Benjamin Ramsbottom
Benjamin Ramsbottom (1929-2023) was a Strict and Particular Baptist preacher. In 1967, he was appointed pastor of the church meeting at Bethel Strict Baptist Church, Luton, Bedfordshire, a position he held for fifty-five years.
-
The Everlasting Gospel
These are three extremely well-known words. They have become almost part of our spiritual vocabulary, and often in prayer or in preaching or in conversation when the gospel is referred to, it is referred to as “the everlasting gospel.” Now this is a strange place to find these beautiful words, Revelation chapter 14. Mind you, there are some very beautiful things concerning Christ in this chapter, but really the theme is the downfall of Babylon, signifying all the power and influence of the world which lieth in the wicked one. Mysteriously, we are told that it was an angel here having “the everlasting gospel” to preach. How often have you heard from our pulpits and our ministers that God never sent angels to preach, that…
-
Divine Providence
This is an immense verse. It includes everything, it embraces everything: the whole of creation, the whole of providence, the whole of redemption. And the point here is very simple: that it is all in the Lord’s hands, that everything, great or small, past, present or to come, grace or providence, is in His hands. It is a wonderful mercy if we can realise it this evening, that all things – and that embraces everything – all things are in the Lord’s hands. And then if we can feel this personally: “My times are in Thy hand.” “The lot is cast into the lap” – everything. If only we could believe this; if only we believed what we do believe, that “the lot is cast…
-
What Confidence Is This Wherein Thou Trustest
There is no more important question in the whole Word of God than this, and it is your mercy and mine if we know the answer. This was a day of darkness, sorrow and blasphemy, Jerusalem surrounded by an invading army, death and destruction staring them in the face, and this question was hurled at godly King Hezekiah in a way of scorn, in a way of contempt: “What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?” Hezekiah knew the answer, and beloved friends, it is your mercy and mine if we do. We think first of all of this vital question concerning the everlasting salvation of our souls. Now, what confidence is this wherein we trust? In other words, what hope have we that our sins…
-
Enduring Mercy
Someone once asked an old minister why this Psalm keeps repeating the same words verse after verse: “His mercy endureth for ever.” The minister thought for a moment or two, and his answer was this: “Well, because it does endure for ever.” And beloved friends, what a favour that is! What would we do without mercy? And if there were mercy, what would we do if it did not last, if it did not endure? The mercy of God made known in Jesus Christ is the foundation of our hope. We would not have any hope without it. It is the foundation of the gospel. There would not be any gospel without it. O that wonderful display of mercy which we have in the Word…
-
Sacred Truths Of The Gospel
I have sometimes thought that if you were asked briefly in a word to say what Strict Baptists believe in their chapels, you could not do better than to refer them to these two verses, because there is every doctrine of the gospel, one after another, set up. It begins in eternity past; it ends in eternity to come. Really, it is like a chain of golden links, or if you will, a chain of precious pearls. Every one of these sacred truths in themselves is precious, important, vital. But what are they when they are all joined together! But beloved friends, the most blessed thing this evening would be if any of you were sweetly led by the Holy Spirit into a personal interest,…
-
The Saviour’s Love
This is a short, solemn, sacred statement of the work of Christ in salvation, the death and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the reason for it, that His poor, unworthy people might be “saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation.” Beloved friends, the emphasis here is on the Saviour’s love, the greatness of His love, in laying down His life for poor, unworthy sinners. There are three things especially here that emphasise the greatness of the Saviour’s love. We read, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” “Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of…
