Few Saved: Old Paths - J. C. Ryle Sermon / Audio Book

old ways by j.c rile this librivox recording is in the public domain chapter 3 few

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few are

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luke chapter 13 verse 23 I assume that every reader of this document calls themselves a Christian would not like to be counted a deist or an infidel you profess to believe that the bible is true the birth of christ the savior the death of christ the savior the salvation provided by christ the savior all of these are facts that you have probably never doubted, but after all christianity will it be so in the end will it benefit you something will it do any good to your soul when you die in a word will you be saved it may be that now you are young, healthy and strong maybe you never had a single day of illness in your life and you hardly know what You feel weakness and pain, you plan and plan for the years to come and you feel as if death were far away and out of sight, but remember that death sometimes separates the young in the prime of their days, the strong and healthy. of the family do not always live longer. your sun may set before your life has reached noon for a while yet and you may lie in a narrow, silent house and daisies may be growing on your grave and then consider whether you will be saved, you may be rich and prosperous.

In this world you have money and everything that money can order you have honor love obedience troops of friends but remember that riches are not forever you cannot keep them more than a few years it is established that men die once and after this the judgment proverbs chapter 27 verse 24 hebrews chapter 9 verse 27 and then consider that you will be saved you may be poor and needy you barely have enough to provide food and clothing for yourself and your family you are often distressed by lack of comforts that do not You have the power to Be like Lazarus, you seem to have only bad things and not good, but still you are comforted by the thought that there will be an end to all this.

There is a world to come where poverty and misery will be unknown. However, consider a moment. saved it may be that you have a weak and sickly body you hardly know what it is to be free from pain you have been separated from health for so long that you have almost forgotten what it is like you have often said in the morning, I wish it were so late and in the afternoon God grant that outside of tomorrow there are days when great tiredness tempts you to shout with jonah it is better for me to die than to live jonah 4 3 but remember that death is not everything there is something more beyond the grave and then consider if you will be unless it were something easy to be saved.

I wouldn't write as I do in this volume, but is that so? Let us see if the common opinion of the world as to the number of the saved was correct. I wouldn't bother men with difficult searches and questions, but is that so? Let's see if God had never spoken clearly in the Bible about the number of the saved. I might as well remain silent, but is that so? Let's see if experience and facts left it that way. I doubt whether many or few would be saved. I could be silent, but is that so? Let's see.

There are four points which I propose to examine in considering the subject before us. One, let me explain what it is to be saved. Two, let me point out. the errors that are common in the world about the number of the three saved let me show you what the Bible says about the number of the four saved let me present some clear facts regarding the number of the saved a calm examination of these four points In a day of widespread carelessness about vital religion, will be considered of great importance to our souls. First of all, let me explain to you what it means to be saved.

This is an issue that needs to be clarified until we know this. We won't make any progress. Being saved I can mean one thing and you can mean another, let me show you what the Bible says being saved is and then there will be no misunderstanding being saved is not just professing and calling ourselves Christians we can have all the external parts of Christianity and still get lost after all we can be baptized in the church of christ go to christ's table have christian knowledge be considered christian men and women and still be dead souls all our lives and finally on the day of judgment be found at the left hand of Christ among the goats no, this is not salvation salvation is something much higher and deeper than this now what it means to be saved is to be freed in this present life from the guilt of sin by faith in Jesus Christ the savior is to be forgiven justified and freed from every burden of sin by faith in the blood of Christ and mediation, he who with his heart believes in the Lord Jesus Christ is a saved soul, he will not perish, he will have eternal life, this is the first part of salvation and the root of everything.

The rest, but this is not all, to be saved is to be delivered in this present life from the power of sin by being born again and sanctified by the spirit of Christ. It is to be freed from the hateful dominion of sin, the world and the devil by having a new nature set. in us by the holy spirit, whoever is thus renewed in the spirit of his mind and converted is a saved soul, he will not perish, he will enter the glorious kingdom of God, this is the second part of salvation, but this is not everyone sees that to be saved is to be delivered on the day of judgment from all the terrible consequences of sin is to be declared blameless, blameless and complete in Christ while others are declared guilty and condemned forever is to hear those comforting words come blessed while others hear those terrible words depart, cursed matthew 25 verses 34 and 41 christ must be recognized and confessed as one of his beloved children and servants while others are disowned and cast away forever he must be declared free from the portion of the wicked the worm that never dies the fire that the crying is not quenched the weeping and the gnashing of teeth that never ends is to receive the reward prepared for the righteous on the day of the second coming of Christ the glorious body the kingdom that is incorruptible the crown that does not fade away and the joy that lasts forever this is complete salvation this is the redemption that true Christians must seek and long for luke 21 28 this is the inheritance of all men and women who believe and are born again by faith they are already saved in the eyes of god their final salvation is an absolutely certain thing their names are in the

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of life their mansions in heaven even now are prepared but there is still a fullness of redemption and salvation that they do not reach while in the body they are saved from guilt and the power of sin but not from the need to watch and pray against it are saved from the fear and love of the world but not from the need to daily wrestle with it are saved from the service of the devil but are not saved from being afflicted by his temptations But when Christ comes, the salvation of believers will be complete.

They already have it in the bud. Then they will see it in the flower. Such is the salvation that will be saved from the power of guilt and the consequences of sin. It is to believe and be sanctified now and to be delivered from God's wrath on the last day He who has the first part in life that is now, will undoubtedly have the second part in life. the life to come both parts are united what God has united that no man dares to separate that no one dreams that in the end he will be saved if he is not born again first that no one doubts that if he is born again here he will surely be saved in the future, that never forget that the main objective of a minister of the gospel is to promote the salvation of souls.

I leave it as a certain fact that he is not a true minister who does not feel this conversation, not of a It is possible that all the man's orders have been done correctly and according to the rules, he can wear a black coat and be called a man reverent, but if the salvation of souls is not the great interest, the dominating passion, the absorbing thought of his heart, then he is not a true minister of the gospel. He is a priest and not a pastor. The congregations may have called him but they do not. He is called by the Holy Spirit.

The bishops may have ordained him but not Christ. For what purpose do men suppose that ministers are sent, it is simply to carry a surplus? and reading services and preaching a certain number of

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s is simply to administer the sacraments and officiating at weddings and funerals is simply to achieve a comfortable life and have a respectable profession no, in fact, we are sent for purposes other than these we are not sent to turn men from darkness to light and from the power of satan to god we are sent to persuade men to flee from the wrath to come we are sent to draw men from the service of the world to the service of god to awaken the sleeping to awaken the careless and by every means to save some 1 corinthians 9 22 do not think that everything will be done when we have established regular services and persuaded people to attend them do not think that everything will be done when the congregations are complete are gathered and the Lord's table is full and the parish school is full we want to see the manifest work of the spirit among people an evident sense of sin a living faith in Christ a determined change of heart a clear separation from the world a holy walk with god In a word, we want to see souls saved and we are fools and impostors, blind leaders of the blind, if we settle for something less, after all, the great objective of having a religion is to be saved.

This is the great question that we have to resolve with our consciences. What we must consider is not whether we go to church or chapel, whether we perform certain forms and ceremonies, whether we observe certain days and perform a certain amount of religious duties, the question is whether after all we will be saved without these, all our religious actions . They are fatigue and work in vain. Let us never let ourselves be satisfied with anything other than a saving religion. Surely, being satisfied with the religion that gives no peace in life, no hope in death, no glory in the world to come, is childish madness.

Let me enter the second place point out the errors that are common in the world about the number of the saved. I don't need to go far for evidence on this topic. I will talk about things that everyone can see with their own eyes and hear with their own ears. We will try to show that there is a widespread deception in the world on this matter and that this same deception is one of the greatest dangers to which our souls are exposed. So what do men generally think about the spiritual state of others while they are alive?

They think of the souls of their relatives, friends, neighbors and acquaintances. Let's see how that question can be answered. They know that everyone around them is going to die and be judged. They know they have souls to lose or save. What do they apparently consider to be their end? Do you believe that those around you are in danger of going to hell? There is nothing to prove. They think. That's why they eat and drink together. They laugh and talk. never talk to each other about god and the eternity of heaven and hell i ask anyone who knows the world how in the eyes of god it is not like that they will allow someone to be evil or impious never hardly whatever their way of life can breaking the Sabbath may be that he neglects the Bible may be completely lacking in evidence of true religion, it doesn't matter, his friends will often tell him that he may not make as much of a profession as some, but that he has a good heart at his core and does not is an evil man I ask anyone who knows the world as in the eyes of God it is not so and what does all this prove it proves that men boast that there is no great difficulty in reaching heaven it clearly proves that men We are of the opinion that most people will be saved, but what do men generally think about the spiritual state of others after their death?

Let's see how this question can be answered. Men admit, if they are not unfaithful, that all who die are gone. to a place of happiness or misery and to which of these two places most people seem to think they go when they leave this world. I say without fear of contradicting myself that there is an unfortunately common way of speaking well about the condition. of all who have departed from this life it apparently matters little how a man has behaved while he lived he may have shown no signs of repentance or faith in Christ he may have ignored the plan of salvation set forth in the gospel he may have shown without evidence of conversion or sanctification, he may have lived and died as a soulless creature, and yet, as soon as this man dies, people will dare to say that he is probably happier than he has ever been in his life, they will tell him so with complacency. . who hope that he has gone to a better world, will shake their heads gravely and say that they hope he is in heaven, will follow him to the grave without fear or trembling, and will speak of his death afterwards as one blessed change for him that they can have.

They didn't like him and considered him a bad man while he was alive, but the moment he dies they change their minds and say they trust he has gone to heaven. I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings. I'm just asking anyone who knows what the world is like. It is not true and what does all this prove? It merely furnishes more terrible proof that men are determined to believe that it is an easy business to get to heaven. Men will want most people to be saved. See, but again, what do you think?generally men of ministers? who fully preach the doctrines of the new testament let's see how this question can be answered send a clergyman to a parish who declares the whole council of god and retains nothing that is profitable who is someone who clearly proclaims justification by faith regeneration by spirit and holiness of life be one who clearly draws the line between the converted and the unconverted and gives his portion to both sinners and saints who frequently produces from the new testament a clear and incontestable description of the true character The Christian must show that no man who does not possess that character can have any reasonable hope of being saved, must constantly press that description on the conscience of his hearers and let us repeatedly urge them that every soul who dies without that character will be lost, that he do so skillfully and affectionately and, after all, what will be the result, the result will be that, as long as a few repent and are saved, the vast majority of hysterics will not receive. and believe in his doctrine, they may not oppose him publicly, they may even esteem and respect him as a sincere, sincere, good-hearted man, who has good intentions, but they will go no further, he can show them the words expresses of Christ and his apostles, you can quote. text after text and passage after passage will be in vain, the vast majority of his listeners will consider him too strict, too close and too particular, they will say among themselves that the world is not as bad as the minister seems to think and that people cannot be as bad. good as the minister wants them to be and after all they hope to be fine in the end.

I appeal to any minister of the gospel who has been in the ministry for some time, whether he is not affirming The truth is not that these things are so and what it proves is simply further proof that men are generally determined to to think that salvation is not a very difficult matter and that most people will be saved after all. What solid reason can men show us? For these common views, upon what scripture do they build this notion that salvation is an easy business and that most people will be saved? What revelation from God can they show us to satisfy us that these opinions are sound and true?

They have none, literally none at all. They do not have a text of Scripture that a fair interpretation supports their views They do not have a reason that can stand up to scrutiny They speak softly about the spiritual state of others just because they do not like to allow danger to arise They edify each other in an easy relationship a self-satisfied state of mind, to calm their consciences and make things pleasant, they shout peace, peace, over the graves of others, because they want it to be that way and they pretend to persuade themselves that this is how it is, surely, against of opinions as hollow and unfounded as those of a minister. of the gospel they may well protest that the simple truth is that the opinion of the world is worthless in questions of religion about the price of an ox or a horse or a farm or the value of labor over wages and labor over money cotton coal iron and corn about arts and sciences and manufactures about railroads and commerce and politics about all those things the men of the world can give a correct opinion but we must be aware if we love life of being guided by the judgment of man in things that concern us. natural salvation.

Man does not receive the things of the spirit of God because for him they are madness first Corinthians chapter 2 verse 14. Let us remember above all that it will never help to think like others if we want to get to heaven without a doubt it is easy to work to go with the crowd in religious matters It will save us a lot of trouble swimming with the current and the tide we will save ourselves a lot of ridicule we will be freed from many annoyances but let us remember once and for all that the world's errors about salvation are many and dangerous unless we are on guard against them we will never be saved three let me show you thirdly what the Bible says about the number of the saved there is only one standard of truth and error to which we must appeal that standard Is it Holy Scripture?

Whatever is written, we must receive and believe. Anything that cannot be proven by Scripture, we must reject. Can any reader of this document subscribe to this if he can't? There's little chance my words will move him if he does. I can let you pay attention to me for a few moments and I will tell you some solemn things. Let us then look for one thing in a single text of Scripture and examine it well, we will find it in Matthew chapter 7 verses 13 and 14. Enter. Enter through the straight gate because wide is the gate and broad is the path that leads to destruction and there are many who enter there because narrow is the gate and narrow is the path that leads to life and there are few who find it. now these are the words of our lord jesus christ they are the words of him who was very god and whose words will never pass away they are the words of him who knew what was in man who knew things to come and things past he knew that he should judge all men on the last day and what do those words mean?

They are words that no man can understand without a knowledge of Hebrew or Greek. No, they are not. They are a dark unfulfilled prophecy like the visions in the Apocalypse or the description of Ezekiel. no temple, they are not, they are a deep and mysterious saying that no human intellect can understand. no, they are not. The words are clear, simple and unmistakable. Ask any worker who can read and they will tell you, so there is only one meaning that can be attributed to it. For them its meaning is that many people will be lost and few will be saved.

Let's look next in all of human history as it relates to religion as we have it in the Bible. Let's review the entire four thousand years. About what the history of the Bible reaches, let us find if we can a single period of time in which the pious were many and the wicked few. What was it like in the days of Noah, the land that we are expressly told was full of violence in the imagination? from the heart of man was only evil continually genesis 6 verses 5 and 12. all flesh had corrupted its way the loss of paradise was forgotten the warnings of god through the mouth of noah were despised and finally when the flood came upon the world and drowned everything living being, only eight people had enough faith to flee for refuge in the ark and there were many saved in those days.

Let any honest Bible reader give an answer to that question. There can be no doubt what the answer must be. As was? In the days of Abraham and Isaac and Lot it is evident that in matters of religion they were very alone the family from which they were taken was a family of idolaters the nations among which they lived were sunk in darkness and sin when Sodom and Gomorrah was burned there were not five righteous in the four cities of the plain when abraham and isaac desired to find wives for their sons there was not a woman in the land where they sergeant whom they desired to see them married and if there were many saved in those days, that any honest Bible reader give an answer to that question, there can be no doubt what the answer must be.

What was it like with Israel in the days of the judges? No one can read the

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of judges and not be struck by the sad examples of man's corruption that it offers over and over again. We are told that the people abandoned God and followed idols, despite the clearest warnings, they gained an affinity with the Canaanites and learned their works again and again. of being oppressed by foreign kings because of their sins and then miraculously delivered again and again we read of the deliverance being forgotten and of the people returning to their former sins like the sow being washed to wallow in the mire and there were many saved in those days, for any honest Bible reader to give an answer to that question, there can be no doubt what the answer must be.

What was it like with Israel in the days of the kings from Saul, the first king, to Zedekiah, the last king? History is a melancholic tale of setbacks, decline and idolatry with some brilliant and exceptional periods. Even under the best of kings there seems to have been a great deal of unbelief and impiety which only remained hidden for a season and emerged at the first favorable opportunity. and once again we find that under the most zealous kings the high places were not taken away notice how even david speaks of the state of things around him lord help for the godly man cease for the faithful fail from among the sons of men psalm 12 1 Notice how Isaiah describes the condition of Judah and Jerusalem: the whole head is sick and the whole heart is faint, from the soul of the foot to the crown of the head, there is no health in it, unless the Lord of hosts had left us a small remnant we should have been like sodom and we should have been like gomorrah isaiah chapter 1 verses 5 to 9. notice how jeremiah describes his time run to and fro through the streets of jerusalem and see now and know and search in the wide places of the same if you can find a man if there is one who executes judgment who seeks the truth and I will forgive him Jeremiah 5 1 notice how Ezekiel speaks of the men of his times the word of the Lord came to me saying son of man the the house of Israel has turned to me into dross all that is bronze and iron and tin and lead in the midst of the furnace are even dross of silver ezekiel 22 verses 17 and 18. notice what he says in chapters 16 and 23 of his prophecy about the kingdoms of judah and israel and if there were many saved in those days, let any honest reader of the bible give an answer to that question, there can be no doubt what the answer must be.

How did the Jews fare when our Lord Jesus Christ? He was on earth the words of Saint John are the best account of his spiritual state he came to his own and his own received him no John chapter 1 verse 11 he lived like no one born of a woman had lived before a holy, blameless and harmless life he walked doing good works 10 38 he preached as no one ever preached before even the officers of his enemies confessed no man ever spoke like this man john chapter 7 verse 46 he performed miracles to confirm his ministry that at first glance we might have imagined they would be I have convinced the most hardened, but despite all this, the vast majority of Jews refused to believe him.

Follow our lord on all his travels through Palestine and you will always find the same story. Follow him to the city and follow him to the desert. Follow him to Capernaum and Nazareth and follow him to Jerusalem follow him among the scribes and Pharisees and follow him among Sadducees and Herodians everywhere you will reach the same result they were amazed they were silenced they were amazed they wandered but very few became disciples the immense proportion of the The nation did not want to have nothing of his doctrine and crowned all his wickedness by putting him to death and if there were many saved in those days, let any honest reader of the Bible give an answer to that question, there can be no doubt what the answer must be, what was it like? with the world in the days of the apostles, if ever there was a period in which true religion flourished, it was then, never did the holy spirit call so many souls to the fold of Christ in the same space of time, never were there so many conversions under the preaching of the gospel as when paul and his fellow workers were the preachers but still it is clear from the acts of the apostles that true Christianity was spoken everywhere contrary to the facts 28 22 it is evident that in every city, even in Jerusalem itself, the true Christians were a small minority we read about dangers of all kinds that the apostles had to go through not only external dangers but internal dangers not only dangers from the pagans but dangers from false brothers we barely read about a single city visited by Paul where he was not in danger of violence and open persecution we see clearly in some of his epistles that the professing churches were mixed bodies in which there were many rotten members, we find him telling the Philippians a painful part of his experience, many walk of whom I tell you even crying that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ whose end is destruction whose god is their belly and whose glory is their shame those who care about earthly things Philippians chapter 3 verses 18 and 19 and if there were many saved In those days, any honest Bible reader gives an answer to this question there can be no doubt what that answer must be.

I ask any honest and unprejudiced reader of the volume to carefully weigh the lessons of the Bible that I have just presented, surely they are important and solemn and deserve serious attention that no one think of evading their force by saying that the Bible only tells the story of the Jews do not think of consoling yourself by saying that perhaps the Jews were more evil than other nations and that many people were probably saved among other nations although few were saved among the Jews you forget that this argument is against you you forget that the Jews had light and privileges which the Gentiles did not have and with all their sins and faults they wereprobably the holiest and most moral nation on earth as to the moral state of people among the Assyrians, the Egyptians, the Greeks and the Romans, it is terrifying to think what must have been, but of this we can be sure that if many were wicked among the Jews, the number was much greater among the Gentiles if few were saved in the green tree oh how many fewer must have been saved in the dry the sum of the whole matter is this the bible and the men of the world speak very differently about the number of the saved according to the bible few will be saved according to the men of the world many according to the men of the world few go to hell according to the bible few go to heaven according to the men of the world salvation is an easy business according to the bible the road is narrow and the straight gate According to the men of the world, few will find themselves finally seeking admission to heaven when it is too late.

According to the Bible, many will be in that sad condition and will cry in vain. Lord, Lord, open to us, but the Bible was never wrong. The unlikely and improbable prophecies about Tyre, Egypt, Babylon and Nineveh have been fulfilled to the letter and, as in other matters, it will also be about the number of the saved, the Bible will turn out to be quite correct and the men of the world quite wrong. . Finally, some clear data on the number of those saved. I ask special attention to this part of the topic. I know well that people boast that the world is much better and wiser than it was eighteen hundred years ago.

We have churches and schools. and books we have civilization and freedom and good laws we have a much higher standard of morality in society than ever prevailed we have the power to obtain comforts and enjoyments that our ancestors knew nothing of steam, gas, electricity and chemistry, they have done wonders for us, all this is perfectly true, I see it and I appreciate it, but all this does not diminish the importance of the question, are there few or many? of us are likely to be saved I am completely satisfied that the importance of this question is painfully overlooked I am convinced that the opinions of most people about the amount of unbelief and sin in the world are completely inadequate and incorrect I am convinced that that very few people Whether ministers or private Christians realize how few there are who can be saved, I want to draw attention to the subject and will therefore present some clear data on the matter, but where to Should I go to obtain this data? to the millions of pagans who in various parts of the world are worshiping they don't know what but I won't do it.

I could easily turn to the millions of Mohammedans who honor the Koran more than the Bible and the false prophet of Mecca more than Christ but I won't. I could easily turn to the millions of Roman Catholics who are invalidating the word of God with their traditions but I won't do it. I will look near a house. I will draw my facts from the land in which I live and then I will ask every honest reader if it is not strictly true that few are saved. I invite any intelligent reader of these pages to imagine yourself in any Protestant parish in England or Scotland on this day, choose which one pleases you: a city parish or a country parish a large or small parish let us take our new testament in our hands let us create Christianity of the inhabitants of this parish family by family and man by man let us leave aside anyone who does not possess the new testamentary evidence of being a true Christian, let us deal honestly and fairly in the investigation and let us not allow anyone to be a true Christian who does not reach the standard of faith and practice of the new testament.

Let us consider each man as a saved soul in whom we see something. of Christ some evidence of true repentance some evidence of saving faith in Jesus some evidence of true evangelical holiness let us reject every man in whom in the most charitable construction we cannot see these evidences as someone weighed in the scales and found wanting let us apply this selection process to any parish on this earth and see what the result would be. Let us first leave aside those people in a parish who live in any kind of overt sin, I mean fornicators, adulterers, liars and thieves. and drunkards and cheaters and slanderers and extortioners about these I think there can be no difference of opinion the bible clearly says that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of god galatians 5 21 now these people will be saved the answer is clear to my own mind in its present condition those people who break the Sabbath will not be allowed to leave out in the next place.

I mean by this expression those who rarely or never go to a place of worship although they have the power, those that they don't. They give the Sabbath to God but to themselves Those who think of nothing but making their own ways and finding their own pleasure Sundays clearly show that they are not fit for heaven The inhabitants of heaven would be company who would not like the jobs from heaven would be a fatigue for them and not a joy. Now will these people be saved? The answer is clear to my mind in its current condition you will not see.

Let us leave aside in the next place all those people who are careless and thoughtless Christians. By this expression I mean those who attend to many of the external ordinances of the religion but show no signs of having any real interest in its doctrines and substance. They care little whether the minister preaches the gospel or not. They care little whether they hear a good

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or not. they would care little if all the bibles in the world were burned they would care little if an act of parliament was passed prohibiting anyone from praying in short religion is not the only thing they need their treasure is on earth they are like gallium to whom It mattered little if the people were Jews or Christians he cared about none of these things facts 18 17 now these people will be saved the answer is clear to my mind in their current condition they will not let us separate in the next place all those who are formalists and Self-writers I mean by this expression those who value themselves by their own regularity in the use of the forms of Christianity and depend directly or indirectly on their own actions for their acceptance before God, I mean all those who rest. their souls in any work other than the work of Christ or any righteousness other than the righteousness of Christ of which the apostle Paul has expressly testified by the works of the law no living flesh will be justified no other foundation can lay than that which It is since it is Jesus Christ Romans 3 20 First Corinthians 3 11. and there we say in the face of texts like these that they will be saved, the answer is clear to my mind in their current condition they will not let us leave aside in the next Place all those who They know the gospel with their heads but do not obey it with their hearts.

These are those unhappy people who have eyes to see the path of life but have no will or courage to walk on it. They approve of sound doctrine. Do not listen. to a preaching that does not contain it but is perpetually held back by the fear of man or the cares of the world or the love of money or the fear of offensive relationships, they will not go out boldly and take up the cross and confess Christ before the men of The Bible also expressly speaks of these: faith, if it does not have works, is dead, being only for those who know how to do good and do not do it.

It is a sin if anyone is ashamed of me and my words; the son of man will be ashamed when he comes. in his own glory and in that of his father and of the holy angels james 2 17 417 luke 9 26 we will say that such as these will be saved the answer is clear to my mind in their present condition they will do it let us not leave out in the last place To all those who are hypocritical teachers I mean by that expression all those whose religion consists of words and high profession and in nothing more these are those of whom the prophet Ezekiel speaks saying with their mouth they show a lot of love but their heart goes after their greed they profess who know God but deny him in works have the appearance of godliness but do not have the power of it ezekiel 33 31 titus 116 second timothy 3 5 are saints in the church and saints to speak with in public but are not saints in private or in their own homes and the worst of all is that they are not saints at heart there can be no dispute about such people can we say that they will be saved? there can only be one answer in their present condition they will not and now, after leaving aside these classes which I have described, I ask any sensible reader to tell me how many people in any parish in England will be left behind, how many after examining a parish thoroughly and honestly, how many will remain, many men and women who are on the way to being saved, how many true penises, how many true believers in Christ, how many truly holy people will be found, I place it on the conscience of each reader of this volume to give an honest answer as before the eyes of God, I ask you if after examining a parish with the Bible in the way described, you can come to any conclusion, but it is that few people, unfortunately, few people are in a position to be saved, it is a painful conclusion to reach. but I do not know how it can be helped, it is terrible and tremendous to think that there are so many churchmen in England and so many dissenters, so many occupants of seats and so many tenants of pews, so many hearers and so many communicants, and yet after all so few in a way to be saved but the only question is if it is not true it is in vain to close our eyes to the facts it is useless to pretend not to see what is happening around us the statements of the bible and the facts of the world in which we live will lead us to the same conclusion, many are being lost and few are saved and I know well that many do not believe what I say because they think that there is an immense amount of repentance on the deathbed, they flatter themselves that multitudes who do do so do not live lives. religious, they will still die religious deaths, they console themselves with the thought that a large number of people turn to God in their last illness and are saved at the last moment.

I will just remind those people that the entire experience of the ministers is completely against the theory that people generally die as they have lived. True repentance is never too late, but repentance deferred until the last hours of life is rarely true. A man's life is the surest evidence of his spiritual state, and if there are lives to witness, it is likely that few will. be saved, I know well that many do not believe what I am saying because they believe that it contradicts the mercy of God they focus on the love for sinners that the gospel reveals they point out the offers of forgiveness that abound in the Bible ask us if we hold in the face of all this that only a few people will be saved.

I answer that I will go as far as anyone to exalt the mercy of God in Christ, but I cannot close my eyes to the fact that this mercy benefits no one for long. Since it is voluntarily rejected, I see nothing lacking on the part of God for the salvation of man. I see a place in heaven for the chief of sinners. I see a willingness in Christ to receive the most wicked. I see power in the holy spirit to renew the most wicked. ungodly but I see on the other hand, a desperate unbelief in the man, he will not believe what God tells him in the Bible, I see a desperate pride in the man, he will not incline his heart to receive the gospel like a little child, I see a desperate detective in man, he will not accept trouble to rise and call upon god I see a desperate worldliness in man he will not lose his dominion over the poor perishable things of time and will consider eternity in short I see the words of our lord continually verified You will not come to me to have life John chapter 5 verse 40. and therefore I am led to the sad conclusion that few are likely to be saved look, I know well that many will not believe what I am saying because they refuse to observe evil that there is in the world in which they live.

In the midst of a small circle of good people they know little of what happens in the world outside that circle they tell us that the world is a world that is rapidly improving and moving towards perfection they count on their fingers the number of good ministers whom have heard and seen in the last year draw our attention to the number of religious societies and religious meetings about the money that is subscribed to Bibles and pamphlets that are constantly distributed ask us if we really dare to say Faced with all this that few are on the way to being saved, in response I will only remind these kind people that there are other people in the world besides their small circle and other men and women besides the chosen few whom they know in their own congregation I beg you to open your eyes and see things as they really are I assure you that there are things happening in this country of ours that you are currently blissfully unaware of I ask you to examine any parish or congregation in England with the Bible before you condemn me hastily I tell you that if you do this honestly you will soon discover that I am not far wrong when I say that few are likely to be saved.

I know well that many will not believe me because they think that way. adoctrine is very narrow-minded and exclusive. I totally deny the accusation. I deny any sympathy towards those Christians who condemn all who are outside their own communion and seem to close the door of heaven to all who do not see everything with their eyes, whether they are Roman Catholics or Episcopalians or free ecclesiastics or Baptists or brothers of Plymouth anyone who does anything of this kind I consider him an exclusive man I have no desire to close the kingdom of heaven to anyone all I say is that no one will enter that kingdom except converted believers and holy souls. and all I dare assert is that both the Bible and the facts combine to show that such people are few and I know well that many will not believe what I am saying because they think it is a gloomy and uncharitable doctrine that is easy to make vague.

General statements of this kind are not so easy to show that any doctrine worthy of being called gloomy and uncharitable is biblical and true. I fear there is a spurious charity which displeases all strong statements in religion. A charity in which no one interferes. with a charity that would make everyone leave their sins alone a charity that without evidence takes for granted that everyone is on the way to being saved a charity that never doubts that all people go to heaven and seems to deny the existence of such a place as hell but such charity is not the charity of the new testament and does not deserve the name give me the charity that proves everything by the proof of the bible and believes nothing and expects nothing that is not sanctioned by the word give me the charity that saint paul describes to the corinthians first corinthians 13 1 etc charity that is neither blind nor deaf nor stupid but has eyes to see and senses to discern between the one who fears god and the one who does not fear him such charity will not rejoice in anything but in the truth and I will sadly confess that I say nothing but the truth when I say that few are capable of being saved;

I know well that many will not believe me because they consider it presumptuous to have any opinion about the number of the saved, but will these people dare to tell us that the Bible has not spoken clearly about the character of saved souls and will they dare to say that there is some standard of truth except the Bible? Surely there can be no presumption in stating what is pleasing to us. the bible I tell you clearly that the charge of presumption does not fall at my door I say that it is the truly presumptuous man who when the bible has said something clearly and unequivocally refuses to receive it geez, finally I know that many will not believe me because they consider that my statement It is extravagant and unjustifiable.

They consider it a display of fanaticism unworthy of the attention of a rational man. They consider ministers who make such statements to be weak-minded and lacking in common sense. I can stand such statements. impassive imputations I only ask those who make them to show me some clear proof that they are right and I am wrong, to show me if they can that anyone who is not a believer in Jesus has a chance of reaching heaven. Christ, who is not a holy and spiritually minded man, show me if you can that the people of this description are many compared to those who are not, in a word point out any place on earth where the vast majority of people may not be The wicked and the truly pious are not a small flock, let them do this and I grant them that they have done well in not believing what I have said until they do this.

I must maintain the sad conclusion that few people are likely to be saved and now only some practical application of the subject of this article remains to be made. I have set forth as clearly as possible the character of saved people. I have shown the painful deceptions of the world regarding the number of the saved. I have presented the evidence from the Bible on the subject. I have drawn from the world around us clear facts that confirm the statements I have made. May the Lord grant that all these solemn truths have not been expounded in vain.

I am well aware that I have said many things. in this document which is likely to offend, I know it must be, so the point it makes is too serious and profound to be more than offensive to some, but I have long had a deep conviction that the subject has been painfully neglected and that few Things are as little known as the comparative figures of the lost and the saved. Everything I have written I have written because I firmly believe that it is the truth of God. Everything I have said I have said not as an enemy but as a lover of souls.

You call him an enemy who gives you a little medicine to save your life, you don't call him an enemy who abruptly shakes you from your sleep when your house is on fire. Surely you won't call me an enemy because I tell you strong truths for the benefit of his soul. I make a I appeal as a friend to every man or woman into whose hands this volume has come, bear with me for a few moments while I say a few last words to impress the whole subject on your conscience. few saved then you will be one of the few, oh, who would see that salvation is the only thing that is needed.

Health, wealth and titles are not necessary things. A man may gain heaven without them, but what will the man do who does not die saved? would you see that you must have salvation now in this present life and hold on to it for your own soul oh, if you could see that to be saved or not to be saved is the great question in religion, high church or low church, clergyman or dissenter, all this it's insignificant. questions in comparison what a man needs to get to heaven is a real personal interest in the salvation of christ surely if you are not saved it will be better in the end to have never been born b are there few saved then if you are not one of the few already they strive to be one without delay i don't know who or what you are but i say boldly come to christ and you will be saved the door that leads to life may be straight but it was wide enough to admit manasseh and saul of tarsus and why not you, the path that leads to life may be narrow but it is marked by the steps of thousands of sinners like you everyone has found a good path everyone has persevered and has arrived home safely finally Jesus Christ invites you to fulfill the promises of the gospel I encourage you oh strive to enter without delay see if there are few saved then if you have doubts about whether you are one of the few be sure to work immediately and doubt no more leave no stone unturned in determining your own spiritual state do not settle With vague hopes and confidences, do not rest in warm feelings and temporary desires after God gives you diligence so that your calling and your choices are sure. oh, give me permission to tell you that if you are happy to live with uncertainty about salvation, you live the craziest life in the world. world the fires of hell are before you and you are not sure if your soul is safe this world below must soon be abandoned and you are not sure if you will have a mansion ready to receive you and the world above will soon be established and you are not sure if you have a lawyer to defend your case.

Eternity will soon begin and you are not sure if you are ready to meet God. Oh, sit down this day and study the subject of salvation. Do not give God rest until the uncertainty is gone and you have held on. of a reasonable hope that you will be saved d there are few who are saved so if you are one, be grateful, chosen and called of God while thousands around you are sunk in disbelief as they see the kingdom of God while multitudes around you are completely blind and freed from this. presents an evil world as the multitudes are overcome by their love and fear, taught not to sin and God and Christ, while numbers seemingly as good as you live in ignorance and darkness.

Oh, you have every reason every day to bless and praise God, where does this sense come from? of the sin that you now experience, where this love of Christ came from, this desire for holiness, this hunger for righteousness, this delight in the word, free grace has not done so, while many companions of your youth still know nothing at all. respect or have been cut off in their sins, you should indeed bless God, surely Whitfield might well say that a hymn among the saints in heaven will be why my lord, why did you choose me. There are few who are saved, so if you are one, don't be surprised that you often find yourself.

Being alone I dare to believe that sometimes you are almost paralyzed by the corruption and evil that you see and the world around you you see false doctrines abounding you see unbelief and ungodliness of all kinds sometimes you are tempted to say can I really be? in my religion it really could be that all these people are wrong be careful not to give way to thoughts like these remember that you are only having practical proof of the truth of your teacher's sayings do not think that his purposes are being defeated do not think that his work is not advancing in the world, he is still bringing out a people to his praise, he is still raising up witnesses to himself here and there throughout the world, the saved will still be a multitude that no man can number when they are all gathered together at the last revelation 7 9 the earth will still be full of the knowledge of the lord all nations will serve him all kings will still delight in honoring him but the night has not yet passed the day of the lord's power is Meanwhile, everything is happening as he predicted a thousand ago eight hundred years, many are being lost and few are saved.

If there are few saved people, then if you are one of them, do not be afraid of having too much religion. Establish in your mind that you will aspire to the highest degree of holiness and spiritual mentality and consecration to god that you will not be content with any low degree of sanctification you will resolve that by the grace of god you will make Christianity beautiful in the eyes of the world remember that the children of the world have few standards of true religion before them, exert every effort within you to make those few standards recommend the service of your teacher.

Oh, may every true Christian remember that he stands as a beacon in the midst of darkness! world and would work to live in such a way that every part of it can reflect light and no side becomes dark. There are few saved, so if you are one, take advantage of every opportunity to try to do good to souls. Establish in your mind that the vast majority. of people around you are in terrible danger of being lost forever work on every engine to bring the gospel to them help every Christian machine to pull brands out of the fire give generously to every society that aims to spread the eternal gospel throw away all your influence wholeheartedly and without reservation in the cause of doing good to souls live as one who firmly believes that time is short and eternity is near the devil is strong and sin abounds the darkness is very great and the light is very small the wicked many and the pious very few the things of the world mere transitory shadows and heaven and hell the great substantial realities alas indeed for the lives that many believers live! how cold and frozen many are, how slow to do decided things in religion and how afraid of going too far, how backward to try something new, how ready to discourage a good move, how ingenious in discovering reasons why it is better to stay still, how reluctant to allow the time for active effort to have arrived, how wise in finding fault, how lazy in devising plans to truly meet growing evils.

Sometimes a man could imagine, when he observes the customs of many who consider themselves believers, that everyone was going to heaven and that hell was nothing more than a lie. Let's be careful with this state of mind, whether we like to believe it or not. It's filling fast Christ daily extends his hand to a disobedient people many many are on the road to destruction few few are on the road to life many many will probably be lost few few will probably be saved once again, I ask each reader As I asked at the beginning of this article, will you be saved if you are not already?

My heart's desire and prayer to God is that you may seek salvation without delay if you are saved. My wish is that you can live as a saved soul and as one who knows that saved souls are few.