Gracious Renewal (sermon 490)

Another lovely sermon which both probes and pleads, which urges and entreats, which challenges and invites. Spurgeon's capacity to blend such elements together is masterful! In the aftermath of a happy church members' meeting, Spurgeon encourages God's people to seek God for grace, that he would renew a right spirit within them. Perhaps this is the key to that balance of tone? He does not urge the saints to renew their own spirits, but to seek that blessing from God. At the same time, he urges upon them various reasons to do it, and so stirs up their hearts. Thus the heart is directed outwards, but it looks to God with vigorous faith. God's