Polished stones and sharpened arrows : a collection of scripture texts and illustrations for the Christian worker and the home

Front matter

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D THE HO/AE

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Preface

It was our Lord's favorite method of teaching, to bring into use some familiar figure to illustrate the truth he wished to impress upon the hearts of his hearers ; and we, his followers, will often find an apt illustration the best means of touching the secret spring of the heart, and causing its door to swing open to receive the same truth at our hands.

Doubtless some of the illustrations in this collection are already familiar to many into whose hands this little work will fall ; but as our aim is not for originality, it is hoped that they may prove not less useful than those which are entirely new.

The reader will observe that some of the selections are not intended to be confined to the texts of Scripture under which they are placed, but may appropriately be used under numerous other headings.

This volume has been prepared with a threefold purpose in view. First, To serve as a handbook of illustrations for the preacher, the teacher, and the Christian worker, that they may abound more and more in every good word and work. Second, That it may be the means of arousing some sleeping Christian to a higher sense of his duty to himself, his fellow-men, and to his God. And last, but not least, that some unsaved soul may be directed to the "Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world." If in either of these purposes I have been successful, my labor has not been in vain.

C. W. Bibb.

Minneapolis, Minn., Dec. 1.

Contents

CHAPTER PAGE

I. The Christian Life 1

II. Trust in Christ 37

Introduction

The value of illustration in speaking and in writing cannot be over-estimated. But if illustration passes into mere ornamentation, it may be a hinderance rather than a help. " Illustrations are the windows of thought." If they are stained windows, which color the light rather than transmit it, they will inevitably attract the thought to themselves rather than reveal that thought to us. How can we make illustrations interpret the truth to the hearer, instead of diverting the hearer from the truth ? If they can be so employed as to throw their light upon Scripture, and so to irradiate the word of God that it shall become luminous while the illustration is quite forgotten in the higher glory of the text, the end is attained. Illustration is the John the Baptist preparing the way of the truth, saying evermore, " I am not that light, but am sent to bear witness of that light."

The aim of the excellent volume which we hereby take pleasure in introducing to the public is just this which we have above indicated. May it throw its illustrative light on many a gospel message of preacher and worker for Christ.

A. J. Gordon.

Clarendon Street Church, Boston, Feb. 1889.

Chapter I. The Christian Life

HE THAT SAITH HE ABIDETH IX HIM OUGHT HIMSELF

ALSO SO TO WALK, EVEN AS HE WALKED.

1 John ii. 6.

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.

'• Looking unto Jesus" — Heb. xii. 2.

Two boys were playing in the snow one day, when one said to the other, " Let ns see who can make the straightest path in the snow." His companion readily accepted the proposition, and they started. One boy fixed his eyes on a tree, and walked along without taking them off the object selected. The other boy set his eyes on the tree also, and. when he had gone a short distance, he turned, and looked back to see how true his course was. He went a little distance farther, and again turned to look over his steps. When the}' arrived at their stoppingplace, each halted, and looked back. One path was true as an arrow, while the other ran in a zigzag course. " How did you get your path so true ? " asked the boy who had made the crooked steps. "Why," said the other boy, "I just set my eyes on the tree, and kept them there until I got to the end ; while you stopped, and looked back, and wandered out of your course." Just so is the Christian life. If we fix the eye of our hope, our trust, and our faith upon Jesus Christ, and keep them continually fastened thereon, we will at last land at the desired haven, with flowers of immortal victory at our feet.

Many Christians stop in their course, and take their eyes from the objective point, and look back over their course, brooding over the crooked places they have made. Oh ! that we could learn to let the past take care of the past, and we press forward •■ toward the mark of the high calling," fixing our gaze on the adorable Jesus. Avhose light will shine around us. and guide us in our straight pathway.

" Would you lose your load of sin ?

Fix your eyes upon Jesus.

Would you know sweet peace within ?

Fix your e}*es upon Jesus."

"He shall sit as a refiner." — Mal. iii. 3.

" Some years ago, in Dublin, a company of ladies met to stud}* the Holy Scriptures. One of the ladies observed a peculiarity in the words "He shall sit as a refiner." After some discussion, a committee was appointed to call on a silversmith, and learn what they could on the subject, and report at the next meeting. They called at the silversmith's, who readily showed them the process. "But, sir," said one, "do you sit while the refining is going on?" — "Oh, yes. madam!" he said, "I must sit with my eyes steadily fixed on the surface, for if the time necessary for refining be exceeded in the slightest degree, the silver is sure to be injured." At once the ladies saw the beauty and the comfort, too, of the passage. As they were leaving the shop, the silversmith called them, and said that he wanted to still further mention that he only knew when the process was complete by seeing his own image reflected on the silver." — MacKnight.

How glorious to be so refined by Christ that his blessed image will be reflected in our lives, and attract and win those about us to him.

TBE CHRISTIAN LIFE. 5

•• And this is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou host sent."

Jno. xvii. 3.

It is said of Dr. Fisher, Bishop of Rochester, who was cruelly condemned to be beheaded by Henry VIII., when he came out of the Tower, and saw the scaffold, he took from his pocket a small testament, and, turning his eyes heavenward, said, "Now, Lord, direct me to some passage which may support me through this awful trial " ; he opened the book, and his eyes fell on these words : "This is life eternal, to know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent " ; he closed the book. and. looking to God, said, " Praise the Lord ! this is sufficient, both for me and for eternity."

Thrice blessed is he who seeks to knoAV "God and Jesus Christ, whom he has sent " ; and doubly thrice blessed is he who, when he has been made acquainted with God, tries to bring others to the like relationship. Dear reader, are you doing this ? Does Christ's love flow through you, unto lost souls ? Does your walk in life lead any soul to Christ ?

" There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother."

Pnov. xviii. 24.

In the city of Baltimore, not long ago, two Christian young ladies set out to do missionary work in the suburban districts of the city. They soon came to a small cottage, standing on the edge of a field, where they found in one corner of the only room, the poor wasted form of the husband. At a glance they saw he was in the last stages of consumption. They began conversing with him, but, seeing he was disturbed, they soon left the house. As they were leaving, one of the ladies handed the sick man a gospel tract. He glanced at it. and threw it from him: it lay beside his pallet until it became soiled and worn. One day his eye rested upon it. and he read the title. " Do you want a friend ? " He thought of his condition, and said to himself, " Surely, if any one needs a friend, it is I." He asked his wife to hand him the soiled paper, and he again read. " Do you want a friend ? " " There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.'" He read the tract through, and requested his wife to bring him her Bible. The Spirit opened the eyes of his understanding, and revealed to him the unsearchable riches of Christ : and he was led to believe in Christ unto salvation. I doubt if either of the young lady missionaries ever knew what precious fruit the tract yielded, and they probably will never know until the poor consumptive greets them in heaven, and tells them how they rescued him from the verge of hell, and led him to the blessed Saviour.

One word to you. Christian reader : " In the morning sow thy seed (the word of God), and in the evening withhold not thine hand." Sow ! sow ! sow ! •• Cast thy bread upon the waters, and it shall return unto you after many days." It may be after your soul has been admitted to the bliss of heaven, but it will return, bearing fruit.

'•Whosoever, therefore, shall he ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful (feneration, of him also shall the Son of Man be ashamed, alien he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

Mark viii. 38.

In the *• Confessions of St. Augustine " he relates a story of Yictorinus. an eminent man at Eome, who had won the respect of a large number of his countrymen, among whom were many heathen. When the spirit of God dawned upon his heart, and the light of Christ therein

shone, he went direct to one of his friends, and told him that he was a Christian. The friend replied. " I will never believe it until I see you openly profess your new faith in the church. " The above text came to him with such force that he went back to his friend, and boldly and openly confessed Christ as his Saviour.

My friends, how is it with you ? Do you shirk your duty ? are you afraid, ashamed of Christ ? Remember, there may come a time when you will need his strong arm to support you. and it will be withdrawn : " When ye call. I will not answer."

u Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching? — Luke xii. 37.

An Arctic explorer found, floating helplessly about among the icebergs of that cold, lonely country, a ship. Going on board he found that the captain was frozen, and sat dead at his log-book, while the helmsman stood at his post, and the men on watch still on duty, but cold in death. What happiness will it be when our Lord doth come to know we have done our duty, and can welcome our Saviour as he bids us •• come up higher."' •• Blessed are those servants whom the Lord, when he cometh. shall find watching.*' Reader, are you ready ? Are you ever watching and waiting the coming of your Lord ?

" I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord of hosts. Neither will L accept an offering at your hand. ,}

Miss J. F. Willing says that in the church of Ara Cieli in Rome, there is always a large wooden doll, the Holy

8 THE CHBISTIAX LIFE.

Bambino, which represents to its worshippers the child Christ. " When we went to see it," she says, "the priest unlocked and opened doors and drew aside bolts and bars, as if he had to keep his treasure with the utmost care. And well he might ; for. ugly bit of wood that it was, its clothes were ablaze with precious stones. Its reputation for miracles and getting up thunderstorms, etc., would hardly have hindered a burglar from helping himself to its wealth had a chance been given." People who wanted to show their love for the Saviour had brought these worth}* gifts, and laid them upon the shrine of this wooden representation of his babyhood. Such foolishness God has declared an abomination in his sight, and that such acts of praise are honoring the devil and not God [Deut. xxxii. 17] who declares, " To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice."

"But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven."

Matt. x. 33.

In the city of Boston, some years ago, lived a lady who was known as the most beautiful woman in the vicinity. One day the house in which she lived was found to be on fire, the flames spread rapidly ; the lady rushed into the burning building to rescue her infant daughter. The names sadly disfigured her once beautiful features, and she became a hideous cripple, but she saved her daughter. Years passed, the daughter grew to be a beautiful woman ; one day she and a companion were walking down the street when they met a poor cripple woman ; as they passed her. the companion asked the daughter, " Who is that hideous creature ? " The ungrateful daughter did not say it was the dearest friend on earth to

THE CIIRISTIAX LIFE. 9

her : that she had sacrificed her earthly joy and beauty to rescue her from an awful death. No ! no ! She simply said. •■ I don't know who she is.*' Methinks I hear the reader say. " ungrateful wretch ! " But. dear friend, multitudes of ns are doing ten thousand times worse than this ungrateful child ; we are denying the one who rescued us from the gaping jaws of endless torment, and gave his own life to save ns ; the gay world asks us who he is ; we answer " I don't know." Did you ever think what it is to be denied by the great judge? The denial comes when we most need the support of his strong arm, when all earthly support has left us, and we stand trembling before the bar of justice. But there is in the darkness of this scene a ray of light, for the same judge says. •• AVhosoever shall confess me before men, him will I confess before my Father which is in heaven. Happy arc we if our daily walk confesses Christ before the world. And we have the Son of God to stand before the Father confessing us.

" If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you."

Jxo. xv. 7.

A few years ago George Muller, the superintendent of the great orphan asylum of Bristol, England, paid this country a visit. In a lecture delivered in one of our cities, he told upon what basis the Society was conducted. On many occasions, said he. we do not know at one meal where food for the satisfying of the hundreds of little mouths is to come from for the next meal, and in such cases we always assemble and lay our case before God. and we have never yet been disappointed. It always happens that some Christian's heart is moved to bring or

10 THE CHRISTIAN LIVE.

send a contribution just in the hour of need, and during all these years of the institution's existence we have never once been disappointed, because we trust in God to supply and care for the army of little unfortunates, which seems almost beyond the power of human efforts to do. Neither will the child of God ever go away empty handed, provided he abides in Christ, which insures the abiding of Christ in him, and through whom "we can do all things." We ofttimes marvel because our prayers are not answered; but my friend, if you would halt and examine the Spirit in which the prayer was uttered, you would the more marvel if your prayer was answered. Here is the assurance of answer to your prayers "If ye abide in me ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you." By faith our hearts must be interlinked to the blessed Christ, which will insure our earnestness in asking. In Christ, we cannot ask wrong, out of Christ, we cannot ask right. "Therefore I say unto you, What things so ever ye desire, when ye pray. Relieve that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."

Too many prayers are uttered in a half-hearted way. and which never ascend to the Father for want of zeal to fire them on their flight. Many rise no higher than the tide waters of this world can waft them, because they are uttered in the spirit of worldliness which can not ascend unto spiritualness.

My dear young friend, profit by the experience of past ages, and when you pray " enter into thy closet " and when thou hast shut out every form and thought of worldliness, open thy heart's door and pour out thy soul to God. Then you will realize the truthfulness of our text. " If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you."

•• And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid" — Matt. xvii. 7.

During our late war, a poor widow received a despatch saving her only son was severely wounded. Immediately, the sorrowing mother started to the front to care for her son. When she reached the hospital, the surgeon at first refused her permission to see him, saying, a He is now sleeping, and the sudden surprise of your presence may prove fatal." But the mother plead, and promised not to wake her wounded boy. As she sat in silence by the bedside, she gently laid her hand upon the forehead of her sleeping son, and that moment he opened his eyes, saying, " ! Mother ! I am so glad you have come." How unmistakably similar is the presence of Christ in the heart of one of his trusting children. Like an electric flash the wires of his heart are set in motion, and he sweetly communes as "friend with friend." The child of God knows the touch of its Master, and rests in security in his presence.

"For I have cjiren you an example, that ye should do as I Jut re doneT — Jxo. xiii. 15.

It was the custom among the ancient Romans on important occasions to bring the images of their departed citizens, who were noted for their good citizenship, before the people, that the thought of the original might inspire the people to emulate their virtues.

So the image of the wonderful character of Christ, so plainly portrayed in the Scriptures, should arouse us to activity in following the example he has left for us.

When we consider what he accomplished during his life in three and a half short years, ought it not to inspire us to imitate him as far as possible. He went about continually doing good. Should we not make that our motto ? His great heart throbbed with sympathy, for the fallen around him. Should not the same spirit find lodgment in our hearts and aid us in helping those around us to lighten their burdens, and to learn to lay all on the shoulders of the Strong One ?

Such a life never dies ; we may pass away and be forgotten, but our lives live on and on through all eternity.

"Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing" — Mat. xxiv. 46.

It is said of Sir Henry Havelock, that one day he was going over London Bridge with his son Harry ; he said to him, " Stop here, Harry, till I return."

The father completed his business and returned home alone. After a short time his wife asked, "Where is Harry ? " " Why bless me," replied Sir Henry, " I left him on London Bridge, and I am sure he will remain there until I return." He hastened to the bridge, to find his son waiting his return.

There comes to the child of God, hours when it seems as if he must give up all efforts to labor for his master. Dark hours come, hours of discouragements fall upon him, and he feels as if not only earthly friends had forsaken him, but that Christ Jesus had withdrawn his presence. Dear reader, such scenes come to us all, but thanks be to God, for his uplifting promises, such as : —

" He that endureth to the end shall be saved."

" I will never leave thee nor forsake thee."

" Lo, I am with j'ou alwa}~s."

" My grace is sufficient for thee."

Shall Ave not then go forth with renewed vigor, plead-

TUB CHRISTIAN LIFE. 13

ing the precious promises of God ? His great, strong arm is sufficient to bear us up, and then, too, his willingness to help us ; no sooner do we make room for him in our hearts than he tills us.

Oh, what encouragement we have to watch and work and wait, because we know he is with us and will not forsake us.

" Ye also shall bear witness." — Jxo. xv. 27.

When the late Commodore Foote was in Siam, he had upon one occasion the king upon his vessel as a guest. Like every true Christian should do, he did not hesitate in the presence of his royal highness to ask a blessing as the guests took their places at the table.

"Why, that is just as the missionaries do," said the surprised king. " Yes," said the godly Foote, " and I am a missionary too."

What a golden truth this godly man uttered. Every one born into the kingdom of Christ is in duty bound to become a missionary, and every true child of God is a missionary because he is laboring to sow the seed of the gospel in the hearts of those around him. It is not necessary to go to some dark, unexplored continent in order to be a missionary ; we have work to do at home, some of us under our own roofs, in leading souls to Christ.

Would to God we had more of the missionary spirit in our hearts, that we become more earnest and active in leading souls, with whom we daily associate, to the foot of the cross.

Christians will find it helpful to frequently ask themselves, — what kind of a witness am I ? and to whom am I bearing witness ?

These two questions should ring in our cars until our hearts become on fire with the missionary spirit, and we find ourselves daily seeking to lead souls to Christ.

" Verily, I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." — Matt. xxv. 40.

There is a legend which says it was the custom of St. Gregory, after he became pope, to entertain every evening at his own table twelve poor men, in memory of Christ's twelve apostles. It is said that one evening there were thirteen instead of twelve — he summoned his steward and asked how it happened. The steward counted and could make but twelve. At the end of the meal St. Gregory asked the unbidden guest who he was. " I am the poor man whom thou didst relieve. My name is Wonderful, through whom God will give whatsoever ye ask." St. Gregory knew he had been entertaining the Lord Jesus.

And so may we entertain him too if we only open our hearts and bid him come in. '-Behold I stand at the door and knock, if any man open, I will come in unto him."

On the other hand, we can never entertain Him until we empty our hearts of selfishness and give him complete sway.

" Without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness."

1 Tim. iii. 16.

An old Hindoo story says, that Ammi one day called his son to him and said, "My son, bring me a fruit of that tree and break it open. What is there ? "

The son replied, " Some small seeds."

"Break one of them, and what do you see," said the father. " Nothing, my lord," said the son. " My child,"

said Ammi, ••where you see nothing, there dwells a mighty tree. - '

So it is in our experience ; at times we allow Satan to cast over our eyes a film darkening the preciousness of (rod's word, and while we may fail to see the exquisite beauty therein, it contains a mighty truth whose end is eternal life.

"If ye Ji are faith as a grain of mustard seed, . . . nothing shall be impossible unto you." — Matt. xvii. 20.

It is said of Dr. Charles Pitman, that as he stood before an immense audience one afternoon to preach to perishing men, the sky became dark and a terrible storm threatened to disturb the services. Lightnings hashed thick and fast, loud thunders rolled, the congregation became frightened. The godly man kuelt clown and poured out his earnest soul to God to hold back the storm for one hour and let him go forward with the services, and that souls might be saved. Three times he repeated his petition. A member of the congregation, who took note of the time, said afterward that it was difficult to say which produced the greater effect, the signal answer to prayer or the zeal and pathos of the preacher. As Dr. Pitman closed the services of the hour, he said, " Go to your tents and fall down before God and thank him for this glorious privilege we have enjoyed together." As the last of them entered their tents, the elements broke forth from their pent-up prison, and a terrible tempest raged ; it is said that over five hundred were converted to Christ.

Oh, my Christian friends, how oft do we come to the Throne of Grace with our petitions, and plead for our needs in a half-way manner, and then wonder how the words of our text can be true. Christ's promises to us are, " Ask what ye will, believing " and it shall be granted ns. Oh, how many of our prayers are never heard by the Father, how many of them are too worldly to ever be allowed into heaven's record, and how we wonder and pine at our imfruitfulness ; and at times murmur at the galling }*oke of Christ. Friend, our hearts are not right. They are filled with something else.

•• If ye abide in me, and my yards abide in yon. ye shall ask what ye trill, and it shall be done unto you:"

Jxo. xv. 7.

A modern novelist tells us of a great bell which was made to vibrate by the note of a slender flute. The flute had no influence upon the bell, except when a certain note was sounded ; then the great mass of metal breathed a responsive sigh.

So it is only when our wills are in accord with God's will that we experience an answer to our prayer, and the feeble human cry seems to elicit a divine response. There is a pre-established harmony between the voice of the Shepherd and the hearts of the sheep. "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you. ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." — Edward Judsox, D.D.

" Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continue /ice in well-doing seek for glory and honor and irn mortality, eternal life." — Eom. ii. 7.

When Scarron, the wit and ecclesiastic, as poor as he was brilliant, was about to marry Mme. de Maintenon, he was asked by the notary what he proposed to settle upon Mademoiselle ; he replied, " Immortality. The names of kings' wives die with them ; but the name of the wife of Scarron will live forever."

So Christ is pleased to bestow on him who by a life of patient service, merits honor, glory, immortality, life eternal. " He that overcometh, I will give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God " ; and he who by patient endurance holds out to the end shall be made a partaker of that immortal glory, hid with God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

•• Take, therefore, no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself "

"I compare the troubles," said Mr. John Newton, " which we have to undergo in the course of a year to a great bundle of fagots, far too large for us to lift. But God does not require us to carry the whole at once. He mercifully unties the bundles, and gives us a stick which we are to carry to-day, and another which we are to carry to-morrow, and so on. How much easier life would be if we could learn to carry each day only the burdens appointed for that day, and not take up yesterday's trouble, and add it to to-morrow's cares.