Charles Hadden Spurgeon, Nightingale Lane, Clapham, to the congregation of the Metropolitan Tabernacle, 4 February 1875.

Nightingale Lane,

Clapham,

February 4th, 1875.

Beloved Friends,

         In the chamber of affliction, next to the Lord’s condescending presence, I find solace in the knowledge that the work of the Lord will not cease among you. When I learned that it was the hearts of the leading brethren to hold a series of Special Services I felt my heart go up in energetic prayer for a blessing thereon, mingled with praise that so gracious a design was in their minds. I trust that the Lord Himself looks down upon the plan with sacred approbation.

         Now, beloved Members of my Church, by the fervent love which has so long burned in your hearts towards me, I charge you make these Services the objects of your unanimous and hearty solicitude; ensure their success by your prayers; bring forth your warmest desires in secret at the mercy seat, and use your most zealous endeavours in public to make each meeting a time of power. You know where our great strength lieth, – it is in holding forth Jesus Christ as the sinner’s Saviour, and in pleading for the light, life, and fire, of the Holy Ghost. We are nothing apart from these, but with these all things are possible; the Lord never fails to honour truthful testimonies to his own son when we look for the attendant power of the Spirit.

         How much you each one owe to the love of Jesus! I leave you to compute your debt, as for me, I am lost in wonder when I review my own obigations to my Lord. By the love you owe to Jesus for the boundless grace which nailed Him to the cross, and made Him yield up His life, I implore you arouse yourselves to do Him service; He loves the souls of men, and He would have you love them, you cannot do Him a greater pleasure than to seek His lost sheep. He sends you into the highways and hedges to compel the outcasts to come in. Will you not go? Will one of you hold back: How gladly would I run on such an errand! How much I wish that I had done more while I was able! You who have health and strength, use I pray you every golden hour, and seize each priceless opportunity.

         Perhaps God will reward you by the conversion of your own children, friends, and servants. He was pleased last year to repay the workers by saving members of their own families: I doubt not he is just as ready now. I beseech you by the mercies of God that ye specially yield yourselves to Him at this season, and in the fulness of His Spirit seek His Glory. May the one week of Services now planned be by a blessed necessity followed by several others, and when I return among you may it be to learn that hundreds are converted to the Lord.

         I entreat you to strive together with me in your prayers. Peace be to you and to the whole Israel of God,

                                 Your afflicted Minister,

C.    H. Spurgeon.

Text: Charles Spurgeon Letters, RG no. 1132, American Baptist Historical Society Archives, Atlanta.