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“Pointing Wayfarers to the Right Road”: Puritan Dissent and the Textual Work of Susannah Spurgeon

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“Pointing Wayfarers to the Right Road”: Puritan Dissent and the Textual Work of Susannah Spurgeon “Pointing Wayfarers to the Right Road”: Puritan Dissent and the Textual Work of Susannah Spurgeon by Adrea Johnson A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in English Department of English and Film Studies University of Alberta © Adrea Johnson, 2020 ii Abstract This dissertation demonstrates the importance of recovering the work of nineteenth- century Dissenting women whose life and writing have been overshadowed and minimized by their husband’s pastoral ministry. Specifically, it examines the textual work of Susannah Spurgeon (1832-1903), wife of the celebrated Baptist preacher and author Charles (CH.) Spurgeon, as a lens through which to consider how Dissenting women reimagined the traditional position of the “help-meet” and, in doing so, challenged the established gendered boundaries of theological writing and reform. Through her Book Fund (1875-1903) Spurgeon distributed over two-hundred thousand Puritan books, including titles by her husband, to impoverished ministers across the world. She also wrote two volumes of Fund reports and three devotional texts, all of which remain unexamined in contemporary Victorian, literary, and theological scholarship. In her reports Spurgeon outlines the details of the Fund’s operation and the minister’s need for preaching material, but she also represents her work as both independent of her husband and extending beyond the traditional boundaries of the nineteenth-century minister’s wife. As such, her writing not only challenges the expectations and limitations associated with the “help-meet,” but also provides a new set of images through which to re-imagine the ministerial wife’s contributions to the “flock.” Furthermore, in her reports Spurgeon suggests her work is driven and inspired not only by a “famine” of books among ministers, but also by theological reform: the revival of Puritan doctrine within Dissent. Spurgeon urges Dissenting ministers and churches to return to Puritan theology and also warns, even preaches, against the “evil influences” of contemporary liberal doctrine (TYA 120). Drawing on language and imagery from John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, Spurgeon proclaims liberal theology is as spiritually sinful as Bunyan’s “surly” Giant (110). In doing so she not only provides doctrinal guidance to her iii readers, directing pilgrims to the “right road” of Puritanism, but also simultaneously contributes to a contemporary theological debate, The Down-Grade Controversy, within her Baptist tradition (TYA 28). Thus, Spurgeon’s representation of her work extends beyond mere contribution to CH. Spurgeon’s ministry; her reports perform as her own polemic against heresy and re-frame the position of the “help-meet” as one of both theological defense and reform. This dissertation also examines how Spurgeon draws on and adapts a Dissenting evangelical tradition of textual representation, one that imbues the Bible and religious texts with divine power. More specifically, to illustrate the spiritual “help” provided by her Fund, Spurgeon idealizes Puritan texts and doctrine as “absolutely necessary” sustenance not only for “hungry” ministers, but all godly men and women (TY 46). Through this dramatization, of both ministerial poverty and the performance of the book, Spurgeon validates the Puritan texts she distributes, the Book Fund she operates, and the ministerial work she performs. This examination of her life and Fund, therefore, contributes to and nuances the study of Dissenting women’s religious work, self-representation, and theological writing. iv “You are highly privileged in having parents who pray for you. Your name is known in the courts of heaven. Your case has been heard before the throne of God.” - CH. Spurgeon Mom and Dad, this is for you. v Acknowledgments When visiting my grandfather, Reverend Peter Teichroeb, his first words when I entered the door were often “I’m so glad you’ve come by” followed quickly by “have you read this book?” We would make our way to his bookshelves, stacked to the brim, and he would pull a few titles to add to the pile of recommended books for me. My grandmother often kindly interjected, “Peter, I’m sure she has enough to read with all her studies.” But I never had enough, not when it was a book from grandpa. Like CH. Spurgeon, my grandfather was a celebrated Baptist preacher and his faith and ministry was shaped by the life and work of Charles. My time with him not only inspired my faith, but also my love for history, for theology, for the Puritans, and for Spurgeon. I thank him for not only introducing me to Charles and Susannah Spurgeon, but also for his, and my grandmother’s, tireless support, prayers, and encouragement throughout my life and studies. You are both greatly missed. This doctoral project reflects many years of support and direction. Throughout my degree at the University of the Fraser Valley I was inspired and challenged by my instructors, particularly Robin Anderson and Hilary Turner, both of whom fostered my passion for research and strengthened my writing. I also thank Ron Voth of Columbia Bible College for encouraging me to consider graduate school and teaching. My time at Regent College was foundational to both my spiritual and academic development. This project originated from a course with Sarah Williams and her passion for history and theology inspired my faith and future research. I also thank Maxine Hancock for her guidance and insightful seminars on Bunyan and Herbert. Many professors in the University of Alberta’s English Department also shaped my progress as a student and writer. I especially recognize the guidance of Cecily Devereux whose patience and direction helped me learn and grow as an instructor. I extend my heartfelt appreciation to my vi supervisor, Sylvia Brown. Her support throughout this process - encouraging meetings, thoughtful feedback, and academic guidance - challenged and inspired me as a student, researcher, and scholar. I also thank my committee members, David Gay and Jane Samson, for their support of this project. I am immensely grateful to my family and friends for standing by me throughout my studies. I thank “the girls,” Judy and Christine, for cheering me on, my “sister” Kristen and her husband Troy for their interest in my work, and Elaine, Charlotte, and Anna for their prayers. I also thank “Uncle” Marc for his encouragement and prayers throughout my life. I appreciate my friend, Chrissy, whose advice and positivity has helped me soldier on. To my friend Karen: you have guided me as an instructor, directed me as a mentor, helped me as a colleague, and stood by me as a friend; thank you for everything. To my Mom and Dad, Rosalie and Darrell: no words could ever express my gratefulness for your continued support, generosity, and love. Finally, I thank the Lord for His guidance and strength. May this work be to His honour and glory. vii Table of Contents Abstract ii Acknowledgments v Chapter One: Re-framing the “help-meet”: The Context and Recovery of Spurgeon’s Life and Work 1 I. Beyond a “supporting ministry”: The Recovery of Susannah Spurgeon 3 II. The Agency of the Dissenting Woman and Puritan Text: Dissertation Argument 6 a. Re-defining the “help-meet”: Spurgeon’s Ministerial Model 7 b. The Dissenting Woman as an Agent of Theological Reform 16 c. “God-given power” of the Puritan Text 18 d. Contribution to Scholarship 21 III. “The book became very precious”: Autobiographical and Historical Context 22 a. Theological Context of Spurgeon’s Book Fund 22 b. Spurgeon’s Book-Marked Life Narrative 25 IV. “An intense desire…to place [the book] in the hands of every minister”: Introduction to the Book Fund 40 a. “Mother’s book”: Publication and Distribution of Fund Reports 45 V. Chapter Summaries 47 Chapter Two: “The old guides and teachers will be again sought after”: Dissenting Textuality and the Agency of Puritan Books 51 I. “Books full of the glorious gospel”: Spurgeon’s Puritan Fund 51 a. “Musty [books]…are worse than useless”: The “Puritan Divines” of the Fund 54 II. “I supply [ministers]…food”: Chapter Argument 59 III. “Old fashioned…Theology”: Dissenting Liberalism and the Context of the Fund 61 viii IV. “Weapons of war”: The Diverse Agency of the Puritan Text 66 V. Dissenting Textuality and the History of Biblical and Textual Agency 70 a. “Inspired textual agency”: Evangelical Textuality 70 b. The “magical power of the Word”: Sixteenth-Century Biblical Agency 73 c. “Channels of Power”: Seventeenth-Century Puritan Textual Agency 76 d. “A bright star amidst the darkness”: Spurgeon and Puritan Textuality 80 e. “Excursions from an Arm-Chair”: Eighteenth- and Nineteenth-century Textuality82 VI. “Books at the Bottom of a River”: Chapter Conclusion 93 Chapter Three: “A famine” among the “the under-shepherds”: Spurgeon’s Puritan Library and Language of Sustenance 96 I. “Books full of the marrow…of the gospel”: Chapter Argument 98 II. “Heavenly manna”: The Sustenance of Puritan Texts 101 III. “I was…introduced to many of the Puritan[s]”: Spurgeon’s Theological Study 107 IV. Spurgeon’s Puritan Sources: Thomas Brooks, Thomas Watson, and John Gill 114 V. “Feeding the flock”: Spurgeon’s Representation of the Dissenting Minister 126 a. “Food with which the flock…is to be fed”: Feeding as Scriptural Preaching 128 b. “When the Shepherds need to be fed”: Ministerial Hunger and Heresy 132 i. Nineteenth-Century Ministerial Context 133 ii. Seventeenth-Century Ministerial “hunger” 138 iii. “If YOU will do all you can”: Garnering Support for the Fund 145 VI. “The nursing-mother of…Pastors”: Spurgeon’s Representation of Her Position 148 Chapter Four: “Pointing wayfarers”: The Book Fund, Pilgrim’s Progress, and the Defence of Puritan Dissent 155 I. “More than ever before, is the…Book Fund needed”: Chapter Argument 157 ix II.
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