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Do you know that Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834–1892) was not solely a preacher however a poet? In her husband’s Autobiography, Susie Spurgeon wrote, “If there had been enough area obtainable, an fascinating chapter may need been compiled regarding ‘Mr. Spurgeon as a Poet and Hymn-writer’” (Autobiography, 4:313). If you’re in any respect conversant in his sermons, you’ll know one thing about Spurgeon’s love for poetry. He as soon as wrote, “Regardless of on what matter I’m preaching, I may even now, in the course of any sermon, quote some verse of a hymn in concord with the topic” (Autobiography, 1:43–44).
From Watts to Wesley and Luther to Cowper, Spurgeon used hymns to kind a lot of his theological vocabulary. However past hymns, he additionally loved different types of poetry. He learn by Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, “that sweetest of all prose poems,” at the least 100 occasions (Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, 45:495). Usually, after an extended Sunday, he discovered refreshment by having his spouse learn to him the poetry of George Herbert, “until the peace of Heaven flows into our souls, and the drained servant of the King of kings loses his sense of fatigue, and rejoices after his toil” (Autobiography, 2:185–86).
However do you know that Spurgeon not solely liked poetry however was a poet himself? To make certain, his major calling was that of pastor and preacher, not poet or hymn-writer. However often, we see his poetic presents on show. When compiling his church’s hymnbook, Spurgeon didn’t thoughts composing a couple of hymns himself, particularly when he couldn’t discover one appropriate for his church. Infrequently, he revealed his poems in The Sword and the Trowel. However for probably the most half, poetry was not part of his public ministry. Moderately, like his prayer life, it was part of his personal devotional spirituality.
Misplaced Lyrics
Among the many different treasures of the Spurgeon Library, we now have a plain, time-worn pocket book. There is no such thing as a title web page, however the backbone reads,
Poems
Spurgeon
Inside are 186 handwritten devotional poems that have been composed by the preacher all through his forty-year ministry. What sort of poems are they? They’re, initially, prayers and meditations, reflecting Spurgeon’s theological convictions about God, creation, revelation, salvation, the Christian life, eternity, and rather more.
“These poems present a window into the personal and poetic prayer lifetime of the Prince of Preachers.”
These poems are additionally biographical, a lot of them drawn from occasions in Spurgeon’s life. Whether or not it’s theological controversies, the dedication of the Metropolitan Tabernacle, the exhaustion of pastoral ministry, or many different chapters from his fruitful life, these experiences elicited poetry from Spurgeon. In different phrases, distinctive amongst all that he wrote, these poems present a window into the personal and poetic prayer lifetime of the Prince of Preachers.
What can we study from these poems?
Dependence and Prayer
Whenever you learn that Spurgeon preached as many as 13 sermons per week, largely extemporaneous in supply and but stuffed with theological reality and perception, it will be simple to imagine that the duty got here very simply for him. A couple of hours of preparation on Saturday evening, and — voilà! — the sermons are prepared. However that’s not what we see on this quantity. In poem after poem, we encounter a determined plea for God to illumine his thoughts and coronary heart to see Christ. Within the poem “Christ Our All,” Spurgeon writes,
Shew us thyself, shew, dearest Lord,
The beauties of thy grace;
And allow us to in thy blessed phrase,
Behold thy shining face.
Reveal nonetheless extra of all thy will,
The wonders of thy legislation,
And allow us to whereas with love we fill,
Behold thee and adore. (Christ Our All, 77)
It’s true that Spurgeon was an extremely gifted and skilled preacher (on the age of 19, he had preached over seven hundred sermons!). However past rhetorical and homiletical abilities, Spurgeon knew that his ministry and his personal non secular life relied on God’s grace to disclose Christ’s shining face in his blessed phrase. He didn’t take this sight of Christ as a right, however each time he opened God’s phrase, he prayed for illumination.
Maybe one of the painful reminders of Spurgeon’s dependence on God got here by his frequent wrestle with sickness. Particularly as he grew older, Spurgeon groaned beneath the crushing ache of gout and lots of different illnesses that would knock him out for months at a time. Within the poem “Illness,” Spurgeon laments,
Why! Losing illness, artwork thou come?
Illness, why enterprise nigh
To take extra victims to their residence,
In fever graves to lie?
Wherefore artwork thou dispatch’d amongst
The creatures right here under,
To trace us within the busy throng
Or lay the needy low? (199)
This poem is putting as a result of there isn’t any decision, no earthly reply to those questions of Why? But as Spurgeon suffered alongside different victims, he might pray that if these trials should come,
Could I be prepared any day
To satisfy thee with out worry. (199)
However he didn’t face these trials alone. Spurgeon’s response to struggling was not merely why however who. Amid all our trials, we now have a God who reigns over our struggling and who’s with us amid our struggling. In “He’s Devoted,” Spurgeon writes,
Thou Devoted One, whose promise stands,
Safe when storms and tempests rage,
E’en storms obey thy sensible instructions
And for our welfare should interact. (92)
And it was on this Devoted One which he depended.
Meditation and Confession
A mark of Spurgeon’s preaching was his meditation on God’s phrase. Just like the Puritans earlier than him, Spurgeon turned the diamond of Scripture repeatedly to mirror the brilliance of its many sides. However his meditation on Scripture wasn’t solely a public efficiency. It was the fruit of his personal meditation on Scripture. We see glimpses of that observe in these poems.
For instance, within the poem “Obedience,” Spurgeon marvels on the approach the angelic host tremble earlier than God and fly to obey his phrase. And but, their worry and readiness stand in stark distinction to human insurrection (might this poem be a meditation on Isaiah 6?).
All of them in strict obedience bow
At their Creator’s nod;
In terrible reverence lie low
And hearken to his phrase.
Then with the sunshine’ning’s velocity, they fly
To execute his phrase;
Carry out the summons from on excessive,
His utmost phrase fulfill.
Then why ought to man of puny race
Be disobedient right here,
And set themselves earlier than his face
Refusing him to worry? (39)
“Regardless of how fruitful and well-known he was, Spurgeon by no means forgot that he deserved nothing from God.”
On that theme of disobedience, most of the poems are meditations on human sinfulness, together with his personal private sin. One of many qualities I recognize most about Spurgeon is that his life was free of ethical scandal. On the entire, he was a loving husband and father and a devoted preacher and pastor. And but, after we take a look at these poems, we see that within the quietness of his coronary heart, Spurgeon was deeply conscious of his sin: his delight, impatience, worry of man, doubts, and rather more.
A insurgent, removed from thee I stray.
With out excuse I roam.
Nothing can now thy justice keep,
Or hold me from my doom.
I sin, but know, t’will finish in demise,
And really feel that demise is nigh.
Earlier than thee I’ll maintain my breath,
Will however for mercy cry. (70)
Regardless of how fruitful and well-known he was, Spurgeon by no means forgot that he deserved nothing from God. However whilst he mirrored deeply on his personal sinfulness, he knew the place to show to search out grace.
However but to Calvary I flip,
And there behold thy Son.
I see on him thine anger burn
For sins which I’ve finished. (70)
Spurgeon preached the gospel not solely to a whole lot of 1000’s but in addition to himself. Earlier than he was a pastor or a preacher, he was a sinner in want of a Savior. This was the start line of his life, and it made all of the distinction in his ministry.
Belief and Hope
Within the spring of 1861, the magnificent Metropolitan Tabernacle was opened and devoted for gospel ministry. And but, Spurgeon knew that his ministry was not a couple of constructing however a folks. And so, on the dedication of the Tabernacle, Spurgeon prays,
O Lord, one other home is rear’d
The place thou delight’st to dwell.
Let thy pricey identify be right here revered;
Right here, let thy praises swell.
In adoration, Lord, we bow
For what thine arm has wrought.
Thy power right here to thy folks present,
Nor tell us a drought.
Let plenteous showers of grace divine
Ceaselessly right here descend;
Could on this home thy glory shine,
And each one attend. (111)
As somebody raised within the countryside, Spurgeon might have by no means imagined being given a ministry with such a worldwide affect. However he had the enjoyment of seeing God take an unlikely preacher and use him to show his stunning energy. All through these poems, then, are joyful prayers for God to proceed doing a mighty work in our day.
Sturdy Arm, outstretch; the victory take.
Who can earlier than thee stand?
From each place new captives make
By thine almighty hand. (125)
However amid his fruitful ministry, and all of the toils and hardships that got here with it, Spurgeon by no means overpassed the top of the story. He sometimes concludes his poems with the hope of heaven. He knew that he was a pilgrim. This world was not his residence. The day would quickly come when he would relaxation from his labors. These poems, then, have been his prayers and reflections on his solution to the Celestial Metropolis.
There was no problem too nice and no trial too painful that heaven wouldn’t resolve. Even when his well being was failing and so many have been turning away from the gospel, Spurgeon knew that Christ would construct his church. And so, like a soldier eager for his residence, he discovered consolation and power in his meditations on heaven.
We’ll stroll the streets of heav’n with pleasure,
In praising, all our pow’rs make use of,
In elevating nice hosannas to his identify,
In talking praises to the heav’nly Lamb.
We’ll inform the wonders of his grace to us
Who died to avoid wasting us from the curse,
And the arch’d vault of heav’n shall ring
Whereas numerous myriads reward their King.
There’s no extra sorrows, no extra pains.
We’ll sing in candy melodious strains
And bid our harps resound the lays
That won’t finish in limitless days. (146)
Poems for Heavenly Pilgrims
In all these qualities, Spurgeon is a useful mannequin for us. Whether or not we’re new to the Christian life or seasoned in ministry, we wish to domesticate this sort of dependence, humility, and hope. As pilgrims on a harmful journey, we can not make it alone. However these poems remind us that we’re not alone. Christ our Captain is with us each step of the best way. He’s devoted, and he’ll carry us residence.
My Jesus I’m certain to thee
With chains that can’t break.
Thou’st promis’d I shall saved be,
And I thy phrase will take. (26)
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