This first candle, long and slender is the child, which, if spared, has quite a length of light and life before it. When newly lighted the flame is easily blown out, but there are large possibilities of continuance. So also at twenty – the second candle – we anticipate long years of life, and yet it may end in one short hour. The other candles show us thirty, forty, fifty, sixty, seventy years of age. Our figure goes no further, “For if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow.” Look at this shining emblem, and let each one of us judge his own position as to what remains of his life. Mark how little is left to some of you! Pray God that you may use all that remains to the praise of God. I enquired about a sick friend the other day, and the answer I received was a shake of the head, and the remark, “I am sorry to say he can't last much longer. It is only a matter of time: his life hangs on a thread.” I answered, “And that is exactly the case with me.” Is it not true to every one of us that we are mortal? And that our departure is only a matter of time? Our life is ended as easily as a candle blown out.
Here is a facsimile of Quarles' quaint woodcut whereby he tried to set forth the eagerness of Death to quench the light of life, and the way in which Time, for a season, holds back the hand of the last enemy. Study it well.
When you go to do a bit of woodworking in the shed and need a light, you are sometimes on the lookout for the means of setting up your bit of candle in a handy way. Here is the great invention in which your researches usually end. You see I have stuck a candle into a ginger-beer bottle, and the light which comes from it is quite as clear as if I had a plated candlestick. If you have no fitted candlestick, a ginger-beer bottle does mightily well. And how often our lord has used men of scanty education, or none at all! How useful he has made the things which are despised.
And yet, at the same time, if it were left to me to make my choice as to how I would have my candle set up, I should not object to having it in a more presentable stand. Who would object to be rid of the guttering and the hot dripping tallow, and to handle a concern that would not dirty his hands? A thing of beauty and of brightness is a joy for ever. And grace shines none the less because the person and his speech are graceful. As there is no sin that I know of, in grammatical language and good taste, I hope we shall never set a fictitious value upon coarseness, nor go out of our way to marry godliness with slang. Our Lord and his cause should be serves with our best. Even our best is not of itself worthy of his glory; but at least let us not give to him the offal and refuse of human speech. Young man, blaze away; but you need not be coarse. Bring us a light, but use a decent candlestick if you can.
Some excellent persons have very little talent indeed. It is not merely that there is a want of education, but there is a want of capacity. Now, when that happens to be the case, my next illustration may be a serviceable hint.
On this board we have fixed a number of very small candles, and, as they are all well alight, the result is by no means unsatisfactory. As a company of illuminators they make a pleasant and notable shine, although individually would give only a little light. So let us observe how a number of good little people – well-lighted by grace – can by combination really give out a great deal more illumination than far greater persons who shine alone. But you must each one of you shine your quota, and no one must try to save his candle and take things easy. All at it, and always at it, and you will not labour in vain. What a glory there will be in the one Church when all her members shine, and all are one! May such a day come quickly.
(End of this present series)
This Page Title – Sermons in Candles by C.H. Spurgeon (Part 6) The Wicket Gate Magazine "A Continuing Witness". Internet Edition number 10# – placed on line January 2014 Wicket Gate contact address – Mr Cliff Westcombe cw@wicketgate.co.uk If you wish to be notified when each new edition goes on line please send an e-mail to the above address Magazine web address – www.wicketgate.co.uk |