“I do not look for any other means of converting men beyond the simple preaching of the Gospel and the opening of men’s ears to hear it. The moment the church of god shall despise the pulpit, God will despise her. It has been through the ministry that the Lord has always been pleased to revive and bless his church”. These were the words of the highly gifted orator Charles Haddon Spurgeon, who was instrumental in the hand of God for a great revival in United Kingdom.

Charles H. Spurgeon was born in born in June 19, 1834 at Keveldon, England. His father Rev. John Spurgeon and his grandfather were congregation Independents. The early years of Charles Spurgeon was spent in Stambourne with his granndfather who brought him up in evangelical faith. He was a child genius and a boy of profound intellect. Even at the age of 6, when some children have advanced no farther in spelling than words in one syllable he could read out with a point and emphasis, which was really marvelous in one so young. Here is an example of his inquisitive nature and his earnest desire to understand the Biblical facts, which he has recorded in his own words. “When I was a small boy I was allowed to read the scriptures at family prayer. Once a upon a time when reading in Revelation which mentions the bottomless pits, I paused and said, “Grandpa, what can this mean? The answer was kind but unsatisfactory, “ Pooh, Pooh,child go on.” The Child, however, intended to have an explanation, and therefore selected the same chapter morning after morning, and always halted at the same verse to repeat the enquiry, hoping that by repetition he would importune the good old gentleman into reply. I can remember the horror of my mind when my dear grandfather told me what his idea of the “bottomless pit” was. There is a deep pit and the souls are falling down. Oh, how fast it is falling! the last ray of light at the top has disappeared, it falls on-on-on and so it goes on falling on-on-on- for a thousand years!” “Is it not getting near the bottom yet? Won’t it stop? “No, no, the cry is on-on-on.” “I have been falling a million years; am I not near the bottom yet?” “No you are not near the bottom yet. It is a bottomless pit and so the soul is falling perpetually into a deeper depth. Woe! Without termination, without hope of its coming to a conclusion.” Doesn’t this really enlighten us about the real but definite destiny of those who turn those back to Christ, the savior? In 1850, On January 6, when he was in a Primitive Methodist Chapel listening to a preacher, God’s word came straight to him. The preacher looked into the eyes of Spurgeon and said, “ Young man, look to Jesus Christ. Look. Look. Look. You have nothing to do, but to look”. Charles Spurgeon beautifully described this incident-“ I saw at once the way of salvation. I know not what else he said. I did not take much notice of it- I was so possessed with that one thought, like as when the brazen serpent was lifted up, the people only looked and were healed and so it was with me. I had been waiting to do fifty things, but when I heard the word “Look” what a charming word it seemed to me! The cloud was gone, the darkness had rolled away, and that moment I saw the sun. I do from my soul confess that I never was satisfied till I came to Christ.”

 Charles Spurgeon’s ministry began in Cambridge at his residence. He was just 16 when he started preaching the gospel in the churches, and the listeners marveled at his intellect and artistic speech. His fame spread far and wide and the church leaders invited him to preach in their churches on special occasions. One such invitation came from a little church in Waterbeach. Charles Spurgeon accepted the invitation and began to minister among the people of Waterbeach. God blessed his ministry there and so he remained there and continued his pulpit ministry. Although he had encouraged and helped many to go to college, he refused to join a college when his father urged him to apply to Stepney College. Rising up early in the morning, waiting upon God, getting divine revelations with the help of the holy spirit, and sharing it to the congregation was the secret behind the success of his pulpit ministry.

Charles Spurgeon was invited to preach in a church at New Park Street, London. He ministered the word of God for few Sundays in London, eventually as per divine leading he left Waterbeach and settled his ministry at New Park Street. Crowds of people flocked to this chapel with the earnest desire to know the depths of the word of God through Charles Spurgeon. His sermons became very popular and often attracted great number of audience. On one occasion about 12,000 people gathered to hear him preach under one

roof. Though he was exceedingly popular and greatly admired, he was not immuned to the attacks of the critics. In response to the critics Spurgeon wrote, “Friends who inquire about silly tales may save themselves the trouble. We have been enabled in our ministry and in our walk before God so to act through grace that we have given no occasion for the slanderers, save only that we have kept the faith and been very jealous for the Lord God of Israel. Many of the stories still retailed everywhere are the very same libels, which were repeated concerning Rev.Rowland Hill and others who have long gone to their rest.”

As the Lord greatly blessed his ministry there was much inadequacy in terms of space and so there was a need for a larger building to accommodate the growing crowd. Therefore, in 1861 the foundation for “The Metropolitan Tabernacle” was laid. The congregation contributed generously and cheerfully for the construction purpose. They were able to build a beautiful church, which could accommodate more than 6,000 people at a time. Charles Spurgeon’s experience was as that of the Old Testament Saint David, the king of Israel, which could be put in a nutshell as - “Thou hast caused men to ride over heads. We went through fire and through water; but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.” - Psalms 66:12.

Mr. Spurgeon founded a college for young men who desired to serve the Lord Most high to give them the opportunity to educate themselves for the work. Spurgeon wrote about the purpose of this “The pastor’s college”: “I had not even a remote idea of whereunto it would grow. There were springing up around me, as my own spiritual children, many earnest young men who felt an irresistible impulse to preach the Gospel, and yet with half an eye it could be seen that their lack of education would be a sad hindrance to them.”

Mr. Charles and Ms. Susannah Thompson were united in Holy Matrimony on January 12, 1856. They were gifted with twin sons Thomas and Charles. Their personal life was remarkable for faith, sacrifice, and dedication. Mrs. Spurgeon not only aided in her husband’s ministry being her husband’s personal secretary, but also dispensed gifts of books, and boxes of clothing to the village ministers. She also saved money from her housekeeping and started “The Book Fund” to provide financial aid for the education of the pastors throughout United Kingdom.

God laid a heavy burden in the heart of Mr. Spurgeon regarding the pathetic spiritual status of the educational institutions of England. He wrote“ We have too much given up our children to the enemy. A great effort should be made to multiply our day-schools, and to render them distinctly religious by teaching the gospel in them, and by laboring to bring the children, “ as children” to our Lord Jesus. The silly cry of “nonsectarian” is duping many into the establishment of schools in which the most important part of wisdom, namely “the fear of the Lord” is altogether ignored. We trust this folly will soon be given up, and that we shall see schools in which all that we believe and hold dear, shall be taught to the children”. Mr. Spurgeon opened an orphanage “the Stockwell Orphanage,” which was run with the supreme objective – “to bring up the children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” It is an undeniable fact that the present-day schools have been given up to the adversary. There is a great need for a total reformation with respect to moral upbringing in our schools. Bible says in Isaiah 54:13 “All thy children shall be taught of the Lord and great shall be peace of thy children.” It is must that we need to dedicate ourselves afresh and cry unto God for this promise to come true in our lives.

Mr. Spurgeon insisted on the unity among the people of God. He strongly condemned the divisions and religious conflicts of the Victorian era that were common during his lifetime. He taught, “ the more the Christ is preached, the more will the church approve, and exhibit, and assert, and maintain unity; but the less Christ is preached, and the more of Paul, and Apollos, and Cephas, the more of strife and division, and the less of true Christian fellowship.”

Charles Spurgeon suffered from physical pain and rheumatism most of his life. His health declined greatly and he was forced to be away from the pulpit. From the “furnace of affliction” God enabled Spurgeon to write an enduring work called, “ The Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith.” Charles Spurgeon, the greater orator, Mr. Valiant-for-truth entered the kingdom of God on January 26, 1892 in Menton, France. As per his wish, he as buried in the center of the Stockwell Orphanage grounds.

Look unto me and be ye saved”is the blessed verse of conversion in the life of Charles Spurgeon. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, let us work out our salvation with fear and trembling.- Hebrews 12:2, Philippians 2:12. This great man of God has richly blessed us with his nonobliterating sermons and exemplary life.

Shantha Daniel

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