Free Grace and Dying Love: Morning Devotions by Susannah Spurgeon

Free Grace and Dying Love

Morning Devotions by Susannah Spurgeon

24 devotions written by Susannah Spurgeon (wife of Charles Spurgeon) and also a 100 page section devoted to a biography of her by Charles Ray. Much is known of Charles but comparatively little about the woman who supported this great preacher behind the scenes of his ministry.

Now, her rich devotional collection of meditations on various texts of Scripture, formerly entitled A Carillon of Bells, is back in print. Also includes The Life of Susannah Spurgeon by Charles Ray, which overflows with her affectionate love for her husband and the fascinating record of the work of her famous “Book Fund.”

About the Author

Susannah Spurgeon was the wife of the famous Baptist preacher of the second half of the nineteenth-century, Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

She was born Susannah Thompson in January, 1832. Her early years were spent in London, where she often accompanied her parents or elderly friends to the New Park Street Chapel. She was converted upon hearing a sermon at the old Poultry Chapel by Rev S. B. Bergne from Romans 10:8 – ‘From that service I date the dawning of the true light in my soul’. But her initial joy was replaced by ‘seasons of darkness, despondency, and doubt’, and it was not until she was helped by the new, youthful, pastor of New Park Street – Spurgeon – that she found ‘the peace and pardon [her] weary soul was longing for’.

Her friendship with Spurgeon grew, and they were married in January 1856. Their twin sons, Charles Jr. and Thomas, were born in September, 1857.

A Partner in Her Husband’s Ministry

Susannah became a true partner in her husband’s ministry. Spurgeon would call his ‘wifey’ to come and help him on Saturday afternoons. Together they would read commentaries and discuss the Scripture for the next day’s sermon. If he was discouraged, she would read to him. She counselled women and girls in the church and assisted female candidates at baptismal services. Her activities were restricted at times when she became chronically ill in the late 1860s, and was often confined to her room, or visited Brighton for relief.

In 1875, when she had proof-read the first volume of her husband’s book Lectures to My Students, she expressed a desire to ‘place it in the hands of every minister in England’ – and so began the ministry of her Book Fund. Within a year, over 3000 volumes of theological books had been distributed by the Fund; by the time of her death, over 200,000 volumes had been sent out. Today, the supplying of theological books free to ministers and missionaries continues through the Book Fund of the Banner of Truth Trust, modelled upon that started by Susannah Spurgeon.

The Pastor’s Aid Fund

Susannah’s work expanded to include other ministries, such as the Pastors’ Aid Fund and the Westwood Clothing Society.

In her remaining years, following Charles’ death in 1892, she assisted Joseph Harrald in compiling C.H. Spurgeon’s Autobiography and also wrote a number of devotional books, including Free Grace and Dying Love (which volume contains a Life of Susannah Spurgeon by Charles Ray). She died in October, 1903, after a severe attack of pneumonia from which she never recovered.

Table of Contents

1. A Carillon of Bells
2. Jesus Christ Himself
3. The Gift of God
4. His Great Love
5. The Kindness of God
6. The Exceeding Greatness of God’s Power
7. The Mourners’ Comforter
8. The Loveliness of God’s Will
9. Thy Way, Not My Way
10. God’s Beauty Upon His People
11. Divine Anointing
12. Opened Ears
13. Drooping Eyelikds
14. The Details of Everyday Life
15. A Troubled Heart
16. The Well in the Wilderness
17. Among the Furnaces
18. Testing Times, the Proof of Love
19. Briers and Myrtles
20. A Cure for Discontent
21. The Fetters of Unbelief
22. The Hill Country of Perfect Trust
23. Waiting at the Gate
24. Absolute Surrender

The Life of Susannah Spurgeon

1. Early Days
2. First Contact with C. H. Spurgeon
3. The Dawning of Love
4. Courtship Days
5. Married Life
6. A Dark Shadow
7. Happiness and Service
8. Husband and Wife
9. Middle Life
10. Founding of the Book Fund
11. The Book Fund Grows
12. Continued Success of the Book Fund
13. Last Years of Married Life
14. Widowhood