[1] condescension – willingly coming down to equal terms with inferiors; stooping down to that which is unworthy.

[2] quirks – verbal tricks, subtleties, or evasions.

[3] who has…chance – has ceased having anything to do with thinking that things just happen without a cause.

[4] prerogative – exclusive right or privilege.

[5] paltry – worthless; insignificant.

[6] patronized – supported; sponsored.

[7] atonement – the word atonement originally meant “the condition of being at one with.” Later it came to refer to God’s act of dealing with man’s primary problem—sin—through the Person and work of Jesus Christ. Both OT and NT clearly teach that sin, the transgression of God’s Law, has broken the relationship between God and mankind. Scripture also teaches that God accomplished reconciliation with sinners through Christ’s substitutionary death upon the cross of Calvary. The doctrine of penal substitution is central in the Atonement: Christ stood in the legal place of sinners, bearing God’s wrath and the just punishment due them.

[8] redemption – “Redemption means deliverance from some evil by payment of a price. It is more than simple deliverance…The characteristic NT word for redemption is apolutrosis…[it] means deliverance on payment of a price, and that price is the atoning death of the Savior. When we read of ‘redemption through his blood’ (Eph 1:7), the blood of Christ is clearly being regarded as the price of redemption.” Leon Morris, “Redeemer, Redemption” New Bible Dictionary, (3^rd ed.; Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1996), 1003.

[9] Surety – a person who undertakes the responsibilities or debts of another.

[10] smart – to endure sharp physical or mental pain.

[11] fray – assault; battle.

[12] unchastity – sexual impurity.

[13] tethered – tied.

[14] trust deeds – legal documents which convey property to a trustee for some specific use, such as obtaining a mortgage.

[15] palpable – capable of being handled, touched, or felt.

[16] modus operandi – Latin: the way in which a thing operates.

[17] death-blast – blast of a horn announcing death.

[18] Juvenal or Decimus Junius Juvenalis (AD 55-60?-died in or after 127) – Roman poet whose works criticized the corruption and extravagance of Rome’s privileged classes.

[19] William Huntington (1745-1813) – Independent preacher at Providence Chapel in London. Known as “the Immortal Coalheaver” because of his humble work prior to his conversion.

[20] without stint – without stopping.

[21] new divines – modern theologians.

[22] Spurgeon’s point is the “giving one’s heart to Jesus” is not an act by which one becomes a Christian, as is often taught today. Rather it means submitting everything about one’s life to Christ in faith as a Christian.

[23] makeweight – technically, something added only to fill a lack; filler. Spurgeon apparently means a piece of bread as filler to keep the hungry boy from eating the bread he was sent to bring home.

[24] sanctification – “What is sanctification? Sanctification is a work of God’s grace, whereby they whom God hath, before the foundation of the world, chosen to be holy, are in time, through the powerful operation of his Spirit applying the death and resurrection of Christ unto them, renewed in their whole man after the image of God; having the seeds of repentance unto life, and all other saving graces, put into their hearts, and those graces so stirred up, increased and strengthened, as that they more and more die unto sin, and rise unto newness of life.” Westminster Larger Catechism, Q 75.

[25] colporteur – one employed by a society to travel about and sell or distribute Bibles and religious writings.

[26] Salvation Army – international religious and charitable organization founded in 1865 by the Methodist minister William Booth (1829-1912). Originally called the Christian Mission, it was renamed SA in 1878 and was founded as a revival society in Great Britain and other countries. Following quasi-military lines, Booth was given the title of General and the other officers and members were given military ranks and titles according to their duties.

[27] casuistry – the part of Ethics that attempts to resolve cases of conscience and moral dilemmas by applying the general rules of religion and morality.

[28] trifle – thing of little importance or value.

[29] experimental – having personal experience of anything; experiential.

[30] deicide – the killer of a being possessing a divine nature.

[31] Capuan holidays – Ancient Capua in Southern Italy was the second largest city in Italy after Rome. During the Second Punic War, Hannibal and his Carthaginian army defeated the Romans at Cannae in 216 B.C. Following this, Capua renounced its allegiance to Rome and voluntarily received Hannibal and his army. The luxurious, opulent life there demoralized the Carthaginians. Therefore, the Romans recaptured the city in 211 B.C. A Capuan holiday, or becoming comfortable with and demoralized by the world, is always deadly to the Christian’s walk.

[32] flippant – an inappropriate or disrespectful lack of seriousness.

[33] respiration – the act of breathing air by which life is sustained.

[34] counting-house – a room or office in which a business carries on operations such as accounting and correspondence.

[35] lees – the sediment that settles in the containing vessel when wine ferments.

[36] cordial – a comforting and exhilarating drink.

[37] Rowland Hill (1744-1833) – Anglican minister of Surrey Chapel in Southwark, London. An aristocratic convert to Evangelicalism and an enthusiastic champion of itinerant preaching. Often quoted by Charles Spurgeon.

[38] myriads – large indefinite number.

[39] Covenanters – supporters of the 1638 National Covenant and the 1643 Solemn League and Covenant. Their primary motivation was the preservation of the Reformed religion, particularly the spiritual independence of the Church and sole headship of Christ within it…The Covenanters’ roots lay in the political and theological thought of John Knox and George Buchanan.” Nigel M. De S. Cameron et al., eds., Dictionary of Scottish Church History and Theology (Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1993), 218.

[40] constituency – the body of voters that elect a representative for their area.

[41] interpositions – God’s deliberate involvement in a situation to prevent undesirable consequences.

[42] singular – deviating from what is usual or expected; unusual.

[43] being concentric – having a common center; in this case, sharing evil in common with others.

[44] acquiescence – acceptance without protest.

[45] tendrils – slender, thread-like structures by which climbing plants, such as cucumber or grape vines, coil around and attach the plant to supporting objects.

[46] banter – humorous ridicule.

[47] filial spirit – an attitude of a child toward a parent.

[48] apathetic – feeling or showing a lack of interest.

[49] fore-horse – the foremost or first horse; leader.

[50] dumb – incapable of speech; mute.

[51] For information on Family Worship, please contact Chapel Library for issue 188 of the Free Grace Broadcaster entitled “Family Worship.”

[52] doleful – mournful; filled with grief.

[53] straitened – confined; restricted.

[54] importunate – urgent; persistent; requiring immediate attention.

[55] Mentone – a town in southeast France situated on the shore of the Mediterranean. Spurgeon often traveled there for its climate and surroundings in order to rest and improve his health. He died there fifteen minutes before midnight, January 31, 1892.

[56] aggregate – a total made up of different parts often from diverse groups.

[57] dredge – an instrument for collecting and bringing up objects from the bed of a river or other bodies of water by dragging along the bottom.

[58] spasms – sudden involuntary contraction of a muscle or group of muscles; bursts of emotions, activity, or sensation.

[59] spasmodic – occurring at uneven intervals.