Enemies of God Recruiting his Army – Charles Spurgeon

IT was during the persecution which raged against the saints at Jerusalem that the church obtained one of the greatest pillars that have ever strengthened and adorned her fabric—I mean the Apostle Paul. Breathing out threatenings against the people of God, he is on his road to Damascus, but the blaze of heavenly fire blinds him, strikes him to the ground, and afterwards he becomes a chosen vessel to carry, like an uplifted cresset, that very fire throughout the nations of the earth. I look, brethren, for recruits to the truth of God from the ranks of our enemies. Never despair, the brightest preacher of Christ may yet be fashioned out of the wretched raw material of Roman Catholic and Anglican priests. In politics, one of the leaders of reform has come to us from the hostile party; and we may expect in religious matters to see the same, or even more wonderful enlightenments. A monk reformed Germany; a parish priest was the morning star of England’s day of light. The Lord can send out his warrant to arrest a ringleader in the bands of the devil and to say to him, “You shall be no more against me; you are mine; enlist beneath my banner, and from this day be a champion for the truth which you have despised.” Never let us fear; the fire of God which Christ has cast among us shall go on to burn, let man do what he will to quench it.