Thoughts for Wednesday, September 20, 2017

"As men sow in this seed time they shall reap in that harvest." - Ralph Venning (1621-1643) From his great little book, The Sinfulness of Sin

Recommended sermon:

I Prefer G-O-S-P-E-L to T-U-L-I-P, by Rev. Ian Brown

Religion Without Regeneration - John Wesley's Testimony

Religion Without Regeneration - John Wesley's Testimony, by Rev. Ian Brown

----------------------

Recommended reading:

George Whitefield's Letter to Wesley on Election - monergism.com

Radio Free Geneva: Jacob Prasch and the Armenians (OK, the Arminians)

Radio Free Geneva: Jacob Prasch and the Armenians (OK, the Arminians), by Dr. James White

This is a great podcast and I highly recommended it. Pastor Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834 - 1892) once said:

"'What?' you say. 'Can God make me become a Christian?' I tell you, yes, for herein lies the power of the gospel. It does not ask your consent, but it gets it. It does not say, 'Will you have it?' but it makes you willing in the day of God's power...The gospel wants not your consent; it gets it. It knocks the enmity out of your heart. He makes your will turn around, and then you cry, 'Lord, save, or I perish.' 'Ah,' might heaven say, 'I knew I would make you say that!'"

 If you would like to learn more about Calvinism [and I hope you do], check out the following sermons:

Election and Reprobation, by Dr. R. C. Sproul
Decree of Reprobation, by Rev. Cornelis Pronk
Total Depravity, by Rev. Paul den Butter
Eternal Decree Of Election, by Rev. Cornelis Pronk

Nature of the Decree of Election, by Rev. Cornelis Pronk

Election and the Elect, by Rev. Cornelis Pronk

Election Objections Answered, by Rev. Cornelis Pronk

Further recommended reading:

The Bible (and yes, go ahead and start with Romans 9, and then follow up with Rev. Cornelis Pronk's sermon on this text (Decree of Reprobation)
The 5 Points of Calvinism, by Herman Hanko
A Defense of Calvinism - by Charles Spurgeon

Calvinism

Here are some great links to even greater resources on the Gospel (otherwise known as Calvinism!)

 Recommended sermons:

(Sermons by Rev. Cornelis Pronk; for more sermons by Rev. Pronk, go to Sermonaudio)

The Canons Of Dort #2 Eternal Decree Of Election

The Canons Of Dort #3 Nature of the Decree of Election

The Canons Of Dort #4 Election and the Elect

The Canons Of Dort #5 Decree of Reprobation

The Canons Of Dort #6 Election Objections Answered

Today Depravity, by Rev. Paul Den Butter

Recommended audio book: The Forgotten Spurgeon, by Iain H. Murray

The Forgotten Spurgeon 1

The Forgotten Spurgeon 2 

The Forgotten Spurgeon 3 

The Forgotten Spurgeon 4 

The Forgotten Spurgeon 5 

The Forgotten Spurgeon 6 

The Forgotten Spurgeon 7 

The Forgotten Spurgeon 8 

The Forgotten Spurgeon 9 

The Forgotten Spurgeon 10 

The Forgotten Spurgeon 11 

The Forgotten Spurgeon 12 

The Forgotten Spurgeon 13 

The Forgotten Spurgeon 14 

The Forgotten Spurgeon 15 

Recommended reading

The Five Points Of Calvinism, by Herman Hanko, Homer Hoeksema, and Gise J Van Baren

The Pursuit of Godliness, The Puritan Vision of the Christian Life, by J. I. Packer

Recommended sermons for Sunday, April 12, 2015

Total Depravity, Part 1, by Rev. Paul den Butter
Total Depravity, Part 2, by Rev. Paul den Butter

Recommended reading:

The Five Points Of Calvinism, by Herman C. Hanko

Scholars Discover Charles Spurgeon's Psalter

Scholars Discover Charles Spurgeon's Psalter - christiannews.net

Excerpt from this article:

"Scholars at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary have discovered, within the institution’s Spurgeon Library collection, a Psalter that 19th-century Baptist pastor Charles Spurgeon used in the compilation of his commentary on the book of Psalms, 'The Treasury of David.' 'One of the purposes for the existence of the Spurgeon Library at Midwestern Seminary is to advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ..."
----------------------------------------------

I think Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) would have been happier had they found an old copy of his A Defense Of Calvinism.  Spurgeon writes:

"The old truth that Calvin preached, that Augustine preached, that Paul preached, is the truth that I must preach to-day, or else be false to my conscience and my God. I cannot shape the truth; I know of no such thing as paring off the rough edges of a doctrine. John Knox's gospel is my gospel. That which thundered through Scotland must thunder through England again."


Elsewhere he writes:

"I have my own private opinion that there is no such thing as preaching Christ and Him crucified, unless we preach what nowadays is called Calvinism. It is a nickname to call it Calvinism; Calvinism is the gospel, and nothing else." (Source)

Recommended sermons by Charles Spurgeon:

Compel Them To Come In
Turn Or Burn!

Recommended book on Charles Spurgeon:

The Forgotten Spurgeon, by Iain H. Murray

Recommended book on Calvinism:

The Five Points Of Calvinism, by Herman C. Hanko

Recommended sermons on Calvinism:

Eternal Decree of Election, by Rev. Cornelis Pronk:
The Doctrine of Reprobation, by Rev. Cornelis Pronk:
Objections to Election Answered, by Rev. Cornelis Pronk:
The Doctrine of Total Depravity, by Rev. Paul Den Butter

The Synod of Dort

The Synod of Dort (Dordt), by Dr. M. Kieth Foskey

Recommended reading:

The Canons Of Dort

Recommended sermons:

(Sermons by Rev. Cornelis Pronk; for more sermons by Rev. Pronk, go to Sermonaudio)

The Canons Of Dort #1 Sin and its Remedy: The Gospel

The Canons Of Dort #2 Eternal Decree Of Election

The Canons Of Dort #3 Nature of the Decree of Election

The Canons Of Dort #4 Election and the Elect

The Canons Of Dort #5 Decree of Reprobation

The Canons Of Dort #6 Election Objections Answered

The Canons Of Dort #7 Children of Covenental Parents

The Canons Of Dort #8 God's Judgement on Sinners

The Canons Of Dort #9 Fallen Man's Inability

The Canons Of Dort #10 Son's Satisfying Substitution

The Canons Of Dort #11 Results of Belief and Unbelief

The Canons Of Dort #12 The Extent of Christ's Death

The Canons Of Dort #13 Man's Creation and Original Sin

The Canons Of Dort #14 Results of Sin to Adam's Race

The Canons Of Dort #15 Fallen Man Still in the Image of God

The Canons Of Dort #16 Man's Inability and Work of the Holy Spirit

The Canons Of Dort #17 God's Elect

The Canons Of Dort #18 Man's Responsibility For His Unbelief

The Canons Of Dort #19 Man's Salvation

The Canons Of Dort #20 God Regenerates the Whole Man

The Canons Of Dort #21 Salvation: A Mysterious Work

The Canons Of Dort #22 Faith is a Gift of God

The Canons Of Dort #23 This Doesn't Make Man a Puppet

The Canons Of Dort #24 End and Means Ordained by God

The Canons Of Dort #25 Reason to Mortify Indwelling Sin

The Canons Of Dort #26 The Saved Still Sin Occasionally

The Canons Of Dort #27 Perseverance of God's Elect

The Canons Of Dort #28 Basis of Assurance

The Canons Of Dort #29 Periods of Doubting Salvation

The Canons Of Dort #30 Fruits of Your Salvation

The Canons of Dort #31 Means for the Saints Perseverance

Also recommended:

Today Depravity, by Rev. Paul Den Butter

The Five Points Of Calvinism, by Herman Hanko, Homer Hoeksema, and Gise J Van Baren

The Pursuit of Godliness, The Puritan Vision of the Christian Life, by J. I. Packer

Also Recommended: The Forgotten Spurgeon, by Iain H. Murray)

The Forgotten Spurgeon 1

The Forgotten Spurgeon 2 

The Forgotten Spurgeon 3 

The Forgotten Spurgeon 4 

The Forgotten Spurgeon 5 

The Forgotten Spurgeon 6 

The Forgotten Spurgeon 7 

The Forgotten Spurgeon 8 

The Forgotten Spurgeon 9 

The Forgotten Spurgeon 10 

The Forgotten Spurgeon 11 

The Forgotten Spurgeon 12 

The Forgotten Spurgeon 13 

The Forgotten Spurgeon 14 

The Forgotten Spurgeon 15 

The Truth of Election

Here are 2 great sermons by Pastor John Reisenger:

The Truth of Election
The Holiness of God

For additional sermons on election/predestination, check out the following:

Eternal Decree of Election, by Rev. Cornelis Pronk:
The Doctrine of Reprobation, by Rev. Cornelis Pronk:
Objections to Election Answered, by Rev. Cornelis Pronk:
The Doctrine of Total Depravity, by Rev. Paul Den Butter

A Book Review of: Young, Restless, and No Longer Reformed

Here is a great podcast by Pastor Kevin Swanson. He is doing a review of the book: Young, Restless, and No Longer Reformed:

Calvinism, Christ, and the Cross, by Pastor Kevin Boling

Recommended reading 

Election, Reprobation, Christ and the Cross, by John Samson
The Five Points of Calvinism (my post)

John Piper: 12 Features of the New Calvinism

John Piper: 12 Features of the New Calvinism - christianpost.com

Excerpt from this article:

"The New Calvinism is robustly gospel-centered, cross-centered, with dozens of books rolling off the presses coming at the gospel from every conceivable angle and applying it to all areas of life, with a commitment to seeing the historic doctrine of justification finding its fruit in sanctification both personally and communally."
---------------------------------------------------

Recommended reading and listening:

They're No Puritans! Profiles in New Calvinism, by Pastor Ralph Ovadal
Predestination (my post)

Charles Spurgeon takes on the Hyper-Calvinist

Perhaps it is because "Calvinism" and "Hyper-Calvinism" sound similar, many think they are the same thing. They are not. The one is the truth taught in Holy Scripture (Calvinism), and the other is a lie that comes from hell (Hyper-Calvinism).

Often when a non-Calvinist speaks critically of Calvinism, they are speaking of Hyper-Calvinism, and not Biblical Calvinism. Here is what Pastor Charles Spurgeon has to say about the heresy called Hyper-Calvinism:

 “I do not believe in the way in which some people pretend to preach the gospel. They have no gospel for sinners as sinners, but only for those who are above the dead level of sinnership. And are technically styled, sensible sinners. Like the priest in [the parable of the Good Samaritan], they see the poor sinner and  they say, 'He is not conscious of his need, we cannot invite him to Christ.” 'He is dead,' they say, 'It is of no use preaching to dead souls;' So they pass by to the other side, keeping close to the elect and quickened, but having nothing whatsoever to say to the dead, lest they should make out Christ to be too gracious, and His mercy to be too free...I have known ministers say, 'Well, you know, we ought to describe the sinner's state, and warn him, but we must not invite him to Christ. Yes gentlemen, you must pass by on the other side, after having looked at him, for on your own confession you have no good news for the poor wretch.  I bless my Lord and Master he has given me a gospel which I can take to dead sinners, a gospel which is available for the vilest of the vile.” (from The Forgotten Spurgeon, by Iain Murray)

Recommended reading/listening (my post):

The Five Points of Calvinism

Was John Calvin the 'Father of Capitalism?'

 Stocks End Higher for Sixth Straight Week, Tech Leads - Reuters

The Bible does not say that money is the root of all evil. At least my Bible doesn't say that (I use the Authorized King James version!).  It does say that the 'Love" of money is the root of all evil though.  The Bible says:

"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain that we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil (I Timothy 6:6-10, emphasis mine).

But our Lord Jesus has a lot say about money. Here are just two examples:
 
"Again I tell  you that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven." - Matthew 19:24

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust do corrupt and where theives do break through and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust doth not corrupt and thieves do  not break through and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." - Matthew 6:19-21

I think it is a true saying that our Lord Jesus talked more about hell than he did about heaven, and he talked more about money than he did about both heaven and hell combined!

I think Jesus is totally opposed to the materialism of our age (and the poor can be just as materialistic as the rich!). But Jesus is not opposed to money. He is opposed to the love of money, which is a big difference.

The Bible says:

"But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God, for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his kingdom which he swore unto thy fathers." - Deuteronomy 8:18

We had a missionary couple speak at our church recently, and they said that on average, it costs about $40,000 a year to support a 'boots on the ground' missionary in a foreign country. That money is not going to come from people living on welfare who spend their money on cigarettes and beer and Lottery tickets. Chances are much of this money will come from people who work, and save, and invest their money wisely, so that they have extra to give to the Lord's work here on earth.

One of my relatives was in the banking industry for many years. She used to say, 'Invest in the Lord, for the returns are out of this world!'

Recommended reading (articles by Dr. Don Sweeting)

Celebrating the Legacy of John Calvin - Pastor, Preacher, Reformer, Church Planter Part 1

Celebrating the Legacy of John Calvin - Influencer of Culture, Government, Economics, Education, Part 2
Celebrating the Legacy of John Calvin - Theologian, Author of The Institutes, Part 3

Further recommended reading (my posts):

Calvinism Refuted - And Defended!
The Rich Get Richer and the Poor Go Hungry

Remembering George Whitfield and John Wesely

One of the things that separates Christians from Roman Catholics is Christians don't pray to dead saints. But that doesn't mean we can't honor their memory by speaking of them - not to them, but of them! - from time to time.

And so I'd like to take this opportunity to ask my readers to reflect on two great  Christian evangelists of the 1700s: George Whitefield (1714 - 1770) and John Wesley (1703 - 1791).  George Whitefield was a Calvinist. John Wesley was an Arminian (a non-Calvinist).  They were close friends and worked together in preaching the gospel until their Calvinist/Non-Calvinist differences caused them to go their separate ways.

Someone once asked George Whitefield if he thought he would see John Wesley in heaven. Mr. Whitefield said. "No. John Wesley will be so close to the Throne of Glory, and I will be so far away, I will hardly get a glimpse of him."

And that latter day Puritan, Charles Spurgeon (1834 - 1892), of whom I quote extensively on this site, once said of John Wesley:

"Though I detest many of the doctrines he preaches, yet for the man himself, I have a reverence second to no Wesleyan."

Please take the time to read A Letter from George Whitefield to the Rev. Mr. John Wesley

You may also wish to check out the following to audio biographies on Sermonaudio.com:

John Wesley: A Man of One Book, by Dr. Edward Panosiam
George Whitefield: Evangelist of the Awakening, by Dr. Steven J. Lawson

The Daily Spurgeon - December 26, 2012

Quotes by Pastor Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834 - 1892)

"If sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay. If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unprayed for."

Recommended reading:

The Conversion of Charles Spurgeon
The Forgotten Spurgeon, by Iain Murray

You can also listen to an audio recording of The Forgotten Spurgeon on Sermonaudio.com:

The Forgotten Spurgeon 1

The Forgotten Spurgeon 2

The Forgotten Spurgeon 3

The Forgotten Spurgeon 4

The Forgotten Spurgeon 5

The Forgotten Spurgeon 6

The Forgotten Spurgeon 7

The Forgotten Spurgeon 8

The Forgotten Spurgeon 9

The Forgotten Spurgeon 10

The Forgotten Spurgeon 11

The Forgotten Spurgeon 12

The Forgotten Spurgeon 13

The Forgotten Spurgeon 14

The Forgotten Spurgeon 15

Don't let Jesus Pass You By

I have been a Calvinist for over 30 years (see my post Calvinism Refuted - And Defended!).  One of the ministers I listened to in those early years of my Christian life was Rev. Paul Den Butter. I have posted several links to his sermons on this web site, and you may wish to check out his sermon on Total Depravity before you retire for the evening.

Recently, I have been going over a diary that I have kept for a number of years, and I stumbled on some of the notes I took from Rev. Den Butter's sermons. Some of those notes I incorporated into my recent post: The Pharisee, The Publican, and the Sandy Hook Massacre.  Below is yet another excerpt from a sermon I heard by Rev. Den Butter in the early 1980s:

"Jesus of Nazareth passes by. Don't let this opportunity slip. Why should you do it? Why should you run the risk to be lost in the place of the damned? What is so valuable in life, that you would put your soul in jeopardy? Can I not persuade you? Can I not convince you that there must be a calling upon the Lord? Remember, if we fail to make use of God's offer of grace, we will regret it throughout all the ages of eternity. And there are many at this very same moment that weep and cry and wail because of their lost condition. Jesus passed by and they did not cry. And now they cry, but they are lost, and why are they lost? Not because of any unwillingness on the part of Jesus to save them. But because Jesus passed by, and they did not cry out to him!” 

That's calvinism! And Calvinism is just another word for the Gospel!

The Five Points of Calvinism

"A little learning is a dangerous thing.

Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring;

There shallow droughts intoxicate the brain;

And drinking largely sobers us again."

-Alexander Pope

I heard a lot of sermons during the 9 years I was in prison. And every now and then the speaker would decide to rail against Calvinism. As one who has been a Calvinist for close to 30 years I would always pay close attention to what was said. And what was said was almost always untrue.

These men have read books and filled their minds with false information about Calvinism, and then they come into the prisons and jails and pass that false information on to others, who, possibly will pass that false information on to still others one day.

Today I want to set the record straight. I cannot guarantee you that the following links will persuade you to become a Calvinist. But I can assure you that it will at least give you solid information so that the next time a person tries to snow you about what Calvinists believe (or don't believe!), you can say: "That's not accurate. I'm not a Calvinist, but please don't insult my intelligence by trying to convince with with false information."

Requirements to enter the "School of Calvinism:"

1. "Ye must be born again." (John 3:3). I Corinthians 2:14 says: "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to them; neither can he know them, for they are spiritually discerned."

2. You must be a man or woman (or boy or girl) of prayer:  "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not. But let him ask in faith, not wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea, driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord."  James 1:5,6

3. You must be a student of the Bible: "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica,  in that they received the Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily whether such things were so." - Acts 17:11

Calvinism 101

They're No Puritans: Profiles in the New Calvinism, by Pastor Ralph Ovadal

A Letter From George Whitefield to the Rev. Mr. John Wesley

Calvinism 201

The Synod of Dort, Part I, by Joe Morecraft III

The Synod of Dort, Part II, by Joe Morecraft III

Calvinism 301

(Sermons by Rev. Paul Den Butter)

Introduction To The Doctrines Of Grace

Total Depravity #1

Total Depravity #2

Total Depravity #3

Unconditional Election #1

Unconditional Election #2

Unconditional Election #3

Unconditional Election #4

Limited Atonement #1

Limited Atonement #2

Limited Atonement #3

Limited Atonement #4

Limited Atonement #5

Limited Atonement #6

Irresistible Grace #1

Irresistible Grace #2

Irresistible Grace #3

Perseverance Of The Saints #1

Perseverance Of The Saints #2

Perseverance Of The Saints #3

Perseverance Of The Saints #4

Calvinism 401

(Sermons by Rev. Cornelis Pronk; for more sermons by Rev. Pronk, go to Sermonaudio)

The Canons Of Dort #1 Sin and its Remedy: The Gospel

The Canons Of Dort #2 Eternal Decree Of Election

The Canons Of Dort #3 Nature of the Decree of Election

The Canons Of Dort #4 Election and the Elect

The Canons Of Dort #5 Decree of Reprobation

The Canons Of Dort #6 Election Objections Answered

The Canons Of Dort #7 Children of Covenental Parents

The Canons Of Dort #8 God's Judgement on Sinners

The Canons Of Dort #9 Fallen Man's Inability

The Canons Of Dort #10 Son's Satisfying Substitution

The Canons Of Dort #11 Results of Belief and Unbelief

The Canons Of Dort #12 The Extent of Christ's Death

The Canons Of Dort #13 Man's Creation and Original Sin

The Canons Of Dort #14 Results of Sin to Adam's Race

The Canons Of Dort #15 Fallen Man Still in the Image of God

The Canons Of Dort #16 Man's Inability and Work of the Holy Spirit

The Canons Of Dort #17 God's Elect

The Canons Of Dort #18 Man's Responsibility For His Unbelief

The Canons Of Dort #19 Man's Salvation

The Canons Of Dort #20 God Regenerates the Whole Man

The Canons Of Dort #21 Salvation: A Mysterious Work

The Canons Of Dort #22 Faith is a Gift of God

The Canons Of Dort #23 This Doesn't Make Man a Puppet

The Canons Of Dort #24 End and Means Ordained by God

The Canons Of Dort #25 Reason to Mortify Indwelling Sin

The Canons Of Dort #26 The Saved Still Sin Occasionally

The Canons Of Dort #27 Perseverance of God's Elect

The Canons Of Dort #28 Basis of Assurance

The Canons Of Dort #29 Periods of Doubting Salvation

The Canons Of Dort #30 Fruits of Your Salvation

The Canons of Dort #31 Means for the Saints Perseverance

Graduate work in the study of Calvinism

(From the book The Forgotten Spurgeon, by Iain H. Murray)

The Forgotten Spurgeon 1

The Forgotten Spurgeon 2 

The Forgotten Spurgeon 3 

The Forgotten Spurgeon 4 

The Forgotten Spurgeon 5 

The Forgotten Spurgeon 6 

The Forgotten Spurgeon 7 

The Forgotten Spurgeon 8 

The Forgotten Spurgeon 9 

The Forgotten Spurgeon 10 

The Forgotten Spurgeon 11 

The Forgotten Spurgeon 12 

The Forgotten Spurgeon 13 

The Forgotten Spurgeon 14 

The Forgotten Spurgeon 15 

Recommended Reading (Extra credit):

The Five Points Of Calvinism, by Herman Hanko, Homer Hoeksema, and Gise J Van Baren

Meet the Puritans, by Dr. Martin Lloyd Jones

The Canons Of Dort

The Pursuit of Godliness, The Puritan Vision of the Christian Life, by J. I. Packer

Killing Calvinism, by Kevin Boling (Interview with Greg Dutcher)

The Verse that Scares Calvinists: Whosoever Will May Come, by W. J. Mencarow

Calvinism Refuted - and Defended!

It is good to know both sides of an issue. While I have been a Calvinist for over 30 years, I know that I will see many of my  non-Calvinist brothers and sisters in heaven.  And at that time our Lord Jesus will  answer all of our questions. But for now, why don't you take some time to catch up on the Calvinism/non-Calvinism debate.  Here are a couple of resources for you to check out:

Refuting Calvinism, by Jim Ollis

And my post, The Five Points of Calvinism (you may want to begin with the sermons on The Eternal Decree of Election, Objections to Election,  and Reprobation, by Rev. Cornelis Pronk and the sermon on Total Depravity by Rev. Paul Den Butter)

The greatest Calvinist since the Apostle Paul was not John Calvin, it was Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834 - 1892).

"'The following quotes are from Pastor Spurgeon's sermon, Compel them to come in:

"My brother, I entreat you, I entreat you to stop and consider. Do you know what it is you are rejecting this morning? You are rejecting Christ, your only Savior. 'Other foundation can no man lay;' 'there is none other name given among men whereby we must be saved.' My brother, I cannot bear that ye should do this, for I remember what you are forgetting: the day is coming when you will want a Savior. It is not long e'er weary months shall have ended, and your strength begin to decline; your pulse shall fail you, your strength shall depart, and you and the grim monster - death, must face each other.

"What will you do in the swellings of Jordan without a Savior? Death beds are stony things without our Lord Jesus Christ. It is an awful thing to die anyhow. He that hath the best hope and the most triumphant faith, finds that death is not a thing to laugh at. It is a terrible thing to pass from the seen to the unseen, from the mortal to the immortal, from time to eternity, and you will find it hard to go through the iron gates of death without the sweet wings of angels to carry you to portals in the sky. It will be a hard thing to die without Christ.

"I cannot help thinking of you. I see you acting the suicide this morning, and I picture myself standing at your bedside and hearing your cries and knowing that you are dying without hope. I cannot bear that. I think I am standing by your coffin now, and looking into your clay cold face, and saying, 'This man despised Christ, and neglected the great salvation.' I think what bitter tears I shall weep then, if I think that I have been unfaithful to you, and how those eye fast closed in death, shall seam to chide me and say, 'Minister, I attended the music hall, but you were not in earnest with me; you amused me, you preached to me, but you did not plead with me. You did not know what Paul meant when he said, 'As though God did beseech you by us, we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.'...

"I picture myself standing at the bar of God. As the Lord liveth, the day of judgement is coming...I see you standing in the midst of that throng, and the eye of God is fixed on you.  It seams to you that he is not looking  anywhere else, but only upon you, and he summons you before him, and he reads your sins and he cries, 'Depart ye cursed into everlasting fire in hell!' ...

"But did I hear you whisper that this is not a convenient time? Then what must I say to you? When will that convenient time come? Shall it come when you're in hell? Will that time be convenient for you?...

"Remember, I have no authority to ask you to come to Christ tomorrow. The Master has given you no invitation to come to him next Tuesday. The invitation is 'Today, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.'

Now that's Calvinism!

Recommended reading (my recent post):

Is It Time To Label The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) A Cult?