Some go to hear sermons, doubtless, in order that they may
learn from them. But are there not, especially in these days of cheap
printing, books of devotion, tracts, sermons, printed, which contain
better preaching than any which they are likely to hear in church? If
TEACHING is all that they come to church for, they can get that in plenty
at home. Moreover, nine people out of ten who come to church need no
teaching at all. They know already, just as well as the preacher, what
is right and what is wrong; they know their duty; they know how to do it.
And if they do not intend to do it, all the talking in the world (as far
as I have seen) will not make them do it. Moreover, if the teaching in
the sermon be what we come to church for, why have we prayer-books full
of prayers, thanksgivings, psalms, and so forth, which are not sermons at
all? What is the use of the service, as we call it, if the sermon is the
only or even the principal object for which we come? I trust there are
many of you here who agree with me so fully, that you would come
regularly to church, as I should, even if there were no sermon, knowing
that God preaches to every man, in the depths of his own heart and
conscience, far more solemn and startling sermons than any mortal man can
utter.
Pages:
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285