THE POWER OF THE HOLY GHOST.
WHY does many a sermon fail to have effect? It may be truth, it may be brilliant, it may be eloquent; but the result is exactly that of the tinkling cymbal and the sounding brass. Why? The power of the Holy Ghost is not in it. Why do we read the Bible very often, and derive very little good from it? The power of the Spirit of God is not sought. Why do Christians quarrel among themselves, and Churchmen hate Dissenters, and Dissenters hate Churchmen? Because they have not the cementing power of the Holy Spirit of God in their hearts. When we see men quarreling about baskets, we may depend upon it they are not very hungry; when we see ecclesiastics quarreling about crotchets, we may be very sure they have no very deep conviction of realities. As often as you see men disputing about one little jot on which they differ, and forgetting the ninety-nine magnificent things about which they are at one, they need the Holy Spirit of God to teach them better things. What is wanted in the present day in every sermon, in our worship, and work, and way, is the power of the Holy Ghost.