‘It is a sermon of William Jay of Bath, sir,’ said the student …
‘Wait a minute,’ said Spurgeon, and turning to his library, he pulled out one of … two volumes [Jay’s sermons had been printed in two volumes] and there was the sermon, the exact sermon—the same text, the same headings, the same everything!
What had happened?
The fact was that Mr. Spurgeon had also preached William Jay’s sermon and had actually put it into print with other sermons of his [own]. Mr. Spurgeon’s only explanation was that it was many years since he had read the two volumes of Jay’s sermons and that he had forgotten all about it.
He could say quite honestly that he was not aware of the fact that when he had preached that sermon he was preaching one of the sermons of William Jay.” (Preaching and Preachers, via Adrian Warncok)
I recently reread some books from a few years ago. I found phrases underlined and annotated that I did not remember reading, but know that I have repeated. I was amazed at what sunk in without me knowing. I have referenced these concepts on several occasions without citing it (my apologies to CJ Maheny, John Calvin and Octavius Winslow).
Can you imagine how many preachers have went on to speak about the supremacy, beauty and infinite majesty of King Jesus? How many times do we say that we want to see and savor the glory of Christ.
Where do we get this? John Piper? Sure. But read Jonathan Edwards; you can hardly read an Edwards sermon and not say, “This sounds like John Piper.” You could also say, “This sounds a bit like John Owen” (as Edwards was doubtlessly influenced by the Oxford theologian). It’s exhausting to consider.
In one sense, we are all a bit “semi-plagiarius.”
I’m not sure where all of the plagiarism talk is going to go and how it will be policed. I can say that I know that we cannot steal people’s sermons, books or ideas and pass them off as our own. That’s obvious (should be anyway).
At the same time, we must acknowledge that the ministry of the gospel is made up of guys who read a lot of books and listen to a lot of sermons. Like Spurgeon, it will come out in surprising ways. And we should not be surprised when it does. We should, however, be gracious and thankful for the lineage of truth.
(I should say that some of these thoughts come directly from a discussion yesterday at lunch with a seasoned, faithful pastor and friend named Ron—from whom I continue to be influenced.)
