Sermon 82.htm. The New Park Street Tracts

EDITED BY THE REV. C. H. SPURGEON.

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The Infidel's Sermon to the Pirates.

native of Sweden who had imbibed infidel views, had occasion to go from one port to another in the Baltic Sea. When he cameto the place whence he expected to sail, the vessel was gone. On inquiring, he found a fishing boat going the same way, inwhich he embarked. After being for some time out to sea, the men observing that he had several trunks and chests on board,concluded he must be very rich, and therefore agreed among themselves to throw him overboard. This he heardthem express, which gave him great uneasiness. However, he took occasion to open one of his trunks, which contained somebooks. Observing this, they remarked among themselves that it was not worth while to throw him into the sea, as they did notwant any books, which they supposed were all the trunks contained. They asked him if he were a priest. Hardly knowing whatreply to make them, he told them he was; and at this they seemed much pleased, and said they would have a sermon on the nextday,as it was the Sabbath. This increased the anxiety and distress of his mind, for he knew himself to be as incapable ofsuch an undertaking as it was possible for any one to be, as he knew very little of the Scriptures; neither did he believein the inspiration of the Bible.

At great length they came to a small rocky island, perhaps a quarter of a mile in circumference, where was a company of pirates,who had chosen this little sequestered spot to deposit their treasures. He was taken to a cave, and introduced to an old woman,to whom they remarked that they were to have a sermon preached the next day. She said she was very glad of it, for she hadnot heard the Word of God for a great while. His was a trying case, for preach he must; still heknew nothing about preaching. If he refused, or undertook to preach and did not please, he expected it would be his death.With these thoughts he passed a sleepless night; and in the morning his mind was not settled upon anything. To call upon God,whom he believed to be inaccessible, was altogether vain. He could devise no way whereby he might be saved. He walked to andfro, still shut up in darkness striving to collect something to say to them, but could not think of even a single sentence.

When the appointed time for the service arrived, he entered the cave, where he found the men assembled. There was a seat preparedfor him, and a table with a Bible on it. They sat for the space of half an hour in profound silence; and even then the anguishof his soul was as great as human nature was capable of enduring. At length these words came to his mind: "Verily, there isa reward for the righteous: verily, there is a God that judgeth in the earth." He arose anddelivered them; then others words presented themselves, and so on, till his understanding became opened, and his heartenlarged in a manner astonishing to himself. He spoke upon subject suited to their condition; the reward of the righteous,the judgments of the wicked, the necessity of repentance, and the importance of a change of life. The matchless love of Godto the children of men had such a powerful effect upon the minds of these wretched beings, that they were melted into tears.Nor washe less astonished at the unbounded goodness of Almighty God, in thus interposing to save his spiritual as well as hisnatural life; and well might he exclaim, "This is the Lord's doing and marvellous in our eyes." Under a deep sense of God'sgoodness, his heart became filled with thankfulness, which it was out of his power to express. What a marvellous change wasthus suddenly brought about by Divine interposition! He who a little while before disbelieved in communion with God and thesoul,became as humble as a little child; and they who were so lately meditating on his death, now were filled with love andgoodwill towards each other, particularly towards him; manifesting affectionate kindness, and willing to render him all theassistance in their power.

The next morning they fitted out one of their vessels, and conveyed him whither he desired. From that time he became a changedman; from being a slave to the influence of infidelity, he was brought to be a sincere believer in the power and efficacyof the truth as it is in Jesus.

[How marvellous the providence of God, and the sovereignty of his grace! Who is he that has stepped beyond the range of Almightylove? or has sinned too much to be forgiven? Reader! are you an infidel? What would you do in a similar situation? What otherdoctrine than that of Scripture would benefit pirates? Certainly not your own. What would you like to teach your own children?Certainly not your own sentiments. You feel that you would not wish to hear your own offspringblaspheming God. Moreover, forgive us, if we declare our opinion that thou knowest that there is a God, though with thylips thou deniest him. Think, we beseech thee, of thy Maker, and of his Son, the Saviour; and may Eternal love bring eventhee to the Redeemer.-C. H. S.]

No. 3-The Actress.

n actress in one of the English provincial or country theatres, was, one day, passing through the streets of the town in whichshe then resided, when her attention was attracted by the sound of voices, which she heard in a poor cottage before her. Curiosityprompted her to look in at an open door, when she saw a few poor people sitting together, one of whom, at the moment of herobservation, was giving out the following hymn, which the others joined in singing:-

"Depth of mercy! can there be

Mercy still reserved for me?"

The tune was sweet and simple, but she heeded it not. The words had riveted her attention, and she stood motionless, untilshe was invited to enter by the woman of the house, who had observed her standing at the door. She complied, and remainedduring a prayer which was offered up by one of the little company; and uncouth as the expressions might seem in her ears,they carried with them a conviction of sincerity on the part of the person then employed. She quitted thecottage, but the words of the hymn followed her; she could not banish them from her mind, and at last she resolved toprocure the book which contained the hymn. The more she read it, the more decided her serious impressions became. She attendedthe ministry of the Gospel, read her hitherto neglected and despised Bible, and bowed herself in humility and contrition ofheart before him whose mercy she felt she needed, whose sacrifices are those of a broken heart and a contrite spirit, andwho hasdeclared that therewith he is well pleased.

Her profession she determined at once, and for ever, to renounce; and for some little time excused herself from appearingon the stage, without, however, disclosing her change of sentiments, or making known her resolution finally to leave it.

The manager of the theatre called upon her one morning, and requested her to sustain the principal character in a new playwhich was to be performed the next week for his benefit. She had frequently performed this character to general admiration;but she now, however, told him her resolution never to appear as an actress again, at the same time giving her reasons. Atfirst he attempted to overcome her scruples by ridicule, but this was unavailing; he then represented theloss he should incur by her refusal, and concluded his arguments by promising, that if to oblige him she would act onthis occasion, it should be the last request of the kind he would ever make. Unable to resist his solicitations, she promisedto appear, and on the appointed evening went to the theatre. The character she assumed required her, on her first entrance,to sing a song; and when the curtain was drawn up, the orchestra immediately began the accompaniment; but she stood as iflost inthought and as one forgetting all around her, and her own situation. The music ceased, but she did not sing; and supposingher to be overcome by embarrassment, the band again commenced. A second time they paused for her to begin, and still she didnot open her lips. A third time the air was played, and then, with clasped hands, and eyes suffused with tears, she sang,not the words of the song, but-

"Depth of mercy! can there be

Mercy still reserved for me!"

It is almost needless to add, that the performance was suddenly ended; many ridiculed, though, some were induced from thatmemorable night to "consider their ways," and to reflect on the wonderful power of that religion which could so influencethe heart and change the life of one hitherto so vain, and so evidently pursuing the road which leadeth to destruction.

It would be satisfactory to the reader to know, that the change in Miss _________ was as permanent as it was singular; shewalked consistently with her profession of religion for many years, and at length became the wife of a minister of the Gospelof our Lord Jesus Christ.

[Perhaps, dear reader, you are a great transgressor, then you fear there is no forgiveness for you; let this remove your fears.You may be the vilest creature out of hell, and yet grace can make you as pure as the angels in heaven. God would be justshould he damn you, but he can be just and yet save you. Do you feel that the Lord has a right over you to do as he pleases?Do you feel that you have no claim upon him? Then, rejoice, for Jesus Christ has borne yourguilt, and carried your sorrows, and you shall assuredly be saved. You are a sinner in the true sense of that word, then remember Jesus came to save sinners, and you among the rest, if you know yourself tobe a sinner.-C. H. S.]

"Lo, th' incarnate God ascended,

Pleads the merit of his blood:

Venture on him, venture wholly,

Let no other trust intrude;

None but Jesus

Can do helpless sinners good."