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by C. H. Spurgeon

The Cracked Pot

“The unsoundness of a vessel is not seen when it is empty, but whe7i it is filled with water, then we shall see whether it will leak or noT It is in our prosperity that we are tested. Men are not fully discovered to themselves till they are tried by fulness of success. Praise finds out the crack of pride, wealth reveals the flaw of selfishness, and learning discovers the leak of unbelief. David’s besetting sin was little seen in the tracks of the wild goats, but it became conspicuous upon the terraces of his palace. Success is the crucible of character. Hence the prosperity which some welcome as an unmixed favour may far more rightly be regarded as an intense form of test. O Lord, preserve us when we are full as much as when we are empty.

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Restored from a scan of the 1883 edition, with page headers and numbers removed and words rejoined across line breaks. Scan-derived text, still being proofread; compare the original scan before quoting.