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Voices and influences

Charles Spurgeon

Spurgeon's theology is Particular-Baptist Calvinism unashamedly preached as gospel.

Works on this site: 1855 to 1887.

Portrait of Charles Spurgeon
Alexander Melville · Public domain

6 of 2,848 quotations

In their own words

THIS is, no doubt, a literal and accurate account of God's first day's work in the creation of the world, but the first creation is not the subject of this morning's discourse—we would rather direct your minds to the second creation of God. Every man who is saved by Divine Grace is a new creation. The great work which Jesus Christ is accomplishing in the world, by the Holy Spirit through the Word, is the making all things new. We believe the old creation to have been typical of the new and we shall so use it.

Charles Spurgeon· The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 660: “Light—Natural And Spiritual” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition), 1865Reformed Baptist

Genesis 1:1–5 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

WE know very little about Jabez, except that he was more honorable than his brethren, and that he was called Jabez because his mother bare him with sorrow. It will sometimes happen that where there is the most sorrow in the antecedents, there will be the most pleasure in the sequel. As the furious storm gives place to the clear sunshine, so the night of weeping precedes the morning of joy. Sorrow the harbinger; gladness the prince it ushers in. Cowper says:— “The path of sorrow, and that path alone, Leads to the place where sorrow is unknown.”

Charles Spurgeon· The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 994: “The Prayer of Jabez” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition), 1871Reformed Baptist

1 Chronicles 4:10 And Jabez called out to the God of Israel, “If only You would bless me and enlarge my territory!

ALL labor is honorable. No man ever needs to be ashamed of an honest calling. Whether a potter or a gardener, or whatever else his occupation may be, the workman need never blush at the craft or toil by which he earns his honest wage. "In the sweat of your face shall you eat bread," belongs to us all. The sluggard may well be ashamed of his sloth, but not the diligent man of his industry. It is quite certain that the Word of God does not disparage the most humble calling.

Charles Spurgeon· The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 1400: “With the King for His Work!” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition), 1877Reformed Baptist

1 Chronicles 4:23 These were the potters who lived at Netaim and Gederah. They lived there in the service of the king.

THE Temple was not to be built according to the designs of David, or Solomon, or any other man. It was to be built according to a pattern which God, Himself, had formed. In the things of God we are not left to follow our own judgments and devices—we are to look to the Law and to the Testimony for our instructions. To God's Word we must always come for our orders. What God has commanded is binding upon us in His Church. What He has not commanded, we may safely leave undone.

Charles Spurgeon· The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 2280: “God's Handwriting Upon David” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition), 1892Reformed Baptist

1 Chronicles 28:19 “All this,” said David, “all the details of this plan, the LORD has made clear to me in writing by His hand upon me.”

IT is not always the most gifted church which is in the most healthy state. A church may have many rich, influential, or learned members—many that have the gift of utterance and understand all sciences—yet that church may be in an unhealthy condition. Such was the case with the church at Corinth.

Charles Spurgeon· The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 2875: “Confirming the Witness of Christ” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition), 1904Reformed Baptist

1 Corinthians 1:6 because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you.

PAUL is here arguing for the safety, the perseverance and the ultimate perfection of the saints to whom he is writing. He thanks God for what He has done for them and is assured that He will do yet more—that He will certainly confirm them unto the end—that they may be blameless in the day of Jesus Christ. The Apostle bases his argument upon this Truth of God—"God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord."

Charles Spurgeon· The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 2580: “Partnership With Christ” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition), 1898Reformed Baptist

1 Corinthians 1:9 God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.

About this voice

Charles Haddon Spurgeon (June 19, 1834 – January 31, 1892) was an English Particular (Reformed) Baptist preacher whose 38-year pastorate ran at New Park Street Chapel, expanded as the Metropolitan Tabernacle (London, 1861). Born in Kelvedon, Essex, raised by his Independent grandfather Rev. James Spurgeon, he was converted at age 15 in a snow-bound Primitive Methodist chapel under the text "Look unto Me, and be ye saved" (Isaiah 45:22). He preached his first sermon at 16, took his first pastorate at 17, and was called to London at 19. His weekly sermons, published from 1855 as the New Park Street Pulpit and after 1861 as the Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, ran to 63 volumes. He founded the Pastors' College (1856), the Stockwell Orphanage (1867), and the Colportage Association (1866). His final years were marked by the Down-Grade Controversy (1887–1892), in which he resigned from the Baptist Union over its drift on biblical authority and the gospel.

7 works

What this site reads them for

The workYearQuoted here
The Treasury of DavidThe standard PD evangelical Psalms commentary; explicitly named in OPERATING_RULES §3 as a MannaFest ingestion-tier-1 source. 21 years of weekly Psalm-by-Psalm work.18691,810 quotations
The New Park Street / Metropolitan Tabernacle PulpitThe largest single-author sermon corpus in Christian history. The primary source for any Spurgeon position on any topic.1855Not quoted here yet
Lectures to My StudentsSpurgeon's instruction to his Pastors' College — the standard 19th-c. handbook on evangelical preaching, prayer, and pastoral life.1875Not quoted here yet
A Defense of CalvinismSpurgeon's own articulation of his Calvinism — "I have my own opinion that there is no such thing as preaching Christ and Him crucified, unless we preach what nowadays is called Calvinism."1860Not quoted here yet
All of GraceSpurgeon's most-distributed evangelistic work; a presentation of the gospel of grace for the unconverted reader.1886Not quoted here yet
Morning and EveningThe standard Spurgeon daily devotional, in continuous print since publication.1865Not quoted here yet
The Down Grade Controversy correspondence and articlesSpurgeon's defense of biblical authority, penal substitution, and eternal judgment against the Baptist Union's emerging modernism.1887Not quoted here yet

Where to find them

2,848 quotations across 60 books

Where this voice is quoted

Isaiah 3:10–11The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 729: “Cheering Words and Solemn Warnings” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) (1867)

Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their labor.

THERE are two classes mentioned here, the righteous and the wicked. And into these two orders the Book of God is accustomed to divide the whole population of the globe. It speaks but little of upper and lower classes.

Isaiah 5:1The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 3319: “The Well-beloved's Vineyard” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) (1912)

I will sing for my beloved a song of his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill.

WE recognize at once that Jesus is here. Who but He can be meant by, "My Well-Beloved"? Here is a word of possession and a word of affection—He is mine, and my Well-Beloved.

Isaiah 5:17The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 3199: “How the Lambs Feed” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) (1910)

Lambs will graze as in their own pastures, and strangers will feed in the ruins of the wealthy.

THE sense of this passage may be that Judea would be so desolated that it would become rather a wild wilderness pasture for flocks than an inhabited country.

Isaiah 6:8The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 1351: “The Divine Call for Missionaries” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) (1877)

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: “Whom shall I send? Who will go for Us?” And I said: “Here am I. Send me!”

BROTHERS AND SISTERS, the heathen are perishing and there is but one way of salvation for them, for there is but one name given under Heaven among men whereby they must be saved.

Isaiah 8:14The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 3522: “Christ a Sanctuary” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) (1916)

And He will be a sanctuary—but to both houses of Israel a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, to the dwellers of Jerusalem a trap and a snare.

MANY of the Rabbis, and I think with good reason, refer this to the Messiah. We refer it to Jesus Christ, the Man of Nazareth, the Son of God, who is the Messiah of God to our souls.

Isaiah 9:1–2The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 2163: “Immanuel—The Light of Life” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) (1890)

Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those in distress.

As in this case the Revised Version is much to be preferred, we will now read it— "But there shall be no gloom to her that was in anguish.

Isaiah 9:6The New Park Street Pulpit, Sermon No. 258: “His Name—the Mighty God” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) (1859)

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders.

OTHER TRANSLATIONS of this divine title have been proposed by several very eminent and able scholars. Not that they have any of them been prepared to deny that this translation is after all most accurate; but rather that whilst there are various words in the…

Isaiah 9:6The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 724: “His Name—The Everlasting Father” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) (1866)

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders.

How complex is the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ! Almost in the same breath the Prophet calls Him a "Child," and a "Counselor," a "Son," and "the Everlasting Father."

Isaiah 11:10The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 2542: “Christ's Rest and Ours” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) (1897)

On that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples. The nations will seek Him, and His place of rest will be glorious.

THE Lord Jesus Christ, who is "the root of Jesse"—"the shoot from the stock of Jesse," as the first verse of this chapter might be rendered—is the very center of all Israel!

Isaiah 12:1The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 928: “A New Song For New Hearts” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) (1870)

In that day you will say: “O LORD, I will praise You. Although You were angry with me, Your anger has turned away, and You have comforted me.

THIS prophesy is said by some to relate to the invasion by Sennacherib. That calamity threatened to be a very terrible display of Divine anger. It seemed inevitable that the Assyrian power would make an utter desolation of all Judea.

Isaiah 19:18–25The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 3515: “The Fruits of Grace” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) (1916)

In that day five cities in the land of Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the LORD of Hosts.

THIS is a very remarkable prophecy. Attempts have been made to explain it, as if it were already fulfilled. I believe all such attempts to be utter failures.

Isaiah 32:2The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 1243: “Rivers Of Water In A Dry Place” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) (1875)

Each will be like a shelter from the wind, a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in a dry land, like the shadow of a great rock in…

I SUPPOSE it must be conceded that the surface sense of this passage refers to Hezekiah and to other good kings who were the means of great blessings to the declining kingdom of Judah. We can scarcely be thankful enough for a righteous government.

Isaiah 38:17The New Park Street Pulpit, Sermon No. 316: “A Sense of Pardoned Sin” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) (1860)

Surely for my own welfare I had such great anguish; but Your love has delivered me from the pit of oblivion, for You have cast all my sins behind Your…

HEZEKIAH HERE SPEAKS POSITIVELY on a matter concerning which he had not the remotest shadow of n doubt.

Isaiah 38:17The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 1337: “Love's Medicines and Miracles” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) (1877)

Surely for my own welfare I had such great anguish; but Your love has delivered me from the pit of oblivion, for You have cast all my sins behind Your…

HEZEKIAH'S recovery is a notable encouragement to prayer. If ever there was a case in the world where it seemed impossible that prayer could be of any use, it was that of Hezekiah.

Isaiah 40:11The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 794: “Jesus and the Lambs” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) (1868)

He tends His flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart. He gently leads the nursing ewes.

IN the chapter before us our Savior is described as Jehovah God. He is spoken of as clothed with irresistible power: "He shall come with strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him," but, as if to soften a glory far too bright for…

Isaiah 41:14The New Park Street Pulpit, Sermon No. 157: “Thy Redeemer” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) (1857)

Do not fear, O worm of Jacob, O few men of Israel. I will help you,” declares the LORD. “Your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.

AND WHY DOES it say, “and thy Redeemer?” What was the use of appending the Redeemers name to this precious exhortation?

Isaiah 43:6The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 1007: “North and South” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) (1871)

I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back!’

IN THE FULLNESS of the promised days when the Jews shall be restored from their wanderings, and all the seed of Jacob shall again meet in their own land, God in his mighty providence will speak to all the nations, saying: “To the north, Give…

Isaiah 43:25The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 1685: “God's Non-Remembrance of Sin” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) (1882)

I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more.

You see these texts are all alike in their declaration that the Lord will not remember His people's sins. I have taken four of them to make the basis of my sermon firm as adamant.

Isaiah 44:22The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 2563: “Grace for the Guilty” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) (1898)

I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud, and your sins like a mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.

THIS declaration was not made to a pious and praying people, who kept near their God, but was spoken to idolatrous Israel—to those who, after having drunk from the fountain of living waters, turned aside to drink the drops that were to be found in…

Isaiah 44:23The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 1240: “The Song of Songs” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) (1875)

Sing for joy, O heavens, for the LORD has done this; shout aloud, O depths of the earth. Break forth in song, O mountains, you forests and all your trees.

NO DOUBT THIS PROPHECY had a fulfillment in the restoration of the captive Jews from Babylon, in the rebuilding of the temple, and the completion of the walls of Jerusalem.

Isaiah 46:1–4The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 2056: “Idols Found Wanting, But Jehovah Found Faithful” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) (1888)

Bel crouches; Nebo cowers. Their idols weigh down beasts and cattle. The images you carry are burdensome, a load to the weary animal.

THE confidence of Babylon is buried among her heaps of rubbish for her gods have fallen from their thrones. "Bel bows down, Nebo stoops."

Isaiah 47:14The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 444: “The Portion Of The Ungodly” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) (1862)

Surely they are like stubble; the fire will burn them up. They cannot deliver themselves from the power of the flame.

THIS text is part of a terrible description of God's judgment upon Babylon and Chaldea. The Prophet had clearly written out the indictment of the Lord against that tyrannical people, and having proved their guilt he pronounces their sentence.

Isaiah 48:9–11The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 1041: “Mercy's Master Motive” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) (1872)

For the sake of My name I will delay My wrath; for the sake of My praise I will restrain it, so that you will not be cut off.

'For my name's sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off. Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.

Isaiah 48:10The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 1430: “Refined, But Not With Silver” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) (1878)

See, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.

THE Lord refines His people, but He exercises great discrimination as to the means by which He does so.

Isaiah 48:18The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 610: “The Great Need—Or, The Great Salvation” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) (1865)

If only you had paid attention to My commandments, your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like waves of the sea.

FROM this verse we may learn that when God smites men on account of sin it gives Him no pleasure. The voice which speaks is not that of the seraphic Prophet, but it is the voice of the Lord God of the prophets Himself.