Free Grace And Dying Love E-Book

Susannah Spurgeon

• Herausgeber: Darolt Books
• Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
• Serie: Hope messages for quarantine
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2020

Seitenzahl: 82

Beschreibung

Susannah Spurgeon was the wife of the famous Baptist preacher of the second half of the nineteenth-century, Charles Haddon Spurgeon. She was born Susannah Thompson in January, 1832. Her early years were spent in London, where she often accompanied her parents or elderly friends to the New Park Street Chapel. She was converted upon hearing a sermon at the old Poultry Chapel by Rev S. B. Bergne from Romans 10:8 'From that service I date the dawning of the true light in my soul'. But her initial joy was replaced by 'seasons of darkness, despondency, and doubt', and it was not until she was helped by the new, youthful, pastor of New Park Street Spurgeon that she found 'the peace and pardon [her] weary soul was longing for'. Her friendship with Spurgeon grew, and they were married in January 1856. Their twin sons, Charles Jr. and Thomas, were born in September, 1857. Susannah became a true partner in her husband's ministry. Spurgeon would call his 'wifey' to come and help him on Saturday afternoons. Together they would read commentaries and discuss the Scripture for the next day's sermon. If he was discouraged, she would read to him. She counselled women and girls in the church and assisted female candidates at baptismal services. Her activities were restricted at times when she became chronically ill in the late 1860s, and was often confined to her room, or visited Brighton for relief. In 1875, when she had proof-read the first volume of her husband's book Lectures to My Students, she expressed a desire to 'place it in the hands of every minister in England'and so began the ministry of her Book Fund. Within a year, over 3000 volumes of theological books had been distributed by the Fund; by the time of her death, over 200,000 volumes had been sent out. Today, the supplying of theological books free to ministers and missionaries continues through the Book Fund of the Banner of Truth Trust, modelled upon that started by Susannah Spurgeon. Susannah's work expanded to include other ministries, such as the Pastors' Aid Fund and the Westwood Clothing Society. In her remaining years, following Charles' death in 1892, she assisted Joseph Harrald in compiling C.H. Spurgeon's Autobiography and also wrote a number of devotional books, including Free Grace And Dying Love, published by the Trust (which volume contains a Life of Susannah Spurgeon by Charles Ray). She died in October, 1903, after a severe attack of pneumonia from which she never recovered.

Leseprobe

PREFACE

Susannah Spurgeon was the wife of the famous Baptist preacher of the second half of the nineteenth-century, Charles Haddon Spurgeon. She was born Susannah Thompson in January, 1832. Her early years were spent in London, where she often accompanied her parents or elderly friends to the New Park Street Chapel. She was converted upon hearing a sermon at the old Poultry Chapel by Rev S. B. Bergne from Romans 10:8 ‘From that service I date the dawning of the true light in my soul’. But her initial joy was replaced by ‘seasons of darkness, despondency, and doubt’, and it was not until she was helped by the new, youthful, pastor of New Park Street Spurgeon that she found ‘the peace and pardon [her] weary soul was longing for’. Her friendship with Spurgeon grew, and they were married in January 1856. Their twin sons, Charles Jr. and Thomas, were born in September, 1857.

Susannah became a true partner in her husband’s ministry. Spurgeon would call his ‘wifey’ to come and help him on Saturday afternoons. Together they would read commentaries and discuss the Scripture for the next day’s sermon. If he was discouraged, she would read to him. She counselled women and girls in the church and assisted female candidates at baptismal services. Her activities were restricted at times when she became chronically ill in the late 1860s, and was often confined to her room, or visited Brighton for relief.

In 1875, when she had proof-read the first volume of her husband’s book Lectures to My Students, she expressed a desire to ‘place it in the hands of every minister in England’and so began the ministry of her Book Fund. Within a year, over 3000 volumes of theological books had been distributed by the Fund; by the time of her death, over 200,000 volumes had been sent out. Today, the supplying of theological books free to ministers and missionaries continues through the Book Fund of the Banner of Truth Trust, modelled upon that started by Susannah Spurgeon. Susannah’s work expanded to include other ministries, such as the Pastors’ Aid Fund and the Westwood Clothing Society.

In her remaining years, following Charles’ death in 1892, she assisted Joseph Harrald in compiling C.H. Spurgeon’s Autobiography and also wrote a number of devotional books, including Free Grace and Dying Love, published by the Trust (which volume contains a Life of Susannah Spurgeon by Charles Ray). She died in October, 1903, after a severe attack of pneumonia from which she never recovered.

FREE GRACE AND DYING LOVE

A Carillon of Bells, to Ring out the Old Truths of Free Grace and Dying Love!

 "I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe!" Ephesians 1:18-19

"Sometimes, in my house of grief

For moments, I have come to stand

Where, in the sorrows on me laid,

I felt the chastening of God's hand.

Then learned I that the weakest ones

Are kept securest from life's harms;

And that the tender lambs alone

Are carried in the shepherd's arms!"

A CARILLON OF BELLS

"He who spared not His own Son . . how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" Romans 8:32

Dear Lord, faith's fingers are joyfully touching the keys of this carillon of sweet bells this morning, and making them ring jubilantly to the praise of Your gracious Name!

"He who spared not!"

"How shall He not!"

What a peal of absolute triumph it is! Not a note of doubt or uncertainty mars the Heavenly music. Awake, my heart, and realize that it is your faith which is making such glorious melody! You can scarcely believe it, for gladness? Yet it is blessedly true, for the Lord Himself has given the grace, and then accepts the tribute of gratitude and praise which that grace brings. Press the tuneful keys again and again, for faith holds festival today, and the joy of assurance is working wonders.

"He who spared not!"

"How shall He not!"

Hear how the repeated negatives gloriously affirm the fact of His readiness to bless! These silver bells have truly the power to scare away all evil things.

"He who spared not His own Son." He gave His most precious treasure  could He withhold any lesser good from you? He has given you pounds; will He refuse you pence? No! While faith is thus quickened into lively exercise by the Spirit of God, the cadences of exulting praise must ring out, clear and loud, "How shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?"

Think well, my heart, what "all things" mean to you! If you have Christ  then along with Him, and included in Him, you possess "all things!" All spiritual blessings, rich and precious  are laid up for you in this Divine storehouse, and God's choicest and most excellent gifts are here waiting for your faith to claim them! Rejoice, O my soul, that Christ and "the things of Christ" cannot be divided!

Pardon, peace, sanctification, close walking with God, constant communion with Jesus, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit  are not all these gathered together "with Him" as a cluster of ripe grapes on a choice vine? Having Him  you have all else. There is not a need or desire of your inner life which cannot be triumphantly met by faith's unwavering challenge, "He who spared not His own Son . . how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things!" Nor is there a necessity of your temporal state which cannot equally claim the blessing of possessing "all things" in Christ.

Lord, quicken my faith, give me to see how deep and wide, and full and free  is the unspeakable love which spared not Your own Son, and therefore can spare every other gift, to me, Your undeserving child! I thank You that it is not '"way over Jordan, Lord," that I must go to "ring these charming bells"; but here, now, in the sanctuary of my heart, and all day long in the open cloisters of my daily life  I may make the blessed music resound to Your glory, and my own exceeding gladness 

"How shall He not!"

"How shall He not!"

JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF

"Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope" 2 Thessalonians 2:16

"Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself." Oh, the Divine mystery of wondrous love and pity which is enwrapped in these few words!" The precious things of Heaven," "the chief things of the ancient mountains," and "the precious things of the everlasting hills"  are surely all gathered together here; and, with a deep and unutterable longing, my soul desires to search and find them.

That "Name which is above every name" is sung by angels as their sweetest song; but the tender earthly cadence which my heart hears in that emphatic word  "Himself"  intensifies its melody to me. Never before did a personal pronoun bear such significance, or convey to the heart so dear an assurance of perfect sympathy and love. We say sometimes of choice possessions, that they are our "very own"; and when we speak of You, dear Master, as "Jesus Christ Himself" there is an added fragrance in the "ointment poured forth," a personal realization of what You are to us in Your Divine Manhood, which draws us "with cords of a man, with bands of love." It brings You so close to me as my Savior  it seems to reveal You as the One who can "be touched with the feeling of our infirmities," and who sympathizes in all our sorrows  because You were "found in fashion as a man."

"Jesus Christ HIMSELF!" I say it over and over again until my soul is filled with its sweetness, and my heart is satisfied with the peace of believing  that this Blessed One is mine, and that He loves even me!

"God our Father!" Lord, help me to realize all that this wonderful relationship means to me! As Your child, I may claim all that You have promised to give. And if I am living and acting as Your child  dwelling with You, loving You, and obeying You  I shall assuredly find that Your Father love is ready to grant every reasonable desire of my heart.

Dear Lord, when I see, as I often do, some earthly fathers, whose love for their little ones is intense, forbearing, and unspeakably tender  I feel ashamed that I do not better understand the love of Your heart toward me  Your child through faith in Christ Jesus! Do You ask, "How much more?" I cannot work out such a sum, Lord! But I know that Your love must be infinitely greater, closer, and dearer  because You are the infinite God, and that You have loved me with an everlasting love!

Oh, that I may have the spirit of a little child  when I draw near to You! What little one is afraid to run to a loving father, and ask for all that it wants? Never a doubt rises in a child's mind, as to the supply of all his needs, and the direction of all that concerns him. The child has positively no anxious care for the present, no worry for the morrow, no fears for the past. It reasons, "Father knows everything. Father can do everything. Father provides everything. Father loves me!"

"Who has loved us!" O my soul, can you for a moment imagine what it would be of bliss, and rest, and peace  to live out day by day such a child-life in the love of the Father?