ENCOURAGEMENT FOR PASTORS (BY SPURGEON) sermons, when criticized by judicious hearers, are largely measured by the amount of gospel truth and force of gospel spirit which they contain.

Horses are not to be judged by their bells or their trappings, but by limb and bone and blood; and sermons, when criticized by judicious hearers, are largely measured by the amount of gospel truth and force of gospel spirit which they contain. Brethren, weigh your sermons. Do not retail them by the yard, but deal them out by the pound. Set no store by the quantity of words which you utter, but strive to be esteemed for the quality of your matter. It is foolish to be lavish in words and stingy in truth.

 

He must be very destitute of wit who would be pleased to hear himself described after the manner of the world’s great poet, who says, “Gratiano speaks an infinite deal of nothing, more than any man in all Venice; his reasons are as two grains of wheat hidden in two bushels of chaff; you shall seek all day ere you find them; and when you have them, they are not worth the search.”