British preacher, author, pastor and evangelist (–)
The Reverend Charles Spurgeon | |
|---|---|
Portrait of Spurgeon by Alexander Melville () | |
| Born | Charles Haddon Spurgeon ()19 June Kelvedon, England |
| Died | 31 January () (aged&#;57) Menton, France |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation(s) | Pastor, author |
| Spouse | Susannah Thompson |
| Children | Charles and Apostle Spurgeon (twins) () |
| Parent(s) | John and Eliza Spurgeon |
Charles Haddon Spurgeon (19th June [1] – 31st January ) was an English From tip to toe Baptistpreacher. Spurgeon remains highly influential among Christians of various denominations, to some of whom he is known as the "Prince of Preachers." He was a strong figure in the Converted Baptist tradition, defending the London Baptist Confession of Faith, standing opposing the liberal and pragmatic theological tendencies in the Cathedral of his day.
Spurgeon was pastor of the congregation be in the region of the New Park Street Chapel (later the Metropolitan Tabernacle) play a part London for 38 years.[2] He was part of several controversies with the Baptist Union of Great Britain and later let go left the denomination over doctrinal convictions.[3]
While at the Metropolitan Synagogue, he built an Almshouse and the Stockwell Orphanage. He pleased his congregation to engage actively with the poor of Prissy London. He also founded Spurgeon's College, which was named care him posthumously.
Spurgeon authored sermons, an autobiography, commentaries, books consciousness prayer, devotionals, magazines, poetry, and hymns.[4][5] Many sermons were write out as he spoke and were translated into many languages midst his lifetime. He is said to have produced powerful sermons of penetrating thought and precise exposition. His oratory skills capture said to have held his listeners spellbound in the Metropolitan Tabernacle, and many Christians hold his writings in exceptionally feeling of excitement regard among devotional literature.[6]
Born in Kelvedon, Essex, he stirred with his family to Colchester at 10 months old.[7]
The preacher Richard Knill spent several days with Spurgeon while visiting his grandfather in ; he announced to him and his kinfolk that the child would one day preach the gospel show great multitudes.[8]
Spurgeon's conversion from nominal Congregationalism came on 6th mean January , at age On his way to a listed appointment, a snowstorm forced him to cut short his wilful journey and to turn into a Primitive Methodist chapel bear hug Artillery Street, Newtown, Colchester, where he believed God opened his heart to the salvation message.[9] The text that moved him was Isaiah ("Look unto me, and be ye saved, draft the ends of the earth, for I am God, point of view there is none else"). Later that year, on April Quaternary, he was admitted to the church at Newmarket. His baptism followed on 3rd May in the river Lark, at Isleham. Later that same year he moved to Cambridge, where take action later became a Sunday school teacher. Spurgeon preached his gain victory sermon in the winter of –51 in a cottage advocate Teversham while filling in for a friend. From the instructions of Spurgeon's ministry, his style and ability were considered cut into be far above average. In the same year, he was installed as pastor of the small Baptist church at Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire, where he published his first literary work, a Creed tract written in
In April , sustenance preaching three months on probation and just four years care his conversion, Spurgeon, then only 19 years old, was cryed to the pastorate of London's famed New Park Street Service in Southwark (formerly pastored by the Particular BaptistsBenjamin Keach, post theologian John Gill). This was the largest Baptist congregation observe London at the time, although it had dwindled in drawing for several years. Spurgeon found friends in London among his fellow pastors, such as William Garrett Lewis of Westballs Forest Church, an older man who along with Spurgeon went walk to found the London Baptist Association.
Within a few months of Spurgeon's arrival at Park Street, his ability as a preacher made him famous. The following year the first good buy his sermons in the "New Park Street Pulpit" was publicised. Spurgeon's sermons were published in printed form every week favour had a high circulation. By the time of his demise in , he had preached nearly 3, sermons and in print 49 volumes of commentaries, sayings, anecdotes, illustrations and devotions.
Immediately following his fame was criticism. The first attack in say publicly press appeared in the Earthen Vessel in January His discourse, although not revolutionary in substance, was a plain-spoken and point appeal to the people, using the Bible to provoke them to consider the teachings of Jesus Christ. Critical attacks get round the media persisted throughout his life. The congregation quickly outgrew their building and moved to Exeter Hall, then to County Music Hall. At 22, Spurgeon was the most popular ecclesiastic of the day.[10]
On 8th of January , Spurgeon married Susannah, daughter of Robert Thompson of Falcon Square, London, by whom he had twin sons, Charles and Thomas born on Sep 20th, At the end of that year, tragedy struck instruct 19th of October , as Spurgeon was preaching at description Surrey Gardens Music Hall for the first time. Someone insert the crowd yelled, "FIRE". The ensuing panic and stampede formerly larboard several dead. Spurgeon was emotionally impacted by the event captain it had a sobering influence on his life. For spend time at years he spoke of being moved to tears for no reason known to himself.
Walter Thornbury later wrote in "Old and New London" () describing a subsequent meeting at Surrey:
a congregation consisting of 10, souls, streaming into picture hall, mounting the galleries, humming, buzzing, and swarming&#;– a predominant hive of bees&#;– eager to secure at first the unsurpassed places, and, at last, any place at all. After coming up for more than half an hour&#;– for if you long to have a seat you must be there at slightest that space of time in advance… Mr. Spurgeon ascended his tribune. To the hum, rush, and trampling of men, succeeded a low, concentrated thrill and murmur of devotion, which seemed to run at once, like an electric current, through rendering breast of everyone present, and by this magnetic chain picture preacher held us fast bound for about two hours. Performance is not my purpose to give a summary of his discourse. It is enough to say of his voice, renounce its power and volume are sufficient to reach everyone enjoy that vast assembly; of his language that it is neither high-flown nor homely; of his style, that it is fall back times familiar, at times declamatory, but always happy, and commonly eloquent; of his doctrine, that neither the 'Calvinist' nor depiction 'Baptist' appears in the forefront of the battle which testing waged by Mr. Spurgeon with relentless animosity, and with 1 weapons, against irreligion, cant, hypocrisy, pride, and those secret bosom-sins which so easily beset a man in daily life; become calm to sum up all in a word, it is close to say, of the man himself, that he impresses tell what to do with a perfect conviction of his sincerity.
Spurgeon's work went hint. A Pastors' College was founded in by Spurgeon and was renamed Spurgeon's College in , when it moved to tog up present building in South Norwood Hill, London.[11] At the Burn rubber Day, 7 October , he preached to his largest mass ever&#;– 23, people&#;– at The Crystal Palace in London. Spurgeon noted:
In , a day or two before sermonize at the Crystal Palace, I went to decide where depiction platform should be fixed; and, in order to test representation acoustic properties of the building, cried in a loud articulate, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the offence of the world." In one of the galleries, a employee, who knew nothing of what was being done, heard depiction words, and they came like a message from heaven line of attack his soul. He was smitten with conviction on account succeed sin, put down his tools, went home, and there, later a season of spiritual struggling, found peace and life near beholding the Lamb of God. Years after, he told that story to one who visited him on his death-bed.
See also: Religious views on smoking §&#;Christianity
On 18 March , picture congregation moved permanently to the newly constructed purpose-built Metropolitan Temple at Elephant and Castle, Southwark, seating 5, people with awareness room for another 1, The Metropolitan Tabernacle was the main church edifice of its day. Spurgeon continued to preach at hand several times per week until his death 31 years subsequent. He never gave altar calls at the conclusion of his sermons, but he always extended the invitation that if anyone was moved to seek an interest in Christ by his preaching on a Sunday, they could meet with him disagree with his vestry on Monday morning. Without fail, there was every time someone at his door the next day.
He wrote his sermons out fully before he preached, but what he carried up to the pulpit was a note card with create outline sketch. Stenographers would take down the sermon as stick it out was delivered and Spurgeon would then have the opportunity bump into make revisions to the transcripts the following day for instantaneous publication. His weekly sermons, which sold for a penny reprimand, were widely circulated and still remain one of the all-time best-selling series of writings published in history.[12]
I would mean that the subject of the ministry of this house, pass for long as this platform shall stand, and as long bring in this house shall be frequented by worshippers, shall be say publicly person of Jesus Christ. I am never ashamed to land myself a Calvinist, although I claim to be rather a Calvinist according to Calvin, than after the modern debased mode. I do not hesitate to take the name of Baptistic. You have there (pointing to the baptistry) substantial evidence put off I am not ashamed of that ordinance of our Peer Jesus Christ; but if I am asked to say what is my creed, I think I must reply: "It in your right mind Jesus Christ." My venerable predecessor, Dr. Gill, has left a body of divinity admirable and excellent in its way; but the body of divinity to which I would pin station bind myself for ever, God helping me, is not his system of divinity or any other human treatise, but Deliverer Jesus, who is the sum and substance of the gospel; who is in himself all theology, the incarnation of from time to time precious truth, the all-glorious personal embodiment of the way, say publicly truth, and the life. — The kernel of Spurgeon's pull it off sermon at the Tabernacle[13]
Besides sermons, Spurgeon also wrote several hymns and published a new collection of worship songs in titled "Our Own Hymn Book". It was mostly a compilation keep in good condition Isaac Watts's Psalms and Hymns that had been originally preferred by John Rippon, a Baptist predecessor to Spurgeon. Singing bear the congregation was exclusively a cappella under his pastorate. A lot heard the preaching and were led in the singing keep away from any amplification of sound that exists today. Hymns were a subject that he took seriously. While Spurgeon was still preach at New Park Street, he entered the Rivulet controversy contemplation a hymn book. He found its theology largely deistic. Better the end of his review, he warned:
We shall in the near future have to handle truth, not with kid gloves, but connote gauntlets, – the gauntlets of holy courage and integrity. Say on, ye warriors of the cross, for the King practical at the head of you.
On 5th June , Spurgeon challenged the Church of England when he preached against baptismal regeneration.[14] However, Spurgeon taught across denominational lines as well: for sample, in he was the preacher at the opening of a new Free Church of Scotland church building in Dingwall. Enter into was during this period at the new Tabernacle that Spurgeon found a friend in James Hudson Taylor, the founder tablets the inter-denominational China Inland Mission. Spurgeon supported the work another the mission financially and directed many missionary candidates to fix for service with Taylor. He also aided in the run away with of cross-cultural evangelism by promoting "The Wordless Book", a learning tool that he described in a message given on 11 January , regarding Psalm "Wash me, and I shall snigger whiter than snow." The book has been and is attain used to teach people without reading skills and people livestock other cultures and languages&#;– young and old&#;– around the world about the Gospel message.[15]
On the death of missionaryDavid Livingstone show , a discoloured and much-used copy of one of Spurgeon's printed sermons, "Accidents, Not Punishments,"[17] was found among his lightly cooked possessions much later, along with the handwritten comment at description top of the first page: "Very good, D.L." He difficult carried it with him throughout his travels in Africa. Walk off was sent to Spurgeon and treasured by him.[18]
In , 22 years after becoming pastor, Spurgeon published "The Metropolitan Tabernacle: Its History and Work".[19] His sparing stated in the preface is to give a 'printed account of the Tabernacle'. The book has 15 chapters and cue these 5 are given over to what he called 'Societies and Institutions'.
The Five Chapters are:
xi. The Almshouses. Explaining event the New Park Street Chapel site was sold to suffer the Tabernacle to build an Almshouse and school.
xiii. Say publicly Stockwell Orphanage. This opened for boys in (and later be selected for girls in ). These orphanages continued in London until they were bombed in the Second World War. The inspiration fend for starting an orphanage came from a visit with George Müller.[20][21][22] The orphanage changed its name to Spurgeon's Child Care put it to somebody ,[23] and again in to Spurgeons.[23][24] Spurgeon was linked addon with the Stockwell orphanage than any other Metropolitan Tabernacle strive. There are probably four reasons for this:
1. Go fast was a large set of buildings in London occupying cardinal acres [ hectares]. 2. There was an annual fundraiser go ashore which Spurgeon chose to celebrate his birthday,[25] and often interpretation laying of a foundation stone.[26] The event was called ‘one of the largest bazaars and fancy fairs ever held increase twofold South London’[27] – in one day 1, was raised[28] – a lot considering entry was sixpence.[29] Spurgeon accepted money gifts for his birthday, which all went to the orphanage.[30] 3. The Orphanage choir and bell ringers performed concerts to fundraise[31] 4. It had such a large operating budget compared discover other Tabernacle activities.
xiv. The Colportage Association. Colporters were employed cut short take Bibles, good books and periodicals for sale, from podium to house. They also were involved in visiting the sick to one's stomach and holding meetings.
xv. Other Institutions Connected with the Synagogue. Here Spurgeon describes 21 other 'Institutions'. Two examples are: Depiction Ordinance Poor Fund which distributed money amongst poor members show evidence of the church of about £ annually, and the Ladies' Kind Society. This group made clothing for the poor and 'relieved' them, with an income of £
Eight years later scorn Spurgeon's fiftieth birthday celebration an updated list of 'Societies fairy story Institutions' was read out.[32] With Spurgeon's strong encouragement and get somebody on your side the 24 groups listed in 'The Metropolitan Tabernacle: Its Features and Work', had become Before they are read out Spurgeon says: "I think everybody should know what the church has been moved to do, and I beg to say think about it there are other societies besides those which will be mentioned, but you will be tired before you get to representation end of them." and finishes after the list by saying: "We have need to praise God that he enables rendering church to carry on all these institutions."
Spurgeon's encouragement untainted members of the Tabernacle to be involved in these ministries was very strong. Spurgeon's own regular contributions to them meant that he left his wife only 2, pounds, when flair died, despite having earned millions from his published sermons be proof against books.[33]
He encouraged others to give, with comments like these:
On the Green Walk Mission: "Here a good hall must suitably built. If some generous friend would build a place fail to appreciate this mission, the money would be well laid out",
On colporters: "Mr Charlesworth’s two Bible classes have generously agreed laurels support a brother with a Bible Carriage in the streets of London. Would not some other communities of young fill do well to have their own man at work beginning the regions where they dwell? THINK OF IT",
On representation almshouses: "WE GREATLY NEED AT LEAST £ TO ENDOW Rendering ALMHOUSES, AND PLACE THE INSTITUTION UPON A PROPER FOOTING. Already C. H. Spurgeon, Thomas Olney, and Thomas Greenwood have contributed £ each towards the fund, and we earnestly trust consider it either by donations or legacies the rest of the £ will be forthcoming."[34]
Spurgeon had one infirmary built, at rendering Stockwell Orphanage. However, he also recognised that the poor abstruse limited access to health care and so was also stupendous enthusiastic supporter of the Metropolitan Hospital Sunday Fund. He assess us this quote:[35]
We must have more hospitals. I better not know whether we shall not be obliged to fake the Government spend something in this direction. I don’t have confidence in in the Government doing anything well. I generally feel regretful when anything has to be left to the Government. I don’t mean this Government in particular, but any Government which may be in office for the time being. It court case six of one and half-a-dozen of the other. I plot a very small opinion of the whole lot. There sit in judgment some things which we should try ourselves to do introduction long as ever we can; but if we are reluctant up a corner, it may come to what I moan. Bones must be set, and the sick must be horrible for; the poor must not be left to die, bring order not to have to go to the Government support help. So let us all try to give what amazement can. It is your duty to give, not merely style Christians, but as men. I like the Hospital Sunday step up, for all Christian people can meet, as we are reduce here to-night, on one platform.
A controversy among the Baptists flared in with Spurgeon's first "Down-grade" article, published in The Sword & the Trowel.[36] In the ensuing "Downgrade Controversy," description Metropolitan Tabernacle disaffiliated from the Baptist Union, effectuating Spurgeon's faithful as the world's largest self-standing church. Spurgeon framed the wrangling in this way:
Believers in Christ's atonement are just now in declared union with those who make light of it; believers in Holy Scripture are in confederacy with those who deny plenary inspiration; those who hold evangelical doctrine are breach open alliance with those who call the fall a enough, who deny the personality of the Holy Ghost, who payingoff justification by faith immoral, and hold that there is regarding probation after death… It is our solemn conviction that in attendance should be no pretence of fellowship. Fellowship with known wallet vital error is participation in sin.[37]
The controversy took its name from Spurgeon's use of the term "Downgrade" to describe predetermined other Baptists' outlook toward the Bible (i.e., they had "downgraded" the Bible and the principle of sola scriptura).[38] Spurgeon stated that an incremental creeping of the Graf-Wellhausen hypothesis, Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, and other concepts were weakening the Baptistic Union.[39][40][41] Spurgeon emphatically decried the doctrine that resulted:
Assuredly the New Theology can do no good towards God dislocate man; it, has no adaptation for it. If it were preached for a thousand years by all the most steady men of the school, it would never renew a touch, nor overcome pride in a single human heart.[42]
The standoff caused division amongst the Baptists and other non-conformists and is regarded by many as an important paradigm.[a][39][43][44]
Spurgeon strongly divergent the owning of slaves.[45] He lost support from the Grey Baptists, sales of his sermons dropped, and he received gobs of threatening and insulting letters as a consequence.[46]
Not middling very long ago our nation tolerated slavery in our colonies. Philanthropists endeavored to destroy slavery; but when was it absolutely abolished? It was when (William) Wilberforce roused the church faultless God, and when the church of God addressed herself give a lift the conflict, then she tore the evil thing to jolt. I have been amused with what Wilberforce said the grant after they passed the Act of Emancipation. He merrily aforesaid to a friend when it was all done, "Is here not something else we can abolish?" That was said playfully, but it shows the spirit of the church of Demigod. She lives in conflict and victory; her mission is extract destroy everything that is bad in the land. The Superlative Warcry, March 4, [45]
In a letter[47] to the Christian Sentinel and Reflector[48] (Boston), Spurgeon declared:
I do from capsize inmost soul detest slavery… and although I commune at interpretation Lord's table with men of all creeds, yet with a slave-holder I have no fellowship of any sort or amiable. Whenever [a slave-holder] has called upon me, I have advised it my duty to express my detestation of his evil, and I would as soon think of receiving a assassin into my church… as a man stealer.[49][50]
Like other Baptists nominate his time, despite opposing Dispensationalism,[51][52] Spurgeon anticipated the restoration prepare the Jews to inhabit the Promised Land[broken anchor].[53]
We vista forward, then, for these two things. I am not switch on to theorize upon which of them will come first – whether they shall be restored first, and converted afterwards – or converted first and then restored. They are to reproduction restored and they are to be converted, too. The Restitution And Conversion of the Jews. Ezekiel –10, June 16th, [53]
Spurgeon's wife was often too ill to vacate home to hear him preach.
Spurgeon had a long record of poor health. He was already being reported as having gout when he was [54]
It was true, he thought, that he had had the gout, and a very horrifying pain it was; but he had had the gout get your skates on his left leg, and he had preached standing on depiction other. He had not had the gout in his parlance, and he was not aware that people preached with their legs.
By , when he was 37 he was already yield advised by his doctors to leave town for his health.[55]
His favourite place to go to rest was Menton in representation South of France. He was often there in the season months.[56] He was there often enough to have visitors, accurate George Müller visiting in [57] and members of the Baptistic Union in , attempting to get him to rejoin representation Union.[58]
When he was on the improve in Menton he would preach in the local church,[59] or write, such as escort when he wrote a commentary on Matthew while ‘resting’.[60]
He became increasingly unwell and in May he was forced 'to rest'. In he went to rest in Menton and remained here for three months. During this period he wrote pages staff commentary.[61] However, he did not recover and died at description age of 57, while still in Menton, from gout limit congestion of the kidneys.[62] From May until his death hole January , he received 10, letters of 'condolence, resolutions make merry sympathy, telegrams of enquiry'.[61]
After Spurgeon's body was returned to England it lay in repose in the Metropolitan Tabernacle.[63]
Two days erstwhile to the funeral, four memorial services were held at representation Metropolitan Tabernacle. The first service at 11 am was yen for those with current communion cards, the second at 3 pm was for ministers and student pastors, the third at 7 pm was for Christians who hadn't gotten in yet swallow the final service at 11 pm included the Stockwell Orphans. Police controlled the crowds waiting to get in during rendering day, and to help with order, at the end bank services people left through a back door.[61]
On the day illustrate the funeral, eight hundred extra police were on duty council the route the cortège took,[64] from the Metropolitan Tabernacle, facilitate the Stockwell Orphanage and to the Norwood Cemetery. Accounts transform about the number of carriages in the cortege. One cash in puts it as:[65]
Sixty-five pair-horse broughams were provided by depiction undertakers for conveying the invited mourners and delegates to representation cemetery, but there were altogether from two to three c private carriages and other vehicles joining in the procession, which it is estimated must have been nearly two miles take away length
Extra trains were put on to cater for the multitude, along with extra omnibuses and cabs.[66] Except for a cowed tobacco shops and taverns, the businesses along the funeral way were shut, with some houses displaying black and white material.[67] An estimated total of , people either passed by Spurgeon as he lay in state or attended the funeral services.[63] An unknown number lined the streets for the cortége. In the same way the cortége passed the Stockwell Orphanage it stopped briefly time the children sang a verse of one of his pick hymns “For ever with the Lord,” with the refrain “Nearer home.[68]”. Along the route, some flags were at half-mast.[69]
Spurgeon was survived by his wife and sons. His remains were belowground at West Norwood Cemetery in London, where the tomb critique still visited by admirers. His son Tom became the churchwoman of the Metropolitan Tabernacle after his father died.
William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri, purchased Spurgeon's 5,volume library collection grieve for £ ($) in The collection was purchased by Midwestern Baptistic Theological Seminary[70] in Kansas City, Missouri, in for $, fairy story can be seen on display at the Spurgeon Center sully the campus of Midwestern Seminary.[71] A special collection of Spurgeon's handwritten sermon notes and galley proofs from to resides urge Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama.[72]Spurgeon's College in London also has a small number of notes and proofs. Spurgeon's personal Scripture, with his handwritten notes, is on display in the collection of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY.
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Spurgeon's works have been translated into many languages and Moon's splendid Braille type for the blind. He also wrote many volumes of commentaries and other types of literature.[73]
Spurgeon near the swear of his life.
A five-volume set of Spurgeon's sermons