12 Sermon Illustrations on Obedience

A little boy was tempted to pluck some cherries from a tree which his father had forbidden him to touch. "You need not be afraid," said his companion; "for, if your father should find out that you have taken them, he is too kind to hurt you." "Ah!" said the little fellow: "that is the very reason why I would not touch them; for, though my father would not hurt me, yet I should hurt him by my disobedience."

During Havelock's stay in England, a gentleman went one evening to the house of the colonel, in compliance with an invitation. In the course of conversation, Mrs. Havelock turned suddenly round to her husband, and said, "My dear, where is Henry?" referring to her son, whom she had not seen during the whole afternoon. The colonel started to his feet. "Well, poor fellow! he's standing on London Bridge, and in this cold too! I told him to wait for me there at twelve o'clock to-day; and, in the pressure of business, I quite forgot the appointment." It was now about seven o'clock in the evening. The colonel at once rose, ordered a cab to be called; and, as he went forth to deliver his son from his watch on London Bridge, he turned to excuse himself from his visitor, saying, "You see, sir, that is the discipline of a soldier's family." In the course of an hour, he returned with poor Harry, who seemed to have passed through the afternoon's experience with the greatest good humor.

Nothing can be love to God which does not shape itself into obedience. We remember the anecdote of the Roman commander who forbade an engagement with the enemy, and the first transgressor against whose prohibition was his son. He accepted the challenge of the leader of the other host, met, slew, spoiled him; and then, in triumphant feeling, carried the spoils to his father's tent. But the Roman father refused to recognize the instinct which prompted this, as deserving of the name of love. Disobedience contradicted it, and deserved death.

— F. W. Robertson

A story is told of a great captain, who, after a battle, was talking over the events of the day with his officers. He asked them who had done the best that day. Some spoke of one man who had fought very bravely, and some of another. "No," he said: "you are all mistaken. The best man in the field to-day was a soldier who was just lifting up his arm to strike an enemy, but, when he heard the trumpet sound a retreat, checked himself, and dropped his arm without striking the blow. That perfect and ready obedience to the will of his general is the noblest thing that has been done to-day."

— Oxendon

A pointsman in Prussia was at the junction of two lines of railway, his lever in hand for a train that was signalled. The engine was within a few seconds of reaching the embankment, when the man, on turning his head, perceived his little boy playing on the rails of the line the train was to pass over. "Lie down!" he shouted to the child; but, as to himself, he remained at his post. The train passed safely on its way. The father rushed forward, expecting to take up a corpse; but what was his joy on finding that the boy had at once obeyed his order! He had lain down, and the whole train passed over him without injury. The next day the king sent for the man, and attached to his breast the medal for civil courage.

A Sabbath school teacher, instructing his class on that petition of the Lord's Prayer, "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven," said to them, "You have told me, my dear children, what is to be done—the will of God: and where it is to be done—on earth; and how it is to be done—as it is done in heaven. How do you think the angels and the happy spirits do the will of God in heaven, as they are to be our pattern?" The first child replied, "They do it immediately:" the second, "They do it diligently:" the third, "They do it always:" the fourth, "They do it with all their hearts:" the fifth, "They do it all together." Here a pause ensued, and no other children appeared to have any answer; but, after some time, a little girl arose, and said, "Why, sir, they do it without asking any questions." 104. 109

1. The money thus collected is to be appropriated to a most noble purpose. 2. It would make people, and especially the members of every family, more circumspect, and watch with more diligence and care over that little member which no man can tame; and thereby prevent much slander and evil speaking, which is the cause, no doubt, of half of the broils and animosities which occur in families and neighborhoods.

### CE AND VALUE OF.

pen now, and calculate the woman of one hundred immortal souls!"