10 Sermon Illustrations on Christ-like Character

If a man be gracious and courteous to strangers, it shows he is a citizen of the world, and that his heart is no island ent off from other lands, but a continent that joins to them; if he be compassionate towards the afflictions of others, it shows that his heart is like the noble tree that is wounded itself when it gives the balm; if he easily pardons and remits offences, it shows that his mind is planted above injuries, so that he cannot be shot: if he be thankful for small benefits, it shows that he weighs men's minds, and not their trash; but, above all, if he have St. Paul's perfection, that he would wish to be an anathema from Christ for the salvation of his brethren, it shows much of a divine nature, and a kind of conformity with Christ himself.

— Lord Bacon

A man ought to carry himself in the world as an orange-tree would if it could walk up and down in the garden,—swinging perfume from every little censer it holds up to the air.

— Beecher

Saints are compared to the sun, to the stars, lights # SAINTS.

Mount Zion, Lebanon, treasure, jewels, gold, vessels of gold and silver, stones of a crown, lively stones, babes, little children, obedient children, members of the body, soldiers, runners in a race, wrestlers, good servants, strangers and pilgrims, sheep, lambs, calves of the stall, lions, eagles, doves, thirsting deer, good fishes, dew and showers, watered gardens, unfailing springs, vines, branches of the vine, pomegranates, good figs, lilies, willows by the water-courses, trees planted by rivers, cedars in Lebanon, palm-trees, corn, wheat, salt. Date.

Mr. Deering, one of the puritan ministers in the sixteenth century, being at a public dinner, a young man, who sat on the opposite side of the table, indulged in profane swearing, for which Mr. D. sharply reproved him. The young man, taking this as an affront, immediately threw a glass of beer in his face. Mr. Deering took no notice of the insult, but wiped his face, and continued his dinner. The young gentleman presently renewed his profane conversation; and Mr. D. reproved him as before; upon which, but with increased violence, he threw another glass of beer in his face. Mr. Deering continued unmoved, still showing his zeal for the glory of God, by bearing the insult with Christian meekness. This so astonished the young gentleman, that he rose from the table, fell on his knees, and asking Mr. Deering's pardon, declared that if any of the company had offered him similar insults, he would have stabbed them with his sword. Here was practically verified the New Testament maxim, "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."

Of Bishop Leighton, Bishop Burnet declared that during a strict intimacy of many years, he never saw him for one moment in any other temper than that in which he would wish to live and die.