If I could pull up a chair with any Baptist preacher from history, Charles Spurgeon—the “Prince of Preachers”—would top my list. He’s known for his powerful preaching, blending powerful diction and vivid illustrations that resonate with lay audiences. But I’ve come to appreciate something else about him: his character, his lightning-fast wit, and his infectious humor. Spurgeon showed with his ready humor that the highest spirituality can coexist with a cheerful, engaging personality. His wit, truly, was as abundant as his wisdom. Here are a few of my favorite stories that capture the humor of the man behind the pulpit:
There is a unique magic in holding a book that has survived for over 150 years. I love antiquarian books. Not only were they built to last for posterity, but they were also made with remarkable beauty, often adorned with gold engraving, careful decoration, and sturdy bindings that serve as a testament to the value society once placed on the written word.
At two o’clock in the afternoon on Friday, August 22, 1651, the great Puritan minister Christopher Love ascended the platform of the scaffold at Tower Hill, London. He was accompanied by fellow ministers, Thomas Manton, Simeon Ashe, and Edmund Calamy. His life was to be cut short at 33 years of age due to alleged involvement with a plan to raise money for the restoration of the monarchy, a charge Love denied. Believing that his death would glorify God, Christopher Love’s last prayer and final words provide a powerful perspective. He said, “I do more good by my death than by my life, and glorify God more in my dying upon a scaffold than if I had died of a disease upon my bed.”
