Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834–92) was an English fundamentalist Baptist preacher and theologian. A popular orator ever since his youth, he was well-known for his spontaneous wit, passionate earnestness, and appeal to the individual conscience.
Born in Kelvedon, Essex, Spurgeon was the descendant of two generations of Independent (Congregationalist) ministers. At age 16, he became a Baptist and preached his first sermon, and, at 20, became pastor of the New Park Street Chapel, Southwark, London.
Although Spurgeon had scarcely any formal education, he demonstrated extraordinary preaching ability. His sermons drew such crowds that a new 6,000-seat Metropolitan Tabernacle was constructed for him in 1861; he preached there to crowded congregations until his death.
A staunch Calvinist, Spurgeon was firmly opposed to the philological approach of modern biblical criticism. In 1887, he left the Baptist Union since no action was taken against those accused of fundamental theological errors.
Spurgeon edited a monthly publication and founded a pastors’ training college and an orphanage. In addition to 50 volumes of his sermons, he wrote collections of pithy sayings in John Ploughman’s Talk (1869) and works such as The Saint and his Saviour (1857) and Commenting and Commentaries (1876.)
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Charles Spurgeon
There is a sweet joy that comes to us through sorrow.
—Charles Spurgeon
It is foolish to try to live on past experience. It is a very dangerous, if not a fatal habit to judge ourselves to be safe because of something that we felt or did twenty years ago.
—Charles Spurgeon
Topics: Experience
Stars may be seen from the bottom of a deep well, when they cannot be discerned from the top of a mountain? So are many things learned in adversity which the prosperous man dreams not of?
—Charles Spurgeon
Topics: Adversity
Trust in the person’s promise, who dares to refuse what they fear they cannot perform.
—Charles Spurgeon
Topics: Trust
It is said that if Noah’s ark had had to be built by a company, they would not have laid the keel yet; and it may be so. — What is many men’s business is nobody’s business. — The greatest things are accomplished by individual men.
—Charles Spurgeon
Topics: Individuality
By perseverance the snail reached the Ark.
—Charles Spurgeon
Topics: Endurance, Resolve, Perseverance, Persistence
When your will is God’s will, you will have your will.
—Charles Spurgeon
Of two evils, choose neither.
—Charles Spurgeon
Topics: Evil
Beware of no man more than of yourself; we carry our worst enemies within us.
—Charles Spurgeon
Topics: Selfishness, Enemies
Faith goes up the stairs that love has built and looks out the window which hope has opened.
—Charles Spurgeon
Topics: Faith, Hope
Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom.
—Charles Spurgeon
Topics: Wisdom
Economy is half the battle of life. It is not so hard to earn money as to spend it well.
—Charles Spurgeon
Topics: Battle, Money
The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him. If it were not for the laws of the land, we should soon see a massacre of the righteous. Jesus was watched by his enemies, who were thirsting for his blood: his disciples must not look for favour where their Master found hatred and death.
—Charles Spurgeon
Topics: Evil
The goose that lays the golden eggs likes to lay where there are eggs already.
—Charles Spurgeon
Topics: Success, Success & Failure
There is no fatigue so wearisome as that which comes from lack of work.
—Charles Spurgeon
Humility is to have a right estimate of one’s self — not to think less of himself than he ought. — The higher a man is in grace, the lower will he be in his own esteem.
—Charles Spurgeon
Topics: Humility
When I look into your face, O Law, my spirit shudders. When I hear your thunders, my heart is melted like wax in the midst of my bowels. How can I endure you? If I am to be tried at last for my life, surely I shall need no judge, for I shall be my own swift accuser, and my conscience shall be a witness to condemn.
—Charles Spurgeon
Prayers are heard in heaven very much in proportion to your faith. Little faith will get very great mercies, but great faith still greater.
—Charles Spurgeon
Topics: Prayer, Faith
It has been said that our anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, but only empties today of its strength.
—Charles Spurgeon
Topics: Conversation, Anxiety, Attitude, Worry
It is not well to make great changes in old age.
—Charles Spurgeon
Topics: Change
The cry of a young raven is nothing but the natural cry of a creature, but your cry, if it be sincere, is the result of a work of grace in your heart.
—Charles Spurgeon
Topics: Prayer
Idleness is the key of beggary, and the root of all evil.
—Charles Spurgeon
Topics: Idleness, One liners
Give because you love to give — as the flower pours forth its perfume.
—Charles Spurgeon
Whether we like it or not, asking is the rule of the Kingdom.
—Charles Spurgeon
Topics: Prayer
There are no crown-wearers in heaven that were not cross-bearers here below.
—Charles Spurgeon
Topics: Trials
Many men owe the grandeur of their lives to their tremendous difficulties.
—Charles Spurgeon
Topics: Difficulty, Forgiveness, Difficulties, Adversity
Only action gives life strength, only moderation gives it charm.
—Charles Spurgeon
Topics: Charm, Strength, Moderation, Action, Happiness
One night alone in prayer might make us new men, changed from poverty of soul to spiritual wealth, from trembling to triumphing.
—Charles Spurgeon
Topics: Prayer
A good character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you, and were helped by you, will remember you when forget-me-nots are withered. Carve your name on hearts, and not on marble.
—Charles Spurgeon
Topics: Work, Character, Kindness
Show me the business man or institution not guided by sentiment and service; by the idea that “he profits most who serves best” and I will show you a man or an outfit that is dead or dying.
—Charles Spurgeon
Topics: Business
E’er since by faith I saw the stream
Thy flowing wounds supply
Redeeming love has been my theme
And shall be till I die
—Charles Spurgeon
Topics: Faith
Hundreds would never have known want, if they had not first known waste.
—Charles Spurgeon
It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness.
—Charles Spurgeon
Topics: Wealth, Happiness, Duty
Poverty is hard, but debt is horrible. — A man might as well have a smoky house and a scolding wife, which are said to be the two worst evils of our life.
—Charles Spurgeon
Topics: Debt
The doorstep to the temple of wisdom is a knowledge of our own ignorance.
—Charles Spurgeon
Topics: Learning, Wisdom
It is a great pity when the one who should be the head figure is a mere figure head.
—Charles Spurgeon
Topics: Leadership, Leaders
Christ is the great central fact in the world’s history; to him everything looks forward or backward. All the lines of history converge upon him. All the march of providence is guided by him. All the great purposes of God culminate in him. The greatest and most momentous fact which the history of the world records is the fact of his birth.
—Charles Spurgeon
Topics: Christian
We are all at times unconscious prophets.
—Charles Spurgeon
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