NOVELTY Influence of. – Charles Spurgeon

YES, the people gathered in crowds around the statue, and looked at it again and again. It was not the finest work of art in the city, nor the most intrinsically attractive. Why, then, did the citizens of Verona stand in such clusters around the effigy of Dante on that summer’s evening ? Do you guess the reason? It was a fete in honour of the poet? No, you are mistaken; it was but an ordinary evening, and there was nothing peculiar in the date or the events of the day. You shall not be kepi in suspense, the reason was very simple, the statue was new, it had, in fact, only been unveiled the day before. Every one passes Dante now, having other things to think of ; the citizens are well used to his solemn visage, and scarcely care that he stands among them. Is not this the way of men ? I am sure it is their way with us ministers. New brooms sweep clean. What crowds follow a new man ! how they tread upon one another to hear him, not because he is so very wise or eloquent, much less because he is eminently holy, but he is a new man, and curiosity must gmtify i’self ! In a few short months, the idol of the hour is stale, flat, and unprofitable ; he is a mediocrity ; there are scores as good as he ; indeed, another new man, at the end of the town, is far better. Away go the wonder-hunters ! Folly brought them, folly removes them : babies must have new toys. Sir,” said the Duke of Wellington to an officer of engineers, who urged the impossibility of executing the directions he had received, ” I did not ask your opinion, I gave you my orders, and I expect them to be obeyed.” Such should be the obedience of every follower of Jesus. The words which he has spoken are our law, not our judgments or fancies. Even if death were in the way it is — ” Not ours to reason why— Ours, but to dare and die;” and, at our Master’s bidding, advance through flood