The Life of C. H. Spurgeon
Men who move great masses of their fellows, by oh
their force of character and intellectual power, are
always interesting subjects of study. It is given to
few men to wield such an influence as that wielded by Charles Haddon Spurgeon. He is undoubtedly
the greatest of living preachers. His success is a phenomenon, Talmage may excel him in rhetorical
brilliancy, Farrar in literary elegance, John Hall in dignity and Philips Brooks in stately symmetry, but
none of these attains the spiritual results that mark the ministry of Spurgeon. He is the most con- -spicuous modern example of apostolic zeal, simplic- — ity and spiritual power. Firm in his faith, clear in his convictions, bold in his utterance and marvellous in his power of practical application, he succeeds in rousing the consciences of men, and moving them to accept Christ as their Saviour. After all, a man’s ministry is properly estimated by the results achieved in the conversion of sinners. Judged by that standard, who can take the palm from Spurgeon?
But he is not only great as a preacher of the Gospel. He is remarkable as an organizer. His
executive ability is conspicuous. The organization of his great church with its numerous branches, his Pastor’s College and his Orphan Home, as we shall see, all bear testimony to his practical business — talent as well as to his Christian faith. A brief sketch of his life may therefore be welcome to the readers of this volume of sermons.
Mr. Spurgeon springs from a pious and loyal ancestry. His great-grandfather was contemporary with the opening portion of the reign of King George III. From that day to the present, there has always been some one of the Spurgeon family to stand before God in the sanctuary, as a minister of the New Testament. His father, the Rev. John Spurgeon, who was born in 1811, has been a Congregational minister of great usefulness, and his mother was a woman of sincere piety and humility. She trained their children with prayerful solicitude, and was rewarded by seeing every one of them gathered into the fold of Christ. Two of her sons occupy prominent pulpits in the British Metropolis, and a daughter is the wife of a minister of the Gospel. Mrs. Spurgeon said to her son Charles one day, after he had been converted and had joined the Baptist Church, “Ah, Charley, I have often prayed that you might be saved, but never that you should become a Baptist.” She received for a reply: “God has answered your prayer, mother, with His usual bounty, and given you more than you asked.” No doubt the influence of this godly mother is a large factor in the success of the son.
Her husband being a non-conformist minister and
much away from home, often felt solicitous for the
training of the children, but she was a true helpmeet and equal to her task. Returning one day after an
absence of some time, Mr. Spurgeon says: “I returned»
home feeling that while I was toiling for others, I might be neglecting my own children, I opened the door and was surprised to find none of the children about the
hall. Going quietly up stairs, I heard my wife’s voice.
She was praying with the children; I heard her pray for them by name, one by one. She came to Charles and specially prayed for him, for he was of a high spirit and a daring temper. I listened till she had ended her prayer, and I felt and said, ‘Lord, I will go on with Thy work; the children will be cared for’.”
Charles Haddon Spurgeon was born at Kelvedon, a village in Essex, on June 19, 1834. He was a bright, brainy lad, full of animal spirits. He spent a large part of his youthful years at Stambourne with his grandparents, where he developed a love for books, such as Giant Despair, Pilgrim’s Progress, Robinson Crusoe, and the like, displaying a precocity which attracted general attention. Quite early in life he also gave indications of that boldness and decision which marked his mature years.
It is related of him that before he was six years old, seeing a person who made a profession of religion in the company of others of doubtful character, he astonished the big man by asking: ‘What doest thou here, Elijah?”
At ten years of age, an event occurred which had an important bearing upon his life. While staying at mr Knill b became inieedstei in the ae upon “hear in
him read a passage of Scripture at family worsl They had several conversations, and when Mr. Knill .: was about to leave he called the family together, and taking Charley on his knees said:. Me “I eal a solemn presentiment that this child will ps preach the Gospel to thousands and God will bless him to many souls. So sure I am of this that I should like him to promise me, that when my little 3; man preaches in Rowland Hillis Chapel, as he will — one day, he will give out the hymn: el ‘God moves in a mysterious way,’” etc. Py:
The promise was made and never forgotten. Charles committed the hymn to memory. Sous afterward he a said: ‘The prophetic declaration is fulfilled. When ag I had the privilege of preaching the Word of Life in — A Surrey Chapel, and also when I preached in Mr. Hill’s ie first pulpit at Wooten-Edge, the hymn was sung in both places.” No doubt Mr. Knill’s words helped to — be: bring about their own fulfillment. Mr. Spurgeon ry himself regards it so. He says: “I believed Mr.
Knill’s id and looked forward to the time when me I should preach the Word.” 3
The boy spent four years at a school in Colchester studying Greek, Latin and French. He was an industrious and apt student, carrying off the prizesin all competitions. In 1849 he went to New Market, — where, under the care of Mr. Swindell he practiced self-denial, in trying to serve God. At this time he — passed through a severe ental conflict with infidelity.
: ‘He says of it: “JT too have been like the free-thinker. ase ae an evil hour, when I slipped the anchor of my
faith; I cut the cable of my belief; I no longer moored myself hard by the coast of ae ea I allowed
myself to drift like a vessel before the wind and thus” started on the voyage of infidelity. I said to Reason,
be thou my captain; I said to my own brain, be thou
my rudder; and I started on my mad voyage. Thank God, it is all over now; but I will tell you its brief
. history: it was one ieee sailing over the tempestuous ocean of free-thought.” But he soon conquered these doubts.:
HIS CONVERSION, This occurred in 1850, early in the month of Janu-
: ary, in a Primitive Methodist Chapel. It will be best
to relate this important occurrence in his own language, for he frequently refers to it in his sermons. He says: “I will tell you how I myself was brought to the
is knowledge of this truth. It may happen the telling
of that may bring some one else to Christ. It pleased
S God in my childhood to convince me of sin. I lived
a miserable creature, finding no hope, no comfort,
thinking that surely God would never save me. At
last the worst came to the worst — I was miserable; I could scarcely do anything. My heart was broken in pieces. Six months did I pray, prayed agonizingly
with ‘all my heart, and never had an answer. I resolved that, in the town where I lived, I would visit
every place of worship, in order to find out the way of salvation. I felt I was willing to do anything, and be anything, if God would only forgive me. I set — off, and went to all places of worship, and though I dearly venerate the men that occupy those pulpits now, and I did so then, I am bound to say that I never heard them once fully preach the Gospel. I méan by that, that they preached truth, great truths, many good truths that were fitting to many of their congregation — spiritually-minded people; but what I wanted to know was: How can I get my sins forgiven? And they never once told me that. I wanted to hear how a poor sinner, under a sense of sin, might find peace with God; and when I went I heard a sermon on ‘Be not deceived, God is not mocked,’ which cut me up worse, but did not say how I might escape. I went another day, and the text was something about the glories of the righteous; nothing for poor me. I was something like a dog under the table, not allowed to eat the children’s food. I went time after time, and I can honestly say, I don’t know that I ever went without prayer to God, and I am sure that there was not a more attentive hearer in all the place than myself, for I panted and longed to understand how I might be saved. At last one snowy day it snowed so much I could not go to the place, I had determined to go to, and I was obliged to stop on the road; and it was a blessed stop to me. I found rather an obscure street, and turned down a court, and there was a little chapel. I wanted to go somewhere, but I did not know this place. It was a Primitive Methodists’ chapel. I had heard of these people from many, how they sang so loudly that they made people’s heads ache; but that did not matter. I wanted — to know how I might be saved, and if they made my head ache ever so much I did not care. So sitting down, the services went on, but no minister came. At last a very thin-looking man came into the pulpit and e opened his Bible and read these words: ‘Look unto
me, and ye be saved, all the ends of the earth.’ Just
setting his eyes upon me, as if he knew me all by
heart, he said: ‘Young man, you are in trouble.’ Well, I was, sure enough. Says he, ‘You will never get out
-of it unless you look to Christ.’ And then lifting up
his hands, he cried out, as only, I think, a Primitive Methodist could do, ‘Look, look, look! It is only took. saw at once the way of salvation. Oh, how I did leap for joy at that moment! I know not what
else he said; I did not take much notice of it, I was so possessed with that one thought. Like as when
the brazen serpent was lifted up, they only looked and were healed. I had been waiting to do fifty things, but when I heard this word ‘Look,’ what a charming word it seemed to me! Oh, I looked until I could almost have looked my eyes away, and in heaven I will look on still in my joy unutterable. I now think I am bound never to preach a sermon without preaching to sinners. I do think that a minister who can preach a sermon without addressing sinners does not know how to preach.”
He knew the day and the very hour, when this great change was wrought in his soul. He says: “I
shall never forget that day, while memory holds its place; nor can I help repeating this text whenever ‘I remember that hour when I was turned from darkness to light,and from the power of Satan unto God.” Spurgeon at once indentified himself with the
Baptist Church at Cambridge, and soon found opportunity for exercising in capacities suited to his talent. Already in 1851, when he was but 16 years old, he preached his first sermon, in the village of Taversham, about four miles from Cambridge. His text was I. Pet. 2. 7: “Unto you therefore, which believe, He is precious.” - The sermon made a good impression and gave promise of a brilliant future, although he had had no time to prepare for it, having accompanied another young brother who was expected to preach, but declined. He found so much encouragement and delight in this service, that he soon arranged to preach somewhere each evening, after his studies for the day were over. These services were held in the villages about Cambridge, sometimes in cottages, again in chapels, and often on the open common. The people at Waterbeach were so well pleased with the boy-preacher that they invited him to become their pastor. The membership increased in a few months from forty to nearly a hundred.
In 1854 he was called to preach in London. The New Park-Street Baptist Church, Southwark, was without a pastor; it was in a state of decay; the membership was scattered; its condition was deplorable, and the deacons were despondent. One of them happened to hear young Spurgeon deliver an address at a Union Sunday-School anniversary in Cambridge, and was so impressed with the youthful speaker, that in a few weeks Spurgeon received an invitation to preach a sermon in the New Park-Street Baptist Chapel. The people were astonished. After preaching for them several Sundays, they gave him a call to become their pastor. This was a surprise to him; New Park-Street was one of the most ancient Baptist churches in London, and had an illustrious roll of names among its former pastors. At length et preacher had spread over the city, and crowds flocked to hear him preach. The newspapers even were puzzled, and asked, “Who is this Spurgeon?”
of the multitude. Nor did this prove to be a mere passing sensation. Spurgeon was no comet blazing suddenly, and waning as suddenly, but a fixed star of the first magnitude among the great preachers of a the British metropolis, who has the attention of the world to- -day, after more than thirty years. Hardly had the young man entered upon his metropolitan pastorate, when the memorable Summer of 1854 brought to London that awful scourge, Asiatic cholera. The black flag stretched across the streets was a’ signal everywhere visible. Mr. Spurgeon’s powers were severely taxed, waiting on the sick, visiting the dying and administering consolation to the bereaved. The scourge made sad inroads on the membership of his church, and he came near breaking down under the strain. But he suffered no -harm, for he trusted God implicitly. In the Autumn of that year he preached a Wiecaeh eo sermon from the words, “Is it not wheat harvest toa day?” The sermon attracted special attention. Dura ing the week following it was printed under the title
Harvest Time”, and had a large sale. The same: publisher then printed another of his sermons. The public demand for these sermons was great, and
vitation was fopcenied: and Mr. Spurgeon began ss ork in the metropolis in April 1854. Before: ‘months had expired, the fame of the New Park-
Be oon as waited upon his ministry; he had the ear
gradually led to more frequent publications of them, which increased his popularity. — With the year 1855
he made arrangements with a publisher, a member she’s
of his church, to publish one sermon each week. Since that time the sermons of Spurgeon have appeared regularly, week after week, for more than thirty years without interruption, enjoying an im- — mense circulation and being blessed to thousands all over the world. Wherever the English language is spoken, and indeed throughout Christendom, Spurgeon’s name is a household word.
Before a year was up, his Chapel had to be enlarged, to accommodate the thousands who flocked to hear “this round-faced country youth”. Upon the occasion of his first visit to Scotland in 1855, twelve thousand people crowded into an open common at Hackney to hear him.
January 8th, 1856, Mr. Spurgeon was married to Miss Susanna Thompson, daughter of Mr. Robert Thompson of Falcon Square, London. Their married life has been happy. They have two sons, Charles and Thomas, both ministers. His wife has been a sympathetic helpmeet to him in his abundant labors. Although she has been a constant sufferer and a confirmed invalid, she has done a great work. From her quiet chamber she has personally directed many thousands of books to pastors whose libraries were in need. She has created a book fund from which grants of books are made to needy pastors of all evangelical denominations who are actually in’ charge of a work, who are wholly devoted to the
—385 — MAR ieee * 4 ON ministry and whose income does not exceed $750 per,
annum. Besides this, she superintends a private
- mission which sends clothing to destitute women and children. Thus she carries forward with a woman’s ’
tact well planned schemes of benevolence, and yet
all is done so quietly that multitudes hear nothing
of it.
Even the enlargement of his church was not long sufficient, and it was found necessary to procure the largest available auditorium in the metropolis. This was the Royal Surrey Gardens Music Hall. In that
in October, 1856, and continued every Sabbath morning until the great Metropolitan Tabernacle was completed. The foundation stone of the Tabernacle was laid August 16, 1859 by Sir Samuel Morton Peto. The opening service was held in it March 25, 1861 Though it cost $156,660, it was dedicated free of debt. It is 146 feet long, 81 feet broad, 62 feet high and provides room for 5000 people. Since then various improvements have been made, so that now it seats 5,500 persons, with standing-room for 1,000 more, making a total capacity of 6,500. And yet it has always been filled — because the pulpit is always filled. The membership of the church rapidly increased after the occupancy of the great Church edi-
fice. In ten years 3,569 persons were received into
church fellowship by the pastor.
Mr. Spurgeon’s preaching has been listened to, not only by the ‘common people” who indeed hear him gladly, but by many members of the aristocratic cir-
-yast audience room Mr, Spurgeon began preaching
ae Ye by persons of note. Among these may be mentioned Lord Chief Justice Campbell, Earl of Shaftesbury, Florence Nightingale, Dr. David Livingstone, and in recent years Mr. Gladstone has been a frequent attendant at the Metropolitan Tabernacle. Gladstone speaks glowingly of Spurgeon as “the last of the Puritans.” Livingstone, the great explorer of the Dark Continent declares after hear- — ing Spurgeon preach on one occasion, that no religious service he ever attended had so deeply impressed his mind as that Sunday morning service in Spurgeon’s church. The memory of it, he added, would afford him consolation when he should again have buried himself in the wilds of Africa. The great preacher is thus described: He is of medium height, quite stout, has a round. face, not a high Cte and his dark hair is parted in the middle. His appearance in the pulpit is interesting, rather than commanding. His figure is awkward, his manners plain; his face is admitted to be heavy except when illuminated by a smile. His voice is the one instrument of his marvellous power over the minds and hearts of his hearers. His voice is rich, powerful, melodious and under perfect control. Twelve thousand have distinctly heard every sentence he uttered in the open air, and his voice carried his burning words to twenty thousand people in Crystal Palace, “A.critic says: “As soon as he commences to speak, tones of richest melody are heard. A voice, full, sweet, and musical, falls on every ear, and awakens agreeable emo-
The countenance speaks, the entire form sympathizes. is The action is in complete unison with the sentiments, and the eye listens scarcely less than the ear to the sweet flowing oratory. To the influence of this powerful voice he adds that of a manner characterized
e by great freedom and fearlessness, intensely earnest — ae and strikingly natural. When to these we add thrille: ing description, touching anecdote, sparkling wit, MG - startling episode, striking similes, all used to illustrate and enforce the truths of the Bible, we have a combination of elements which must make up a preacher of: .. wonderful attraction and of marvellous power.”
SPURGEON AT HOME.
Rev. Dr. Theodore L. Cuyler writing from London, under date of June 25, (1889,) gives the following graphic description of Mr. Spurgeon and his home 5 life; “a “During every visit to London it has been my os privilege to pass a Saturday afternoon with Mr. Spurgeon, for that is his holiday. Accordingly, Mr. Hall and myself drove down to his beautiful villa of ‘ Westwood, near Sydenham, Crystal Palace. A ‘damsel Rhoda’ at the porter’s lodge opened the gate, and we passed up a shaded avenue to the house. Itisa spacious mansion, embowered in foliage and flowers Sy and verdant lawns; and this lovely home, with itstions in. every soul in which there is ‘a sympathy for sounds. That most excellent voice is under perfect control, and can thunder, or whisper at the wish of its ‘ k an possessor. Then there is poetry in every feature, and every movement, as well as music in the voice.
388: surrounding drives, is his one luxury and recreation. He attends no dinner parties or junketings of any kind, joins in no public amusements, but gives himself entirely to his home, his books, and his pulpit. On Sabbath mornings he drives in — six miles- — to his Tabernacle, preaches twice; he conducts the church prayer-meeting on Monday evening, end lectures to two or three thousand people on Thursday evening. He gave us a very racy account of his last prayer-meeting, which in freedom of speech and fervency of devotion would be a model for all our prayer-meetings; a half dozen persons were struggling at once to ‘get, the floor, and no prayer lasted more than a minute.
“We found Mr. Spurgeon as stout, as genial, as unique, and as merry-hearted as ever. He took us out through his lovely garden and lawn, and then through a gate into his ‘farm.’ His own grounds cover twelve acres, and he rents twenty acres more for farming purposes. His good wife keeps a dozen cows, and the proceeds of her dairy support a city missionary. We strolled off into a meadow where the mowers were busy in hay-making, and throwing ourselves down on a pile of the fragrant hay, we played boy, and told stories. As I looked at Mr. Spurgeon in his playful boyishness, it was not easy to believe that our merry companion was the most extraordinary preacher of modern times — the wonderful herald of salvation, whose trumpet of truth is heard throughout all lands. Let us thank God that neither he nor Newman Hall have ever lowered the standard of the Cross by a single inch. After our stroll through the fields and the gardens and the graperies, where our host gave us a botanical talk, we came in to tea, and then adjourned to the spacious library for family worship, It was a joint service, and it was worth a journey to England to listen to my beloved brother’s sweet and rich and characteristic prayer. He conversed with God as a child talks with a father. At six o’clock we bade him farewell, and he opened his Bible, and according to his usual custom, selected his. text, and laid out the plan of his sermon. This he usually does within an hour.”
Spurgeon’s manner of pulpit preparation may not be uninteresting to our readers, as described recently ‘by his son.
“On Saturday night after six o’clock he prepares his two sermons for the following Sunday; he has not, probably, decided on the subjects until that time. He never writes a sermon, but simply makes a few notes upon a sheet of note paper. On Monday he revises his Sunday morning sermon, which has been taken down in shorthand and. transcribed. Tuesday and Wednesday he is generally away somewhere preaching, besides attending to his literary work in the daytime. Thursday is service night, generally preceded by inquirers’ meeting, when he talks with those about to join the church. Friday he attends. the Preachers’ College. Saturday morning he attends to correspondence, and in the afternoon has a reception for visitors. There are two church services on Sunday, morning nd evening, each of which is attended by 6000 persons. My father believes in extemporaneous preaching; his expression is that. preachers should prepare themselves as much as possible, then lay aside the writing, and speak straight out. He does not believe in reading sermons, but in natural talking. He thinks that young preachers can cultivate this gift. Many of them, probably, have the gift and it is lying dormant; it might become almost extinct, whereas if they cultivate it it grows stronger.”
This gives also an insight into the vast amount of work Pastor Spurgeon does outside his great pulpit efforts. His church is, in fact, the nucleus and centre of a great system of benevolent, missionary and evangelistic enterprises. We have only room to mention the more important of these sub-organizations, all of which are under his general supervision.
a) The Colportage Association, organized in 1866.
b) The Tabernacle Building Fund; capital $25,000.
c) Mrs. Spurgeon’s Book Fund.
d) Mr. Oncken’s German Mission, which supports two missionaries in Germany.
e) Mr. Orsman’s Mission in Golden Lane, city.
f) Richmond Street Mission and Sunday-schools, Walworth.
g¢) Greenwalk Mission, Bermondsey.
h) Mr. Hampton’s Blind Mission.
i) Mrs. Thomas’s Mother’s Mission.
j) Tabernacle Sunday-school, with 1,000 children in regular attendance.
k) A country Mission.
1) Evangelist’s Association.
m) A Loan Tract Society.
n) THe OrPHANAGES AT STOCKWELL are among the most important institutions in Mr. Spurgeon’s care. They were founded bya gift of one hundred thousand dollars from a friend of his, and are supported by the voluntary contributions and the revenue of the capital fund. Fatherless boys and girls are received between the ages of six and ten. Here they are taught and trained. Special efforts are being made to bring them ave taney s ieuer Al er 2 Ag oN, Hs ey cane ay ame sa 2: ie yea, ea ec
“he = 39r Lip a See amr a Der e eas ‘See in the fear of God and in the knowledge a the oh aay = truth: by Sc. Mr. Spurgeon’s relation to the inmates is one of — tender intimacy. He finds great delight in this work,
and the children love him, Mr. John B. Gough, the eminent temperance lecturer relates this incident in his book entitled “Sunlight and Shadow” —
“TI would like to give you an incident to illustrate Mr. Spurgeon’s greatness and simplicity: He wished
Bi me to visit his Boys’ Orphanage at Stockwell. I ao could go only on Saturday, and his note to me was .. characteristic: ‘Beloved friend, — Although I never go -
out on Saturdays, my horses, being under the law 2 and not under grace, keep the seventh-day Sabbath, yet we will arrange to visit the orphanages,’ etc.
ae “A beautiful day it was, for London, as we rode. together chatting all the way. When we entered the grounds, the boys set up a shout of joy at the sight of their benefactor. I asked, ‘What are the requirements for admission? He said, ‘Utter destitution.
Nothing denominational. We have more of the 2 Church of England than of the Baptists. We have -. Roman Catholics, Presbyterians, Methodists — all sorts.’
“After watching the gymnastic exercises of the boys, and after I had spoken a few words to them, Mr. Spurgeon said to me:
“Will you go with met o the infirmary? We have one boy who is very ill with consumption; he can not live, and I wish to see him, for he would be et Se ea
disappointed if he knew I had been here and had - oe
not seen him.’
“We went into the cool, sweet chamber, and there — lay the boy. He was very much excited when he saw Mr. Spurgeon. The great preacher sat by his side, and I cannot describe the scene. Holding the boy’s hand in his, he said:
“Well, my dear, you have some precious promises in sight all round the room. Now, dear, you are going to die, and you are very tired lying here, and soon you will be free from pain, and you will rest. Nurse, did he rest last night?’
“He coughed very much.’
«Ah, my dear boy, it seems very hard for you to lie here all day in pain, and cough at night. Do you love Jesus?’
pees.
“Jesus loves you.. He bought you with His precious blood, and He knows what is best for you. It seems hard for you to lie here and listen to the shouts of the healthy boys outside at play. But soon Jesus will take you home, and then He will tell you the reason and you will be so glad.’
“Then laying his hand on the boy, without the formality of kneeling, he said:
““O Jesus, Master, this dear child is reaching out his thin hand to find Thine. Touch him, dear Saviour, with Thy loving, warm clasp. Lift him as he passes the cold river, that his feet be not chilled by the water of death; take him home in Thine own good time. Comfort and cherish him till that good
; aes oe Fi. see shes a know Thee more and more as his loving Saviour.’
“After a.moment’s pause, he said: “Now, dear, is there anything you would like?
Would you like a little canary in a cage, to hear him
sing in the morning? Nurse, see that he has a canary
to-morrow morning. Good-bye, my dear; you will
see the Saviour, perhaps, before I shall.’ “7 have seen Spurgeon hold by his power sixty-five hundred persons in a breathless interest; I knew him as a great man universally esteemed and beloved; but as he sat by the bedside of a dying pauper child whom his beneficence had rescued, he was to me a greater and grander man than when swaying the mighty multitude at will.”
o) Tue Pastor’s CoLLecE is another institution to which Mr. Spurgeon devotes much attention, Itisa sort of “school of prophets”. It was the first important institution begun by him, and it is still his favorite. The Pastor’s College began in 1856. Mr. Spurgeon says of it:
“When it-was commenced, I had not even a re- ‘mote idea of whereunto it would grow. There were springing up around me, as my own spiritual children, many earnest young men, who felt an irresistible impulse to preach the Gospel, and yet their want of education would be a sad hindrance to them. It was not in my heart to bid them cease their preaching, and had I done so, they would in all probability have ignored my recommendation. As it seemed that ave ™
preach they would, thoues: hid attainments were —
very slender, no other course was open but to give them an opportunity te educate themselves.
“The Holy Spirit very evidently had set his Jon upon the work of one of them, by conversions wrought under his open-air addresses; it seemed therefore a plain matter of duty to instruct this youthful Apollos still further, that he might be fitted for wider usefulness. No college at that time appeared to me to be suitable for the class of men that the providence and grace of God drew around me. They were mostly poor, and most of the colleges involved necessarily a considerable outlay to the student. .... - Moreover it must be frankly admitted that my views of the Gospel and of the mode of training preachers were and are somewhat peculiar..... It seemed
to me that preachers of the grand old truths of the
Gospel, suitable for the masses, were more likely to be found in an institution where preaching and divinity would be the main object, and not degrees and other insignia of human learning.”
These considerations led him to begin with a few
tried young men, whom he placed under the care of
an experienced and capable minister. He found the right man in Mr. George Rogers, a man of Puritanic stamp, deeply learned, orthodox, judicious. The work began in Mr. Roger’s house.
From the first the pastor maintained the College
from his own purse, although the number of students —
rapidly enlarged. The immense sale of his sermons,
OE ule a A en ie by RR th? a A eS Gea Ge)
tea ne fr ‘:
together with the practical economy of his wife, he asserts, enabled him to spend between three and four
thousand dollars in this delightful work. But suddenly this source of income dried up, like Elijah’s “brook Cherith”. Mr. Spurgeon, namely, had taken
occasion to speak in bold denunciation of the institution of slavery then existing in the United States.
This brought ona reaction against him, and he was
confronted with a serious interference with his plans. He even proposed to sell his horse and carriage, but his friends would not hear of it. Then he told his faithful congregation of his difficulty, and they began to support the College by weekly offerings. However, this proved at first a meager source of income. Just then, when he reached his extremity, an unknown lady sent him one thousand dollars, to be used in
educating young men for the ministry. He says:*
‘How did my heart leap for joy! I threw myself
then and thenceforth upon the bounteous care of the
Lord, whom I desired with my whole heart to glorify by this effort.”
Soon afterward the Tabernacle congregation adopted the institution, and cared for it. The contributions steadily increased, till in the year 1869, the amount reached exactly £1,869 (equal to $9,345). The number of students ranges from eighty to one hundred. This institution has been a great blessing, and is prosperous at the present time.
* Needham’s Life and Labors of C. H. Spurgeon.
LITERARY LABORS,
It remains to refer to Mr. Spurgeon’s literary labors,
which have been very abundant. One would think
that a man with such a congregation to minister to, and with such a system of institutions to superintend, —
would be more than busy. And so he would be, were
he any body but C. H. Spurgeon. But Spurgeon has nevertheless found time to do a remarkable amount of literary work.
Twenty years ago, Mr. Spurgeon began the publication of “The Sword and Trowel”, a monthly magazine of sterling merit. It is personally conducted by Spurgeon on a rather unique plan, and contains stirring editorials, brief spiritual sermons, spicy lectures, and helpful instructions for Christian workers. Its readers are very numerous, among all denominations, both in England and America.
For twenty years he also edited and published annually, a volume of his sermons which have had a wide sale in book form.
Almost every minister has his great masterpiece, “The Treasury of David” in seven fine volumes, which is beyond compare the most excellent exposition of the Psalms, ever attempted or produced by an uninspired pen. For generations to come, men will be grateful to Charles H. Spurgeon, for writing that work.
At the same time he has been a constant contributor to the press of the day, conducted book reviews, and has carried on a voluminous private correspondence. Then ec are his Poke Ploughman’s Talks”.
which are full of the quaintest and most original home be talks. to common people. One is led to wonder how he succeeds in doing so many things, and doing them all with such remarkable ability, skill and adaptedness, but the Lord has cut Charles H. Spurgeon from no common mould, and we would not advise any one to — conclude that his case belies the common rule, “Jack
of all trades and master of none.” He is simply an exception to the rule. Common folks had better not attempt to follow him. Besides in all this his motives
are transparent. He simply seeks to serve the Lord with all his powers, and in that we may all follow his
example.
In every thing that Spurgeon says wad does, he displays conspicuously that rarest of all mental virtues, common-sense. He clings closely to old-fashioned orthodoxy in his theological belief, and stands like a rock amid the shifting sands of liberalism which are “carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.” He expressed himself thus in an inaugural address in 1881:
“Just now we much need faith in the form of fxzty of belief. 1 just now heard one of you say to another, ‘How broad you get’! Well, we do widen out; but not as some men, for we are not of the broad school who believe little or nothing aright, because they desire to believe everything. We have cast our
anchor; it has taken a firm grip; we have ceased to
drift; we remain at rest. Some men have no creed; “ae B90 ts
or if they have, it is altered so often that it is no use to them. Modern creeds are like the clothes of Italian peasants, which I have gazed upon with wondering oe inquiry. It would puzzle the most learned geologist: to discover the primary foundation of a pair of trousers, which have been patched and ‘mended with
cloth of all patterns and colors, from generation to generation. Such and so varied are some men’s beliefs and unbeliefs; an agglomeration of philosophic
rags, metaphysical tatters, theological remnants and heretical cast-offs.”
Within the last year a great struggle took place between him and the liberalizing element in the Baptist Church. He rebuked the current laxity of belief with his characteristic force, and withdrew from the “Baptist Union”, a ministerial association, because he would not be persuaded to join what he called the “Down Grade” movement in theological circles. The rumor was rife at one time, that he would abandon
-~ the denomination and set up for himself, but he spurned the very thought; ‘“Spurgeonism” he will not hear of.
If we had any fault to find with Mr. Spurgeon in doctrinal matters, it would be the fact that he advocates the doctrines of Calvinism. He is a Calvinist on all occasions and at every opportunity. He does not mince matters. But this is only an insignificant spot on the broad bright disc of his wonderful usefulness.
Of late years Spurgeon has suffered greatly from
that painful malady, gout. It drives him into the
country almost every year for rest. Often he is com-
pelled to sit in his chair while delivering his sermons.
Recently the rumor -has gained currency that he
would resign his charge. Referring to this rumor he said:
“No idea of giving up my beloved work has crossed:
my mind of late. When the Lord sends the manifest successor, the original worker will cheerfully give way; but why should he do so while as yet his years
are only forty-five, and he is no worse in health than
he has been wont to be, but on the contrary has had a better year than usual?”
The question is frequently and naturally asked, Wherein lies the great power of Mr. Spurgeon as a preacher? A writer says: “This can not be answered - without taking into account his entire make-up. His
body is built for all the effort and endurance of a
public preacher. He is a stout man of medium height; his neck heavy, his chest broad, his face round, his mouth wide, his manners plain, his gesticulation rather quiet. His mind is endowed with a wonderful combination of attributes. His conception of what he wants to say is as clear as a sunbeam. He reads human nature at a glance, and can adapt his style to his audience at will. This was finely illustrated when he preached to a large congregation of London criers and coster-mongers upon a certain occasion, in Golden Lane. After the service the
delighted, excited children of nature exclaimed as ‘one met the other: “Wonderful!” ‘Wot a voice!”
e ° 3 “Stunnin’!” “I never!” ‘Would make a foine coster!’
stale to ve saa Bits never perfor
holy mountebank, is never vulgar, a sad never ee nitates any one else. Then he has a most rete eo 2 eae As to the choice of language, he is g
Etiee writers. Hei is sid to have Pad ‘Pilgrim Progress’ through about one hundred times. Sa ee ‘The more I read it, the more I wonder - Bunyan’s power. Of all Christian writers, I ra him next to the Apostle Paul.’ Then his soe is pe tcd with Bible truth. ira a to him i is eee
the simplicity of clear sien he the cea of easy figures and pure words. He talks like a full- eceu ce man to men whom he must meet at the bar eS, God.” oa