The life and labors of Charles H. Spourgeon

Front matter

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Preface

M

R. SPURGEON has never written his own life, nor has he authorized any one else to do so. He has had no personal interest in or connection with any of the "Sketches" which have issued from the press. Facts of history are, however, common to all, and there is no law forbidding publishers to trade in foreign works ; nevertheless, a moral obligation will bind* every honorable man to refrain from piracy. We have acknowledged our indebtedness elsewhere to^ Mr. Steveuson, and we hope his valuable little work will become accessible to American readers. From Mr. Spurgeon himself we have had generous permission to make use of his writings at our own discretion. We heartily thank him for this privilege. His personal letters have encouraged us in our youthful days to persevere in evangelistic labors, while those received in later years are precious treasures. With characteristic humility he suggests in his latest, " Don't let writing take you off from preaching ; I am a poor subject ; keep to the Lord Jesus."

In our careful and conscientious preparation of this book we have heeded the sweet counsel of this dear servant of

VI PREFACE.

Christ, and have prayerfully labored to make prominent, not the disciple, but the Master, and thereby magnify His abounding grace.

We earnestly trust that this form of ministry will, " through the thanksgiving of many, redound to the glory of God."

^^ ; C^ ^ISL^ytiiuu,.^

Manchester-by-the-Sea, Mass.

Chapter I. Introductory

Four Pen Pictures. — The Whitfield of the Nineteenth Century. — Second Photograph. — Third Photograph. — Last Photograph. — Letter to his Uncle. — Glorying in Grace.- — "The Boy is Father to the Man." — A Great Statesman. — Youth and Old Age. — Middle Life. — *' All my Springs are in Thee." — Pastor James H. Brookes. — Mr„ Spurgeon in the Dingy Chapel. — His Prayer. — The Sermon. — "Thank God for Spurgeon ! " — A Flash of Genius. — Sensational Preachers. — Mr. Spurgeon is a Manly Man. — Herculean Labors. • — Dr. Chalmers. — A Living Man. — Bishop Nicholson. — A Pastor's Testimony. — A Many-sided Man. — Mr, Spurgeon's Personal History. — Motives in this Work. — Mr. Spurgeon's Example. — Teaching of the Great Preacher, — The Bible. — Business Men who need a Book. — Wit and Homely Wisdom. — " A Labor of Love '* ^ ,

Chapter II. Ancestry, Parentage, Birth

History of Mr. Spurgeon to his Forty-third Birthday. — Ancestors. — Great Grandfather. — Grandfather. — A Long Pastorate. — Great Usefulness.

— Buckled Shoes and Silk Stockings. — The Father of Charles. — Personal Worth and Ministerial Ability. — - The Beloved Mother. — Charley a Baptist. —June 19, 1834, their Son Charles born.— A Noble Mother. " The Children will be cared for," — Precocity. — Richard Knill's Prophecy. — The Bottomless Pit. — Mr. Knill and the Lad. — Strange Fulfilment. — Sowing beside all Waters. — Aunt Ann. — " Old Bonner."

— School. — Reason and Revelation . . - » 21

Vlll CONTENTS.

CHAPTER IIL

CONVERSION AND PREACHING.

Deep Conviction. — Heart broken in Pieces. — One Snowy Day. — " Look, look, look ! " — How to preach. — A Bit for Boys. — A Grateful Heart. — Baptism. — Consecration. — First Sermon. — Results. — First Pastorate. — Cornelius Elven. — Hindered from going to College. — An Aversion to College. — Sunshine. — Poem at Age of Eighteen • • • 35

Chapter IV. Call To London

The Youthful Evangehst. — Mr. Spurgeon came, preached, conquered. — The Congregation stirred. — Letters to the Church. — Six Months'' Invitation. — The Small Minority. — I accept it. — Fame of the Young Minister. — Who is this Spurgeon ? — Asiatic Cholera. — The Shoemaker's Window. — Publication of Sermons. — The Preacher's Style. — A . Quaker's Criticism. — Exeter Hall. — First Visit to Scotland. — Open-air Sermon. — Anne Sims. — Watchnight Service. — Clergymen using his Sermons , 49

Chapter V

Marriage. — Twin Boys.— New Park-street Chapel enlarged. — Royal Surrey Gardens Music Hall. — The Great Tabernacle. — The Aristocracy. — Membership in Ten Years, 3,569. — The Queen of Holland.

— Invited to America. — " Nor would I receive Money for Preaching."

— Twenty Thousand formed the Preacher's Audience. — Fen Pictures.

— Incessant Duties. —The First Student.— " Married Love" ... 63

Chapter VI. Revivals

" Our Own Hymn Book." — The Colportage Association. — "Spurgeonism." — Mr. Spurgeon in Paris. — Costermongers. — " Wot a Woice ! " — Immense Congregations in the Agricultural Hall. —Visit to Heligoland <. 73

CONTENTS, IX

Chapter VII. Multiplying Work

The Orphan Houses. — A Great Festival. — '' On my Back." — His Brother Co-Pastor. — Prophetic Words of Richard Knill. — A Dark Shadow.— Strange Tales. — "A Black Business.'^ — Small-Pox. —Encouraging Pastors. — Remarkable Energy and Activity. — Visit to Italy. — King Victor Immanuel. — "Feathers for Arrows." — The Bible as a Daily School-Book * 8i

Chapter VIII. Results Of Overwork

Additions to the Church. — Jersey and Guernsey. — Telegram from Boston. — A Second Tabernacle. — Membership in 1873,4,417. — Well done, Pastor Spurgeon! — The Jubilee Singers. — Strange and Interesting Facts. — Helping Newman Hall. — Literary Labors. — The New College 91

CHAPTER IX. TRIALS AND DELIVERANCESc

Debts paid, but Bank empty. — George Miiller. — Mr. Spurgeon in Bedford. — Smoking to the Glory of God. — A Noble Reply. — Charles and Thomas. — Declining a Testimonial. — " Twenty Years of Published Sermons." — Twofold Marvel. — Generous Distributions. — Gout. — Messrs. Moody and Sankey. — Best Remedy against Infidelity. — The Cabman and the Testament. — A Great Grief 99

Chapter X. Devising Liberal Things

The Work of Mrs. Bartlett. — '•' House of Mercy. ' — November Fogs in London. — Dr. Brock and Mr. Spurgeon. — Weekly Offerings. — Grandfather, Father, and Son. — The Pastor's Birthday. — Five Spurgeons dehvered Addresses. — The College Tutor and the Young Man. — " Laid Aside. Why?" — "The Tabernacle .was as full as a Barrel packed with Herrings." — Mr. Spurgeon in Scotland. — Rescue the Perishing. — Assailed by some Newspapers. — A Letter from Austria. — Mr. Spurgeon addresses Merchants and Business Men. —Controversy. — • A Flower Mission. —Variety of Agencies. — Extensive Benevolence and Philanthropy. — Forty-third Birthday. — The Pastoral Silver Wedding. — The Almshouses Ill

X CONTENTS.

Chapter XI. The Metropolitan Tabernacle

History of the Church. — Modest Ministers. — Best Excuse for Writing a History. — The Church born in Stormy Times. — 1645. — First Pastor. Oliver Cromwell. — Benjamin Keach. — Keach upon the Pillory. — The Cross is the Way to the Crown. — A Voluminous Writer. — Remarkable Answer to Prayer. — Benjamin Stinton. — John Gill. — The Great Linguist. — "I neither thought it, nor bought it, nor sought it." — Two New Tunes. — David's Tunes. — The Jokes were Ponderous. — The Scissors and the Long Tongue. — Not afraid to be Poor. — John Rippon. — An Address to George III. — Two Ministers during One Hundred and Seventeen Years. — Joseph Angus. — James Smith. — "Just like a Packet that is all ready." — Charles H. Spurgeon. — The Tabernacfe.

— James Spurgeon. — A Working Church. — Tabernacle Building Fund.

— Mrs. Spurgeon's Book Fund. — Various Missions . . .' . . . .125

Chapter XII. The Pastors' College

Colleges a Bane or a Blessing. — "Schools of the Prophets." — First-born and Best Beloved. — Mode of training Preachers. — Our Principal Tutor. — Carriage for Sale. — The Last Pound. — Forty Students. — Great Trial of Faith. — All-sufficient Provider. — A Miracle if all should excel. — Plan of Separate Lodging. — Eighty to One Hundred. — Efficient Tutors. — The Good Earl of Shaftesbury. — Various Ways in which God has answered Prayer. — Suitable and Commodious New Buildings. — Large Amounts. — Laus Deo 147

CHAPTER Xin.

Paganini. — Gratitude writ Large. — Experiment of Doddridge.— Seminaries of Socinianism. — Applicants not tempted by Rich Livings. — Scholarship. — Diamonds found in the Rough. — Some were induced to run away. — One of the Donkeys. — J. A. Spurgeon, Vice-President. — Weeding Work. — Stir up the Holy Fire. — How few ever pray for Students ! — Rank and File. — The Antipodes.— Letter from Austraha. — Fidelity to Christ. — Loving Epistle from Canada. — We " Shake Hands across the Vast."^ Evangelists for India. — Balance at the Banker's . . 161

CONTENTS. xi

Chapter XIV. Inaugural Address

It has stirred our Soul. — An Eccentric Judge. — The Rousing Signal of Nelson. — Parade is ended. — A Great German Philosopher. — Playing Croquet or Cricket. — The Moujik. — A Quaker. — " Do thee know how thee might draw Eleven Butts .?" — First get the Light. — A Great Advantage to a Minister. — A Brain is a very Hungry Thing. — Stars and Human Bones. — "More Light, Lord!" — A Little Comfortable Misery. — Talleyrand. — Blondin on the Tight Rope. — Keep the Light burning in Your Churches. — Heavenly Fire. — A Lukewarm Sermon. — The Apes and the Glowworm. — Energy. — Kindled from on High. — Wholly the Lord's. — Swans out of the Water. — The Head and not the Tail 173

CHAPTER XV. INAUGURAL ADDRESS {^Coiitmued)

Fixity of Belief — Boasting is Sorry Work. — Rally to the Old Standard. — The Sweetest Frame. — Leo X. — Pluck. — Regiment of Giants. — Expecting the Blessing. — Believe your own Doctrine. — The Alarm- Bell. — The Living God should be served by Living Men. — Preparing a Sermon. — Two Important Persons. — Greeks are always Youths. — Ornamental Waters. — Love is Power. — Love your Work. — Slocum-in-the-Marsh. — Soul-Winning a Passion. — The Golden Bribe. — Efficient Preachers. — Entire Surrender. — Our Watchword i!

Chapter XVI. Stockwell Orphanage

The Care of the Orphan. — Mrs. Hillyard's Offer of $100,000. — Foundations laid. — Silver- Wedding House. — Merchant's House. — Workmen's House. — Unity House. — College House. — Testimonial House.

— Selling Household Plate. — Munificent Gifts. — Selecting Orphans.

— The Management. — Many Applicants. — Various Gifts. — Encouraging Results. — Health of the Inmates 205

Xll CONTENTS.

Chapter XVII. Annual Report, 1881

Twelfth Report. — Faith in God. — Special Providence. — The Ever-opened Hand. — Sanitary Condition. — Family Worship. — Total Abstainers. — Christian Sympathy. — Song Services. — Spontaneous Benevolence. — Caring for the Widow and Fatherless. — " The Sermon House." — " The Limes." — " The Olives." — A Great Square. — Memorials. ...*.,..' 217

Chapter XVIII. The Girls' Orphanage

The Late Testimonial. — "Go Forward." — Never been in Debt. — A Grand Opportunity. — The Lord will provide. — One Thousand Dollars a Week. — Five Hundred Little Ones. — A Reasonable Service . . . 227

Chapter XIX. Sunshine In The Heart

Removed by Death. — A Heritage of Disease. — Dying Experiences. — Child-piety of the Theorists. — Ernest Bray. — Soul-Winning, — Deep-seated Disease. — "It looks More Shining!" — "I shall sing out Loud." — Your Loving Brother. — Happy now. — "I am ready." — " Dear Mr. Spurgeon." — " Dear Bray." — " Bray's Bricks." — Plum Cake. — Jesus, come quickly. — " There 's Jesus !"-—" Happy, happy, happy ! " — Mr. Gough. — Gymnastic Exercises. — A Penny apiece.

— The Sick Boy. — The Prayer. — The Greater and Grander Man.

— Aim of the Managers 233

Chapter XX. The Colportage Association

The Object of this Association. — Unsectarian in its Operations. —^ The Printing- Press. — Pernicious Literature. — Reports from Superintendents. — Distributed 4,620 Tracts. — Practical Usefulness of the Colportage Work. — The Untabulated Results. — Sold 289 Bibles and 1,229 Testaments. — Prevalence of Evil Literature and its Cure. — Conversions through Books. — Gratuitous Tract Distribution and its Results. —

— The Pipe-Light. — Mr. Spurgeon's Sermons. — Prayer under the Hedge. — Preaching the Gospel from House to House. — Addressing the Colliers. — The Colporteur's Sabbath. — Conversion Work. — The Colporteur and Temperance. — Branch of the Great Tree 249

CONTENTS. Xlll

Chapter XXI. ««the Sword And The Trowel."

Seventeenth Volume. — The Word and the Work. — Vein of Humor. — " I wish I had a Mother to come after Me ! " — " Launching Out." — ''Jock and his Mither."— Mr. Spurgeon's Preface. — The Editor.— Warm-hearted Brotherhood. — The Hand of the Lord. — Material for Preachers. — Our Watchword still is Forward. — "The Hornless Deacon,"— Deacons a Much-abused Order of Men. — A Hornless Deacon is one who cannot give Offence. — The Ram's Horn. — We sometimes drink out of a Horn. — Our Yankee Brethren have a Vivacious Style of Speech. — " More Ways of killing a Cat than by choking of him with Cream." — Soup for a Grasshopper. — Modern Collegians.— Gooseberries twice as Large as Possible. —The Common Slang of the Day.— Highly colored Descriptions. — Leave the Monstrous Gooseberries to the Newspapers. — " The Art of Tormenting." — Reconciled to being Corpulent.— A Back of Leather laughs at the Cat-o'-nine-tails» — Bane and Antidote 26

CHAPTER XXn.

Our First Sermon.— Many came to hear "The Boy." — Recruiting Sergeant. — A cunningly devised Sentence. — Fairly committed to do my Best, — -'" Bless your Dear Heart, how old are You ? " — Mute as Fishes.— The Prim Little Man. — Tv^^enty-five Years Ago. — Always Knew that his Minister would be run away with. — The Toll-Gate. — ■ The Youth from the Country. — The Great Divines. — Solitary Misery.

— Amazed at our own Temerity. — • The Lion has been looked at. — The Review. — Handful gleaned among the Sheaves. — Five Thousand

• Souls. — Not Another Gospel. — Hundreds of Young Men trained for the Ministry. — Evangelists. — Orphans have been fed. — An Army of Colporteurs. — ''What hath God wrought ?" — The Testimonials will go to support the Aged Sisters. — Sweet Fruit from a Thorny Tree. — The Bitter Box. — Pain teaches us our Nothingness. — We are most of us far too great. — Heavy Sickness and Crushing Pain. — The Windows shut which look towards Earth. — Pearls are bred in the Oyster by Disease. — Pain, if sanctified, creates Tenderness towards Others. — The Keys of Men's Hearts. — Pain has a Tendency to make us Grateful. — Jehovah Rophi. — Bruise, Lord. — Cast Anchor under the Shelter of Cape Fellowship. — Address to Students.— Ministers' Afflictions.

— Sir Francis Drake. — A Great Pugilist. — Diagoras the Rhodian.

— Against hastening to remove from the Post of Duty. — xiv CONTENTS.

" The Roundest Peg seldom fits into the Roundest Hole without some Paring." — Change has Charms to Some Men. — No Position without its Disadvantages. — "Brownie is in the Churn." — "Jack of all Trades." — " Should such a man as I flee ? " — The Hole is Round Enough , 275

Chapter XXIII

CONTRIBUTED ARTICLES BY MR. SPURGEON.

Visiting the Poor. — Joseph Cook. — Rather a Sly Poke, Mr. Cook. — Novel-Readers. — The Back Slums. — Salt wants to be rubbed in. — Ennui. — Society Wants to be made into a Stirabout. — A Continual Tooth-Drawing. — Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton. — Utterances in Prayer- Meetings. — Oh, that the Tooth were Out!— The Click, Clack, Click, Clack of a Fluent Female. — Doctrinal Error. — The Famous Dog of Nile. — The Artificial Flash of Culture. — A Lifeless Plain in the Heart of Persia. — So-called Scientific Men. — On George MUlleRo — The Noblest Work of God. — Personified Order. — Mr. MUller gives us the Idea of Enoch. — He is no Monk. — He is too Bright for our Pencil. — With Speculations he does not intermeddle. — He enjoys Life to the Utmost. — Pastorless Flocks- — Sheep without a Shepherd. — A Supply Committee. — Spurgeon refuses to be imported. — Inflating Ministers. — The Church and its Status. — "The Conservative Working Man,'' — Story of the Boy in the Wood. — Catch a Minister Young and train him. — Better No Man than the Wrong Man. — Look up as well as look around. — Praise of Men. — " There are that kiss and kill.'^_The Boa-Constrictor. — Mr. Kilpin, of Exeter. — It is well to have a Thick Skin. — You may choke a Dog with Pudding. — Be not Discouraged. — Despondency. — Joy. — Peril from the Pulpit. — The dog in the Grotto del Cane. — The Tradesman. — The Wizard. — Meum and Tmim. — On being in Time. — Wasting a full hour. — " The late Mr. S ."—The PunctuaHty Association 299

Chapter XXIV, Reviews

Our After-Dinner Pause. — "Feast of Reason."— Papers, Pens, and Ink, ^History of the Teacup. — Examination of the Doctrines of Conditional Immortahty and Universahsm. — The Unsafe Anchor. — A New Basis of Belief in Immortality. — The Epoch of the Mammoth. — Popular Recreation. — Studies in Matthew. — What is Truth ? — The Fatherhood of God. — A Man, every Inch of Him. — Poor Papa. — Everlast-

CONTENTS. ~ XV

ing Punishment not Everlasting Pain. — Cough's Portrait. — Christianity and the Science of Rehgion. — The Christian's Plea against Modern Unbehef. — Works of Fiction. — Holydays and Holidays. — The Doctrine of Annihilation, etc. — John Ploughman's Talk. — The Unwelcome Baby. — Crocker the Clown. — The Masque torn off. — Infidelity refuted. — Companion to the Revised Version of the English New Testament. — A Reason for the Hope that is in You. — The Philosophy of Science, Experience, and Revelation. — Sermons. — Social Purity. — Thought Blossoms. — On a Book on Cookery. — A Book of Remembrance in Relation to the Mystery of God 325

Chapter XXV. Letters

Mr. Spurgeon's Voluminous Correspondence. — From Sydney. — Victoria.

— South Africa. — Denmark. — North America. — Florida. — Michigan.

— Quebec. — Fifteen-Hundredth Sermon. — A Cheering Note. — Russia. — India. — Germany. — France. — A Fisherman. — China. — Tennessee. — A Young Swiss Lady. — Results in Germany and Russia. — Virginia. — Dr. Alexander Keith. — Jersey. — Glasgow. — Mr. Spurgeon's Chinese Name, " Sze-Pah-jing." — The Spare Leaf. — One Volume of Sermons. — Ireland. — South Australia. — Jamaica. — The Scilly Isles.

— Extraordinary Appeal on Behalf of Sailors, 345

Chapter XXVI. Personal Notes

How the "Notes" are received. — President Garfield. — Burden for Souls. — A Specimen Week. — Sermon 1,351. — Dr. Carson's Testimony. — Sermon 1,461. — Sermon 399. — Spurgeon reduced to Sixpence. — Sharp Pains. — Saying Good-by to Son Thomas.— A French Nobleman.— Sermon No. 444. — Sermon No. 86. — A Sea- Captain. — Misrepresentations. — Dr. Livingstone's Yellow Relic. — Sowing Seed in Servia. — Mr. Spurgeon Nervous. — Canon Wilberforce and Lord Radstock. — Christmas Fesdvities. — Hip, Hip, Hurrah ! —New York Baptist Ministers' Conference. — Spontaneous Sympathy appreciated 363 xvi CONTENTS.

Chapter XXVII. "john Ploughman's Talk" And "pictures."

If the Cap fits, wear it — Will Shepherd and Joe Scroggs. — Hope.

— Jack Shiftless. — Simple Simon. — Hopes of Heaven. — A Handsaw IS a Good Thing, but not to shave with. — On Patience. - Dr. Diet, Dr. Quiet, and Dr. Merryman. — All are not Hunters THAT BLOW THE HoRN. — ManyaD. D. is Fiddle-de-dee. — He lives under THE Sign of the Cat's Foot. — A Good Word for Wives.

— Darby and Joan. — William Seeker's " Wedding-Ring." — Old Bluebeard. — Stick to it and do it. — Men with Two Faces. — The Vicar of Bray. — Religious Deceivers. — Hypocrites. — All is lost that is poured into a Cracked Dish. — Try. — Beware of the Dog. — Heads and Tails. — Beware of a Dirty Dog. — Snarling Dogs.

— Fawning Dogs. — Puppies. — Greedy Dogs. — Yelping Dogs. — Dogs that worry the Sheep. — Dogs without a Master. — "Without are Dogs." A Black Hen lays a White Egg.- — He has a Hole under his Nose, and his Money runs into it. — Drunkards, read This. — He has got the Fiddle, but not the Stick. — Thoughts about Thought.— Free Thoughts. — Bad Thoughts. — Great Cry and Little Wool. — Mrs. Too-good. — You can't catch the Wind in a Net. — On the Preacher's Appearance. — Never stop THE Plough to catch a Mouse. — Home. — Don't cut off your Nose to spite your Face. — Like Cat like Kit. — Very Ignorant People. — Mr. and Mrs. Gent. — Mr. Plausible. — Sneering at Religion. — He looks One Way and pulls the Othek. — Debt. — A MAN in a Passion, rides a Horse that runs away with him.

— Every Bird likes its Own Nest 3C1

Chapter XXVIII. The Bible And The Newspaper

Ladies' Dress. — Extravagance. — Isaiah's Description. — Peter's Counsel. — Covering Deformity. — " Neat Handsomeness." — Man-Millinery. — The Race and its Spectators. — Oxford and Cambridge. — The Olympian Games. — The Cloud of Witnesses. — A Fox in the Pulpit. — Popular Caricature. — The Evil wrought by one Man. — Conscientious Separation. — Time-serving. — Erasmus. — Tempting Temptation. — Review at Aldershot. — The Unalterable Flag. — Religious Sluggards. — The Shilling Religion. — The Withering OF Unbelief. — Unbelief an Unhealthy Plant. — Moore's Remonstrance. — Lord John Russell. — The Path of the Pope. —

CONTENTS. xvil

The Cardinal's Curse. — Pio Nono's Bulls. — Pearls. — History of a Pearl. — The Disappointed Merchant. — Fickleness of Mankind. — The Scale-Maker. — Short Weights. — Deserters. — Temporary Alarm of Soul. — Nomhial Disciples. — How the Visible Church is weakened. — "Have ye counted the Cost?" — Best Preparation FOR the Second Advent. — The Dark Day. — Davenport of Stamford. — The Humble Sister. — The Most Fitting Condition for Death or Glory 481

. CHAPTER XXIX.

MRS. SPURGEON'S WORK.

Avoiding Fulsome Eulogies. — Mrs. Spurgeon's Mission. — Her Peculiar Ministry. — The Book Fund. — Poor Ministers are the Rule. — "Workers with a Slender Apparatus." — Previous Testimony. — Warm Gratitude evoked. — The Clover Field. —The Longed-for Treasure. — Pastors' Aid Society. — Wifely Eulogy. — " Prince of her Life." — "Red-Letter Day." — The Lord's Tender Care. — Mr. Spurgeon's Letter. — John Ploughman and John Goagh. — Clothing for Pastors' Families. — "How shall I praise Him ? "^- Suffering and Service. — Living for Others. — The Good Old Corn of Canaan. — Bookless Pastors. — Mrs. Spurgeon's Fine Sympathy. — The Missionary Working Society. — Annual Report. — Extracts from Letters. — Imprisoned Music. — Sweet Comfort . • • 51/

Chapter XXX. Charles Spurgeon

(twin son of C. H. SPURGEON.)

Birth. — Study. — Conversion. — Cry from Macedonia. — Commercial Life.

— Pastors' College. — Call to Greenwich. — Marriage. — Sermon on Holy Arithmetic. — Trinity of Blessings. — Mercy, Peace, and Love.

— Addition. — Multiplication. — Practice. — Sacred Penmanship. — Self-Praise. — Requisites for Writing. — Pen. — Ink. —Paper. —The Readers. — Three Classes. — Intelligent. — Interested. — Inquisitive.

— Be Mindful of Little Things 539 xvm CONTENTS.

Chapter XXXI. Thomas Spurgeon

(twin son of C. H. SPURGEON.)

Known as a Writer. — Engraving. — Preaching. — Sailing to Australia. — New Zealand. — Tom the Ploughboy. — Grape-Shot. — Cuts of the Whip. — " If I feel Moody I sing Sankey." — The Horses say " Neigh."

— He told us Nothing New. — Hearing Young Spurgeon. — The Malcontent. — What did the Grumbler look for? — "The same Old Stuff." — Primordial Slime. — Old-Fashioned Theology played out. — " You pays your Money and you takes your Choice." — The Tale of Calvary. — He 's not a bit like a Parson. — The Important Ecclesiastic. — Officialism. — " His Reverence." — The Non- Parsonic Brother.

— The Scoffer won to Jesus. — Christ-like Humility and Christian Dig- ~ nity. — Could not pray without Candles. — The Blanket-Bearer. — Go

and do Likewise. — Jesus for Me. — The Deaf Old Man. — The Floweret. — The Bleating Lamb. — The Sea-Bird. — The Spark. — The Matron 553

Chapter XXXII. Sermons

Our Difficulty, — "The Treasury of David." — How to obtain it. — Uncharitable Preachers. — Mr. Spurgeon's Testimony. — The Bible. — God's Complaint. — Long-Suffering. — Its Author. — Who wrote the Book? — Preachers who are Short of Stock. — Free Thought. — Authority of the Bible. — Its Truthfulness. — Mr. Hume and the Moon. — Bible Subjects. — All Things are Great — The Three R's. — The Treatment which the Bible receives. — "So Horribly Dry." — Who hates the Bible ? — God's Cabinet. — The Eternal Name. — The Name of Jesus. — Evanescent Shadows. — Systems of Infidelity. — The Gospel before Bethlehem. — The Gospel tried. — Voltaire. — The Unitarian's Gospel. — Can Christ's Name be forgotten ? — The Power of His Name. — Whitfield and Wesley. — England may perish. — Christ's Name shall endure. — Jesus, Jesus, Jesus! — Crown Him Lord of All! 573

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS,

1. Pastor C. H. Spurgeon {Frontispiece). page

2. Birthplace of C. H. Spurgeon 27

3. Mr. Spurgeon at the Age of Twenty-one sd

4. Surrey Music Hall 66

5. James Archer Spurgeon, Co-Pastor 84

7. Benjamin Keach 130

8. Keach in the Pillory 131

9. Carter-lane Chapel 134

10. DccTOR John Gill 136

11. John Rippon in his Youth 138

12. New Park-street Chapel 142

13. George Rogers .151

15. Stockwell Orphanage for Boys 208

16. The Girls' Orphanage 231

17. Infirmary of Stockwell Orphanage 238

18. Stockwell Orphanage Playground 245

19. Colporteur and Bible Carriage 258

20. The Cottage in which Mr. Spurgeon preached his first

21. Residence of Pastor C. H. Spurgeon 366

22. If the Cap fits, wear it 384

23. A Handsaw is a good Thing, but not to shave with . . 389

24. All are not Hunters that blow the Horn ...... 395

25. He lives under the Sign of the Cat's-paw 398

XX LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE

26. Stick to it and do it . 409

27. All is lost that is poured into a cracked Dish .... 419

28. Beware of the Dog 425

29. A Black Hen lays a White Egg 430

30. He has a Hole under his Nose, and his Money runs into it 432

31. He has got the Fiddle, but not the Stick ...... 436

32. Great Cry and Little Wool 440

33. You can"t catch the Wind in a Net 443

34. Never stop the Plough to catch a Mouse 448

35. Don't cut off your Nose to spite your Face 455

36. Like Cat, like Kit . 457

37. He looks one Way, and pulls the other 465

38. A Man in a Passion rides a Horse that runs away with him 474

39. Every Bird likes its own Nest 476

40. Mrs. C. H. Spurgeon 517

41. Charles Spurgeon (Son of Pastor Spurgeon) 539

42. Thomas Spurgeon (Son of Pastor Spurgeon) 553

43. Interior of the Metropolitan Tabernacle 573

INTRODUCTORY.

Behold, at this hour our moral history is being preserved for eternity. Processes are at work which will perpetuate our every act and word and thought. Not alone the last page, but every Hne and letter of our actual history, is being stereotyped for the world's perusal in the day which shall reveal the secrets of men. We are not writing upon the water, but carving upon imperishable material. The chapters of our history are " graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever." — C. H. Spurgeon.

INTRODUCTORY.

WE first introduce the preacher as he was when, in early manhood, both his manner and matter startled England out of her reverie, and awoke many sleepers on distant shores. A Bristol college man gives us four pen pictures of Mr. Spurgeon, taken a quarter of a century ago, and kept ever since in the album of memory. To those who did not see the Evangelist-pastor in his younger days, these photographs will be full of interest; to those who have neither heard nor seen h'im, they present the man in early life in all the vigor and power of fresh manhood. After seeing a picture, we become interested in the subject and present our inquiries. The antecedents of IVPr. Spurgeon, and his subsequent history, will be given later on. Remember, the pictures are those of a very young man, whose career had already been watched for some time with absorbing interest by millions of people. Thus the college man writes : —

It was from tl^e lips of my tutor, who was an earnest Christian man as well as an able scholar, that I first heard the name of the popular minister who had even then made New Park Street Church famous. It was my last year at school, and I enjoyed rather more liberty than the other boys. Need I add that, after receiving the permission, it was not long before I was trying to make my way into the pretty, and then newly built, chapel where Mr. Hebditch preached? The place was quite full, and it was with difificulty that I managed to ensconce myself behind the pulpit. A few minutes afterwards, Mr. Spurgeon ascended the latter, and I saw for the first time the preacher who was to be the Whitfield of the nineteenth century. My recollection of the appearance of the youthful divine is very vivid. Already inclined to be stout, with a face somewhat pale,- and innocent of beard or mustaches, but often played over by a genial smile which won your confidence at once, with fearless, kindly eyes that told of the bold spirit and warm heart within, with black hair lightly tossed off the open brow, with gestures rather more frequent and rhetorical than those with which the great preacher now indulges, the hand being often uplifted, and with that rich, round, full yoice which has never failed to charm with its music those who have had the privilege of listening to it, I still see and hear Mr. Spurgeon as he preached that morning at the chapel. The point in the sermon which remained clear in my mind was the very pronounced teaching of the doctrine of Election, and the preacher's assertion of his being at one with. Calvin and Augustine, of whom, as well as of the doctrine, my knowledge at that time was by no .means extensive. At the close of the sermon, as Mr. Spurgeon stepped down from the pulpit, everybody made a rush at his unfortunate hand ; and I, by poking mine through the rails, managed to get a friendly shake from it. I have often thought since, when seeing Mr. Spurgeon coming down from other pulpits, or among his own people at the Tabernacle, or surrounded by friends on successive birthdays, how much he must have suffered in that way during all these years.