A living dog is better than a dead lion. Ecclesiastes 9:4
"LIFE is a
precious thing, and in its humblest form it is superior to death.
--This
truth is eminently certain in spiritual things.
It is better to be the
least in the kingdom of heaven than the greatest out of it.
The lowest
degree of grace is superior to the noblest development of unregenerate
nature.
Where the Holy Ghost implants divine life in the soul,
there is a
precious deposit which
none of the refinements of education can equal.
The thief on the cross excels Caesar on his throne;
Lazarus among the
dogs is better than Cicero among the senators; and the most unlettered
Christian is in the sight of God superior to Plato.
A living, loving,
gospel sermon, however unlearned in matter and uncouth in style, is
better than the finest discourse devoid of unction and power.
A living
dog keeps better watch than a dead lion, and is of more service to his
master; and so the poorest spiritual preacher is infinitely to be
preferred to the exquisite orator who has no wisdom but that of words,
no energy but that of sound.
rather than lifeless songs and dead calms.
The snarlings of the dog of hell will at least keep
us awake,
but dead faith and dead profession,
what greater curses can a
man have?
Quicken us, quicken us, O Lord!" Charles Spurgeon