5 Sermon Illustrations on Christian Commitment

"Alexander would be painted by none but Apelles, and carved by none but Lysippus. Domitian would not have his statue made but in gold or silver. God, the great king, will be served with the best of our affections. When we care not what we offer to God, how will he accept us?" It is but ordinary manners that, when we entertain a friend who is greatly our superior, we should at least do our best and set before him all that our house and purse can afford, with many an apology that it is no better. If our queen came to sup with us, we should do our very best to please her majesty; how much more ought we to be devoutly intent to offer fit homage to the King of kings! O my Lord, teach me to give thee the choicest product of my being, and instruct me how to do this in the most acceptable manner. May I never play the sloven with thee. Angels

ILLUSTRATIONS AND MEDITATIONS. 185 cannot serve thee as thou deservest to be served, and shall I think to please thee with hap-hazard offerings? If I sing to thee, make me earnest and hearty in spirit, and as musical in utterance as my harsh voice permits. When I pray, forbid that I should even seem to be chill and dull. If I am honoured to preach thy gospel, may I plead for thee with my whole heart, and speak even to a few as zealously as if thousands waited for my words. It is meet that the best should have the best; that thou, the most loving of Lords, shouldst have my most loyal services.

A Highland chief of the noble house of McGregor fell, wounded by two balls, at the battle of Preston-pans. Seeing their chief fall, the clan wavered, and gave the enemy an advantage. The old chieftain, beholding the effects of his disaster, raised himself upon his elbow, while the blood gushed in streams from his wounds, and cried aloud, "I am not dead, my children: I am looking at you to see you do your duty." These words revived the sinking courage of the brave Highlanders, and roused them to put forth their mightiest energies; and they did all that human strength could do to turn and stem the dreadful tide of battle. Christ looks upon all his followers to see that they do their duty.

At the close of an Agent's address to a meeting in the western part of the state of Massachusetts, in 1828, after alluding to the fact that a neighboring town was laboring to bring all into the Sabbath school, that old and young, in the interval of divine service, should be employed in teaching or studying the Bible, he inquired whether it was not the duty of the people of that place to follow an example so worthy of imitation? Some with locks already white for the grave, said they would become Sabbath-school scholars, and, in accents tremulous with emotion, gave thanks to God that they could now come and enjoy the privileges with which he was blessing their children. The following resolution was then almost unanimously adopted by male and female, viz: That, in the opinion of this meeting, it is the duty of EVERY PERSON, not prevented by the providence of God, to be connected with a Sabbath school. And that we will do all in our power to effect this object.