A living, loving, gospel sermon, however unlearned in matter
and uncouth in style, is better than the finest discourse devoid of unction and
power. A living dog keeps better watch than a dead lion, and is of more service
to his master; and so the poorest spiritual preacher is infinitely to be
preferred to the exquisite orator who has no wisdom but that of words, no
energy but that of sound. The like holds good of our prayers and other
religious exercises; if we are quickened in them by the Holy Spirit, they are
acceptable to God through Jesus Christ, though we may think them to be
worthless things; while our grand performances in which our hearts were absent,
like dead lions, are mere carrion in the sight of the living God. O for living
groans, living sighs, living despondencies, rather than lifeless songs and dead
calms. Better anything than death. The snarlings of the dog of hell will at
least keep us awake, but dead faith and dead profession, what greater curses
can a man have? Quicken us, quicken us, O Lord! [1]
[1] Spurgeon,
C. H. (2006). Morning and evening: Daily
readings (Complete and unabridged; New modern edition.). Peabody , MA
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