“Spiritual fathers must display unbounded tenderness” by Charles Spurgeon

“Children expect kindness from a father. Let them not he disappointed. It is ours to be all things to all men, if by any means we may save some.

Even to those who are without, we must show a tender consideration.

Even to those who reject our gospel, we must display unbounded tenderness.

It should fill us with deep sorrow that men refuse the Saviour, and follow the way of destruction. If they will persist in ruining themselves, we must weep for them in secret places.

Having lovingly preached the gospel to them, if they will not repent, we must break our hearts because we cannot break their hearts.

If Absalom has perished, we must go with David to the chamber over the gate, and bitterly lament him, crying, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!”

Do you ever mourn over your hearers as one that weepeth for the slain of his people?

Can you bear that they should pass away to judgment unforgiven?

Can you endure the thought of their destruction? I do not know how a preacher can be much blessed of God who does not feel an agony when he fears that some of his hearers will pass into the next world impenitent and unbelieving.

On the other hand, survey the picture of a father who sees his child returning from the error of his way. In the New Testament, you see the portrait Divinely drawn.

When the prodigal was a great way off, his father saw him. Oh, to have quick eyes to spy out the awakened! The father ran to meet him. Oh, to be eager to help the hopeful! He fell upon his neck, and kissed him.

Oh, for a heart overflowing with love, to joy and rejoice over seeking ones! As that father was, such should we be; ever loving, and ever on the outlook.

Our eyes, and ears, and feet should ever be given to penitents. Our tears and open arms should be ready for them.

The father in Christ is the man to remember the best robe, and the ring, and the sandals; he remembers those provisions of grace because he is full of love to the returning one.

Love is a practical theologian, and takes care to deal practically with all the blessings of the covenant, and all the mysteries of revealed truth.

It does not hide away the robe and ring in a treasury of theology; but brings them forth, and puts them on.

O my brethren, as you are the sons of God, be also fathers in God! Let this be the burning passion of your souls.

Grow to be leaders and champions. God give you the honour of maturity, the glory of strength!

But courageously expect that He will then lay upon you the burden which such strength is fitted to bear. We need you to quit yourselves like men.

In these evil days, when the shock of battle comes, it will have to be sustained by the fathers, or not at all.

Our young and immature brethren are invaluable as light troops, leading the way, and advancing into the enemy’s territory; but the solid squares, which stand firm against the fury of the charge, must mainly be composed of the Old Guard.

You of experience in the things of God; you experts, who have fought the battles of the Lord over and over again; you must stand fast, and having done all, you must still stand.

I call upon you fathers to hold the fort till Jesus comes. You must be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.

If you fail, where are we to look? It will be “as when a standard-bearer fainteth.” But lest you should feel pleased with the fact that you desire this high honour, and fancy that the mere aspiration will fulfil itself, let me remind you how the Saviour lived.

He never settled down in desires and resolves, but girded Himself for constant service. He said, “My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work.”

Soul-winning must be meat and drink to us. To do the Lord’s work must be as necessary as food to us. His Father’s work is that in which we also are engaged, and we cannot do better than imitate our Lord.

Tell me, then, how Jesus set about it. Did He set about it by arranging to build a huge Tabernacle, or by organizing a monster Conference, or by publishing a great book, or by sounding a trumpet before Him in any other form?

Did He aim at something great, and altogether out of the common line of service? Did He bid high for popularity, and wear Himself out by an exhausting sensationalism?

No; He called disciples to Him one by one, and instructed each one with patient care. To take a typical instance of His method, watch Him as He paused in the heat of the day.

He sat upon a well, and talked with a woman,—a woman who was none of the best. This looked like slow work, and very common-place action. Yet we know that it was right and wise.

To that single auditor, He did not deliver a list of clever maxims, like those of Confucius, or profound philosophies, like those of Socrates; but He talked simply, plainly, and earnestly with her about her own life, her personal needs, and the living water of grace by which those needs could be supplied.

He won her heart, and through her many more; but He did it in a way of which many would think little. He was beyond the petty ambitions of our vain-glorious hearts.

He cared not for a large congregation; He did not even ask for a pulpit. He desired to be the spiritual Father of that one daughter; and, for that purpose, He must needs go through Samaria, and must, in His utmost weariness, tell her of the water of life.

Brethren, let us lay aside vanity. Let us grow more simple, natural, and father-like as we mature; and let us be more and more completely absorbed in our life-work. As the Lord shall help us, let us lay our all upon the altar, and only breathe for Him.

Certain of you will go abroad, some of you may find a grave on the banks of the Congo. We cannot all do this; but, brethren, we must all live unto the Lord, and lay down our lives for the brethren.

The Thames and the Clyde must have their consecrated ones as well as the Congo and the Ganges. London and Bristol must witness to as true a heroism as Canton and Calcutta.

Because we belong to Christ, the zeal of the Lord’s house must eat us up. I wish I could have spoken to you with all my strength, but it may be that my weakness may be used of God to greater purpose.

My thoughts are few by reason of pain, which disorders my head; but they are all on fire, for my heart remains true to my Lord, to His gospel, and to you.

May He use every man of us to the utmost of our capacity for being used, and glorify Himself by our health and our sickness, our life and our death! Amen.”

–Charles H. Spurgeon, An All-Round Ministry: Addresses to Ministers and Students (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1900/1960), 192-195.