A Basket of Summer Fruit

by Susannah Spurgeon

What enables a woman to be a completer to a “contender for the faith”? For one, she must have a deep love and devotion to Christ. Susannah Spurgeon, wife of the “prince of preachers,” Charles Spurgeon, was a beautiful example of such a woman. Originally published in 1901, Susannah Spurgeon’s "A Basket of Summer Fruit" is a collection of sweet vignettes bearing the fruit of her love for Christ. Written in widowhood, but revealing the heart of a true helpmate, Susannah’s devotions are not only for the wives of preachers, but for all daughters of the faith. Doctrinally sound, theologically rich, and devotionally deep, these essays cover topics such as: cultivating a heart of praise to God, love and devotion to Christ, the gospel of Christ, the grace of God in suffering, the sovereignty and providence of God, submission and surrender, cross-bearing, personal holiness, consecrated living, spiritual warfare, and the knowledge of God both as Father and Heavenly Bridegroom. These are subjects which are sure to hearten every woman in her call to deny herself and follow Christ—yet they are also ones specifically tailored to strengthen and fortify the wives of those called to the ministry. It is the prayer of the publisher that this book will go forth not only to bless and to encourage but also to spur Christians on to pursue the breadth, length, height, and depth of the love of God in Christ and to live lives worthy of His name. As a result, may God raise up many more daughters to be completers to “contenders for the faith,” just as Susannah was to Charles.

Genres: Devotional, Christianity, Theology, Nonfiction, Biography, Christian

162 pages, Paperback

First published March 29, 2011

About the author

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

Reviews

[Cindy Rollins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wisdom from the past from a woman who breathed the air of a different time, reminding us of the things that are eternal.

[Elizabeth Eflin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and sweet, but filled with wisdom. This would be a great companion to one's daily devotions.

[Lexi V · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of my favorite devotionals... her exhortation to "bless the Lord at all times" (psalm 34:1) and her desire that her eyes may grow dim with waiting for her God (psalm 69:3) stick with me and shape who i am as a Christian.

[Julie Biles · Rating 3 out of 5]

These are vignettes written by one whose love for Christ is clearly supreme. Sadly, I found the book difficult to read, thus I wasn’t able to appreciate what Susannah Spurgeon was trying to communicate. Her sentence structure and use of archaic language is a bit awkward which makes it difficult to discern her meaning.

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little book is such an absolute gem.. Susie Spurgeon had (has!) such a heart for the Lord and her absolute rawness and awareness of her own sins was refreshing .. I felt mentored and loved through every page .. what an absolutely amazing woman. Cannot wait to meet her one day. ♥️ will certainly refer to this book often and def give many re-visits!

[Hope · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable and interesting.

[Marina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very sweet, timely encouragements from Mrs. Spurgeon.

[Kaylee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Susannah Spurgeon's thoughts in this book. Set up more like a daily devotional, she starts with a Bible verse and then springboards off of it. Her comments are filled with Scriptural references and I appreciated her words.

What I wasn't expecting from this book was the first portion of this Corner Pillar Press edition. Set up as an annotated and edited copy, the first third or so of the book is a biography of Susannah written by Jennifer Adams. For those new to Spurgeon, this is a great little bio. But, having already read a much more in depth version of Spurgeon's biography, I would have preferred a copy of the book with just Susannah's own writing in it.

[Ashley Finfrock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so very much, and this book is the reason I fell in love with Susannah! It was the first work by her that I read and I really got a sense of who she was as a godly woman, and in the epilogue she gives her ten years after Charles Spurgeon's death schpeel on how she dealt with the loss of her dear beloved. It was such a blessing of a book and also a window into this woman's life at the same time.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the whole thing but even if you buy the book and read the last chapter alone it is supremely worth it.

[Claire W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charles Spurgeon is well known for his devotionals and I love them, but I never knew his wife had written any until this book was gifted to me. So thought-provoking and encouraging! I loved it.

[Mckenna Sharp · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this little devotional, and the other two that she wrote, we read the thoughts of Charles Spurgeon’s wife. I wish more people read Susannah Spurgeon. They are short devos with the wisdom of a godly woman gained over a lifetime.