“The wise use right means, such
as will bring them to their desired end. We do not use to draw ships in the sea
with horses, nor draw wagons with the wind. We must not use contrary means, nor
insufficient means. We cannot go to the bottom of a well that is thirty foot
deep with a line that is but ten foot.”
Why, then, do men try to win
heaven by their own merits? This short line will never reach so far. Why do
they endeavor to save souls by noise and carnal excitement instead of crying
for the Spirit of God? What is this but refusing to spread the sail for the
heavenly breeze, and relying upon the tramp of horses, and the strength of flesh
and blood? How is it that so many look to obtain blessing through ceremonies of
man’s invention? This is an endeavor to move a mountain by dancing before it.
If the means must be adequate to
the end, then nothing short of the merits of Jesus can cause a sinner to enter
heaven, and nothing but the power of the Holy Ghost can make them new creatures
in Christ Jesus. If the means must be adapted to the end, then we must have
mercy to comfort misery, love to rescue lost sinners, divine goodness for despairing
hearts, and power from on high for souls dead in trespasses and sin.
Next time we hear a man try to
convert people by fine language, we shall remember Manton’s saying, that wagons
are not moved by wind.
Charles H. Spurgeon
Flowers From A Puritan’s Garden, “Wagons
Not Moved by Wind, Nor Ships Drawn By Horses,” p. 196
No comments:
Post a Comment