Transcriber's Notes:
Blank pages have been eliminated.
Variations in spelling and hyphenation have been left as in theoriginal.
A few typographical errors have been corrected.
The cover page was created by the transcriber and can be considered public domain.
AROUND THE WICKET GATE;
OR,
A FRIENDLY TALK WITH SEEKERSCONCERNING FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
BY
C. H. SPURGEON.
"Enter ye in at the strait gate."—Matt. vii. 13.
AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY,
10 EAST 23D STREET, NEW YORK.
This book is published by special arrangementwith the author and his publisher.
COPYRIGHT, 1890,
BY A. C. ARMSTRONG & SONS.
TRANSFERRED TO THE
AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY.
PREFACE.
Millions of men are in the outlying regions, faroff from God and peace; for these we pray, andto these we give warning. But just now we have to dowith a smaller company, who are not far from thekingdom, but have come right up to the wicket gatewhich stands at the head of the way of life. One wouldthink that they would hasten to enter, for a free andopen invitation is placed over the entrance, the porterwaits to welcome them, and there is but this one wayto eternal life. He that is most loaded seems the mostlikely to pass in and begin the heavenward journey;but what ails the other men?
This is what I want to find out. Poor fellows! theyhave come a long way already to get where they are;and the King's highway, which they seek, is rightbefore them: why do they not take to the PilgrimRoad at once? Alas! they have a great many reasons;and foolish as those reasons are, it needs a very wiseman to answer them all. I cannot pretend to do so.Only the Lord himself can remove the folly which isbound up in their hearts, and lead them to take thegreat decisive step. Yet the Lord works by means;and I have prepared this little book in the earnest[4]hope that he may work by it to the blessed end ofleading seekers to an immediate, simple trust in theLord Jesus.
He who does not take the step of faith, and so enterupon the road to heaven, will perish. It will be anawful thing to die just outside the gate of life. Almostsaved, but altogether lost! A man just outside Noah'sark would be drowned; a manslayer just outside thewall of the city of refuge would be slain; and the manwho is within a yard of Christ, and yet has not trustedhim, will be lost. Therefore am I in terrible earnest toget my hesitating friends over the threshold. Come in!Come in! is my pressing entreaty. May the HolySpirit render it effectual with many who shall glanceat these pages! May he cause his own almighty voiceto be heard creating faith at once!
My reader, if God blesses this book to you, do thewriter this favour—either lend your own copy to onewho is lingering at the gate, or buy another and giveit away; for his great desire is that this little volumeshould be of service to many thousands of souls.
To God this book is commended; for without his gracenothing will come of all that is written.
