Chapter LXXXV. Enquirers and Converts

CHAPTER Conbn;ts. <Knqutitrs mxti to town There are gentlemen, in England, who can afford to drive a coach and four from town I am not able or willing to and carry nobody, performing their journeys for their own amusement ; but I would I can have my coach loaded with passengers to Heaven, do anything of that kind.

Unless We must carry some sooner it was never started, and had rather that my team stopped in the stable.

souls to Heaven, for our call is from above and our time is too precious to throw away on mere pretence We cannot feel satisfied merely We cannot play at preaching ; we preach for eternity. of doing good. Whatever smiles may greet to deliver sermons to senseless throngs, or to the most attentive crowds.

at our close, we are not content unless Jesus us as we start, and whatever salutation may welcome us is that grace should be magnified, and that sinners should be saved.

works salvation by us. Our desire They used to jeer at the Tabernacle in Moorfields, and the one in Tottenham Court Road, and call them ; such may this Tabernacle Mr. Whitefield's soul-traps ;— a very excellent name for a place of worship ever be! — C. H. S., in a sermon preached August Tabernacle was free 1877, a night when to all comers, the the regular congregation having vacated their seats.

I am sure that, if a minister wants conversions, he must identify himself with There his people.

are persons, nowadays, who make a difficulty about Moses praying for Israel, " If Thou wilt torgive their I pray Thee, out of Thy book which Thou hast written ;" and they and if not, blot me, raise sin ; for his brethren, his kinsmen according questions about Paul being willing to be separated from Christ difficulty in the matter if you once get to feel such an intense love Oh, but there is no for to the flesh. the souls of men that you would, as it were, pawn your own if you might salvation, and count Httle it A man who has never felt that willingness does not yet but bring the people to the .Saviour's feet !

know the true throb of a pastor's heart ; he has not been ordained to be a shepherd if he would not lay necessary. — C.

down it were sermon H. preached at Tabernacle, for the a the in his flock, S., life if August He who has spoken the Word with power to the heart bears to him who has heard it the relationplace, to whom this most hallowed There are many, in I stand ship in of this a father a son.

to I desire to express my intense and fervent love to the many You recognize I know, and connection.

it, I do not know of anything of you who have been born unto God by the preaching of the W^ord here.

that has more greatly comforted me, during the last week or two. in the time of sharp contention tor the letters, from persons of whom faith, than the reception of so many I have never before heard, saying, "You do not know me, but you are my spiritual father; and now, at such a time of trial as this is to you, It is always a cause of thankfulness to me when my I must write and send you a word of good cheer." ; but when I think of the hundreds, and the testimony is blessed to the conversion of a seeking soul I say thousands of converts, — whom thousands, — ay, I am not exaggerating when I have met with here on earth, and the many more, at present unknown to me, whom I hope to meet with either here or in I cannot help expressing my great love to I do rejoice, yea, and ; and Heaven, all those I will rejoice who have been brought to the Saviour by the words which I have preached and published,— C. H. S., Tabernacle, November in a sermon delivered at the N preached sermons one with connection pastoral of his the in Spurgeon Mr.

the wedding, attention called tact that, to silver London, more than nine ministry during twenty-five years' in his while, probably, an equal thousand persons had joined the church ; number had through been hearing converted or larger or still not become members they had his sermons, although reading at The previous volumes of the Autobiography have contained many the Tabernacle.

autobiography. spurgeon's H. records of the means blessed converts, and these references their salvation to to ; in the present volume to the same to devote two chapters it appears necessary but this most important part of the dear Pastor's subject in ordeiadequately to set forth of God to show how abundantly rested upon and from favour the service, its it commencement to its close.

for devout thankfulness a cause a great that, in It is in our own still accompanies measure, a similar blessing his published words, both in many of the languages The tongue, and into which they have been translated.

Spurgeon's own words given Mr. of the following narrative part the in first is ; friends have usefulness which of portion the instances of various consists latter and, to make the chapters as varied and as complete as possible, there described ; them methods of specimens of the beloved are included soul-winner's several in The enquirers and anxious with dealing seeking sinners Saviour.

the cases of of his London the whole ; and from recorded blessing here ministry are selected the more his work of the continued usefulness representative therefore, ot are, all for the Lord during the long period from 1853 to 1892.

some more There which have been abundantly passages Scripture of are they may be than others have to the conversion of souls blessed salvation called ; We may not be able is, or why to discover how but, certainly, texts. is is it it it ; fact that some chosen verses have been more used of God than any others the in His Word to bring men to the cross They are not more inspired than of Christ.

more suppose from but they Bible are the of other noticeable, parts their ; position, or from their peculiar phraseology they are more adapted to catch the eye are more suitable reader, and to a widely prevailing spiritual condition.

All of the eye of the in the heavens brightly, but only a few shine very catch the the stars from their mariner, and that those few the reason his course direct stars, this, is ; upon grouping, are more distinguished, and the eye easily readily fixes peculiar passages of God's Word which So suppose those especially with them.

is it One of the attract attention, and direct the sinner to the cross of Christ.

chief of He I, am out thy even " transblotteth that those Isaiah texts is : for Mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins."

I have proved it to gressions for, out of the thousands of persons who have come to me to be a most useful one ; very found have and large a conversion experience, religious narrate their proportion who have has been wrought the Divine change which their traced in and mercy, sovereign the of hearing precious declaration of hearts the this to it with power to their souls by the Holy application of Spirit.

Some who come church, cannot say the view to see me, with of joining the dissatisfied with them because they make much, and they think that I shall be very

SPURGEON S AUTOBIOGRAPHY. H. but the people with whom I am a great muddle of their narrative least satisfied are ; those who by their yarn the yard they have repeat, and ready reel off to all it ; As know arranged everything as as prettily possible.

that to listen is it, lor me told them what someone has say, and they have learned to hear.

to all it testimony that I have better the bits, but which out pick like far to in little know comes fresh from the trembling Sometimes, the heart of convert.

costs it the poor soul a tear or a real good cry, and all manner I have to go round about in of ways to get hold of the story at is true, and that the man but that shows that all it ; believer, when he comes never borrowed hear the experience of a like to it.

of the world, and out of the ways of straight out sin, to confess his faith in Christ.

He does not know anything about the terms Christian people use, he has not that ; and fresh and new.

learned our phrases to hear it all Yet is a great delight it is it always the same However strangely he may all the essential story parts of in it.

Take the main tallies with narrate that of others in the experience of points.

It it. a Christian man who has been brought up in the sanctuary from his childhood, and Now take the experience of a man who has been extract the pith and marrow of it.

a horse-raeer, a drunkard, a swearer, but who has been truly converted, and extract to a peer of the realm who has become an Talk the essence of heir of the that.

Now speak Kingdom of Heaven, and take the substance of his experience. to a who chimney-sweep been brought and has Lord, get the the of to his gist not know one from the other.

put them side, and you experience side by will all essential marks, — death, birth, life, food, — Christ ; There are always the same the in food, — repentance, faith, joy,- the work of the death, the birth, the life, the of Spirit in the many difterent ways in which God.

But it is very sweet to hear the story told The true is ever the same in heart, although the the converts tell child of grace it.

outward appearance may continually vary. Among the many thousands of souls who have been brought to know the Lord under my have often considerable a proportion noticed that instrumentality, of too, were won to the Saviour, not by these, and of the best members of our church, on one gentler means.

legal terrors, but by to see occasion, enquirers, Sitting, as many whose were twelve should out of twenty-three the that there as think convictions of sin were not distinctly marked with the terrors of the law.

I asked an " What was the excellent young woman, first thought that set you really seeking the " Oh, ! " she replied, " it was Christ's lovely character that first made Saviour? sir '•' me long I saw how kind, how good, how disinterested, how to be His disciple.

self-sacrificing He was, and that made me feel how difterent I thought, 'Oh I was.

! to my room, and I am not like Jesus !' and that sent me I began to pray, and so " The came to trust in Him."

religious impression I ever had," said another, first

SPURGEON S AUTOBIOGRAPHY. H. " that set me seekinothe Saviour, was this ; a young companion of mine fell into sin, I was not kept by someone I was likely to do the same I knew that stronger and if so much on account of therefore sought Lord, not m)self the than at first God visited I was afraid of some great future past transgression, but because sin. was brought and Singularly and conviction then of me, to Christ?." sin, felt I have met with scores of persons who have trusted in Christ, and then enough, too, have mourned their sins more afterwards than they did Their before they believed.

terrible after they have known convictions have been more Christ interest their in They have seen they have enormity of the than they were at the alter evil first.

of the miry clay, and they have been plucked from out escaped set their feet it ; then, afterwards, they have seen more ; and upon fully the depth the rock of that all who are they have been snatched.

of which is not true that out horrible pit It saved suffer such convictions and terrors as some of us had to endure ; there are very with the cords of a man and the bands of love.

many who There are drawn are hearts opened, not by the crowbar of conviction, some who, like Lydia, have their silently enchanted by Sweetly drawn, almost but by the picklock of Divine grace.

" Draw me, we will run after Thee." the loveliness of Jesus, they say, A young woman came to me, one to ask me whether a day, service, after Christ was I said when really meant what I declared that he that believed in Jesus and I gave her the Scriptural warrant for saved there and "Yes," I replied then. ; " Why " my told me when grandfather she exclaimed^ ! " that, statement. the put him and they had it took him into a six months, nearly he found to religion, " Well, I answered, lunatic asylum, he was in such a dreadful state of mind."

well," That was " that sometimes happens him. save not did but of distress that his ; When he simply his conscience and Satan together keeping him away from Christ.

it was by it was not by his deep feelings Christ." Jesus his believing in was saved, ; hope ground our her Saviour before on then went sole as ot the in set to I noticed the and " she said I rejoiced as I see opposition to inward feelings. it," ; have sunshine which of heavenly light that passed over her a flash bright face, Christ, when countenances of those who have believed in Jesus often seen on the a minor countenance with lights up the brim, and the the soul even peace to fills those who have of times, when I have been with talking Scores transfiguration.

burden, they have looked as though they utterly bowed down beneath been sin's have they as soon but as inward asylum through an grief; were qualifying for " Christ stood as the Substitute for me I trust in Him, ; and caught this thought, if have the proof that He did I am lit up as with clear," their faces have been so, and the very glory of Heaven.

Some persons have come to me for spiritual guidance because they have been not heard meshe had One lady, who called upon me, said misled by others.

that

SPURGEON S AUTOBIOGRAPHY. readingmy sermons, and God had been pleased to bless preach, but she had been She went them her only her but conversion.

not conviction, to to her, to to full of joy at having found Saviour, and began clergyman of the parish, the the to tell him of her gladness, and how she sins were all her rejoiced blotted that out.

" My good woman, He stopped and you have her, delusion a said, that all is ; that your till you have no pardoned, right to believe sins are led several years of ask me She went away she came sad, and piety and if what devotion."

the to ; and when said was quoted clergyman true that verse, " The moment a sinner believes, And trusts in his crucified God, His pardon at once he receives. Redemption in full through His blood ;" "Oh!" she clearly now;" and when "I went on see her said, that to it tell many, who had had been moment, and believed one black Christ, sinners in as snow the next, by casting themselves simply on Christ, they had instantly white found not but take peace, she could to her heart the precious promises of Christ, peace of God she had being justified by believing and, the Jesus, that in faith, she went away and passeth understanding, rejoicing Jesus.

in all was going on one occasion to preach ; and the country, went, before in Sir, — When you come a young man who wrote letter from received a fit me that we a sermon this town, do preach I have heard that said to will for it ; we must be wickedest people ourselves think the the world, or else to in all cannot be have but cannot, because not been think saved.

the try to so, not know how Of want do to be to repent enough." but wickedest. saved, that God every man him does not require course, think himself the told to would sometimes wickedest because be the world, a think falsehood, that to in What God requires, are some men who there are not so as others are.

for sinful that a man should I know more of myself than " do people of other say, is, ; of my but of my and from what not merely I do see of myself, actions, heart, They may be more wicked few worse be can think am.

than there openly • more more more had have more then, but, privileges, opportunities, light, in my own opinion and least, more warnings, am, guilty than they therefore at Some made have an very out obstacle of thing the are."

friends really for An amiable young which they ought to have been most excellent and grateful.

me, "You woman, when know, used almost to God, converted said to to sir, sinners whom you so often invited to come I was one of those very bad wish that feel my need more was my because thought should then to Jesus, that ; my need any should could not a of Christ."

that pity difficulty, feel It is make a hindrance do, and others make a this matter yet they difficulty for the of ; they say, " Oh ! we could trust Christ if we had been kept from sin." opposite reason ;

SPUKGEONS AUTOBIOGRAPHY. H. The that unbeHeving souls Christ whichever way they have not fact trust will is, from some quarter they for doubting cause lived or other, find will for, but, ; ; when gives them Lord big sinners the the Christ Spirit quite as trust will faith, those who have ; and those who have not been great openly offenders readily as been preserved frorn open sin will trust Him as joyfully as the vilest transgressors.

We have had, the Tabernacle, many very remarkable instances of how God in There was a man, known still bless the outcasts and the very chief of sinners.

does the name village where by because he being the of Satan, of so lived in his He was a sailor, and as another seaman in that place had been thoroughly depraved.

the means of the conversion of all the sailors in a vessel belonging the port, this to He did man desired sail with him try and beat religion out of him.

to his to his best, — or worst, — but he and when ship came rather, signally his the failed to ; Christian man London, come ungodly one would whether asked he the the to He did not mind coming the Tabernacle. I was it happened, to hear me, as for, brought up near the place where he lived.

This "Satan" came, on the Lord's-day morning when the text was upon soul-murder; and, by the Holy Spirit's gracious of the Word and and he under application sobbed, the cried heart, to his sat, " People sermon such I had he noticing me, could only a are that rate at say, better go out his companion would not let him go Out that day and, from but ; " ; forth, he became a new creature Jesu.s, and living and walking in he Christ in is the truth, an earnest his doctrinal knowledge, and doingbeliever, singularly clear in of the Kingdom of Christ.

that he can the spread for all On another occasion, on upon words Lord's-day morning, preached a the wilt. Thou canst make me clean."

if Thou leper, who said " Lord, of the to Jesus, Sir,- — I On following Thursday morning, received the this letter feel so happy to the Lord has pardoned tell you a poor outcast of society.

I got that had been a crowd, hoping nobody would see me. out into your place, in all leper, my whole and was While you were preaching about the miserable. night, cast away by I saw myself worse than rose up before the me. life of sin leper, As you went looked was everybody not on, guilty not a there sin of.

is ; ' Thy sins, which are many, are A gracious answer came, straight away to Jesus.

felt such joy never heard any more of your sermon, to think that forgiven.' Long ere you get trust to be on Jesus died even for a poor this letter, harlot.

for me Do I may to my dear home the way ran away please pray that from.

can never thank you enough for bringing be by God's power. almighty kept me that -sentence about going home, I might not been it had Jesus."

to for If girl goes home ; but when have had some doubt concerning her conversion a fallen letter gave me great joy This father and mother, see to her a sure case.

to is it ; is Heaven to me. saved, souls

SPURGEON S AUTOBIOGRAPHY. T,;^ Not only has there been a great variety in the converts during my ministry, but One brother, when he the means blessed to their conversion have been very varied/"' came was going ungodly stranger, he an the church, told us as to join into that, I gave out Charles Wesley's hymn, beginning Exeter Hall just as " Jesu, lover of my soul." " Does He love me Then, why should Jesus himself, said really to live in ?

enmity to Him There and Lord then, he turned unto the and, not long after, " ? ; he came boldly out, and confessed Christ, and sought to do all he could his faith in to lead others to the Saviour.

remember one friend coming to me, and " saying, very should earnestly, " Well, do so, by all manner sir, to take a seat in the Tabernacle." I answered, like, I am very glad when people do I may not come of means " so." ; take a sitting here, you will I have heard that, up to what you expect of me, for if expect me to be converted, and " I do cannot guarantee that." replied, I do not mean the word expect not want you to guarantee in that sense at all it ; ; " Oh ! " exclaimed " and I am going I do hope that so do it will be so."

but he, ; When And it was so it was so. to take a sitting with that very view." of course, ; it, God accepted the wish, and heard the prayer, and he was brought the man wished to Christ, and joined the church.

One brother, when he was giving his testimony before being baptized, said : "The first time I came to hear Mr. Spurgeon if you had asked the Tabernacle, in me about myself, religious a man as ever lived I was as I should have told you that as good a man, of any congreever formed in Newington, and part as certainly, ; but all this was reversed when I came out of heard the gospel gation that day.

felt myself the most wretched the building with every feather plucked out of me.

sinner who could be on the earth, and will never go to hear the face of said, ' that man again, for he has altogether spoiled me.' But that was the best thing which to me I was made to look away from could have happened myself, and that all ; I must pass could do, to God, 'and to His omnipotent grace, and to understand that under my Creator's hand again, or se?i His could never face with joy.

I learned to loathe my own righteousness fire, and then I sought fit only for the as filthy rags, to be robed in the perfect righteousness of Christ."

Another man, who came church-fellowship, owed with us his conto join in He was on an omnibus going by the Tabernacle, one version, indirectly, to a Jew.

* Among the interesting instances of blessing which Mr. Spurgeon did not himself record, was the following, which was : — " Mr. Spurgeon went to preach at a prominent chapel, and, after taking tea at the deacon's house, he reported by a friend ' Do you love my Master ? walked down to the place of worship under the guidance of the son of the household.

was the ' his clear, manly way, the Pastor put to his young companion. replying, he stopped Before question which, in the street, in ' Mr. Spurgeon, I have walked down to this chapel with the ministers for in the his questioner straight and, looking face, said, of them ever asked me such a question of a new faithful word was That years, and not one the beginning before.' several and, seeking God, he found pardon and peace through Christ." life;

The person to him was a well-known Jew. sitting next opened. said the man, "that humbug always attracts the people." The Jew turned round to him, and enquired, "Would not you to see such a crowd that round your shop?

as like at my should welcome them have ridden here place these business.

past of twenty-eight years, and have always seen just such a crowd as that waiting to get in.

Now, if your shop had been crowded thus for twenty-eight years, and anybody said You would probably article, what would you reply ?

sell a good that you not did answer that those people were good judges, and if you had not supplied goods that, I am Now, that were satisfactory, they would not have kept on coming.

a Jew, yet I am to what Mr. Spurgeon has in, and to go to -say, because I see inclined listen The man who had first made the of people going to hear him."

these crowds at remark was by companion's impressed observation, greatly -and offensive his in telling us how I had been buying the him, he I discovered " that affected said, it the Jew had spoken very sensibly, so wrong article, and I thought I resolved to go, He came, examined that was offered and see and hear for myself."

the for article it on the gospel terms, "without money and without price."

sale, and bought felt moved to say One Sabbath evening, while preaching in the Tabernacle, : " Dear mother, talked with your daughter about her soul, do if you have never it ' when I get home, she will be in bed.' ' But,' you reply, If so, then this very night. ; and wake her up, but do talk and pray with let her then her fall asleep to-night One if you have it until now."

neglected once holy ; begin again service this at good woman, who was present, went straight home, and did exactly what I had said ; The dear she woke her daughter up, and began speaking to her about the Saviour.

to me about " Oh, am spoken you have mother Jesus glad for said, girl !

; was would do wishing you long been before have not the months, so." It mother brought her daughter to see me about joining the church, and then told me how the blessing had come to her.

On various occasions, the Lord has set His seal upon a very simple request that to my congregation.

asked those who were present, after they reached I made then, when they had and and spend quiedy their homes, time alone, a litde to to take a pencil and paper, of God, honestly considered their condition sight in the If they felt that they were not believers in the Lord and to write one of two words.

if they were trusting I asked them to write the word Condemned ; but Jesus Christ, to Him alone for salvation, to put on the paper the word Forgiven.

Several friends ; amongst them was one young man that way were brought to decision for Christ in it, his tears began to first, wrote the word Condemned ; but, as he looked at who, at and, before long, he fled to Christ, put the paper flow, and his heart began to break ; the word Forgiven, and soon came to fire, took another piece, wrote on in the tell it

autobiography. spurgeon's H. me the good news, and to ask that he might be admitted to church-fellowship.

In case, a man went home, and another that he was told wife his to write the o-oinoword Condemned ; she pleaded him vain, for he with pencil, and was took in the just about to make the letter C but his little daughter, a Christian girl, cauoht hold ; "No, and you hand, it;" and by of not his said, write father, shall united the entreaties of his wife and child, the man was brought to the Saviour, and afterwards became a member with them at the Tabernacle.

My experience goes to show that there have been persons converted to God by doctrines that some might have thought altogether unlikely to produce that result.

1 have known the doctrine of the to bring sinners resurrection I have Christ to heard of scores brought to the Saviour by a discourse upon election, — the very sort of ; I can see, would never have been reached people who, as far as if that truth had not happened to be an angular doctrine that just struck their heart the right place, in and fitted into the crevices of their nature.

I have often preached a terrible sermon upon law, and afterwards found sinners had been comforted by the God that it.

frequently blesses the Word in the very opposite manner In which I thought that to blessed, and He it would be to know their state by nature very, very many, brings by doctrines which should have thought would rather have comforted believers I am constantly driven back to than awakened the unconverted. the oreat foundation truth of Divine Sovereignty, and am made to In grace as well as In realize that, providence, "God moves in a mysterious way. His wonders to perform." talking, one day, with an aged minister I was ; and that he put his hand noticed into his waistcoat pocket, and brought out a letter that was well-nigh worn to pieces.

exclaimed, "God Almighty As he God he unfolded bless you, Almicrhty sir!

It, said, "Thank you, my dear sir, for that blessing, but what makes bless you, sir! " The good man to me?" had a son, who you give " I thought would replied, it of my old age but he ran away from home, himself, and disgraced be the stay ; tell where he had gone, only that he said he was goinoto America."

and I could not When told me so much story, he bade me read the letter minister had the of which ran thus: — "Dear Father, — I am here in x"\,merlca his I have found a situation, : and God has prospered me.

to ask your forgiveness for the many wronos write done have have and caused you and you, the grief that tell vou to that ; have blessed be God, have joined found Saviour.

the the church and here, to spend my Redeemer's hope great change This the happened service.

in life for America on the day expected not did thus. and, to sail havinostart a ; went down see what Tabernacle It was like, and the hour, leisure to to there

SPURGEON S AUTOBIOGRAPHY. H. ' Perhaps there God met with me. In his sermon, Mr. Spurgeon is a runaway said, And He The Lord "Now," call him His grace!' by call me." son did here. said the minister, as he folded up the letter, and put " this his pocket again, into it to Heaven has gone and of mine and and he love son dead, you, shall is ; the means of bringing him live, because you were continue to do so as long as is very difficult to say which ot us was the more happy as we rejoiced to Christ."

It together over the wanderer who had thus been brought to the Lord. On another occasion, a lad, who was just going to sea, came to the Tabernacle, He wrote to tell a few hours after, was Heaven.

and was converted and, his in ; they were that he had found the Saviour reading his and, just parents as letter, ; sailed had been received news in which collision, and he they that the vessel in he was drowned.

that in my Two enquiring ones came to me They had been hearing the vestry. gospel from me season, but they had been deeply impressed by a short for only They they were remove about but away, expressed regret that their to far it.

that they had heard me I was cheered by their they added their gratitude at all. kind thanks, but felt anxious that a more effectual M'ork should be wrought in them, " Have you in very deed believed in the Lord Jesus asked them, and therefore One of them Are you been have " hard saved ? " trying replied, Christ ? to by me it go heard never have but statement, often believe." this will let Did "No," you your "that ever not unchallenged. father do. said, will tell dwelt awhile upon had believe him ? " the matter, they After that you tried to would have been then language such admitted their insult father.

to that 'an before them could, and as simple language very as gospel plainly the in set beo-aed them to believe Jesus, who is more worthy of than the best of fathers.

faith I am saved." Then One of them replied, cannot " I cannot realize realize that it ; say, "God bears testimony to His Son, that whosoever trusts in the I went on to Will you make Him liar now, or will you believe Lord Jesus a saved.

Christ is His Word?" of them astonished, and spoke, one While started thus as if Do bless Jesus I am saved as she cried, "Oh, I see she startled us it all sir, all !

; way, and He has saved me. He has shown me for me The see the all." it ; to me knelt down esteemed sister who had brought these friends with them while, Lord we blessed and magnified the a soul bi-ought our into for with hearts, all The other young woman, however, could her not gospel the see as the light.

it seemed strange that, feel sure she will do so companion had done, though ; but both hearing the same words, one should come light, and out other clear the into should remain the o'loom.

in

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