Susie: The Life and Legacy of Susannah Spurgeon, wife of Charles H. Spurgeon

by Ray Rhodes Jr.

Ah! How little I then thought that my eyes looked on him who was to be my life’s beloved; how little I dreamed of the honour God was preparing for me in the near future! It is a mercy that our lives are not left for us to plan, but that our Father chooses for us; else might we sometimes turn away from our best blessings, and put from us the choicest and loveliest gifts of His providence.

“My retired life shuts out the pleasures of social intercourse but opens a world of glad delight.”

I can see two pilgrims treading this highway of life together, hand in hand,—heart linked to heart. True, they have had rivers to ford, and mountains to cross, and fierce enemies to fight, and many dangers to go through; but their Guide was watchful, their Deliverer unfailing, and of them it might truly be said, “In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the Angel of His presence saved them; and He bare them, and carried them all the days of old.” Mostly, they went on their way singing; and for one of them, at least, there was no joy greater than to tell others of the grace and glory of the blessed King to whose land he was hastening. And when he thus spoke, the power of the Lord was seen, and the angels rejoiced over repenting sinners. But, at last, they came to a place on the road where two ways met; and here, amidst the terrors of a storm such as they had never before encountered, they parted company,—the one being caught up to the invisible glory,—the other, battered and bruised by the awful tempest, henceforth toiling along the road,—alone! But the “goodness and mercy” which, for so many years, had followed the two travellers, did not leave the solitary one; rather did the tenderness of the Lord “lead on softly,” and choose green pastures for the tired feet, and still waters for the solace and refreshment of His trembling child. He gave, moreover, into her hands a solemn charge,—to help fellow-pilgrims along the road, filling her life with blessed interest, and he...

Susie understood that faith in Christ and obedience to His teaching was essential to enjoying the rest that He provides.

“When I go into my garden, I have a choir around me in the trees. They do not wear surplices, for their song is not artificial and official. Some of them are clothed in glossy black, but they carol like little angels; they sing the sun up, and wake me at break of day; and they warble on till the last red ray of the sun has departed, still singing out from bush and tree the praises of their God.”

his preference was to lay my soul asoak [sic] in half a dozen verses all day than rinse my hand in several chapters. Oh, to be bathed in a text of Scripture, and to let it be sucked up into your very soul, till it saturates your heart! Set your heart upon God’s Word! Let your whole nature be plunged into it as cloth into a dye!7

Keep your minister’s table well provided, and you shall be fed with the finest of the wheat; see that his earthly cares do not press on him painfully, and your own hearts’ burdens will be lifted by his heavenly teachings; supply him with this world’s needful comforts and he will not fail to bring you solace and consolation in your time of extremity. If he has sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing that he shall reap carnal things?13

It’s funny because I thought of this from the perspective of a Church member. My friend pointed out to me that as the pastor’s wife this can be so much more applicable!

Susie remembered an evening stroll along the grounds of Westwood to “gather roses—to preserve their perfumed leaves.” She described how her roses had stood up to the “fervid glances of the sun, and the hot kisses of the South wind” and yet, in the midst of such a trial, she found them “blooming in clusters of unusual beauty … apparently as fresh, and cool, and invigorated as if the blessed rain for which we had prayed had already fallen.” As she gathered the roses, she caught a bloom that was falling to the ground. She noticed that it was “besprinkled with water.” She then perceived that the “shake of the rose” had brought forth water from its “inmost recesses.” The reservoir of water, contained within all of Susannah’s roses, had strengthened them “against the heat of the day” and refreshed them with water from within.18 She applied her discovery to Christians struggling under the “heat and burden of the day”: Think a moment on my roses and how tenderly God has provided for their need. Could He be less thoughtful for thine? Has He made such wonderful provision for their sustenance and refreshment during the days of drought, and “forgotten to be gracious” to thee? Ah, no! Thou well knowest it is not so.19

Such a beautiful analogy.