892. He
preached his last sermon in the Metropolitan Tabernacle on June
7th 1891, (No. 2208) This appears in Volume 37 (37:398) A great
excess of Spurgeon's sermons enabled the MTP to be published until
1917. No less than 62 volumes were eventually published. It would take
too long to trace from the sermons printed after Spurgeon's death any
references he made to Calvinism in his last years. We may rest content
from the evidence below that he never wavered, but maintained these
glorious old doctrines right to the end.
"I do not know in
what other way to preach from this text than the one in which I am
preaching from it. Somebody says, “Oh, that is Calvinism!”
I do not care what it is. It is Scriptural. I have this inspired Book
before me, and I cannot see any meaning in the words before me, if they
do not mean that those who have received life from the Lord Jesus have
an endless inheritance. I cannot make them mean anything else. “I
give unto my sheep eternal life,” must mean that believers are
eternally secure. “It is dangerous doctrine,” cries one. I
have not found it dangerous, and I have tried it these many years."
(Sermon entitled: Eternal Security or Sheep who shall never perish
(35:876)
"There is not another gospel that I
know of that is worth the comparison for a single minute. Oh, but, they
say, there is a gospel that is much wider than yours. Yes, I know that
it is much wider than mine; but to what does it lead? They say that
what is nicknamed Calvinism has a very narrow door. There is a word in
Scripture about a strait gate and a narrow way; and therefore I am not
alarmed by the accusation. But then there are rich pastures when you
enter within, and this renders it worth while to enter in by the strait
gate. Certain other systems have very wide doors; but they lead you
into small privileges, and those of a precarious tenure. I hear certain
invitations which might run as follows: — Come ye disconsolate;
but if you come, you will be disconsolate still, for there will be no
eternal made sure to you, and you must preserve your own souls, or
perish after all. But I shall not enter into any comparisons, for they
are odious in this case." (37:60)
"It
is well for the preacher to remind men that they are lost by nature,
and that in their flesh there dwelleth no good thing. It is well that
sin should be made to appear sin, and that self righteousness should be
made to look like filthy rags. Human inability and the need of the Holy
Spirit, must be set forth clearly, and the sovereignty of God must be
proclaimed solemnly. The Lord has a right to pass over whom he pleases;
but if mercy comes to any man it will be by the sovereign act of God
— because God wills to do it, and not because any man deserves
it." (36:191)
"The doctrines of
grace which I have preached to you have a hold upon the heart and
intellect, like that of certain colours when the wool is dyed ingrain.
Because these doctrines have not been sufficiently preached, our people
are easily carried away with every wind of doctrine, Brethren, the old
evangelical doctrine of Luther and Calvin had about it power to create
enthusiasm. See how the Huguenots mustered to a sermon when it was
death to hear a reformed preacher. Geneva sent forth men who could
gather crowds in regions crimsoned with the blood of their brethren.
Why did the multitudes come together? Would any man jeopardize his life
to hear a “modern-thought” sermon? My brethren, there is
something in the old gospel worth hearing: there is an election of
grace most precious, a redemption which really redeemed, and a work of
grace within which ensures final perseverance and eternal glory."
(35:773)
"High doctrine is glorious doctrine,
high experience is blessed experience, high holiness is heavenly
living. Many souls always keep in the plains: the simple elements are
enough for them; and, thank God, they are enough for salvation and for
comfort. But if you want the richest delight and the highest degree of
grace, climb the hills and roam among the mysteries of God, the
sublimer revelations of his divine will. Especially climb into the
doctrines of grace: be not afraid of electing love, of special
redemption, of the covenant, and all that is contained in it. Be not
afraid to climb high, for if thy feet be dipped in the oil of grace,
they shall also be so shod that they shall not slip. Trust in God, and
you shall be as Mount Zion, which can never be removed. Your shoes
shall be iron and brass, for lofty thought and clear knowledge, if you
commit your mind to the instruction of the Lord. Receiving nothing
except as you find it in the Word, but in a childlike spirit receiving
everything that you find there, you shall stand upon your high places.
Your feet shall be like hinds’ feet, and your place of abode
shall be above the mists and clouds of earth’s wretched
atmosphere of doubt." (35:9)
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