D. Scott Meadows

“Cursed be the man before the LORD, that riseth up and buildeth this city.” —Joshua 6.26

Since he was cursed who rebuilt Jericho, much more the man who labors to restore Popery among us. In our fathers’ days the gigantic walls of Popery fell by the power of their faith, the perseverance of their efforts, and the blast of their gospel trumpets; and now there are some who would rebuild that accursed system upon its old foundation. O Lord, be pleased to thwart their unrighteous endeavours, and pull down every stone which they build.

It should be a serious business with us to be thoroughly purged of every error which may have a tendency to foster the spirit of Popery, and when we have made a clean sweep at home we should seek in every way to oppose its all too rapid spread abroad in the church and in the world.

This last can be done in secret by fervent prayer, and in public by decided testimony. We must warn with judicious boldness those who are inclined towards the errors of Rome; we must instruct the young in gospel truth, and tell them of the black doings of Popery in the olden times. We must aid in spreading the light more thoroughly through the land, for priests, like owls, hate daylight.

Are we doing all we can for Jesus and the gospel? If not, our negligence plays into the hands of the priestcraft. What are we doing to spread the Bible, which is the Pope’s bane [cause of death] and poison? Are we casting abroad good, sound gospel writings? Luther once said, “The devil hates goose quills” and, doubtless, he has good reason, for ready writers, by the Holy Spirit’s blessing, have done his kingdom much damage. If the thousands who will read this short word this night will do all they can to hinder the rebuilding of this accursed Jericho, the Lord’s glory shall speed among the sons of men. Reader, what can you do? What will you do?

—C. H. Spurgeon, Morning and Evening, 29 May PM

On Joshua 6.26

Jericho was the first city Israel defeated in the conquest of Canaan, the Promised Land (Josh 5.13–6.27). Its impregnable walls miraculously fell flat when the LORD fought for His chosen people against the idolatrous occupiers of this place rightly belonging to the Jews as a gift from God. The overthrow of Jericho was a mighty, public spectacle of divine judgment. The ruined heap was to remain untouched as a monument to the holy power, sovereign grace, and ineffable glory of the God of Israel. This is why a curse was pronounced upon rebuilding Jericho. The ancient city represented the enemies of God; its defeat, His gracious love for Israel.

This text reminded Spurgeon of the Reformation a few centuries before his time and fresh signs of the Roman Catholic Church’s resurgence. The Jericho-event is completely historical, Spurgeon knew, and not to be interpreted in some allegorical way. He simply draws a comparison, and this should not be judged a misinterpretation of the passage.

Less familiar terms and concepts

“Popery” is pejorative, now archaic, and means Roman Catholicism— especially its distinctive doctrines, practices, and ceremonies. The term seems to have originated in the early 16th century and is found in the writings of William Tyndale (1491–1536), famed Bible translator and Protestant martyr. The 1689 LBCF exhibits the same antipathy (e.g., 26.4).

“The black doings of Popery” are less well-known to today’s Christians, generally speaking, than Spurgeon’s contemporaries who were more familiar with books like “Foxe’s Book of Martyrs.” The worst of these “black doings” was the torture and persecution, even to martyrdom, of millions by the Roman Catholic Church. Protestant history is important!

“Priestcraft” is often derogatory and means the knowledge and work of a [here, Roman Catholic] priest. The magician’s “hocus pocus” is a corruption of the Latin phrase used at the moment of alleged miracle of transubstantiation, “hoc est corpus meum” (this is my body).

“The devil hates goose quills” (Luther), that is, the “pens” of early Protestants whose books shook Romanism to its foundations and set free countless of its wretched captives.

The structure of this devotional message

I. A divine curse upon restorers of Roman Catholicism
• Roman Catholicism has suffered a great defeat
• Roman Catholicism should not be restored

II. A solemn call to oppose Roman Catholicism everywhere

III. A few important ways to oppose Roman Catholicism
• Pray against it fervently in private
• Testify against it publicly and boldly warn the gullible
• Teach young people the gospel and the atrocities of Romanism

IV. A probing inquiry of our own faithfulness to oppose it
• Are we distributing Bibles and gospel literature?
• Protestant success promotes the Lord’s glory!

Relevance for today

If Spurgeon made anyone squirm in his own day, how much more in ours! Many professing Christians, even though they are not Roman Catholic, censure such talk—chief among them, popular evangelical leaders. They have argued against the severe theological, ecclesiastical, and moral judgment of the old Protestants. Consequently, the corrupt Roman Catholic Church flourishes far more than it should and the pure, biblical gospel is obscured to the spiritual harm of multitudes. Let us repent of all complacency and withstand Popery in our day! Ω