From our latest project: Flowers From a Puritan’s Garden in Modern English.

The Hunting Dog.

“A good hunting dog runs after the game as long as it can see its prey; but when it loses sight, it hunts by scent.” —Thomas Manton (1620-1677)

We are to pursue the blessing through prayer while we are encouraged to seek it, but we are not to stop when the likelihood of success is gone. We must hunt by a spiritual scent when sight fails us. The aroma of the promise must direct our way when the mercy is included with “the conviction of things not seen.” It would be a sad decline if faith became nothing better than a conclusion drawn from weighing the obvious probabilities. We must believe against hope, we must believe in the promise against all likelihood of it happening, or we know nothing of the crown and glory of faith. Oh, for a superb instinct to pursue heavenly things that the eyes cannot see and the ears cannot hear. These will repay the pursuit; whereas things seen by the eyes turn out, when overtaken, to be mere butterflies that are ruined by grasping them. —Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892)

  Charles Haddon Spurgeon — Born in 1834 and born again in 1850. Soon after his conversion he became the pastor of a small village church. At the age of 19 he was called as pastor to a church in London, England where he preached to audiences of thousands until his death in 1892. During his 39 years in London his sermons were printed each week across the world and in dozens of languages. He also began The Pastors’ College for the training or pastors and missionaries, established an orphanage for boys and later one for girls, provided living accomodations for elderly women in the church, and founded The Sword and the Trowel magazine. He wrote many books including the multi-volume commentary on the Psalms—a twenty-year effort titled The Treasury of David, and a commentary on the Book of Matthew.

  Richard Baxter (1615-1691) — Ordained in the Church of England at the age of 23 and considered the most prominent English minister in the 17th century. Charles Spurgeon said, “Richard Baxter’s The Reformed Pastor stirs my very soul whenever I read its glowing words. They are fiery thunderbolts that he hurls at the heads of idle shepherds and lazy ministers. I have read almost the entire book to those who are studying for the ministry in connection with this church [The Pastors’ College]; and I have often seen the tears flow from their eyes while listening to the burning language of that impassioned preacher and writer. Every time I have read a chapter in that book, I have felt that, the next Sunday, I could preach—I must preach—with greater earnestness after reading the solemn words of that mightiest of ministers, Richard Baxter.”

  John Bunyan (1628-1688) — Puritan and Baptist pastor, imprisoned for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and best known for his allegory The Pilgrim’s Progress. Next to the Bible, Mr. Spurgeon referenced John Bunyan’s works, especially The Pilgrim’s Progress, more than any other source.

 Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899) — American evangelist who served as an unofficial chaplain for both sides during the Civil War. He founded Moody Church, Northfield School and Mount Hermon School in Massachusetts, and Moody Bible Institute and Moody Publishers in Chicago. He spoke at Spurgeon’s Metropolitan Tabernacle, and when Mr. Spurgeon died, his wife sent Mr. Moody her husband’s personal Bible with notes marking the texts from which he preached.

  AmberSmartDesigns — Prayer Journals, Sermon Notes Journals, and other publications from the cover designer and interior formatter of all Most Things Spurgeon books on this site.

  Chris Smart — A shameless plug for my grandson’s books. Don’t take my word for it, read the reviews.

  Roger McReynolds — Chris Smart's grandfather and the updater of the above classics.

  221bMystery — A hobby of updating mystery and thriller novels.

  AUDIO BOOKS — Audio Books are being added about one every two months. We believe these Modern English versions of Charles Spurgeon’s (and others’) books are virtually unique. And they are priced at about one-third the price of what the public domain editions are usually priced at.

Contact Information — MostThingsSpurgeon@gmail.com