The Lost Sermons of C.H. Spurgeon ~ Review

The Lost Sermons of C.H. Spurgeon
His Earliest Outlines and Sermons 
Between 1851 and 1854  Volume 2
Edited with introduction and notes by Christian T. George

This book is heavy and I don't mean just the subject matter - this book weighs just over 4 pounds. But when one considers the treasure found between these covers it is hard to believe it weighs so little.

The introduction that opens this book allows the reader to understand the world in which these sermons were written. Surgeon's strong stance against slavery understandably made him an unpopular person in the American South. Don't skip this as it is really interesting and there are some really interesting charts that offer a breakdown of the sermons that are in this volume.

Now you are probably wondering about the sermons. Well, in my opinion, this is what makes this book so great. The original notebook which Charles Spurgeon wrote out his outline and notes is scanned and shown in its current condition. The facing page is the same content typed out so that the reader can easily read what Spurgeon put to paper. There are footnotes following each sermon to explain Surgeon's notes or where further references could be found in other sermons.

This is a great book for one who wants to delve into a study of Spurgeon, his sermons, and his thoughts. And when you first pick up this book ignore all the notes and just read. I went back and forth while reading and if you just read the sermons the first time through it is amazing just who powerful some of these messages are. Read the footnotes and such on a second time through. The book is over 565 pages in length. And don't you just love the artwork of the dust jacket? Well, it is inspired by the actual cover of the notebook that Spurgeon used for these sermons. Rather appropriate don't you agree? And the picture of the front and back cover can be found in this book.

This book is for those who want to read all of Spurgeon's work, the student of Christian history, and pastor who has a library that he uses on a regular basis. This would also make for an interesting Bible study resource. There are two indexes in the back of the book one for Scripture references and the other for subjects. 

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher BH Academic with no expectations of a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

About the Book:
In 1857, Charles Spurgeon—the most popular preacher in the Victorian world—promised his readers that he would publish his earliest sermons. For almost 160 years, these sermons have been lost to history. In January 2017, B&H Academic will begin releasing a multi-volume set that includes full-color facsimiles, transcriptions, contextual and biographical introductions, and editorial annotations. Written for scholars, pastors, and students alike, The Lost Sermons of C.H. Spurgeon will add approximately 10 percent more material to Spurgeon’s body of literature and will constitute the first critical edition of any of Spurgeon’s works.