Faithful preaching awakens sinners from spiritual laziness despite initial resistance.
"The lazy world would fain lie upon the bed of ease, draw the curtains and rest, and therefore light is troublesome to it. In these days men begin to tire of gospel music, and thirst and pant for the old unsavoury moral strains, which deal with sin in general, and do not irritate men by close personal applications. Faithful preachers are like those men whose business it is to arouse slumbering workmen and call them to their labours. The sound is not welcome to those who desire a little more slumber; they wish no blessings upon the head of the noisy watchman. Yet if they be aroused and reach their work betimes they have a good word in the end for him who caused them to be up and doing. The watchman should not take notice of a hasty word from one half awake; he may rest content that he will have their good word by-and-by. Manton was right in his suspicion that mere moral preaching would continue to have its admirers. Many nowadays reckon it a crime for the preacher to be rousing and personal; they prefer a good sound moralist who will tell servants their duty, and let their masters and mistresses sleep. O that men were wise, for then they would count him to be the best preacher who the most earnestly calls them out of their beds of sinful ease to seek and find salvation. None do this but spiritual, gospel preachers. Your "moral" teacher pretends to be very practical, and yet if you watch for the results of his efforts what will you see? When you have looked through a microscope you will only say, "there is nothing," for truly there are no results worth mentioning. Sin is a serpent which these moralists cannot tame, charm they never so wisely. Lord, help us to cry aloud, and spare not till the slumberers arise; and let us use thy truth as the best awakener. Let thy light shine on sluggards and awaken them. If these things suffice not, O Lord, thunder at them, and by some means break their death-sleep."
