Over on First Presbyterian Jackson’s blog is a great quote from Spurgeon that supports what we have been saying about the vital place of emotion in the Christian life. Joy should flow out of true salvation (although, of course, there will be times in every Christian’s life when this joy feels more distant than others). Spurgeon was preaching on Acts 8:8 and, incidentally, at the beginning seems to be moving in one of his moments of what a modern charismatic would call “word of knowledge.”
“‘We long to have this great joy in London. We want to see despairing souls made happy. My friend over yonder, who has been indulging in dark thoughts about whether he can manage to live any longer — his hand almost feels for the fatal knife — live, poor soul, live! There is hope, there is joy even for thee! Jesus Christ is willing to forgive the chief of sinners, he is ready to renew the most debauched and depraved of men. He is able to make a saint of thee; he can at this moment take the burden from thy heart, and commence a work in thee which shall make thee a totally new man. What sayest thou to this? If thou canst believe in Jesus, there will begin to be a joy in this city, for there will be a joy in thy heart. I remember the day when I despaired of finding salvation, when I could not think that my sin would ever be forgiven; but that voice, ‘Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth,’ was a word of life and love to my soul; and I would repeat it to-night to those in this audience who are in the depths of despair. Do not give yourselves up; God has not given you up. Do not sign your own death-warrant; God has not signed it. ‘Come unto me,’ says Christ, ‘all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.’
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