8. Anecdotes 71-80

Spurgeon's Anecdotes #71-80 71. Singing in the Colosseum in Rome

During one of Mr. Spurgeon's visits to Italy, he and some friends were resting in the Colosseum in Rome. They were cheerful and happy, and broke out into song. The verses they sang begin—

"Jesu's tremendous name Puts all our foes to flight, Jesus, the meek, the angry Lamb, A Lion is in fight."

Attracted by the singing, two strangers approached them.

"May we join you?" said they. "What are you singing?"

They told them, and together they sang the next verse:—

"By all hell's host withstood;

We all hell's host o'erthrow; And conquering them, through Jesu's blood, We still to conquer go."

This song of holy triumph brought the entire company into harmony, and a pleasant interchange of Christian fellowship followed. One of the strangers was an English clergyman, and the other an American minister.

72. Sin not Dead

"A cat once sprang at my lips," says Mr. Spurgeon, "and bit me savagely. My friend, in whose house it occurred, decreed that the poor creature should die. The sentence he executed personally, to the best of his ability, and threw the carcass away. To his surprise, the cat walked into the house the next day." Believers who have vowed death to evil propensity, and have fondly dreamed that the sentence was fulfilled, have afterwards found the sinful tendency still surviving.

73. Sliding Down the Banisters of the Pulpit A story is told of Mr. Spurgeon which, like many of the tales told about him, is a story in two senses.

It is said that, in order to show the way in which men backslide, he once slid down the banisters of the pulpit. There have not been wanting persons who solemnly avowed that they saw him do it. The fact is that there were no stairs to the pulpit at New Park Street at that time visible in the chapel, the pulpit being entered through the wall at the back. "So that," as Mr. Spurgeon himself says, "the reverend fool (which he would have been if he had done what people said) could not have performed the antic, if he had been inclined to attempt it."

74. Soul Comforting a Holy Art

Mr. Spurgeon tells a story of an aged Christian woman who had loved and served the Lord for fifty years or more. Somehow, partly owing, no doubt, to physical causes, she fell into a state of melancholy and deep distress, from which no one could rouse her. He called several times to see her, and endeavoured to cheer her up, but generally when he left she was worse than before. The next time he called upon her he did not say anything to her about Christ or religion. She soon introduced those subjects herself. He remarked that he was not going to talk to her about such holy things, as she did not know anything about them, for she was not a believer in Christ, and had been, no doubt, a hypocrite for many years.

She could not stand that, and asserted, in self-defence, that the Lord above knew her better than he did, and He was her witness that she did love the Lord Jesus Christ. She hardly forgave herself afterwards for admitting so much in her favour, but she could never talk to him so despairingly as before.

"True lovers of men's souls," Mr. Spurgeon adds, "must learn the art of dealing with them, when the Holy Spirit will make them expert soul-surgeons for Jesus. It is not because a man has more abilities, nor altogether because he has more grace, but the Lord makes him to love the souls of men intensely, and this imparts a secret skill, since, for the most part, the way to get sinners to Christ is to love them to Christ."

75. Spurgeon, C. H., and D. L. Moody

Mr. Spurgeon's jubilee was celebrated at the Tabernacle, 18th and 19th June, 1884. The first speaker on the 18th was Mr. D. L. Moody. In referring to his wonderful evangelistic mission work in England, Mr. Spurgeon made a free quotation of the Scotch song, "Bonnie Prince Charlie":—

"Bonnie Moody's gain' awa', Will he no come back again?

Better loved ye canna be, Will he no come back again?"

In the course of his speech Mr. Moody referred to a former visit to England, paid by him in 1867, and said that on that occasion the first building he entered was the Metropolitan Tabernacle. "I was told," said he, "that I could not get in without a ticket, but I made up my mind to get in somehow, and I succeeded. I well remember seating myself in this gallery. I remember the very seat, and I should like to take it back to America with me. As your pastor walked down to the platform my eyes just feasted on him, and my heart's desire for years was at last accomplished. It happened to be the year he preached in the Agricultural Hall. I followed him up there, and he sent me back to America a better man. Then I went to try to preach myself, though at the time I little thought I should be able to do so."

76. Spurgeon, C. H., and Dr. Livingstone

While Mr. Spurgeon continued his services in the Surrey Gardens Music Hall, many of England's nobility attended his ministry. Perhaps they would not have entered a chapel for public worship. As noble as any of them was a man who sprang from the people, and who had won honours far beyond coronets as a pioneer missionary and discoverer—Dr. Livingstone. On the occasion of one of his visits a scene of touching beauty and pathos was witnessed. On the platform, near the pulpit, the late Dr. Armitage, of New York, was sitting, and still nearer the pulpit the apostolic Dr. Livingstone. The sermon was one of great power, full of earnest appeals and heart-searching utterances, which had produced tears in many eyes during its delivery. Immediately the sermon was over, Dr. Livingstone's presence was announced to Mr. Spurgeon. As Dr. Livingstone approached, Dr. Armitage came forward to offer his congratulations and to shake hands with the preacher. Mr. Spurgeon withdrew his own hand, remarking pleasantly to the American divine, "No, shake hands first with Dr. Livingstone; he is the worthier man." The congratulations of the African explorer and the New York Baptist pastor were given with manifest sincerity, Mr. Spurgeon bearing these with that simple, unaffected modesty which was so characteristic of the man. During the brief conversation which followed, Dr. Livingstone remarked that no religious service he ever remembered had so deeply impressed his own mind as that he had witnessed and participated in that morning. He added that when he had retired again to the solitudes of Africa, no scene he had ever witnessed would afford him more consolation than the recollection of the man God had raised up who could so effectively and impressively preach to congregated thousands, whilst he should have to content himself by preaching to units, or, at most, tens, under a tropical sky in Africa.

77. Spurgeon, C. H., and George Muller

During one of his visits to Mentone Mr. Spurgeon had an opportunity of listening to the preaching of Mr. Muller. "It was," says he, "just such an address as might be given to a Sunday-school by an ordinary teacher, yet I never heard a sermon that did me more good and more richly profited my soul." "How was it that it was so powerful?" "Well," says Mr. Spurgeon, "it was George Muller in it that made it so useful. There was no George Muller in it in one sense, for he preached not himself, but Christ Jesus the Lord; he was not only there in his personality as a witness to the truth, but he bore that witness in such a manner that you could not help saying, 'That man not only preaches what he believes, but also what he lives.' In every word he uttered his glorious life of faith seemed to fall upon both ear and heart. I was delighted to sit and listen to him; yet, as for novelty or strength of thought, there was not a trace of it in the whole discourse."

"What, then, was its special power?" "Holiness was the preacher's force; and if God is to bless us, our strength must lie in the same direction."

78. Spurgeon, C. H., and John B. Gough

Mr. Gough greatly admired and loved Mr. Spurgeon, and the attachment was mutual. One Saturday Mr. Spurgeon took Mr. Gough to visit the Orphanage at Stockwell.

"When we entered the grounds," says Mr. G., "the boys set up a shout of joy at the sight of their benefactor."

"What are the requirements for admission?" asked Mr. Gough.

"Utter destitution. There is nothing denominational. We have more of the Church of England children than of the Baptists. We have Roman Catholics, Presbyterians, Methodists—all sorts."

After the boys had gone through their gymnastic exercises and musical drill, Mr. Gough spoke a few words to them. Mr. Spurgeon was like a great boy among boys.

"There are two hundred and forty boys—only think!"

"How many pence are there in a shilling?" he asked.

"Twelve."

"Right! How many shillings in a pound?"

"Twenty."

"Right, again. Twelve times twenty, how many?"

"Two hundred and forty."

"That's a penny apiece for each boy."

"Here, Mr. Charlesworth,"—handing him a sovereign—"give these boys a penny apiece." A loud and shrill hurrah was given as Mr. Spurgeon turned away with an expression of keen enjoyment.

79. Spurgeon, C. H., and the Orphan Boy Mr. Spurgeon afterwards invited Mr. Gough to go with him to the infirmary.

"We have a boy," said he, "very ill with consumption; he cannot live, and I wish to see him, for he would be disappointed if he knew I had been here and not seen him."

They went into the cool and sweet chamber, and there lay the boy. He was very much excited when he saw Mr. Spurgeon. The great preacher sat by his side. Holding the boy's hand in his, he said, "Well, my dear, you have some precious promises in sight all around the room. Now, dear, you are going to die, and you are very tired lying here, and soon you will be free from all pain, and you will rest. Nurse, did he rest last night?"

"He coughed very much."

"Ah, my dear boy, it seems very hard for you to lie here all day in pain, and cough all night. Do you love Jesus?"

"Yes, sir."

"Jesus loves you. He bought you with His precious blood, and He knows what is best for you. It seems hard for you to lie here, and listen to the shouts of the healthy boys at play. But soon Jesus will take you home, and then He will tell you the reason, and you will be so glad."

Then, laying his hand on the boy, without the formality of kneeling, he said: "O Jesus, Master, this dear child is reaching out his thin hand to find Thine. Touch him, dear Saviour, with Thy loving, warm clasp. Lift him as he passes the cold river, that his feet be not chilled by the water of death; take him home in Thine own good time. Comfort and cherish him till that good time comes. Show him Thyself as he lies here, and let him see Thee and know Thee more and more as his loving Saviour."

After a moment's pause he said: "Now, dear, is there anything you would like? Would you like a little canary in a cage, to hear him sing in the morning? Nurse, see that he has a canary tomorro morning. Good-bye, my dear; you will see the Saviour perhaps before I shall."

Mr. Gough adds: "I have seen Mr. Spurgeon holding by his power sixty-five hundred persons in a breathless interest. I knew him as a great man universally esteemed and beloved, but as he sat by the bedside of a dying pauper child, whom his beneficence had rescued, he was to me a greater and a grander man than when swaying the mighty multitude at his will."

80. Sugared Bread and Butter When Mr. Spurgeon's grandfather was minister of Stambourne Meeting, Rev. Mr. Hopkins was rector of the parish. The two good men were fast friends. They preached the same Gospel, though they differed in some of their principles. At times the leading resident went to church in the morning, and to chapel in the afternoon. The Bible Society held its meetings alternately in connection with the church and the meeting-house.

"When I was a boy," says Mr. Spurgeon, "I have, on Monday, gone to the Squire's to tea, with Mr. Hopkins and my grandfather. The glory of that tea-party was that we four, the three old gentlemen and the little boy, all ate sugared bread and butter together for a treat. The sugar was very brown, but the young boy was very pleased, and the old boys were merry also." The harmony between the two ministers of Christ at Stambourne, and their mutual esteem, grew as they increased in years. As Mr. Hopkins had more of the meat, and Mr. Spurgeon more of the mouths, the rector did not forget to help his friend in divers quiet ways, such as a five-pound note for a sick daughter to go to the seaside, and presents of comforts in illness. On one occasion, it is said, that having a large joint of beef on the rectory table, the clergyman cut it in halves, and sent his man on horseback with one half of it to the Independent minister, while it was yet hot—a kind of joke not often practised between Established and Dissenting ministers.

Such cases are doubtless too few, but the present writer could tell similar tales of a godly vicar not many years deceased.

Mr. C. H. Spurgeon reports that this kindly feeling has been continued by the present rector, R. D. Rice Jones, who sent him, in conjunction with his wife, a hearty invitation to stay with them at the rectory, and to search the old registers of Stambourne Church. To love as brethren is certainly one indubitable mark of the true and faithful ministers of Jesus Christ.