Life and Literature Part 126

1751

_2 Kings x, 16._--"Jehu said, Come with me, and see my zeal for the Lord."

John Fox, the author of the "Book of Martyrs," was once met by a woman who showed him a book she was carrying, and said, "See you not that I am going to a sermon?" The good man replied, "If you will be ruled by me, go home, for you will do little good to-day at church." "When, then,"

asked she, "would you counsel me to go?" His reply was, "When you tell no one beforehand."

1752

A CRUSHING ARGUMENT AGAINST Ma.n.u.sCRIPT SERMONS.

A clergyman thought his people were making rather an unconscionable objection to his using a ma.n.u.script in delivering a sermon.

They urged, "What gars ye tak' up your bit papers to the pu'pit?"

He replied "that it was best, for really he could not remember his sermons, and he must have the paper."

"Weel, weel, minister, then dinna expect that _we_ can remember them."

1753

PREACHING.

A leading Welsh minister--and Welsh ministers are, I think, among the best preachers--was invited to preach an anniversary sermon before one of the great societies in London. Naturally anxious to disregard no propriety, he consulted the proper authority, the secretary. "Should I read my sermon?" "Oh, it is no matter, only bring some of your Welsh fire with you." "But you cannot, my dear sir, carry fire on paper." "No, that is true; but you may use the paper to kindle the fire."

--_Rev. John Hall._

1754

A SCOTCH PREACHER.

The Rev. John Brown, of Haddington, rose from a poor shepherd boy to become a distinguished minister, and afterwards a celebrated professor, author of the "Self-Interpreting Bible," and many other works. Robert Turnbull said of him in one of his books:--"When a poor shepherd boy, he conceived the idea of learning Latin and Greek, and having procured a few old books, actually accomplished the task, while tending his cattle on the hills. So successful was he that some of the old and superst.i.tious people in the neighborhood concluded that he must have been a.s.sisted by 'the evil spirit.' On one occasion he went to Edinburgh, plaided and barefoot, walked into a bookseller's shop, and asked for a Greek Testament. 'What are you going to do with a Greek Testament?' said the bookseller. 'Read it,' was the prompt reply. 'Read it!' exclaimed the sceptical bookseller with a smile; 'ye may have it for nothing if ye'll read it.' Taking the book, he quietly read off a few verses, and gave the translation; on which he was permitted to carry off the Greek Testament in triumph."

--_Rob't Turnbull._

1755

THE BEST SERMONS.

If we would give ourselves only half an hour's reflection at the close of every day, we would preach to ourselves the best sermons that could be uttered every week.

1756

Oh ponder well! be not severe!

--_Unknown._

1757

What shadows we are! what shadows we pursue!

1758

THE LOST SHEEP.

"Oh, gentle Shepherd, climbing rugged mountains, And crossing waters deep, How long wouldst Thou be willing to go homeless, To find a wandering sheep?"

"I count not time," the Shepherd gently answered, "As thou dost count and bind The days in the weeks, the weeks in months; My count is just until I find.

And that should be the limit of my journey, I'd cross the waters deep, And climb the hill-slopes with untiring patience, Until I found my sheep."

--_Luke xv, 4v._

1759

Sickness is every man's master.

--_From the Danish._

1760

No duns outside, and no doctors within.

(Absence of sickness and debt.)

--_Chinese._

1761

Out of sight, out of mind.

1762

Silence is the safest response for all the contradiction that arises from impertinence, vulgarity, or envy.

--_Zimmerman._

1763