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Copyright © 2020 Matthew Charles Boswell All rights reserved. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary has permission to reproduce and disseminate this document in any form by any means for purposes chosen by the Seminary, including, without limitation, preservation or instruction. THE SINGING LION OF LONDON: HYMNODY AS A PEDAGOGICAL AND DOXOLOGICAL TOOL IN THE PASTORAL MINISTRY OF CHARLES SPURGEON __________________ A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary __________________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy __________________ by Matthew Charles Boswell May 2020 APPROVAL SHEET THE SINGING LION OF LONDON: HYMNODY AS A PEDAGOGICAL AND DOXOLOGICAL TOOL IN THE PASTORAL MINISTRY OF CHARLES SPURGEON Matthew Charles Boswell Read and Approved by: __________________________________________ Esther R. Crookshank (Chair) __________________________________________ Thomas J. Nettles __________________________________________ Michael A. G. Haykin Date______________________________ For Jamie Lynn, the love of my life, and our children: Caden, Avery, Addison, and Cannon. May our family love and live for the glory of Christ. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ...................................................................................... viii PREFACE ...................................................................................................................... ix Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................... 1 Thesis ............................................................................................................. 4 Methodology ................................................................................................... 6 Status of the Research ..................................................................................... 6 Biography of Hymnody in the Life of Charles Spurgeon ................................ 9 “God Moves in a Mysterious Way” ...................................................... 10 “E’er Since by Faith” ........................................................................... 12 London Calling .................................................................................... 15 Summary of Chapters ................................................................................... 16 2. SINGING SHEPHERDS: THE PASTORAL IMPACT OF CONGREGATIONAL SONG AT METROPOLITAN TABERNACLE FROM 1668 TO 1892 ............................................................. 18 A Heritage of Singing .................................................................................. 19 Benjamin Keach and the Singing of Hymns ................................................. 20 The Introduction of Hymn-Singing ...................................................... 21 The Hymn Controversy ........................................................................ 23 The First Baptist Hymnal ..................................................................... 25 John Gill’s Theological Vision of Singing .................................................... 26 iv Chapter Page What Is to Be Sung? ............................................................................. 27 Theology of Singing ............................................................................. 30 John Rippon and His Hymnal ....................................................................... 31 Rippon’s Selection ............................................................................... 32 A Curation of Baptist Hymnody ........................................................... 34 Spurgeon’s Contribution to Hymnody .......................................................... 36 Spurgeon the Hymn-Writer .................................................................. 37 The Legacy of Psalms .......................................................................... 41 Spurgeon the Hymnal Editor ............................................................... 44 Conclusion ................................................................................................... 47 3. SINGING SAINTS: SPURGEON’S THEOLOGICAL VISION OF CONGREGATIONAL SINGING ................................................. 49 Singing Saints .............................................................................................. 49 Spurgeon’s Role in Song .............................................................................. 50 The Ordinance of Song ................................................................................. 53 Instruction on Singing .................................................................................. 55 “Mary’s Magnificat” (606) ................................................................... 55 “Magnificat” (340) ............................................................................... 57 “Sing the Ways of the Lord” (1615) ..................................................... 59 “The Minstrel” (1612) .......................................................................... 62 Singing with Spurgeon ................................................................................. 63 Choosing Hymns .................................................................................. 63 Congregational Singing ........................................................................ 66 Unaccompanied Singing ....................................................................... 68 Precenting and Lining Out .................................................................... 71 v Chapter Page Lectures to Precentors .......................................................................... 73 Communion with Christ ............................................................................... 75 Conclusion ................................................................................................... 77 4. REDEEMING LOVE PROCLAIM: SPURGEON’S USE OF HYMN QUOTATION AS A HOMILETICAL TOOL ..................................... 79 Interest the Mind, Secure the Attention ........................................................ 81 Simplicity and Depth ............................................................................ 82 Spurgeon’s Use of Sermon Illustrations ................................................ 84 Use of Hymn Quotation to Explain Doctrine and Christian Duties ............... 86 “Rock of Ages” .................................................................................... 87 Explaining Duty ................................................................................... 90 Help the Memory Grasp the Truth ................................................................ 91 “When I Can Read My Title Clear” ...................................................... 93 “Arouse the Feelings” .................................................................................. 96 “Tis a Point I Long to Know” ............................................................... 99 “Catch the Ear of the Careless” ................................................................... 102 Hymns of Repentance and Faith .......................................................... 103 Evangelism and Hymns ...................................................................... 107 Conclusion ................................................................................................. 108 5. OUR OWN HYMN-BOOK: SPURGEON’S SELECTION OF PSALMS AND HYMNS .......................................................................... 109 The Hymnals of the Tabernacle .................................................................. 111 An Example of Hymn Numbering Confusion ..................................... 112 A New Hymnal for the Tabernacle ..................................................... 114 Integrity of Authorial Intent ....................................................................... 116 When to Edit ...................................................................................... 118 A Breadth of Theological Themes .............................................................. 120 vi Chapter Page A Breadth of Hymn-Writers ............................................................... 121 Inclusion of Gospel-Themed Hymns .......................................................... 123 The Gospel Sung ................................................................................ 124 “The Gospel” ..................................................................................... 125 “Gospel” Hymns ................................................................................ 126 The Psalms of David .................................................................................. 127 Selecting Psalms for the Hymn-book .................................................. 128 Spurgeon the Hymn-Writer ........................................................................ 130 “Amidst Us Our Beloved Stands” ....................................................... 132 Reception and Legacy ................................................................................ 135 Conclusion ................................................................................................. 137 6. CONCLUSION .............................................................................................. 138 BIBLIOGRAPHY ....................................................................................................... 144 vii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS