Digital Logos Edition
All of Spurgeon’s works are deeply personal, yet the volumes of his autobiography retell the story of his life from start to finish with more detail than his sermons, lectures, articles, and volumes of his other writings. Charles H. Spurgeon's Autobiography, Compiled from His Diary, Letters, and Records is devoted to the complete biographical account of his life and mission. Some of the content is reproduced from Spurgeon’s sermons, manuscripts, books, and other content, while the rest contains explanatory remarks from the editors, including Spurgeon’s wife. This 4-volume biography tells the story of Spurgeon’s childhood, his life at Stambourne, his education and upbringing, and his historic preaching career. It includes hundreds of illustrations, letters, poetry, and other material, making it the first and most detailed complete biographical account of Charles Spurgeon. The Logos Bible Software edition of Charles H. Spurgeon's Autobiography was originally published in London by Passmore and Alabaster in 1899. Volume 3 of Spurgeon's Autobiography covers the years of 1856–1878.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon was born in Kelvedon, Essex, England on June 19, 1834. He converted to Christianity in 1850 at a small Methodist chapel, to which he detoured during a snowstorm. While there, he heard a sermon on Isaiah 45:22 and was saved—“Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth, for I am God, and there is none else.” He began his own ministry of preaching and teaching immediately, and preached more than 500 sermons by the age of twenty.
In 1854, at nineteen years of age, Spurgeon began preaching at the New Park Street Chapel in London. He was appointed to a six month trial position, which he requested be cut to three months should the congregation dislike his preaching. He gained instant fame, however, and the church grew from 232 members to more than five thousand at the end of his pastorate. Many of his sermons were published each week and regularly sold more than 25,000 copies in twenty languages. Throughout his ministry, Spurgeon estimated that he preached to more than 10,000,000 people. Dwight L. Moody was deeply influenced by Spurgeon’s preaching, and founded the Moody Bible Institute after seeing Spurgeon’s work at the Pastor’s College in London.
Spurgeon read six books per week during his adult life, and read Pilgrim’s Progress more than 100 times. In addition to his studying and preaching, Spurgeon also founded the Pastor’s College (now Spurgeon’s College), various orphanages and schools, mission chapels, and numerous other social institutions.
Charles Spurgeon suffered from poor health throughout his life. He died on January 31, 1892, and was buried in London.
“We have ever been ready to suffer, as our martyrologies will prove; but we are not willing to accept any help from the State, or to prostitute the purity of the Bride of Christ by any alliance with earthly Governments.’” (Page 7)
“About the middle of the prayer-meeting, a note was passed to me saying that the poor fellow had cut his throat” (Page 194)
“Brother, you have killed that man by your kindness; he cannot live much longer.” (Page 194)
“I think this is why that prayer, ‘Our Father which art in Heaven,’ is given to us, because, when we are lowest, we can still say, ‘Our Father,’ and when it is very dark, and we are very weak, our childlike appeal can go up, ‘Father, help me! Father, rescue me.!’ ’” (Page 248)
“had often spoken of ‘killing people by kindness,’ but I never wished to have another instance of it in my own experience” (Page 194)