Soul winner - Spurgeon - XIV - Chapter 15

Required reading
Soul winner by C.H. Spurgeon (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Read Chapter 15 (Encouragement to soul-winners).

My summary
In our last chapter Spurgeon expounds James 5:19-20 'Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.'

Firstly we observe that James is talking about a special case: a backslider from the visible church of God.

Secondly we notice the general fact of the text that 'he who converteth a sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death.'

Thirdly Spurgeon makes a particular application of the text to the conversion of children: 'The conversion of a child involves the same work of divine grace, and results in the same blessed consequences as the conversion of the adult. There is the saving of the soul from death in the child's case, and the hiding of a multitude of sins, but there is this additional matter for joy, that a great preventive work is done when the young are converted.'

What grabbed me
The last two paragraphs contain an exhortation for every Christian to be a soul winner and so make a very fitting conclusion to the book.  They are long but I think worth including here:

'You shall receive a great reward if, when you enter heaven, as I trust you will, you shall find many dear children there to welcome you into eternal habitations; it will add another heaven to your own heaven, to meet with heavenly beings who shall salute you as their teacher who brought them to Jesus. I would not wish to go to heaven alone;—would you? I would not wish to have a crown in heaven without a star in it, because no soul was ever saved by my means;—would you? There they go, the sacred flock of blood-bought sheep, the great Shepherd leads them; many of them are followed by twins, and others have, each one, their lamb; would you like to be a barren sheep of the great Shepherd's flock? The scene changes. Hearken to the trampings of a great host. I hear their war music, my ears are filled with their songs of victory. The warriors are coming home, and each one is bringing his trophy on his shoulder, to the honour of the great Captain. They stream through the gate of pearl, they march in triumph to the celestial Capitol, along the golden streets, and each soldier bears with him his own portion of the spoil. Will you be there? And being there, will you march without a trophy, and add nothing to the pomp of the triumph? Will you bear nothing that you have won in battle, nothing which you have ever taken for Jesus with your sword and with your bow? Again, another scene is before me. I hear them shout the "harvest home", and I see the reapers bearing every one his sheaf. Some of them are bowed down with the heaps of sheaves which load their happy shoulders: they went forth weeping, but they have come again rejoicing, bringing their sheaves with them. Yonder comes one who bears but a little handful, but it is rich grain; he had only a tiny plot, and a little seed corn entrusted to him, yet it has multiplied well according to the rule of proportion.

Will you be there without so much as a solitary ear? Never having ploughed nor sown, and therefore never having reaped? If so, every shout of every reaper might well strike a fresh pang into your heart as you remember that you did not sow, and therefore could not reap. If you do not love my Master, do not profess to do so. If He never bought you with His blood, do not lie unto Him, and come unto His table, and say that you are His servant; but if His dear wounds bought you, give yourself to Him; and if you love Him, feed His sheep and feed His lambs. He stands here unseen by my sight, but recognised by my faith, He exhibits to you the marks of the wounds upon His hands and His feet, and He says to you, "Peace be unto you! As My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you. Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature; and this know, that he who converteth a sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." Good Master, help us to serve Thee! Amen.'

How terrible to enter into heaven and not bring a single ear from the harvest because you have never sowed and therefore never reaped.

One Sentence Final Verdict
Spurgeon's Soul Winner is recommended reading for those who wish to know how to win souls and to be stirred up to win them.

Next week's reading
We begin Art of Manfishing by Thomas Boston (Available from Amazon or free internet, here for example).  Begin by reading the Introduction and Part 1 (The promise and the duty).

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.