About the Authors
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ROBERT HAWKER (1753-1827)
Robert Hawker, a Royal Marine assistant surgeon, Anglican priest, and author, was born 1753 in Exeter, England. He was married aged 19 to Anna Rains, and they had eight children altogether. He was ordained as a minister in 1779. It was in the pulpit that “the Doctor” was best known and loved. Thousands flocked to hear the “Star of the West” preach when he was in London. An Evangelical, he preached the Bible and proclaimed the love of God. (Wikipedia: Robert Hawker 2020) CHARLES H. SPURGEON (1834-1892)
Charles Haddon Spurgeon, an English Particular Baptist preacher and author, was born on 19 June 1834 in Kelvedon, Essex, England. He married Susannah Thompson in 1856 and had twin boys. Spurgeon remains highly influential among Christians of various denominations, among whom he is known as the "Prince of Preachers." (Wikipedia: Charles Spurgeon 2020) OCTAVIUS WINSLOW (1808-1878)
Octavius Winslow, a pastor and author, was born on 1 August 1808 in Pentonville, a village near London. In 1834 he married Hannah Ann Ring and had ten children with her. He pastored churches in both America and England, spending most of his life in England. He was also known as "The Pilgrim's Companion," and was a prominent 19th-century evangelical preacher in England and America. (Wikipedia: Octavius Winslow 2020) |
About the Compiler
C.M.H. Koenig (a pen name) is an adult missionary kid (MK) and third culture kid (TCK) who grew up overseas and in the United States. Koenig’s family had regular devotions since she was a child, and she was encouraged to continue the practice as she grew older. Koenig has read and re-read a number of devotionals and Bible reading plans over the last few decades. The selection and arrangement of these devotions were made with a crucial spiritual goal in mind. “Hawker, Spurgeon, and Winslow provide solid, tasty meat, a veritable feast I wish to share with others. They were abundantly gifted writers.”
About the Process
I have been drawn to devotionals written by Christians of earlier generations for their gravitas, often poetic beauty, and extravagant praise of our God Almighty. I have found comfort, instruction, and challenges to “walk a worthy walk.” More and more, I wished to have a devotional to read which aligned with a systematic reading of the Bible. But what reading plan to use? A chronological reading of the Bible seemed a logical choice. The more I thought on and reviewed chronological reading plans, the more excited I became. Imagine reading a Psalm directly after the incident in David’s life which prompted the writing of the Psalm. Or reading a follow up letter to one of the New Testament churches after reading about the actual visit to the church in Acts.
The strategy was set, now to find the material. Of the authors I had read, most of the devotionals came from the New Testament. What about the Old Testament? In my search, I came across the following excerpt:
“Charles Spurgeon commended Robert Hawker with these words: "Gentleman, if you want something full of marrow and fatness, cheering to your own hearts by way of comment, and likely to help you in giving your hearers rich expositions, buy Dr. Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary. … he sees Jesus, and that is a sacred gift, which is most precious whether the owner be a critic or no. There is always such a savor of the Lord Jesus Christ in Dr. Hawker that you cannot read him without profit."”
Now this I wanted to check out. The more I read Robert Hawker’s works, the more I realized that a chapter-at-a-time (generally speaking) approach to a chronological reading of the Bible with devotionals was achievable. And, what food for my soul! There were some portions that brought tears to my eyes, tears of joy.
A quick note on the number of volumes. There are 14 volumes in the series. Most volumes are designed to be read in about 90 days, generally one chapter per day. They were initially divided into fewer, but lengthier, volumes. The modest length of the current volumes seems more appropriate and flexible, while providing a sense of accomplishment along the way.
~ C.M.H. Koenig
The strategy was set, now to find the material. Of the authors I had read, most of the devotionals came from the New Testament. What about the Old Testament? In my search, I came across the following excerpt:
“Charles Spurgeon commended Robert Hawker with these words: "Gentleman, if you want something full of marrow and fatness, cheering to your own hearts by way of comment, and likely to help you in giving your hearers rich expositions, buy Dr. Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary. … he sees Jesus, and that is a sacred gift, which is most precious whether the owner be a critic or no. There is always such a savor of the Lord Jesus Christ in Dr. Hawker that you cannot read him without profit."”
Now this I wanted to check out. The more I read Robert Hawker’s works, the more I realized that a chapter-at-a-time (generally speaking) approach to a chronological reading of the Bible with devotionals was achievable. And, what food for my soul! There were some portions that brought tears to my eyes, tears of joy.
A quick note on the number of volumes. There are 14 volumes in the series. Most volumes are designed to be read in about 90 days, generally one chapter per day. They were initially divided into fewer, but lengthier, volumes. The modest length of the current volumes seems more appropriate and flexible, while providing a sense of accomplishment along the way.
~ C.M.H. Koenig