A Sermon by the Rev. Charles H. Spurgeon   The Victory of Faith - I John 5:4 (Preached at Exeter Hall, London, March 18th, 1855)   “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world; and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (I John 5:4, KJV)  The    epistles    of    John    are    perfumed    with    love.    The word   is   continually   occurring,   while   the   Spirit   enters into   every   sentence.   Each   letter   is   thoroughly   soaked and    impregnated    with    this    heavenly    honey.    If    he speaks   of   God,   his   name   must   be   love;   are   the   brethren mentioned,   he   loves   them;   and   even   of   the   world   itself, he   writes,   “God   so   loved   the   world,   that   he   gave   his only     begotten     Son.”      From     the     opening     to     the conclusion,   love   is   the   manner,   love   the   matter,   love the   motive,   and   love   the   aim.   We   stand,   therefore,   not   a little    astonished,    to    find    such    martial    words    in    so peaceful   a   writing;   for   I   hear   a   sound   of   war.   It   is   not the   voice   of   love,   surely,   that   says,   “He   that   is   born   of God   overcometh   the   world.”    Lo,   here   are   strife   and battle.    The    word    “overcometh”     seems    to    have    in    it something    of    the    sword    and    warfare;    of    strife    and contention;   of   agony   and   wrestling;   so   unlike   the   love which    is    smooth    and    gentle,    which    hath    no    harsh words    within    its    lips;    whose    mouth    is    lined    with velvet;    whose    words    are    softer    than    butter;    whose utterances   are   more   easily   flowing   than   oil.   Here   we have   war—war   to   the   knife;   for   I   read   “Whatsoever   is born    of    God    overcometh    the    world;”     strife    until death;   battle   throughout   life;   fighting   with   a   certainty of   victory.   How   is   it   that   the   same   gospel   which   always speaks   of   peace,   here   proclaims   a   warfare?   How   can   it be?   Simply   because   there   is   something   in   the   world which    is    antagonistic    to    love;    there    are    principles abroad   which   cannot   bear   light,   and,   therefore,   before light    can    come,    it    must    chase    the    darkness.    Ere summer   reigns,   you   know,   it   has   to   do   battle   with   old winter,   and   to   send   it   howling   away   in   the   winds   of March,    and    shedding    its    tears    in   April    showers.    So also,    before    any    great    or    good    thing    can    have    the mastery   of   this   world,   it   must   do   battle   for   it.   Satan   has seated   himself   on   his   blood-stained   throne,   and   who shall   get   him   down,   except   by   main   force,   and   fight and   war?   Darkness   broods   o’er   the   nations;   nor   can   the sun   establish   his   empire   of   light   until   he   has   pierced night    with    the    arrowy    sunbeams,    and    made    it    flee away.   Hence   we   read   in   the   Bible   that   Christ   did   not come   to   send   peace   on   earth,   but   a   sword;   he   came   to set   “the   father   against   the   son,   and   the   son   against the   father;   the   mother   against   the   daughter,   and   the daughter     against     the     mother;     the     mother-in-law against   her   daughter-in-law,   and   the   daughter-in-law against   her   mother-in-law;”    not   intentionally,   but   as   a means    to    an    end;    because    there    must    always    be    a struggle   ere   truth   and   righteousness   can   reign.   Alas! for    that    earth    is    the    battle-field    where    good    must combat   with   evil Angels   look   on   and   hold   their   breath, burning   to   mingle   in   the   conflict,   but   the   troops   of   the Captain   of   Salvation   may   be   none   but   the   soldiers   of the   cross;   and   that   slender   band   must   fight   alone,   and yet   shall   triumph   gloriously.   Enough   shall   they   be   for conquest,   and   the   motto   of   their   standard   is   enough . Enough by the arm of the helping Trinity. As   God   shall   help   me,   I   shall   speak   to   you   of   three things   to   be   found   in   the   text.   First,   the   text   speaks   of   a great   victory:   it   says,   “This   is   the   victory.”    Secondly,   it mentions   a   great   birth:   “Whatsoever   is   born   of   God.”   And,    thirdly,    it    extols    a    great    grace,    whereby    we overcome the world, “even our faith.” I.   First,   the   text   speaks   of   a   great   victory —the   victory of   victories—the   greatest   of   all.   We   know   there   have been   great   battles   where   nations   have   met   in   strife,   and one   has   overcome   the   other;   but   who   has   read   of   a victory   that   overcame   the   world?   Some   will   say   that Alexander   was   its   conqueror;   but   I   answer,   nay.   He was   himself   the   vanquished   man,   even   when   all   things were   in   his   possession.   He   fought   for   the   world,   and won    it;    and    then    mark    how    it    mastered    its    master, conquered   its   conqueror,   and   lashed   the   monarch   who had   been   its   scourge.   See   the   royal   youth   weeping,   and stretching   out   his   hands   with   idiotic   cries,   for   another world   which   he   might   ravage.   He   seemed,   in   outward show,    to    have    overcome    old    earth;    but,    in    reality, within   his   inmost   soul,   the   earth   had   conquered   him, had    overwhelmed    him,    had    wrapped    him    in    the dream    of    ambition,    girdled    him    with    the    chains    of covetousness,    so    that    when    he    had    all,    he    was    still dissatisfied;   and,   like   a   poor   slave,   was   dragged   on   at the    chariot    wheels    of    the    world,    crying,    moaning, lamenting,   because   he   could   not   win   another.   Who   is the   man   that   ever   overcame   the   world?   Let   him   stand forward:   he   is   a   Triton   among   the   minnows;   he   shall outshine   Cæsar;   he   shall   outmatch   even   our   own   lately departed   Wellington,   if   he   can   say   he   has   overcome   the world.   It   is   so   rare   a   thing,   a   victory   so   prodigious,   a conquest    so    tremendous,    that    he    who    can    claim    to have   won   it   may   walk   among   his   fellows,   like   Saul, with    head    and    shoulders    far    above    them.    He    shall command   our   respect;   his   very   presence   shall   awe   us into     reverence;     his     speech     shall     persuade     us     to obedience;   and,   yielding   honour   to   whom   honour   is due,   we’ll   say   when   we   listen   to   his   voice,   “’Tis   even   as if an angel shook his wings.” I    shall    now    attempt    to    expand    the    idea    I    have suggested,    showing    you    in    what    varied    senses    the Christian   overcomes   the   world.   A   tough   battle,   sirs,   I warrant   you:   not   one   which   carpet   knights   might   win: no   easy   skirmish   that   he   might   win,   who   dashed   to battle   on   some   sunshiny   day,   looked   at   the   host,   then turned   his   courser’s   rein,   and   daintily   dismounted   at the   door   of   his   silken   tent—not   one   which   he   shall gain,    who,    hut    a    raw    recruit    to-day,    puts    on    his regimentals,   and   foolishly   imagines   that   one   week   of service   will   ensure   a   crown   of   glory.   Nay,   sirs,   it   is   a life-long   war—a   fight   needing   the   power   of   all   these muscles,   and   this   strong   heart;   a   contest   which   shall want   all   our   strength,   if   we   are   to   be   triumphant;   and   if we   do   come   off   more   than   conquerors,   it   shall   be   said of   us,   as   Hart   said   of   Jesus   Christ:   “He   had   strength enough    and    none    to    spare;”    a    battle    at    which    the stoutest   heart   might   quail;   a   fight   at   which   the   braves might   shake,   if   he   did   not   remember   that   the   Lord   is on   his   side,   and   therefore,   whom   shall   he   fear?   He   is the   strength   of   his   life;   of   whom   shall   he   be   afraid? This   fight   with   the   world   is   not   one   of   main   force,   or physical   might;   if   it   were,   we   might   soon   win   it;   but   it is   all   the   more   dangerous   from   the   fact   that   it   is   a   strife of   mind,   a   contest   of   heart,   a   struggle   of   the   spirit,   a strife   of   the   soul.   When   we   overcome   the   world   in   one fashion,   we   have   not   half   done   our   work;   for   the   world is   a   Proteus,   changing   its   shape   continually;   like   the chameleon,   it   hath   all   the   colours   of   the   rainbow;   and when   you   have   worsted   the   world   in   one   shape,   it   will attack   you   in   another.   Until   you   die,   you   will   always have   fresh   appearances   of   the   world   to   wrestle   with. Let   me   just   mention   some   of   the   forms   in   which   the Christian overcomes the world. 1.   He   overcomes   the   world   when   it   sets   up   itself   as   a legislator,   wishing   to   teach   him   customs.   You   know   the world   has   its   old   massive   law   book   of   customs,   and   he who   does   not   choose   to   go   according   to   the   fashion   of the   world,   is   under   the   ban   of   society.   Most   of   you   do just   as   everybody   else   does,   and   that   is   enough   for you.    If    you    see    so-and-so    do    a    dishonest    thing    in business,   it   is   sufficient   for   you   that   everybody   does   it. If   ye   see   that   the   majority   of   mankind   have   certain habits,   ye   succumb,   ye   yield.   Ye   think,   I   suppose,   that to   march   to   hell   in   crowds,   will   help   to   diminish   the fierce   heat   of   the   burning   of   the   bottomless   pit,   instead of   remembering   that   the   more   faggots   the   fiercer   will be   the   flame.   Men   usually   swim   with   the   stream   like   a dead   fish;   it   is   only   the   living   fish   that   goes   against   it. It    is    only    the    Christian    who    despises    customs,    who does    not    care    for    conventionalisms,    who    only    asks himself   the   question,   “Is   it   right   or   is   it   wrong?   If   it   is right,   I   will   be   singular.   If   there   is   not   another   man   in this    world    who    will    do    it,    I    will    do    it;    should    a universal   hiss   go   up   to   heaven,   I   will   do   it   still;   should the   very   stories   of   earth   fly   up,   arid   stone   me   to   death, I   will   do   it   still;   though   they   bind   me   to   the   stake,   yet   I must   do   it;   I   will   be   singularly   right;   if   the   multitude will   not   follow   me,   I   will   go   without   them,   I   will   be glad   if   they   will   all   go   and   do   right   as   well,   but   if   not,   I will   despise   their   customs;   I   care   not   what   others   do;   I shall   not   be   weighed   by   other   men;   to   my   own   Master I    stand    or    fall.    Thus    I    conquer    and    overcome    the customs   of   the   world.”   Fair   world!   she   dresseth   herself in   ermine,   she   putteth   on   the   robes   of   a   judge,   and   she solemnly   telleth   you,   “Man,   you   are   wrong.   Look   at your   fellows;   see   how   they   do.   Behold   my   laws.   For hundreds   of   years   have   not   men   done   so?   Who   are you,   to   set   yourself   up   against   me?”   And   she   pulls   out her   worm-eaten   law-book,   and   turning   over   the   musty pages,   says,   “See,   here   is   an   act   passed   in   the   reign   of Nebuchadnezzar,   and   here   is   another   law   enacted   in the    days    of    Pharaoh.    These    must    be    right,    because antiquity    has    enrolled    them    among    her    standard authorities.   Do   you   mean   to   set   yourself   up   and   stand against   the   opinions   of   the   multitude?”   Yes,   we   do;   we take   the   law-book   of   the   world,   and   we   burn   it,   as   the Ephesians   did   their   magic   rolls;   we   take   her   deeds,   and make      them      into      waste      paper;      we      rend      her proclamation   from   the   walls;   we   care   not   what   others do;   custom   to   us   is   a   cobweb;   we   count   it   folly   to   be singular;   but   when   to   be   singular   is   to   be   right,   we count   it   the   proudest   wisdom;   we   overcome   the   world; we    trample    on    her    customs;    we    walk    as    a    distinct people,   a   separate   race,   a   chosen   generation,   a   peculiar people.   The   Christian   behaves   in   his   dealings   not   as the    laughing    infidel    insinuates,    when    he    sneeringly describes     Mawworm,     as     saying,     “Boy,     have     you sanded   the   sugar?”   “Yes,   sir.”   “Have   you   put   the   sloe- leaves   in   the   tea?”   “Yes,   sir.”   “Have   you   put   red   lead   in the    pepper?”    “Yes,    sir.”    “Then    come    to    prayers.” Christians   do   not   do   so;   they   say,   “We   know   better;   we cannot    conform    to    the    customs    of    the    world.    If    we pray,    we    will    also    act,    or    else    we    are    hypocrites, confounded   hypocrites.   If   we   go   to   the   house   of   God, and   profess   to   love   him,   we   love   him   every.   where;   we take   our   religion   with   us   into   the   shop,   behind   the counter;   into   our   offices;   we   must   have   it   everywhere, or   else   God   knows   it   is   not   religion   at   all.”   Ye   must stand   up,   then,   against   the   customs   of   mankind. Albeit, this   may   be   a   three-million   peopled   city,   ye   are   to   come out and be separate, if ye would overcome the world. 2.   We   rebel   against   the   world’s   customs. And   if   we   do so,   what   is   the   conduct   of   our   enemy?   She   changes   her aspect.   “That   man   is   a   heretic;   that   man   is   a   fanatic;   he is   a   cant,   he   is   a   hypocrite,”   says   the   world   directly.   She grasps   her   sword,   she   putteth   frowns   upon   her   brow, she   scowleth   like   a   demon,   she   girdeth   tempests   round about    her,    and    she    saith,    “The    man    dares    defy    my government;   he   will   not   do   as   others   do.   Now   I   will persecute   him.   Slander!   come   from   the   depths   of   hell and   hiss   at   him.   Envy!   sharpen   up   thy   tooth   and   bite him.”     She     fetches     up     all     false     things,     arid     she persecutes   the   man.   If   she   can,   she   does   it   with   the hand;   if   not,   by   the   tongue.   She   afflicts   him   wherever he    is.    She    tries    to    ruin    him    in    business;    or,    if    he standeth   forth   as   the   champion   of   the   truth   why   then she   laugheth,   arid   mocketh,   and   scorneth.   She   lets   no stone   be   unturned   whereby   she   may   injure   him.   What is   then   the   behaviour   of   the   Lord’s   warrior,   when   he sees   the   world   take   up   arms   against   him,   and   when   he sees   all   earth,   like   an   army,   coming   to   chase   him,   and utterly   destroy   him?   Does   he   yield?   Does   he   yield? Does   he   bend?   Does   he   cringe?   Oh,   no!   Like   Luther,   he writes   “ Cedo   nulli ”   on   his   banner—“I   yield   to   none;” and   he   goes   to   war   against   the   world,   if   the   world   goes to war against him. “Let earth be all in arms abroad, He dwells in perfect peace.” Ah!   some   of   you,   if   you   had   a   word   spoken   against you,   would   at   once   give   up   what   religion   you   have; but   the   true-born   child   of   God   cares   little   for   man’s opinion.   “Ah,”   says   he,   “let   my   bread   fail   me,   let   me   be doomed   to   wander   penniless   the   wide   world   o’er;   yea, let    me    die:    each    drop    of    blood    within    these    veins belongs   to   Christ,   and   I   am   ready   to   shed   it   for   his name’s   sake.”   He   counts   all   things   but   loss,   that   he may   win   Christ—that   he   may   be   found   in   him;   and when    the    world’s    thunders    roars,    he    smiles    at    the uproar, while lie hums his pleasant tune:— “Jerusalem my happy home, Name ever dear to me; When shall my labours have an end, In joy, and peace, and thee?” When   her   sword   comes   out,   he   looketh   at   it.   “Ah,” saith   he,   “just   as   the   lightning   leapeth   from   its   thunder lair,   splitteth   the   clouds,   and   affrighteth   the   stars,   but is    powerless    against    the    rock-covered    mountaineer, who   smiles   at   its   grandeur,   so   now   the   world   cannot hurt   me,   for   in   the   time   of   trouble   my   Father   hides   me in   his   pavilion,   in   the   secret   of   his   tabernacle   doth   he hide   me,   and   set   me   up   upon   a   rock.”   Thus,   again,   we conquer the world, by not caring for its frowns. 3.   “Well,”   saith   the   world,   “I   will   try   another   style,” and   this   believe   me,   is   the   most   dangerous   of   all.   A smiling   world   is   worse   than   a   frowning   one.   She   saith, “I   cannot   smite   the   man   low   with   my   repeated   blows,   I will   take   off   my   mailed   glove,   and   showing   him   a   fair white   hand,   I’ll   bid   him   kiss   it.   I   will   tell   him   I   love him:    I    will    flatter    him,    I    will    speak    good    words    to him.”   John   Bunyan   well   describes   this   Madam   Bubble: she   has   a   winning   way   with   her;   she   drops   a   smile   at the   end   of   each   of   her   sentences;   she   talks   much   of   fair things,    arid    tries    to    win    and    woo.    Oh,    believe    me, Christians   are   not   so   much   in   danger   when   they   are persecuted   as   when   they   are   admired.   When   we   stand upon   the   pinnacle   of   popularity,   we   may   well   tremble and   fear.   It   is   not   when   we   are   hissed   at,   and   hooted, that   we   have   any   cause   to   be   alarmed;   it   is   when   we are   dandled   on   the   lap   of   fortune,   and   nursed   upon   the knees   of   the   people;   it   is   when   all   men   speak   well   of us,   that   woe   is   unto   us.   It   is   not   in   the   cold   wintry wind    that    I    take    off    my    coat    of    righteousness,    and throw   it   away;   it   is   when   the   sun   comes,   when   the weather      is      warm,      and      the      air      balmy,      that      I unguardedly   strip   off   my   robes,   and   become   naked. Good   God!   how   many   a   man   has   been   made   naked   by the   love   of   this   world!   The   world   has   flattered   and applauded   him;   he   has   drunk   the   flattery;   it   was   an intoxicating   draught;   he   has   staggered,   he   has   reeled, he    has    sinned,    he    has    lost    his    reputation;    and    as    a comet   that   erst   flashed   across   the   sky,   doth   wander   far into   space,   arid   is   lost   in   darkness,   so   doth   he;   great   as he   was,   he   falls;   mighty   as   he   was,   he   wanders,   and   is lost.   But   the   true   child   of   God   is   never   so;   he   is   as   safe when   the   world   smiles,   as   when   it   frowns;   he   cares   as little   for   her   praise   as   for   her   dispraise.   If   he   is   praised, and   it   is   true,   he   says,   “My   deeds   deserves   praise,   but   I refer   all   honor   to   my   God.”   Great   souls   know   what they   merit   from   their   critic;   to   them   it   is   nothing   more than    the    giving    of    their    daily    income.    Some    men cannot   live   without   a   large   amount   of   praise;   and   if they   have   no   more   than   they   deserve,   let   them   have   it. If   they   are   children   of   God,   they   will   be   kept   steady; they   will   not   be   ruined   or   spoiled;   but   they   will   stand with   feet   like   hinds’   feet   upon   high   places.— “This   is the victory that overcometh the world.” 4.    Sometimes,    again,    the    world    turns    jailer    to    a Christian.   God   sends   affliction   and   sorrow,   until   life   is a   prison-house,   the   world   its   jailer—and   a   wretched jailer   too.   Have   you   ever   been   in   trials   and   troubles, my   friends?   and   has   the   world   never   come   to   you   and said,   “Poor   prisoner,   I   have   a   key   that   will   let   you   out. You   are   in   pecuniary   difficulties;   I   will   tell   you   how you   may   get   free.   Put   that   Mr.   Conscience   away.   He asks   you   whether   it   is   a   dishonest   act.   Never   mind about   him;   let   him   sleep;   think   about   the   honesty   after you   have   got   the   money,   and   repent   at   your   leisure.” So    saith    the    world;    but    you    say,    “I    cannot    do    the thing.”    “Well,”    says    the    world,    “then    groan    and grumble:    a    good    man    like    you    locked    up    in    this prison!”   “No,”   says   the   Christian,   “my   Father   sent   me into   want,   and   in   his   own   time   he   will   fetch   me   out; but   if   I   die   here   I   will   not   use   wrong   means   to   escape. My    Father    put    me    here    for    my    good,    I    will    not grumble;   if   my   bones   must   lie   here—if   my   coffin   is   to be   under   these   stones—if   my   tomb-stone   shall   be   in the   wall   of   my   dungeon—here   will   I   die,   rather   than   so much   as   lift   a   finger   to   get   out   by   unfair   means.”   “Ah,” says    the    world,    “then    thou    art    a    fool.”    The    scorner laughs   and   passes   on,   saying,   “The   man   has   no   brain, he   will   not   do   a   bold   thing;   he   hath   no   courage;   he   will not   launch   upon   the   sea;   he   wants   to   go   in   the   old beaten   track   of   morality.”   Ay,   so   he   does;   for   thus   he overcomes the world. Oh!   I   might   tell   you   of   some   battles   that   have   been fought.   There   has   been   many   a   poor   maiden,   who   has worked,   worked,   worked,   until   her   fingers   were   worn to   the   bone,   to   earn   a   scanty   living   out   of   the   things which   we   wear   upon   us,   knowing   not   that   ofttimes   we wear   the   blood,   and   bones,   and   sinews   of   poor   girls. That   poor   girl   has   been   tempted   a   thousand   times,   the evil   one   has   tried   to   seduce   her,   but   she   has   fought   a valiant    battle;    stern    in    her    integrity,    in    the    midst    of poverty   she   still   stands   upright,   “Clear   as   the   sun,   fair as   the   moon,   and   terrible   as   an   army   with   banners,”   a heroine      unconquered      by      the      temptations      and enticements   of   vice.   In   other   cases:   many   a   man   has had   the   chance   of   being   rich   in   an   hour,   affluent   in   a moment,   if   he   would   but   clutch   something   which   he dare   not   look   at,   because   God   within   him   said,   “No.” The   world   said,   “Be   rich,   be   rich;”   but   the   Holy   Spirit said,   “No!   be   honest;   serve   thy   God.”   Oh,   the   stern contest.   and   the   manly   combat   carried   on   within   the heart!    But    he    said,    “No;    could    I    have    the    stars transmuted   into   worlds   of   gold,   I   would   not   for   those globes   of   wealth   belie   my   principles,   and   damage   my soul”;   thus   he   walks   a   conqueror.   “This   is   the   victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” II.   But   my   text   speaks   of   a   great   birth .   A   very   kind friend   has   told   me   that   while   I   was   preaching   in   Exeter Hall   I   ought   to   pay   deference   to   the   varied   opinions   of my    hearers;    that    albeit    I    may    be    a    Calvinist    and    a Baptist,   I   should   recollect   that   there   are   a   variety   of creeds   here.   Now,   if   I   were   to   preach   nothing   but   what would    please    the    whole    lot    of    you,    what    on    earth should   I   do?   I   preach   what   I   believe   to   be   true;   and   if the   omission   of   a   single   truth   that   I   believe,   would make   me   king   of   England   throughout   eternity,   I   would not   leave   it   out.   Those   who   do   not   like   what   I   say   have the   option   of   leaving   it.   They   come   here,   I   suppose,   to please    themselves;    and    if    the    truth    does    not    please them,   they   can   leave   it.   I   will   never   be   afraid   that   an honest   British   audience   will   turn   away   from   the   man who    does    not    stick,    and    stutter,    and    stammer    in speaking   the   truth.   Well,   now,   about   this   great   birth.   I am   going   to   say   perhaps   a   harsh   thing,   but   I   heard   it said   by   Mr.   Jay   first   of   all.   Some   say   a   new   birth   takes place    in    an    infant    baptism,    but    I    remember    that venerable   patriarch   saying,   “Popery   is   a   lie,   Puseyism is   a   lie,   baptismal   regeneration   is   a   lie.”   So   it   is.   It   is   a lie     so     palpable     that     I     can     scarcely     imagine     the preachers   of   it   have   any   brains   in   their   heads   at   all.   It   is so   absurd   upon   the   very   face   of   it,   that   a   man   who believes   it   put   himself   below   the   range   of   a   common- sense   man.   Believe   that   every   child   by   a   drop   of   water is   born   again!   Then   that   man   that   you   see   in   the   ring   as a   prize-fighter   is   born   again,   because   those   sanctified drops   once   fell   upon   his   infant   forehead!   Another   man swears—behold    him    drunk    and    reeling    about    the streets.   He   is   born   again!   A   pretty   born   again   that   is!   I think   he   wants   to   be   born   again   another   time.   Such   a regeneration   as   that   only   fits   him   for   the   devil;   and   by its    deluding    effect,    may    even    make    him    sevenfold more   the   child   of   hell.   But   the   men   who   curse,   and swear,   and   rob   and   steal,   and   those   poor   wretches   who are   hanged,   have   all   been   born   again,   according   to   the fiction   of   this   beautiful   Puseyite   church.   Out   upon   it! out   upon   it!   Ah,   God   sends   something   better   than   that into men’s hearts, when he sends them a new birth. However,      the      text      speaks      of      a      great      birth. “Whatsoever   is   born   of   God   overcometh   the   world.”   This   new   birth   is   the   mysterious   point   in   all   religion.   If you   preach   anything   else   except   the   new   birth   you   will always   get   on   well   with   your   hearers;   but   if   you   insist that   in   order   to   enter   heaven   there   must   be   a   radical change,   though   this   is   the   doctrine   of   the   Scripture,   it   is so    unpalatable    to    mankind    in    general    that    you    will scarcely   get   them   to   listen.   Ah!   now   ye   turn   away   if   I begin   to   tell   you,   that   “except   ye   be   born   of   water   and of     the     Spirit,     ye     cannot     enter     the     kingdom     of heaven.”    If   I   tell   you   that   there   must   be   a   regenerating influence   exerted   upon   your   minds   by   the   power   of the    Holy    Ghost    then    I    know    ye    will    say    “it    is enthusiasm.”   Ah!   but   it   is   the   enthusiasm   of   the   Bible. There   I   stand;   by   this   I   will   be   judged.   If   the   Bible   does not   say   we   must   be   born   again,   then   I   give   it   up;   but   if it   does   then,   sirs,   do   not   distrust   that   truth   on   which your salvation hangs. What   is   it   to   be   born   again,   then?   Very   briefly,   to   be born   again   is   to   undergo   a   change   so   mysterious,   that human    words    cannot    speak    of    it.    As    we    cannot describe   our   first   birth,   so   it   is   impossible   for   us   to describe    the    second.    “The    wind    bloweth    where    it listeth,   and   thou   hearest   the   sound   thereof,   but   canst not   tell   whence   it   cometh   or   whither   it   goeth;   so   is every   one   that   is   born   of   the   Spirit.”    But   while   it   is   so mysterious,   it   is   a   change   which   is   known   and   felt. People   are   not   born   again   when   they   are   in   bed   and asleep,   so   that   they   do   not   know   it.   They   feel   it;   they experience   it.   Galvanism,   or   the   power   of   electricity, may    be    mysterious;    but    they    produce    a    feeling—a sensation.   So   does   the   new   birth.   At   the   time   of   the new   birth   the   soul   is   in   great   agony—often   drowned   in seas   of   tears.   Sometimes   it   drinks   bitters,   now   and   then mingled    with    sweet    drops    of    hope.    Whilst    we    are passing   from   death   unto   life,   there   is   an   experience which     none     but     the     child     of     God     can     really understand.   It   is   a   mysterious   change;   but,   at   the   same time,   it   is   a   positive   one.   It   is   as   much   a   change   as   if this   heart   were   taken   out   of   me,   and   the   black   drops   of blood   wrung   from   it,   then   washed   and   cleansed   and put   into   my   soul   again.   It   is   “a   new   heart   and   a   right spirit:” a mysterious but yet an actual and real change! Let    me    tell    you,    moreover,    that    this    change    is    a supernatural   one.   It   is   not   one   that   a   man   performs upon    himself.    It    is    not    leaving    off    drinking    and becoming    sober;    it    is    not    turning    from    a    Roman Catholic   to   a   Protestant;   it   is   not   veering   round   from   a Dissenter    to    a    Churchman,    or    a    Churchman    to    a Dissenter.   It   is   a   vast   deal   more   than   that.   It   is   a   new principle   infused   which   works   in   the   heart,   enters   the very   soul,   and   moves   the   entire   man.   Not   a   change   of my   name,   but   a   renewal   of   my   nature,   so   that   I   am   not the   man   I   used   to   be,   but   a   new   man   in   Christ   Jesus.   It is     a     supernatural     change—something     which     man cannot   do,   and   which   only   God   can   effect;   which   the Bible   itself   cannot   accomplish   without   the   attendant Spirit   of   God;   which   no   minister’s   eloquence   can   bring about—something    so    mighty    and    wondrous,    that    it must   be   confessed   to   be   the   work   of   God,   and   God alone.   Here   is   the   place   to   observe   that   this   new   birth   is an   enduring   change.   Arminians   tell   us   that   people   are born   again,   then   fall   into   sin,   pick   themselves   up   again, and    become    Christians    again—fall    into    sin,    lose    the grace   of   God,   then   come   back   again—fall   into   sin   a hundred   times   in   their   lives,   and   so   keep   on   losing grace   and   recovering   it.   Well,   I   suppose   it   is   a   new version   of   the   Scripture   where   you   read   of   that.   But   I read   in   my   Bible   that   if   true   Christians   could   fall   away, it    would    be    impossible    to    renew    them    again    unto repentance.   I   read,   moreover,   that   wherever   God   has begun   a   good   work   he   will   carry   it   on   even   to   the   end; and   that   whom   he   once   loves,   he   loves   to   the   end.   If   I have   simply   been   reformed,   I   may   be   a   drunkard   yet, or   you   may   see   me   acting   on   the   stage.   But   if   I   am really   born   again,   with   that   real   supernatural   change,   I shall   never   fall   away,   I   may   fall   into   a   sin,   but   I   shall not    fall    finally;    I    shall    stand    while    life    shall    last, constantly secure; and when I die it shall be said— “Servant of God, well done! Rest from thy blest employ; The battle’s fought, the victory’s won; Enter thy rest of joy.” Do     not     deceive     yourselves,     my     beloved.     If     you imagine   that   you   have   been   regenerated,   and   having gone   away   from   God,   will   be   once   more   born   again, you   do   not   know   anything   about   the   matter;   for   “he that   is   born   of   God   sinneth   not.”   That   is,   he   does   not sin    so    much    as    to    fall    away    from    grace;    “for    he keepeth   himself,   that   the   evil   one   toucheth   him   not.”   Happy     is     the     man     who     is     really     and     actually regenerate, and passed from death unto life! III.   To   conclude.   There   is   a   great   grace .   Persons   who are   born   again   really   do   overcome   the   world.   How   is this   brought   about?   The   text   says,   “This   is   the   victory that   overcometh   the   world,   even   our   faith.”    Christians do   not   triumph   over   the   world   by   reason.   Not   at   all. Reason   is   a   very   good   thing,   and   nobody   should   find fault   with   it.   Reason   is   a   candle:   but   faith   is   a   sun.   Well, I   prefer   the   sun,   though   I   do   not   put   out   the   candle.   I use    my    reason    as    a    Christian    man;    I    exercise    it constantly:   but   when   I   come   to   real   warfare,   reason   is   a wooden    sword;    it    breaks,    it    snaps;    while    faith,    that sword   of   true   Jerusalem   metal,   cuts   to   the   dividing   of soul    and    body.    My    text    says,    “This    is    the    victory which   overcometh   the   world,   even   our   faith.”    Who are   the   men   that   do   anything   in   the   world?   Are   they not   always   men   of   faith?   Take   it   even   as   natural   faith. Who   wins   the   battle?   Why,   the   man   who   knows   he   will win   it,   and   vows   that   he   will   be   victor.   Who   never   gets on   in   the   world?   The   man   who   is   always   afraid   to   do   a thing,   for   fear   he   cannot   accomplish   it.   Who   climbs   the top   of   the   Alps?   The   man   who   says,   “I   will   do   it,   or   I will   die.”   Let   such   a   man   make   up   his   mind   that   he   can do   a   thing.   and   he   will   do   it,   if   it   is   within   the   range   of possibility.   Who   have   been   the   men   who   have   lifted the    standard,    and    grasping    it    with    firm    hand,    have upheld   it   in   the   midst   of   stormy   strife   and   battle?   Why, men   of   faith.   Who   have   done   great   things?   Not   men   of fear   and   trembling,   men   who   are   afraid;   but   men   of faith,    who    had    bold    fronts,    and    foreheads    made    of brass-men   who   never   shook,   and   never   trembled,   but believing   in   God,   lifted   their   eyes   to   the   hills,   whence cometh their strength. “Never   was   a   marvel   done   upon   the   earth,   but   it   had sprung   of   faith;   nothing   noble,   generous,   or   great,   but faith   was   the   root   of   the   achievement;   nothing   comely, nothing   famous,   but   its   praise   is   faith.   Leonidas   fought in   human   faith   as   Joshua   in   divine.   Xenophon   trusted to   his   skill,   and   the   sons   of   Matthias   to   their   cause.” Faith   is   mightiest   of   the   mighty.   It   is   the   monarch   of the   realms   of   the   mind;   there   is   no   being   superior   to   its strength,   no   creature   which   will   not   bow   to   its   divine prowess.   The   want   of   faith   makes   a   man   despicable,   it shrivels    him    up    so    small    that    he    might    live    in    a nutshell.   Give   him   faith,   and   he   is   a   leviathan   that   can dive   into   the   depths   of   the   sea;   he   is   a   war   horse,   that cries,   aha!   aha!   in   the   battle;   he   is   a   giant   who   takes nations     and     crumbles     them     in     his     hand,     who encounters   hosts,   and   at   a   sword   they   vanish;   he   binds up   sheaves   of   sceptres,   and   gathers   up   all   the   crowns at   his   own.   There   is   nothing   like   faith,   sirs.   Faith   makes you   almost   as   omnipotent   as   God,   by   the   borrowed might   of   its   divinity.   Give   us   faith   and   we   can   do   all things. I   want   to   tell   you   how   it   is   that   faith   helps   Christians to      overcome      the      world.      It      always      does      it homeopathically.   You   say,   “That   is   a   singular   idea.”   So it   may   be.   The   principle   is   that,   “Like   cures   like.”   So does   faith   overcome   the   world   by   curing   like   with   like. How   does   faith   trample   upon   the   fear   of   the   world?   By the   fear   of   God.   “Now,”   says   the   world,   “if   you   do   not do   this   I   will   take   away   your   life.   If   you   do   not   bow down   before   my   false   god,   you   shall   be   put   in   yon burning   fiery   furnace.”   “But,”   says   the   man   of   faith,   “I fear   him   who   can   destroy   both   body   and   soul   in   hell. True,   I   may   dread   you,   but   I   have   a   greater   fear   than that,   I   fear   lest   I   should   displease   God;   I   tremble   lest   I should     offend     my     Sovereign.”     So     the     one     fear counterbalances   the   other.   How   does   faith   overthrow the   world’s   hopes?   “There,”   says   the   world,   “I   will   give thee    this,    I    will    give    thee    that,    if    thou    wilt    be    my disciple.   There   is   a   hope   for   you;   you   shall   be   rich,   you shall   be   great.”   But,   faith   says,   “I   have   a   hope   laid   up in    heaven;    a    hope    which    fadeth    not    away,    eternal, incorrupt,   amaranthine   hope,   a   golden   hope,   a   crown of   life;”   and   the   hope   of   glory   overcomes   all   the   hopes of   the   world,   “Ah!”   says   the   world,   “Why   not   follow the   example   of   your   fellows?”   “Because,”   says   faith,   “I will   follow   the   example   of   Christ.”   If   the   world   puts one   example   before   us,   faith   puts   another.   “Oh,   follow the   example   of   such   an   one;   he   is   wise,   and   great,   and good,”   says   the   world.   Says   faith,   “I   will   follow   Christ; he     is     the     wisest,     the     greatest,     and     the     best.”     It overcomes    example    by    example,    “Well,”    says    the world,   “since   thou   wilt   not   be   conquered   by   all   this, come,   I   will   love   thee;   thou   shalt   be   my   friend.”   Faith says,   “He   that   is   the   friend   of   this   world,   cannot   be   the friend   of   God.   God   loves   me.”   So   he   puts   love   against love;    fear    against    fear;    hope    against    hope;    dread against   dread;   and   so   faith   overcomes   the   world   by like curing like. In   closing   my   discourse,   men   and   brethren,   I   am   but   a child;   I   have   spoken   to   you   as   I   could   this   morning. Another   time,   perhaps   I   might   be   able   to   launch   more thunders,   and   to   proclaim   better   the   word   of   God;   but this   I   am   sure   of—I   tell   you   all   I   know,   and   speak   right on.   I   am   no   orator;   but   just   tell   you   what   springs   up from   my   heart.   But   before   I   have   done,   O   that   I   may have   a   word   with   your   souls.   How   many   are   there here   who   are   born   again?   Some   turn   a   deaf   ear,   and say,   “It   is   all   nonsense;   we   go   to   our   place   of   worship regularly;   put   our   hymn   books   and   Bibles   under   our arm!   and   we   are   very   religious   sort   of   people.”   Ah, soul!   if   I   meet   you   at   the   bar   of   judgment,   recollect   I said—and   said   God’s   word— “Except   ye   be   born   again ye   shall   not   enter   the   kingdom   of   heaven.”    Others   of you   say,   “We   cannot   believe   that   being   born   again   is such   a   change   as   you   speak   of,   I   am   a   great   deal   better than   I   used   to   be;   I   do   not   swear   now,   and   I   am   very much   reformed.”   Sirs,   I   tell   you   it   is   no   little   change.   It is   not   mending   the   pitcher,   but   it   is   breaking   it   up   and having   a   new   one;   it   is   not   patching   the   heart,   it   is having   a   new   heart   and   a   right   spirit.   There   is   nothing but   death   unto   sin,   and   life   unto   righteousness,   that will save your souls. I   am   preaching   no   new   doctrine.   Turn   to   the   articles of   the   Church   of   England,   and   read   it   there.   Church people    come    to    me    sometimes    to    unite    with    our church;    I    show    them    our    doctrines    in    their    prayer book,   and   they   have   said   they   never   knew   they   were there.    My    dear    hearers,    why    cannot    you    read    your own   articles   of   faith?   Why   do   you   not   know   what   is   in your   own   prayer   book?   Men,   now-a-days,   do   not   read their    Bibles,    and    they    have    for    the    most    part    no religion.    They    have    a    religion,    which    is    all    outside show,   but   they   do   not   think   of   searching   to   see   what   its meaning   really   is.   Sirs,   it   is   not   the   cloak   of   religion that   will   do   for   you;   it   is   a   vital   godliness   you   need;   it is   not   a   religious   Sunday,   it   is   a   religious   Monday;   it   is not   a   pious   church,   it   is   a   pious   closet;   it   is   not   a   sacred place   to   kneel   in,   it   is   a   holy   place   to   stand   in   all   day long.   There   must   be   a   change   of   heart,   real,   radical, vital,   entire.   And   now,   what   say   you?   Has   your   faith overcome   the   world?   Can   you   live   above   it?   or   do   you love   the   world   and   the   things   thereof?   If   so,   sirs,   ye must   go   on   your   way   and   perish,   each   one   of   you, unless    ye    turn    from    that,    and    give    your    hearts    to Christ.   Oh!   what   say   you,   is   Jesus   worthy   of   your   love? Are   the   things   of   eternity   and   heaven   worth   the   things of   time?   Is   it   so   sweet   to   be   a   worldling,   that   for   that you   can   lie   down   in   torment?   Is   it   so   good   to   be   a sinner,   that   for   this   you   can   risk   your   soul’s   eternal welfare?   O,   my   friends,   is   it   worth   your   while   to   run the   risk   of   an   eternity   of   woe   for   a   hour   of   pleasure?   Is a   dance   worth   dancing   in   hell   with   howling   fiends   for ever?    Is    one    dream,    with    a    horrid    waking,    worth enjoying,    when    there    are    the    glories    of    heaven    for those   who   follow   God?   Oh!   if   my   lips   would   let   me speak   to   you,   my   heart   would   run   over   at   my   eyes,   and I   would   weep   myself   away,   until   ye   had   pity   on   your own     poor     souls.     I     know     I     am,     in     a     measure, accountable   for   your   souls,   If   the   watchmen   warn   them not,   they   shall   perish,   but   their   blood   shall   be   required at   the   watchman’s   hands,   “Turn   ye,   turn   ye,   why   will ye    die,    O    house    of    Israel?”     thus    saith    the    Lord. Besotted,   filled   with   your   evil   wills,   inclined   to   evil; still   the   Holy   Ghost   speaks   by   me   this   morning,   “If   ye turn   unto   the   Lord,   with   full   purpose   of   heart,   he   will have    mercy    upon    you,    and    to    our    God,    he    will abundantly   pardon.”   I   cannot   bring   you;   I   cannot   fetch you.   My   words   are   powerless,   my   thoughts   are   weak! Old Adam   is   too   strong   for   this   young   child   to   draw   or drag;   but   God   speak   to   you,   dear   hearts;   God   send   the truth   home,   and   then   we   shall   rejoice   together,   both   he that    soweth    and    he    that    reapeth,    because    God    has given   us   the   increase.   God   bless   you!   may   you   all   be born   again,   and   have   that   faith   that   overcometh   the world! “Have I that faith which looks to Christ, O’ercomes the world and sin— Receives him Prophet, Priest, and King, And makes the conscience clean? “If I this precious grace possess, All praise is due to thee; If not, I seek it from thy hands; Now grant it, Lord, to me.”    --------   This sermon can be found in the book Spurgeon’s Sermons, Vol. I (The New Park Street Pulpit).  A PDF eBook of this volume is available free of charge at: http://www.ClassicChristianLibrary.com