You all know that I make it a point not to blockquote great swaths of text unless it’s lyrics or something really good. Well, this falls into the latter category, at the very least; and I’m not certain it doesn’t fit the former bill as well. I’m biased, but there’s a good reason. The more Spurgeon one reads, I’m convinced, the more one loves him. I can’t wait to smoke a cigar with him in heaven.**

I’ve been shamefully stumped in an argument with a friend before, as to why we should memorize Scripture; and according to my own standard, I hadn’t a leg to stand on. Here’s a greatly encouraging argument from the old Baptist himself. (The standard is, “If you cannot explain yourself coherently for holding an opinion, then that opinion should not necessarily be taken seriously by others and must be re-evaluated until a conclusion can be reached.” Give or take.)

“He hath said.”
–Hebrews 13:5

If we can only grasp these words by faith, we have an all-conquering weapon in our hand. What doubt will not be slain by this two-edged sword? What fear is there which shall not fall smitten with a deadly wound before this arrow from the bow of God’s covenant? Will not the distresses of life and the pangs of death; will not the corruptions within, and the snares without; will not the trials from above, and the temptations from beneath, all seem but light afflictions, when we can hide ourselves beneath the bulwark of “He hath said”? Yes; whether for delight in our quietude, or for strength in our conflict, “He hath said” must be our daily resort. And this may teach us the extreme value of searching the Scriptures. There may be a promise in the Word which would exactly fit your case, but you may not know of it, and therefore you miss its comfort. You are like prisoners in a dungeon, and there may be one key in the bunch which would unlock the door, and you might be free; but if you will not look for it, you may remain a prisoner still, though liberty is so near at hand. There may be a potent medicine in the great pharmacopoeia of Scripture, and you may yet continue sick unless you will examine and search the Scriptures to discover what “He hath said.” Should you not, besides reading the Bible, store your memories richly with the promises of God? You can recollect the sayings of great men; you treasure up the verses of renowned poets; ought you not to be profound in your knowledge of the words of God, so that you may be able to quote them readily when you would solve a difficulty, or overthrow a doubt? Since “He hath said” is the source of all wisdom, and the fountain of all comfort, let it dwell in you richly, as “A well of water, springing up unto everlasting life.” So shall you grow healthy, strong, and happy in the divine life.

**(This sentence not to be taken literally, as it’s a theological metaphor. I joke with friends that, whereas other lesser pleasures are only a shadow and a type of heavenly pleasures that surely we must experience There, cigars are actual manifestations of heaven here, whereby an alchemical process known mostly to Cubans transmutes hand-rolled long-filler tobacco into something divine. However, such is the stuff of geek humor. Thank you.)

You all know that I make it a point not to blockquote great swaths of text unless it’s lyrics or something really good. Well, this falls into the latter category, at the very least; and I’m not certain it doesn’t fit the former bill as well. I’m biased, but there’s a good reason. The more Spurgeon one reads, I’m convinced, the more one loves him. I can’t wait to smoke a cigar with him in heaven.**

I’ve been shamefully stumped in an argument with a friend before, as to why we should memorize Scripture; and according to my own standard, I hadn’t a leg to stand on. Here’s a greatly encouraging argument from the old Baptist himself. (The standard is, “If you cannot explain yourself coherently for holding an opinion, then that opinion should not necessarily be taken seriously by others and must be re-evaluated until a conclusion can be reached.” Give or take.)

“He hath said.”
–Hebrews 13:5

If we can only grasp these words by faith, we have an all-conquering weapon in our hand. What doubt will not be slain by this two-edged sword? What fear is there which shall not fall smitten with a deadly wound before this arrow from the bow of God’s covenant? Will not the distresses of life and the pangs of death; will not the corruptions within, and the snares without; will not the trials from above, and the temptations from beneath, all seem but light afflictions, when we can hide ourselves beneath the bulwark of “He hath said”? Yes; whether for delight in our quietude, or for strength in our conflict, “He hath said” must be our daily resort. And this may teach us the extreme value of searching the Scriptures. There may be a promise in the Word which would exactly fit your case, but you may not know of it, and therefore you miss its comfort. You are like prisoners in a dungeon, and there may be one key in the bunch which would unlock the door, and you might be free; but if you will not look for it, you may remain a prisoner still, though liberty is so near at hand. There may be a potent medicine in the great pharmacopoeia of Scripture, and you may yet continue sick unless you will examine and search the Scriptures to discover what “He hath said.” Should you not, besides reading the Bible, store your memories richly with the promises of God? You can recollect the sayings of great men; you treasure up the verses of renowned poets; ought you not to be profound in your knowledge of the words of God, so that you may be able to quote them readily when you would solve a difficulty, or overthrow a doubt? Since “He hath said” is the source of all wisdom, and the fountain of all comfort, let it dwell in you richly, as “A well of water, springing up unto everlasting life.” So shall you grow healthy, strong, and happy in the divine life.

**(This sentence not to be taken literally, as it’s a theological metaphor. I joke with friends that, whereas other lesser pleasures are only a shadow and a type of heavenly pleasures that surely we must experience There, cigars are actual manifestations of heaven here, whereby an alchemical process known mostly to Cubans transmutes hand-rolled long-filler tobacco into something divine. However, such is the stuff of geek humor. Thank you.)