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
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
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
The worst thing that can happen to a man who gambles is to win
—Charles Spurgeon
Topics: One liners, Winning
Must is a hard nut to crack, but it has a sweet kernel.
—Charles Spurgeon
Topics: Perseverance, Persistence
With children we must mix gentleness with firmness.—They must not always have their own way, but they must not always be thwarted.—If we never have headaches through rebuking them, we shall have plenty of heartaches when they grow up.—Be obeyed at all costs; for if you yield up your authority once, you will hardly get it again.
—Charles Spurgeon
Topics: Children
A child of God should be a visible beatitude for joy and happiness, and a living doxology for gratitude and adoration.
—Charles Spurgeon
Topics: Christian
That there should be a Christ, and that I should be Christless; that there should be a cleansing, and that I should remain foul; that there should be a Father’s love, and I should be an alien; that there should be a heaven, and I should be cast into hell, is grief embittered, sorrow aggravated.
—Charles Spurgeon
Topics: Christian
As sure as ever God puts his children in the furnace, he will be in the furnace with them.
—Charles Spurgeon
Topics: Trials
There are no crown-wearers in heaven that were not cross-bearers here below.
—Charles Spurgeon
Topics: Trials
Giving is true having.
—Charles Spurgeon
Topics: Giving, Charity
Some temptations come to the industrious, but all temptations attack the idle.
—Charles Spurgeon
Topics: Temptation
Beware of no man more than of yourself; we carry our worst enemies within us.
—Charles Spurgeon
Topics: Selfishness, Enemies, Identity
Faith goes up the stairs that love has built and looks out the window which hope has opened.
—Charles Spurgeon
Topics: Faith, Hope
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
Hundreds would never have known want, if they had not first known waste.
—Charles Spurgeon
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
We can learn nothing of the gospel except by feeling its truths. There are some sciences that may be learned by the head, but the science of Christ crucified can only be learned by the heart.
—Charles Spurgeon
Of two evils, choose neither.
—Charles Spurgeon
Topics: Evil
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
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
There is no fatigue so wearisome as that which comes from lack of work.
—Charles Spurgeon
Topics: Laziness
Holiness is the architectural plan on which God buildeth up his living temple.
—Charles Spurgeon
A vigorous temper is not altogether an evil. Men who are easy as an old shoe are generally of little worth.
—Charles Spurgeon
Topics: Anger
Whether we like it or not, asking is the rule of the Kingdom.
—Charles Spurgeon
Topics: Prayer
The devil never tempted a man whom he found judiciously employed.
—Charles Spurgeon
Topics: Employment
Learn to say “No”; it will be of more use to you than to be able to read Latin.
—Charles Spurgeon
Topics: Temptation
He who boasts of being perfect is perfect in folly. I never saw a perfect man. Every rose has its thorns, and every day its night. Even the sun shows spots, and the skies are darkened with clouds. And faults of some kind nestle in every bosom.
—Charles Spurgeon
Topics: Perfection
Only action gives life strength, only moderation gives it charm.
—Charles Spurgeon
Topics: Moderation, Charm, Action, Happiness, Strength
Because God is the living God, he can hear;
because he is a loving God, he will hear;
because he is our covenant God, he has bound himself to hear.
—Charles Spurgeon
A beggar’s rags may cover as much pride as an alderman’s gown.
—Charles Spurgeon
Topics: Pride
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