A FINAL “GOOD NIGHT”

A Final “Good Night”

“Heaven is already rich with thine ingathered sheaves.”

CHARLES HADDON SPURGEON was the greatest preacher of his day. He served as pastor of Metropolitan Tabernacle in London from the age of nineteen until his death. For many years he was plagued by the painful condition of gout, which he described this way: “If you put your hand into a vice, and let a man press as hard as he can, that is rheumatism; if he can be got to press a little harder, that is gout.”

In the fall of 1891, while recovering from influenza along with his usual suffering from the gout, he and Mrs. Spurgeon traveled to Mentone, their favorite spot in sunny southern France. During three restful months together at the Hôtel Beau Rivage, Spurgeon worked quietly on a New Testament commentary whenever he was able, and they enjoyed just being together in the soothing climate. At times it even seemed he was improving, but then on January 31, 1892, after a day of particularly severe pain, Spurgeon entered his eternal rest at the age of only fifty-seven.

On Monday evening, February 8, Spurgeon’s casket arrived at Metropolitan Tabernacle and was placed below the preacher’s platform, where he lay in state for three days. In lieu of flowers Mrs. Spurgeon had palm branches placed around the casket to signify victory. That Tuesday and Wednesday, one hundred thousand people filed by the coffin from 6:30 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. to pay their last respects. The mourners included members of Parliament, the poor from the slums, and everyone in between—all joining forces to bid farewell to the Prince of Preachers.

Four memorial services were held Wednesday, two of which were for the general public. Ira D. Sankey, D. L. Moody’s song leader, was the soloist. Following the funeral on Thursday, February 11, 1892, thousands of mourners lined the route of the funeral procession to pay tribute to the man whose words God had used in their lives.

Archibald Brown, pastor of East London Tabernacle, graduate of Spurgeon’s College, and one of Charles Spurgeon’s closest friends, spoke these words at the graveside service:

Beloved President, Faithful Pastor, Prince of Preachers, Brother Beloved, Dear Spurgeon—we bid thee not “Farewell,” but only for a little while “Goodnight.” Thou shalt rise soon at the first dawn of the Resurrection Day of the redeemed. It is not the “Goodnight” ours to bid, but thine. It is we who linger in the darkness; thou art in God’s own light. Our night, too, shall soon be past, and with it all our weeping. Then, with thine, our songs shall greet the morning of a day that knows no cloud nor close; for there is no night there. Hard worker in the field thy toil is ended. Straight has been the furrow thou hast ploughed. No looking back has marred thy course. Harvests have followed thy patient sowing, and heaven is already rich with thine ingathered sheaves, and shall be still enriched through years yet lying in eternity. Champion of God, thy battle long and nobly fought is over. The sword which clave to thy hand has dropped at last; the palm branch takes its place. No longer does the helmet press thy brow, or weary with its surging thoughts of battle; the victor’s wreath from the Great Commander’s hand has already proved thy full reward. Here for a little while shall rest thy precious dust. Then shall thy Well-beloved come, and at His voice thou shalt spring from thy couch on earth fashioned like unto His body in glory. Then spirit, soul and body shall magnify thy Lord’s redemption. Until then, beloved, sleep. We praise God for thee, and by the blood of the everlasting covenant hope and expect to praise God with thee. Amen.

Reflection

What do you think will be said about you at your funeral? It is now while we are living that we determine our legacy. Only by trusting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior can we live fruitful lives that will produce eternal results.

All of us must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent me, because there is little time left before the night falls and all work comes to an end.

John 9:4