Part 4 - No Apostolic Zeal In Our Day

Again: we have not enough self-denial; and that is one reason why we do not prosper. Far be it from me to say aught against the self-denial of those worthy brethren who have left their country to cross the stormy deep to preach the Word. We hold them to be men who are to be had in honor; but still, I ask, Where is the self-denial of the apostles now-a-days? 

I think one of the greatest disgraces that ever was cast upon the church in those days was that last mission to Ireland. Men went over to Ireland; but, like men who have valor's better part, brave, bold men,—they came back again, which is about all we can say of the matter. Why do they not go there again? 

Why, they say the Irish "booed" them. Now, don't you think you see Paul taking a microscope out of his pocket, and looking at a little man who should say to him, "I shall not go there to preach, because the Irish booed me!" 

"What!" he says, "is this a preacher? What a small edition of a minister he must be, to be sure!" 

"O! But they threw stones at us; you have no idea how badly they treated us!" Just tell that to the Apostle Paul. I am sure you would be ashamed to do so. 

"O! But in some places the police interfered, and said that we should create only a riot." What would Paul have said to that? The police interfering! I do not know that we have any right to care about governments.

Our business is to preach the Word; and, if we must be put in the stocks, there let us lie; there would no hurt come of it at last. "O! But they might have killed some of us." 

That is just it. 

Where is that zeal which counted not its life dear, so that it might win Christ? I believe that the killing of a few of our ministers would have prospered Christianity. However we might mourn over it,—and none more than myself,—I say, the murder of a dozen of them would have been no greater ground for grief than the slaughter of our men by hundreds in a successful fight for hearths and homes. I would count my own blood most profitably shed in so holy a struggle. 

How did the gospel prosper aforetime? Were there not some who laid down their lives for it? And did not others walk to victory over their slain bodies? And must it not be so now? If we are to start back, because we are afraid of being killed, Heaven knows when the gospel is to spread over the world.—we do not. What have other missionaries done? Have they not braved death in its direct forms, and preached the word amid countless dangers? 

My brethren, we say again, we find no fault, for we, ourselves, might err in the same manner; but we are sure we are therein not like Paul. He went to a place where they stoned him with stones, and dragged him out as dead. 

Did he say, "Now, for the future, I will not go where they will ill-treat me?" 

No, for he says: "Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, thrice I suffered shipwreck." 

I am sure we have not the self denial of the apostles. We are mere carpet-knights and Hyde Park warriors. 

When I go to my own house, and think how comfortable and happy I am, I say to myself: "How little I do for my Master! I am ashamed that I cannot deny myself for his truth, and go everywhere preaching his Word." 

I look with pity upon people who say, "Do not preach so often; you will kill yourself." O my God! What would Paul have said to such a thing as that? "Take care of your constitution; you are rash; you are enthusiastic." 

When I compare myself with one of these men of old, I say, "O, that men should be found, calling themselves Christians, who seek to stop our work of faith and labor of love, for the sake of a little consideration about the 'constitution,' which gets all the stronger for preaching God's Word."

C.H. Spurgeon on Gospel Missions