Salt Cellars - A Collection of Proverbs, Together with Homily Notes by C H Spurgeon and published by Classics.
Spurgeon writes “This is the innermost design of my work. If the occupation of hours in which it was imperative upon me to find rest by ceasing from more weighty themes will only lead to this, I shall be happy indeed. Books of illustration are, admirable helps to teachers; but it seems to me that in proverbs they will find suggestions of the very best illustrations. Those short sentences are often summaries of discourse, verdicts given after the hearing of the case, or else briefs for the pleaders on the one side or the other of a disputed question. When wisely quoted they arouse attention, and in some cases carry conviction. Sermons would seldom be dull if they were more alive with aphorisms and epigrams.
“These are not the point of the shaft, but they may be the feathers of the comparatively they are trifles; but nothing is trifling by which serious truth can be brought home to careless minds. Our age is restless, and we must not be prosy: men are ever seeking some new thing, and there- fore we must not, by our dulness, increase their weariness of the old. We must regard the words of Holy Writ, and remember that it is written: “Moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.”
