[Apologetics] Holy Violence

[Stuart D. Gathman]

Another Colorful Protestant depiction of faith and works for the
edification of Catholics here (a variation on "the faith that
saves is not alone"):

"But," says one, "do you wish us to understand, that if a man is to be
saved he must use violence and vehement earnestness in order to obtain
salvation?" I do, most assuredly; that is the doctrine of the text.
"But," says one, "I thought it was all the work of God." So it is, from
first to last. But when God has begun the work in the soul, the constant
effect of God's work in us is to set us working; and where God's Spirit
is really striving with us, we shall begin to strive too. This is just a
test whereby we may distinguish the men who have received the Spirit of
God, from those who have not received it. Those who have received the
Spirit in verity and truth are violent men. They have a violent anxiety
to be saved, and they violently strive that they may enter in at the
strait gate. Well they know that seeking to enter in is not enough, for
many shall seek to enter in but shall not be able, and therefore do they
strive with might and main.

    A Sermon
    (No. 252)
    Delivered on Sabbath Morning, May 15th, 1859, by
    the
    REV. C.H. SPURGEON
    at the Music Hall, Royal Surrey Gardens.

-- 
	      Stuart D. Gathman <stuart at bmsi.com>
    Business Management Systems Inc.  Phone: 703 591-0911 Fax: 703 591-6154
"Confutatis maledictis, flamis acribus addictis" - background song for
a Microsoft sponsored "Where do you want to go from here?" commercial.