"Spurgeon, Heir of the Puritans" by Ernest W. Bacon is the biography of Charles Haddon Spurgeon, one of our greatest leaders in the church. Although he never attended theology school, by the age of 21 he became one of London's most popular preachers. Welcoming crowds of thousands for over forty years, he was one of the most influential preachers of all time. Not only was he an extraordinary preacher, but he also founded churches, the Pastor's College, Sunday schools and even an orphanage. Spurgeon lived his life from beginning to end in the name of the Lord. Born in June 1934, he came from a lower-middle-class family that was strongly anticonforist. When he was 18 months old, due to "unfavorable circumstances" he had to stay with his grandparents and his aunt Ann Spurgeon. He lived with them for six impressionable years. His grandfather was the Reverend James Spurgeon and was a strong preacher of the Gospel. His grandmother was very sweet and loving. He died with the Bible open in his lap with his finger resting on Job 19:21 “The hand of God has touched me.” His aunt Ann mainly cared for Charles. He was 17 when he came to stay. She taught him letters and also encouraged him with her sense of humor for which he was so remembered in his later years. Charles returned to his loving home at the age of seven. He was very sad to leave his grandparents, but he had two sisters and a brother at home. He remembers his mother influencing him and his siblings. She was very devoted to him and his brothers and sisters. He said he could never forget how she knelt with her arms around his neck and prayed for him. At a young age he had a passion for the word of God. He loved to read and read his father's book collection which included the works of the Puritans. He sought the true knowledge of God. He was convinced of sin and before he was saved he said that the hand of God was upon him day and night. When he slept, he dreamed of his quest. He prayed, he cried, without the greatness of God's mercy. He went from church to church seeking God, but he felt that the men who were in the pulpits were not really preaching the Gospel.