Grace and Forgiveness

Grace and Forgiveness 

Charles Spurgeon and Joseph Parker both had churches in
London in the nineteenth century. On one occasion,
Parker commented on the poor condition of children
admitted to Spurgeon's orphanage. It was reported to
Spurgeon however that Parker had criticized the
orphanage itself. Spurgeon blasted Parker the next week
from the pulpit. The attack was printed in the
newspapers and became the talk of the town.

People flocked to Parker's church the next Sunday to
hear his rebuttal. "I understand Dr. Spurgeon is not in
his pulpit today, and this is the Sunday they use to
take an offering for the orphanage. I suggest we take a
love offering here instead." The crowd was delighted.
The ushers had to empty the collection plates three
times.

Later that week there was a knock at Parker's study. It
was Spurgeon. "You know Parker, you have practiced
grace on me. You have given me not what I deserved, you
have given me what I needed."

  -- From Moody Monthly, December, 1983, p. 81. 
  Cited in "Parables.etc."