Spurgeons Sermon Notes
PREFACE
It is not always easy to select themes for sermons. Even those who are able to give all their time to reading and study are sometimes glad of a suggestion by which they are directed to a topic; how much more is this the case when a man is all the week engaged in commercial pursuits, and then has to preach twice on the Lord's-day. These are called lay-brethren by those who believe in a special priesthood; I can only say that whatever they are called they are among the right honourables of the pulpit. Frequently have brethren assured me of the difficulty they have found in choosing a text when they could only get a brief interval to themselves, and that at a time when they were well-nigh worn out. On several occasions the question has been put to me, "Could you not help us with some outlines of discourses?" To which I have replied that there were many works of that kind in the market. The reply has been that they would like something plainer and less rhetorical. I felt encouraged by their request to try what could be done in the direction indicated.
I have prepared these frame-works, not to encourage indolence, but to help bewildered industry; and I hope that I have not written so much as to enable any man to preach without thought, nor so little as to leave a weary mind without help.
So far as I remember, none of these outlines have been in the printer's hands before. They are notes of sermons which have not been included in the Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit. Certain of them may have been printed in provincial newspapers, or in magazines, or even in some of my own volumes; but I do not think so.
My actual notes were a little too scanty to be understood by any one but myself, and therefore I have filled them up. The front of an ordinary envelope has frequently sufficed to hold my memoranda; but now that I find it needful to write in a bolder hand, I use the half of a sheet of note paper. I sometimes wish that I had never used even this; for the memory loves to be trusted, and the more fully it is relied upon the more does it respond to our confidence. The preachers who can entirely dispense with notes must be few; but, if their preaching is up to the mark, they are happy men. Some go on crutches, and read almost all the sermon; this, as a rule, must be a lame business. The most of us need to carry a staff, even if we do not often lean upon it. The perfectly able man requires nothing of the kind. I am not one of these first-class brethren; "with my staff have I crossed this Jordan," and I hereby lend it to any who feel that they can pursue their journey by its aid.
It is on my mind to prepare four of these half-crown volumes: two upon the Old Testament and two upon the New. I shall see how far the first two are accepted by my brethren, and shall then, as health and time may permit me, proceed to the others. Already I have sent forth three volumes, similar in form and price to the present work, for the help of students and ministers,—I allude to the two series of "Lectures to my Students" and "Commenting and Commentaries"; and these have enjoyed so large a circulation, that I am encouraged to add to my little library of preachers' books. May they all prove to be of real service, and I shall be well content.
Added to my Sermon-notes are certain pieces of my own, or extracts from the works of others, which are intended to brighten up the sermon. An anecdote or illustration throws a little color into a discourse and wins attention; but the weary ones for whom this book is mainly meant do not know where to find the anecdote or simile, and are as much in need of help in this direction as in the division of the subject. I had not proceeded far before I found that this additional work involved great toil, and it was a glad relief to me when I met with an invaluable assistant in Pastor W. H. J. Page, of Chelsea, who has enriched my pages from the stores of a Commonplace Book which he has been wise enough to keep up from year to year. I am glad to acknowledge his aid, most lovingly rendered: it has not made me give less of my own, but it has enabled me to fill up where nothing original presented itself to me.
As we pour a little water down a pump to help it to draw up a stream from below, so may "My Sermon-notes" refresh many a jaded mind, and then set it working so as to develop its own resources. May the Holy Spirit use these outlines for the help of His busy servants. To Him shall be all the praise, and to His Church the profit. What are we without Him? What is impossible to us when He is with us? May those brethren who use this small selection of topics enjoy the Lord's presence in so doing.
Westwood.
October, 1884
Preface
The speedy sale of the test half-crown part of "My Sermon-Notes" has constrained me to issue a second portion without delay. These outlines have evidently been appreciated, or they would not have been so largely purchased in so short a time. I hardly hoped to meet with so much encouragement, but I must attribute it to the need of those whom I have endeavored to serve, and to the favorable notices which have been kindly given by the public press with an almost unbroken unanimity.
The fact is that in these hurried times many who desire to speak to edification are hard pressed by the incessant activities of Christian life, and become so jaded and worn that a hint from a brother is absolutely necessary to set them upon a train of thought. He whose ministry is most original will be the first to confess his obligation to his books. He waits upon God for a subject, and as often as not he finds it while reading; neither does he hesitate to say that the Lord his God brought it to him because it came by the instrumentality of another man's writings. If it be so with the more fruitful, the less fertile minds among us are certainly all the more in need of aid; though it is very possible that they will be more slow in owning it, and more shy in accepting it. They do well to use their own powers, but they will do none the worse if they will condescend to receive suggestions from others.
These outlines were not written to be used as they are. True, they may be filled up with choice original matter, and employed as frameworks in their present form; but more probably they will be taken to pieces and built up in another shape, or they will be cut in halves, or portions of them will be united with other materials. I hope to lend a handful of chips and shavings, or, if you will, a bundle of fire-wood, to a brother, with which he may kindle a fire on his own hearth, and prepare food for his people. Possibly a lazy brother may boil his own pot with my sticks, but even that I shall not deplore so long as the food is well cooked. Should I be so unfortunate as to be a helper to the utterly idle man, by tempting him to gather no fuel of his own, I shall not even then view the matter with despair, for perhaps the idler may burn his fingers in the operation; and I shall fall back upon the consideration that he would have taken wood from some other pile if he had not met with mine. A man will do no great harm with my faggots if he will use holy fire: the truths which are contained in these Notes will injure no man if they be honestly allowed to speak for themselves.
The reader will observe that the paging begins at 201, and the numbering of the outlines at lxv.; and the fact must be excused, because it will inconvenience no one, and it is a great assistance to the printer. The two parts of the Old Testament can be purchased in one volume for five shillings, and this form will be preferred by many. Yet to suit shallow purses it was thought wise to issue the work in the present half-crown form; the stereotyped plates as at present numbered serving for both purposes. Here is the reason for the arrangement, and I trust it will not cause any difficulty to a single reader.
If life and health be spared, I shall proceed with the New Testament in two volumes of the same size as that which is now in the reader's hand, or one volume in the large form; and I trust each portion will be as favorably received as the first. When the writer sleeps with his fathers, it may be that other voices will, by these outlines, be helped to preach the gospel of the ages, and so to glorify the grace of our Lord Jesus. May the Holy Spirit breathe upon these dry bones, and make them live! May he fill each preacher's heart with suitable emotions, and give to his mouth forcible expressions, and may the name of Jesus be thus made known to many of the Lord's redeemed!
So prays the humble servant of Christ, and of his Church.
Westwood,
May, 1885