Believe and Be Saved: Or, Around the Wicket Gate

by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

I was encouraged by their kind thanks but felt anxious that a more effective work could be accomplished in them; therefore, I asked them, “Have you completely believed in the Lord Jesus Christ? Are you saved?” One of them replied, “I have been trying hard to believe.” I have often heard this statement, but I will never let it go unchallenged. “No,” I said, “that will not do. Did you ever tell your father that you tried to believe him?” After I had dwelt a while upon the matter, they admitted that such language would have been an insult to their father. I then set the gospel very plainly before them in as simple language as I could, and I begged them to believe Jesus, who is more worthy of faith than the best of fathers. One of them replied, “I cannot comprehend it; I cannot grasp that I am saved.” Then I went on to say, “God bears testimony to his Son, that whosoever trusts in his Son is saved. Will you make him a liar now, or will you believe his Word?” While I spoke, one of them flinched as if astonished, and she startled us as she cried, “Oh sir, I see it all; I am saved! Oh, do bless Jesus for me; he has shown me the way, and he has saved me! I see it all.” The esteemed sister who had brought these young friends to me knelt down with them while, with all our hearts, we blessed and magnified the Lord for a soul brought into light. One of the two sisters, however, could not see the gospel as the other had done, though I feel sure she will do so before long. Doesn’t it se...