Spurgeon: July AM
* 07/26/AM
"Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue
knowledge, etc."
--2 Peter 1:5,2 Peter 1:6
If thou wouldest enjoy the eminent grace of the full
assurance of faith, under the blessed Spirit's influence, and
assistance, do what the Scripture tells thee, " Give
diligence ." Take care that thy faith is of the right
kind--that it is not a mere belief of doctrine, but a simple
faith, depending on Christ, and on Christ alone. Give diligent
heed to thy courage . Plead with God that He would give thee
the face of a lion, that thou mayest, with a consciousness of
right, go on boldly. Study well the Scriptures, and get
knowledge ; for a knowledge of doctrine will tend very much to
confirm faith. Try to understand God's Word; let it dwell in thy
heart richly.
When thou hast done this, "Add to thy knowledge
temperance ." Take heed to thy body: be temperate without. Take
heed to thy soul: be temperate within. Get temperance of lip,
life, heart, and thought. Add to this, by God's Holy Spirit,
patience ; ask Him to give thee that patience which endureth
affliction, which, when it is tried, shall come forth as gold.
Array yourself with patience, that you may not murmur nor be
depressed in your afflictions. When that grace is won look to
godliness . Godliness is something more than religion. Make
God's glory your object in life; live in His sight; dwell close
to Him; seek for fellowship with Him; and thou hast "godliness";
and to that add brotherly love . Have a love to all the
saints: and add to that a charity , which openeth its arms to
all men, and loves their souls. When you are adorned with these
jewels, and just in proportion as you practise these heavenly
virtues, will you come to know by clearest evidence "your
calling and election." "Give diligence," if you would get
assurance, for lukewarmness and doubting very naturally go hand
in hand.