The Christian Excavator

“And be not conformed to this world…” Romans 12:2a

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” I John 2:15

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.” II Timothy 4:2

“These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.” Titus 2:15

James Dobson has reportedly said that we have lost the culture war and our nation is “awash in evil”.

I’ll go one step further than that, the average American does not know what the word “evil” means.

The average young person today doesn’t see anything wrong with getting a tattoo.

The average young person today doesn’t see anything wrong with being “gay”.

The average young person today doesn’t see anything wrong with shacking up.

The average young person today doesn’t see anything wrong being dishonest or crooked in their business dealings.

As a matter of fact from what I have seen and heard, the average young person today does not see anything wrong with anything. They have been brainwashed by the public school system, the universities and the television.

…And the older people aren’t much better.

Author Karl Priest has noted in his book, Protester Voices–The 1974 Textbook Tea Party, the “Textbook war” was the first shot fired in the culture war. Many of those protesters are grandparents and great grandparents now. Many of those who pulled their children out of public schools and protested because of the rotten content in the textbooks are guilty of listening, reading and watching much worse every day.

The problem is not a political one…it is a spiritual one.

The problem is not congress… it is our churches.

The problem is not our politicians…it is our preachers.

Dr R.L. Hymers points out in his book, Today’s Apostasy; “…many preachers in our day have become “boneless wonders”, too cowardly to preach against sin, too spineless to insist on conversion, too blind to see that the enemy is Satan.” I believe he is exactly right. {I believe Dr. Hymers would also point out that a majority of Americans have made some type of decision or commitment to Jesus Christ.}

Or as Dr Martin Lloyd Jones said, “Present-day preaching does not save men. Present-day preaching does not even annoy men…”

One reason Mamaw has got a new tattoo and Papaw is shacking up is because preachers are afraid of preaching against sin.

Please understand that right is right and wrong is wrong even if I or my own children go into grievous sin.

God hasn’t changed His mind about sin. The wages of sin is still eternal death. {Romans 6:23}

The Bible is true.

Hell is real.

Heaven is real.

Jesus came into this world to save His people from their sins.

Brother Shawn

“Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.” Hebrews 13:4

What a crazy day. I go to the store and see grandmas with tattoos and grandpas with earrings. {When I was growing up tattoos were for sailors and biker chicks} The checkout stand is plastered with nudity. I am having trouble understanding the cashier because of the piercing in her tongue. The guy at the gas station is mostly a weird bluish black color because he has tattooed a great majority of his body…and I am expected to accept all this as normal? We have turned into a nation of heathen savages. We look like something from a 1960’s National Geographic, or a Mad Max movie.

Sexual promiscuity is rampant in our day. The television is saturated with perversion and filth. Homosexuality is promoted as normal behavior by our nation’s leaders and those in the media. It is being taught in our public schools as “normal”.

God says He will judge whoremongers and adulterers. God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because of sexual perversion. Some may consider this “hate” speech but our nation needs to hear the truth from Gods word. Where are the preachers crying out against sin? Where are the Christians standing for the right? Probably too busy listening to foul mouthed conservative talk show hosts.

We are like the proverbial “frog in the beaker” we have heard and seen so much, that nothing bothers us anymore. As a nation we have turned our back on God and if He tarries our children and grandchildren will pay the price. As one preacher said some time ago, “The barbarians are coming”.

I believe they are here.

Shawn

Baptist’s have always believed in the freedom of conscience. B.H. Carroll {1843-1914} has some interesting remarks concerning this subject. -Brother Shawn

“…If one be responsible for himself, there must be no restraint or constraint of his conscience. Neither parent, nor government, nor church, may usurp the prerogative of God as Lord of the conscience. God himself does not coerce the will. His people are volunteers, not conscripts. As has been stated, the prevalent theory in the days of the Reformation was: Whose is the government—his is the religion. Louis XIV revoked the Edict of Nantes, signed by his grandfather, the great Henry of Navarre. Calvin burned Servetus at the stake. Luther loosed all the hounds of persecution upon the Baptists in his day. Holland, the little republic that tore her lowlands from the ocean flood, and for eighty years, by pike and dike, repelled the Spaniard with his Inquisition, did herself destroy her greatest statesman, John of Barneveldt, and banish her great historian Grotius for conscience sake. Henry VIII, in England, and his successors, delighted to persecute for conscience sake. John Knox, of Scotland, so tarnished his great name. The Congregationalists of New England and the Episcopalians of Virginia alike denied freedom of conscience to their fellowmen. There was not a government in the world that allowed full liberty of conscience to all men until a Baptist established the colony of Rhode Island.

At a great dining in England John Bright asked a Baptist statesman beside him: “What special contribution have your people made to the world?” “Civil and religious liberty,” replied the statesman. “A great contribution,” replied John Bright. Bancroft, in his history of America, declares: “Freedom of conscience, unlimited freedom of mind, was from the first the trophy of the Baptists.” On November 5, 1658, these Baptists thus instructed their agent in England: “Plead our case in such sort as we may not be compelled to exercise any civil power over men’s consciences; we do judge it no less than a point of absolute cruelty.” In their petition to Charles II they thus urged: “It is much in our hearts to hold forth a lively experiment, that a most flourishing civil state may stand, and best be maintained, with a full liberty of religious concernments.” And so when their charter came it provided: “No person within the said colony, at any time hereafter, shall be in any wise molested, punished, disquieted or called in question, for any difference in opinion in matters of religion; every person may at all times freely and fully enjoy his own judgment and conscience in matters of religious concernment.” And the charter of their great school, now Brown University, has a clause of equal import, a thing unknown at that time in the chartered schools of the whole world.

Freedom of conscience in our day, especially in this country, is a familiar thing. It was not so in earlier days. Pagan, Papist and Protestant ground liberty of conscience into powder under the iron heel of their despotisms.” – Distinctive Baptist Principles by B.H. Carroll

Biography of B. H. Carroll 

Benajah Harvey Carroll 1843-1914 Baptist minister and educator. B. H. Carroll was born in Carrollton, Mississippi, the son of a preacher-farmer and one of twelve children. At the age of 18 he was graduated from Waco University in Waco, Texas, and then spent the next four years in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. In 1865, at the age of 22, he was converted to Christ in a wood shed through the efforts of a Methodist evangelist, and was ordained to the ministry one year later. During the first years of his ministry, immigrants were moving into Texas by the thousands, and he labored for their evangelization. After pastoring several Baptist churches, he became secretary of the Education Commission of the Baptist General Convention of Texas in 1899. He served in this capacity until 1901, at which time he became head of the Bible department at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. In 1905 he was made dean of the Baylor Theological Seminary, which later became Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Dr. Carroll served as president of Southwestern from 1908 until his death in 1914. In addition to his intellectual and argumentative abilities, in an age of denominational debates, he possessed a lovable nature. He once said, “When I come to know a man and love him as a friend and a brother, nothing can destroy the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love.” He believed in the Baptist interpretation of the teachings of the New Testament, and was devoted to spreading those teachings to the uttermost parts of the earth. – Providence Baptist Ministries 

I enjoyed this little narrative concerning the Presbyterian preacher, Benjamin Morgan Palmer {1818-1902}. I give you the following excerpt from the book: The Life and Letters of Benjamin Morgan Palmer.

“The following incident will show that this daring young pastor was, in personal work, a skillful fisherman of men. During the revival to be referred to after a little, a young friend dropped in for a week’s sojourn with him in his home. He appeared annoyed at the presence of the revival and would have left but for kindly solicitations to remain. Mr. Palmer did not even ask him to attend church. On the contrary he gave him to understand that he could do as he pleased. The youth, however, chose to attend, having nothing better to do. After a little he developed a restlessness and an irritation of manner.

“Thus,” to let Mr. Palmer tell the story in his own words, “matters moved on from day to day, till the Sabbath came and was passed, and on Monday the conflict reached its crisis. I was writing in my study as he came in and sat beside my desk—breaking out, after a little, in the petulant remark: ‘You preachers are the most contradictory men in the world; you say, and you unsay, just as it pleases you, without the least pretension to consistency.’

“Somehow I was not surprised at this outbreak; for though no sign of religious feeling had been evinced, there was a restlessness in his manner which satisfied me that he was secretly fighting against the truth. I thought it best to treat the case in an off-hand sort of way, and with seeming indifference so as to cut him off from all opportunity to coquette with the Gospel. {to treat the Gospel without respect or seriousness.}Without arresting my pen, I simply answered, ‘Well, what now?’

“‘Why, yesterday you said in your sermon that sinners were perfectly helpless in themselves utterly unable to repent—or believe and then turned square round and said that they would all be damned if they did not.’

“‘Well, my dear E , there is no use in our quarreling over this matter; either you can or you cannot. If you can, all I have to say is that I hope you will just go and do it.’

“As I did not raise my eyes from my writing, which was continued as I spoke, I had no means of marking the effect of these words, until, after a moment’s silence, with a choking utterance, the reply came back: ‘I have been trying my best for three whole days, and cannot.’ ‘Ah,’ said I, laying down the pen; ‘that puts a different face upon it; we will go then and tell the difficulty straight out to God.’

“We knelt together and I prayed as though this was the first time in human history that this trouble had ever arisen; that here was a soul in the most desperate extremity, which must believe or perish, and hopelessly unable of itself, to do it; that, consequently it was just the case calling for Divine interposition; and pleading most earnestly for the fulfillment of the Divine promise. Upon rising I offered not one single word of comfort or advice. Youth is seldom disingenuous or stubborn, and the difficulty was recognized as purely practical. So I left my friend in his powerlessness in the hands of God, as the only helper. In a short time he came through the struggle, rejoicing in the hope of eternal life”

The Life and Letters of Benjamin Morgan Palmer, 1906, page 83 by Thomas Cary Johnson

Brother Shawn

“Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:” Luke 13:23-25

I write these little articles to try to get people to think. Of course being spoon fed something your entire life is easier than studying and thinking for yourself. But even infants, {if they are healthy} eventually try to feed themselves. I’ve read about some people in the Bible who “received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so”. Sounds like a noble endeavor.

Matthew Henry {1662-1714} the 17th century commentator said “It is a hard matter to get to Heaven.” Most people today have never heard anything like that.  I’m sure some would even say the statement was heretical. Many suppose that going to Heaven is as simple as going to an alter or raising their hand or repeating a prayer. The problem is that you cannot find any of those things in the Word of God. Jesus said “Strive to enter in at the strait gate”.

B. H. Carroll. (1843-1914) was a Confederate soldier, Baptist leader, seminary president and author. I offer a couple of his comments on our Lords admonition to strive to enter in.

“No man believes more than I do the doctrine of predestination, the doctrine of the elect, the doctrine of the absolute sovereignty of God in salvation, the doctrine that salvation from its inception to its consummation is of God, the doctrine of the necessity of the work of the Holy Spirit at the very beginning and throughout the entire course of the Christian life. All of these I believe, without a shadow of reservation. And yet the Bible teaches that man must not sit still; that he occupies no waiting attitude; that he is not to remain in a morally passive state, and if I knew that I had to stand before the judgment bar tomorrow and answer for the orthodoxy, the soundness of the statement ‘I now make, I would lift up my voice confidently and say that this lesson shows that in the matter of salvation there must be the most attentive, the most earnest, the most vigorous and the most persistent exertion upon our part. On what word do I found this? I found it on this word “strive.” It is our Lord, not I, who turns the questioner from a question of curiosity first to his own case and then to the responsibility of exertion. The Greek word is agonizes.”

“… He {Jesus} calls upon us to direct our attention, to call forth all our powers, to concentrate our minds, and to lay hold and to hold on, and to press to its settlement the question of our personal salvation in the sight of God.” From The Four Gospels by B. H. Carroll

It is no wonder Missionary James Stewart {1910-1975} said that when he preached the gospel like our forefathers preached it, the people in this country would accuse him of preaching a new or different gospel. Please consider the following quotes from J. C. Ryle, John Bunyan, Alexander Maclaren and William Gurnall.

“…The gate is strait. The work is great. The enemies of our souls are many. We must be up and doing. We are to wait for nobody. We are not to inquire what other people are doing, and whether many of our neighbors, and relatives, and friends are serving Christ. The unbelief and indecision of others will be no excuse at the last day. We must never follow a multitude to do evil. If we go to heaven alone, we must resolve that by God’s grace we will go. Whether we have many with us or a few, the command before us is plain–“Strive to enter in.” –J.C. Ryle {1816-1900} From his Commentary on Luke

…this word strive is expressed by several other terms; as, It is expressed by that word, “So run that ye may obtain.” (1 Cor 9:24,25)  It is expressed by that word, “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life.” (1 Tim 6:12)  It is expressed by that word, “Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life.” (John 6:27)  It is expressed by that word, “We wrestle – with principalities and powers, and the rulers of the darkness of this world.” (Eph 6:12) Therefore, when he saith, Strive, it is as much as to say, Run for heaven, Fight for heaven, Labour for heaven, Wrestle for heaven, or you are likely to go without it. John Bunyan {1628-1688} from The Strait Gate or Great or Difficulty of Going to Heaven

Very solemnly significant is the difference between striving  and seeking. It is like the difference between wishing and willing. There may be a seeking which has no real earnestness in it, and is not sufficiently determined, to do what is needful in order to find. Plenty of people would like to possess earthly good, but cannot brace themselves to needful work and sacrifice. Plenty would like to ‘go to heaven,’ as they understand the phrase, but cannot screw themselves to the surrender of self and the world. Vagrant, halfhearted seeking, such as one sees many examples of, will never win anything, either in this world or in the other. We must strive, and not only seek. The Strait Gate by Alexander Maclaren {1826-1910}, Expositions of Holy Scripture

“…Strive to enter,” fight and wrestle, venture life and limb, rather than fall short of Heaven. “For many shall seek, but shall not be able;” that is, seek by an easy profession, and cheap religion, such as hearing the Word, performance of duties, and the like; of this kind there are many that will come and walk about Heaven-door, willing enough to enter, if they may do it without ruffling their pride in a crowd, or hazarding their present carnal interest by any contest and scuffle. “But they shall not be able,” that is, “to enter;” because their carnal cowardly hearts shall not be able to strive. “The Christian in Complete Armour Volume 2 by William Gurnall {1617-1679}

Finally one more quote from J. C. Ryle

“…It does cost something to be a real Christian, according to the standard of the Bible. There are enemies to be overcome, battles to be fought, sacrifices to be made, an Egypt to be forsaken, a wilderness to be passed through, a cross to be carried, a race to be run. Conversion is not putting a man in an armchair and taking him easily to heaven. It is the beginning of a mighty conflict, in which it costs much to win the victory. Hence arises the unspeakable importance of “counting the cost.“{emphasis mine}  From The Cost by J.C. Ryle.

All of the preachers I’ve quoted would be considered Sovereign Grace or Calvinistic in their theology.  In other words, they would have vehemently renounced any type of “salvation by works”. Yet they were not hesitant to agree with Christ when He said to strive. I think it would do us good to search the scriptures and see if these men were right.

Brother Shawn

“Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:” Luke 13:23-25

In my last article I discussed our Lord’s answer to the question, “Lord, are there few that be saved?” His reply was “Strive to enter in at the strait gate”.

Asahel Nettleton {1783-1844} has some interesting comments from his sermon on this text entitled, The Certain Ruin of All Who Do Not Seek Salvation Aright.

Nettleton gives six reasons in outline form in which sinners may, and do seek, and yet fail of salvation.

1. They do not seek salvation as a thing of the first importance.

2. Some seek to enter heaven by attempting to establish a righteousness of their own.

3. Some deny the necessity of regeneration. They intend to maintain, what is called a good moral life, but they do not believe in the necessity of a change of heart.

4. Many will not be able to enter heaven, because they do not seek in season. They may make great exertions, but they are too late.

5. Many who seek to enter heaven will not be able, because they are not willing to part with all for Christ.

6. Some seek for a time, and then drop the subject.

Then he makes this startling statement; “No preacher ever made the way to heaven more difficult than the Son of God. Who was it that said, “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? Who was it that said, “Wide is the gate, and broad is the way which leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat? And who uttered the words of the text? {Luke 13:23-25} If any preacher attempts to show an easier way to heaven than by the strait gate of regeneration, and the narrow way of self denial, you may know that he does not preach the gospel.”

Just how many preachers are truly preaching the gospel today according to Asahel Nettleton?

And how many people will seek to enter in, and shall not be able?

Brother Shawn

You can listen to a reading of this sermon on Sermonaudio

The Certain Ruin of All Who Do Not Seek Salvation Aright.

“Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them; Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” Luke 13:23, 24

Jesus responds to the question “are there few that be saved?” with a pointed answer…Strive. To strive means to agonize, to fight, to struggle.

Matthew Henry said concerning this passage. “Strive to enter in at the strait gate.” This is directed not to him only that asked the question, but to all, to us, it is in the plural number: Strive ye. Note, (1.) All that will be saved must enter in at the strait gate, must undergo a change of the whole man, such as amounts to no less than being born again, and must submit to a strict discipline. (2.) Those that would enter in at the strait gate must strive to enter. It is a hard matter to get to heaven and a point that will not be gained without a great deal of care and pains, of difficulty and diligence. We must strive with God in prayer, wrestle as Jacob, strive against sin and Satan. We must strive in every duty of religion; strive with our own hearts,agoµnizesthe—”Be in an agony; strive as those that run for a prize; excite and exert ourselves to the utmost” “.Many will seek to enter in, and shall not be able; they seek, but they do not strive.” 

Notice the statement by Matthew Henry; “It is a hard matter to get to Heaven”.

Ponder on that a while. Have you been taught that? Do you believe that?

If I said strive to enter in or agonize to enter in or fight to enter in someone would probably accuse me of preaching “works salvation”…But the Master said strive.

Recommended Listening: Self Delusion by C. H. Spurgeon  

Brother Shawn

“Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.” Proverbs 23:23

I am thankful to live in a free country. I am thankful for the right to worship and believe as I choose. I am thankful to the men who made it possible. I am thankful to God for allowing me those privileges.

As we celebrate Independence Day tomorrow I thought I would share some information about a little known “patriot preacher” named John Leland{1754-1841}. He was a lover of freedom and he zealously fought the idea that this country should be a Christian commonwealth. He was friends with Madison and Jefferson. He would be considered a Calvinistic Baptist. {I detest revisionism either by commission or omission. If Leland would have been an Arminian Quaker I would have told you so. If you are looking for writings that only uphold your particular party or group …you’re tuned to the wrong station – Shawn}.

I find it interesting that while many today try to elect “Christian” leaders, Leland seemed to warn strongly against it.

Given below are a few small excerpts of his writings.

“No national church can in its organization, be the Gospel Church.  A National church takes in the whole Nation, and no more; whereas, the Gospel Church, takes in no Nation, but those who fear God, and work righteousness in every Nation.  The notion of a Christian commonwealth should be exploded forever…”

 “Let every man speak freely without fear—maintain the principles that he believes—worship according to his own faith, either one God, three Gods, no God, or twenty Gods; and let government protect him in so doing, i.e. see that he meets with no personal abuse or loss of property for his religious opinions. Instead of discouraging of him with proscriptions, fines, confiscation or death; let him be encouraged, as a free man, to bring forth his arguments and maintain his points with all boldness; then if his doctrine is false it will be confuted, and if it is true (though ever so novel) let others credit it. When every man has this liberty what can he wish for more? A liberal man asks for nothing more of government.”

 “Is it the duty of a deist to support that which he believes to be a threat and imposition? Is it the duty of a Jew to support the religion of Jesus Christ, when he really believes that he was an impostor? Must the papists be forced to pay men for preaching down the supremacy of the pope, whom they are sure is the head of the church? Must a Turk maintain a religion opposed to the alcoran{ Koran-ed.}, which he holds as the sacred oracles of heaven? These things want better confirmation. If we suppose that it is the duty of all these to support the protestant christian religion, as being the best religion in the world—yet how comes it to pass that human legislatures have right to force them so to do? I now call for an instance where Jesus Christ, the author of his religion, or the apostles, who were divinely inspired, ever gave orders to or intimated that the civil powers on earth ought to force people to observe the rules and doctrine of the gospel. Mahomet {Mohammed-ed.} called in the use of law and sword to convert people to his religion; but Jesus did not, does not.”

 “It is the duty of men to love God with all their hearts, and their neighbors as themselves; but have legislatures authority to punish men if they do not? So there are many things that Jesus and the apostles taught that men ought to obey which yet the civil law has no concerns in. That it is the duty of men who are taught in the word to communicate to the teacher is beyond controversy, but that it is the province of the civil law to force men to do so is denied.”

 “Never promote men who seek after a state-established religion; it is spiritual tyranny–the worst of despotism. It is turnpiking the way to heaven by human law, in order to establish ministerial gates to collect toll. It converts religion into a principle of state policy, and the gospel into merchandise. Heaven forbids the bans of marriage between church and state; their embraces therefore, must be unlawful. Guard against those men who make a great noise about religion, in choosing representatives. It is electioneering. If they knew the nature and worth of religion, they would not debauch it to such shameful purposes. If pure religion is the criterion to denominate candidates, those who make a noise about it must be rejected; for their wrangle about it, proves that they are void of it. Let honesty, talents and quick despatch, characterise the men of your choice. Such men will have a sympathy with their constituents, and will be willing to come to the light, that their deeds may be examined. . . .”

 “That God is good, and that men are rebellious – that salvation is of the Lord, and damnation is of ourselves, are truths revealed as plain as a sunbeam”

Sources:

http://www.marchtozion.com/blog/393-john-leland-quote

http://www.themoralliberal.com/2011/06/14/called-unto-liberty-john-leland-1791-founding-era-sermons/

http://www.mainstreambaptists.org/mbn/Patriots.htm

http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/read_johnleland.html

http://candst.tripod.com/leland5.htm

“…the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.” Matthew 21:31b

“William Booth {Founder of the Salvation Army} died in the year 1912. He had travelled over five million miles and preached over 60,000 sermons. His body lay in state for three days as 150,000 people filed passed his casket. Forty thousand people attended his funeral service including former thieves, tramps, and harlots.
Among the mourners was Queen Mary, who arrived without warning. She sat at the rear of the hall, next to a prostitute. The prostitute whispered to the Queen, not realizing to whom she was speaking and said ; “I was a harlot …He told me “when you get to heaven Mary Magdalene will give you one of the best places.” and then she said to the Queen  “He cared for the likes of us.”

The Necessity of the Spirit

“I will dare to say it, that in every age of the world the most despised ministry has been the most useful; and I could find you at this day poor Primitive Methodist preachers who can scarce speak correct English, who have been the fathers of more souls, and have brought to Christ more than any one bishop on the bench. Why, the Lord hath been pleased always to make it so, that he will clothe with power the weak and the foolish, but he will not clothe with power those who, if good were done, might be led to ascribe the excellence of the power to their learning, their eloquence, or their position.”-C. H. Spurgeon from the sermon The Necessity of the Spirit’s Work Delivered on Sabbath Morning, May 8th, 1859 {Spurgeon himself was converted in a Methodist Chapel – Shawn}

Booth and Spurgeon

“William Booth was also converted in his teens and became a worker for the Lord within days of his conversion. Spurgeon supported William Booth’s “holy activities” and commended him for “stirring the masses of London.” Spurgeon had William Booth lecture at his pastor’s college and William Booth invited Spurgeon to minister at his mission hall in Whitechapel.”

From the article, Charles Spurgeon the Puritan Prince of Preachers by Dr. Peter Hammond

A recent Sword of the Lord mentioned William Booth’s contempt for Calvinism. It may be true that he disliked the Congregational Calvinism he encountered when trying to enter the ministry. But evidently he liked at least one Calvinist, C. H. Spurgeon. {see footnote} Maybe Christians should try to be more like Spurgeon and Booth. – Shawn

“I’m never ashamed to avow myself a Calvinist. I do not hesitate to take the name of Baptist, but if I’m asked what my creed is, I reply, it is Jesus Christ!”  – C.H. Spurgeon

Other Sources:www.kenconnolly.org

www.salvationarmy.org

http://www.reformationsa.org/articles/CH%20Spurgeon.htm

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ch/1991/issue29/2936.html?start=2