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Who really said it

I take my text and make a beeline to the cross

A later report — not authenticated Spurgeon wording Anonymous
Attribution status: Disputed Reuse status: Rights unconfirmed

The Spurgeon Library rejects this compact sentence as an authenticated Spurgeon quotation. It identifies a later attributed retelling in W.A.Criswell’s 1955 sermon and an unsourced 1992 biography. Criswell’s transcript is evidence that the anecdote circulated, not an original Spurgeon source. Its creator remains unidentified.

Last verified 9 Nov 2026 · how we verify · spot an error?

For presentations

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Disputed credit — copy with the correction

“I take my text and make a beeline to the cross” Attributed to Charles Haddon Spurgeon in later retellings; original source and exact words unverified.

The slide-ready mistake: crediting this to Charles Spurgeon. Use the credit shown above instead.

Can you use it?

We couldn’t verify where this wording comes from, so there’s no rights status to give. Safe to present as an unverified or anonymous line — just don’t assert a specific author or source.

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In context

Evoking the themes of purpose and creativity. Theme: "I take my text and make a beeline to the cross". Atmospheric and restrained, cinematic directional light, a muted period-appropriate palette, fine grain and texture. Compose with generous empty space for the quote and a small credit line. No lettering in the image itself.

Minimalist

Minimalist editorial slide for the quote "I take my text and make a beeline to the cross". Clean background, a single muted accent color, generous negative space, subtle paper or linen texture, no literal illustration — let the words carry it. Reserve clear space for a serif quote and a small credit line. No lettering in the image itself.

Provenance

The source

Evidence
Attribution research
Status
Read the source limits below

No verified original Spurgeon excerpt for this sentence.

Spurgeon Library source criticism

How we verified this

  • The Spurgeon Library rejects this compact sentence as an authenticated Spurgeon quotation. It identifies a later attributed retelling in W.A.Criswell’s 1955 sermon and an unsourced 1992 biography. Criswell’s transcript is evidence that the anecdote circulated, not an original Spurgeon source. Its creator remains unidentified. Spurgeon Library source criticism ↗
  • A later sermon retells the beeline anecdote under Spurgeon’s name. Criswell 1955 sermon ↗

The original publication of this exact wording has not been established; no public-domain status is asserted.

Rights status is our research, not legal advice — and copyright varies by country and edition. For commercial or published use, confirm with the rightsholder. See terms.

Fact-check

Often misattributed

Spurgeon’s Christ-centered preaching does not authenticate this later anecdotal sentence.

Popular creditCharles Spurgeon

The Spurgeon Library rejects this compact sentence as an authenticated Spurgeon quotation. It identifies a later attributed retelling in W.A.Criswell’s 1955 sermon and an unsourced 1992 biography. Criswell’s transcript is evidence that the anecdote circulated, not an original Spurgeon source. Its creator remains unidentified. Spurgeon Library source criticism ↗

Spurgeon’s Christ-centered preaching does not authenticate this later anecdotal sentence. Spurgeon Library source criticism ↗

Context

The setting behind the words

The beeline story became part of later descriptions of Spurgeon’s preaching. The library distinguishes it from a real sermon in which Spurgeon recounts a Welsh minister’s road-to-Christ illustration. Both concern Christ-centered preaching, but they are separate stories with different sourcing. Spurgeon Library source criticism ↗

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Filed under

More provenance-checked quotes on the same theme, each with its reuse status.

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The author

About Anonymous

Anonymous

Creator unidentified

The original creator of this particular wording has not been identified. The sources below document how it circulated or why a famous-name attribution is unsupported. Anonymous here indicates a gap in the evidence; it does not name a known writer or imply public-domain status.

For writers & researchers

Cite this

Source consulted

Anonymous. Attribution discussed in Spurgeon Library source criticism. Source and limits described above.

This verification page

Quotle.info. “Who really said ‘I take my text and make a beeline to the cross’?” Last verified 9 Nov 2026. https://quotle.info/who-said/i-take-my-text-and-make-a-beeline-to-the-cross/

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