LECTURES TO MY STUDENTS Volume 1 By C.H. Spurgeon

1 LECTURES TO MY STUDENTS Volume 1 By Spurgeon Contents PUBLISHER S FORWARD .. 3 THE PASTOR S COLLEGE.. 3 INTRODUCTION AND 5 lecture 1 - THE MINISTER S SELF-WATCH.. 7 lecture 2 - THE CALL TO THE 19 lecture 3 - THE PREACHER S PRIVATE PRAYER.. 34 lecture 4 - OUR PUBLIC PRAYER.. 43 lecture 5 - SERMONS THEIR MATTER.. 56 lecture 6 - ON THE CHOICE OF THE TEXT.. 65 lecture 7 - ON SPIRITUALIZING .. 78 lecture 8 - ON THE VOICE .. 88 lecture 9 - ATTENTION! .. 101 lecture 10 - THE FACULTY OF IMPROMPTU SPEECH.. 112 lecture 11 - THE MINISTER S FAINTING FITS.. 123 lecture 12 - THE MINISTER S ORDINARY CONVERSATION.

2 132 lecture 13 - TO WORKERS WITH SLENDER APPARATUS.. 139 METROPOLITAN TABERNACLE PULPIT Bibliotheca Sacra: These sermons reveal even in cold type the charm, eloquence, and spiritual power of this giant of the pulpit. Although delivered long ago, the sermons have the same relevance, pungency, and convicting power as when first delivered to the large audiences which heard him in the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London. Undoubtedly this will be, as claimed by the publishers, one of the greatest sets of sermons in the history of the church. Baptist Quarterly (England): Pilgrim Publications has recently undertaken the mammoth task of republishing the 63 volumes of Spurgeon s sermons, as well as other titles of his.

3 Of Spurgeon , the preacher, we say Take and read . The best way to discover the real Spurgeon is to read his sermons. The range of his preaching is remarkable. Spurgeon lived his own words. Review and Expositor: Pilgrim Publications is making Spurgeon s works available to those who are being caught up in a renewed interest in this master preacher. Though in many ways Charles Spurgeon was a child of his own times, his sermons possess a surprising timelessness. His warm devotion to Jesus Christ, his common sense, his homely wit, and his informal style combine to make his sermons a delight to read today. Bookstore Journal: Just to know the stature and reputation of 1 2 the author is sufficient without any man s recommendation!

4 Thousands give testimony to the value of Spurgeon s sermons in their ministry and upon individual lives. His dual ministry, that of the spoken and written word, is timeless, speaking of the perennial power of the Word of God as it speaks to man at all times. Moody Monthly: One of the most remarkable undertakings of reprinting rich Christian literature, long out of print, has been announced by Pilgrim Publications of Pasadena, Texas .. I would say, without any hesitation at all, that these volumes (Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit) form the greatest collection of sermons by one minister of the Word of God that we have in the English language.

5 (Dr. Wilbur M. Smith). Christianity Today: For those who were not privileged to be numbered among his ( Spurgeon s) congregation at New Park Street Chapel or later at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, it is indeed fortunate that the sermons of this master of the pulpit were recorded on the printed page. Spurgeon s sermons are filled with the necessary ingredients of good preaching and have set standard rarely reached in today s pulpits it is indeed gratifying that this incomparable series of sermons is being made available once again. Sword of the Lord: We are glad that Pilgrim Publications, in Pasadena, Texas, is now reprinting Spurgeon s sermons.

6 Previously, a selection of twenty volumes of Spurgeon s sermons was published widely, they are now out of print. However, these were only selected sermons from the whole. We are glad that all of Spurgeon s sermons will now be reproduced just as originally published by Spurgeon in Spurgeon s day. Australian Baptist: Above all else we commend Spurgeon because of the Biblical content of his sermons. Here is sound doctrine, the doctrines of grace. Here is white-hot evangelism, and at the same time evidence of the heart of a loving pastor. Preachers and evangelists will find inspiration for their ministry in these volumes.

7 New Life (Australia): The republication of these volumes could prove to be a powerful preservative for evangelical Christianity. These volumes complete and unabridged contain some of the finest preaching this world has ever heard. How much one would like to say! The best thing is that you procure a copy and delve into its heart-warming and inspiring contents. Evangelical Baptist (Canada): Charles H. Spurgeon , by general agreement, was one of the great preachers of the ages. His weekly sermons were avidly read as they came from the publisher. Then, each year, the annual Volume appeared under the title, Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit.

8 Those volumes are to be printed now just as they appeared from the presses in former time. A well illustrated brochure, The Pictorial Life of C. H. Spurgeon , is worth more than the fifty cents which it will cost you. Prairie Overcomer: Pilgrim Publications has launched what must be one of the most ambitious reprint projects of the twentieth century. We refer to the republication of C. H. Spurgeon s Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit sermons in their original form, completely unabridged. PUBLISHER S FORWARD The Pastor s College began with one student, Mr. T. W. Medhurst, who first contacted Spurgeon about the matter of salvation.

9 After his conversion, Medhurst wanted to study for the ministry under Spurgeon . Spurgeon first assigned him to Mr. C. H. Hosken as his teacher, then later Mr. George Rogers became the tutor and the small beginning developed into a college for ministerial STUDENTS . More and more STUDENTS enrolled, and the Pastor s College became widely known. With the help of Spurgeon , its library became a great asset to the student body. The early tutors of the college included James Spurgeon , David Gracey, Archibald Ferguson, and W. R. Selway. A later staff was composed of Fergusson, Rogers, Gracey, and F. G. Merchant.

10 LECTURES were of course given in class rooms, but there was also the Question Oak a large tree at Mr. Spurgeon s residence. Often the STUDENTS would gather under the tree and ask questions of Spurgeon , and he would give the answers. On Friday afternoon, the STUDENTS were usually asked to exhibit their own ability as preachers and that without prior knowledge of the subject matter. Spurgeon called upon a student to give a message on Zaccheus. The student arose and said: Zaccheus was little of stature, so am I. Zaccheus was up a tree, so am I. Zaccheus came down, so will I. The STUDENTS , as well as Mr.