have been overthrown by his Spirit, and have been ultitimately brought to find life and healing in the blood of Jesus. The best evidences of the truth of our holy religion are to be found in the marvelous effects it produces. Drunkards, harlots, swearers, thieves, liars, and such like, when reclaimed and regenerated, are the jewels in the crown of the truth; of such we must say in confidence, "What hath God wrought?" If these truths were only found united with a learned and eloquent ministry, they would be imputed to the man, and not to the truth, but in this case our enemies themselves are willing witnesses that they can not be so accounted for. God hath put his treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power might be ascribed wholly to himself. We would confess the truth of all that is uttered to our disparagement, for therein we do but magnify the grace of God, who worketh by the least of instruments the greatest acts of his love. O for the days of pure doctrine, preached with emphasis of earnestness, and demonstration of the Spirit; for these we look and wait. May the Lord send them in his own time. The sermons of last year have enjoyed a very wide circulation in America. A volume having been reprinted in the United States, it has reached the number of 15,000 in a short time. With the divine blessing how much may be accomplished, but without it how terrible the waste of effort and opportunity. And now, reader, if thou art a renewed soul, may our covenant God feed thee, keep thee, and perfect thee; and may the words of thy brother in Christ be the means of some little comfort and edification to thee. It is the same Lord who hath loved us both, and we hope that he will unite us all in the unity of the Spirit and in the bonds of love. But if thou art ungodly, look at the last words of the volume, and consider them, and may Jesus the Saviour give thee grace to turn to him and be saved. This is the fervent prayer of thine to serve in the Gospel, LONDON, January, 1857. (.H. Spurgeon |