Chapter XCII. Mr. Spurgeon's Opinions on Subjects of General Interest

CHAPTER Ml' ©pinions on SptirscDu's Sxibjccts of Inttrtst. (l^tncral HILE many Mr. by hundreds and the notes of written letters Spurgeon were being examined view with the a selection ot to those inserted in the preceding chapters, it was found that, in several he had given expression opinions upon them, of subjects to his of permanent It was that a public decided, therefore, interest.

number political, and concerning his epistles social religious, oi that those who desire matters should be collected in a separate chapter, in order to The letters are, know what he said upon these topics may be able to refer to them.

arranged chronological order, with the as as possible, to increase sub-titles far in facility of reference to them.

Infant Salvation. Among the many falsehoods were which, concerning times, different at told Mr. Spurgeon, one which he naturally repelled with the utmost indignation was the " there that he once statement declared infants a span are that In long."

hell in reply to a correspondent who asked if he had ever said this, he wrote : " Newington, S.E., "June " Dear Sir, in my at any time I have " believed, or imagined never, life, said, that any infant, under any circumstances, would be cast into hell.

I have always believed and which your the of opinions intensely salvation detest the infants, in all opponent dared to attribute to me.

I do not that, on this believe is a earth, there single professing Christian holding the damnation of infants if there be, he must or, ; I am obliged by this opportunity of be insane, or utterly ignorant of Christianity.

denying the calumny, although the author probably find no of will difficulty in it He inventing some other fiction to be affirmed as unblushingly as the present one.

who doubts God's Word is naturally much at home in slandering the Lord's ser\'ants.

"Yours truly, " C. H. Sturgeon." The question of the salvation of infants is also referred to in the following note, which was written to a minister, whose child had to whose wife a died, and infant

SPURGEON S AUTOBIOGRAPHY. H. Christadelphian had expressed that age have no children dying idea the that at existence after death : " Clapham, " June " Dear Friend, "I am just leaving home, and can only write and say, — May th^ Comforter The His Divine in your hearts David did not is with office child Jesus.

fulfil ! Away with annihilated when he his babe shall go think these him.' said, to ' The Lord be with you foolish dreams ! ! " Yours in sympathy, " C. H. Spurgeon." in the Church of England. Romanism When Mackey, was Mr. Protestant Mr. N. put the prison, lecturer, in Newdegate, M P., called upon Mr. Spurgeon, the various to discuss aspects of the question, and the anti-Romish agitation in general.

After he reached his home, he wrote to the Pastor as follows : " 3, Arlington Street, " Piccadilly, " Sept.

" My Dear Sir, I am sure you " I shall consider our conversation as confidential, as will, mentioned have no individuals and conversations, which since right their to You will, I am sure, understand this. publish. " Yours very sincerely, "C. N. Newdegate." To this note, Mr. Spurgeon replied thus : " Clapham, " Sept. " My Dear Sir, " Rely upon I am As to your I do me. concerned, not object as far repeating any remarks of mine, but of your request, and propriety I quite see the The Mackey appears readily comply with imprisonment of Mr.

be a will to it. To check the power of the breach of all equity. If law permits it, law itself is bad. Papacy, and put down is a work worthy of the efforts of the best of men.

errors, its May you have So your however, Episcopal success labours the long, as in !

denomination remains Popish and patronized, your efforts wUl be stultified.

" Some years ago (such lost a member of my church, things are rare with us),

autobiography. sturgeon's H. How Manning who now Not by or was seduced Romanist. he Dr. a is ? I have more St. George's Cathedral, but by Mr. Mackonochie and St. Alban's. to its Evangehcal your Church than from fear from it uses Pope's hirehngs, the for to godly people, then its full-blown semi-Ritualists, then clergy as the lure first its till men are conducted down to the pit of Popery.

Papists, and so on, it, curses me " Besides, your Church claims a pre-eminence I cannot concede to ot my its canons, denies my call roundly worthiest shuts the the ministry, to in all, compels me to pay tithes and support pulpits, and, to crown brethren out of its in your Church Yet an establishment which true Protestants I abhor.

love the though most daily under grievous smarting wrongs, of the infliction heartily, in which they -axq. pat'ticipes criniinis.

" Christian charity finds is demanded on the one live where it hard side, to it While the existence of Protestant Dissenters but cannot be returned on the other.

is ignored by the Church, as such, and is only is treated as a crime in her canons, it any Nonconformist to have which with of grace enables fellowship a a miracle I pray God to remove member of the dominant sect. this monstrous barrier in the way of union, and to unite all our hearts in His fear.

I am glad to have seen you and am, " " Yours very heartily, " C. H. Spurgeon." Newington. at Bell-ringing At various times, Mr. Spurgeon was obliged to write to the Newington clergy The following was bell -ringing during services at the concerning the Tabernacle.

one of these communications : " Nightingale Lane, " Clapham, " Dear Sir, I beg caused by the " call your attention disturbance great the to to St. Gabriel's Church, while the congregation at the Tabernacle ringing of a bell, at is engaged that no reminded your predecessor of bell-ringing prayer.

right in church, and informed him I really must appeal belongs to any but a parish that to He very kindly the law reduced needless stop nuisance.

the the the to to evil is far from me to wish to interfere I am sure minimum, and I no longer objected.

it peculiar habits of my neighbours ; but when many hundreds of persons, with the it compels me to met to worship God, are disturbed by the clanging of a loud bell, The hours when we and 6.30 on Sunday, worship complain.

are are at at 7 to 8.30 p.m. on Monday and Thursday. and from

SPURGEON S AUTOBIOGRAPHY. H. "Wishing to be upon good terms with that you the parish, trust in will all bell-ringer to disturb us further, but allow substitute a few the not strokes will for the many which are now given.

" I am, " Yours truly, " C. H. Spurgeok." to whom Canon letter was addressed, was one above Palmer, of the the memorial Christian workers speakers connection held the with service at for in Mr. Spurgeon's funeral, and, after reading the note, he said : of my remember have no copy " can but answer, think effect its not know what It was the law might I was but tolerably I did that order, well.

that my neighbours should quite sure what the gospel It required not required.

troubled, and I would be unnecessarily at once, the orders, that ofive bell-ringfinof that the bell-ringer would strokes, and I had no doubt should be confined to a few be very much obliged to Mr. Spurgeon for labours in that extremely mitigating his He wrote me again, immediately hot weather. : " Dear Sir, I am exceedingly obliged by your prompt and Christian " reply. felt it needful to make my protest against the bell-ringing somewhat strong, that I might not to be disturbed.

to be asking a favour merely, but claiming a right not appear which a custom no Otherwise, of years gives the lapse against protest right to This, and no unfriendliness to you, prompted what you considered entered.

to is future correspondence may be, on my part, on I can only hope be a threat.

a that more pleasant subject, and, on your part, may be in the same generous tone.

" Yours very heartily, " C. H. Spurgeon." Annipiilationism. During whole Spurgeon's Mr. comparatively few the of the of ministry, members when embraced church erroneous but they they opinions of his did, ; those who held their membership, and similar views resigned with usually united There was at least one individual who to those which they had adopted. not did conform wrote Rev. concerning him, Pastor the follows and, as rule to this to ; Samuel Minton : " Clapham, "July " Sir, I am sorry that Mr. — — stultifies his own convictions, and distresses "

autobiography. spurc;eon's H. diametrically opposed with a church whose by remaining testimony others, to is It seems to me that a Christian man is bound to unite with a church his opinions.

where he may consistently hold and promulgate excuse no ; but he has his views to whom and where if he obnoxious, views remains a people with are his his We, as strife and a church opinions tends create at of agitation division.

his to although of our churches Lord, Tabernacle, the with the fellowship cultivate all but, within our own membership, in many respects from some of them differing ; practice, and where a member differs we have a basis of agreement in doctrine and to some other community where his views are held, is his duty to remove from it it, no or else he must expect us I have taken to withdraw from him.

further action find a more request him of Mr. congenial fellowship than in the case to to ; No so, our discipline must honest if he not do but usual does take course.

its man can be a member at the Tabernacle, and hold annihilaof the church meeting all time past we have borne testimony to the generallytionist views, for now and in received doctrine.

"Yours truly, " C. H. Spurgeon." Voting "as unto the Lord." a gentleman having written During the General to express Election of his deep regret that Mr. Spurgeon "should have descended from his high and lofty position as a servant of God, and preacher of the everlasting gospel, into the defiled arena of party politics," the Pastor replied to him : " Niohtino-ale Lane, " Balham, Surrey, " Mar.

1S80. " Dear Sir, "Your letter amuses because you a rank Tory, me, evidently are so and so hearty in your political convictions spite of your religious scruples, in that, you must needs politics, and write to me.

is anything defiling If there interfere in it, you are certainly over head and ears.

in in wishing to put me right, " However, dear I thank you for your kindness sir, pray, and and I can assure you to be a part of vote as devoutly as that feel it the Government whom my love to my neighbour to God and turn out try to to your letter would lead me to let alone.

" You are as wrong as wrong can be in your notion it keeps you from but, as ; I am morally certain you would vote for try to convert you, for not voting, shall the Tory candidate.

Divine, we " In from and you probably one things abstain are shall at ;

autobiography. spurgeon's H. the Lord, and we the Lord, and will both give vote votingas as tmto will zuito Him thanks.

" Yours truly, " C. H. Spurgeon." and he admirer of Mr. Gladstone Mr. staunch ardent Liberal was, Yet, as He protested Spurgeon was by no means a of any earthly leader. follower blind of Ripon very emphatically against the appointment of the Marquis as Viceroy of that and other India, and he wrote thus, concerning in reply to questions, political a letter from his old Cambridge friend, Mr.

S. Watts : J. " Nightingale Lane, " June '80. " My Dear Friend, " Like things done I go equality, but religious like yourself, for in occasionally despotic way, — by Royal Warrant, legally, and not in Mr. Gladstone's or by his own chooses, but do not the Act of Settlement nation if the Alter will.

a Mormonite Judge be should Moreover, the not allow contravene to in it.

nor a Quaker to be Commissioner of Oaths, nor an to be Divorce atheist Court, to the House of Commons for the same reason, I would not have a and, Chaplain ; Roman to be Viceroy MrCatholic, sworn Pope, of allegiance the India.

to to the way in which said this himself when writing about the Vatican ; but Gladstone a new puts on so soon as he does not his words, and in power, he forni eats is increase my esteem for him.

To cheapen party which knows no beer, to confirm " belong to the party. the shedders of blood, and to put Papists to the curse, to keep in the opium office ' cursed be the man that I never expected from Mr. Gladstone ; but front, are things I am a Gladstonite despite all Yet trusteth in man.' this. subject, — the " To turn to a better Girls' Orphanage that went is outdoing all Am I have ^7,000 I not happy I believe Love-letters pour to-day.

in before. .^ The and Lord mountains It comes a over leaping out hills. is Oh, for more faith in Him glorious Helper. ! " Yours ever most heartily, " C. H. Spurgeon." In order to keep together the letters relating to Mr. Gladstone, another of later is inserted here date : Home Rule.

did not agree with Mr. Gladstone's Home that Mr. Spurgeon It is well known differed from him Rule proposals, and that many of his own most ardent admirers

SPURGEON S AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 12/ H. Pastor T. W. Amongupon Medhurst supported Liberal matter. that the others, in consequence, some represented him the' Portsmouth papers and, of leader, as He spoken unkindly beloved wrote of havingPresident.

therefore his to Mr. Spurgeon, who sent the following reply : " Dear Friend, " your be language, did nor not think as reported, disrespectful, to even dreamed that you would be unkind.

Speak as strongly as ever you like, and 1 am free, and mean to be. I am You ; and not be aggrieved. are free as as shall I hope wise and good, they will do think If others the to carry their best bill it.

stab at our common I am bound to oppose country, and it to be a fatal believe it. and my I am man as good any admiration Mr. Liberal loving as of a living, the same hearty and deep Gladstone ; but to be a conceive as ever, this bill is to be under no man's dictation, and to no very serious error.

claim dictate to any shrinking on my Do to speak through man. Both not account. sides fear none love you less, but more, ought to be the the heard. shall beingfor all plain-spoken. " Yours very heartily, " C. H. Spurgeon." .\t Nonconformist Weddings. Registrars interest now The following letter that the proposal referred to in of special is it has been embodied in an Act of Parliament : " Westwood, "April " Dear Friend, contract, which ought to be made before a " I regard marriage as a civil of marrying and be burying be should glad or a magistrate to rid registrar.

only where there matters, save a sincere the desire altogether religious for as is let the minister hold a service at the In these cases, Divine blessing or consolation.

not make him but do State a meeting-house house or register to the official ; marriages, and to be held responsible for all the intricacies of marriage law.

or anything " I hope Mr. will never pass, Briggs' proposal like If it did, it. become marry anybody, not a only could refuse registrar. will for to I' Society, and wish Liberation reported altogether agree with of the the action for the time when office, and then the godly can all marriages shall be at the registrar's have such religious service afterwards as they wish.

" Yours ever heartily, " C. H. Spurgeon."

spurgeon s autobiography. h. Vivisection. ' At a meeting-, held at West Norwood, under the auspices of the London Antivivisection Society, the following letter from Mr. Spurgeon was read : "Westwood, " Dear Sir, I am wish evermore attend your garden " meeting. unable the to the inhuman It does utmost success to all protests against of vivisection.

practice How it must excite the to be thought not bear indignation righteous of the of.

there should need to be an agitation all-merciful Creator is singularly sad that It !

for one would think that the least-enlightened conscience would on such a question ; most-hardened heart would cruelty, and of such perceive the retain the that evil sufficient humanity to revolt against it.

" Yours truly, " C. H. Spurgeon." Persecution of Jews Russia. in the Mansion Mr. Spurgeon was at the meeting held to be present unable at of the Jews on February House, persecution the protest against in to Russia, but the following letter from him was read by the Lord Mayor : I am quite precluded by prior engagements irom being at the I am sorry that " the outrages committed upon the Jews. Mansion House I am, to speak against of England is one in a strong however, relieved by the belief that feeling heart the Every man at the inhuman conduct of certain savages Russia.

of indignation in and woman among us feels eloquently on behalf of our fellow-men who are subjected still more for our sisters, to whom even worse treatment to plunder and death, and As Thence you have the less need of speeches and orations. has been meted out. feel that the name of our Redeemer is dishonoured by such conduct on a Christian, As a Nonconformist and a Liberal, believing part of His professed the followers.

in the equal rights of all men to live in freedom and safety, I must protest against a is made an the Jew in which I would Lastly, as a man, state of things outlaw.

mourn in my inmost soul that any beings in human form should be capable of such crimes as those which have made Russia red with But what need blood.

Israelitish The wherever of advocates oppressed even sure few sentences are of these ?

Englishmen assemble." Gospel Temperance. On March Mr. Spurgeon wrote letter on page, following the the to be read at the meeting to which it refers :

SPURGEON S AUTOBIOGRAPHY. " Dear Friends, I am exceedingly sorry to be absent from this first meeting to form the " is, that my head The worst of Abstinence Tabernacle Total is so out Society.

it ' Try and do I can only say, I cannot even dictate a proper of order that letter. all I am away.' is shot down, and his legs are broken, the better because If the leader the soldiers must give an extra hurrah, and rush on the enemy, I sincerely believe the gospel, the most necessary thing to be done to the preaching of that, next in to induce our people to become I hope England Society abstainers.

this total is will do something when to wear a lot of peacocks' don't want you is started. it the moderate drinkers, feathers and putty medals, nor to be always trying to convert and poor bringing enslaved winning to go drunkards, the the but real for in creatures to the feet of Jesus, who can give them wish I could say ever liberty.

so many good things, but I cannot, and so will remain, " Yours teetotally, " C. H. Spurgeon." When Spurgeon Society was Mr. the second anniversary the celebrated, of ill, but he wrote this letter to be read at the meeting was aofain : " Westwood, "March " Dear Friends, to be as strong as a have just been saying that " I should like lion ; to me I am now. I might not be so strong as it has been suggested that, then, but May to be weak when the battle I happen is against strong drink.

I ani sorry that the speakers to-night make Up for my enforced absence by speaking twice as well as The theme should I hope they will be them. of spirit against possible full fire ' ! stout, and hale against Let the desolate homes, the against spirits, stout ale. evil swollen rates, the crowded goals, the untimely graves, and the terrible destruction of you by wrought cause drunkenness, with the fervour of inspire for souls, all Thank God for what has been accomplished ; your year's labour has temperance. The this nerve you in the Lord for larger endeavours. but not been in vain let up, — fountain, stream, and pool ; this river of death must cease drink must be dried ; His pity for sinners will move God's grace will help to flow through our land.

us. Him to aid every loving effort for the salvation of the fallen. I pray for a sevenfold blessing upon the year I cannot speak to come. " If to May our Lord Jesus Christ I can speak with God will do for them, and men, so. With my hearty love, inspire us with a deeper love to perishing sinners !

" I am. Brother Blues, " Yours truly, H. "C. Spurgeon." "

! h. spurgeon s autobiography. Pigeon-shooting. In a letter to Mr. J. T. Markley, of Eastbourne, dated April, 1882, with reference in favour of the substitution of in the public prints : — " My judgment for artificial suo-o-estions to his Spurgeon Mr. wrote is heartily at shooting contests, birds live I cannot make out how to the brutality of pigeon-shooting matches. with you as people, who are in other matters kind and gentle, can frequent these butcheries.

am still very unwell, and hardly like to think of the woes of I cannot this creation.

I must leave the cause of the just now do or say anything worth doing or saying, sO dumb in the hands of such good pleaders as yourself" Disestablishment. to be present, Mr. Spurgeon promised Liberation Society's at the if possible, at the Tabernacle, on May of ill-health, he in consequence meeting but, ; letter to Mr.

Williams, was not able to be there, so he sent J. Carvell following the who read it at the meeting : " Westwood, "May " Dear Sir, if strength were given to me, I had always intended to speak to-night " I am I am greatly disappointed to be obliged and absent. that that this feel her dishonourable bride of Christ from association with the question of liberating the State arrows upon me in importance the more I love the Lord Jesus. I see the most which but the that criminality religious the of situation, is political evil oppresses me.

" Here Its Bishops is a Church of Christ which surrenders itself to the State.

worldly kingdom cannot and by appointed as a the of rules for are itself, it ; is a mercy that some off, without wear a ribbon, or leave Caesar's permission.

It it The mystery is that they should continue few of her sons find this fetter too galling.

it when long the door to Christian of to wear the piety see open. liberty to is alliance, with the present infamous Episcopalians so elevated that they will hate all Failing this, may the eyes of statesmen be opened that they may its hard bondage.

For members of in which they have no vocation in a sphere cease to intermeddle !

it is a task difficult enough to enter the strait gate each our legislature, as for us all, these gentlemen naughtiness to and one of a himself; for superfluity for is it of Christ, who asks for the Kingdom for no help from them.

attempt legislate to of England who of the Church More the arm of those strength friends true to would establish her by Disestablishment, and enrich her by Disendowment " Yours truly, " C.

H. Spurgeon.'

spurgeon s autobiography. Close-communion. In the Richmond {U.S.A.) Christian Advocate, May 1883, there appeared Ferguson, who called "a letter" by Mr.

Richard what the Editor chatty clever, " he would Mr. Spurgeon rather be a cannibal than a as saying that represented to Mr. Spurgeon, and he This statement was close-communion reported Baptist."

thereupon wrote : " London, " Dear Sir, I am " in the habit of speaking disrespectfully of strict-communion not As I have a full conviction of their conscientiousness.

to saying that Baptists, for I would sooner be a close-communion I never thought so, than a cannibal Baptist, and certainly never said be one or the other I have slightest wish not the to so.

; I rejoice in being a loving brother to the latter. but " Yours heartily, " C. H. Spurgeon." At various times, Mr. Spurgeon was asked about the genuineness of expressions him to close-communion which were another attributed of his reference 'with to ; An replies may suffice to show the general tenor of his letters upon this question.

American Presbyterian paper stated, "on the authority of a sainted gentleman," that Mr. Spurgeon had a close-communion Baptist said, " hate hate the as devil." When this paragraph was brought under Mr. Spurgeon's notice, he wrote : " London, "March 26, " Dear Sir, sainted gentleman' may do not know who 'the "I be, but he did not if he reported me as saying that I hated a close-communion Baptist speak the truth never even thought of such a thing, and assuredly hate the it is not as devil.

The ' must have dreamed and never was ' saint of me. it, or have mistaken true person. the "The are made by men of known most unaccountable statements integrity, I know for by misunderstanding or forgetfulness.

and they can only be accounted my own mind and views, and I can say, without reserve, that the expression could As compared with the bulk of English I am not have been used by me. Baptists, a strict-communionist myself, as my church-fellowship is strictly of the baptized.

" Yours heartily, " C. H. Spurgeon." " Rev. A. S. Patton."

spurgeon s autobiography. h. Franchise Reform. at the Reform Demonstration, in Hyde Park, In reply to an invitation to speak Mr. Spurgeon wrote :— " of the measure heartily approve on for Julv I much brethren, and Lords our country the that franchise the recrret to oivins" It must come as surely as time revolves, and no hurt should stand in the way of it.

can come of friction occasioned by the opposition it be from the it unless to it.

am not ; but whenever topics urge on to attend meetings to political reforms able in my on, come of men, righteousness, peace, and so touch upon the which rights I can on the right side. I endeavour to speak as emphatically as is part of way, It mv religion to desire justice and freedom for all."

Anglo-Israelism. subject were expressed Mr. Spuroeon's opinions on the following note this in to the work to a gentleman who was devoting of answering the arguhis attention ments brought forward in support of the idea : " Westwood, " Sept.

" Dear Sir, in your warfare against wish you every success " silly craze. this the delusion, as a freak of human folly; but was at one time rather amused with it be met and must and and therefore moral bearings, has spiritual evidentlv its I am the more pleased to contest, and therefore I have not time this exposed.

for see others in the field. " Yours truly, " C. H. Spurgeon." Open-air Baptisms. A concerning proceedings having the correspondence newspaper arisen in Pastor W.

Sheepwash, Devonshire, T. baptisms open-air in connection with at the matter, and to Mr. Spurgeon concerning of "our own men," wrote Soper, one his letter elicited the following reply : " Westwood, "May " Dear Mr. Soper, form no Sheepwash can consequently, was " and, present not at ; was after "the baptism over but behaviour of the villagers opinion the as to ; said, more than thirty years ago, of our public remember that the same tnings were is as much truth in the representabaptisms in Cambridgeshire, and I daresay there tions now made as in those of the older time.

SPURGEON S AUTOBIOGRAPHY. H. so much "Those who imagined evils which of baptism not wish did see to existed mainly in their fears.

" Baptism in the open river is so Scriptural, and, withal, such a public testimony, The reproach I hope our friends will never abandon is to be bravely borne that it. ; We are most hide away in follow you if you the meeting-house, there. it will for, the Word numerous Next God, where is most known. orchnance a of the to is the best argument tor baptism. baptizing service " Whenever numbers people come together, whether or trade, for politics, ot ; but we will always be to dishonour the occasion loose persons religion, there are Such an inference would be absurd. not therefore to abstain from such gatherings. " God bless and prosper you ! " Yours heartily, H. "C. Spurgeon." Evolution. Spurgeon Mr. an regard enquiry with reply the evolution In theory, to to wrote : " Westwood, "Feb.

" Dear Sir, "Thanks excellent and courteous I have read a for your most letter.

a fact, which good deal on the subject, and have never yet seen a fact, or the tail of The theory has been indicated the rise of one species oi animal another.

laid into to be a monstrous error fished up down, and to support believe in facts it it.

philosophy, which will be a theme tor ridicule before another twenty years.

On "In theology, influence would be deadly and this about. I care all its is ; the scientific matter, you do well to use your own judgment.

" The Lord bless you, and lead you into His truth more and more ! " Yours heartily, " C. H. Spurgeon." " The At one of the memorable gatherings under Question Oak," a student Spurgeon, "Are we or any ' Darwin's Mr. asked other Mr. receiving : — " My reply to that enquiry can justified in The President's answer was theory of evolution ? " question, — Does Revelation teach us evolution best take the form of another It .-^ never has struck me, and strike now, that the theory of evolution it does not can, by any process of argument, be reconciled with the inspired record of the Creation.

is distinctly stated, again and again, that the Lord made each You remember how it So we read, 'And God ' after his kind.' whales, and every created great creature living creature that moveth, which the waters brought abundantly, after their forth

' spurgeon's autobiography. H. : and God saw kind, and every winged fowl And it was good.' kind after his that ' And God said, Let the earth again, the hving bring forth creature after kind, his and thing, and creeping it was beast : and of the cattle, kind earth his after so.

And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and their kind, and cattle after creepeth upon every thing : and God saw that that the after his kind earth it was I would remind you that, after good.' Besides, brethren, all these years in which so many people and down the world have been hunting ' the up missing link for between animals and men, among all the monkeys that the wise men have examined, one who has rubbed have never discovered they off, and ascended his in the tail scale of creation so far as to take his place as the equal of our brothers and sisters of able to find the germs of Mr. Darwin has never been the great family of mankind. an Archbishop of Canterbury in the body of a tom cat or a billy goat, and venture to prophesy that he will never accomplish such a feat as that.

There are abundant evidences that one creature inclines towards another in certain respects, are for all bound together in a wondrous way which indicates that they are the product of all God's but what of evolution appear to forget the advocates creative is, that will ; there is nowhere to be discovered an actual chain of growth from one creature to another, — there so many and missing and breaks here are links that the there, are, naturally enough, many chain cannot be made complete.

There resemblances between them, because they have all been wrought by the one great master-mind of God, yet each one has its own peculiarities. The Books of Scripture are many, yet the Book, the Bible, is one the waves of the sea are many, yet the sea is one ; and ; the creatures that the Lord has made are many, yet the Creation Look is one.

at the union between the animal and the bat or flying the the bird squirrel in in ; the resemblance between a bird and a fish in the think ot yet, nobody, flying fish ; surely, would venture to tell you that a fish ever grew into a bird, or that a bat ever No became get out of their own butterfly or an eagle.

a they do not spheres. ; ' improve a mouse so that All the evolutionists in the world cannot will develop it ' Even where one a golden evolve of a barn-door a cat, or eagle out into fowl.

very which about each resembles species a closely another, speciality there is it from distinguishes all others.

I do not know, " and I do say, that a person cannot believe in Revelation not too, lor a man may believe and that which infinitely wise and evolution, in also is is apparently nothing that a man that which is only asinine.

In this evil age, there cannot believe Prayer-book of the Church he can believe, ex aniino, the whole of ; pretty much England the same matters other with and, the after It is all, !

; greatest discoveries made by man must be quite babyish to the infinite mind of God.

He has told us all that we need to know in order that we may become like Himself, but He never meant us to know all that He knows."

spurgeon s auto.biograpiiy. h. Arbitration. When and between Great proposed Treaty the of Arbitration the Britain year 1887, Mr. Spurgeon States was under United wrote, consideration the : — " Concerning the substitution in in with regard to reply to a request for his opinion it Christian men.

no among" be for war, there can surely question of arbitration to lead the way in making rejoice that the two great Protestant nations should seek permanent arrangements settlement reasonable of a the differences future for in May manner.

succeed they admirably induce so others follow as their to to like men instead of killing surely time that we reasoned excellent example It is !

tigers." like UnFERMENTED COMiMUNION WiNE. A question having been raised, in The Christian Coiiinionzvea/th, as to the wine the communion Spurgeon Mr.

Metropolitan used Tabernacle, the services at at wrote to the Editor as follows : " West wood, "June " Dear Sir, " We use Frank Wright's unfermented wine at the Tabernacle, and have I am given that some never used any other unfermented to understand wine.

of a considerable amount unfermented wine the but has of alcohol so-called in it ; One person advertized his wine Mr. Wright's pure juice as of the grape.

the is used at the Tabernacle though we had never used So it even on one occasion.

far as we are concerned, we use no wine but that produced by Messrs. Frank Wright, Mundy, and Co.

" Yours truly, " C. H. Spurgeon." Grocers' Licences. 1887, Mr. Spurgeon gave an address in connection with the Tabernacle In June, tell some of which Abstinence Total he could course the Society, said in Christian men, whom I know, who come home from dreadful stories of respectable with heavy hearts because they do not know whether business their wives or not They have prayed with will be drunk.

them, they have wept with them, they have forgiven them many times, and yet the grocer's shop has been too much for them.

is straight and above-board, — that Do not talk about the public-house. That thing it, — but the much ruins an immense grocer's shop say is the place will for that They can get the drink there, and put number of women. it down under the name there never was a worse move of something else ; and for the temperance I believe

autobiography. spurgeon's H. that which made it easy to buy drink of this nation than I have grocers' shops.

at not known a grocer who has not been deteriorated by the I do not say sale of it.

they have become bad men, but they have not become better men." The soHcitor to the Off-Hcences Association wrote to Mr. .Spurgeon, challeno-inosome of his statements, and referring to the Report of the Committee of the House of Lords upon the matter the following reply was sent to him : ; " VVestwood, " Dear Sir, I am always ready to hear the other side, I thank you for your letter. " and especially when the pleading is so temperate I do not intend to enter in spirit. but my opinion not been has into controversy, at without arrived observation.

be much those who form an myselt able believe opinion better than to to are well known engaged Facts to us the as ministers cannot be trade.

in divulo-ed. The ease with which drink can be obtained at respectable believe to be a shops, peculiarly evil form of temptation ; but facts which prove to publish the it would be it would be easy.

as painful as "A Committee of the House of Lords can prove nothing; the witnesses are silenced by a delicacy which their position demands.

" Yours truly, " C. H. Spurgeon." The Theatre. An actress in America, replying to some ministerial criticisms upon the influence morals, made stage upon religion and following statement the the : — "Among the best friends to an of interI have ever had, have been such eminent divines viewer as Henry Ward Beecher, Dr. Chapin, Dr. Talmage, Dr. Swing, Mr. Spurgeon, and I am that my none and thought sure others these of that profession, riohtly ; it any danger to good morals or religion."

followed, carries with The minister who had been in controversy with the lady wrote to Mr. Spurgeon, enquiring as to the truth of this statement, and he replied thus : " London, " January 24, 1S88.

" Dear Sir, " So charge my memory, have heard of never can before as far I am decidedly the enemy of 'good Miss the stage the opinion that of is if she mentioned It has not improved morals and religion.' lady's truthfulness this

I know nothing of her. " Yours truly, " C. H. Spurgeox." Mr. Spurgeon's opinions concerning professing Christians going the theatre to his most notable utterance upon that subject was evoked Perhaps are well known.

number and of clerg)men by attendance a a ministers large special the of at in a sermon the Shaftesbury Theatre.

performance Shortly the afterwards, at in Christian Chmxh present day has played Tabernacle, he of the the There are no amusements too vile for harlot beyond any church in any other day.

Her and, by their applause, have pastors have filled a of theatre set late her.

; To have we their mark of approval upon labours the point of play-actors.

this come last, a degradation which was never reached even in Rome's darkest hour at — and ; if you do not love Christ enough it, the Lord have indignant about to be " mercy upon you ! Brethren and Brethrenism. Spurgeon some Mr. a correspondent In May, wrote ask questions to concerninof Brethren and Brethrenism, and at the same time mentioned the followinoincident in connection with one of the Pastor's sermons : " Dear Mr. Spurgeon, My father-in-law, twenty-five years ago, lived "This may interest you. Your text was Nathan's to hear you preach. in London, and on one occasion went He had been to doing some the man!' to David, 'Thou exercised words as art ' Well, there with your sermon, he thought, as you proceeded ; and little preaching You went is nothing for me on, however, to picture the Plague of London, here.' and asked, 'What would you think of a man who, during the time of the Plague, had and Then, after pocket?' with pause, kept but a outhis a in for specific it it, This went right home to my art the man finger, you called out, 'Thou stretched ' ! ' That's for me From that I've.heard enough father-in-law's heart, and he thought, !

! ' to do since, the result being time he began continued preach, and ever has so to the Name of Jesus.

blessing to many souls, and much glory His thought was to that he had the specific for the plague of sin in his pocket, but that he was failing to simplicity of the gospel ; and one of the favourite of his illustrations administer it of your own sermon conversion, under messaoe the preacher's the story local is ' Look unto Me, and be ye I once came saved,' which story upon across the text, in my reading, and showed to him."

autobiography. spurgeon's H. In reply to the foregoing letter, Mr. Spurgeon wrote : " Westwood, i! " Dear Sir, I have changed my opinion as to Brethren-?^;;/ ; but " I cannot say that with many Brethren I have always been on most I don't think brotherly terms. I was loved by am bound to answer your questions about individuals. I believe that S., and that Mr. Kelly regards me kindest manner ; and the I return in the like other who to the memory am, perhaps, better first, and the survives.

of the to ; but nozv than aforetime their ideas of their separateness to sympathize with able I do not accept.

the ministry "The sermon you mention was that your father-in-law not printed. J rejoice pray that we may, one and each through hearing working was his in set it ; of our Lord who cometh appointed way, hold and spread the of the gospel truth quickly.

" Yours very truly, " C. H. Spurgeon." Funeral Reform. honorary of the the Spurgeon following secretary wrote the to letter Mr.

Church of England Burial, Funeral, and Mourning Reform Association : " Westwood, • " Sept.

" Dear Sir, the expending of money it can be necessary to say that " I hardly think the common I hope is absurd, unthrifty, and even cruel. on mere show at funerals widow and which oppress customs the soon destroy people sense the of will To expenditure which of them an cannot they fatherless by demanding afford.

Something has been is a grim unsuitabihty. bedeck a corpse with vain trappings, I fear your Society has yet to battle with prejudices done in the rio-ht direction, but and when conquered, to overcome there speedily are these are hard will which ; I wish you good success in a reform so spring up another host of extravagances.

evidently demanded. " Yours truly, " C. H. Spurgeon."

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