The Sun.
London, England, 1858-08-23 00:00:00

THE REV. MR. SPURGEON.

This gentleman's visit to Belfast has set its local press by
the ears, one portion of it taking exception to his preaching
on the ground of its extravagance, while the other praises
him as a model divine. Under these circumstances it may
not be out of place to afford the public an opportunity of
judging which side has the best of the argument. The fol-
lowing extracts from his last sermon ought certainly to
place the matter beyond dispute :
" I do hate the Antinomian doctrine, which says you can
be saved while you live in sin. Christ never will save any
of his people in their sins, but he will save them from their
sins. I understand you have very little of that doctrine
among you here. But you have got people here mem-
bers of your church, poor worldlings, mean and pitiful
wretches in God's sight, who live not as heirs of Heaven,
but in dishonesty and unrighteousness— merchants, too,
‘diCaems.p'ed' the tobacco Yes.'
Have you
have you
siungathre?iLse,ryvaens.t, anHda,
y—ou'
wJoahtenr,edhathvee
ypoeurhaspastidwedho tchaell
`Very well, come in to prayers. Plenty
rpuumt chicoryeisn, t h,eHcoaffvbee
you?'
among you, I'll be
bound, whose yardsticks are not over the measure, and whose
pound weights are not such that you would like the inspec-
tors to see them. Your church is like Noah's ark, clean and
unclean crowd into it. By your fruits we must judge of
you. Practical piety is what we want in these days. I heard
a man once talking of saving faith. I did not know his idea
of the matter until I saw him, when, putting his collection
on the plate, feeling by the edge whether the piece was a
threepenny or a feurpenny. That was his idea of saving
faith."
Mr. Spurgeon concluded with the following characteristic
anecdote :—" Let me illustrate to you the plan of salvation
by telling you a little story. You may have heard it before,
but I will tell it you again. Once, in a parish in England,
there was an old sailor, who went by the name of Jack. He
was always drunk—indeed, he had no wit to be anything
else. In going along the street, one day, he heard a number
of women singing these simple lines—
" I'm a poor sinner,
And nothing at all,
But Jesus Christ
Is my all in all.'

The man gave up his drunkeaneu, and very soon gave up
his wickedness. At last, Jack went to the minister and
asked to be admitted to church membership. The minister
asked—' What is your experience ? " I have none,' said
Jack. Well, then, John, I cannot admit you,' says the
minister. Well,' says Jack, have no experience, but—
. /am a poor sinner,
And nothing at all,
But Jesus Christ
Is my all in all.'
'Well,' says the minister,' I will ask the deacons about
your admission; but you will be expected to state your ex-
perience.' The deacons were assembled, and Jack was called
on to 'answer their questions, to which Jack always re-
plied :

" ' I'm a poor sinner,
And nothing at all;
But Jesus Christ
Is my all in all.'

Says the deacon, That is not enough; tell us your
doubts and fears, and why you seek admiss:on. Nay,'
says Jack, I have no doubt whatever that
" 'l'm a poor sinner
And nothing at all

and I don't fear anything,
"'For Jesus Christ
Is my alt in ail'
It was at last agreed by a majority that Jack should be e-
mitted, and it was remarked, before long, that he was the
best man in the church ; but, as long as Jack lived, he stuck
to that rbyrno—

"'l'm a poor sinner,
And nothing at all ;
But Jesus Christ
Is my all in all.'
That is the whole plan of salvation. May God give you
grace ! May God help you to lay it to your hearts ! Act
up to those few lines—lay yourselves upon Jesus. And may
God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost bless you. Amen."