The way to begin to make a sermon is to bend the knee and to cry to God for direction. That is the first point. Many ministers do not do that. He has marked two or three score texts for the next month or two; and he has had a bill printed, and told the people what he means to preach from, to prove that he is guided by the Spirit for months in advance, and not in the same hour when he needs it. So he looks to see what the text is, and takes down various books that he has upon the subject, writes out his epistle to his church, and the thing is done; and he may go out visiting. |
There is no groaning over souls, Mark; none of Baxter’s compassion; no knocking of the knees together as he goes up the pulpit stairs; no sleepless night because he cannot preach as he would; no groaning when he comes home because he thinks there has been a failure where there ought to have been a success. No: the reason is because there is no fire. O God, send down the fire, and what a change there will be! |
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