Around the wicket gate - Spurgeon - I - Preface, Chapter 1 & 2

Today we start a 'Around the wicket gate' by Spurgeon.  This is a filler to tide us over to the new year when we begin the new reading program of a different book each day of the week.  I thought it would be good to do 'Around the wicket gate' right after 'All of grace' to see differences between the two books, since both are aimed at unbelievers.

Required reading
Around the wicket gate by C. H. Spurgeon (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Read the Preface and Chapters 1 and 2.

My summary
In the preface Spurgeon tells us that this book is for the small number of people who have begun to approach the kingdom but have not entered.

In Chapter One Spurgeon tells us how foolish it is to think that having an awakening about our need for salvation is salvation itself. 

In Chapter Two Spurgeon tells us that it is through Jesus alone that salvation may be found.

What grabbed me
Chapter One was jammed with illustrations showing the stupidity of the one who is awakened to danger but never acts.  This was one of my favourites: 'If I start in a fright and find my house on fire, I do not sit down at the edge of the bed, and say to myself, "I hope I am truly awake!  Indeed, I am deeply grateful that I was not left to sleep on!"  No, I want to escape from threatened death, and so I hasten to the door or to the window, so that I may get out and may not perish where I am.  It would be a questionable blessing to be aroused and yet not to escape from the danger.'

How many have had a gracious wake up call from God to the danger of hell and yet sit on the bed for the rest of their lives?  Far too many.

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