# “We believe the old doctrines of grace” by Charles Spurgeon

- Link: https://tollelege.net/2018/10/04/we-believe-the-old-doctrines-of-grace-by-charles-spurgeon/
- Published: 2018-10-04T12:00:54-05:00
- Author: tollelege

“Little did I think I should live to see this kind of stuff taught in pulpits. I
had no idea that there would come out a divinity which would bring down God’s moral
government from the solemn aspect in which Scripture reveals it, to a namby-pamby
sentimentalism, which adores a Deity destitute of every masculine virtue.

But we never know today what may occur tomorrow. We have lived to see a certain 
sort of men– thank God they are not Baptists– though I am sorry to say there are
a great many Baptists who are beginning to follow in their trail– who seek to teach
nowadays that God is a universal Father, and that our ideas of His dealing with 
the impenitent as a Judge, and not as a Father, are remnants of antiquated error.

Sin, according to these men, is a disorder rather than an offence, an error rather
than a crime. Love is the only attribute they can discern, and the full-orbed Deity
they have not known.

Some of these men push their way very far into the bogs and mire of falsehood, until
they inform us that eternal punishment is ridiculed as a dream.

In fact, books now appear, which teach us that there is no such thing as the Vicarious
Sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ. They use the word Atonement, it is true, but
in regard to its meaning, they have removed the ancient landmark.

They acknowledge that the Father has shown His great love to poor sinful man by 
sending His Son, but not that God was inflexibly just in the exhibition of His mercy,
not that He punished Christ on the behalf of His people, nor that indeed God ever
will punish anybody in His wrath, or that there is such a thing as justice apart
from discipline.

Even sin and hell are but old words employed henceforth in a new and altered sense.
Those are old-fashioned notions, and we poor souls who go on talking about election
and imputed righteousness, are behind our time.

Ay, and the gentlemen who bring out books on this subject, applaud Mr. Maurice, 
and Professor Scott, and the like, but are too cowardly to follow them, and boldly
propound these sentiments.

These are the new men whom God has sent down from heaven, to tell us that the apostle
Paul was all wrong, that our faith is vain, that we have been quite mistaken, that
there was no need for propitiating blood to wash away our sins; that the fact was,
our sins needed discipline, but penal vengeance and righteous wrath are quite out
of the question.

When I thus speak, I am free to confess that such ideas are not boldly taught by
a certain individual whose volume excites these remarks, but as he puffs the books
of gross perverters of the truth, I am compelled to believe that he endorses such
theology.

Well, brethren, I am happy to say that sort of stuff has not gained entrance into
this pulpit. I dare say the worms will eat the wood before there will be anything
of that sort sounded in this place.

And may these bones be picked by vultures, and this flesh be rent in sunder by lions,
and may every nerve in this body suffer pangs and tortures, ere these lips shall
give utterance to any such doctrines or sentiments.

We are content to remain among the vulgar souls who believe the old doctrines of
grace.

We are willing still to be behind in the great march of intellect, and stand by 
that unmoving cross, which, like the pole star, never advances, because it never
stirs, but always abides in its place, the guide of the soul to heaven, the one 
foundation other than which no man can lay, and without building upon which, no 
man shall ever see the face of God and live.”

–Charles H. Spurgeon, “[Christ—Our Substitute](https://amzn.to/2DZGQYm),” in [_The New Park Street Pulpit Sermons, Volume 6_ ](https://amzn.to/2DZGQYm)(
London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1860), 6: 190.

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