Mr. Spurgeon had occasion, some time ago, says the Hartford
_Courant_, to speak to a company of theological students on the
importance of using illustrations in preaching.
A student observed that they found it difficult to get
illustrations, whereupon Mr. Spurgeon remarked that
illustrations enough might be found in a tallow candle. This
was regarded as an extravagance of speech, whereupon the great
preacher prepared a lecture to show what might be illustrated by
candles. In delivering his lecture he used candles of various
sizes and colors, together with lanterns and other suitable
apparatus. A nicely japanned but shut-up box filled with fine
unused candles illustrated an idle and spiritless church.
Several colossal and highly-colored but unlit candles were
shown, and with them a tiny rushlight shining as best it could.
The big, handsome, unlit candles might be archbishops or doctors
of divinity, or other persons of culture without piety, and the
bright rushlight might be some poor boy in a workshop whose
life is beautiful. Mr. Spurgeon showed an unlighted candle in
a splendid silver candlestick, and then a brightly burning one
stuck in a ginger-beer bottle. He showed what a few people might
do by combining their good efforts, by exhibiting the combined
light of twelve candles. The folly of trying to light a candle
with the extinguisher still on was shown, and the dark-lantern
illustrated the care of people who make no effort to let their
light shine before men. The lecturer then placed a candle under
a bushel, and afterward placed the bushel-measure under the
candle--the point of which was obvious. In snuffing a candle he
extinguished it, and remarked that Christians often did a like
mischief by unwise rebukes and criticisms. The folly of burning
the candle at both ends was illustrated. The last illustration
was a number of lighted candles of various hues placed together
on one stand, representing the Church’s true diversity in unity,
all the different branches burning from one stem, and for one
purpose. Some one in the audience asked if the “dips” did not
give the best light, whereupon Mr. Spurgeon said he was not sure
of that, and thought many of the “dips” would be the better for
another dipping.
The man of genius can find illustrations in common things--sermons in
stones or in candles. Every preacher should work these mines of natural
analogies.
(1513)