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'A Solemn Warning for All Churches'

A Sermon
Delivered on Sabbath Morning, February 24, 1856, by the
Rev. C. H. Spurgeon
At New Park Street Chapel, Southwark.

"Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments;
and they shall walk with me in white; for they are worthy."
- Revelation 3:4.

My learned and eminently pious predecessor, Dr. Gill, is of opinion that the different churches spoken of in the Book of Revelation are types of different states through which the church of God shall pass until it comes into the Philadelphia state, the state of love, in which Jesus Christ shall reign in its midst, and afterwards, as he thinks, shall pass into the state of Laodicea, in which condition it shall be when suddenly the Son of Man shall come to judge the world in righteousness and the people in equity. I do not go with him in all his suppositions with regard to these seven churches as following each other in seven periods of time; but I do think he was correct when he declared that the church in Sardis was a most fitting emblem of the church in his days, as also in these. The good old doctor says, "When we shall find any period in which the church was more like the state of Sardis as described here, than it is now?" And he points out the different particulars in which the church of his day (and I am sure it is yet more true of the church at the present day) was exactly like the church in Sardis. I shall use the church in Sardis as a figure of what I conceive to be the sad condition of Christendom at the present moment. My first point will be general defilement--there were but "a few names" in Sardis who had not "defiled their garments;" secondly, special preservation--there were a few who had not defiled their garments; and thirdly, a peculiar reward--"And they shall walk with me in white; for they are worthy."

I. GENERAL DEFILEMENT. The holy apostle, John, said of the church in Sardis, "These things saith he that hath the Seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou has a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die; for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou has received and heard, and hold fast and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments."

The first charge of general defilement he brings against the church in Sardis was that they had a vast deal of open profession, and but little of sincere religion. "I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead." That is the crying sin of the present age. I am not inclined to be morbid in my temperament, or to take a melancholy view of the church of God. I would wish at all times to exhibit a liberality of spirit, and to speak as well as I can of the church at large; but God forbid that any minister should shrink from declaring what he believes to be the truth. In going up and down this land, I am obliged to come to this conclusion, that throughout the churches there are multitudes who have "a name to live, and are dead." Religion has become fashionable. The shopkeeper could scarcely succeed in a respectable business if he were not united with a church. It is reckoned to be reputable and honorable to attend a place of worship; and hence men are made religious in shoals. And especially now that parliament itself doth in some measure sanction religion, we may expect that hypocrisy will abound yet more and more, and formality everywhere take the place of true religion. You can scarcely meet with a man who does not call himself a Christian, and yet it is equally hard to meet with one who is in the very marrow of his bones thoroughly sanctified to the good work of the kingdom of heaven. We meet with professors by hundreds; but me must expect still to meet with possessors by units. The whole nation appears to have been Christianized in an hour. But is this real? Is this sincere? Ah! we fear not. How is it that professors can live like other men? How is it that there is so little distinction between the church and the world? Or, that if there is any difference, you are frequently safer in dealing with an ungodly man than with one who is professedly righteous? How is it that men who make high professions can live in worldly conformity, indulge in the same pleasures, live in the same style, act from the same motives, deal in the same manner as other do? Are not these days when the sons of God have made affinity with the sons of men? And may be not fear that something terrible may yet occur unless God shall send a voice, which shall say, "Come out of them, my people, lest ye be partakers of their plagues?" Take our churches at large--there is no lack of names, but there is a lack of life. Else, how is it that our prayer-meetings are so badly attended? Where is the zeal or the energy shown by the apostles? Where is the Spirit of the living God? Is he not departed? Might not "Ichabod" be written on the walls of many a sanctuary? They have a name to live, but are dead. They have their piety? Where is sincere religion? Where is practical godliness? Where is firm, decisive, puritanical piety? Thank God, there are a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; but charity itself will not allow us to say that the church generally possesses the Spirit of God.

Then the next charge was, that there was a want of zeal throughout the church of Sardis. He says, "Be watchful." He looked on the church and saw the bishops slumbering, the elders slumbering, and the people slumbering; they were not, as once they were, watchful for the faith, striving together and earnestly contending for it, not wrestling against the enemy of souls, labouring to spread their Master's kingdom, but the apostle saw sleepiness, coldness, lethargy; therefore he said, "Be watchful." Oh! John, if from thy grave thou couldst start up, and see the church as thou didst at Sardis, having thine eyes anointed by the Spirit, thou wouldst say it is even so now. Ah! we have abundance of cold, calculating Christians, multitudes of professors; but where are the zealous ones? where are the leaders of the children of God? where are your heroes who stand in the day of battle? where are your men who "count not their lives dear unto them," that they might win Christ, and be found in him? where are those who have an impassioned love for souls? How many of our pulpits are filled by earnest, enthusiastic preachers? Alas! look, at the church. She has builded herself fine palaces, imitating popery; she hath girded herself with vestments; she has gone astray from her simplicity; but she has lost the fire and the life which she once had. We go into our chapels now, and we see everything in good taste: we hear the organ play; the psalmody is in keeping with the most correct ear; the gown and the noble vestments are there, and everything is grand and goodly, and we think that God is honored. Oh for the days when Whitfields would preach on tubs once more, when their pulpits should be on Kennington Common, and their roofs the ceiling of God's sky. Oh for the time when we might preach in barns again, or in catacombs either, if we might but have the life of God that once they had in such places. What is the use of garnishing the shell when you have lost the kernel. Go and whitewash, for the life is gone. Garnish the outside of your cups and platters; but ye have lost the pure word of God. Ye have it not for a piece of bread; they flinch to speak the whole truth, or if they seem to speak it, it is with cold, meaningless, passionless words, as if it were nothing whether souls were damned or saved, whether heaven were filled or heaven depopulated, or whether Christ should see of the travail of his would and be satisfied. Do I speak fierce things? I can say as Irving once did, I might deserve to be broken on the wheel if I did not believe what I say to be the truth; for the utterance of such things I might deserve the stake; but God is my witness, I have endeavoured to judge and to speak impartially. With all that universal cant of charity now so prevalent I am at arm's length; I care not for it. Let us speak of things as we find them. WE do believe that the church has lost her zeal and her energy. But what do men say of us? "Oh! you are too excited." Good God! excited! when men are being damned; Excited! When we have the mission of heaven to preach to dying souls. EXCITED! preaching too much! when souls are lost. Why should it come to pass that one man should be perpetually labouring all the week, while others are lolling upon their couches, and preach only upon the Sabbath-day? Can I bear to see the laziness, the slothfulness, the indifference of ministers, and of churches, without speaking. No! there must be a protest entered, and we enter it now. Oh! Church of God, thou has a name to live, and art dead; thou art not watchful. Awake! awake! arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

The third charge which John brought against Sardis was that they did not "look to the things that remained and were ready to die." I take it that this may related to the poor feeble saints, the true children of God, who were sorrowing, mourning, and groaning in their midst, who were so oppressed with sorrow on account of the state of Sardis, that they were "ready to die." And what does the church do now? Do the shepherds go after those that are wounded and sick, and those that are weary? Do they carry the lambs in their bosom, and gently lead those that are with young? Do they see to poor distressed consciences, and speak to those who feel their deadness in trespasses and sins? Yes, but how do they speak? They tell them to do things they cannot do--to perform impossible duties--instead of "strengthening the things that remain and are ready to die" In how much contempt are the truly new-born children of God held in these times! They are called peculiar men, scouted as Antinomians, hissed at as being oddities, high doctrine men who have departed from the usual mode of pulling down God's word to men's fancies; they are called bigots, narrow-minded souls, and their creed is set down as dry, hard, rough, severe Calvinism. God's gospel called hard, rough, and severe! The things for which our fathers died are not called infamous things! Mark whether, if ye stand out prominently in the truth, you will not be abhorred and scouted. If you go into a village, and hear of poor people who are said to be doing a deal of mischief, are they not the people who understand most of the gospel? Go and ask the minister who are the persons that he most dislikes? and he will say, "We have a nasty lot of Antinomians here." What does he mean by that? Men who love the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, and will have it, and are therefore called a nasty set of Antinomians. Ah! we have lost what once we had. We do not now "strengthen the things that remain and are ready to die;" they are not looked after as they ought to be, not beloved, not fostered. The salt of the earth are now the offscouring of all things; men whom God has loved, and who have attained a high standing in godliness--these are the men who will not bow the knee to Baal, and who therefore are cast into the fiery furnace of persecution and slander. O Sardis! Sardis! I see thee now. Thou hast defiled thy garments. Thank God, there are a few who have not followed the multitude to do evil, and who shall "walk in white, for they are worthy."

Another charge which God has brought against the church is, that they were careless about the things which they heard. He says, "Remember, therefore, how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast; and repent." If I am wrong upon other points, I am positive that the sin of this age is impurity of doctrine, and laxity of faith. Now you know you are told every Sunday that it does not signify what you believe; that all sects and denominations will be saved; that doctrines are unimportant things; that as to the doctrines of God's grace, they are rather dangerous than otherwise, and the less you inquire about them the better; they are very good things for the priests, but you common people cannot understand them. Thus they keep back a portion of the gospel with cautious reserve; but having studied in the devil's new Jesuitical college, they understand how to call themselves particular Baptists, and then preach general doctrines, to call themselves Calvinists, and preach Arminianism, telling the people that it does not signify whether they preach damnable heresies instead of the truth of God. And what do the congregations say? "Well, he is a wise man, and ought to know." So you are going back into as bad a priestcraft as ever. Presbyter has become priest written large, and minister has become priest in many a place because persons do not search for themselves and endeavour to get hold of the truth of God. It is everywhere proclaimed that we are all right; that though one says God loved his people from before the foundation of the world, and the other that he did not; though one says that God is changeable and turns away from his people, and the other, that he will hold them fast to the end; though the one says that the blood of Christ avails for all for whom it was shed and the other, that it is inefficacious for a large number of those for whom he died; though one says that the works of the law are in some measure necessary, or at any rate that we must endeavour to improve what we have, and then we shall get more, while the other says, that "by grace we are saved through faith, and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God," yet both are right. A new age this, when falsehood and truth can kiss each other! New times these when fire and water can become friendly! Glorious times these when there is an alliance between hell and heaven, though God knows, we are of vastly different families. Ah! now, who cares for truth except a few narrow-minded bigots as they are called. Election--horrible! Predestination--awful! Final perseverance--desperate! Yet, turn to the pages of the Puritans, and you will see that these truths were preached every day. Turn to the Fathers; read Augustine, and you will see that these were the truths for which he would have bled and died. Read the Scriptures, and if every page is not full of them I have not read them aright, or any child of God either. Ay, laxity of doctrine is the great fault now; we solemnly protest against it. You may fancy that I am raising an outcry about nothing at all. Ah! no; my anxious spirit sees the next generation--what will that be. This generation--Arminianism. What next? Pelagianism. And what next? Popery. And what next? I leave you to guess. The path of error is always downward. We have taken one step in the wrong direction; God knows where we shall stop. If there had not been sturdy men in ages gone by, the Lord would not have left to us a remnant even now; all grace must have died, and we had become like unto Gomorrah and unto Sodoma. Oh, church of the living God, awake! awake! Once more write truth upon thy banner; stamp truth upon thy sword; and for God and for his word, charge home. Ye knights of truth, and truth alone, shall sit king over the whole world!

But now I have lifted up the whip, I must have another lash. Look on any section of the church you like to mention, not excepting that to which I belong; and let me ask you whether they have not defiled their garments. Look at the church of England. Her articles are pure and right in most respects; yet see how her garments are defiled. She hath made the Queen her Head instead of God; she bows before the state, and worships the golden calf that is set up before her. Look at her abominations, her pluralities, her easy living bishops doing nothing; look at her ungodly clergymen in the country, living in sin. The churchman who does not know that his church has defiled her garments is partial to his mother, as indeed he ought to be, but he is too partial to speak the truth. But good churchmen themselves weep, because what I say is true. Then look at John Wesley's body; have not they defiled their garments? See how they have lately been contending with a despotism as accursed as any that ever brooded over the slaves in America? See how they have been rent in sunder, and how imperfect in doctrine they are too after all, professedly at least, not holding the truth of God. Look into what denomination you please, Independent, or Baptist, or any other--have they not all defiled their garments in some way or other? Look at the churches around, and see how they have defiled their garments by giving baptism to those who whom it was never intended, and degrading a holy church ordinance to become a mere sop with which they feed their babes. And see how they have taken away Christ's honor, how they have taken the bread that was meant for the children, and cast it to ungodly persons. Look at our own denomination: see how it has deserted the leading truths of the gospel. For a proof hereof, I refer you to hundreds of our pulpits. Oh church of God! I am but a voice crying in the wilderness, but I must cry still, "How art thou fallen from heaven, thou son of the morning! how art thou fallen!" "Remember how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent." If thou dost not watch, thy Master will come upon thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know in what hour he will come unto thee.

II. But now we come to far easier work; not because we would shun what we conceive to be our duty, even at the expense of offending many now present, but because we always delight to speak well if we can. "Thou has a few names even in Sardis that have not defiled their garments." He we have SPECIAL PRESERVATION. Mark, "Thou hast a few names." Only a few; not so few as some think, but not as many as others imagine! A few compared with the mass of professors; a few compared even with the true children of God, for many of them have defiled their garments. They were but a few, and those few were even I Sardis. There is not a church on earth that is so corrupt but has "a few." You who are always fighting so much for your denomination, you think other denominations are Sardis; but there are a few even in Sardis. Even if the denomination is the worst of all Protestant sections, there are a few in Sardis; and perhaps that is as much as we can say of our denomination: so we will treat them all alike. There are a few in Sardis--mark that. Not in what you conceive to be Philadelphia, your own blessed church, but in Sardis--there are a few there. Where there is heresy and false doctrine, where there are many mistakes about rites and ceremonials, there are a few there; and even where they cringe before the state, there are a few there--ay, and a goodly few too, a few whom we love, with whom we can hold communion. This makes us severe against the whole body, but it makes us very loving towards all the dear people of God everywhere. There are a few even in Sardis. Well, when I meet a brother who lives in Sardis, I will hope he is one of the few; and when you meet such, do you say, "Ah! well, I know my brother comes out of a bad church, but there are a few in Sardis, and very likely he is one of them." That is the kind of charity God loves; not the universal charity which says Sardis is all right, but that which says, some in her are sincere. We stand this morning like old Elijah, when he stood before God and said, "I, only I, am left, and they seek my life." But God whispers, "I have yet reserved unto myself seventy thousand that have not bowed the knee to Baal." Take heart, Christian, there are a few in Sardis--do not forget that--who have not defiled their garments. Take heart. It is not all rotten yet; there is a soundness in the core after all; there is "a remnant according to the election of grace;" there is "salt," and for the sake of that salt, many who have defiled their garments in a measure will be saved. They will enter into heaven even as these few will; but unto the few there will be special honor and special blessing. Take heart then; and whenever you go to your chamber and mourn over the sad condition of the church, think you hear that good old woman in her closet groaning and crying; think you hear that minister faithfully dispensing the word; think you see that valiant deacon standing up for God's truth; think you see that young man strong in the midst of temptation; think of these few in Sardis, and they will cheer you. Do not be quite downcast. Some heroes have not turned their backs in the day of battle; some mighty men still fight for the truth. Be encouraged; there are a few in Sardis. But be careful, for perhaps you are not one of the few. Since there are but a few, there ought to be great searchings of heart. Let us look to our garments and see whether they be defiled. If they be not, we shall walk in white, for we are worthy through Jesus. Be active; be prayerful. The fewer the workmen to do the work the greater reason is there that you should be active. Be instant in season and out of season, because there are so few. Oh! if we had hundreds behind us, we might say, "Let them do the work;" but if we stand with only a few, how should each of those few rush hither and thither! A city is besieged: it is full of inhabitants; half of them are asleep; the others watch the walls, and thus they relieve each other. Another city has but a few defenders: see how that champion rushes first to that breach and routs the enemy; now he brings his might to another place; a bastion is assaulted, and he is there; now a postern is attacked--there he is with all his force behind him; he is here, he is there, he is everywhere, because he feels there is but a handful of men who can gather round him. Take courage, take heart; stir yourselves up to the sternest activity, for verily there are but a few in Sardis who have not defiled their garments. Above all, be prayerful. Put up your earnest cries to God that he would multiply the faithful, that he would increase the number of chosen ones who stand fast, that he would purify the church with fire in a furnace seven times heated, so that he might bring out her third part through the fire; cry unto God that the day may come when the much fine gold shall be no longer dim, when the glory shall again return unto Zion. Beg of God to remove the cloud, to take away "the darkness that may be felt." Be doubly prayerful, for there are but a few in Sardis who have not defiled their garments.

III. This brings us to the third point, which is a PECULIAR REWARD. "They shall walk in white, for they are worthy." The attentive reader will observe, that in quoting the passage just now, I left out two of the sweetest words in the passage. It reads: "They shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy." That is the very pith of the honor; if the rest of it be gold this is the jewel. "They shall walk with me in white." That is to say, communion with Christ on earth shall be the special reward of those who have not defiled their garments. Now, I must say a very hard thing again, but it is a true one. Go into what company you please, do you meet with many men who hold communion with Christ? Though they may be godly men, upright men, ask them if they hold communion with Christ, and will they understand you? If you give them some of those sweetly spiritual books, that those who hold fellowship love to read, they will say they are mystical, and they do not love them. Ask them whether they can spend an hour in meditation upon Christ, whether they ever rise to heaven and lay their head on the breast of the Saviour, whether they ever know what it is to enter into rest and get into Canaan; whether they understand how he has raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus; whether they can often say,

Abundant sweetness while I sing
Thy love, my ravish'd heart o'erflows;
Secure in thee my God and King
Of glory that no period knows."
Ask them that, and they will say, "We don't comprehend you." Now, the reason of it is in the first part of my sermon--they have defiled their garments, and therefore Christ will not walk with them. He says, "Those that have not defiled their garments shall walk with me." Those who hold fast the truth, who take care to be free from the prevailing sins of the times, "These," he says, "shall walk with me; they shall be in constant fellowship with me; I will let them see that I am bone of their bone, and flesh of their flesh: I will bring them into the banqueting-house; my banner over them shall be love; they shall drink wine on the lees well refined; they shall have the secrets of the Lord revealed unto them, because they are the people who truly fear me: they shall walk with me in white." Oh, Christian! if thou wouldst have communion with Christ, the special way to win it is by not defiling thy garments, as the church has done.

But we must dwell on the rest of the passage. "They shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy." A good old author says there is a reference here to that fact, that the rabbis allowed persons to walk in white who could trace their pedigree without a flew; but if they found any blot on their escutcheon, and could not trace their birth up to Abraham, they were not allowed to walk in white on certain days. Well, he says he thinks the passage means that those who have not defiled their garments will be able to prove their adoption, and will walk in white garments as being sure they are the sons of God. If we would be certain that we are the people of God, we must take care that we have no blots on our dress, for each one of those spatterings of the mire of this earth will cry out, and say "Perhaps you are not a child of God." Nothing is such a father of doubts as sin; sin is the very mother of our distress. He who is covered with sin must not expect to enjoy full assurance, but he who liveth close to his God, and keeps his garments unspotted from the world--he shall walk in white, knowing that his adoption is sure.

But chiefly we should understand this to refer to justification. "They shall walk in white;" that is, they shall enjoy a constant sense of their own justification by faith; they shall understand that the righteousness of Christ is imputed to them, that they have

A matchless robe which far exceeds
What earthly princes wear;"
that they have been washed and make whiter than snow, and purified and made more cleanly than wool.

Again, it refers to joy and gladness: for white robes were holiday dresses among the Jews. They that have not defiled their garments, shall have their faces always bright; they shall understand what Solomon meant when he said, "Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart. Let thy garments be always white, for God hath accepted thy works." He who is accepted of God shall wear white garments, being received by the Father--garments of joy and gladness. Whence so many doubts, so much distress, and misery, and mourning? It is because the church has defiled her garments; they do not here below walk in white, because they are not worthy.

And lastly, it refers to walking in white before the throne of God. Those who have not defiled their garments here, shall most certainly walk in white up yonder, where the white-robed hosts sing perpetual hallelujahs to the Most High. If thou hast not defiled thy garments, thou mayest say, "I know whom I have believed;" not for my works, not by way of merit, but as the reward of grace. If there be joys inconceivable, happiness beyond a dream, bliss which imagination knoweth not, blessedness which even the stretch of desire hath not reached, thou shalt have all these: thou shalt walk in white, since thou art worthy. Christ shall say to thee "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."

But what shall be done with such persons as live in the church, but are not of it having a name to live, but are dead? What shall be done with mere professors who are not possessors? What shall become of those who are only outwardly religious but inwardly are in the gall of bitterness? We answer, as good Calvin did once: "They shall walk in black, for they are unworthy." They shall walk in black--the blackness of God's destruction. They shall walk in black--the blackness of hopeless despair. They shall walk in black--the blackness of incomparable anguish. They shall walk in black--the blackness of damnation. They shall walk in black for ever, because they were found unworthy. O professors, search yourselves. O ministers, search yourselves. O ye, who make a profession of religion now, put your hands within your hearts, and search your souls. You live in the sight of a rein-trying God. Oh! try your own reins, and search your own hearts. It is not a matter of half-importance for which I plead, but a matter of double importance. I beseech you, examine and cross-examine your own souls, and see whether ye be in the path, for it will go ill with you if ye shall find at last that ye were in the church, but not of it, that ye make a profession of religion, but it was only a cloak for your hypocrisy--if ye should have entered into his courts below, and be shut out of the courts above. Remember, the higher the pinnacle of profession the direr your fall of destruction. Beggared kings, exile princes, crownless emperors, are always subjects of pity. Professor, what wilt thou think of thyself when thy robes are taken from thee, when thy crown of profession is taken from thy head, and thou standest the hiss of even vile men, the scoff of blasphemers, the jeer of those who, whatever they were, were not hypocrites, as thou art? They will cry to thee, "Art thou become like one of us? Thou professor, thou high-flying man, art thou become like one of us?" And ye will hide your guilty heads in the dark pit of perdition, but all in vain, for you never will be able to avoid that hiss which shall ever greet you. "What! thou!" the drunkard whom you told to drink no more will say "Art thou become like one of us?" And the harlot whom you scorned, and the young debauched man whom you warned, will stare you in the face, and say, "What! you! You who talked of religion. A pretty fellow you were! Art thou become one of us?" Oh! I think I hear them saying in hell, "Here's a parson, come here; here's a deacon; here's a church member; here's a man who has had the sacramental wine within his lips; here's a man that has had the baptismal water on his garments." Ah! take care. There are but a few names in Sardis who shall walk in white. Be ye of that few. May God give you grace that ye be not reprobates, but may be accepted of the Lord in that day! May he give you mercy, that when he severs the chaff from the wheat, you may abide as the good corn, and may not be swept away into unquenchable fire! The Lord in mercy bless this warning, and hear our supplication, for Christ's sake. Amen.

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We also warmly recommend these superb writings, "Holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord." by John Charles Ryle, "Bible Reading" by John Charles Ryle, and "A Call To Prayer" by John Charles Ryle, to our readers.

You'll also find a selection of J.C. Ryle's books further down on this page. They make for some of the most profitable, edifying, encouraging and uplifting Christian books available, and are classics which have stood the test of time!

If you appreciate the writings of the godly Bishop Ryle, you'll certainly delight in those of the great Charles Haddon Spurgeon, whose sermons were flashed around the world by telegraph and reprinted in full the following day in newspapers from New York City to Sydney, Australia! We particularly recommend "All of Grace", "Justification by Faith", "The Outpouring Of The Holy Spirit", and "A Revival Sermon".

And how could we adequately describe the preaching of the incomparable Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, whose pulpit ministry in Britain had an effect felt around the world! We warmly recommend his sermons, "The Parable of the Prodigal Son", "God and Mammon", "The Light of the World", "The Salt of the Earth", "Jesus on Prayer". "The Call to Battle", and "A Living Hope of the Hereafter".

And for a moving witness to steadfast Christian faith under persecution, see "The Scottish Covenanters".

Click here for more Classic Christian Sermons and Writings

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Daily Devotionals

Begin and end your day with a devotional
from the classic 'Morning And Evening', by C.H. Spurgeon

Click here for 'Daily Light On The Daily Path'
- classic devotionals in the very words of Scripture.

A Worshipful Beginning And End To Every Day:
Morning Service, Evening Service And Compline
from the traditional Book of Common Prayer

Read the Gospel of John for yourself on-line
- the evidence of an eye-witness!

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Bestselling Christian Books by, and on, Charles Hadden Spurgeon ['C.H. Spurgeon'] from Toronto Christian Book Centre, your single source for  Christian Bibles, Christian books, Christian music, Christian videos, Christian children's books, Christian computer software, and Christian DVDs, serving global customers online from Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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We have provided in the box below a live, continually-updated listing of the current bestselling books on this topic at Amazon.com. Please click on any of these titles to read extracts from, or reviews of, these books. You can also place an order for any of themt at the same time with Amazon.Com, if you wish, and enjoy speedy delivery plus the low Amazon.Com price!

Current daily devotional bestsellers:

For additional Christian book, Bible, music, video and children's book
bestsellers, please go further down this page.

Amazon.com also recommends and has available these bestsellers on, and by, Charles Haddon Spurgeon:

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Bestselling Christian Books by John Charles Ryle ['Bishop J.C. Ryle'] plus 'Shall We Know One Another and Other Papers' by John Charles Ryle, 'Holiness Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots' by J C Ryle, 'Old Paths' by John Charles Ryle, 'Knots Untied' by John Charles Ryle, 'Practical Religion' by John Charles Ryle, 'A Call To Prayer' by J C Ryle, 'Thoughts for Young Men' by John Charles Ryle, 'How Readest Thou' by J C Ryle,.'The Christian Leaders of the Last Century' by John Charles Ryle, 'Faithfulness and Holiness The Witness of J. C. Ryle An Appreciation'  by Dr J I Packer, 'The Christian Race and Other Sermons Vol 3' by John Charles Ryle, 'Shall We Know One Another and Other Papers' by John Charles Ryle

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We warmly recommend the following books by J. C. Ryle:

Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots by J. C. Ryle"Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots" - J. C. Ryle

Old Paths by John Charles Ryle"Old Paths" - John Charles Ryle

Knots Untied - John Charles Ryle"Knots Untied" - John Charles Ryle

Practical Religion by John Charles Ryle"Practical Religion" - John Charles Ryle

A Call To Prayer - John Charles Ryle"A Call To Prayer" - John Charles Ryle

Thoughts for Young Men by John Charles Ryle"Thoughts for Young Men" - John Charles Ryle

How Readest Thou? by J. C. Ryle"How Readest Thou?" - John Charles Ryle

The Christian Leaders of the Last Century
by John Charles Ryle"The Christian Leaders of the Last Century" - John Charles Ryle

Faithfulness and Holiness: The Witness of J. C. Ryle: An Appreciation
 by Dr. J. I. Packer"Faithfulness and Holiness: The Witness of J. C. Ryle: An Appreciation" - Dr. J. I. Packer

The Christian Race and Other Sermons Vol.3 by John Charles Ryle"The Christian Race and Other Sermons Vol.3" - John Charles Ryle

Shall We Know One Another and Other Papers by John Charles Ryle"Shall We Know One Another and Other Papers" -John Charles Ryle

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We have provided in the box below a live, continually-updated listing of the current bestselling books on Sanctification at Amazon.com. Please click on any of these titles to read extracts from, or reviews of, these books. You can also place an order for any of themt at the same time with Amazon.Com, if you wish, and enjoy speedy delivery plus the low Amazon.Com price!

Current bestsellers on Sanctification:

Amazon.com also recommends and has available these bestsellers on Holiness:
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For additional Christian book, Bible, music, video and children's book
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Amazon.com also has available these bestsellers on, and by, Charles Haddon Spurgeon:
[click on 'refresh' if you don't see books in the Amazon.com box below]

We also recommend:

Current Bestselling Christian Books

Current Bestselling Christian DVDs

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Current Bestselling Christian Software

Select from these superb Electronic Bibles!

Click here for a full range of C.H. Spurgeon titles!

Click here for all of Charles Haddon Spurgeon's current bestsellers!

Current Bestselling Christian Books By Subject

See our 'Bestselling Christian Books, Updated Hourly' page

See our 'Bestselling Christian Music, Updated Hourly' page

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Christian Hymns, Psalms, and Gregorian Chant

Click here for an Index of your Favourite Christian Hymns and Psalms

You'll enjoy these classic Christian Hymns and Psalms recordings, too:

Click here for more Hymns, Psalms and Benedictine Chant recordings

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Click on the covers below to review or order these bestsellers on the Passion of Christ:

Click here to review or to order 'The Passion of Christ' (movie soundtrack), by John Debney Click here to review or to order 'The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ', by Anne Catherine Emmerich Click here to review or to order 'The Passion: Photography from the Movie the Passion of the Christ', by Mel Gibson Click here to review or to order 'The Life and Passion of Jesus Christ / From the Manger to the Cross' DVD Click here to review or to order 'The Topical Bible Series The Passion - The Last Days of Christ' VHS Click here to review or to order 'Jesus of Nazareth'
DVD

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Click on the banner below for video and DVD bestsellers on the Life of Christ:

Click here for VHS and DVD Bestsellers on the Life and Passion of Jesus Christ, from your single source for Christian books, Christian music, Christian videos, and Christian DVDs.

Amazon.com also has these bestsellers on the Life and Passion of Jesus:
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Can't find the title you want on our site? If you'd like to easily and quickly search for the availability of particular titles yourself, please click on the Amazon.com button below and type the title and/or author's name in the search box on the Amazon.com home page.

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Amazon.com also recommends and has available these fine Christian books...

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Current bestselling Children's Bibles and Bible Story Books...

Current bestsellers for the Christian Woman and on Christian Womanhood...

Amazon.com also recommends and has available these bestsellers for Christian Women:

Recommended As Additional Reading:
[click on the book covers below]

Click here to review or to order 'All the Women of the Bible' by Edith Deen Click here to review or to order 'All the Women of the Bible' by Herbert Lockyer Click here to review or to order 'Old Testament Women' by Elaine Ward Click here to review or to order 'Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World: Finding Intimacy With God in the Busyness of Life (Revised Edition with New Bible Study)' by Joanna Weaver Click here to review or to order 'Women of the Bible' by Ann Spangler Click here to review or to order 'The Story of Ruth: Twelve Moments in Every Woman's Life' by Joan D. Chittister

Click here to review or to order 'Bad Girls of the Bible and What We Can Learn from Them' by Liz Curtis Higgs Click here to review or to order 'Really Bad Girls of the Bible: More Lessons from Less-Than-Perfect Women' by Liz Curtis Higgs Click here to review or to order 'The Remarkable Women of the Bible Growth: And Their Message for Your Life Today' by Elizabeth George Click here to review or to order 'Kindred Sisters: New Testament Women Speak to Us Today: A Book for Meditation and Reflection' by Dandi Daley MacKall Click here to review or to order 'Soul Sisters: Women in Scripture Speak to Women Today' by Edwina Gateley Click here to review or to order 'Every Woman In The Bible Everything In The Bible Series' by Larry Richards

Click here to review or to order 'Beautiful in God's Eyes' by Elizabeth George Click here to review or to order 'A Woman After God's Own Heart' by Elizabeth George Click here to review or to order 'A Young Woman After God's Own Heart: A Teen's Guide to Friends, Faith, Family, and the Future' by Elizabeth George Click here to review or to order 'Loving God With All Your Mind' by Elizabeth George Click here to review or to order 'A Woman's High Calling' by Elizabeth George Click here to review or to order 'Life Management for Busy Women: Living Out God's Plan With Passion and Purpose' by Elizabeth George

Click here to review or to order 'God's Wisdom for a Woman's Life: Timeless Principles for Your Every Need' by Elizabeth George Click here to review or to order 'Powerful Promises for Every Woman: 12 Life-Changing Truths from Psalms 23' by Elizabeth George Click here to review or to order 'A Woman's Walk With God' by Elizabeth George Click here to review or to order 'A Wife After God's Own Heart' by Elizabeth George Click here to review or to order 'Women Who Loved God' by Elizabeth George Click here to review or to order 'Encouraging Words for a Woman After God's Own Heart' by Elizabeth George

Click here to review or to order 'Disciplines Of The Beautiful Woman' by Anne Ortlund Click here to review or to order 'The Gentle Ways Of The Beatiful Woman' by Anne Ortlund Click here to review or to order 'Fix Your Eyes on Jesus' by Anne Ortlund Click here to review or to order 'Fearlessly Feminine' by Jani Ortlund Click here to review or to order 'Building A Great Marriage' by Elizabeth A Ortlund Click here to review or to order 'I Want to See You, Lord' by Anne Ortlund

Click here to review or to order 'Children Are Wet Cement' by Anne Ortlund Click here to review or to order 'After Every Wedding Comes a Marriage' by Florence Littauer Click here to review or to order 'How to Get Along With Difficult People' by Florence Littauer Click here to review or to order 'Getting Along With Almost Anybody: The Complete Personality Book' by Florence Littauer Click here to review or to order 'Daughters of Eve: Women of the Bible Speak to Women of Today' by Virginia Stem Owens Click here to review or to order 'You Can Be the Wife of a Happy Husband' by Darien B. Cooper

Click here to review or to order 'How to Be the Happy Wife of an Unsaved Husband' by Linda Davis Click here to review or to order 'Beloved Unbeliever' by Jo Berry Click here to review or to order 'When He Doesn't Believe: Help and Encouragement for Women Who Feel Alone in Their Faith' by Nancy Kennedy Click here to review or to order 'When a Believer Marries a Nonbeliever: How to Grow Together in Love, Faith, and Joy' by Bebe Nicholson Click here to review or to order 'Surviving a Spiritual Mismatch in Marriage' by Lee Strobel Click here to review or to order 'The Power of a Praying Wife' by Stormie Omartian

Click here to review or to order 'The Excellent Wife: A Biblical Perspective' by Martha Peace Click here to review or to order 'What Makes a Man Feel Loved' by Bob Barnes Click here to review or to order 'Fascinating Womanhood' by Helen Andelin Click here to review or to order 'Me? Obey Him?: The Obedient Wife and God's Way of Happiness and Blessing in the Home' by Elizabeth Rice Handford Click here to review or to order 'Liberated Through Submission' by Bunny Wilson Click here to review or to order 'Finding the Hero in Your Husband: Surrendering the Way God Intended' by Julianna Slattery

Click here to review or to order 'Becoming a Woman of Passion: Discover the Joyous Woman God Created You to Be' by Carole Gift Page Click here to review or to order 'Healing for Damaged Emotions' by David A. Seamands Click here to review or to order 'Healing Your Heart Of Painful Emotions' by David Seamands Click here to review or to order 'Boundaries' by Henry Cloud Click here to review or to order 'Becoming the Woman I Want to Be' by Donna Partow Click here to review or to order 'Becoming a Woman of Influence: Making a Lasting Impact on Others' by Carol Kent

Click here to review or to order 'Woman of Influence: Ten Traits of Those Who Want to Make a Difference' by Pam Farrel Click here to review or to order 'More Than Rubies: Becoming a Woman of Godly Influence' by Debra White Smith Click here to review or to order 'Measure of a Woman' by Gene A. Getz Click here to review or to order 'Intimate Faith: A Woman's Guide to the Spiritual Disciplines' by Jan Winebrenner Click here to review or to order 'A Woman's Search for Worth' by Deborah Newman Click here to review or to order 'The Power of a Praying Woman' by Stormie Omartian

Click here to review or to order 'Holy Listening: The Art of Spiritual Direction' by Margaret Guenther Click here to review or to order 'The Friendships of Women' by Dee Brestin Click here to review or to order 'Treasured Friends: Finding and Keeping True Friendships' by Ann Hibbard Click here to review or to order 'Friendship Factor: How to Get Closer to the People You Care For' by Alan Loy McGinnis Click here to review or to order 'Bringing Out the Best in People: How to Enjoy Helping Others Excel' by Alan Loy McGinnis Click here to review or to order 'Confidence: How to Succeed at Being Yourself' by Alan Loy McGinnis

Click here to review or to order 'And the Bride Wore White: The Seven Secrets to Sexual Purity' by Dannah Gresh Click here to review or to order 'The Seven Secrets to Sexual Purity' by Dannah Gresh Click here to review or to order 'Pursuing the Pearl: The Quest for a Pure, Passionate Marriage' by Dannah Gresh Click here to review or to order 'Passion and Purity: Learning to Bring Your Love Life Under Christ's Control' by Elisabeth Elliot Click here to review or to order 'Quest for Love: True Stories of Passion and Purity' by Elisabeth Elliot Click here to review or to order 'A Passion for Purity: Protecting God's Precious Gift of Virginity' by Carla A. Stephens

Click here to review or to order 'Lady in Waiting: Developing Your Love Relationships' by Jackie Kendall Click here to review or to order 'Wait For Me: Rediscovering the Joy of Purity in Romance' by Rebecca St. James Click here to review or to order 'What to Do Until Love Finds You: Preparing Yourself for Your Perfect Mate' by Michelle McKinney-Hammond Click here to review or to order 'A Good Man Is Hard To Find Unless You Ask God To Be Head Of Your Search Committee' by Jo Lynne Pool Click here to review or to order 'Secrets of an Irresistible Woman' by Michelle McKinney-Hammond Click here to review or to order 'When God Writes Your Love Story' by Eric Ludy

Click here to review or to order 'The Single Path: To a Promise Fulfilled' by Julia Scott Click here to review or to order 'Authentic Beauty: the shaping of a set-apart young woman' by Leslie Ludy Click here to review or to order 'Relationships' by Les Parrott Click here to review or to order 'Relationships That Work: (And Those That Don'T)' by H. Norman Wright Click here to review or to order '1st Class Single' by Cheryl Martin Click here to review or to order 'Single Men Are Like Waffles--Single Women Are Like Spaghetti: Friendship, Romance, and Relationships That Work' by Bill Farrel

Click here to review or to order 'Let's Just Be Friends: Recovering from a Broken Relationship' by H. Norman Wright Click here to review or to order 'True Love in a World of False Hope: Sex, Romance, & Real People' by Robbie Castleman Click here to review or to order 'Love Hangover: Tips for Christian Singles: Moving from Pain to Purpose After a Relationship Ends' by Shewanda Riley Click here to review or to order 'Falling in Love With Jesus: Abandoning Yourself to the Greatest Romance of Your Life (Workbook edition)' by Dee Brestin Click here to review or to order 'Calm My Anxious Heart: A Woman's Guide to Contentment' by Linda Dillow Click here to review or to order 'Lies Women Believe: And the Truth that Sets Them Free' by Nancy Leigh DeMoss

Click here to review or to order 'Healing the Wounded Spirit' by John Sandford Click here to review or to order 'Battlefield of the Mind: Winning the Battle in Your Mind' by Joyce Meyer Click here to review or to order 'The Bondage Breaker' by Neil T. Anderson Click here to review or to order 'The Three Battlegrounds' by Francis Frangipane Click here to review or to order 'Praying God's Word: Breaking Free From Spiritual Strongholds' by Beth Moore Click here to review or to order 'A Woman's Guide to Spiritual Warfare: A Woman's Guide for Battle' by Quin Sherrer

Click here to review or to order 'The Making of a Spiritual Warrior: A Woman's Guide to Daily Victory' by Quin Sherrer