EIGHT GLIMPSES OF THE GENUIS OF CHARLES SPURGEON

Eight Glimpses of the Genius of Charles Spurgeon
by Mike Ross — last modified May 29, 2010 11:55 PM
Spurgeon's genius sprang from his latent gifts enhanced by the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

Eight Glimpses of the Genius of Charles Spurgeon
by J. J. Brown

J. J. Brown is the former Chairman of Spurgeon's College Council, and Secretary of Spurgeon's College (London). He still serves at the Spurgeon's College Archives, where memorabilia, artifacts, and other materials from Spurgeon's era are housed for viewing.

#1 - His Spiritual Depth
He was utterly dependent on the Holy Spirit — "If we have not the Spirit which Jesus promised, we cannot perform the commission which Jesus gave." His simple trust in God which enabled him to face the eventualities and tasks of a demanding life was sustained by earnest prayer. "Prayer has become as essential to me as the heaving of my lungs."

#2 - His Preaching Power
He was acclaimed as "the greatest preacher in an age of great preachers." At the age of 17 he drew hundreds to churches in Cambridgeshire. At 19, thousands attended his ministry in London. Congregations were spellbound as with his bell-like voice he expounded Scripture in plain and memorable language. His preaching was accompanied by pastoral care and philanthropic work. The Stockwell Orphanage, which accommodated 500 children, was said to be his greatest sermon.

#3 - His Uncompromising Stance
"If a minister is not sure about his message let him keep quiet until he is." The Bible is to be expounded, not criticised. The Gospel is a message to be proclaimed, not debated. His strong assertions let loose some painful controversies. But he stood his ground and refused to betray his conscience.

#4 - His Reading Talent
As a young child his toys were books. He learned to read them early and quickly. Eventually he could read six ordinary books at a sitting, and as many substantial volumes in a week. A retentive memory and a computer-like recall system provided grist for the mill of preparation for sermons, lectures, and books. Spurgeon's magazine The Sword and the Trowel often contained as many as fifty book reviews from his pen — sufficient proof of his capacity.

#5 - His Generous Giving
Much of his personal money was used for the support of his College, his Orphan Homes, and other institutions which he founded. In addition, many individuals benefited from his benevolence.

#6 - His Evangelistic Passion
"If I had worlds to buy one of your souls, I would readily give them if I might but bring one of you to Christ." The front cover of the earliest volumes of his published sermons carried the motif of Moses with the serpent of brass to which poisoned people looked to find life. The motif is surrounded with the text — "We Preach Christ and Him Crucified." Spurgeon thus remembered his own conversion experience when he was urged to look to Christ. His whole ministry was designed to point people to his Saviour. He founded his Seminary in order to equip preachers to be evangelists as well as pastors.

#7 - His Observant Faculties
His eyes were open and his ears attuned to the sights and sounds of the world around him. Many of his sermons are illuminated by the things he saw and heard. The rural environment in which he spent much of his boyhood coloured his thought and speech. He developed the character of "John Ploughman," and preached a series of "Farm Sermons." He was also a shrewd observer of human nature, sharpened by his experience of interviewing prospective ministerial students. He was quick to see human need and equally ready to provide practical help.

#8 - His Nonconformist Mould
Among his ancestors were those who suffered in the cause of religious freedom. His father and grandfather were Independent (Congregationalist) Ministers. Their churches were self-governing, free from State control. Spurgeon's nonconformity bred innovation — he rejected clerical attire, and he refused ecclesiastical titles. He preferred a platform to a pulpit. He was not averse to preaching in secular buildings. He published a sermon every week from the year 1855 until he died in 1892 [and previously unpublished sermons from Sunday & Thursday evenings continued to be printed weekly until 1917, finally ceasing during World War I].

Conclusion
Spurgeon's genius sprang from his latent gifts enhanced by the ministry of the Holy Spirit. His voice, his command of language, his inimitable style, his sensitivity, imagination, passion and intellect were all at the disposal of his Lord and Saviour. Through his College, his Child Care Charity, his churches, his printed sermons and published books...
"He being dead yet speaketh."

Listen for his word through the book you hold in your hand.

J. J. BROWN is the author of The Adventures of Charles ($4.00),
an excellent new children's biography about C. H. Spurgeon (Pilgrim Publications).

NOTES OF INTEREST
A Message For Today
by Dr. Raymond Brown
— Former Principal, Spurgeon's College

It is an immense delight to me to know that Spurgeon's sermons are still in demand and that these masterly expositions originally published as The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit are available to modern readers.

Spurgeon's sermons are so utterly BIBLICAL. He had an intense desire to let Scripture speak for itself, and time and again in reading the sermons one rejoices in their expository character. He was deeply influenced by the English Puritan tradition and shared their desire to make the message of Scripture absolutely clear and deeply convincing.

Spurgeon's sermons are so utterly CHRISTOCENTRIC. He had a passion to exalt Christ, and time and again he focuses our attention on the Person and Work of Christ. He is not interested in marginal issues or peripheral concerns. Whatever his subject, in the end the reader is brought face to face with the Saviour of mankind.

Spurgeon's sermons are so utterly RELEVANT. To read them in our own decade is not to take a journey into the archaic past, or to study an outdated style peculiar to Victorian England. His masterly analysis of man's sad condition and his rich exposition of man's only Hope brings the modern reader face to face with reality.

Anyone who reads these sermons cannot fail to be helped. A preacher who studies them with care will derive inspiration and insight from any time he devotes to them. I am glad that the ministry of this great preacher lives on.
— Brown's comments here are from the
Jacket Cover for MTP Vol 49, Year 1903

(Note: Raymond Brown is not related to J. J. Brown, above)

PILGRIM PUBLICATIONS