"If I were a Roman Catholic, I should turn a heretic, in sheer desperation, because I would rather go to heaven than go to purgatory"

Charles Spurgeon’s statement reflects his strong criticism of the Roman Catholic doctrine of purgatory, as well as his broader theological stance against certain Catholic beliefs. Rather than merely dismissing the doctrine, Spurgeon employs irony: he suggests that, if he were a Catholic, the idea of purgatory would drive him to become a heretic, meaning someone who rejects one of the central tenets of the church. His reasoning for this is not grounded in petty contrariness, but in what he presents as a spiritual desire, a longing to reach heaven directly, unencumbered by what he sees as the unnecessary, burdensome intermediate step of purgatory.

Underlying Spurgeon’s words is a Protestant assurance of salvation and immediate acceptance into heaven through faith in Christ alone, "sola fide". The concept of purgatory, as taught by Roman Catholicism, involves a post-mortem state of purification for souls who die in God’s grace but still require cleansing from venial sins before entering heaven. For many Protestants like Spurgeon, this doctrine seems to undermine the sufficiency of Christ’s atonement, as it suggests that something more must be done after death for final salvation.

Spurgeon’s desperation is not mere emotional discomfort, but a theological protest. He presents the human yearning for assurance and immediacy in salvation, contrasting it with what he views as the uncertainty and suffering of purgatory. His rhetoric pushes the idea that the hope of the gospel is to be with God at death, not to fear a protracted period of purification.

Additionally, Spurgeon’s provocative language highlights the sense in which doctrines he deems extra-biblical necessitate not only dissent but potentially total separation from the tradition that upholds them. His words capture both his rigorously scriptural Christianity and his deep concern that anything less than full access to grace diminishes the glory and efficacy of Christ’s work for the believer.