In 1859 Charles Spurgeon noted in a sermon, “I have been struck lately, in reading works by some writers who belong to the Romish Church, with the marvelous love which they have towards the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Spurgeon concluded: “Such writers are few and far between but, still, there is a remnant according to the election of Grace even in the midst of that apostate church!”
What amazes me about Spurgeon’s statement is that is commonplace. During the Reformation and after it, the association of the Roman church and Protestants was tenuous but also porous. There was a hope that Roman Christians would reform. And Protestants as a whole read the works of their Roman cousins—they even spoke to each other!
Granted, the Religious wars put an end to most of this. But that does not mean there is no Roman Church member who has fellowship with Jesus.
As Spurgeon said:
“Yes, despite their errors, these men must have been taught of the Holy Spirit. Notwithstanding all the evils of which they have drunk so deeply, I am quite certain that they must have had fellowship with Jesus, or else they could not have written as they did.”
Here is a link to the full sermon, “Christian Resignation,” published on February 24, 1901.
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