Can't Turn to Christ When You Please

A portion of a letter by Charles Haddon Spurgeon to William Cooper about his need for Christ. Spurgeon, only a young man himself, had been a student-teacher at a school in Newmarket, where he met William. Spurgeon later moved to another school in Cambridge and wrote this letter to his former pupil, encouraging him to come to Christ for cleansing. Spurgeon was only 17 or 18 years of age at this time, yet he was greatly concerned about the salvation of lost sinners. The letter was written sometime in the year 1851.

Perhaps you intend to think about religion after you have enjoyed sin a little longer; or (but surely you are not so foolish) possibly you think that you are too young to die. But who knows whether that future time will be afforded, and who said that you can turn to Christ just when you please? Your heart is deceitful above all things, and your natural depravity so great that you will not turn to God. Trust not, then, to resolutions made in your own strength, they are but wind; nor to yourself, who are but a broken reed; nor to your own heart, or you are a fool. There is no way of salvation but Christ; you cannot save yourself, having no power even to think one good thought; neither can your parents’ love and prayers save you; none but Jesus can, He is the Saviour of the helpless, and I tell you that He died for all such as feel their vileness, and come to Him for cleansing.

The Letters of Charles Haddon Spurgeon: Collected and Collated by his son, Charles Spurgeon, Marshal Brothers Limited, 1923, p. 174. Also available by Logos Research Systems, 2009.

Free Mercy!

A selection from a letter by the Welsh preacher, Thomas Charles (1755-1814), to his wife, Sally Jones Charles. He going was through a difficult time and felt very much his weakness and corruption. He referred to verses in Romans 7 several times in this letter and wondered how the Lord could use him, seeing that he was so depraved and sinful. But his soul was lifted up in contemplating God's mercy. No date is given for the letter.

Blessed be the Lord, that his mercy is free. Guilt and unworthiness are obstacles which it easily surmounts. Nothing but free mercy could save my soul, or bring me this moment one drop of comfort. I have no comfort in myself; but I can see infinite consolations in God, and I long after a fuller enjoyment of them. I am a burden to myself; but I am happy in looking to that glorious deliverance from self, etc. which Christ hath procured for all his people.

Thomas Charles' Spiritual Counsels: Selected from His Letter and Papers, by Edward Morgan, first published in 1836 and republished by Banner of Truth Trust, 1993, pp. 299-300.