Charles H. Spurgeon — Around the Wicket Gate

Prayer is the longing of the soul to hold communion with the Most High, the desire of the heart to obtain blessings at His hands.

The established church of the town of Mansoul has the Devil for its archbishop. Sin has enclasped our nature as a boa constrictor encircles its victim, and when it has maintained its hold for twenty, forty, or sixty year…

He will glory against the church, and say, ' These are your holy preachers: you see what their preciseness is, and whither it will bring them.' He will glory against Jesus Christ Himself, and say, ' These are thy champio…

We will this year gather celestial fruits on earthly ground, where faith and hope have made the desert like the garden of the Lord.

We, the called and faithful and chosen, we will drive away our griefs, and set up our banners of confidence in the name of God.

Jesus must have the crown of our heart's delight; we will not dishonour our Bridegroom by mourning in his presence. We are ordained to be the minstrels of the skies, let us rehearse our everlasting anthem before we sing…