Charles H. Spurgeon:
It is no novelty, then, that I am-preaching; no new doctrine. I love to proclaim these strong old doctrines, which are called by nickname Calvinism, but which are surely and verily the revealed truth of God as it is in Christ Jesus. By this truth I make a pilgrimage into the past, and as I go, I see father after father, confessor after confessor, martyr after martyr, standing up to shake hands with me. Were I a Pelagian, or a believer in the doctrine of free-will, I should have to walk for centuries all alone. Here and there a heretic of no very honorable character might rise up and call me brother. But taking these things to be the standard of my faith, I see the land of the ancients peopled with my brethren. I behold multitudes who confess the same as I do, and acknowledge that this is the religion of God’s own church. (From a sermon entitled, “Election”)
Filed under: Charles H. Spurgeon, Christianity, Gospel, Preaching, Theology | Tagged: Calvinism, doctrine of free-will, Elect, Pelagian |
Samuel at Gilgal 
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Reblogged this on My Delight and My Counsellors.
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“By this truth I make a pilgrimage into the past, and as I go, I see father after father, confessor after confessor, martyr after martyr, standing up to shake hands with me. Were I a Pelagian, or a believer in the doctrine of free-will, I should have to walk for centuries all alone.”
I love Spurgeon and he has had a great impact on my life. What I say next in no way takes away from the greatness of his legacy. He was a super hero!
With that said, I must point out the serious error in his statement. For the Early church fathers soundly reject and contradict many of Calvin’s ideas. Calvin may or may not have gotten things back on the right track, but he can not and we MUST not appeal to the early church fathers to find proof texts. They are not there.
For example:
“And again, unless the human race have the power of avoiding evil and choosing good by free choice, they are not accountable for their actions, of whatever kind they be. But that it is by free choice they both walk uprightly and stumble, we thus demonstrate” Justin Martyr circa 160AD
For this reason the Lord also said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good deeds, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” And, “Take heed to yourselves, lest perchance your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and worldly cares.” …and “Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” All such passages demonstrate the independent will of man, and at the same time the counsel which God conveys to him, by which He exhorts us to submit ourselves to Him, and seeks to turn us away from [the sin of] unbelief against Him, without, however, in any way coercing us. Irenaeus c. 180
And not merely in works, but also in faith, has God preserved the will of man free and under his own control, saying, “According to thy faith be it unto thee; ” thus showing that there is a faith specially belonging to man, since he has an opinion specially his own. And again, “All things are possible to him that believeth;” and, “Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee.” Now all such expressions demonstrate that man is in his own power with respect to faith. And for this reason, “he that believeth in Him has eternal life while he who believeth not the Son hath not eternal life, but the wrath of God shall remain upon him.” In the same manner therefore the Lord, both showing His own goodness, and indicating that man is in his own free will and his own power, said to Jerusalem, “How often have I wished to gather thy children together, as a hen [gathereth] her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Wherefore your house shall be left unto you desolate.” Irenaeus c. 180
We…have believed and are saved by voluntary choice.” Clement of Alexandria circa 195.
“It is by one’s own fault that he does not choose what is best. Clement of Alexandria c. 195
“To obey or not is in our own power, provided we do not have the excuse of ignorance.” Clement of Alexandria.
I could go on and on and on….
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Well said!
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