Sermons for All Sects

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1888 Excerpt: ... THE DECAY OF THE SOUL. Our lamps are gone out.--Matt. Xxv. 8. YES, our lamps are gone out, or else they nicker or smoke or give but little light, or do not give all the light they should, while to a great degree, in the most important sense, --and that is the most sad reality of all, --the responsibility is ours. It is our own fault that the lamps inside the soul have gone out or have become feeble, or that they neglect to do their full, blessed, and holy work. I know all about the many excuses that are offered when spiritual failure takes place, such as the force of circumstances, the immature will, a defective education, the pinching stress of want, and so on, --a perfect phalanx of stereotyped apologies; and yet I declare that all these obstacles, be they as weighty as they are, --nay, ten times heavier, sharper, and clearer, --will not balance one feather's weight against the opportunities, bounties, illuminations, graces, and sanctification that are offered, given, pressed, and almost forced upon each seeking soul by the watchful, loving, tender, and holy Jesus. We are never left unseen, unaided, and alone. In the boat of life there is always a pilot, and he will turn our course heavenward just as soon as we sincerely beg him so to do; and yet howprone the human heart is to brace itself up with a large number of excuses, which fact, after all, is perhaps the highest compliment that vice can pay to virtue, since the uneasiness which frames an apology is a tacit acknowledgment of the thing desired, neglected, and abused! We do not take the trouble, nor do we spend the time, nor do we throw away our voice, in order to give excuses for the neglect of that which is of no consequence whatever, which is better undone than done; and there is some hope for the man...