• William Gadsby's Fragments (Complete)

    Why Did Christ Die?

    According to some people, Christ died to give all a chance of being saved! I do not know that I hate anything more in my soul than to hear that. It makes Jesus Christ so little that He should do so much, and after all only to get us a chance of being saved. Why, if a man is set up in business, you see how often it happens that he fails in it; and if man cannot manage the paltry things of time and sense without being insolvent, what will he do with eternal realities? And if you come a little closer, when God "made man upright" and he had no sinful nature, what did he do with his innocence? He lost it all!…

  • William Gadsby's Fragments (Complete)

    On Preaching the Gospel

    By William GadsbyWe maintain that it is the right for a minister of Jesus Christ to preach the gospel in the hearing of all that hear him; and what we find fault with is not preaching the gospel to all that hear but men pretending that they are authorised to offer the gospel to all that hear them. We consider that to preach the gospel is one thing, and to offer the gospel is quite another thing. Hence when a man gets up into a pulpit, and says, “In God’s name I offer Christ, and pardon, and salvation, to every soul of you present; if you reject this offer, you may never have another; therefore come now and take Christ and salvation, while you have…

  • William Gadsby's Fragments (Complete)

    An Address To Youth

    To all Young People, of both sexes, into whose hands this may fall. Let me address you as one who fears the Lord, and who wishes you well. Beware of deceivers! Remember, you are in a world of woe, beset with gins, and traps, and snares, and, as you grow to years of maturity, an evil heart, the which you all possess, will naturally incline to evil; and as some of the most destructive sins appear the most flattering and pleasing to a carnal heart, therefore the danger is the greater. When youth have once been left to the dishonourable practice of fornication or uncleanness, and thus deprived themselves of that common virtue which it becomes them, as the creatures of God and for their…

  • William Gadsby's Dialogues

    An Example Of Parents Explaining The Gospel To Their Child

    The Setting: It is morning and the family is busy preparing for work and school. Though the hour is running late, the father insists on reading a portion from the Bible before leaving the house: FATHER: Come, my dear, bring me the Bible. CHILD: Father, it is now nine o'clock, and if I stop while you read and pray I shall get scolded, for I ought to have been at school before now. FATHER: True, child, you ought to have been at school by this time; but I have been detained this morning, and I am not willing you should go before I have read part of God's word, and taken up a little time in prayer and thanksgiving to the God of all our…

  • William Gadsby's Dialogues

    An Example Of A Mother Explaining The Gospel To Her Child

    The Setting: The child has attended the house of God with his/her parents, and was dazzled by the fashionable outfits worn by the members. Upon returning home, the child enquires: CHILD: Mother, did you see what handsome bonnet Miss Dressy had on at the chapel this morning? MOTHER: Child, your mind runs upon nothing but pride and nonsense. Do you suppose that I have nothing to do at chapel but to notice what people wear? Did you ever ask yourself what you went to chapel for? CHILD: Indeed, mother, I never thought of such a thing? What do people go for? MOTHER: Child, it is not a very easy thing to say what ends people have in view. Some go because their parents go; some…

  • William Gadsby's Dialogues

    An Example Of A Father Explaining The Gospel To His Child

    The Setting: As expected, the child is very excited about the prospect of Christmas holidays, and so is singing over a little nonsense that he/she has picked up amongst his/her companions. Henceforth, the Father observes: FATHER: Child, what frothy nonsense are you running over? What can induce you to be so childish and foolish. CHILD: Why, father, I was only pleased to think what sport I shall have at Christmas. FATHER: Pleased, indeed! and what sport do you expect to have at Christmas. CHILD: Why, father, do you know that next week we are to break up the school, and have a parting for Christmas holidays? FATHER: But what sport is there in that? CHILD: Why, father, there will be fiddling, and dancing, and such…