MR. SPURGEON.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR:1 SIE,—May I venture to remark that the past week offered, and the present one still presents, to us Church people, a fine opportunity of showing real sympathy and recognition of worth to be entirely independent of all controversy ? Surely "the prayers of the Church are desired for Charles Spurgeon, who is dangerously ill," would have done more to knit together discordant views than oceans of arguments. This oppor- tunity many of us doubtless, privately, have accepted, and, as loyal subjects, have besought God, in his great mercy, to restore to life one who has for the last thirty years striven not only to hold together for good a vast concourse of listeners, but to support and train hundreds of orphans, provide a quiet resting-place for many a weary soul, and send out into the world pastors who faithfully will tell men and women "to fear God and honour the King."
May I . conclude by giving the following anecdote, which was related to me by an enthusiastic young Liberal P After one of Mr. Spurgeon's sermons, this young man went into the vestry to thank the preacher for his faithful discourse, and wandering away a little from the matter in hand, referred to the Ritualistic party in the Church of England, ending a some- what severe denunciation of their views by saying: "Surely you must have a feeling of strong indignation against such teachers, and see with fear the harm they are doing." Mr. Spurgeon answered: "No, not entirely so ; they have stirred up much earnest work, and we all may take a lesson from their self-sacrificing and devoted lives." This answer is, I think, proof of a truly catholic spirit.—I am, Sir, &a.,
A. G. T.
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