DEDICATION

But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

—Acts 20:24

1106 Pliny’s Testimony

Pliny, governor of Bithynia, wrote Trajan the Emperor regarding how he flushed out Christians in his area: “I gave these men chance to invoke the gods of Rome, offer sacrifice to the image of the Emperor, and finally to curse the name of Christ,” adding “none of these acts, those who are really Christians can be forced to do.”

1107 Judson’s Call To Boston Church

When Adoniram Judson graduated from college and seminary he received a call from a fashionable church in Boston to become its assistant pastor. Everyone congratulated him. His mother and sister rejoiced that he could live at home with them and do his life work, but Judson shook his head. “My work is not here,” he said. “God is calling me beyond the seas. To stay here, even to serve God in His ministry, I feel would be only partial obedience, and I could not be happy in that.” Although it cost him a great struggle he left mother and sister to follow the heavenly call. The fashionable church in Boston still stands, rich and strong, but Judson’s churches in Burma had fifty thousand converts, and the influence of his consecrated life is felt around the world.

—Forward

1108 Daily Routine Of Bishop

The late Bishop John H. Vincent had the custom of repeating to himself each morning the following simple but far-reaching solution, which may serve as a model for us:

“I will this day try to live a simple, sincere, and serene life; repelling promptly every thought of discontent, impurity, and self-seeking; cultivating cheerfulness, magnanimity, charity, and the habit of holy silence; exercising economy in expenditure, carefulness in conversation, diligence in appointed service, fidelity to every trust, and a childlike faith in God.”

—Christian Observer

1109 Resolutions Of A College President

At age 19, these resolutions were adopted by Dr. James Clement Furman, first president of Furman University, and are appropriate on every observance of Founder’s Day at Furman University.

“Resolved, never to speak ill of an individual but to call to mind my own sins and imperfections and be silent.

“Resolved, when my heart feels cold and languid, to strive earnestly in prayer to God for deliverance from such a state and for the abiding influence of His Holy Spirit; and to inquire into the causes which have produced this effect upon me and to guard against them in the future.

“Resolved, never to go to bed without having endeavored to learn something more of God as He is revealed in the Holy Scriptures than I knew when I rose in the morning.

“Resolved, to keep in mind during the business of the day the good resolutions which I may have formed for my assistance so that if I neglect them, I may humble myself and in my retirement earnestly seek pardon from God.

“Resolved, to say nothing to irritate the feelings of anyone and especially of my relations and friends.

“Resolved, to leave as soon as possible any company which might draw off my thoughts from the things of eternity.

“Resolved, never to neglect to devote a certain portion of every twenty-four hours to secret meditation and prayer.

“Resolved, never to halt in doing anything of which I am convinced that it is duty.”

—Selected

1110 Jonathan Edwards’ Resolutions

Resolved, to live with all my might while I do live.

Resolved, never to lose one moment of time, to improve it in the most profitable way I can.

Resolved, never to do anything which I should despise or think meanly of in another.

Resolved, never to do anything out of revenge.

Resolved, never to do anything which I should be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life.

1111 Lay Missionaries Of Sandwich Islands

In the autumn of 1882 the King Bionic of the Sandwich Islands, dispatched an open boat containing nine men and three women to one of the neighboring islands on business. On returning, the current drifted them to the west, and they found themselves on the wide ocean, without compass, with a few gallons of water and a small supply of food.

Six weeks later seven had died of thirst and exposure. On December 9th rain fell, and they caught the water in their mats. On December 10th, 1882, seven hundred miles away from Apemama, the “Northern Light” merchant ship from New York hove in sight, and rescued the five survivors.

The captain says: “A more devout band of Christians I never met. When first hauled out of their cheerless cockleshell, more dead than alive, and placed safely on board a comfortable ship, a man who appeared to be the leader gave thanks to God with becoming reverence. They then fell on the deck in a state of utter exhaus tion. Brandy and other stimulants were administered, but their leader refused them, repeating his only words of English, “Me Missionary.””

These waifs were taken first to Yokohama, then to San Francisco, and then to Honolulu, so that in three nations they might be seen as illustrations of the power of the Gospel over the hearts of the heathen, and the value of the Gospel to the most benighted.

—E. W. Gilman

1112 Handel’s Messiah Is Born

When Handel composed “The Messiah,” for twenty-three days he completely withdrew from the things of this world. So immersed was he in his music that the food brought to him was often left untouched. Describing his feeling when the “Hallelujah Chorus” burst on his mind, Handel said, “I did think I did see all Heaven before me, and the great God Himself.”

—J. B. Dengis

See also: Consecration ; Zeal ; Obedience ; Service ; Submission . Surrender .