THE LATE REV. C. H. SPURGEON.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 6754, 8 February 1892, Page 2

THE LATE REV. C. H. SPURGEON.

At the Baptist Church on Sunday a memorial service was held. Several hymns bearing particularly upon death and resurrection were sung, and Scriptures suitable to the occasion read. The organist, Miss Clarkson, played the “ Death March ” in Saul at the close. The Bev. C. C. Brown gave a lengthy address from which we lake the following : Charles Had don Spurgeon, as a youth, was for months in great trouble of mind fearing to die, for be was not at peace with God. His conversion was brought about in a singular manner. On Sundays he wandered from church to church hoping to get the light he needed, but without receiving any benefit. On one of these occasions a snow-storm drove him for refuge into a side court of the main street, at the'bot tom of which happened to be a Primitive Methodist Churob. Into it be strolled a place he had never been in before the preacher hadn’t come, and so the service began without him. Arriving late, the Methodist Minister (Bev Bobert Eaglon) at once gave out his text “ Look unto me, and bo ye saved ” etc., and fixing his eyes' upon tho stranger near the door said, “ Young man, you are in trouble. You will never get out of it unless you look to Christ.” The result of the sermon was that the light and comfort long desired came to his mind and heart, and thus singularly was started on Lis Christian career the boy who was destined afterwards to become the greatest preacher of the nineteenth century. But though converted under Methodist preaching, he oast in his lot with the Baptists, and was immersed by Bev. A. Oantlow at Isloham near Newmarket May 3, 1851, being then in bis sixteenth year. The circumstances which led to his first attempt to preach are best told in his own words. “ I had been asked to accompany a young man to the village of Taversham to a little service. Fully understanding that be was to preach, on the way I said that I hoped God would bless his labours. ‘Ob, dear,’said he, 1 1 never preached in my life; I never thought of doing such a thing. It was asked to walk with you and I sincerely hope God will bless you in your preaching.’ * Nay,’ said I, • but I never preached, and I don’t know that I could do anything of the sort.’ Wo walked on together (ill wo came to the ploce, I being full of trouble os to what would happen. When we arrived, tho congregation was assembled and I had to preach, and the test I tremblingly took was, * Unto you therefore which believe He is precious.’ ” And that sermon was the precursor of thirty seven volumes of sermons since preached and published, many of which have been translated into different languages and distributed to the ends of the earth. The present weekly circulation of (bo sermon is 25,000. Through the stupidity of a servant Mr Spurgeon missed a college education. By appointment be called to see Dr Angus of Glepney College, London, and was shown into a room where for two hours he patiently waited, the careless servant having forgotten to announce his arrival.

When at last Cue tim'd youth vc-nlureii to ring the bell to enquir it the doctor would see him, it was tjo late, for the college tu( or bad loft to catch his train. Bu tlu- Ua iu of Providence wevinfchis, ;or the position was already vacant which the young Spurgeon was to fill, and had ha entered Jo.lege the opportunity would have been missed. The hour had come and ihe mm was needed, and God had endowed Hit instrument with large gifts, which would develop and expand as occasion arose. The t -aining ab’oiu «ly necessary in the case of most could be dispensed with in Spurgeon’s case. In 1853 the anniversary of the United Sunday Schools was hold in Cambridge. .->mong the speakers was the youthful preacher, who a; that- '-.ime was pastor of the sma'l country church at Waterbeaoh, Essex. His epoch mad > a great impression upon the rn ; nd of a .'lr Gould, who, returning to London, happened to meet Deacon Olney of the Eapßst Church, South which was then at a veiy low eob and on the point of beim; dissolved. It was the oldest Baptist Church in London, daiiig from 1632. Dr Eipon had ministered there 63 years, Dr Gill 81 DrKee Mr Gould recommended ihe deacon < to send for young Spurgeon as being one endowed with gifts and energy euflioient t> r?ise the sinking community, i ne church seat id 120). About 150 were present at the first service j twice the number at the second j the next Sunday Ihe place was half full ; the third Srnday quits filled. He was then asked to accept the pejorate, which he did, and within three months the fame of t bo yonng minister bad spread through London, crowds flocked to bis set rices, end everybody was asking,Who is this Spurgeon ? " But the youth of nineteen had si cured the ear and attention of the public and be never lost it since, for duung the whole 38 yet' a of b v ministry crowded audiences have always b an attracted, filling any building in which he b .d been announced to preach. Before he hid been one year in London the New Park Street Baptist Church was enlarged, during which he preached in Exeter Hall. But the enlarged church was found too small, and the Royal Surrey Music Hall was engaged. The rest of the story is well-known, i he Metropolitan Tabernacle was built at the cost of £Si,CC >, with seating accommodation for 5,500 persons, and standing room for 10 0 more ; and yer, large as was the accommodation provided, the Tabernacle has been filled eveiy Sunday twice a day, and in the evening hundreds were regularly turned away, the ph oa being packed »o overflowing. Mr Spurg< ra has been the subject of continual s'andets on the part of his detracts and enemies, but ho kept silence tr ! l in 1569 the slanderers became so bold that be wrote in bis magazine, the Sword and Trowel, “ Those who circulate wicked tales miy save themselves the trouble. We have been enabled in our ministry, and in our walk before God, so tract, through grree, that wa have given no occasion for the slanderers, save only that we have kept the faith, and been very jealous for the God of Israel. Many of the absurd stones still refai'ed everywbereare the very same libels which were given forth con earning other ministers now gone fc > their rest.” In 1867 (while the Tabernacle wi s be- i ing renovated) Mr Spurgeon preached for six Sundays in the Agricultural Hall, Islington, to an audience that the London Times estimated at 15,000 persona. His voice - clear as a bell—was heard distinctly throughout that large assembly. The preernt member.ihip of the Tabernacle Church is about 6 -CJ, and nearly lO.CJO persons have been baptized in the baptistery of the Metropolitan Taber naclo. Mr Brown referred to the Pastor’s College, in which 900 men have been tm’ned for the Baptist Ministry; to the StoukweH ! Orphanage, to which ICCO orphan children have been admitted j to 'he elmhouses for the shelter and oare of destitute Christian widows, and to the Colporlags Association, by means of which thousands of copies «.f healthy literature are every ye r distributed through England. But eren these do not exhaust the many and varied labours ; u which , by spoken and written word, self-denying effort and gifts, Mr Spurgeon’s life was so constantly and unceasingly engaged. Mr Brown first saw and heard the great ; preacher in Exeter Hell in London, in 1858, and was baptized by Mr Spurgeon at t .e , Tabernecle and joined the Church in Jins J 1863, nearly tbiity years ago. He (Mr Brown) narrated severe! imcresting person? 1 recollections concerning the deceased minister, , one of which we may mention, as it illustrate ■ how time brings its. revenges. Mr Brown’s father was an elder of the 'iabeuiaole Church and on terms of great friendship with Mr Spurgeon. When he die! Mr Spurgeon accompanied the funeral in order to officiate at the burial of bis friend. It so happened that the family grave was in the consecrated part of the cemetery, and on entering the gates formal no'ico was given that the Bishop of London had sent strict orders that Mr Spurgeon was not to be allowed t o conduct the burial Th>s was at the time believed to be a mark of the Bishop’s great ■ displeasure in ronneelion with a sermon not long before preached by Mr Spurgeon, entitled ‘Baptismal Bsgeneration ’ (which condemned the practice and doolline of infant sprinkling as taught by the Church of Erggland)—a sermon of which (one hundred and ninety thousand) were s rid, and which called forth printed replies from s’l parts of England, and which bound together make two large volumes now deposited in the College Libm-y. But bow great the change to-day! If the latest London telegram lo correct, the Archbishop of Canterbury himself —the herd of the English Established Church—willattendthefunetalandthuoteetily his respect for and admiral ion of Ihe fearless, outspoken, eloquent Nonconformist preacher, with prvdonable pride Mr Brown spoke of the complete set of volumes of sermons, and the Buster's Bible, which were present id to bim by Mr Spurgeon when he left England as missionary to India, as ai o the handsome marriage present forwarded t> bim in Calcutta “ With Ihe loving prayers of C. H. Spurge m,” and arid he, ‘ I regard as emong my great *st treasures the letters Mr Spurgeon wrote mo, as also those to my father now in my possession.’ And though Mr Spurgeon’s strong Ca'vinistic views are well known, yet as a proof of the kindliness aud charity to all whom Mr Spurgeon believed to be true to the fundamental doctrines of Ibo Bible, Mr Brown quoted from a letter received from Mr Spurgeon when he (Mr Browo) changed his views as to the future destiny of the ungodly. Mr Spurgeon wrote, “ I feel deeply sorrowful for your change, of doctrine, but 1 can never cease to lake a deep interest in you for your father’s sake, and indeed for your own { for whatever you may or may not hold I shall ever esteem you for many things.” And in a later letter ho says, ‘ I wish you a grand and gracious career. 1 In closing; the preacher eulogized Mr Spurgeon as being the Prince of Preachers. Buskin long ago declared his speech to be the purest; AngloSaxon be had ever heard, and bis-voice the | clearest in Europe excepting that of the lat s Pope Pius IX It is no exaggeration to say 1 ho wav more widely loved than any living man. His funeral th’s week will prove that. A Jew in Shoreditch once asked what was the secret of the success of that Christian preacher Spurgeon, and w; v answered, “ I lb ; nk it lies in the fact that he loves Jesus of Nazareth, » nd Jesus of Nazareth loves him.” Beyond doubt the answer wa. a correct one, for Mr Jpurgeon had an immense love and devotion for Ha Heavenly Ms iter, and served him with a’l his nrnd, and all his heartl and all his soul. And the dir Ine master responded to his servant’s confidence, and immenely blessed him in his work. Mr Spurgeon was for yerra a great sufferer as well as a great worker, and in kindness to bis faithful servant God has at last said ‘ It is enough,’ and * has given to his beloved the rest of sleep’; but not asleeep that knows no awakening. The words of the angel f r Drniel are applicable, • Go Jry way till the end be : for thou film!! reit, and t,; ise ogain for toy lot at the end of the daj s ; ’ or n CTiHsfc’a jrds, i Those lira: are ia thoHoiphs shai b*.ir Lis

voice and come foi .h ' j the reauu'eotion of of ’ :P e.’ Oha-lea H (don Spurgeon will this weik be buvied ‘ in cure and certain hope of a joyful roßU’’»ec f ioiV in the coming day when those * who sleep 1 1 the dust of the eerth aha” awake. 1