Chapter CV. The Long Illness

CHAPTER ^Ijt ions illness. of affliction" — This has long been the motto fixed before our "/ have chosen the furnace in thee in many ways also been written on eye upon the wall of our bed-chamber, and our heart.

has it . We God's choice makes chosen men choice men. is no mean thing to be chosen of God. It furnace, beauty marred, fashion chosen, but not In the are the the furnace.

palace, in in is is secrets, and is consumed reveals here strength love destroyed, melted, eternal yet glory its is ; to-day the furnace be heated So it been declares has our Therefore, choice.

case. in its if hotter, we glorious Son of God will walk with us amid the seven times dread not for the will it, glowing coals.— C. H. S., in " The Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith."

first Sabbath after his return from the sunny South, — February 8, H E 1 89 1, — the Pastor preached at the Tabernacle from Isaiah the Authorized and Revised Versions, as he had done using both On when speaking upon that passage at Mentone.

that occasion, secretary, "You transcribe your need he not report, said his to He had I expect to have this subject again when I get home." for text: "Ye the been that are Revisers' rendering of the specially struck with the till He establish, and rest, and give Him no Lord's remembrancers, take ye no rest, till He make Jerusalem a praise The sermon was intended to be the in the earth." for God prayer and was powerful a key-note the of to service year's call it ; realize how yet probably even not then himself did the preacher testimony, fully for that long season of almost appropriate was his message in preparing the people life, and ceaseless intercession while he was enduring the heaviest of his affliction from which he was never really to recover.

Although there were ominous indications that his health was by no means all that could be desired, he did not spare himself, but laboured with the utmost earnestness A brief " Note " in The Szvord and the and zeal to extend his Master's Kingdom.

Trowel of that period gives just a glimpse of the great spiritual prosperity which was proved to be being enjoyed only a little while before the starding breakdown which : — " The month of March has been a memorable one for " the beginning of the end " Pastor C. H. S. continued to see persons who wished the church in the Tabernacle.

of these he had eighty-four to propose for fellowship. to join the church, and out How much of joyous labour all these is best known to the Pastor and the involved, To God alone be glory." sympathizing reapers who shared his delightful toil. Y4

SPURGEON S AUTOBIOGRAPHY. H. The Mr. Spurgeon was present, was held Conference, at which College last the May Monday, number The from April April In Friday, of to Sword and the following "Note" concerning Editor the Troivel, the inserted the week Sabbath after the meetings of Conference night the the President, was Of Every one went exhausting everything of day, delight.

well. one who was there was a the course, centre the of and, reaction for this all ; first time in a ministry of forty years, we entered the Sunday pulpit on the for the evening, and were obliged to hurry out of it for a low, nervous condition shut us up.

; It was the story there and then ; and he did so." Happily, Mr. Stott could take up four months remarkable very Mr. previously, letter, written his Stott, to that, in 1891, Mr. Spurgeon for the year concerning appointment assistant-minister as his : — -" It would be a great relief to me I knew that someone was on the spot said if That a almost expression suddenly should take implies the pulpit to fail."

premonition of what took place on that Sabbath night, April This unprecedented experience was an indication of a very serious state of affairs; yet, the following Lord's-day morning. May Pastor was pulpit again 3, the his in ; and he delivered the discourse which he had prepared for the previous week, prefacing to the " overpowering nervousness " which had then oppressed it with a reference occurrence was and which probably strange him, pointing out that the lessons He night; on preached intended to teach to himself and his again the hearers.

at following afternoon, he was at the Tabernacle, seeing enquirers and candidates for ; and in the evening, he presided church-fellowship prayer-meeting. In the the at course of the proceedings, he asked for earnest supplication on behalf of the special These comprised the in which he was to be occupied during the week.

services the Tuesday teachers, at Bloomsbury Chapel, on annual sermon to Sunday-school the Thursday ; a sermon at the Tabernacle, on evening night, in aid of the British ; and Society, preceded by a prayer-meeting in the lecture-hall and Foreign Sailors' "Fraternal" at Hendon, on in connection with two meetings of the Friday, the of The Sword and the In the June number which Mr. Spurgeon was a member.

Trowel, the Editor gave a brief account of all these gatherings, and some others that his " Notes " indicate had the long followed shordy afterwards and that illness ; its probable commenced, although he was not then aware of its nature or serious The concluding paragraphs were as follows duration. : " Friends will note that all the above meetings were held in one week, which also the great communion included two Sabbath services and at the Tabernacle, beside home-work, Lord's-day the correspondence, regular the In addition, all etc.

following Thursday ; and the morning sermon had to be revised, and published the sermons to Sunday-school teachers and sailors were received revision, and duly for

AUTOBIOGRAPHY. SPURGEON S H. it any wonder that the worker gets weary, and has to beg friends not attended to.

Is to impose further burdens on one who is already terribly overladen ?

"On May Spurgeon spoke Presbyterian Friday Mr. the evening, at It was a time of peculiar bodily weakness, and missionary meeting at Exeter Hall.

God friends who the bless our received kindly of special strength, so spiritual message and the messenger !

"On Sunday evening, May Spurgeon could not preach ; and on the 17, Mr. Monday, the doctor found him lungs and other congestion aside with of the laid ' My for some matters, which forbid his quitting his chamber to come.

time little We in Thy Lord would preaching always be times are howbeit, the hand.' : thinketh not so." The text quoted by the Pastor was the subject of his Sabbath morning sermon H. SPURGEON PREACHING IN THE TABERNACLE, on May 17, which many have supposed to be last discourse in the Tabernacle. his It was not, however, for there was one more message which he was to be permitted

! SPURGEON S AUTOBIOGRAPHY. H. " long silence " which was speak congregation great before the that only to to temporarily broken at Mentone on the following New Year's Eve.

On Lord's-day 1891, Mr. Spurgeon stood for the last time on that platform which, morning, June 7, for thirty years, had been his pulpit throne, and from which he had proclaimed the while, by means least twenty millions of hearers, gospel of the printed page, to at he had been brought far greater number of readers into communication with a in His was ever-memorable on quarters the of morning, globe.

that text, all I Samuel xxx. 21 — 25 ; and the sermon was published, as No. 2,208 in the regular " The Statute of David weekly issue, under the for the Sharing of the Spoil."

title, The whole discourse was a noble conclusion to the Pastor's ministry in the beautiful sanctuary which was ever to him what Zion was to the Jews but the final sentences ; were noteworthy they correspond with are so that inserted here, to in full, First Words " C. H. Spurgeon's III., page at the Tabernacle," given in Vol.

X^berneicle l>5*flonis If you wear the live^ of Christ, you will find Him so meek and lowly of heart that you will find rest unto your souls.He is the most magnanimous of captains. There never was His like among the choicest of princes He is always to be found in the thickest part of the battle. When the wind blows cold He always takes the bleoksideof thehilljheheaviestend of the cross lies ever on His shoulders. If He bids us carry a burden. He carries it also. If there is anything that is gracious. generou5,kird,cind it in Him.

tender.yea lavish and superabundant in love.you always find it at once! God His service is life, peacejqy. Oh.thatyou would enter on help you to enlist under the banner of JesUS CHRIST H. spurgeon's last words at the tabernacle, JUNE

SPURGEON S AUTOBIOGRAPHY. H. ;57 On Spurgeon went be Mr. morning, the country, the the followingr to into visit Stambourne in order that he might again guest of Mr. Gurteen, of Haverhill, the views which and photographer might neighbourhood, take friend that his its The little volume. Memories of Stamboitrne.

he wished to have reproduced for his was the gout-mischief deadly lurking system, of with the that his effects in strangely misnamed malady combined such to produce mysterious so influenza, to hurry home on alarming symptoms thaf he had ; and Friday then, for three the months, he was completely laid aside.

One of the additional fact that he illness was the early part of his of the trials was Surrey speak opening preach unable connection with or of the the to in Gardens Memorial Hall, which had been erected the view of providing partly with THE SURREY GARDENS MEMORIAL HALL. the Carter Street Sundayfor the workers connected with suitable accommodation the Surrey a permanent memorial ministry of the Pastor's in but as also school, On October 20, 1890, Mr. Spurgeon and Mr. S. R. Pearce had Gardens Music Hall.

; Mr. W. Higgs had erected laid the foundation stones of the new building it in his the whole meantime, of the the generous and, and fashion in usual excellent ; The services were opening had been pay amount raised.

required for to it

autobiography. spurgeon's H. 2 to June 23, in the hope that the Pastor might be sufficiently postponed from June restored to take part in them illness had assumed so ; but, by that time, his serious to be abandoned, and that the hope had the premises had a form to be set apart for the Lord's service under the shadow of an impending calamity which threatened still greater solemnity to the memorial character of the work.

to add About time, Dr. Kidd was Miller, of Upper consult with Dr. called that to in since May Norwood, who attendance upon Spurgeon been had Mr.

18, and in Reynolds was For a Dr. Russell medical consulted. also while, that all skill, patient watching, and do, appeared careful nursing could to be of no and, avail ; all means that seemed wise prayer was being and the use of with offered, right, The unceasingly, by believers Tabernacle Church, beginning all over the world.

with a whole day of intercession for the suffering Pastor, continued to meet, morning, noon, and hundreds and perhaps thousands to plead night, recovery.

In his for of Nonconformist petitions were presented on of worship, sympathetic places his behalf, — the of those who Chief Rabbi being conspicuous representative held a Mr. Spurgeon's, but who remembered him very different views from at the throne Many grace season of Established clergy of the of the of his suffering.

in Church, congregations, were praying with him, equally the earnest their for in Paul's Cathedral and Westminster Abbey dignitaries ecclesiastical officiating at St.

joining with the Archbishops and many of the Bishops in interceding on his behalf.

The devoted much of our own and secular and press other lands religious his work, — not always accurate, illness, and space to accounts of his particulars of though, on the whole, exceedingly kind and letters, and Telegrams, appreciative.

" VVestwood " of sympathy poured continuous resolutions while stream, a into in those who called or sent the beloved sufferer were of all ranks, from to enquire for of Wales and Prince the a great proportion nobility of the country the of the to A volume might poorest be from the of notable poor.

with the letters filled individuals who of bereavement during time, (and wrote, period trying the that Mrs. Spurgeon ; but space can only be followed that Pastor or it,) either to the to of the most spared here representative communications.

for just a small selection The one that probably had the most tender associations connected with it was written He was staying with his by Mr. Gladstone, who had recently eldest son. his lost Colmian, from whose Mr, house he touching following friend, sent the epistle : " Corton, " Lowestoft, "July " My Dear Madam, "In my own home, darkened I have read with sad at the present time,

SPURGEON S AUTOBIOGRAPHY. H. and cannot help conveying interest the daily accounts of Mr. Spurgeon's illness * ; of my the earnest assurance of my sympathy with you and with him, and to you still more of his devoted of his splendid powers, but not only admiration, cordial May I humbly commend you and him, in all contingencies, and unfailing character.

to the infinite stores of the Divine love and mercy, and subscribe myself, "My dear madam, " Faithfully yours, " W.

Gladstone." E. " Mrs. Spurgeon." In reply, Mrs. Spurgeon wrote as follows : "Westwood, "July " Deg,r Mr. Gladstone, "Your words of sympathy have a significance and tenderness special coming from one who has just passed through the deep waters which seem now for my beloved I thank you warmly for your expression of regard to threaten me. all my heart of God may abound husband, and pray with consolations that the Although we towards you even as they do cannot yet consider to me.

the dear issued a somewhat more hopeful have of danger, out doctors to-day the patient it an honour to be allowed to say that I shall ever be bulletin.

I feel "Your grateful friend, H.)" Spurgeon. (Mrs. " S. at "Westwood" just when Spurgeon was Mr. Mr. Gladstone's letter arrived delirium which enjoying one between long periods of of the the brief intervals He was were hear a delighted of the great so feature painful his to illness.

a few words read, and to add he should statesman's said that epistle like his to his own hand, grateful acknowledgment dear he Accordingly, with of wife's : — it.

wrote this postscript, — the first words that he had penned for weeks " P.S. — Yours write who a word have been such only those of love as is My seen much His country, and have King's heart's love the of into to face.

you. — C. H. Spurgeon." The following letter from Earl Fortescue is a good specimen of the expressions of sympathy from many of the truly noble men and women of the land : " 48, Grosvenor Gardens, S.W., "July '9.1.

" Dear Madam, ago, to testify my deep called, some days I had hoped to have " regret, on both public and and Mr. Spurgeon's grounds, private serious at to illness,

SPURGEON S AUTOBIOGRAPHY. H. express my sincere sympathy with you long and your But anxiety. terrible in I unfortunately could not manage to do so. I found intrude upon you with this line instead, which " requires no answer. I therefore am, from will just add saddest only experience, both too able well that to you under with which and severe the appreciate your anxiety, for feel to trial and wisdom, His has seen love Almighty, inscrutable the to infinite visit in fit May God, as He alone can, support and cheer you and your honoured husband.

in answer He, vouchsafe thousands, prayers whether you of the shall both, to life, or whether He call up His shall decide to prolong precious to faithful that servant to rest and glory !

"Yours truly, " Fortescue." " Mrs. Spurgeon." Bishops of the Church of England ; two Quite a number of letters came from of the choicest of them were written by the Bishops of Worcester (Dr. Perowne) They were as follows and Exeter (Dr. Bickersteth).

: " Hartlebury Castle, " Kidderminster, " Dear Mrs. Spurgeon, " May Spurgeon, Mr.

if he ask you me, able convey, to for to is illness, and my earnest of my heartfelt sympathy in the expression his to bear it, I am he may be very mercy, restored health } of God's great to prayers that, God is some improvement.

see, by to-day's bulletin, that there slight thankful to it may continue grant that !

assurance of my respectful sympathy " Permit me to you also the in offer to I do that you have had by your husband's sick-bed.

the long and anxious watch written me some letters, and not know him personally very kind but he has all ; heart must and him, the world knows him by his every Christian work, for feel and for you, and his family, and pray for his recovery.

" Believe me, " Yours very faithfully, S. Worcester." "J. J. " The Palace, " Exeter, "28 July, " My Dear Madam, " May to assure you that we have mingled our prayers with I venture

in My wife and for him have prayed and our together, and with also children God will be with you servants.

of your and, as the faith has been so trial lono-, ; of His the consolation supply your love and wants, breathe will peace the all of God into your heart and home.

I have ventured " two hymns, enclose one of which husband your to has of, and possibly he may like to have them within reach.

so kindly spoken " Believe me, " Yours in true sympathy, " Mrs. Spurgeon." The ^hymn was " Peace Bishop referred well-known to Bickersteth's one, ! " on which Mr. Spurgeon had spoken when visiting a sick perfect peace friend at address was Mentone.

His The Sivord and published Troivel in the for July, of his own the most and many readers were period at critical illness ; comforted by his comment on the lines "Peace! perfect peace! death shadowing us and ours? Jesus has vanquish'd death and all its powers." sent many Benson Archbishop and Mrs. or called times enquire for the to The following letter belongs to the period of partial convalescence suffering Pastor.

when Mr. Spurgeon had been able to far as Addington it seems to drive as ; but fit in more appropriately after the Bishops' epistles :— " Addington Park, ' Croydon, ' " Oct., " My Dear Mr. Spurgeon, I was surprised and delighted to see your handwriting, and " it so to see it had not been my firm and clear. I only lamented that, as you were actually here, We do earnestly hope that when (and may good fortune you.

see it soon be to !) carriage, and come you are able to leave your in, you will do so in the middle or, ; of your ride, let us bring you out a glass of wine or a cup of tea.

" We know how much you must have and we have watched your suffered, retardations and advances with full of regard and hope.

It has been oiven hearts to bring many souls within the knowledo-e to you, not only to labour for Christ, and ; but — it seems follow with so many of those who and feeling of the Atonement to have come nearest to Him in that great way, to be drawn into closest sympathy with sufferings, — to His mysterious catch those the of words, reality avTavairX^pw rk Ka\ No doubt there also some verses vaTepiJixara rwv dXv^ewy are XptcTTov ev rp aapKL rov fiou.* in the Psalms which you can now, more than ever, make your own.

" and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions ot Christ in my flesh."

* Colossians :

autobiography. spurgeon's H. your own been has kind according thought, do greatly rejoice to it if, But you may be possible that expressions of sympathy have been unlocked to you.

all who have shown They that the sympathy was most genuine quite sure in it.

it to their Master, long before, in prayer that He would lay His hand on had shown y-ou in healing, and give you yet time for garnering for Him.

"We join for Mrs. Spurgeon sincerest wishes and sympathies Pray in also.

let us see you on some other drive. " Yours most sincerely in the one Lord, " Edw. Cantuar." it must have been your sick handwriting on a wrapper of The think so, thank you more and more."

Greatest Fight before I went away. If On The recovery may measure be towards progress a of traced. briefly Pastor's own hand August written by the following the after the letter, first illness, was read at the Tabernacle, and was received his long to the congregation both as an answer to prayer, and an encouragement to continued intercession : " Dear Brethren, " The Lord's Name and then hearing the be first giving praised for prayers my Through these His loving prayers people!

is prolonged. of life feel greatly humbled, and very grateful, at being the object of so great a love and so wonderful an outburst of prayer.

the Name of the Lord be " have not strength Let say more. glorified. to " Yours most heartily, " C. H. Spurgeon." Even after the wearisome signs of improvement were manifest, a long and first At last, the time followed, hopeful advances alternating with disappointing relapses.

dear patient was able to be carried downstairs, and to be wheeled round his garden, On entering his study, for the where the fresh air seemed to work wonders for him.

oi John Ploughman s Almanack and first time, and catching sight of the final proofs Illnstrated Almanack, and then asking for Sp2trgeons recently-issued copies of the sermons and magazine, he exclaimed, " Why ! you have carried on everything just as Those who were responsible for the work I had been here." if possible, that, if felt nothing must be allowed it was a great joy to and his absence suffer during to ; them to find how highly their services were appreciated by the It was also Pastor.

a providential arrangement by which various works was, at the of the issue first, then, when temporarily undertaken during the dear it became author's for illness, necessary his home-going, his helpers had only to continue to publish them, after the plans which had already been for some months in operation.

SPURGEON S AUTOBIOGRAPHY. H. As the autumn advanced, and weakness disappear, did not the patient's it became certain that he must go to Mentone for the winter if he could journey so far.

The renewed offer of Dr. Pierson, to cross the Atlantic if he could be of any service arrangement appeared everyone another the providential and, Pastor, to to ; it was settled that he should commence his the Tabernacle on service ultimately, at power October order Lord's-day, the In invalid's test travel, .an to to experimental visit was paid to Eastbourne from October This proved most satisfactory, and it also further indicated the absolute necessity of a prolonged rest in Accordingly, on Monday, October Mrs. C. H.

Pastor and the sunny South. and on Spurgeon, Harrald and Mr. Spurgeon, Mrs. Pastor A. started their J. They were accompanied Calais by two of the thousand miles' journey. as far as was and Higgs. Tabernacle various deacons, Messrs. stated Allison in It at the time that Baron Rothschild had placed his saloon carriage at Mr.

newspapers Messrs. Alabaster, Passmore, and This was Spurgeon's disposal.

not the case, for Sons and Mr. John M. Cook most generously defrayed the cost of the saloon carriage from Calais to Mentone, and so enabled the whole party to travel in ease and comfort, Thursday, October and to on After the return at their destination arrive to E. H. Thorne, who had England I. A. Spurgeon, Miss Pastor and then Mrs.

of H. THORNE. MISS E. been for a quarter of a century Mrs. C. H. Spurgeon's devoted companion and friend, Her services had been invaluable throughout the whole of that long period, arrived.

pa-st summer ; and her presence and especially during the trying experiences of the anxious days and at Mentone was a great comfort and the particularly in help, last

SPURGEON S AUTOBIOGRAPHY. H. >64 health, and bright, cheery Blessed with good a Spurgeon's Mr. of nights illness. spirit, she was able most lovingly and loyally to minister to the dear sufferer right to of the bereaved sorrow then remained life, and share the end of his earthly the to the many " VVestwood " to forms carry on of one they returned until together to still associated with that hallowed home.

Christian service THE SITTING-ROOM AT WENTOiNE.

↑ Back to top ← Back to Books Library