The Prince of Preachers

I came across this quote by Charles Spurgeon in Boice's commentary on Amos today. No wonder Spurgeon is called, "The Prince of Preachers."

"He that trusts in his own works leans upon a broken reed. As well attempt to cross the storm-tossed ocean upon a child's paper boat, or mount to the heaven of God in the philosopher's balloon, -- as well attempt to put out the fire of a blazing prairie by carrying in your hand a little water scooped from the neighboring stream, as hope by any means to get ride of thine own iniquities by doing better, or of thy past sins by future holiness. I tell thee, man, thy prayers, thine alms-giving, thy fastings, thy repentings, thy church-goings, thy chapel-goings, are all as nothing in the eye of him who demands perfect obedience, and will never accept anything short of perfect righeousness from man. Away, away, away with these gaudy rags! They will be unraveled ere long; thou mayest toil at the loom night and day, but thy work shall be rent in pieces and not a shred shall be left, for thou art spinning nothing but a spider's web which Justice shall tear in pieces, and like Adam, whose fig-leaves could never cover him, thou shalt cry before God, 'I knew that I was naked , and I hid myself.' Woe, then, to those that are at ease in Zion."