CHAPTER a JBoubU Silbcr Simtbbtnni. It was right and seemly that, at the close of this period of twenty-five years, some testimonial The like has been worthily done in other instances should be offered to the Pastor.
; and brethren have accepted a sum of money, which they well deserved, ard which theyhave very properly laid aside as a it did not appear to us that the offering should In our case, provision for their families.
fitting at all We could, without sin, have come into our own purse ; our conscience and heart revolted from the idea. We have been so much more in the accepted the gift for our own need it seemed not to be right.
; but hands of God than most, — so much less an agent, and so much more an instrument, that we could not Christ, who have Moreover, the dear and honoured brethren and claim a grain of credit. sisters in surrounded us these many years, have really themselves done the bulk of the work ; and God forbid that we should monopolize honour which belongs to all the saints Let the offering come, by all means ; but in the church, — far more than !
There are many poor it return to the source from whence it came. let ; — many of the most godly poor, " widows indeed," and partakers of friends at a distance would imagine To aid the church in its holy duty of remembering the poor, which the poverty of Christ.
is the nearest The testimonial approach to remembering Christ Himself, seemed to us to be the highest use of money.
in the Almshouses, and thus will, therefore, go to support the aged will actually relieve the sisters it May the Lord funds of the church which are appropriated to the weekly relief of the necessitous.
! We see the Lord's servants fetching Jesus accept this cup of cold water, which is offered in His Name ; and as we behold tliem cheerfully and for us water from the well of Bethlehem which is by the gate tears in our eyes, — but we feel that it at our feet, we thank them, — thank them with generously setting O Lord, accept it!
we must not drink thereof; So it must be poured out before the Lord. let it be. — C. H. S., in ^'The Sword and the T}Owcl," January, 1S79. FTER the furlough described in the previous chapter, the first great event was Mr.
Spurgeon's the of celebration historical pastoral wedding, — the commemoration completion the of of silver the felt, by many It was in London.
twenty-fifth year of his ministry service should of his friends, that so notable a period of Christian not be allowed to pass without due recognition, and many of them desired to avail themselves of the opportunity to present to their Pastor a testimonial As soon as the matter was mentioned to him, he of their loving esteem. resolutely refused to receive any personal presentation but, feeling that the church's gratitude ; to God for all the blessing vouchsafed during that memorable quarter of a century efforts should be made to help ought to find suitable expression, he suggested that the one portion of the work which had been a source of some anxiety to him, and might be more so in the future.
At the annual church-meeting, in January, 1878, the question assumed definite shape, as will be seen from Mr. Spurgeon's own account of the proceedings all, that the deacons should consider how best was proposed, and heartily carried by Pastor's silver wedding when the twenty-fifth year should to celebrate the close, if God should spare the senior Pastor to that time. Mr. Spurgeon then reminded the heaviest burden was the Almshouses, which, having been church scantily that its
p. 1SPURGEON S AUTOBIOGRAPHY. H, endowed for six aged sisters, now accommodated seventeen, and made a heavy drain the alms given on the communion fund.
It appeared, from the balance-sheet, that great number the poor annually exceeded ^i,ooo; from of the the and, away to Pastor to find ^120, and for other friends it had been needful for the poor members, This was principally due the to balance the account.
to o-ive privately in order to large item for support of almswomen ; and Mr. Spurgeon if friends would said that, church work would be put make an raise about ^5,000, part of the this effort to it as a fit way of celebrating the anticipated into proper shape, and he should regard He remarked that it was comparatively easy to carry the load noii), but that event.
Should he heavy burden leave such successor. a he should his not for to like it no great cause for blessing himself be suddenly called away, the church might find the aged that houses had been it found Mr. Spurgeon's administration built for if He considered widows to starve in, but that their daily bread had been forgotten.
this exception, and that the good ship was in trim condition from stem to stern with From he would like to see the matter done, and done the enthusiasm of the well.
by many needful amount be little doubt hands, the will there that, meetino-, is brought in on or before January, 1879."
far more than the sum mentioned had been About half By that date, received.
the Pastor had not then seen, as he did the amount was realized by a bazaar, for in of raising money that method evils necessarily associated with for later years, the The had be Mr.
postponed, presentation a as time, to for Lord's cause. the and away Mentone, seeking was Spuroeon restoration but, rest at at last.
; May 20, was preceded by special sermons 1879, was fixed for the joyous event. It on the Sabbath, in the course of which the following historical and autobiographical references were made by the preacher : " Under pastorate, we mariners mid-ocean, present are distant the like in years, from the place of our departure, and making all twenty-five leagues, or rather service we may expect personally to render, As to any further shore.
for the sail In the course if not near to their end. we are certainly in the midst of the years, of that more nature, we another twenty-five years than of service not expect could : we to reckon even upon that us, nor are we so could be compassed by as foolish that we church-relationship, now rate, come middle our at any have, in to life ' the midst of the years is about ' a celebrate our silver wedding. Brethren, there special danger, and shall lead us at this time, this led the prophet, to as certain it ' O for my text, Lord, revive Thy work in I have selected in the words which pray, in the midst of the years make known.' Youth has the midst of the years, its perils, infirmities, but these we have not yet reached ; age has but these are past it is its ; ' in the midst of the ours then to pray against the dangers which are present with us
p. 17autobiography. spurgeon's H. The middle passage of individuals, and with life with us as years.' us as a church, is crowded with peculiar perils. "There certain spur and religious movements is a of novelty about stimulus I well recollect when we were called is worn out. ' a nine days' which in a few years wonder,' and our that our work would critics prophesied Such speedily collapse.
excitement had been seen and had passed away and this would be one before, ; among other bubbles of the hour.
The nine days have lasted considerably lono; may such days Now, them, mercy God's nine follow whatever in infinite !
say, we know detractors might there was life, an energy, a freshness then a that about everything which was done by us as a church which we could hardly expect From fervour, many to continue with us an admirable these years.
for all cool down to a dangerous chill. is to be bemoaned where This it has occurred, and is it feared where as to be it has not happened, for such yet tendency of the natural is to God that, when what Beloved have prayed brethren, things.
the called is is gone from us, the Esprit de Dieu may esp7dt de corps still abide with us that, ; when the spirit which grows out of our association with each other declines, we may be sustained by the Spirit which unites us all to the Lord Jesus.
" This very house to sdme of prayer has been of you a quiet resting-place.
You at home been more than when have you have been here at home. will be bound to say that you recollect more happy times that you have had here than anywhere these have put out of your memory and of your else, sad records the the world, even hard that many I know for a livelihood.
battling of you in live You step over the intervening space from Lord's-day to Lord'sby your Sabbaths.
if the Lord had made a ladder of Sabbaths for you to climb to Heaven by day, as ; and you have been fed, as well as rested, I know you have, for he in God's house. who deals out the meat has had his own portion ; and when he is fed, he knows that food, and know when they others have like appetites, and need You like get it.
for very joy when redeeming grace and dying love have have clapped your hands been the theme, and infinite, sovereign, changeless mercy has been the subject of discourse.
had, my "Well now, by every happy Sabbath you have by brethren; every holy Monday evening prayer-meeting occasion on which God has met ; by every building, when a few of you, at early mornino-, with you in any of the rooms of this or late in the evening, have gathered together for prayer ; by every time in which the Jesu's love has charmed your soul up Heaven's bless and of realization to gate, His Name, who has crowned magnify There had His goodness. the years with if the Lord had not given us manna from There had been no food for us Heaven.
if He had not breathed peace upon There had been no comfortable rest for us us.
been no coming in of new converts, nor going out with rapturous joy of the perfected B 4
p. 1SPURGEON S AUTOBIOGRAPHY. H. if the Lord had not been ones up to the seats above, with us and, therefore, to ; Him be all the praise.
" I do not suppose that any strangers here will understand this matter. It may that we even be that they will judge are indulging self-gratulation under a thin in ; but this evil we must endure for once. You, my brothers and sisters, who disguise have been together these many years, comprehend what ; and you know is meant is not within the compass of an angel's tongue to express the gratitude which that it many of us feel who, for these five-and-twenty years, have been banded together in closest and Christian brotherhood in the service of our Lord and Master.
heartiest cannot guess how happy has been our fellowship, or how Strangers our true love.
the multitude of mercies with which God has visited us Eternity alone reveal shall by means of our association in this church is to some of us friend, nurse, mother, it ; home, During the Lord has been one.
these in pleased, years, all infinite in all mercy, to prepare men's hearts to listen to the Word.
It was not possible, they said, The that great places could be filled with crowds to hear the old-fashioned gospel.
its power, — so pulpit had lost ; and yet, no sooner did we begin unbelievers told us to preach in simple strains the gospel of Christ, than the people flew as a cloud, and at New And as doves their windows.
there was Park what to Street, listening where we scarcely had And when we air enough to breathe got the larger into !
What power seemed place, what attention was every word to go with manifest !
that was spoken it was it, though I was the but preacher not the say for ; ; ot God stricken down among us, some was which grace There me.
with were, of the most unlikely ones. There were brought into the church, and added to God's of those who some far away had wandered and from people, path of truth the ; and these, by righteousness life, and increased love, quickened our their penitent The Lord gave the people more and more a willingness our and zeal.
hear, to was no pause hearers, or in the incoming of there flowing stream either the of in The Holy Spirit came down like showers which converts. till the saturate the soil right and clods are ready for the breaking it was not long before, on the ; and then We were busy ' What must we do left, we heard the on to be saved ? the cry, ' and, thank God, we enough, in those have been so ever in seeing converts days, ; We had some among us who gave themselves up to watch for the souls of since.
men, and we have a goodly number of such helpers now, perhaps more than ever we still find many souls to watch had and, thank God, these found and Still the over.
; that they may be guided to fly, and arrows still the smitten cry out for help, and ask He went with us Blessed be God's Name great healing the Lord.
for this all ! so that we began days, and gave us sheaves even those first sowing, early at the ; and He has been with with mercy till our life has become one us even until now, long harvest-home.
p. 19SPURGEON S AUTOBIOGRAPHY, H. am " I bound during deep acknowledge, these with thankfulness, that, to years, the Word has been given me to speak when the time has come twenty-five It may to come I should be look to you a small thing able preaching.
that for to my brethren in the ministry who not seem so before you in due time ; but will it years, my sermons have been as they have printed for twenty-five recollect that, It must be an easy thing to go and buy discourses at si.xpence or a been delivered.
shilling each, ready lithographed, and read them hirelings do ; but to speak as off, time, and yet to have something say for twenty-five your heart out every tresh to Who cries unto God shall do unless he is no for help ?
years, play. child's it criticism upon in which the day, a newspaper but other the myself, writer read, expressed his wonder that a man should keep on year after year with so few themes, but, my brethren, is not so, our themes are and such a narrow groove to travel in it ; its meaning infinite for number and fulness.
Every text of Scripture is boundless in ; The groove we could preach from the Bible throughout eternity, and not exhaust it.
The Word of the Lord narrow They The thoughts of God narrow ? narrow ? ? Had we to it, for His commandment who say so do not know is exceeding broad.
; but when we or philosophy, we should have run dry long ago speak of politics have to preach the Saviour's everlasting love, the theme is always fresh, always new.
risen Lord, the coming glory, The incarnate God, the atoning blood, the these are stood among W^hen subjects which recollect how, as a boy, defy exhaustion.
and how feebly began and preach these twenty-five years, you, Jesus Christ, to perfect love compacted without dissension, ay, without the dream of dissension, in as one man, you have gone on from one work of God another, and have never to bless and magnify Him who hath halted, hesitated, or drawn back, I must and will crowned these years with His goodness.
this, — the " Now to my come crowning blessing closing point. is It is Some churches have one crown, and some another ; our to be of God. confessed this, — the poor have gospel preached unto them, crown, under God, has been the O my beloved fast that thou church, hold souls are saved, and Christ glorified.
is As hast, that no man take this crown away from for me, by God's help, the thee !
to bring men I care nothing about first and last thing that I long Christ.
to for is a hundred speculations of prophecy, or dainty about fine language, or pretty the up, to lay hold on a sheep of Christ and ; but to break the heart and bind things it You also are of the I would the one thing it back bring into the live for.
fold, is Well, we have had this crowning same mind, are you not ? blessing that, as nearly I came amongst you, more than nine thousand persons have I can estimate, since as what now, were now, us with a or they church.
joined alive this all If all company they would be there have that, during these twenty-five years, find !
gone from us, to the upper realms, about eight hundred who had named the Name
p. 20SPURGEON S AUTOBIOGRAPHY. H. His Professing their faith in Christ, Hving of Jesus. fear, dying in the faith, they in and, therefore, we may not question their gave us no cause to doubt their sincerity ; Many of them gave us, in Hfe and all the tokens we could eternal safety.
in death, therefore, we sorrow being ask of Christ and, their not for in those as that are I think of them, — many of them my sons and dauo-hters ; Why, when without hope.
in the faith, — now before the fill me with solemn Do you throne, they exultation !
them hundred Eight not redeemed see white robes by blood! their souls in .-^ those whom we knew These of, and had enrolled on our only are church-books.
How many more there may converted, who have been never joined our earthly fellowship, but, nevertheless, have gone home, There probably have cannot tell.
been more those whose names we know, if we than wide consider area over the are gathering home one by They which printed sermons the but circulate.
one, they make Our name Happy a goodly company. is Gad, *a troop cometh.' for shall we be who outmarched overtake have and those entered to the into us, Promised Land before us.
Let us remember them, and by faith join our hands with for we are not Flash a thought to the broken far from them, unite theirs.
family, us, since we are one in Christ." nor are they far from Monday evening. May 19, was mainly devoted the Lord for His praising to goodness to both Pastor and people during the whole of their union period but, ; Mr. Spurgeon gave an before the meeting he closed, there address, as that felt Among would not be time, the following evening, for him to say all that he wanted.
I have, as you must imagine, other things, he felt the deepest emotion, said at ; and especially the end of these twenty-five years of your affectionate co-operation affection to you all for an emotion, which not attempt to express, of grateful I shall to commemorate the event.
the noble testimonial which you have raised felt sure for our aged that you would as soon take up of providing plan as the sisters it that you was to you by proposed could give the deacons think but did not ; me The sum which be you such have net prepared.
a testimonial to as is to me I am handed increased 9s.,) the informed, ^6,238, (afterwards is, spontaneous giving — the universal giving — the delighted giving of the entire church Everyone has seemed jealous being excluded all, both and so congregation.
of ; poor, young and rich and old, have pressed forward with certainly their gifts.
could not have imagined that you would so largely exceed the amount needed for I remember your many other loving and generous the Almshouses yet, when ; and ; your conduct to me like you I cannot be surprised at anything. is just acts, is It all of a piece, and may God bless you for all the while you were doing I was it !
from my bed I had great deed love, and but, each day, could not of this rise ; I hardly knew tidings of some sort about you, and your words and acts of love ; and
p. 2SPURGEONS AUTOBIOGRAPHY. H. it cast me down with exceeding It lifted me out of despondency, but how to bear. it. I scarcely like to speak upon the subject, because it has been a rule with gratitude.
me not to take a text which I could not hope to grasp. Little boats are safest while is one of those upon which the more said This subject they keep in sight of shore.
condense my better, and that can be remains than better yet the said. all it is a prayer, — May the God, whom sermon into a sentence, and that sentence I serve, of your love and bless you kindness towards me, a thousandfold this token for all " I know you have rendered for Christ's sake which ! On Tuesday evening. May the Tabernacle was crowded in every part for the meeting at which the testimonial was to be presented.
After prayer and praise, entitled, "A B. VV. Carr read along but Grateful Mr. paper, interesting historical Mr. Spurgeon's Retrospect," summarizing church's progress during ministry the ; " The upon composition Baptist with choice followed Charles a Stanford Dr.
twenty-five years ago and now brief addresses were delivered a few ; " Churches, ; then, as a pleasant interlude before the presentation was made by Mr. W'illiam and : — " Before we go evening, we business of the the Pastor Olney, will the to said that glorious hymn, sing our Tabernacle National Anthem, 'tis a charming "'Grace, sound,' I am such a heretic ' Cranbrook ', which a critic has 'execrable.' called to the tune do, we ' Cranbrook as we if you generally and only sing will will as like to it ' ; of singing now (conThe way make some of these heathen here to-night like it.
parties to whom he alluded) the Spurgeon, affected tones imitate Mr. to tinued in ' Let rattle through and of God, praise and glory as fast as us the sing to it is, for we and and done, it over are get a fugue with, never a or repeat, possible, of the much-admired modern think some tunes : — death In of truth, sick to it.' I hope you enjoyed represented under the following story might be very well ' said a gentleman of the High Church to a Presbyterian our music morning,' this your admire form hiend who was cannot say that 'Well, him. staying with as we them things much have old the kirk.' better in of service like at all ; ' No did you very a gentleman not of musical But you taste after are, all, .'* ; 'But you must don't know which much enjoy was.' that introit?' really 'I it High Churchman. don't repeated the have been anthem,' with pleased that ' 'Well, there was one very can't say much favour,' was the know, reply. in its 'Oh!' was think response, didn't didn't you the remarkable tune; 'I notice it?' I am a very ancient because much tune, very now, that sorry, 'Well, of is it.' sung was the Church believe indeed, in very by often used the early it ; came music from wonderful of piece even heard have catacombs.
that this of the Temple the Jews, and was no doubt chanted for service the liturgical in ;
p. 22SPURGEON S AUTOBIOGRAPHY. H. ancient Temple was vou know and not your the worship bare of the Hturgical, There appears scarcely any doubt to be Presbyterian form tune the that at all.
originally sung by himself when this morning was David we had on he played ' Dear never the heard Presbyterian, said me,' but harp.' that his before, it ' could make out why light upon never threw Saul Scripture. throws great a he sang when was which David tune but the he played if that his at ja\-elin ; understand and can harp before the Saul's king, justify ferocity, too.' it, ' Cranbrook was sung by a good tune David, but that not the deal is is it ' the hymn is more ever sang David the tune and better than anything musical, ; than was known under has more gospel the law."
in it " Grace, a charming sound," 'tis "Cranbrook", was tune only a Tabernacle audience then the sung, as of six to Then followed thousand people could sing the presentation of the testimonial.
it. The Mr. and Olney's Mr. Spurgeon's portions address, principal of ot reply, Chapter XLIV., and were therefore need published not be repeated Vol.
in of that memorable meeting may be closed with the the record here but Pastor's ; his own and can only over people's resolve use affection allusions his to to make I have employed again the the In of sugar, simile before.
crystallizing in which sugar candy, strings the syrup stretched are across the is boiled vessel ; You upon the sugar Divine sugar these the are the strings, crystallizes.
life ; am fire which around which and your thread melts supplies the the hearts ; to me an amazement am So be you But your love crystallize.
still is it ! ; person among you most not comprehend seems do astonished the a it it ; ; What romance have love you shall do me.
namely, done, with to all still ; my heart, and love my Lord I mean to go on preachingas His grace enables me. you may His and and preach anything gospel be not sure that Jesus, shall ; and my with me I am Christ nothing.
or stock-in-trade sold up, for else, is it He ministry, my of my the sum is gone if Jesus gone.
Christ All-in-all." is is A presentation was by Mr. sequel pleasing noted time the thus the to at Spurgeon testimonial which our twenty-five years of pastoral celebrated work was presented on Tuesday, May 20, and there and then dedicated to the Lord. On evening, we commenced a new period following Thursday in our church the the church-meeting held ; and is a singularly pleasing coincidence history that, at it candidates came before on that evening, no church, and less than the thirty-seven faith in Christ, — the that we have largest number confessed their ever received at This was the more remarkable as one church-meeting. it happened entirely without We regard arrangement on the part of the Pastor or anyone else.
it as 'a token for " good,' and look for 'greater things than these.'
p. 23SPURGEON'S AUTOBIOGRAPHYo H, WEDDING SILVER PORTRAITS. Only mention There our weddinga personal brief necessary. of silver is was some intention of holdinga special meetingat the Tabernacle, to congratulate iSSi, — two days his wife, on Monday, January Pastor and the the actual after Spurgeon was Mr.
unhappily, date aside the but, so idea time, laid that at ; although we very sympathetically remembered had were be abandoned, both to those who were the muchthe assembled, supplications of evening, in that in commemoration house loved of took form Ultimately, the prayer.
the of a gathering" of friends, at "Westwood," on Wednesday, February It was private characteristic of my service, and devotion Lord's beloved's his of the to intimate existing between himself and union that such an in our event church-officers, his should have been family connection celebrated history with a meetingthe in oi' I might not have remembered that circumstance had deacons at our home. not
p. 24SPURGEON S AUTOBIOGRAPHY. H. issued by of one the dear of the been favoured with the loan invitations Pastor, I am not aware that he ever signed reproduced.
which here of a facsimile is this one was written the date on which initials, and letter with our united another gf the have no very vivid it now a specially tender recollections gives interest.
p. 25autobiography. spurgeon's H. I know Mr. William Olney and evening's proceedings Mr. Carr, as but the that ; spokesmen on behalf of their brother-deacons, made most sympathetic references to both the parents and their twin-sons, and that, after the interchange of many cheering reminiscences, and a time the whole household joined holy of us fellowship, for family worship, which was conducted by Mr. Spurgeon with fervour and his usual Impressiveness.
Among my dear husband's papers, find a letter, relating to this happy season, J. S. Watts, of whom frequent mention was made from his old Cambridge friend, Mr.
I. of the Autobiography. This epistle so sweetly links the beginning of our in Vol. to me wedded life with the twenty-filth anniversary of our marriage, that it appears to deserve a place in this chapter.
" Regent Street, "Cambridge, " January 8, iSSi. " My Dear Friend, " My mind reverts to the month of January, twenty-five ago, when years a certain newly-married juvenile Pastor and his wiie came to me days, and for a tew solaced themselves in their mutual love for each other at my house.
" Many things have happened since that time faithfulness and but their their ; ; and now are about other have not been impaired that they affection for each to I ask permission to remind them of those early celebrate their silver wedding, days, and to add my hearty congratulations at this auspicious period, " May the 8th of January, 1881, ring in a strain of joyful music over the strings to come, even assuring them they before 'golden days' yet are that of the past, So 'walk the golden streets.' prays, friend and "Their old well-wisher, Watts." S. "J. Another loving letter, written at that period by Dr. W. Morley Punshon, is also worthy of preservation here : " Tranby, " Bri.xton Rise, S.W., iSSi.
"Jan., " My Dear Sir and Brother, " The papers will be a memorable day to you the 8th us that inst.
tell ; I (than whom you have none and, amid hosts of greeting friends, my wife and truer, prayer,) would in wishful thought and itself but thouoh our love can rarely exhibit fain express our good wishes in a line.
p. 26autobiography. spurgeon's H. " We is good the rumour, which has lately reached foundation there trust for ; and we pray us, of great and permanent improvement Mrs. Spurgeon's health in will, you may be continued to each other in happy fellowship it be the Lord's that, it ' by the lapse of years. ' golden ' shall have become ' silvern until the "Like most to be 'made meet by if you it seems of God's are anointed, as May the You knozv that the sit always by the furnace consecrated Refiner pain.' ! fire will never be kindled a whit too fiercely, nor burn a moment too long.
many, whom you know not, who "There God, thank times these of are in and who you watch for your rebuke, with the solicitude old gospel, fidelity to and prayer.
Spurgeon and "Wishing, and Mrs. blessedness happiness, the yourself, for better, — the and which and peace,' long the Lord's unutterable useful lives, is and my ' abundant in my wife's name own, am, entrance at last, ' "Yours very aftectionately, "W. MORLEY PUNSHON." " Rev. H. Spurgeon." Chas. later, when Mr. Spurgeon Punshon months home," Three was "called Dr. bereaved and sought comfort family the gratefully referred in this to to letter, their season of sorrow.