Courage in Christian preaching emphasizes the boldness to act faithfully despite fear or danger, reflecting Christ's strength in adversity. Illustrations often use images of taking risks or standing firm in trials, encouraging believers to trust God’s protection and guidance (Joshua 1:9, 2 Timothy 1:7).
Boldness and a positive attitude enable one to accomplish what seems impossible.
Somebody said that it couldn't be done. But he with a chuckle replied, "Maybe it couldn't, but he would be one Who wouldn't say so till he'd tried." So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin On his face. If he worried he hid it. He started to sing as he tackled the thing That couldn't be done, and he did it!
Following Jesus sometimes means risking safety to show kindness and serve others.
Norman L. Bales shares this lesson from life: "'Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did' (1 John 1:6). For Jesus, the walk with the Father sometimes meant encountering misunderstanding, criticism and danger. "In Acts 16, Paul and Silas risked their safety by casting out an evil spirit. For their trouble they ended up in jail. But then the jailer risked his security by washing their wounds. Discretion is sometimes the better part of valor, but discretion can be an excuse for cowardice. One day I walked down a Davenport street minding my own business when I saw two groups of angry girls emerge from a restaurant. Anger escalated into violence-hair pulling, slaps, blows. I did what the priest and Levite in Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan did. I crossed the street and passed by on the other side. If I had to do it over, I still do not think I would have intervened, but at the very least I could have called the police. "But then there is the case of Steve Palermo. Steve was an umpire in the American League. One particular day he called a Texas Rangers game and left to eat dinner at a local restaurant. Hoodlums attempted a robbery and assaulted some of the waitresses. Palermo and an SMU football player offered assistance, but the umpire caught a bullet in the back which traumatized his spinal cord, and even now he has to rely on leg braces and canes to walk. He may never umpire again. That is a high price to pay for an act of kindness, but compassionate people like Palermo run risks. "Our contemporaries would like to live in a risk-free world. It does not exist. Followers of Jesus must learn to swim against the tide of 'risk phobia.'We walk in the footsteps of the One who said, 'I lay down My life for the sheep.'"
Standing firm and rallying others is vital even when others retreat in battle.
AIM and Effort. At the battle of the Alma, when one of the regiments was being beaten back by the hordes of Russia, the ensign in front stood his ground as the troops retreated. The captain shouted to him to bring back the colors; but the reply of the ensign was, "Bring up the men to the colors."
Napoleon's fearless return from Elba exemplifies audacious courage and leadership.
Perhaps the grandest example in modern history of that audacity which combines all the physical, civic, and mental elements of courage, is found in Napoleon's return from Elba, and triumphant progress to Paris. The world then beheld the whole organization of a monarchy melt away, like a piece of frost-work in the sun, before a person and a name. Every incident in that march is an epical stroke. He throws himself unhesitatingly on the Napoleon in every man and mass of men he meets; and Napoleonism instinctively recognizes and obeys its master. On approaching the regiment at Grenoble, the officers in command gave the order to fire. Advancing confidently, within ten steps of the levelled muskets, and barring his breast, he uttered the well-known words, "Soldiers of the Fifth Regiment, if there is one among you who will kill his emperor, let him do it: here I am!" The whole march was worthy such a commencement, profound as intelligence, irresistible as destiny.
— E. P. Whipple
A soldier's bravery combined with honesty earned him greater reward than expected.
The Prince of Conti, being highly pleased with the intrepid behavior of a grenadier at the siege of Philipsburgh, threw him a purse, excusing the smallness of the sum it contained, as being too poor a reward for such courage. Next morning, the grenadier went to the prince, with two diamond rings, and other jewels of considerable value. "Sir," said he, "the gold I found in your purse I suppose you intended for me; but these I bring back to you, having no claim to them."—"You have doubly deserved them by your bravery and by your honesty," said the prince: "therefore they are yours."
A king's son teaches that bravery makes any weapon effective, regardless of its size.
A king of Arabia showing his courtiers a Damascenic sword that had been presented to him, it was the opinion of them all that the only fault it had was its being too short. The king's son, who was present, observed, there was no weapon too short for a brave man, as there needed no more but to advance one step to make it long enough.
A wounded soldier shows courage by revealing the true place he was hit, not the back.
An unlucky private in one of the New-York regiments was wounded in the battle of Bull Run; and his father arrived at the hospital just as the surgeon was removing the ball from the back of his shoulder. The boy lay with his face downward on the pallet. "Ah! my poor son," said the father mournfully, "I'm very sorry; but it's a bad place to be hit in,—thus in the back. The sufferer turned over, bared his breast, and pointing to the opening above the armpit, exclaimed, 'Father, here's where the ball went in.'"
A chief boldly speaks without fear among friends, showing true courage.
A chief of the Creek Indians, having been appointed to negotiate a treaty of peace with the citizens of South Carolina, and having met the proper authorities for that purpose, was desired by the governor to speak his mind freely, and without reserve; for, as he was among his friends, he need not be "afraid." "I will," said the chief, "speak freely: I will not be afraid. Why should I be afraid among my friends, when I am not afraid among my enemies?"
A sailor courageously reproves his employer for taking the Lord's name in vain.
A merchant and ship-owner of New York was standing at the entrance of his warehouses, conversing with a gentleman on business. A pious sailor belonging to one of his vessels came to the warehouse to enter it, but, observing that the door was occupied, modestly stepped aside, not willing to interrupt the conversation. While waiting there, he heard the name of Jesus profanely used; and, on turning to look, he observed that it was his employer who was speaking. Instantly changing his position, and standing in front of the gentleman, with his head uncovered, and his hat under his arm, he addressed the merchant in this language, "Sir, will you excuse me if I speak a word to you?" The gentleman, recognizing him as one of the crew of his vessel recently arrived, and supposing he might have something to say about the business of the ship, told him to speak on. "You won't be offended, then, sir, with a poor ignorant sailor, if he tells you his feelings?" said he. "Certainly not," replied the merchant. "Well, then, sir," said the sailor, with much feeling, "will you be so kind as not to take the name of my blessed Jesus in vain? He is a good Saviour. He took my feet out of 'the horrible pit and miry clay, and established my goings.' O sir! don't, if you please, take the name of my Master, the Lord Jesus, in vain. He is your Creator as well as mine; and he has made you, and preserves you, and is always doing you good." This was said with so much earnestness and feeling, that the gentleman was quite touched. His eyes filled with tears, and he said, "My good fellow, God helping me, I will never again take the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour, in vain." "Thank you, sir," said the honest tar; and, putting on his hat, he went away to his work.
A boy shows bravery by telling the truth and facing consequences honestly.
"I won't tell a lie; I won't be such a coward!" said a fine little fellow, when he had broken a little statuette of his father's in showing it to his playmates, and they were telling him how he could deceive his father, and escape a scolding. He was right. Cowards tell lies, while brave boys tell the truth. So was Charley Mann right, and was rewarded for it, as the following story shows. A young offender, whose name was Charley Mann, smashed a large pane of glass in a drug-store, and ran away at first, for he was sadly frightened; but he quickly began to think, "What am I running for? it was an accident. Why not turn about and tell the truth?" No sooner thought than done. Charley was a brave boy, he told the whole truth; how the ball with which he was playing slipped out of his hand, how frightened he was, how sorry, too, at the mischief done, and how willing to pay, if he had the money. Charley did not have the money; but to work he went at once, in the very store where he broke the glass. It took him a long time to pay for the large and expensive pane he had shattered; but, when it was done, he had endeared himself so much to the store-keeper by his fidelity and truthfulness, that he would not hear to his going away; and Charley became his clerk. "Ah! what a lucky day it was when I broke that window!" he used to say. "No, Charley," his mother would respond: "what a lucky day it was when you were not afraid to tell the truth!"
494-497. BREAD, upon the Waters. It is said, that in the hand of one of the mummies found in a pyramid was discovered a bulbous root more than three thousand years old, which, being placed in the earth, grew and bloomed a beautiful flower.
Firm faith and courage resist pressure to compromise beliefs despite threats or persecution.
Bernard de Palissy, the Huguenot potter, distinguished himself by his knowledge and talents. The French king, Henry III., said to him one day, that he should be compelled to give him up to his enemies unless he changed his religion. "You have often said to me, sire," was the undamned reply of De Palissy, "that you pitied me; but, as for me, I pity you, who have given utterance to such words as 'I shall be compelled.' These are unkindly words; and I say to you in royal phrase, that neither the Guises, nor all your people, nor yourself, are able to compel a humble manufacturer of earthenware to bend his knee before statues."
True courage trusts God's justice and stands firm for a just cause despite danger.
As Luther drew near the door which was about to admit him into the presence of his judges (the Diet of Worms), he met a valiant knight, the celebrated George of Freundsberg, who four years later, at the head of his German lansquenets, bent the knee with his soldiers on the field of Pavia, and then, charging to the left of the French army, drove it into the Ticino, and in a great measure decided the captivity of the King of France. The old general, seeing Luther pass, tapped him on the shoulder, and shaking his head, blanched in many battles, said kindly, "Poor monk, poor monk! thou art now going to make a nobler stand than I or any other captains have ever made in the bloodiest of our battles. But if thy cause is just, and thou art sure of it, go forward in God's name, and fear nothing. God will not forsake thee." A noble tribute of respect paid by the courage of the sword to the courage of the mind. D'Aubigné.
Noble courage honors and appreciates the care behind apparent weakness or hardship.
A poor boy was attending school with a large patch on his knee. One of his schoolfellows nicknamed him "Old Patch." "Why don't you fight him?" cried the boys. "I'd give it to him."—"Oh!" answered the boy, "you don't suppose I'm ashamed of my patch, do you? For my part, I'm thankful for a good mother to keep me out of the rags. I honor my patch for her sake."
Faithful courage endures suffering and death for Christ, trusting in eternal reward.
Felicitas was a noble and rich widow of Rome, in the time of Marcus Aurelius. She had seven sons, whom she instructed in the Christian faith; and her influence led many to adopt the Christian religion. She and her sons were cited before Publius, the prefect of the city, who tried entreaty and threats in vain to induce them to worship false gods and deny Christ. He appealed to the maternal feeling of Felicitas; but she replied, that her sons would know how to choose between everlasting life and everlasting death. One by one, they were required to adjure Christ; but the mother exhorted them to stand firm, and told them that a great reward awaited them in glory. She stood by, and saw her eldest wearyed with loaded thongs till he died; the two next beaten to death with clubs; the fourth flung from a rock; the other three decapitated. Then, in the midst of her dead, she praised God that he had given her seven sons counted worthy to be saints in paradise. At length, after prolonged and excruciating torture, she was beheaded.
Silent strength shows true courage, while loud boasting reveals cowardice.
When Homer sketch his brave captains march, he gives them silence for guide; contrariwise, he maketh cowards to babble, and chatter like cranes. The one pass along like great rivers, letting their streams glide softly with silent majesty: the others do nothing else but mermur like little brooks. A sign of not being valiant at all is to strive to seem valiant.
— N. Caussin
A boy bravely refuses to lie, showing integrity even under pressure.
"I will not!" said a little boy stoutly. "What won't you do?" a passer-by asked. "That boy wants me to 'make believe' something to my mother; and I won't," he answered.
In crisis, courage and perseverance are vital to overcome seemingly impossible obstacles.
The foundations of a gigantic mill were laid upon the banks of a rapid stream in Western New York; and the men of the little village near gathered to raise the massive frame to its place. Bent after bent was lifted, till the last and heaviest one alone was left. At the word of command, this rose above the strong arms which held the pikes, until it reached what builders call "the pinch in the bent;" beyond which it passes with comparative ease to the vertical position, and there it stopped. The master-builder shouted with alarm, "Lift, men, or die!" Every muscle was strained anew, but in vain. There it hung over the living throng, like an engine of swift destruction. Just then, three men appeared in the highway, upon the brow of a hill; and the call for help fell on their ears: they saw the peril, and hastened away from the scene with cowardly fear. The chief workman mounted a plate above the trembling company, and, in tears, again shouted, "Lift, men, or die!" The struggle was fruitless: the frame was settling towards the exhausted throng. Meanwhile, the tidings had spread through the village; the women had gathered along the opposite bank of the current, and were anxiously looking up to the imperilled loved ones. The eye of the builder was turned upon them a moment; and then, with a fresh flood of tears, he exclaimed, "Mothers, if you would have sons; wives, if you would have husbands; and sisters, if you would have brothers, to-night, come and help us! With the strong impulse of woman's nature, they rushed across the stream, and stood side by side with the dear inmates of the deserted homes. Then came the cry of distress once more: "Now, altogether, lift, or die!" And they did lift. Up, up, went the frame. A stroke of the hammer, and all was safe. The re-action confined some of that number to the house for weeks. We have often thought of the incident when a crisis comes to the Church of God. The spiritual bent will rise before the power of faith, and then suddenly pause, and hang in suspense before the tearful gaze of the believing heart. The Head of the Church issues his call to his servants, urged by the peril of the souls dear to them. If not obeyed, the falling bent crushes out the life which might have been saved. And so, in national and individual history, the hour of decision comes when the summoning of forces in heroic harmony of effort alone can save from fatal reverses. Tract Journal
Standing bravely for what is right can stop wrongdoing in its tracks.
Three little boys were playing horse in the street. With a dash and a flourish, they came prancing around the corner just by a grocer's wagon, that was waiting there while the driver had gone into the house. Quick as thought, one little fellow climbed up, and picked off a red apple, which he began to put into his pocket. "Hold on!" said one of the other boys: "put that back." — "Why?" — "Because it does not belong to you." — "But I am going to keep it anyway!" was the dogged reply. "Well, then, you shall not be in our play," was the brave response; and, forthwith, he commenced taking off "the bridle." This bold treatment produced the desired effect. The little offender tossed the apple back, and off they all scampered gay as larks. This was standing up for the right bravely. Dr. Wise.
A wounded soldier urges others to keep the flag raised despite his own injury.
At the fight at Scarytown, Va., the soldier John Haven was wounded. He was a handsome, intelligent young man, as brave as a lion, and the pet of the company. His right hip was shot away just as he was passing a ball to his gun. When his captain saw him fall, he ran and picked him up, and conveyed him in his own arms to a place of safety. "Never mind me, captain," he cried; "but don't let that flag go down!"
A physician risked and lost his life dissecting plague victims to save others.
The plague was making a desert of the city of Marseilles. Death was everywhere. The physicians could do nothing. In one of their counsels, it was decided that a corpse must be dissected; but it would be death to the operator. A celebrated physician of the number arose and said, "I devote myself for the safety of my country. Before this numerous assembly I swear in the name of humanity and religion, that to-morrow, at the break of day, I will dissect a corpse, and write down, as I proceed, what I observe." He immediately left the room, made his will, and spent the night in religious exercises. During the day, a man had died in his house of the plague; and at daybreak on the following morning, the physician, whose name was Guyon, entered the room, and critically made the necessary examinations, writing down all his surgical observations. He then left the room, threw the papers into a vase of vinegar, that they might not convey the disease to another, and retired to a convenient place, where he died in twelve hours.
John Maynard's bravery saved lives by steering a burning ship to shore.
John Maynard was well known as a God-fearing pilot on Lake Erie. He had charge of a steamer from Detroit to Buffalo, one summer afternoon. Smoke was seen ascending from below; and the captain called out, "Simpson, go down and see what that smoke is!" He came up with his face as pale as ashes, and said, "Captain, the ship is on fire!" "Fire, fire, fire, fire!" instantly resounded in all directions. All hands were called up. Buckets of water were dashed upon the flames, but in vain. There were large quantities of rosin and tar on board; and it was useless to try to save the ship. The passengers rushed forward, and inquired of the pilot, "How far are we from land?"— "Seven miles."—"How long before we reach it?"—"Three-quarters of an hour, at our present rate of steam."—"Is there any danger?" —"Danger enough here! See the smoke bursting out! Go forward, if you would save your lives!" Passengers and crew, men, women, and children, crowded to the forward part of the ship. John Maynard stood at his post. The flames burst forth in a sheet of fire; clouds of smoke arose. The captain cried out through his trumpet, "John Maynard!"—"Ay, ay, sir!" responded the brave tar. "How does she head?"—"South-east by east, sir."— "Head her south-east, and run her on shore." Nearer, yet nearer, she approached the shore. Again the captain cried out, "John Maynard!" The response came feebly, "Ay, ay, sir!" —"Can you hold on five minutes longer, John?"—"By God's help I will!" The old man's hair was scorched from the scalp, one hand was disabled, and his teeth were set; yet he stood firm as a rock. He beached the ship. Every man, woman, and child was saved, as John Maynard dropped overboard, and his spirit took its flight to his God." J. B. Gough.
A soldier values honor above life, refusing to avoid a dangerous post.
An American officer during the War of Independence was ordered to a station of extreme peril, when several around him suggested various expedients by which he might evade the dangerous post assigned him. He made them the following heroic reply, "I thank you, my friends, for your solicitude. I know I can easily save my life; but who will save my honor, should I adopt your advice?"
Courageous faithfulness can resist evil commands out of respect for God and conscience.
HUMANITY, Example of When Catherine of Medicis had persuaded Charles IX. to massacre all the Protestants in France, orders were sent to the governors of the different provinces to put the Huguenots to death in their respective districts. One Catholic governor, whose memory will ever be dear to humanity, had the courage to disobey the cruel mandate. "Sir," said he, in a letter to his sovereign, "I have too much respect for your Majesty, not to persuade myself that the order I have received must be forged; but if (which God forbid!) it should be really the order of your Majesty, I have too much respect for the personal character of my sovereign to obey it."
— Percy
Ignoring insults from insignificant sources maintains one's peace and courage.
A donkey had the impertinence to follow a wild boar, and to bray after him in order to insult him. The courageous animal was at first irritated at it; but, turning his head, he saw from whence the insult came. He quietly continued his way, without honoring the scoundrel with a single word.
Despite losing ground, soldiers courageously reclaimed their position without damaging new weapons.
During the battle of Shiloh, an officer furiously rode up to Gen. Grant, and, touching his cap, thus addressed him, "Sheneral, I wants to make one report: Schwartz's Battery is took."— "Ah!" says the general: "how was that?" —"Well, you see, sheneral, de sheshenists come up in front of us, and de sheshenists flanked us, and de sheshenists come in de gear of us; and Schwartz's Battery was took." —"Well, sir," says the general, "you, of course, spiked the guns?"—"Vat!" exclaimed the Dutchman, in astonishment, —"schpike dem guns, schpike dem new guns! No! it would schspoil hem!"—"Well," said the general sharply, "what did you do?"—"Do? vy, we took dem back again!"
A general's decisive action captures an enemy ship when others only wish it taken.
During the war in Canada between the French and English, when Gen. Amherst was marching across the country to Canada, the army coming to one of the Lakes, which they were obliged to pass, found the French had an armed vessel of twelve guns upon it. The general was in great distress: his boats were no match for her. While he was pondering on what should be done, Gen. Putnam came to him, and said, "General, that ship must be taken." — "Ay," says Amherst, "I would give the world she was taken." — "I'll take her," says Putnam, Amherst smiled, and asked how. "Give me some wedges, a beetle, and a few men of my own choice." Amherst granted Putnam's request. When night came, Putnam, with his materials and men, stole quietly in a boat under the vessel's stern, and in an instant drove in the wedges behind the rudder in the little cavity between the rudder and ship, and left her. In the morning, the sails were seen fluttering about: she was adrift in the middle of the lake, was soon blown ashore, and captured.
A juror's steadfast will and endurance persuade others to acquit an innocent man.
I remember admiring an instance of this kind in a firm, sagacious, and estimable old man, whom I well knew, and who has long been dead. Being on a jury in a trial of life and death, he was satisfied of the innocence of the prisoner: the other eleven were of the opposite opinion. But he was resolved the man should not be condemned; and, as the first effort for preventing it, very properly made application to the minds of his associates, spending several hours in laboring to convince them. But he found he made no impression, while he was exhausting the strength which it was necessary to reserve for another mode of operation. He then calmly told them, that it should now be a trial who could endure confinement and famine the longest; and that they might be quite assured he would sooner die than release them at the expense of the prisoner's life. In this situation, they spent about twenty-four hours; when, at length, all acceded to his verdict of acquittal. J. Foster.
A son risks his life to bring provisions to his besieged father during war.
At the siege of Knaresborough, by the Parliament's army, under the command of Colonel Lilburn, a young man who resided in the town, and whose father was one of the garrison, had, several times, at the hazard of his life, conveyed provisions to him, which he effected in the night by getting into the moat, which was dry, climbing up the glacis, and putting the provisions into a hole, where his father was ready to receive them. Being at last discovered by the guard belonging to the besiegers, they fired but missed him. He was, however, taken prisoner, and, having made a full confession of his conduct, was sentenced to be hanged the next day, in the sight of the besieged, to deter others from giving them the least assistance. The sentence was about to be carried into execution, when a lady, whose name was Wincup, with several others, petitioned the commander to pardon the unhappy youth. They succeeded so far as to have him respited; and when the troops left the place, he was set at liberty.
True nobility and courage can tame even the fiercest adversaries.
Crantz, in his Saxon History, tells us of an Earl of Alsatia, surnamed Iron on account of his great strength, who was a great favorite with Edward the Third of England, and much envied, as favorites are always sure to be, by the rest of the courtiers. On one occasion, when the king was absent, some noblemen maliciously instigated the queen to make trial of the noble blood of the favorite, by causing a lion to be let loose upon him, saying, according to the popular belief, that, "if the earl was truly noble, the lion would not touch him." It being customary with the earl to rise at break of day, before any other person in the palace was stirring, a lion was let loose during the night, and turned into the lower court. When the earl came down in the morning, with no more than a night-gown cast over his shirt, he was met by the lion bristling his hair, and growling destruction between his teeth. The earl, not in the least daunted, called out with a stout voice, "Stand, you dog." At these words the lion couched at his feet, to the great amazement of the courtiers, who were peeping out at every window to see the issue of their ungenerous project. The earl laid hold of the lion by the mane, turned him into his cage, and placing his night-cap on the lion's back, came forth without ever casting a look behind him. "Now," said the earl, calling out to the courtiers, whose presence at the windows instantly convinced him of the share they had in this trial of his courage, "Let him amongst you all, that standeth most upon his pedigree, go and fetch my night-cap."
Wickliff faced death courageously, refusing to recant his faith despite opposition.
At one period of his life, this eminent reformer's health was considerably impaired by the labor of producing his numerous compositions, and the excitements inseparable from the restless hostilities of his enemies. Being supposed to be in dangerous circumstances, his old antagonists, the mendicants, conceived it next to impossible that so notorious a heretic should find himself near a future world without the most serious apprehensions of Divine anger. While they declared that the dogmas of the reformer had arisen from the suggestions of the great enemy, they anticipated some advantages to their cause, could the dying culprit be induced to make any recantation of his published opinions. Wickliff was in Oxford when this sickness arrested his activity, and confined him to his chamber. From the four orders of friars, four doctors, who were also called regents, were gravely deputed to wait on their expiring enemy; and to these the same number of civil officers, called senators of the city, and aldermen of the wards, were added. When this embassy entered the apartment of the rector of Lutterworth, he was seen stretched on his bed. Some kind wishes were first expressed as to his better health, and the blessing of a speedy recovery. It was presently suggested, that he must be aware of the many wrongs which the whole mendicant brotherhood had sustained from his attacks, especially in his sermons, and in certain of his writings; and, as death was now apparently about to remove him, it was sincerely hoped that he would not conceal his penitence, but distinctly revoke whatever he had preferred against them to their injury. The sick man remained silent and motionless until this address was concluded. He then beckoned his servants to raise him in his bed; and fixing his eyes on the persons assembled, summoned all his remaining strength, as he exclaimed aloud, "I shall not die, but live; and shall again declare the evil deeds of the friars." The doctors and their attendants now hurried from his presence, and they lived to feel the truth of his saying; nor will it be easy to imagine another scene more characteristic of the parties composing it, or of the times in which it occurred.
Knox boldly defied royal threats to stop preaching God's truth without fear.
The pure heart-searching doctrines which were preached by this Scotch apostle, were then, as they are now, offensive to the carnal heart, and hence he was commanded by the voluptuous court of Mary to desist. Knox, who knew no master and obeyed no mandate that was in opposition to his God and his Bible, paid no attention to this command of the palace. Hearing immediately from the enemies of the cross, who were then, as I fear they are at present, the favorites and friends of the palace, that her orders were disobeyed, the haughty Mary summoned the Scottish reformer into her presence. When Knox arrived he was ushered into the room in which were the queen and her attendant lords. On being questioned concerning his contumacy, he answered plainly that he preached nothing but truth, and he dared not preach less. "But," answered one of the lords, "our commands must be obeyed on pain of death; silence or the gallows is the alternative." The spirit of Knox was roused by the dastardly insinuation that any human punishment could make him desert the banner of his Savior, and with that fearless, indescribable courage which disdains the pomp of language or of action, he firmly replied, "My lords, you are mistaken if you think you can intimidate me to do by threats what conscience and God tell me I never shall do; for be it known unto you that it is a matter of no importance to me, when I have finished my work, whether my bones shall bleach in the winds of heaven or rot in the bosom of the earth." Knox having retired, one of the lords said to the queen, "We may let him alone, for we cannot punish that man." Well, therefore, might it be said by a nobleman at the grave of John Knox, "Here lies one who never feared the face of man."
Fletcher calmly faced a pistol threat, trusting God's protection over his life.
The Rev. Mr. Fletcher of England, had a very wild and profligate nephew in the army, a man who has been dismissed from the Sardinian service for very bad conduct. He has engaged in two or three duels, and had spent all his money in vice and folly. The wicked youth waited one day on his eldest uncle, General De Gons, and presenting a loaded pistol, threatened to shoot him unless he would that moment advance him five hundred crowns. The general, though a brave man, well knew what a desperate fellow he had to deal with, and gave a draft for the money, at the same time speaking freely to him on his conduct. The young man rode off in high spirits with his ill-gotten money. In the evening, passing the door of his younger uncle, Mr. Fletcher, he called on him, and began with informing him what General De Gons had done; and, as a proof, showed a draft under De Gons' own hand. Mr. Fletcher took the draft from his nephew, and looked at him with surprise. Then after some remarks, putting it into his pocket, said, "It strikes me, young man, that you have possessed yourself of this note by some wrong method; and in conscience, I cannot return it but with my brother's knowledge and approbation." The nephew's pistol was in a moment at his breast. "My life," replied Mr. Fletcher, with perfect calmness, "is secure in protection of an almighty power; nor will he suffer it to be the forfeit of my integrity and your rashness." This firmness drew from the nephew the observation, "That his uncle De Gons, though an old soldier, was more afraid of death than his brother." "Afraid of death!" rejoined Mr. Fletcher, "do you think I have been twenty-five years a minister of the Lord of life, to be afraid of death now? No, sir, it is for you to be afraid of death. You are a gamester and a cheat; yet call yourself a gentleman! You are the seducer of female innocence; and still say you are a gentleman! You are a duellist; and for this you style yourself a man of honor! Look there, sir," pointing to the heavens, "the broad eye of Heaven is fixed upon us. Tremble in the presence of your Maker, who can in a moment kill your body, and forever punish your soul in hell."
The unhappy young prodigal turned pale, and trembled with fear and rage. He still threatened his uncle with instant death. Fletcher, though thus threatened, gave no alarm, sought for no weapon, and attempted not to escape. He calmly conversed with his profligate relative; and at length perceiving him to be affected, addressed him in the kindest language, till he fairly disarmed and subdued him! He would not return his brother's draft; but engaged to procure for the young man some immediate relief. He then prayed for him; and after fulfilling his promise of assistance, parted with him, with much good advice on one side, and many fair promises on the other.
A humble man courageously reproved a king about his sinful love of women.
It is said that Henry the Great of France, took much pleasure in conversing with an honest and religious man of low situation in life, who used great freedom with his majesty. One day he said to the king, "Sire, I always take your part when I hear any man speaking evil of you: I know that you excel in justice and generosity, and that many worthy things have been done by you. But you have one vice for which God will condemn you, if you do not repent, I mean the unlawful love of women." The king, it is said, was too magnanimous to resent this reproof, but he long felt it like an arrow in his bosom; and sometimes said, that the most eloquent discourses of the doctors of the Sorbonne had never made such an impression on his soul, as this honest reproof from his humble friend.
Dr. Harris fearlessly preached against swearing despite threats from soldiers.
Dr. Harris, the minister of Hanwell, (Eng.) during the civil wars, frequently had military officers quartered at his house. A party of them, being unmindful of the reverence due to the holy name of God, indulged themselves in swearing. The doctor noticed this, and on the following Sabbath, preached from these words:—“Above all things, my brethren, swear not.” This so enraged the soldiers, who judged the sermon was intended for them, that they swore they would shoot him if he preached on the subject again. He was not, however, to be intimidated; and on the following Sabbath, he not only preached from the same text, but inveighed in still stronger terms against the vice of swearing. As he was preaching, a soldier levelled his carbine at him; but he went on to the conclusion of his sermon, without the slightest fear or hesitation!
Samuel Wesley boldly refused to support Popery despite threats and pressure.
Mr. Samuel Wesley, the father of the celebrated Mr. John Wesley, being strongly importuned by the friends of James the Second, to support the measures of the court in favor of Popery, with promises of preferment, absolutely refused even to read the king’s declaration; and though surrounded with courtiers, soldiers, and informers, he preached a bold and pointed discourse against it from these words:—“If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us out of thy hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.”
Mr. Elliot boldly declared God's protection against hostile Indian chiefs.
Some of the Indian chiefs having become the open enemies of the gospel, Mr. Elliot, sometimes called the Apostle of the American Indians, when in the wilderness, without the company of any other Englishman, was, at various times, treated in a threatening and barbarous manner by some of those men, yet his Almighty Protector inspired him with such resolution, that he said,—“I am about the work of the Great God, and my God is with me: so that I fear neither you, nor all the Sachems (or chiefs) in the country. I will go on, and do you touch me if you dare." They heard him, and shrunk away.
A bishop courageously excommunicated a violent prince despite threats of death.
William IX, Duke of Aquitaine and Earl of Poitiers, was a violent and dissolute prince, and often indulged himself in improper behavior at the expense of religion. Though he had contracted a very suitable marriage, and one with which he was satisfied for some time, he parted from his wife without reason, to marry another who pleased him better. The Bishop of Poitiers, where he resided, was a holy prelate, named Peter. He could not brook so great a scandal; and having employed all other means in vain, he thought it his duty to excommunicate the duke. As he began to pronounce the anathema, William furiously advanced, sword in hand, saying, "Thou art dead if thou proceedest." The bishop, as if afraid, required a few moments to consider what was most expedient. The duke granted it, and the bishop courageously finished the rest of the formula of excommunication. After which, extending his neck, "Now strike," said he, "I am quite ready." The astonishment which this intrepid conduct produced in the duke, disarmed his fury, and saying ironically, "I don't like you well enough to send you to heaven," he contented himself with banishing him.
Mr. Hinton courageously confronted a violent man to uphold church discipline.
A person who was not a member of Mr. James Hinton's church in Oxford, nevertheless enjoyed the privileges of Christian fellowship, as being connected (according to his own statement) with a well known church in London. His conduct was found to be inconsistent; it was ascertained, also, that he had been excluded from the community to which he had declared himself to belong. It was clearly necessary to inform him, therefore, that he could no longer be admitted to the Lord's table. But he was rich, and he was passionate; subject, indeed, to paroxysms of rage, on account of which, every one was afraid to interfere with him. The measure was, however, adopted by the church; but when (according to their usual mode) messengers were to be appointed to communicate the result, the deacons would not go; nor would any one go, for all said, it was at the hazard of their lives. "Then," replied Mr. Hinton, "I will go: my life is second to my duty." But no one would even accompany him; and he went alone. The unhappy man's wrath was exceedingly high. When solemnly warned that no such person as he was could "enter into the kingdom of heaven," he seized a large stick, and threatened his reprover's life: to which he replied, "Then, sir, I shall meet you next at the bar of judgment; and you will remember that these were the last words I uttered!" The enraged man immediately threw down his weapon, and ran about the room in agony, crying, "O no, no, no, you shall not charge me with murder!" Mr. Hinton records the deliverance from — among his "special mercies."
Lavater courageously confronted a corrupt official to defend the oppressed despite personal risk.
There lived in the city of Zurich, a person who, though an unworthy character, was a member of its senate. During the time he was prefect over a district of the canton, he had committed innumerable acts of the grossest injustice,—yea, such flagrant crimes, that all the country people reproached and cursed him; but no one dared to prosecute him, as he was related to several members of the Zurich government, and son-in-law to the chief magistrate of the city. Mr. Lavater, the celebrated physiognomist, having often heard of the atrocities of the prefect, committed against even helpless widows and orphans, and having duly examined into them, felt an irresistible desire to plead the cause of the poor and oppressed. He was aware that his supporting this cause would expose him to the frowns of the great and the mighty, and occasion much anxiety to his friends; but conceiving it to be his duty, he determined to proceed. Having prepared himself by earnest prayer, and consulted an intimate friend, he addressed a letter to the prefect, in which he strongly reproached him for his detestable actions, and plainly signified his intention to bring him to public justice, should he not restore his spoils within two months. The time having elapsed, and no restoration having been made, Mr. Lavater proceeded to print a solemn indictment against him, which he caused to be delivered to every member of the Zurich government. At first he concealed his name; but when called upon, he came forward in the
# 113. COL
True courage is obeying God rather than man, even when facing a challenge to fight.
Colonel Gardiner having received a challenge to fight a duel, made the following truly noble and Christian reply: "I fear sinning, though you know, sir, I do not fear fighting;" thus showing his conviction of a fact too often forgotten, that the most impressive manifestation of courage is to "obey God rather than man."
# 118. Folly of Darling.
Boldness and faith in God overcome threats and challenges without fighting.
The preaching of the Rev. J. Scott, who had been a captain in the army, having been instrumental in the conversion of a young lady, the daughter of a country gentleman, her father was greatly offended, because she would not join in the usual amusements of their circle. Looking upon Mr. Scott as the sole cause of what he regarded as the melancholy of his daughter, he lay in wait to shoot him. Mr. Scott, being providentially apprised of it, was enabled to escape the danger. The diabolical design of the gentleman being thus defeated, he sent Mr. Scott a challenge. Mr. S. might have availed himself of the law, and prosecuted him; but he took another method. He waited upon him at his house, was introduced to him in his parlor, and, with his characteristic boldness and intrepidity, thus addressed him: "Sir, I hear that you have designed to shoot me, by which you would have been guilty of murder; failing in this, you have sent me a challenge. And what a coward must you be, sir, to wish to engage with a blind man!" (alluding to his being shortsighted). "As you have given me the challenge, it is now my right to choose the time, the place, and the weapon; I therefore, sir, appoint the present moment, the place where we now are, and the sword for the weapon, to which I have been the most accustomed." The gentleman was evidently greatly terrified; when Mr. Scott, having attained his end, produced a pocket Bible, and exclaimed, "This is my sword, sir; the only weapon I wish to engage with." "Never," said Mr. Scott to a friend to whom he related this anecdote, "never was a poor careless sinner so delighted with the sight of a Bible before!"
Mr. Scott reasoned with the gentleman on the impropriety of his conduct, in treating him as he had done, for no other reason but because he had preached the truth. The result was, the gentleman took him by the hand, begged his pardon, expressed his sorrow for his conduct, and became afterwards very friendly to him.
Kapiolani's fearless act disproved idol worship and affirmed faith in the true God.
Owyhee is an island very remarkable for its volcanoes. One of these, named Peli, was long the object of religious worship by the natives, who believed it to be the residence of their gods. This worship has ceased. It has been abolished by the Christian courage of a female of rank, named Kapiolani. She proceeded fearlessly to Peli, accompanied by many friends and dependents. At the first precipice a number of them became alarmed and turned back. At the second, the rest earnestly entreated her to desist from her dangerous enterprise, and to tempt no further the powerful gods of the fires. But she proceeded, saying, "I will descend into the crater, and if I do not return safe, then continue to worship Peli; but if I come back unhurt, you must learn to adore the God that created Peli." With unhesitating step she reached the gloomy abyss, stirred the fiery lake, and completed an achievement seldom equalled in the annals of magnanimity. When she pushed the stick into the glowing lava, the idolatrous natives expected to see her instantly fall a sacrifice to their insulted goddess. Her safety effectually convinced them of their folly.
A governor disobeys a cruel order to kill Protestants out of respect for humanity.
When Catharine of Medicis had persuaded Charles IX to massacre all the Protestants in France, orders were sent to the governors of the different provinces to put the Huguenots to death in their respective districts. One Catholic governor, whose memory will ever be dear to humanity, had the courage to disobey the cruel mandate. "Sire," said he, in a letter to his sovereign, "I have too much respect for your majesty not to persuade myself that the order I have received must be forged; but if, which God forbid, it should be really the order of your majesty, I have too much respect for the personal character of my sovereign to obey it."
A young chief bravely rescued a captive woman, ending human sacrifice among his tribe.
The following facts of a young chief of the Pawnee nation, and son of Old Knife, one of the Indians who visited the city of Washington, in America, a few years ago, from the foot of the Rocky Mountains, are highly creditable to his courage, his generosity, and his benevolence. This young warrior, when these events occurred, was about twenty-five years old. At the age of twenty-one, his heroic deeds had acquired for him, among his people, the rank of "bravest of the brave." The savage practice of torturing and burning to death their prisoners existed in this nation. An unfortunate female, taken in war, of the Padua nation, was destined to this horrible death. The fatal hour had arrived: the trembling victim, far from her home and her friends, was fastened to the stake: the whole tribe was assembled on the surrounding plain, to witness the awful scene. Just when the wood was about
204. HU
A soldier refuses to fight violently, shaming his opponent into backing down.
A beloved brother, now dead, (says a writer in a Massachusetts journal,) related to me a circumstance of his life, which I think is worth preserving. He was a soldier in the revolutionary war. After he came here, he became religious, and was convinced that all "wars and fightings" are contrary to the Gospel of Christ. His zeal in advocating his principles, stirred up the enmity of a wicked man in the neighborhood, who threatened, when his son came home from the army, he would flog him.
Sure enough, when the son came home, the old man told such stories to him about this brother, that it excited him to that degree, that he came to the house where my brother lived, in a rage, determined to fight. My brother expostulated with him, and endeavored, by all the means in his power, to allay his anger, and deter him from his purpose; but all would not do; fight he must, and fight he would. "Well," says the brother, "if we must fight, don't let us be like cats and dogs, fighting in the house; so go out into the field." To this he assented. When they had got into the field, and the young bully had stripped himself for the fight, my brother looked him in the face, and said, "Now you are a great coward." "Coward! don't call me a coward." "Well, you are one of the greatest cowards I ever saw." "What do you mean?" "I mean as I say; you must be a very great coward to go fighting a man who will not fight you." "What, don't you mean to fight me?" "Not I; you may fight me as much as you please, I shall not lift up a finger against you." "Is that your principle?" "Yes, it is; and I mean to be true to it." The spirit of the young soldier fell; and, stretching out his arm, he said, "Then I would sooner cut off that arm than I would strike you." They then entered into an explanation, and parted good friends.
# 291. Non-Resistance and Trust in God.
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