Holy obedience in Christian preaching emphasizes a faithful and reverent submission to God's commands, reflecting a life set apart from worldly desires. Illustrations often contrast noble, elevated imagery with lowly or base pursuits to encourage believers to live as God's children, obedient and pure (John 14:15, Hebrews 5:9).
Christians abstain from fleshly lusts as strangers to secure eternal life.
As strangers and travellers abstain, in countries where they are strangers, from many things which would hinder them in their voyage; so good Christians, in their passage through this world, should abstain from the lusts of the flesh, which hinder their souls from life everlasting.
Resolute holiness values purity from sin over comfort or even heaven itself.
Anselm was a man of holy resolution. "I had rather," saith he, "go to hell pure from sin than to heaven polluted with that filth." And saith another, "I will rather leap into a bonfire than wilfully to sin against God." T. Brooks.
Christians should speak about Christ and holiness, not empty or vain talk.
It is said of the Rev. John Janeway, an eminently pious and devoted young minister, who died in 1657, that he was greatly distressed on account of the indisposition manifested among Christians to engage in suitable conversation; and that they who should be found encouraging one another in the way to eternal happiness, could satisfy themselves with empty, common, vain stuff; as if Christ, heaven, and eternity, were not of far greater worth than any thing else that usually sounds in the ears and comes from the lips of professors. That the folly of common discourse among Christians might appear more, and that he might discover how little such language did become those that profess themselves followers of Christ, he once sat down silently, and took out his pen and ink, and wrote down in short-hand the discourse that passed for some time together, amongst those who pretended to more than common understanding in the things of God. And, after a while, he took his paper and read it to them, and asked them whether their talk was such as they would be willing God should record. "Oh, to spend an hour or two together, and to hear scarcely a word for Christ, or that speaks people's hearts in love with holiness! Should we talk thus if we believed that we should hear of this again at the day of judgment? Would Enoch, David, or Paul have talked thus? Is this the sweetest communication of saints upon earth? Doth not this indicate our hearts to be very empty of grace, and that we have little sense of those spiritual and eternal concerns upon us?"
A servant’s rebuke led John Fletcher to become a strict observer of the Lord’s Day.
BREAKER.—When Rev. John Fletcher was residing, as a tutor, in the family of Thomas Hill, Esq., of Tern Hall, in Shropshire, (Eng.,) though he felt the importance of religion, he was far from being an open and decided servant of Christ. On one Sabbath evening, a servant coming into his room to make up his fire, observed he was writing music, and looking at him with serious concern, said, "Sir, I am sorry to see you so employed on the Lord's day." At first his pride was offended, and his resentment excited, at being reproved by a servant; but, upon reflection, he felt that the reproof was just. He immediately put away his music, and from that hour became a strict observer of the Lord's day.
A Sabbath School girl rebuked profane men despite her father’s anger and threats.
In the town of W—, Connecticut, there was a pious little girl belonging to the Sabbath School, whose father was an opposer of religion. One day he had several men to assist him in haying. They indulged in profanity and scoffing at religion; and their employer rather encouraged them in it. The little girl overheard them, and was so shocked and grieved at their conduct, that she went into the meadow and asked them if they did not know it was wicked to use such profane language? This drew forth their ridicule, and so exasperated her father that he gave her a severe rebuke, and sent her back into the house. She returned as commanded; but retired to her closet and prayed for those who had abused her. In the course of the day she overheard their profanity again, and resolved again to reprove them whatever might be the results.
As she addressed them the second time in her artless manner, her father became so angry he told her: "My daughter, we don't want any of your religion here; if you say any thing more upon that subject, you must quit my house. Now return and attend to your business." The little girl returned; but resolved rather to quit the paternal roof than to do violence to her conscience. She went back to her chamber, and having prayed to God, proceeded to tie up her clothes, and then put on her bonnet and went out, scarce knowing whither she went.
She went first to the field to bid her father farewell, and fell at his feet, saying, "Pa, I must leave you. I am going away, but I shall pray for you." She immediately left the field, and passing over the hill was soon out of sight. The unfeeling father now began to reflect on what he had done; and his torpid conscience began to awake. He could not work; and after some time he threw down his scythe and started in pursuit of his daughter. As he was hurrying on to overtake her, he came near to a grove, and as he listened he heard a voice in the adjacent field. He crept softly along to the stone wall and listened again: the woods were still, he heard it again. It was the voice of prayer—the voice of his little daughter praying for her father's salvation! The stubborn heart of the father was melted; he hastened over the wall to his daughter; and clasping her in his arms asked her to pray for him, "for," said he, "I am a great sinner." Of it was an affecting scene, one that must have awakened the joy of angels! He carried his little daughter home in his arms, and ere long obtained forgiveness of his sins, and father and child were soon rejoicing together in the blessings of the Christian's hope.
### 369. Proper Spirit in Reproving.
A timely, gentle rebuke can convict a person even amid suffering and anger.
Mr. Meikle, a gentleman of eminent piety, was a surgeon at Carnwath, in Scotland. He was once called to attend a gentleman who had been stung in the face by a wasp or bee, and found him very impatient, and swearing, on account of his pain, in great wrath. "O doctor," said he, "I am in great torment; can you any way help?" "Do not fear, replied Mr. M., 'all will be over in a little while.'" Still, however, the gentleman continued to swear, and at length his attendant determined to reprove him. "I see nothing the matter," said he, "only it might have been in a better place." "Where might it have been?" asked the sufferer. "Why, on the tip of your tongue."
Mr. Howe gently reproved a gentleman for swearing, leading to his promise to stop.
The excellent Mr. Howe being at dinner with some persons of fashion, a gentleman expatiated largely in praise of King Charles I., introducing some harsh reflections upon others. Mr. Howe, observing that the gentleman mixed many oaths with his discourse, told him that, in his humble opinion, he had omitted a singular excellence in the character of that prince. The gentleman eagerly desired him to mention it, and seemed all impatience to know what it was. "It was this, sir," said Mr. Howe; "he was never heard to swear an oath in common conversation." The hint was as politely received as given; and the gentleman promised to break off the practice. At another time, passing two persons of quality, who were talking with great eagerness, and imprecating curses on each other repeatedly; Mr. H. said to them, taking off his hat in a respectful manner, "I pray God save you both;" for which handsome reproof they immediately returned him thanks.
A minister tactfully convinced men to stop swearing by explaining the meaning of their oaths.
As a minister was on his way from one town to another, for several miles his ears were assailed by oaths too awful to mention: how to stop it he was at a loss to know: at last, having looked to God for direction, he asked the gentlemen if they would grant a stranger a particular favor. They all agreed that if it were in their power, they would grant it. Being assured that it was in their power, the minister begged that what he was going to say to them might not give offence. They all agreed that whatever he said should not. Seeing their curiosity excited, he mildly told them that he was astonished to hear so many oaths uttered, and would esteem it a great favor if they would refrain from them. One of the gentlemen made this reply, "You have acted wisely in making us promise to perform, and also not to be angry; and we, as gentlemen, will endeavor to keep our word. I believe you are correct in disliking swearing; it is a very bad custom, and it is a pity there should be so much of it; for my own part, I am not one who swears as some do." The minister, glad to hear this confession, said that he was unacquainted with the meaning of some common oaths, but would briefly explain the meaning of some words he heard repeated by them and they would be better able to judge as to their propriety; accordingly he went over word by word, explaining each, when they all agreed they were wrong in using them, and promised to refrain in future. It is gratifying to know that they did as they said. One loquacious gentleman, who had interlarded almost every sentence with oaths, now sat silent; even the coachman ceased to add an oath in calling to his horses. The conversation turned upon useful subjects and the minister inwardly thanked God for the word spoken in season. One of their friends, who was riding inside, wishing to enjoy the fine evening breeze, proposed getting on the outside, and the minister offered to give him his place. "No, no," cried more than one, "you must not leave us, you must remain, for your company is highly necessary." It is pleasing to say that for nearly forty miles, except once, they kept to their promise; and when he left the coach, they thanked him for his company, and hoped they should not forget his advice. How important is it to use prudence with zeal!
Children explained their religion forbids traveling on the Sabbath, rebuking a scoffer.
One Lord's day, a few children were gathered round the porch of a village church, waiting for the commencement of public worship, when a wagon, with a number of persons in it who were going out on pleasure, stopped, and one of the men called out to the children, "Halloo there, what sort of religion do you have there?" One of the young lads replied, "A sort of religion that forbids our traveling on the Sabbath."
John Wesley asked an officer to kindly reprove him if he swore, showing humility and prudence.
John Wesley, having to travel some distance in a stage coach, fell in with a pleasant tempered, well informed officer. His conversation was sprightly, and entertaining, but frequently mingled with oaths. When they were about to take the next stage, Mr. Wesley took the officer apart, and after expressing the pleasure he had enjoyed in his company, told him he was thereby encouraged to ask of him a very great favor. "I would take a pleasure in obliging you," said the officer, "and I am sure you will not make an unreasonable request." "Then," says Mr. Wesley, "as we have to travel together some time, I beg that if I should so far forget myself as to swear, you will kindly reprove me." The officer immediately saw the motive, and felt the force of the request, and smiling said, "None but Mr. Wesley could have conceived a reproof in such a manner."
A boy refuses money to buy on Sabbath, obeying God's command to keep it holy.
On a Sabbath afternoon, a little boy, eight years of age, was in the sick chamber of his afflicted father, reading aloud a chapter in the Bible, when two persons called in to see the father; they requested that the child might be permitted to finish the chapter, which being done, one of the visitors praised him highly for his reading, and gave him sixpence, desiring him to go and buy some cakes, and divide them with his brothers and sisters. "What, to-day!" exclaimed the child with astonishment, for he had been taught to reverence the Sabbath; "none but wicked people keep open shop to-day, and I must not go and buy of them."
"But mother will give you leave for once," returned the injudicious visitor, because you have been such a good boy, and read your chapter so well."
The parents, of course, expressed their positive and entire objection to such a practice, and the child steadily refused to receive the money. But on the persons taking their leave, the little boy was desired to go down stairs with them and open the street-door; when his mistaken friend renewed her temptation, slipping the sixpence into his hand, saying, "There, now you can run and buy what you like, your mother will not miss you." "No," replied the child, "but if she should not, it is God's commandment that says, 'Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.'" So saying, he laid the sixpence on the step, and shut the door; there it was found by the servant, some hours afterwards; when, on inquiry being made, the little boy confessed that the visitor had again offered him the money, and that he had refused it. It was from the other lady, who was grieved at the impropriety of her friend's conduct, while she admired that of the child, that the parents were afterwards informed of the firm and proper reply. The boy's next concern was, how to return the money; for the idea of retaining it for his own use, even on another day, seemed never to have entered his mind. After a little consideration, he inquired if it would be right to purchase with it a little book on the subject of keeping holy the Sabbath day; his proposal being agreed to, a suitable book was named, but as the price was a shilling, the boy cheerfully contributed the remaining sixpence from his own little store; and the following day a book was purchased, and sent to his mistaken friend; with his earnest prayers that a divine blessing might accompany it.
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