Mutual Love Between Pastor and People
nci set (lt’::’ ‘f the preachers of the past age thought themselves to be! I trust
II gone to Heaven, but a lew linger am. ng us who use The proud divines never shook hands with anybody, except, indeed, with t of e ‘A superior persons. Amongst Dissenters it was almost as bad te - in, by his is always
-”’ ,vwho 1 am. sir; I am the rector of the parish. Now, all that kind of stuck-
: ’ lat way; and no benefit at all comes of ‘ou”s- 1 often regret that I have so large a congregation. Perhaps you w’ at New Park Street Chapel, there were
i, yet I did get .. i every member sometimes; but now there are
: ‘I mei .and I seldom have
. it mud; more frequently, h there is anybody in
- t(l proir. .etorel want to be at h.ome with you
: a great d set myself up above von all. and by proud
e Lord wi y take me down, and make me
C. II. S., ill.::.’:-. M.iy ;. i>- s.
the pe e Lord’s-day or on a week-night; I often say that, as 1
- l” ‘•” i tell the i s of mv. m, for they have a way of
:nt from those who are g< ing to some places of worship that 1
f were going to an execution. They
; were ai. serve God, as bad as going to ] n to attend a service,
ry - ’ stan: up and Mess the Lord. Put I notice that you come here
.: were pleased ..: d as if you came to enjoy yourselves,
‘•; Ci d would iKive you worship Him, in the spirit of freedom, and not
ry. 1’ es He want slaves to grace 11. free men. should be
i ‘God will rule over s] irits that love 1 1. m. that delight in Him, that are
(‘.U.S.,
ot my old members. I went to comfort her. for I heard that
t, instead of doing so, she set about comforting me, and I came away rejoicing. Slu- ‘•!v ’ 11 Past. :-. I shall: ever be able to tell to any soul what I
VVL’ to >’ “V ••’ d:’ itively.” 1 said. “Now, my dear sister, do not talk about that.” Sheer Pastor, Joseph Irons, once preached a sermon upon the words, ‘Thou, have a thousand, and .; keep the fruit thereof two hundred,’ and that dear
i’d, ‘Giv. S s thousand; t!:. a is. render to the Lord all the glory that is due unto
sters. who ire the keepers ol the v eyard, have their two hundred;
vc them all ‘•-<• encouragement you can.’ Now,” said she, “that sermon did me great good, r ministers, by telling them what God had done lor me through their
ling; 1 feared that 1 might make them proud; but, from that sermon, I learned that it was God’s them humble, and my business to encourage them all I could.” I bless the Lord that. while I have had many who have tried to discourage me. I have always had many more who have been ready ai 1 pleasi 1 to give me words of encom ind cheer.- (‘.U.S.
pa-vs 17, 156, and 176, mention has been made ot the attack of small-pox from which Mr. Spur-con suflered in November, 1869. On the 9th of that month, he went, tor the first and only time, to the Lord Mayor’s banquet, and immediately afterwards he was attacked by that trying complaint, though happily not in its worst form. In later years, whenever he was invited to the ijreat City feast, he “•lys playfully replied that he had only once: been in such hi<di society, and then he had caught tin-, small-pox, so he had determined never again to form one of that company. When his very special friend, Sir William McArthur, became London’s chief magistrate, he tried hard to induce Mr. Spurgeon to join the festive throng-, but his pleading was all in vain; and, a few months afterwards, when the Lord Mayor took the chair at the annual supper in connection with the Pastors’ College Conference, the President humorously repeated the story of the banquet of 1869, to the great delight both of the assembled guests and the genial chairman.
During the Pastor’s illness, his church-officers sent the following letter to cheer him; the manuscript shows that it was composed by Llder W. Dransfiekl, concerning whom Mr. Spurgeon wrote, when he was “called home,” in 1872, “he was one of the holiest and happiest Christians it was ever our privilege to know: “-
“Metropolitan Tabernacle,
“Nov. 2 2nd, 1869.
“Beloved Pastor,
“With more than usual pleasure, by desire of the elders and deacons, I sit down to write you a few lines, in concurrence with which, I have no doubt, they will cordially sign their names. When we first heard the serious nature of your affliction, and especially when we considered clear Mrs. Spurgeon’s very delicate state of health, a deep gloom seemed to fall upon our spirits, and we did indeed very sincerely sympathize with you both under the heavy trial. But when we were told that the attack was not of a virulent nature, and that the Lord was dealing very gently with you, the gloom was dispersed, the heavy load was removed from our minds, and gave place to a holy confidence that God, being very merciful, would restore you to us again with renewed health and vigour.
“Beloved Pastor, the very striking providences which have taken place, in connection with the Orphanage (see page 176), within the last few days, have made a deep impression upon our minds, and have afforded us a double pleasure, knowing the cheering and exhilarating influence they will have upon your spirits in your sick-room. Truly may you say, with the psalmist, ‘I will praise Thee for ever, because Thou hast done it.’
“And now for the College, which is so clear to you, be assured that we will rally round it, and support it by our prayers, by our influence, and with all the help that is in our power. May the Divine blessing continue to rest upon its President, its tutors, and the dear young men who are training in it for the Christian ministry!
“Our Co-pastor, your beloved brother, is labouring among us, during your absence, with indefatigable zeal and increasing- success. He is daily growing in our affection and esteem; and we bless God for providing you with such a faithful coadjutor in the work lie has given you to do. You will be pleased to hear that all c. 11. SPURGEON’S AUTOHIOGKAI’IIY. 243
the services at the Tabernacle continue to be well attended, that our ‘supplies’ lor the last two Sabbaths were very acceptable and profitable, that the spirit of pniyer is in no way diminished, but is in as full efficiency as ever, and that God is in the midst of us indeed and of a truth. If the laving aside of Pastors, for a time, be
j
sent to test their people’s love, then we are sure there never was a period in your ministry when you were more cordially and universally loved than you are at the present moment.
“And now, beloved Pastor, we leave you, with many prayers, in the hands ol your Father and our Father. May lie have you in His safe keeping, preserve you from lowness and depression of spirits, cheer you with the light of His countenance, strengthen and sustain you by His gracious Spirit, and, in His own good time, bring you again to your beloved Tabernacle ‘in the fulness of the blessing of the <>X)spel
es <~5 L
of Christ.’ This is our fervent prayer.”
(Signed by the deacon:, and elders.)
In the year iS;r, Mr. Spurgeon had a long and painful illness, the course of which can be, traced in the following letters to the congregation at the Tabernacle: —
“Clapham.
“I )ear I” riends,
I he furnace still glows around me. Since I last preached to you, I have been brought very low; my llesh has been tortured with pain, and my spirit has been prostrate with depression. Yet, in all this, I see and submit to my Father’s hand; yea, more, I bless Him that His paternal love has been more than ever clear to me. With some difficulty, I write these lines in my bed, min<ding them with the groans of pain and the songs of hope.
‘The peace ot God be with every one of you, my beloved! My love in Christ Jesus be with you all! I rejoice that my very dear friend, Mr. Hugh Stowell Brown, is with you to-day. May his words be marrow and fatness to your souls!
“It must, under the most favourable circumstances, be long before you see me again, for the highest medical authorities are agreed that only long rest can restore me. I wish it were otherwise. My heart is in my work, and with you; but God’s will must be done. When I am able to move, 1 must go away. I try to cast all my cares on God; but, sometimes, I fear that you may get scattered. O my clear brethren, do not wander, tor this would break my heart! I might also feel deep anxiety for my great works, but I am sure my Lord will carry them on. It is, however, my duty to tell you what you can do, and what is needed. The Orphanage funds are lower just now than they have been these two years. God will provide, but you know that you are His stewards.
2|4 c- 1L STURGEONS AUTOBIOGRATIIY.
“You do pray for me, I know; but I entreat you not to cease your supplications. I am as a potter’s vessel when it is utterly broken, useless, and laid aside. Nights of watching, and days of weeping have been mine, but I hope the cloud is passing. Alas! I can only say this for my own personal and light affliction; there is one who lies nearest my heart whose sorrows are not relieved by such a hope. In this relative trial, a very keen one, I again ask your prayers. The Lord be with you evermore! Amen. So prays, —
“Your suffering Pastor,
“C. II. S.”
“May 1 3th, 1871.
“Dear Friends,
“Yesterday finished a long six weeks of pain and weakness. 1 made a desperate push for the sea-side, and reached it; but I am in great doubt whether I shall not be obliged to go home again, for I am so very weak. Please pray for me, that the Lord would restore to me my strength.
“I beg to thank the Lord, in your assembly, for graciously permitting me to live, and for giving me some hope that I shall yet again be: among you in vigour. It must be long first; but you will have much patience, and your loving prayers will greatly help me to mend.
“Dear friends, be sure to carry on every part of the Lord’s work with earnestness. If there has ever been any neglect, let there be none now; but all of you combine to make up for the lack of my service. Let the prayer-meetings be better attended than ever, and may the petitions be still more intense! May God bless the brethren who minister among you in my place! I send my love to the deacons, elders, and all friends.
“During last week, very large help came in for the Orphanage, for which I bless the Lord.
“Yours truly,
“C. H. STURGEON.”
“Clapham,
“June 4th, 1871.
” Beloved Friends,
“I write you these little notes because I am told that you are pleased to hear from myself the state of my health, and certainly it would be very wrong if I did not write now; for I was not silent in my mourning, and therefore I dare not refrain now that I am able to rejoice. Thank God, the healing One, with me, for, during this week, I have each morning awakened refreshed, feeling that I was better c. ii. si’UKGEox s AUToniociRAi’iiv. 245
than on the preceding day. The pain is gone, but extreme weakness remains. I am as feeble, as a child; but each day I gather a little strength, and I hope: I shall be able to preach to you on the 25th of this month. I cannot be sure, but this is my hope and prayer; and, moreover, I desire to come among you with a sevenfold blessing, that we may all love Jesus more, do more for His glory, and see greater things than even- done for His Kingdom. Shall Satan triumph over my twelve silent Sabbaths? VilI not the Lord bring good out ot evil by leading us on to some higher service and greater work? The Lord be richly with you to-day! May He smile on the Sabbath-school, send the dew of blessing on Mrs. Bartlett’s class, and bid the Heavenly wind breathe upon all the Bible-classes! May the saints be; fed with manna, and have the appetite; to enjoy it! May the unconverted among you be visited by the Holy Ghost, and renewed in heart, and that speedily!
“Accept my loving thanks to those especially who have remembered me and my work by their deeds. Do not think that I am unmindful of your weekly liberality. I know you give as unto the Lord; but to me also you say, in lano-uao-e more powerful than words, ‘I )o not iet:l any anxiety; w7e will not forget your work; and when you are not with us, we will be as faithful as when we hear your voice.’ The Lord reward you! Let not your prayers cease or be diminished. Prayer can have anything of God. With the utmost love, —
“Yours until death,
“C. 1 I. Sl’URGKON.”
“Clapham,
“June i ith, 1871.
“Beloved Friends,- — whom I have in constant and affectionate remembrance, —” I am obliged again to take up the note of mourning, for I have been all the week suffering, and the most of it confined to my bed. The severe weather has driven me back, and caused a repetition of all my pains. Nevertheless, the Lord’s will be done! Let Him have His way with me, for He is love. I have been wearying to preach again; but it may be that my dumb Sabbaths are appointed lor my chastisement, and their number is not yet fulfilled. We must work for God while we can, for not one of us knows how soon he may be unable to take a share in the sacred service. At the same time, how7 unimportant we are! God’s cause goes on without us. Ve all need Him, but He needs no one of us.
“Beloved, hitherto I have had much solace in hearing that the Lord’s work among you goes on. I pray you, make earnest intercession that this may continue. I hope the week-night services will not droop. If you stay away, let it be when I am there, but not now. May the deacons and elders find themselves surrounded
24() C. )I. Sl’UKCiKO.Vs AU’TOJIKKJKAl’llV.
by an untiring band of helpers at every meeting for worship! May abundance of grace rest on you all, especially on the sick, the: poor, and the bereaved!
IVay ior me, I entreat you. Perhaps, if the church met for prayer, I should
be speedily restored. I know thousands do pray, but should not the church do so
I must give up all hope of preaching on the 251)1; but I trust the
Lord will be merciful to me, and send me among you on the first Sabbath of July.
“lith deep (‘hristian love from —
’ our suffering Pastor,
“C. 11. S.”
The Pastor’s suggestion, that the church should meet for prayer, was speedily earned into effect, and the result was thus chronicled in the next letter: —
“Clapham,
“June iSth, 1871.
An beloved rnends,
As soon as the church had resolved to meet for special prayer for me, I began rapidly to recover. It pleased God to turn the wind at the beginning of this week, and the change in the temperature has worked wonders. Ve may truthfully say of the Wednesday meeting for prayer, that the Lord fulfilled His Word: ‘Before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.’ Tor all this great goodness, I pray you to unite with me in sincere and intense gratitude to the Lord our God.
“I feel bound publicly to express my happiness of heart. This week lias furnished me with the liveliest proofs of your true love. I have been deeply touched with the various ways in which the affection of so many of you has sought to find expression. I value this, not only for my own sake, though it is very sweet to be the object of such hearty love, but because I see in it the evidence that our union has been cemented by years, and the earnest of future years of united effort, if God spares us. The absence of unity is weakness; its indisputable presence is strength.
<l()n the closing day of my thirty-seventh year, 1 find myself the; Pastor of a beloved Hock, who have borne the test of twelve Sabbaths of their minister’s absence, and the severer test of more than seventeen years of the same ministry, and are now exhibiting more love to him than ever. I bless God, but I also thank’you, and assure you that I never felt happier in the midst of my people than I do now iii the prospect of returning to you. I am still weak, but the improvement in strength this week has been very surprising. I hardly dare speak of the future; but I earnestly hope we shall look each other in the face on the first Sabbath of July.
“Peace be with you, and the Lord’s own anointing! May those who speak to c. it. SPURGEON’S AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 247
you to-cl;iy he filled with the Spirit! May the soft South wind of the Spirit’s love he among you, and may you pour forth praise as (lowers breathe perfume!
“Yours very truly,
“C. II. STURGEON.”
The dear sufferer’s expectation was reali/ed, for he was able to preach at the Tabernacle on the morning of July 2. Mis subject was Psalm lxxi. 14: ‘P>ut I will hope continually, and will yet praise Thee more and more.” In the course of his sermon, he thus referred to his illness and restoration: —” I know one, who has been long privileged to lift up his voice, in the choir of the great King. In that delightful labour, none were more happy than he was; the longer he was engaged in the work, the more he loved it. Now, it came to pass that, on a certain day, this songster found himself shut out of the choir; he would have entered to take his part, but he was not permitted. Perhaps the King was angry; perhaps the songster had sung carelessly; perhaps he had acted unworthily in some other matter; or possibly his Master knew that his song would grow more sweet if he were silenced for a while. Mow it was, I know not; but this I know, it caused great searching of heart. Often, this chorister begged to be restored; but he was as often repulsed, and somewhat roughly, too. I think it was for nearly three; months that this unhappy songster was kept in enforced silence, with lire in his bones, and no vent for it. The royal music went on without him; there; was no lack ot song, and in this he rejoiced, but he longed to take; his place again, — I cannot tell you how eagerly he longed. At last, the happy hour arrived; the King gave His permit, he might sing again. The songster was full of gratitude, and I heard him say, — -you shall hear him say it, ‘My Lord, since I am again restored, I will hope, continually, and will yet praise Thee more and more.”
Preaching at the Tabernacle, later in the same, year, Mr. Spurgeon thus described how he wrestled in prayer, and prevailed with the Lord, in what proved to be the crisis of that season of suffering: —” I have; found it a blessed thing, in my own experience, to plead before God that I am His child. When, some; months ago, I was racked with pain to an extreme degree, so that I could no longer bear it without crying out, I asked all to go from the room, and leave; me; alone;; and then I had nothing I could say to God but this, ‘Thou art my Father, and I am Thy child; and Thou, as a Father, art tender and full of mercy. I could not bear to se;e: my chilel suffer as Thou makest me: suffer; and if I saw him tormented as I am now, I would do what I could to help him, and put my arms under him tep sustain him. Wilt Thou hide; Thy face: from me, my Father? Wilt Thou still lay on me Thy heavy hand, and not give: me a smile from Thy countenance?’ I talked to the Lore! as Luther would have done, and pleaded His Fatherhood in real earnest. ‘Like as a
)e a
i i S
‘URGEON S AQTOmOGRArilY.
father piticth his children, so the Lord pifieth them that fear Him.’ If lie e 1’ather’let Him sh°w Himself a Father,- -so I pleaded; and I ventured to say when they came back who watched me, I shall never have such agony again from this pment, for God has heard my prayer.’ I bless God that ease came, and the racking-Faith mastered it by laying hold upon God in His own J character, — that character in which, in our darkest hour, we are best able to appreciate ;Jim. I think this is why that prayer, ‘Our Fa/her which art in Heaven,’ because, when we are lowest, we can still say, ‘Our Father, and when is very dark, and we are very weak, our childlike appeal can go up, - Father bel m<:! rather, rescue me.! ’
This experience made so deep an impression upon Mr. Spur-eon’s mind and
that he never forgot it. Those who are. familiar with his writings must have
how often he referred to it, and how he urged other tried believers to do as
On one occasion, when he was speaking at the Mildmay Park
Hall, he narrated this incident with very telling effect.
The Tabernacle church made a special record of this trying period and of the gracious answer to the united supplications of His people. At the church-meeting- on July 24, 1871, it was resolved that the following statement should be entered on the Minutes : —
“It having pleased our Heavenly Father to lay His afflicting hand upon our istor, he was compelled to cease his public labours in our midst on the April, and for a period of twelve Sabbaths we were deprived of his faithful listrations. During this time, he: addressed to us several letters, which we insert pur records as a proof of the close mutual love and esteem which link us together stor and people. Our public prayers have been many, and our private- suppliions have been unceasing. On June 14th, we met as a church for special prayer 1 was pleased to hear our cry, and once: more to restore His servant to some part of his wonted strength, so that he preached on the morning of July 2nd We lerefore met to give thanks to God on Wednesday, July 5th, when it was resolved : —
‘That this church desires to leave upon record its sense of gratitude to
Inughty Cod, our Heavenly Father, for having restored our beloved Pastor to so
lealth as permits him again to minister in our midst, and we pray that he
nay speedily regain his accustomed vigour, and enjoy still more of the comfort and
iousness of the truth he so eloquently and faithfully preaches. We implore for
him a yet fuller measure of the Holy Spirit, and enlarged success in all the many
labours to which he has set his hand; and whilst thus recording our thanks and petitions, we also desire to convey to our beloved Pastor our expressions of sincerest sympathy with him in his severe and protracted illness. Ye have learned to prize more highly than ever those loving ministrations under which so many of us have been savingly Messed, and all of us have been greatly helped. Ye rejoice exceedingly that he can again occupy his accustomed place;, to which he is welcomed by a people more than ever prepared to co-operate with him in all his labours, and to love him ever with a pure heart fervently. Our prayers shall still mingle at the private and public altar that himself, his dear wife, and their sons may be longspared to enjoy that blessing which our covenant God alone can bestow.”
The next special manifestation of the Jove of the people for their Pastor commemorated three notable events in his history. The Minutes of the annual church-meeting, held at the Tabernacle on January 8, 1875, contain the following entry : —
;< Proposed by Brother William Olney, seconded by Brother John Ward, and carried unanimously: — That we desire, as a church, to record our devout gratitude to our Heavenly Father on the completion of the 21st year of our Pastor’s ministry amongst us. We also desire to present our hearty congratulations to him that he has been privileged to complete the 2Oth volume of his printed sermons, and also, during the past year, to accomplish the erection of the New College Buildings. We feel it desirable that a permanent record should be made of these important events, and therefore agree that it shall be entered in our church-book, and that a suitable address, handsomely framed and beautifully illuminated, shall be presented to our Pastor as an expression of our loving sympathy with him, which was never felt by us to a greater degree than at the present time.”
At the church-meeting, on April i, 1875, Pastor J. A. Spurgeon reported that a meeting of the church and congregation had been held, on Tuesday, March 30, to welcome the senior Pastor, on his return from the Continent, after an absence from the pulpit for eleven Sabbaths, and at that gathering the testimonial authorized by the church had been duly presented. A reduced facsimile of it is reproduced on the following page.
A reference to the letter of Mr. William Olney, in Volume I., page 346, will show that one of the reasons he mentioned in urging “the boy-preacher” at Waterbeach to accept the invitation to the pastorate at New Park Street Chapel was, that he hoped his brother Henry would be converted through the young minister’s preaching, which had even then greatly impressed him. This result happily came to pass, and dear old “Father Olney” had die joy of seeing all his sons members ot the church of which he had so long been a deacon. In October, 1875, i-fniDii it an <@>HiiT-iuiiw.
.; C
Rv * fr*
«s*
*& f fe
<••.;’.;..;,. ’
REDUCED FACSIMILE OF ILLUMINATED ADDRESS PRESENTED TO THE PASTOR, MARCH 30, 1875.
C. II. SPURCiKOX S AUTOP.IOGRAPIIV. 2^1
Mr. Henry P. Olncy was “called home;” and, as soon as the news reached Mr. Spurgeon, he wrote the following” letter to Mr. Thomas II. Olney: —
“Nightingale Lane,
“Clapham.
“(October, 1075.)
11 Dear Friend,
“I could n pt say much to Mr. Macgregor, for I felt stunned by the tidings of your brother’s death, and could not realize it; indeed, I cannot now.
“God bless you, beloved brother; and as He comes so very near in solemn deeds, may lie come just as near in love! Peace be; to you in the hour of sore; amazement!
“I send my deepest sympathies to the bereaved wife. I can do no bettor than pray that she may now be very graciously sustained. It she can calmly bow before the Lord, it will be for her own good. Grief so natural, and so likely to prove excessive, must be restrained lor the sake of herself and babes. God help her, poor
soul i What a loss is hers!
“Yours lovingly,
“C. II. SPURGEON,”
When Mrs. IJarllett was “called home,” in August, 1875, the members of her class desired her son Edward to take his mother’s place. This arrangement met with Mr. Spurgeon’s lull approval, and was accordingly carried out. The. annual meeting of the class was, for many years, the occasion for presenting to the beloved President of the College the contributions and collections of the members in aid of his much-loved work. In the course of twelve years, no less than ,£1,346 was thus received. The Pastor was particularly anxious to be; present at the first anniversary under the; new leadership, but he was unable to be: there;, and hael to be content with writing the following characteristic epistle : —
“Nightingale Lane,
“Clapham,
“Leb. 22, 1876.
” My Dear Mr. Bartlett, and Class,
“If it were not that it is the Lord who has put me-, out of the; way lepr a day or two, 1 should be very rebellious. All yesterday, I was weeping and sneezing, till I could not see out of my eyes. To-day, I feel that the; turning-point has come, and that I shall soon be better; but it would be; the. utmost folly to leave; my bed chamber as I now am.
252 C. II. Sl’UK(iKONS AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
“This is a terrible disappointment to me as well as to your young friends, and I want you to tell them how sorry their Pastor is. I am glael they cannot see him, for he has an awful nose, and such eyes! Also let them know that he is very fond of Jl/rs. Bartlett’s class, and would sooner have disappointed the Queen than have been absent from the meeting to-night. Besides, he wanted to thank Air. Bartlett, and to say some kind things which are due all round.
“I am anxious to do all I can to mitigate this trouble-, and therefore I propose, (i) that you enjoy yourselves all you can to-night; (2) that 1 invite you all to tea another evening as soon as possible; or, (3) that I come to the class some Sunday afternoon; or, (4) that we do all the three things.
“May God bless you all! You are so good to keep together, and work on, and pray on. I hope we shall have hundreds of souls saved this year; let us aim at such a result. Dear Mr. Bartlett has my unbounded confidence and esteem. May every blessing abound towards him and you!
“Don’t be alarmed about me. I have: about 49 colds all at once, and lumbago into the bargain; but all will go in a day or two, I hope. I cannot tell how I could have got into such a snee/y, Iree/y, droppy, shivery, watery, coughy, fever)’ state:
I hope 1 shall soon get out ol it.
“ours ever lovingly,
“C. I I. Sl’URCKON.”
In the earlier days, when the dear Pastor was able more frequently to preside at the Tabernacle church-meetings than he could in his later years, he used to make brief but very interesting entries in the church-book. Sometimes, they would be humorous, as when he wrote concerning the: quality of the penis an el ink supplied (or use: in the lecture-hall; occasionally, they were ve:ry sael notes, when some turned aside to sin or to error, and so pierced his heart through with many sorrows; but, more often, the comments were of a grateful and jubilant character, like the following, which was written at the first meeting of the members after the communion service on Lorel’s-day evening, March 5, 18/6: —
“It is worthy of special note that four children epf our beloved deacon, William lliggs, were aeldeel to the church on one evening, while epthers of his family have: preceded them. As he was the buileler of the Tabernacle in which we meet, we rejoice that the: Lord there blesses his household.”
XVhile Mr. Spurgeon never neglected the comparatively few wealthier members of the church and congregation, he was always accessible to their poorer sisters and brethren, and he constantly proved, in a most practical way, his sympathy with them, and his personal interest in their temporal and spiritual welfare. A conspicuous
C. II. SL’UKGI^ONS AUTOIJIOr.KAl’IlY. 253
instance of this manifestation of kindly feeling is thus recorded in the report of the annual church-meeting- at the Tabernacle on January 10, 1877: —
“Before proceeding to the business ot the evening, the Pastor stated that, in his own name, and on behalf of the church, lie desired that some note should be taken of the fact that the Lord had spared to the church, for a period of 70 years, our aged sister, Miss Fanny Gay, during the whole of which time she had been a useful and consistent member. The Pastor then handed to her a copy of The Interpreter, containing the following inscription: —
“Presented to Miss Fanny Gay, upon completing hen” seventieth year of membership with the church which now worships in the Metropolitan Tabernacle, with the love of the Pastors and members. The Lord bless thee and keep thee!
“C. II. Sl’URClKOX.
“January 10, for February, 1877.”
The good sister lived until early in iSS6; and when she was “called home,” Mr. Spurgeon wrote concerning her: — “The church at the Tabernacle has recently lost Miss Fanny Gay, who has for many years been the first on the roll of membership. She joined the church in the year 1807, and had thus been a member nearly eighty years, and was within a tew hours of ninety-seven years of age- when she was called home. She was a great sufferer for most of her long life, but her afflictions were patiently, and even cheerfully, borne; and for many years she had been one of the happiest inmates of the Almshouses connected with the Tabernacle.”
1 he 1 abernacle church has long been a mother of churches; and, usually, when the brethren and sisters have been drafted off to found a new cause;, the Pastor has written a special letter to accompany the formal transfers. When the church at James’ Grove, Peckham, was about to be constituted, no less than 75 members received their dismission from the Tabernacle, and the Pastor gave them his partingblessing and his wise and loving counsel in as hearty and genial a fashion as if he had been receiving that large contingent of adherents instead of losing them.
“Metropolitan Tabernacle,
“September Qth, 1878.
” Beloved Brethren,
‘The Church of Christ at the Metropolitan Tabernacle has heard with pleasure of your wish to be formed into a separate community, and we hereby grant an honourable dismission to you all with that view. You are such beloved and uselul members that we should have been grieved to part with you under any other circumstances; but now we send you out as a father sends out his full-grown
254 c. ii. STURGEON’S AUTOIJKXJKAI’HY.
son to fouiul another house, and to become himself the centre of a family. We wish you every blessing. h js our joy to see our Lord’s Kingdom increased; and, as we believe that your being gathered into a new church will tend to that grand design, we gladly part with you, wishing you the power and presence of the Lo*rd henceforth and for ever.
“Brethren, be of one heart and one mind. Suffer no ’ root of bitterness’ to spring up among you. Sustain your excellent Pastor-elect; and, by your prayers, gird him with the power uf the Highest. Watch over your own personal walk, and let the world see what grace can do in you and by you. Do not forget to pray for the mother-church and its officers. We wish you the: like blessing with us; what more could we desire for you? May the ministry among you be full of Divine power, and may thousands be thereby called out of darkness into light! Abound in confidence in God, and in His gospel. He is able to surpass your loftiest thoughts. Believe great things of God, and expect great things from God. To the Eternal ‘I rinity we commend you by Christ Jesus.
‘lours, on behalf of the whole church,
“G. I I. Sl’UKGKON.”
This chapter may be appropriately closed with Mr. Spurgeon’s testimony to the piety and the unity of the Tabernacle church, together with a solemn warning as to what would happen if such a highly-favoured company of people should ever” prove “I thank God that we have a great many very warm-hearted, earnest Christians in connection with this church, — I will make bold to say, such true and lovely saints as I never expected to live to see. I have beheld in this church apostolical piety revived; I will say it, to the glory of God, that I have seen as earnest and as true piety as Paul or Peter ever witnessed. I have marked, in some here present, such godly zeal, such holiness, such devotion to the Master’s business, as Christ Himself must look upon with joy and satisfaction. God has been pleased to favour us with profound peace in the church. We have been disturbed by no word of false doctrine, by no uprising of heretics in our midst, or any separations or divisions. This is a blessed thing; but, still, Satan may make it a dangerous matter. We may begin to think that there is no need for us to watch, that we shall always be as we are; and deacons, and elders, and Pastor, and church-members, may all cease their vigilance, and then the ‘root of bitterness’ may spring up in the neglected corner till it gets too deeply rooted for us to tear it up again. Though we are not free from ten thousand faults, yet I have often admired the goodness “of God which has enabled us, with a hearty grip, to hold each other by the hand, and say, ‘We love each other for Christ’s sake, and for the truth’s sake, and we hope to live in each other’s love till we die, wishing, if it were possible, to be buried side
C. II. SI’UiUiEON S AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 255
by side.’ I do thank God for this, because I know there is more, than enough ol evil among us to cause dissensions in our midst. Ye who bear ofhce in the church have the same nature as others; and therefore, naturally, would seek to have the supremacy, and every man, if left to himself, would indulge an angry temper, and find many reasons for differing from his brother. Ye have all been offended often, and have as often offended others. Ve are as imperfect a band oi men as might be found, but we are one in Christ. Ye have each had to put up with the other, and to bear and forbear; and it does appear to me a wonder that so many imperfect people should get on so well together tor so long. By faith, 1 read over the door of our Tabernacle this text, ‘Yhen lie giveth quietness, who then can make trouble?’ When some oi our members were first taken into the church, I received a very suspicious character with them. It was said, ’ ell it Mr Spurgeon accepts such-and-such a man, he has been so great a trouble in our church, that he will be the beginning of wars at the Tabernacle.’ But those very persons, who came with that doubtful character, have become the most zealous of our working community; and, instead of differing and disagreeing, they have felt that there was so much to do that it would be a pity to spend one grain of strength in quarrelling with other children of God. II a man thinks himself to be SOUK; great one, his importance vanishes as soon as he joins our vast host. I have been warned, some times, by fellow-ministers who have had a member who has proved troublesome to them, and who wished to come into our midst. I have been told that I must watch him very carefully, for he would be sure to be a cause of anxiety to me, but I have answered, ‘No one ever troubles me; I do not let him.’ Many of these people, who are supposed to be so dangerous, only want something to do; they have too much energy to be unemployed. I set them to work, and they are no longer troublesome; if that does not cure them, I give them still more work to do. They have too much vigour for small places, and need to be where their powers can have full scope, for then they have less time to notice things with which they do not wholly agree. Possibly, my brethren, many of you do not sufficiently pri/e the peace which reigns in our church. Ah! you would value it if you lost it. Oh, how highly you would esteem it if strife and schism should ever come into our midst! You would look back upon these happy days we have had together with intense regret, and pray, ‘Lord, knit us together in unity again; send us love to each other once more; ’ for, in a church, love is the essential element of happiness.
“If we, as a church, prove unfaithful; ii we leave our first love; if we do not plead in prayer, and seek the conversion ot souls, God may take away His presence from us as He has done from churches that we’re, once His, but which are not so now. The traveller tells you that, as he journeys through Asia Minor, he sees the ruins of those cities which once were the seven golden candlesticks, wherein the light of
256 c. ii. STURGEON’S AUTOMIOGKAI’HY.
truth shone brightly. What will he now s;iy of Thyatira? Where will he find Laodicea? These have passed away, and why may not this church? Look at Rome, once the glory of the Christian Church, her ministers many, and her power over the world enormous for good; and now she is the place where Satan’s seat is, and her synagogue is a synagogue of hell. How is this? Because she departed from her integrity, she left her first love, and the Lord cast her away. Thus will He deal with us also if we sin against Him. You know that terrible passage: ‘Go ye now unto My place which was in Shiloh, where I set My Name at the first, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of My people Israel.’ God first of all had the tabernacle pitched at Shiloh, but it was defiled by the sin of Eli’s sons, so the tabernacle was taken away, and Shiloh became a wilderness. So may this ilourishing church become. If justice should thus visit you, you may hold your prayer-meetings, — probably those will soon cease, — but of what avail will your formal prayers be? You may get whom you will to preach, but what of that? I know what you would do, if some; of us were fallen asleep, and the faithful ones buried, - if the Spirit of God were gone, you would say, ‘Well, we are still a large and influential congregation; we can afford to pay a talented minister, money will do anything;’ and you would get the man of talents, and then you would want an organ and a choir, and many other pretty things which we now count it our joy to do without. Then, if such were the case, all these vain attempts at grandeur would be unsuccessful, and the church would ere long become a scorn and a hissing, or else a mere log upon the water. Then it would be said, ‘We must change the management,’ and there would be this alteration and that; but if the Lord were gone, what could you do? By what means could you ever make this church, or any other church, revive again? Alas! for the carnal, spasmodic efforts we have seen made in some churches! Prayer-meetings badly attended, no conversions, but still the people have said, ‘It is imperative upon us to keep up a respectable appearance; we must collect a congregation by our singing, by our organ, or some other outward attraction; ’ and angels might have wept as they saw the folly of men who sought almost anything except the Lord, who alone can make a house His temple, who alone can make a ministry to be a ministration of mercy, without whose presence the most solemn congregation is but as the herding of men in the market, and the most melodious songs but as the shoutings of those who make merry at a marriage. Without the Lord, our solemn days, our new moons, and our appointed feasts, are an abomination such as His soul hateth. May this church ever feel her utter, entire, absolute dependence upon the presence of her God, and may she never cease humbly to implore Him to forgive her many sins, but still to command LI is blessing to abide upon her! Amen.”