A Victorian Dissenter by David Seip

Seip presents a biographical sketch of Robert Govett, as well as his decision to leave the Church of England and gather a following at Surrey Chapel in Norwich, England in the late 1800s. He presents a summary of Govett's teachings, with particular emphasis on aspects that were controversial in his day and remain relatively little known today. Seip also gives his analysis as to why Robert Govett's writings, which were so prolific at the time, are relatively little know today. He gives a shout out to Schoettle Publishing for bringing these lost writings of Robert Govett back into current circulation.

His scholarly dissertation at Trinity College (Dublin) goes well beyond a biography. He outlines Robert Govett's groundbreaking teaching on the Millennial Kingdom Reward (and Exclusion).  He points out that Govett was a very well respected theologian and preacher during his time in England in the mid to late 1800s, acclaimed by such a one as Charles Spurgeon, who wrote:

 “The day will come when the idols of the hour will perish and the writings of such a man as R. Govett will be prized as much fine gold” (The Sword and the Trowel, 1881, p. 480). 

Seip then attempts to answer the pressing question: "Why are Govett’s prolific writings not well-known among Christians today?"

His conclusion is 3-fold:

(1) Govett taught during a time that England was rapidly turning into a secular society. 

(2) He never traveled to the US or promoted his writings here, at a time when this country began to carry the vanguard of Christian theology forward.

(3) Those who in recent history have been more interested in end times prophecy have lightly dismissed the unpopular idea of multiple raptures and exclusion from the kingdom, without any attempt at serious debate.