MR SPURGEON ON SERMONTS

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 961, 12 April 1872, Page 3

MR SPURGEON ON SERMONTS

In the course of an address delivered on January 13 to workmen, Mr Spurgeon commented on the excuses people made for not going to church. Some persons, said Mr Spurgeon, complain that they cannot understand the sermons they hear. The reason was that ministers would use big words. He (Mr Spurgeon) always endeavored to get rid of all the big words out of his sermons, and was as particular as their wives were to get the stones out of their plum-pudding. They would get in somehow, but the main thing was to preach as simply as possible. LoDg sermons also were a great evil. If a parson preached a long sermon it was because he had nothing to say. It might appear odd, but it was nevertheless a fact, that when people had nothing to say they took a long time ahoutit; but when they had got something worth telling they out with it at once. Therefore, he repeated when a man makes a long sermon he sets out with a very little, and begins to spin, .spin, spin. He was of the same opinion as Dr Chalmers, who was once asked how long it took to make a sermon. " That," he replied, " depended upon how long you wanted it. If your sermon is to be half an hour long, it will take you three days : if it is to be three-quarters of an hour, it may take you two days; but if you are going to preach for an hour, why there is not much occasion to think a great deal about it—it may be done in an hour."