Boldness in faith reflects a courageous trust in God's promises, empowering believers to face challenges without fear. It is often illustrated through acts of daring and confident steps forward, embodying the assurance found in scriptures like Hebrews 11:1 and Acts 4:29.
A young convert boldly declares he is not ashamed of Christ despite criticism.
A young convert got up in one of our meetings and tried to preach; he could not preach very well either, but he did the best he could--but some one stood up and said, "Young man, you cannot preach; you ought to be ashamed of yourself." Said the young man, "So I am, but I am not ashamed of my Lord." That is right. Do not be ashamed of Christ--of the man that bought us with His own blood.
Sometimes believers need strong warnings, not just comforting words, to stay spiritually alert.
"There is a time for the trumpet as well as the pipe." We must sometimes sound an alarm; we should be traitors to men's souls and to our Master if we always piped to dulcet music. He who is always comforting his people will find no comfort when he is called to answer for it before his God another day. Many souls need Boanerges more than Barnabas, thunder more than dew. By many who think themselves great judges the trumpet discourse is judged to be too harsh, and the piper is commended for his pleasant strains; and yet the Lord may distribute the praise and the blame very differently. My heart, be not thou always craving for soft music. Be willing to be startled and stimulated. Life is a conflict, and thou needest battle music to keep thee up to fighting pitch. Let those who dance with the world pay the pipers who play to them; as for thee, give thine ear to the King's trumpeters.
A soldier boldly defends his Christian faith before a mocking king, showing courage and conviction.
One of Frederick the Great's best generals was Hans Joachim von Zieten. He was never ashamed of his faith. Once he declined an invitation to come to his royal master's table, because on that day he wished to present himself at the table of his Lord and Master Jesus Christ. It was sacrament day. The next time he appeared at the palace, the king, whose infidel tendencies were well known, made use of some profane expressions about the holy communion of the Lord's Supper; and the other guests laughed at the remarks made on the occasion. Zieten shook his gray head solemnly, stood up, saluted the king, and then said with a firm voice: "Your Majesty knows well, that, in war, I have never feared any danger, and everywhere have boldly risked my life for you and my country. But there is One above us who is greater than you and me,—greater than all men: he is the Saviour and Redeemer, who has died also for your Majesty, and has dearly bought us all with his own blood. This Holy One I can never allow to be mocked or insulted; for on him repose my faith, my comfort, and my hope in life and death. In the power of this faith, your brave army has courageously fought and conquered. If your Majesty undermines this faith, you undermine, at the same time, the welfare of the State. I salute your Majesty." This open confession of his Saviour by Zieten made a powerful impression on the king. He felt he had been wrong in his attack on the faith of his general, and he was not ashamed to acknowledge it. He gave his hand to Zieten, his right hand, placing the left on the old man's shoulder, and said with emotion, "O happy Zieten! how I wish I could also believe it! I have the greatest respect for you. This shall never happen again." The king then rose from the table, dismissed his other guests, but said to Zieten, "Come with me into my cabinet." What passed in that conference, with closed doors, between the great king and his greater general, no one has ever learnt; but this we know, that the Lord's own words are now verified to Zieten: "Whosoever shall confess me before men him will I confess before my Father which is in heaven."
— British Workman
A Christian boldly prays publicly even in a foreign king's presence, exemplifying fearless faith.
When the late Com. Foote was in Siam, he had, upon one occasion, the king on board his vessel as a guest. Like a Christian man, as he was, he did not hesitate in the royal presence to ask a blessing as the guests took their places at the table. "Why, that is just as the missionaries do," remarked the king, with some surprise. "Yes," answered the heroic sailor: "and I am a missionary too."
Reformers boldly stood against the world, unafraid to confess their faith despite opposition.
One of the reformers being told, "All the world are against you," replied, "Then I am against all the world." The record on the tomb of John Knox is, "Here lies the man who never fear of the face of clay."
A Roman boldly performs religious rites amid enemies, showing fearless devotion despite danger.
The Romans, after their disgraceful defeat at the River Allia, by the Gauls, had shut themselves up in their Capitol, their last and only refuge, and lay, to all appearance, at the mercy of their besiegers, who prevented all ingress or egress, and hoped to force them to surrender by reducing them to the utmost extremities. Among the besieged was a member of the Fabian family, which had a stated yearly sacrifice on the Quirinal Hill, one of the seven hills of Rome. The time of its observance had now returned. Nothing daunted by the terrors which surrounded him, Caius Fabius Dorso took the sacred utensils in his hand, descended from the Capitol, walking through the midst of the enemy's sentinels, and came to the hill selected for the purpose. Having there solemnly gone through all his religious exercises, he returned to the Capitol. Neither in his countenance nor in his manner of walking did he betray the slightest fear. He hoped that the gods, whose worship not even the fear of death could make him neglect, would be propitious to him; and in this he was not disappointed: for the Gauls, either amazed at his extraordinary boldness, or respecting his religious ceremonies, allowed him to go and return unmolested.
Luther courageously faced powerful enemies, unwavering in confessing Christ despite threats.
Luther was a remarkable instance of the boldness of the righteous. Single-handed, he fought against popes and kings and cardinals, and other dangerous enemies. Oftentimes he was left alone, unsupported by his most intimate friends. Still he remained unshaken. "Ah!" said some to him when on his way to Worms, "there are so many cardinals and bishops at Worms! . . . They will burn you, they will consume your body to ashes, as they did that of John Huss." But nothing daunted the monk. "Although they should make a fire that should reach from Worms to Wittenberg, and that should thane up to heaven, in the Lord's name I would pass through it; I would appear before them; I would enter between the jaws of this Behemoth; I would break his teeth, and would confess the Lord Jesus Christ." At a subsequent period of his journey, his friend Spalatin sent a messenger to him to say that he must not think of entering Worms. The imperturbable Luther looked steadily at the messenger, and replied, "Go tell your master, that, even although there were as many devils at Worms as there are tiles upon the roofs of the houses, I would enter it." When told that Duke George would certainly arrest him, he replied, "If it rain Duke Georges for nine days together, I will go."
Ministers must be bold to confront sin, just as sinners are bold in wrongdoing.
A minister without boldness is like a smooth file, a knife without an edge, a sentinel that is afraid to let off his gun. If men will be bold in sin, ministers must be bold to reprove. Gurnall.
True faith requires openly professing Christ before others, not just privately.
St. Augustine, in his Confessions, relates an excellent story of one Victorinus, a great man at Rome, that had many great friends that were heathens. But it pleased God to convert him to the Christian religion; and he comes to one Simplicianus, and tells him secretly that he was a Christian. Simplicianus answers, "I will not believe thee to be a Christian till I see thee openly profess it in the church." At first, Victorinus derided his answer, and said, "What! do the church-walls make a Christian?" But afterwards, remembering that saying of our Saviour, "He that is ashamed of me before men," &c., he returns to Simplicianus, and professeth himself openly to be a Christian. Spencer.
Openly confessing Christ can influence others to join in faith and prayer.
A chaplain related an incident of a young soldier, who, on one occasion, had consulted him upon a question of Christian duty. "Last night," said the young man, "in my barrack, before going into bed, I knelt down, and prayed in a low voice; when suddenly my comrades began to throw their boots at me, and raised a great laugh." — "Well," replied the chaplain; "but suppose you defer your prayer till you get into bed, and then silently lift up your heart to God?" A week or two afterwards, the young soldier called again. "Well," said the chaplain: "you took my advice, I suppose? How has it answered?" — "Sir," he answered, "I did take your advice for one or two nights: but I began to think it looked rather like denying my Saviour; and I once more knelt at my bedside, and prayed in a low whisper, as before." — "And what followed?" — "Not one of them laughs now, sir: the whole fifteen kneel and pray too." "I felt ashamed," added the chaplain, "of the advice I had given him. That young man was both wiser and bolder than myself."
Knowing God’s presence empowers boldness to faithfully proclaim truth despite danger.
Bishop Latimer, having, in a sermon at court in Henry the Eighth's days, much displeased the king, was commanded next Sunday after to preach again, and make his recantation. He prefaced his sermon with a kind of dialogue: "Hugh Latimer, dost thou know to whom thou art this day to speak? To the high and mighty monarch, the king's most excellent majesty, that can take away thy life if thou offend; therefore take heed how thou speak a word that may displease." But, as if recalling himself, "Hugh, Hugh," said he, "dost know from whence thou comest, upon whose message thou art sent, and who it is that is present with thee, and beholdeth all thy ways? even the great and mighty God, who is able to cast both body and soul into hell forever; therefore look about thee, and be sure that thou deliver thy message faithfully." What he had delivered the Sunday before, he confirmed and urged with more vehemency than ever. The court was full of expectation what would be the issue of the matter. After dinner, the king called for Latimer, and asked him how he durst be so bold as to preach after that manner. He answered, that duty to God and his prince had enforced him thereunto; and, now he had discharged his conscience and duty both in what he had spoken, his life was in his majesty's hands. Upon this, the king rose from his seat, and, taking the good man from off his knees, embraced him in his arms, saying, he blessed God that he had a man in his kingdom that durst deal so plainly and faithfully with him. Spencer.
Reproving sinners brings peace and a clear conscience for the faithful believer.
Whitefield and pious companion were much annoyed, one night, at a public house, by a set of gamblers in the room adjoining where they slept. Their noisy clamor and horrid blasphemy so excited Whitefield's abhorrence and pious sympathy, that he could not rest. "I will go to them, and reprove their wickedness," said he. His companion remonstrated in vain. He went. His words of reproof were apparently powerless upon them. Returning, he laid down to sleep. His companion asked him, "What did you gain by it?"—"A soft pillow," he said, and soon fell asleep.
Christians should never be ashamed to proclaim the gospel of Christ.
Ashamed of the gospel of Christ! Let the sceptic, let the wicked prostrate, blush at his deeds of darkness, which will not bear the light, lest they should be made manifest; but never let the Christian blush to own the holy gospel. Where is the philosopher who is ashamed to own the God of Nature? Where is the Jew that is ashamed of Moses? or the Moslem that is ashamed of Mahomet? and shall the Christian, and the Christian minister, be ashamed of Christ? God forbid! No! let me be ashamed of myself, let me be ashamed of the world, and let me blush at sin; but never, never, let me be ashamed of the gospel of Christ!
— Dr. R. Newton
Preachers must faithfully proclaim truth; listeners must respond with obedience.
When Julius Mascaron preached before the French court, some envious persons would have made a crime of the freedom with which he announced the truths of Christianity to King Louis XIV. His majesty very spiritedly rebuked them, saying, "He has done his duty: it remains for us to do ours." Percy.
Danger to loved ones can inspire bold speech and courageous action.
A king of Lydia had a son dumb from his birth. So he grew to manhood. He went out with his father, whom he deeply loved, to fight the Persians. A soldier was about to slay the king before the eyes of his son. Fear and love unloosed his tongue; and he cried, "Spare him: he is the king!" Will not the danger to which our friends are exposed unloose our tongues?
Bold intercession can lead to mercy and forgiveness from authority.
The Romans had a law, that no person should approach the emperor's tent in the night, upon the pain of death; but it once happened, that a soldier was found in that situation, with a petition in his hand, waiting for an opportunity of presenting it. He was apprehended, and going to be immediately executed; but the emperor having overheard the matter in his pavilion, cried aloud, saying, "If the petition be for himself let him die; if for another, spare his life." Upon inquiry, it was found that the generous soldier prayed for the lives of his two comrades who had been taken asleep on the watch. The emperor nobly forgave them all.
A brief, bold declaration of allegiance to Christ inspires and energizes believers.
In a prayer-meeting, held several years since, in W—, Rhode Island, a person arose, and holding up his right hand, exclaimed, "I am on the Lord's side." The speaker said no more, and as it would seem, felt unable to do so. But the effect was magical. There was an eloquence in that simple sentence and the manner of its utterance. myself the Lord Jesus seated on the opposite side of the table, and to think what he would wish me to do and to say, when placed in such a situation, and as long as I can keep this thought alive on my mind, I find I am free from danger."
## CE MEETINGS.
that went home to the minds and bosoms of all present, with kindling, melting energy. Such a happy and lasting impression was produced, that years afterwards it was mentioned again and again, by different persons, to a pastor who was newly settled in the place.
Confidence in having truth on one's side enables calmness in disputes.
When Dr. Swift was arguing one day with great coolness, with a gentleman who had become exceedingly warm in the dispute, one of the company asked him how he could keep his temper so well. "The reason is," replied the dean, "I have truth on my side."
Bold preaching fearlessly confronts even kings, trusting in God's ultimate justice.
Oliver Millard, a popular and energetic preacher of the reign of Louis XI, attacked the vices of the court in his sermons, and did not spare even the king himself, who, taking offence at it, sent the priest word, that if he did not change his tone, he would have him thrown into the Seine. "The king," replied Oliver, "is the master, to do what he pleases; but tell him that I shall reach Paradise by water sooner than he will with his post-horses." (The establishment of traveling pest was instituted by Louis XI.) This bold answer at once amused and intimidated the king, for he let the priest continue to preach as he pleased, and what he pleased.
A preacher boldly continues preaching despite a constable's command to stop, trusting God's judgment.
Mr. Maurice, one of the con-conformist ministers in Shropshire, experienced many remarkable deliverances in the providence of God, when in danger of being apprehended by his enemies after his ejection. At one time, a constable found him preaching, and commanded him to desist; but Mr. Maurice, with great courage, charged him in the name of the Great God, whose message he was then delivering, to forbear molesting him, as he would answer it at the great day. The constable, awed by his solemn manner, sat down trembling, heard him patiently to the end of his discourse, and then quietly left him.
A preacher rebukes a nobleman’s sin, affirming the offense is against God, not man.
Mr. Dod having preached against the profanation of the Sabbath, which much prevailed in his parish, and especially among the more wealthy inhabitants, the servant of a nobleman, who was one of them, came to him and said, "Sir, you have offended my lord to-day." Mr. Dod replied, "I should not have offended your lord, except he had been conscious to himself that he had first offended my Lord; and if your lord will offend my Lord, let him be offended."
Bishop Latimer preaches boldly before the king, prioritizing faithfulness to God over man’s approval.
Bishop Latimer having one day preached before King Henry VIII a sermon which displeased his majesty, he was ordered to preach again on the next Sabbath, and to make an apology for the offence he had given. After reading his text, the bishop thus began his sermon:—"Hugh Latimer, dost thou know before whom thou art this day to speak? To the high and mighty monarch, the king's most excellent majesty, who can take away thy life if thou offendest; therefore, take heed that thou speakest not a word that may displease; but then consider well, Hugh, dost thou not know from whence thou comest; upon whose message thou art sent? Even by the great and mighty God! who is all-present! and who beholdeth all thy ways! and who is able to cast thy soul into hell! Therefore, take care that thou deliverest thy message faithfully." He then proceeded with the same sermon he had preached the preceding Sabbath, but with considerably more energy. The sermon ended, the court were full of expectation to know what would be the fate of this honest and plain-dealing bishop. After dinner, the king called for Latimer, and, with a stern countenance, asked him how he dared to be so bold as to preach in such a manner. He, falling on his knees, replied, his duty to his God and his prince had enforced him thereto, and that he had merely discharged his duty and his conscience in what he had spoken. Upon which the king, rising from his seat, and taking the good man by the hand, embraced him, saying, "Blessed be God, I have so honest a servant."
A minister calmly continues worship despite a soldier’s threats, showing fearless obedience to God.
Dr. John Hacket was, at the beginning of the civil war, rector of St. Andrew's, Holborn; and when the parliament had forbidden the use of the liturgy, under the severest penalties, Dr. Hacket continued to read, as before, the daily service, and when a sergeant with a trooper rushed into the church, commanding him with threats to desist, he with a steady voice and intrepid countenance continued; on which the soldier, raising a pistol to his head, threatened him with instant death. The undaunted minister calmly replied,— "Soldier, I am doing my duty, do you do yours!" and with a still more exalted voice read on. The soldier, abashed, left the church.
(L) BOURDALOUE'S FAITHFULNESS.—The reputation for eloquence which this celebrated preacher very early acquired, reached the ears of Louis the Fourteenth, who sent for him to preach the advent sermon, in 1670, which he did with such success that he was many years retained at court. He was called the king of preachers, and the preacher to kings; and Louis himself said, that he would rather hear the repetitions of Bourdaloue, than the novelties of another. With a collected air, Bourdaloue had little action; he generally kept his eyes half closed, and penetrated the hearts of the people by the sound of a voice uniform and solemn. On one occasion, he turned the peculiarity of his external aspect to a very memorable advantage. After depicting, in soul-awakening terms, a sinner of the first magnitude, he suddenly opened his eyes, and casting them full on the king, who sat opposite to him, he added, in a voice of thunder, "Thou art the man." The effect was confounding. When he had finished his discourse, he went and threw himself at the feet of his sovereign, and said, "Sire, behold at your feet, one who is the most devoted of your servants; but punish him not, that in the pulpit he can own no other master but the King of kings."
(L) THE KNIGHT'S COMPLAINT.—During the protectorate, a certain knight, in Surrey, had a lawsuit with the minister of his parish; and, whilst the dispute was pending, Sir John imagined that the sermons delivered at church were preached at him. He therefore complained against the minister to Cromwell, who inquired of the preacher concerning the fact; and having found that his sermons were aimed at the common good, he dismissed the complaining knight, saying, "Go home, Sir John, and hereafter live in good friendship with your minister; the word of the Lord is a searching word, and I am afraid it has found you out." It were well, when we feel uncomfortable with the sermons of our ministers, if, instead of complaining of them, we seriously examined our own character, and applied whatever might be suitable to our own case.
A preacher’s sincere devotion silences opposition and commands respect from church authorities.
TOR.—After the late Rev. Samuel Walker, of Truro, had begun to feel the unspeakable importance of the truth as it is in Jesus, his preaching became of a different character to what it had previously been. When he urged the importance of regeneration, and devotedness to God, those who were living in a sensual and dissipated manner, or who were building their hopes of heaven on the morality of their lives, were offended. Accordingly, some of the most wealthy inhabitants of the town complained of him to the rector, and requested his dismissal. The rector promised compliance with their wishes, and waited on Mr. Walker to give him notice to quit his curacy. He was received with much politeness and respect, and Mr. Walker soon took an opportunity, from some passing remark, to explain his views of the importance of the ministerial office, and the manner in which its duties ought to be performed. His sentiments and manner were such, that the rector went away without having accomplished his purpose. He endeavored a second time to effect the wishes of the people, but was again so awed by Mr. W.'s superiority, that he could not speak to him on the subject.—Being afterwards pressed by one of the principal persons on the topic, he replied, "Do you go and dismiss him, if you can; I cannot. I feel, in his presence, as if he were a being of a superior order, and am so abashed, that I am uneasy till I can retire from it."
Latimer defends his right to preach faithfully before the king, refusing to compromise his message.
Bishop Latimer, in preaching before King Henry the Eighth, spoke his mind very plainly; which some of his enemies thought to make their advantage of, by complaining of him to the king, that they might thus get him out of the way. Soon after his sermon, he and several others being called before the king to speak their minds on certain matters, one of them kneeled before his majesty, and accused Latimer of having preached seditious doctrines. The king turned to Latimer, and said, "What say you to that, sir?" Latimer kneeled down, and turning first to his accuser, said, "What form of preaching would you appoint me to preach before a king? Would you have me to preach nothing concerning a king, in a king's sermon? Have you any commission to appoint me what I shall preach?" He asked him several other questions, but he would answer none at all; nor had he any thing to say. Then he turned to the king, and said, "I never thought myself worthy, nor ever sued, to be a preacher before your Grace. But I was called to it, and would be willing, if you mislike me, to give place to my betters. But if your Grace allow me for a preacher, I would desire your Grace to discharge my conscience, give me leave to frame my discourse according to mine audience. I had been a very dolt to have preached so at the borders of your realm, as I preach before your Grace." These words were well received by the king as Latimer concluded, because the king presently turned to another subject. Some of his friends came to him with tears in their eyes, and told him, they looked for nothing but that he should have been sent to the tower the same night.
Usher boldly continued preaching despite a king's urgent summons during God's service.
Dr. Parr, in his life of Archbishop Usher, relates, that while that prelate was once preaching in the church at Covent Garden, a message arrived from the court, that the king wished immediately to see him. He descended from the pulpit, listened to the command, and told the messenger that he was then, as he saw, employed in God's business, but, as soon as he had done, he would attend upon the king to understand his pleasure, and then continued his sermon.
### 261. Ingenuity and Wit.
A pious sailor respectfully rebuked his employer for taking Jesus’ name in vain.
BUKE.—A merchant and a ship owner, of the city of New York, stood at the entrance of his store, conversing with a gentleman on business. A pious sailor belonging to one of his vessels approached the store with the design of entering it, but observing the door was occupied, modestly stepped aside, not willing to interrupt the conversation.
As he stood waiting patiently an opportunity to pass into the store, he overheard profane allusions made to Christ, and turning to look he perceived it was his employer that was speaking. Instantly he changed his position, and stood in front of the gentleman with his head uncovered, and his hat under his arm, and addressed his employer in the following language. "Sir, will you forgive me if I speak a word to you?" The gentleman recognizing in the sailor one of the crew of the vessel recently arrived, and supposing he might have something to communicate affecting his interests, kindly encouraged him to speak on. Without further hesitation, the sailor proceeded: "You won't be offended then, sir, with a poor ignorant sailor, if he tells you his feelings." The gentleman again assured him he had nothing to fear. "Well then, sir," said the honest-hearted sailor with emotion, "will you be so kind as not to take the name of my blessed Jesus in vain; he is a good Savior—he took my feet from the pit and the miry clay, and established my going. O sir! don't, if you please, take the name of my Jesus in vain, he never did any one any harm, but is always doing good." The rebuke was not lost upon him for whom it was intended; a tear suffused his eye, and he replied to his urgent request, "My good fellow, God helping me, I never will again take the name of your Savior in vain." "Thank you, sir," said this faithful witness of Christ, and putting on his hat he walked away.
A young man’s calm rebuke turned a robber from violence to repentance.
A young man in the vicinity of Philadelphia, was one evening stopped in a grove, with the demand, "your money or your life." The robber then presented a pistol to his breast. The young man, having a large sum of money, proceeded leisurely and calmly to hand it over to his enemy, at the same time setting before him the wickedness and peril of his career. The rebukes of the young man cut the robber to the heart. He became enraged, cocked his pistol, held it to the young man's head, and with an oath, said, "Stop that preaching, or I will blow out your brains." The young man calmly replied,—"Friend, to save my money, I would not risk my life; but to save you from your evil course, I am willing to die. I shall not cease to plead with you." He then poured in the truth still more earnestly and kindly. Soon the pistol fell to the ground; the tears began to flow; and the robber was overcome. He handed the money all back with the remark, "I cannot rob a man of such principles."
Andrew Melville defended his fervent zeal for God as a holy fire to be encouraged.
Mr. Andrew Melville, professor of divinity at St. Andrews, in the reign of James VI, was a very bold and zealous man for the cause of God and truth. When some of his more moderate brethren blamed him for being too hot and fiery, he was wont to reply, "If you see my fire go downwards, set your foot upon it and put it out; but if it go upward, let it return to its own place."
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