C.H. Spurgeon
Charles Haddon Spurgeon lived from 1834 to 1892 and was England's best-known preacher for most of the second half of the nineteenth century. He was a Baptist pastor of London's famed New Park Street Church. Spurgeon frequently preached to audiences numbering more than 10,000 people. In 1861 the congregation moved to the newly constructed Metropolitan Tabernacle.
Spurgeon's printed works are voluminous, including his well-known exposition
of the psalms, The Treasury of David.
Preface to the Treasury of David (edited with a focus on his exposition)
My Preface shall at least possess the virtue of brevity, as I find it difficult to impart to it any other. The delightful study of the Psalms has yielded me boundless profit and ever-growing pleasure; common gratitude constrains me to communicate to others a portion of the benefit, with the prayer that it may induce them to search further for themselves. That I have nothing better of my own to offer upon this peerless book is to me matter of deepest regret; that I have anything whatever to present is subject for devout gratitude to the Lord of grace. I have done my best, but, conscious of many defects, I heartily wish I could have done far better.
The Exposition here given is my own. I consulted a few authors before penning it, to aid me in interpretation and arouse my thoughts; but, still I can claim originality for my comments, at least so I honestly think. Whether they are better or worse for that, I know not; at least I know I have sought heavenly guidance while writing them, and therefore I look for a blessing on the printing of them…
When protracted illness and weakness laid me aside from daily preaching, I resorted to my pen as an available means of doing good. I would have preached had I been able, but as my Master denied me the privilege of thus serving him, I gladly availed myself of the other method of bearing testimony for his name. O that he may give me fruit in this field also, and his shall be all the praise.
CH Spurgeon
Clapham, December, 1869.
