38. Mind of Jesus
Mind of Jesus
RABBI’S CONCLUSION.—A discussion was held at Venice, between a Jew and a Christian, the Christian arguing from Daniel’s prophecy of the seventy weeks, that Jesus was the Messiah whom the Jews had long expected, from the predictions of their prophets. The learned rabbi who presided at the disputation was so forcibly impressed by the argument that he put an end to it by saying: “Let us shut up our Bibles, for if we proceed in the examination of this prophecy it will make us all Christians.”
GOD’S BUSINESS FIRST.—While Usher was in the pulpit preaching, a message arrived stating that the king wanted to see him at once. He came down from the pulpit, listened to the command, and then told the messenger that he was employed in God’s business, but as soon as he was through with it, he would answer the king’s summons. He then resumed his sermon.
LIGHT AND HEAVY WHEAT.—A farmer went with his son into the wheat-field to see if the grain was ripe for harvest. The boy exclaimed: “See, father, how straight these stems hold up their heads; they must be the best ones. Those that hang their heads down cannot be good for much.” The farmer plucked a stalk of each kind and said: “See here, foolish child: this stalk that stood so straight is light-headed and almost good for nothing, while this one that hung its head so modestly is full of the most beautiful grain.” SO SOMEONE GOOD.—Lady Holland once complained to Rogers that she did not know how to employ her time and felt miserable in consequence. Rogers recommended her to try to do somebody good. A rich lady who fancied that she was sick and needed medicine called in the doctor. The prescription that he left her said: “Do something for somebody.” The lady afterward acknowledged that she had taken the medicine and that it had cured her.
JUDSON’S PREFERENCE.—It is said that thinking to amuse him, his wife read to Dr. Judson some newspaper notices, in which he was compared to one or another of the apostles. He was exceedingly distressed; and then he added, “Nor do I want to be like them; I do not want to be like Paul nor any mere man. I want to be like Christ. We have one safe Exemplar,—One, who, tempted like as we are, was still without sin.”
MOTHER SAYS THAT.—A soldier in the hospital tried to get rid of his doubts. Upon the wall was hung the Scripture, “Whoso cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out,” which caught his attention. He asked to have a letter from his mother read to him. It was an earnest entreaty to accept Christ. The reader came to the words: “Whoso cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out.” “There,” said he, “that’s what I want. I thought mother said that. Read it again.” It was read. “Mother says that, does she?” “Yes.” “And it’s in the Bible, too?” “Yes.” “Then it must be true. Jesus will receive me. I will come to Him. Here Lord, I give myself up.” It appeared to be a genuine surrender and a gracious acceptance.
WESLEY’S TWO TEXTS.—Wesley was once preaching to a congregation of the honored of the realm, and used the “generation of vipers” text. A nobleman afterward said to Wesley: “That text should have been preached at the prison.” “No,” replied Wesley, my text there would have been, ‘Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.’“