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Are you a Ciceronian?
(Spurgeon, "Joy Born at Bethlehem")
Perhaps you know the legend, or perhaps true
history of the awakening of Augustine. He
dreamed that he died, and went to the gates
of heaven, and the keeper of the gates said to
him, "Who are you?" And he answered, "I am a
Christian." But the porter replied, "No, you are
not a Christian, you are a Ciceronian, for
your
thoughts and studies were most of all directed
to the works of Cicero and the classics, and
you neglected the teaching of Jesus. We judge
men here by that which most engrossed their
thoughts, and you are judged not to be a
Christian but a Ciceronian."
When Augustine awoke, he put aside the classics
which he had studied, and the eloquence at which
he had aimed, and he said, "I will be a Christian
and a theologian;" and from that time he devoted
his thoughts to the word of God, and his pen and
his tongue to the instruction of others in the truth.
Oh I would not have it said of any of you, "Well,
he may be somewhat Christian, but he is far more
a keen money getting tradesman." I would not have
it said, "Well, he may be a believer in Christ, but
he is a good deal more a politician."
Perhaps he is a Christian, but he is most at
home when he is talking about science, farming,
engineering, horses, mining, navigation, or
pleasure taking.
No, no, you will never know the fullness of the
joy which Jesus brings to the soul, unless under
the power of the Holy Spirit you take the Lord
your Master to be your All in all, and make him
the fountain of your intensest delight.
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