MR SPURGEON ON PREACHING.

Waipawa Mail, Volume 2, Issue 123, 15 November 1879, Page 3

MR SPURGEON ON PREACHING.

The third anniversary festival of Christ Church, Westminster Road, London, which is under the pastorate of the Rev. Newman Hall, was held recently. The Rev. C. 11. Spurgeon was present, and spoke at some length on the subject of preaching. He remarked that Mr Morley, M.P., had said that the habit of staying away from a jdace of worship was getting common. Ho would ask the hon. gentleman whether he himself would like to go and listen to some of his reverend brethren. He confessed that sooner than hear them he would have the gout, (Loud laughter.) Those w ho had had the gout would appreciate what he meant. It was awful. (Renewed laughter.) He had the privilege once of hearing a reverend brother, ho would not say how, when, or where ; but he always considered he should be rewarded for it at the resurrection of the just. (Laughter.) A preacher should try to make his preaching good. In Germany it mnst bo made evangelical to the extent of sixteen ounces to the pound if the church was to be kept full ; but regular attendance at places of worship there had gone quite out of d ire. Would any man go and listen to some Germa i | divines if they preached their hooks ? If he were had with the heu»b.cV\ a id ! wanted to sleep, he certainly would go. | They had some of the best books i printed from the Gorman, but they | had some almighty dry books which I could interest no persons unless they : wanted to have sin taken out of the n i in the same way as Eve was ta»;en •>.»■

of Adam—when in a deep sleep. (Roars of laughter.) If a preacher did not preach well “pray him up,” added Mr Spurgeon. If they did not profit let them still go on praying. Any of them would preach well when they preached to a congregation comiDg fresh from their knees, having prayed to God to help them. Then they should back the pastor up in everything as one man. There should be no hesitancy, no questioning; it was church work, therefore the clergyman should be backed up and carried through. He should be the point of the w r edge; let each behind push on and the deed would be done. What a splendid history, exclaimed Mr Spurgeon, the Surrey Chapel people had, and if they did not do wonders for God after Rowland Hill they deserved to be tied to a cart’s tail and whipped. (Laughter.) They did not know how down in the dumps sometimes a man who had to cheer every one else was. They should speak a kindly word to the pastor whenever they saw him. There was a story often told of a man in the Gray’s Inn Road when there w r as a fire. The escape was put up, but it w r as found to be a little too short. There was a woman to be rescued who was near the window. The fireman went up, and just as he reached the top the people gave three cheers, for they thought that he had rescued her, and he did. But he said he could not have done it if it had not been for those cheers just at that moment. They should give three cheers for the preacher instead of giving him a greeting which would put him in trim to preach in a dolorous manner. (Cheers.) When he occupied the pulpit and saw two or theee old ladies shaking their heads he always preached to perfection. Those who smiled and were pleased he thought were persons of great judgment. (Laughter.) In conclusion, he said they w T ould all remember a verse which he thought was by Sir Walter Scott, and which he would apply to them as church workers—“ On, on, on, were the last words of Spurgeon.” (Roars of laughter.)