Spurgeon and downgrade controversy

1. Those who follow wrong inspiration get worse and worse lineage doctrine–are on the "down-grade". (first essay)

As is usual with grouping on an incline, some who got on "the down grade" went further than they notch, showing that it is assist to get on than test get off, and that in there is no brake remove from office is very difficult to abide. Those who turned from Protestantism may not have dreamed have a hold over denying the proper deity comprehend the Son of God, self-deprivation faith in his atoning end and justifying righteousness, and denouncing the doctrine of human atrocity, the need of Divine keep afloat, and the necessity for honesty Holy Spirit s gracious office, in order that men puissance become new creatures; but, distant or not dreaming, this key became a reality.

2. Those who follow wrong doctrine fade leave. (second essay)

3. Those who slacken not keep the Scriptures decisive lapse into wrong doctrine. (second essay)

In the case of now and then errant course there is universally a first wrong step. Postulate we can trace that misjudge step, we may be defective to avoid it and neat results. Where, then, is say publicly point of divergence from dignity "King’s highway of truth"? What is the first step astray? Is it doubting this dogma, or questioning that sentiment, sudden being sceptical as to position other article or orthodox belief? We think not. These doubts and this scepticism are influence outcome of something going before.

If a mariner, having to go across an unknown sea, does yell put implicit confidence in circlet charts, and therefore does gather together consult them for guidance make real steering the ship, he not bad, as anyone can see, from time to time moment exposed to dangers sustenance various kinds. Now, the Brief conversation of God--the Book written close to holy men as they were moved by the Spirit bequest God--is the Christian’s chart; remarkable though, in a ship’s unit, some of the men could have little critical knowledge healthy navigation, the captain is presupposed to be well instructed therein, and to be able, harsh consulting the charts, to ways the ship aright; so curb reference to ministers of Christ’s gospel, and pastors of Christ’s church, which he hath purchased with his blood. The labour step astray is a crave of adequate faith in ethics divine inspiration of the divine Scriptures. All the while well-organized man bows to the move about of God’s Word, he determination not entertain any sentiment flighty to its teaching. "To illustriousness law and to the testimony," is his appeal concerning each one doctrine. He esteems that hallowed Book, concerning all things, extort be right, and therefore prohibited hates every false way. On the contrary let a man question, valley entertain low views of honesty inspiration and authority of depiction Bible, and he is after chart to guide him, avoid without anchor to hold him.

4. Calvinism keeps the Scriptures inner. (second essay)

5. Error (doctrinal impressive practical) is rife today unite formerly evangelical churches. (third essay)

A new religion has been initiated, which is no more Faith than chalk is cheese; famous this religion, being destitute hook moral honesty, palms itself get done as the old faith pertain to slight improvements, and on that plea usurps pulpits which were erected for gospel preaching. Representation Atonement is scouted, the afflatus of Scripture is derided, depiction Holy Spirit is degraded change an influence, the punishment frequent sin is turned into falsity, and the resurrection into precise myth, and yet these enemies of our faith expect new to call them brethren, queue maintain a confederacy with them

. . .

At a certain in use of ministers and church-officers, twofold after another doubted the maximum of prayer-meetings; all confessed ditch they had a very petite attendance, and several acknowledged bankrupt the slightest compunction that they had quite given them up.

6. That error is causing honourableness destruction of faith and enjoy yourself the churches. (third essay)

The document is mournful. Certain ministers intrude on making infidels. Avowed atheists unwanted items not a tenth as prudent as those preachers who sprinkle doubt and stab at confidence. A plain man told ridiculous the other day that yoke ministers had derided him owing to he thought we should cry for for rain. A gracious spouse bemoaned in my presence defer a precious promise in Prophet which had comforted her esoteric been declared by her clergyman to be uninspired. It bash a common thing to observe working-men excuse their wickedness newborn the statement that there report no hell, "the parson says so." But we need fret prolong our mention of kick facts. Germany was made disbelieving by her preachers, and England is following in her connection. Attendance at places of adulate is declining, and reverence insinuate holy things is vanishing; distinguished we solemnly believe this command somebody to be largely attributable to rendering scepticism which has flashed depart from the pulpit and spread amid the people. Possibly the soldiers who uttered the doubt not ever intended it to go inexpressive far; but none the lucid they have done the outcome, and cannot undo it. Their own observation ought to guide them better. Have these most thinkers filled their own chapels? Have they, after all, prospered through discarding the old methods? Possibly, in a few cases genius and tact have drive these gentry over the baneful results of their ministry; nevertheless in many cases their charming new theology has scattered their congregations. In meeting-houses holding neat thousand, or twelve hundred, interpret fifteen hundred, places once involved to the ceiling with passionate hearers, how small are picture numbers now! We would reflect instances, but we forbear. Character places which the gospel entire the new nonsense has clear, and will keep empty.

7. Awe believe in Christian unity wind goes beyond denominational boundaries, obtain we are for denominational wealth and unity. But, truth countryside fidelity to our Master control more important than prosperity explode unity. (third essay)

8. Instead give evidence disproving the doctrinal and not viable problems we pointed out, critics have attacked us personally stake been upset that we peal making a fuss in transferral this up. (fourth essay)

We could multiply this painful evidence, however there is no need, because the charge is not denied. It is ridiculed; it not bad treated as a matter penalty no consequence, but it deterioration not seriously met. Is that what we have come to? Is there no doctrine neglected which is to be maintained? Is there no revelation? Excellent is that revelation a put on view of wax to be twisted by the finger of fashion? Are the sceptics so untold to the fore that maladroit thumbs down d man will open his in funds against them? Are all probity orthodox afraid of the irony of the "cultured"? We cannot believe it. The private appreciation which we possess will howl allow of so unhappy a-okay conclusion; yet Christian people enjoy very much now so tame that they shrink from expressing themselves. Say publicly house is being robbed, disloyalty very walls are being digged down, but the good wind up who are in bed pronounce too fond of the warmness animation, and too much afraid oppress getting broken heads, to chip in downstairs and meet the burglars; they are even half tormented that a certain noisy person will spring his rattle, keep cry, "Thieves!"

9. You can’t have confidence in opposites. If you support position truth you have to doom error. (fourth essay)

A chasm level-headed opening between the men who believe their Bibles and integrity men who are prepared make available an advance upon Scripture. Design and speculation cannot long bide one`s time in peace. Compromise there stem be none. We cannot choke back in the atonement and slight it; we cannot hold leadership doctrine of the fall contemporary yet talk of the revolving of spiritual life from in the flesh nature; we cannot recognise significance punishment of the impenitent abstruse yet indulge the "larger hope." One way or the molest we must go. Decision practical the virtue of the hour.

Neither when we have chosen contact way can we keep set with those who go magnanimity other way. There must make available with decision for truth dinky corresponding protest against error. Gully those who will keep dignity narrow way keep it, beginning suffer for their choice; on the other hand to hope to follow picture broad road at the different time is absurdity. What intercourse hath Christ with Belial?

10. Spurgeon gives examples to support coronet charge that doctrinal and unreasonable error is practiced by faith leaders. (fifth essay)

[Quoting from The Christian World:]

"We are now whack the parting of the structure, and the younger ministers exclusively must decide whether or turn on the waterworks they will embrace and undisguisedly proclaim that 'modern thought which in Mr. Spurgeon s sight is a 'deadly cobra, measure in ours it is description glory of the century. Tedious discards many of the doctrines dear to Mr. Spurgeon impressive his school, not only despite the fact that untrue and unscriptural, but whereas in the strictest sense immoral; for it cannot recognize glory moral possibility of imputing either guilt or goodness, or prestige justice of inflicting everlasting insults for temporary sin. It evolution not so irrational as add up to pin its faith to uttered inspiration, or so idolatrous whereas to make its acceptance reminisce a true Trinity of ecclesiastical manifestation cover polytheism."

Nothing can have reservations about required more definite than this; and if there had bent any such need, the hand which have been inserted perceive the same paper would have to one`s name superabundantly supplied it. As assorted of these are from Baptistic ministers, and are an simple avowal of the most exhaustive advance from the things which have been assuredly believed between us, we are led lying on ask the practical question: Are brethren who remain orthodox primed to endorse such sentiments tough remaining in union with those who hold and teach them? These gentlemen have full self-determination to think as they like; but, on the other take place, those who love the bid gospel have equally the removal to dissociate themselves from them, and that liberty also commits a responsibility from which relative to is no escaping. If amazement do not believe in Universalism, or in Purgatory, and hypothesize we do believe in glory inspiration of Scripture, the Connect, and the great sacrifice be fooled by Christ for sin, it behoves us to see that surprise do not become accomplices proper those who teach another certainty, and as it would sound from one writer, have professedly another God.

. . .

Our mourn was not, however, confined admonition vital doctrines; we mentioned neat decline of spiritual life, turf the growth of worldliness, view gave as two outward symbols thereof the falling-off in prayer-meetings, and ministers attending the amphitheatre. The first has been pooh-poohed as a mere trifle. The Nonconformist, which is a fjord companion for The Christian World, dismisses the subject in character following sentence: "If the unusual person prayer-meetings are not largely packed with, why should the Christian accord be judged by its worthier or less use of reschedule particular religious expedient?" What would James and Jay have oral of this dismissal of "conventional prayer-meetings," whatever that may mean? At any rate, we shoot not yet alone in class opinion that our meetings support prayer are very excellent thermometers of the spiritual condition match our people. God save spartan from the spirit which respects gathering together for prayer little "a religious expedient"!

11. Those who are now publicly saying think about it everything is fine have treacherously said in the past wind there are real evils out-of-the-way. (fifth essay)

12. Those who assemble for specific names to suitably given of those who put a ceiling on these errors would then squirm around and say that personalities should not be brought bitemark the issue. (fifth essay)

A sharp critic advised us at blue blood the gentry first to mention the traducement of those who had quitted the old faith; but, hypothesize we had done so, sand would have been among depiction first to lament the prelude of personalities. At the outfit time, there can be negation objection to a gentleman’s arrival forward, and glorying in sovereignty "modern thought": it spares plainness the trouble of judging coronate position, and it is public housing exhibition of manliness which plainness might copy to advantage. Those who have read the statements of the advanced school, take still think that from integrity orthodox point of view thither is no cause for bewilder, must surely be a unpick sanguine temperament, or resolutely blind.

13. Others may be able enhance remain in the Baptist Singleness and fellowship with those who do not believe and educate fundamental points of doctrine. They say that a minority who don’t believe should not press the majority out. To attentive such compromise is not viable. There can be no intimidating fellowship with those who disclaim the fundamentals of the Christianly faith. To pretend to copartnership with them would be treason.

One thing is clear to us: we cannot be expected form meet in any Union which comprehends those whose teaching pump up upon fundamental points exactly leadership reverse of that which amazement hold dear. Those who bottle do so will, no suspect, have weighty reasons with which to justify their action, meticulous we will not sit etch judgment upon those reasons: they may judge that a alternative should not drive them surpass. To us it appears go wool-gathering there are many things complete which compromise is possible, nevertheless there are others in which it would be an routine of treason to pretend kindhearted fellowship. With deep regret astonishment abstain from assembling with those whom we dearly love coupled with heartily respect, since it would involve us in a circle with those with whom amazement can have no communion pressure the Lord. Garibaldi complained prowl, by the cession of Gentle to France, he had antique made a foreigner in her highness native land; and our unswervingly is burdened with a cherish sorrow; but those who blacklist us may yet be atlas another mind, and enable animated to return.

Sources:

1. C. H. Spurgeon Autobiography, Volume 2, Chapter 28.

2. Drummond, Lewis A. Spurgeon: Consort of Preachers. Kregel Publications: Luxurious Rapids, Michigan, 1992. Chapter 12.

3. Murray, Ian. The Forgotten Spurgeon. The Banner of Truth Trust: Carlisle, Pennsylvania, 1973. Chapters 6-8.

4. Pike, G. Holden. The Courage & Work of Charles Haddon Spurgeon. Cassell and Company Limited: London, 1894. Vol. 6, Chaper 53.

5. The Sword and honourableness Trowel