The first pastorate of Charles Haddon Spurgeon was a little Baptist Chapel in Waterbeach near Cambridge. The following is an anecdote take from his ministry there.
"One day a gentleman who was then mayor of Cambridge asked the youthful preacher if he really had told his people that if a thief got into heaven, he would pick the angels' pockets. 'Yes, Sir,' replied Mr Spurgeon; 'I told them that if it were possible for an ungodly man to get into heaven without having his nature changed, he would be none the better for being there; and then, by way of illustration, I said that if a thief were to get in he would remain a thief still, and go round the place picking the angels' pockets!'
'But my dear young friend,' said the mayor, 'don't you know that the angels have no pockets?' 'No Sir,' said the young Spurgeon, 'but I am glad to be assured of the fact from a gentleman who does know. I will set it right'.
The following Monday morning, Mr Spurgeon walked into the mayor's shop and said: 'I set that matter right yesterday, Sir'. 'What matter?' asked the mayor. 'Why, about the angels' pockets!' 'What did you say?' 'Well, I told the people that I was sorry to say that I had made a mistake the last time I preached; but that I had met a gentleman – the mayor of Cambridge – who had told me that the angels had no pockets, so I must correct what I had said, as I did not want anyone to go away with a false notion about heaven. I would, therefore, say that, if a thief got among the angels without having his nature changed, he would steal the feathers out of their wings!"
This Page Title – Angels Pockets The Wicket Gate Magazine "A Continuing Witness". Internet Edition number 57 – placed on line November 2005 Magazine web address – www.wicketgate.co.uk |