19 Sermon Illustrations on Commitment to God

It is said of one of the famous composers that he had a rebellious son who used to come in late at night after his father and mother had gone to bed. And before going to his own room, he would go to his father's piano and slowly, as well as loudly, play a simple scale, all but the final note. Then leaving the scale uncompleted, he would retire to his room. Meanwhile the father, hearing the scale minus the final note, would writhe on his bed, his mind unable to relax because the scale was unresolved. Finally, in consternation, he would stumble down the stairs and hit the previously unstruck note. Only then would his mind surrender to sleep once again. God's labor seems never to be complete until the final note on the scale, the concluding, still time, a pause that looks backward and pronounces completion and value.

Christians in Greenland very seldom, if ever, absent themselves from public worship on account of the weather. When it is so cold that their breath freezes, and forms icicles on their faces, they yet go long distances, — men, women, and children, — through snow and ice and storm, to the house of prayer.

Mr. Chase says, that, at the cabinet-meeting immediately after the battle of Antietam, and just prior to the issue of the September Proclamation, the President entered upon the business before them, by saying that the time for the enunciation of the emancipation policy could no longer be delayed. Public sentiment, he thought, would sustain it; many of his warmest friends and supporters demanded it; and he had promised his God that he would do it. The last part of this was uttered in a low tone, and appeared to be heard by no one but Sec. Chase, who was sitting near him. He asked the President if he correctly understood him. Mr. Lincoln replied, "I made a solemn vow before God, that, if Gen. Lee was driven back from Pennsylvania, I would crown the result by the declaration of freedom to the slaves." He issued his proclamation, and four million slaves became free men.

Eliza Ambert, a young Parisian lady, resolutely discarded a gentleman to whom she was to have been married, because he ridiculed religion. Having given

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Mr. Chamberlain, an American Missionary, giving an account of the opening of a new meeting-house in one of the Sandwich Islands, says, "Probably not fewer than four thousand persons were present, including most of the great personages of the nation. We were exceedingly gratified with the appearance of the King on this occasion, and also of his sister, the Princess Harieta Keopuolani. An elegant sofa, covered with satin damask of a deep crimson color, had been placed for them in the front of the pulpit. The King, in his rich Windsor uniform, sat at one end, and his sister, in a superb dress, at the other. Before the religious services commenced, the King arose from his seat, stepped to a platform in front of the pulpit, directly behind the sofa, called the attention of the congregation, and, addressing himself to the chiefs teachers, and people generally, said, that this house, which he had built, he now publicly gave to God, the maker of heaven and earth, to be appropriated to his worship; and declared his wish, that his subjects should worship and serve God, obey his laws, and learn his word. The religious exercises were appropriate; and when these were closed, the Princess arose from her seat, and, taking her stand upon the platform, called the attention of the chiefs and people anew to what her brother had said, and exhorted them to remember and obey. She said God was the King above to whom they should give their hearts, and render constant homage. At the closing exercise of the occasion, the King stood up, and saying, "E pule kakou" (let us pray), addressed the throne of grace. In this act of worship, using the plural number, he gave the house anew to God, acknowledged him as his sovereign, yielded his kingdom to him, confessed his sinfulness, prayed for help, for teaching—supplicated his mercy, as a sinner, needing mercy, pardon, and cleansing—prayed to be preserved from temptation, and delivered from evil. He prayed for the different classes of his subjects: for the chiefs, teachers, learners, and common people; for the missionaries and foreign residents; and concluded, in a very appropriate manner, by ascribing unto God the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, to the world everlasting." 280. Happy Deaths of Missionary Converts.

Mr. Howard, the philanthropist, never neglected the duty of family prayer, even though there was but one, and that one his domestic, to join in it; always declaring, that where he had a tent, God should have an altar. This was the case, not only in England, but in every part of Europe which they visited together, it being the invariable practice, wherever, and with whomsoever he might be, to tell Tomasson to come to him at a certain hour, at which, well knowing what the direction meant, he would be sure to find him in his room, the doors of which he would order him to fasten; when, let who would come, nobody was admitted till this devotional exercise was over. "Very few," says the humble narrator, "knew the goodness of this man's heart."

When the late Earl Cairns was a little boy he heard three words which made a memorable impression upon him, “God claims you.” Then came the question, “What am I going to do with the claim?” He answered, “I will own it, and give myself to God.” He went home and told his mother, “God claims me.” At school and college his motto was, “God claims me.” As a member of Parliament, and ultimately as lord chancellor, it was still, “God claims me.” When he was appointed lord chancellor he was teacher of a large Bible class, and his minister, thinking that now he would not have time to devote to that purpose, said to him, “I suppose you will now require to give up your class?” “No,” was the reply, “I will not; God claims me.” (Text.)

See CONVICTIONS, STRONG.

RESOLUTIONS, GOOD

When Admiral Farragut’s son was ten years old the father said in his hearing that when he was old enough to make a contract and keep it, he had a bargain to offer him. The son rose up and asked the father what the contract was. The admiral said, “The proposal I intend to make is this: If you will not smoke or chew tobacco, drink intoxicating or strong wines, till you are twenty-one years of age, I will then give you one thousand dollars.” “I am old enough to make that bargain now,” said young Farragut. “I will accept the offer.” The bargain was closed, and when young Farragut was twenty-one the cash was handed over to him. A smoking boy can save a thousand dollars in a few years in the same way, besides saving physical energy and moral power.

Lydia M. Child said she would never work on a winning side. Lydia Maria Child was a writer in the full tide of popularity when she devoted herself to the anti-slavery cause. She was subjected to social and literary ostracism. Her books were returned, her friends forsook her, and Church and press denounced her. But this did not daunt her spirit nor swerve her for one instant from the cause she felt was right, and she consecrated the rest of her life to its support. Words can not describe the deprivation to which she was subjected, but she felt no loss. As the inspiration spread, mothers sent their children from house to house with her “appeal,” and vitally assisted the great movement.--JAMES T. WHITE, “Character Lessons.”

The second Duke of Wellington inherited a great talent for reticence from his father, and did not succeed to his title until he was forty-five. He had served in the army and in the House of Commons without making his mark in either save by conscientious attention to duty. In the House of Lords, however, shortly after taking his seat, he delivered a speech revealing such an intimate knowledge of public business, and of such luminous good sense, as to occasion surprize. Among those who congratulated him was “the candid friend” always present on such occasions. This “candid friend” explained to the duke that the latter had been generally regarded as a “colorless” man, and congratulated him on disproving the charge. The duke made a reply, applicable to many, saying, “If you had sat in the shade of a great tree for almost fifty years very likely people would have regarded you as colorless, too.”

George V, like the second Duke of Wellington, has for almost half a century lived in the shadow of a great tree. From infancy up to his twenty-seventh year he was in the second rank of public interest. Not a negligible quantity, he yet could not be, while the Duke of Clarence lived, conspicuous. Moreover, he was wise to sink his royal personality in the discharge of his duty as a naval officer. The British have peculiar tastes and standards, and they do not altogether like to see a younger member of the royal family very conspicuous in public affairs. A “pushful” prince would be almost obnoxious to their traditions. A royal general or a royal admiral must not lead too much, or the old jealousy of militarism might crop out in the nation, which licenses the existence of its standing army only from year to year. Consequently George V, when Duke of York and subsequently when Prince of Wales, may have been called upon to dissemble, and he may yet demonstrate that his reputation as a colorless man is due to the public inability to understand what constitutes the spectrum of character.--Boston _Transcript_.