C.H. Spurgeon

Outside some of the older meeting-houses there used to be a wooden stand near the graveyard gate, on which a lantern was placed with a candle inside it, to light the way to the place where “Prayer was wont to be made.” The natural light was dim in those times; but I am old fashioned enough to believe that the gospel light was in many a lowly sanctuary far more brilliant than it is today in mimic gothic chapels. The blaze of “Modern Thought” which pleases lovers of novelty does not guide the perplexed to heaven, nor cheer the passage of the departing through the valley of the shadow of death.

Remember that remarkable parable of the woman who had lost her piece of money. The question is put in Luke chapter 15 verse 8, “What woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?” In this way must we look for lost souls with the light of the gospel, and the broom of the law. You must be at some expense if you would find the lost! You must light a candle, and let it burn up. You must make a little dust, too; for nothing worth doing will be accomplished without a stir. Yet dust-making is not all. Some people think that you will find all the lost pieces of money by merely making dust enough, and noise enough; but they are wrong. There must be more light than dust. Nothing can be done without the light of the candle. Instruction must be given, as well as excitement created. Indeed, we must not be content either with the dust or the light; we may not rest until we spy out our lost treasure, and place it in safety.

One allusion I will venture to mention, though the word employed is “lamp”. David says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” David drew his comparison from what is seen every night in an oriental city. He who goes out into the street at night in an eastern town is bound to carry a lantern with him. You would find it very necessary if you were there, if only because of the dogs that prowl about for their living. They are very fond of shin bones, and they do not like them any the less if they happen to be alive, with a little meat upon them. This very common lantern with which children are so pleased, resembles what David used; for such things in the east undergo little or no change. The proper use of such a lantern was to guide the feet, and this is the use of the Word of God. Certain brethren hold it up so as to see the stars, hoping to find out what is going to happen next week or next year. How great they are over seals and trumpets! One admires the depth and the darkness of their research. We may leave them to their discoveries, time will show whether they are correct or not. The Bible is a blessing to us in many ways; but he is wisest who makes it his “Every Day Book.” Read the prophecies, prize the promises, but fail not, by God’s grace, to practice the precepts.

The candle to the left of the page is a very simple affair – “Field’s Self–fitting Candle”, – but it is very handy. You see, owing to the shape of its lower end, the candle will fit into any candlestick, whether it be large or small. A man of this sort makes himself useful anywhere. In poverty, he is content; in wealth, he is humble. If he can preach, he will do so; and if that is beyond his capacity, he will teach in the Sabbath school. Like the holy missionary, Brainerd, if he cannot convert a tribe, he will even on his dying bed, be willing to teach a poor child his letters.

Here is the picture of a candle. In artistic circles, the drawing of an object may cost more than the object itself. No doubt a well-painted picture of a candle would cost as much as would light us for many a month, and yet it would never yield to our necessity a single beam of light. So, the resemblance of true Godliness costs a man far more care and trouble than the genuine article would involve, and yet it is nothing after all.

From The Wicket Gate Magazine, published in the UK, used with permission.