1889 C. H. SPURGEON. Autograph Sermon on Return of Christ and Urgency in Preaching and Evangelism.

A really first rate piece of Spurgeonalia, and rather rare content on the connection between the urgency associated with the return of Christ, the call of all God's people to earnest evangelism, and the power and earnestness requisite in preaching. Spurgeon rarely spoke on eschatological themes.

And this all the better as these Passmore & Alabaster galley proofs, revised in Spurgeon's own hand, are now increasingly difficult to find. And in addition to being on an excellent theme, this examples includes a full length MSs note at the end and is signed.

So, what exactly is this? Well, each Lord's Day for over 30 years, Spurgeon's rhythm was the same. His secretary would take down his sermon long-hand as he preached [which, for many years, was from a simple 4 x 6ish card]. Then, on Monday, he would revise the secretarial transcript in his own hand. This would then be forwarded for typesetting to Passmore & Alabaster, who would return galley proofs to Spurgeon, where they would undergo another round of revision in his own hand. Those galley proofs, issued by Passmore & Alabaster and revised by Spurgeon in his own hand, are what are offered here for sale. 

The present is a complete galley proof, issued to Spurgeon for final revision and having his final corrective notes, in his own hand, throughout the margins as shown. These are wonderful displayed! 

This particular sermon, preached March 24, 1889, is entitled Sounding Out the Word of the Lord and is based on I Thessalonians 1.8:

For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.

Extracts:

I fear that we are more likely to forget the Lord’s coming, or to treat it as an unpractical speculation. If any truth should arouse us, this should do it: yet even the wise virgins, as well as the foolish, are all too apt to slumber and sleep because the bridegroom delayeth his coming. Hear ye not the midnight cry? Does not this startle you? “Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.” If you hearken to that call, you will be the men to sound out the word of the Lord in every place. If we, as a church and people, are more and more influenced by the expectation of our Lord’s appearing, we shall be more eager to spread his gospel. Remember that now he may come at once. Those things of which Paul spoke as hindering his coming have now come and gone. Eighteen centuries and more have passed away since Paul wrote, and the Lord cometh quickly. Rouse, then, yourselves to use all diligence. Proclaim his word, and according to your ability go forth into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. O ye that look for your Lord, ye are the men who should herald his coming by a clear testimony to his name in every place.

. . . 

I have no doubt that the Thessalonians added to their character many earnest efforts for the spread of the truth. They went about telling what they had heard, believed, and enjoyed. Some of them became preachers of the Word at home, and others went abroad to publish the glad tidings. Jesus would be made known to the poor in the back slums of Thessalonica, and talked of to the sailors on board the vessels, and to the merchants on the quays. Are you, beloved, all of you, making Jesus known? Are there none of you silent? Have we not among us some who should now be working in foreign lands? Have we not in these pews many whose voices should be heard in our streets? We shall never be as we ought to be till every talent is utilized. We must be all at it, always at it, and at it with all our might. We have not come to this yet. May the love of Christ constrain us thereto!

. . . 

Beloved, I press home upon you the duty of sounding out the word of God because of your prayers. If there be a people under heaven that constantly meet in large numbers to pray, we are that people. Albeit, some of you are lax on this point, I am bound to say that I rejoice in your gatherings for prayer. In this you are my joy and crown. God be praised for it! But if any cry to God, and then do not work for him, what hypocrisy it is! What if we ask him to save souls, and never lift a finger to spread the gospel! Is this truthful? Dare we hang the trumpet on the wall, and then pray, “Lord, let it be blown”? No. By the honesty of your hearts, set that trumpet to your lips, if you desire its sound to go forth. Give it your very life-breath. Lift up your voice with strength; lift it up; be not afraid.

Four sheets, the first three, 8x 20 inches each, and the final, approximately 8 x 10. Complete.