Charles Haddon Spurgeon on the "New Heart"

This morning I came across an old research paper I wrote in seminary on the 19th century Baptist preacher, Charles Haddon Spurgeon's view of "regeneration." I wanted to post this so that we could see an example of just how doctrinal our Baptist forefathers were with regard to our human plight and God's sovereignty and mercy to meet that plight.

For example, in 1858, Spurgeon preaching from Ezekiel 36 on “The New Heart” begins his message on the importance of the promise from God that he will give a new heart. He argues, God does not promise to us that he will improve our nature . . . Human nature is too far gone ever to be mended . . .

To drive this assertion home he argues, The nature that can feed on the garbage of sin, and devour the carrion of iniquity, is not the nature that ever can sing the praises of God and rejoice in his holy name. The raven yonder has been feeding on the most loathsome food, do you expect that she shall have all the kindliness of the dove . . . No; there must be a change.

With this idea in mind, Spurgeon expounds on humankind's fallen nature with candid imagery. He states, The very beasts are better than man, for man has all the worst attributes of the beasts and none of their best. He has the fierceness of the lion without its nobility; he has the stubbornness of an ass without is patience; he has all the devouring gluttony of the wolf, without the wisdom which bids it avoid the trap.

Spurgeon continues on this thought with his conviction that the worst aspect of man’s depravity is his pride. He asserts, It is a wild, strange thing to think that man should be proud, when he has nothing to be proud of. A living, animated lump of clay—defiled and filthy, a living hell, and yet proud.

In typical fashion, Spurgeon, having established the hopelessness of the human condition, expounds on the futility of man’s own ability to change. He states, A man trying to improve human nature is like trying to change the position of a weathercock, by turning it round to the east when the wind is blowing west; he has but to take his hand off and it will be back again to its place.

Therefore, man’s only hope is God who provides, not reformation, but renovation by giving a new heart. This regenerating work of God is his from first to last.

Furthermore, it is by God’s sovereign initiative because no unregenerate man cries for a new heart. Man revolts against his Maker and his Saviour; but where God determines to save, save he will. God will have the sinner, if he designs to have him. God never was thwarted yet in any one of his purposes.

When I think about Spurgeon's sermon, it reminds me a great deal of Ephesians 1:3-14, where 3 times Paul says that God saves us, "to the praise of his glorious grace" (Eph 1:6, 12, 14).