12 Sermon Illustrations on Faithfulness in Service

The Army of the Potomac provided themselves with badges peculiar to each division, which custom did not prevail among the Western armies. A veteran soldier was challenged by the usual "Halt!" and asked for his regiment, division, and corps, by a soldier from the East. Then he was asked, "What is your corps-badge?" Turning around and slapping his cartridge-box, the brave soldier replied, "D'ye see that? A cartridge-box with a U. S. on a brass plate, and forty rounds in the cartridge-box, and sixty rounds in our pockets: that's the badge of the Fifteenth, that come from Vicksburg to help ye fight Chattanooga." His record was distinction enough.

Many years ago, happening to be in South Wales, I made the acquaintance of a Welsh gentleman. He was then a landed proprietor, living in his own mansion, and in very comfortable circumstances. He had been, before, carrying on an extensive business in a large town. By the death of a relative, he had unexpectedly come into possession of this property. After considering whether he should retire from business, he made up his mind he should still continue to carry it on, though not for himself, but for Christ. I could not help being struck with the gleesomeness of a holy mind which lighted up his countenance, when he said, "I never knew before what real happiness was. Formerly I wrought as a master to earn a livelihood for myself; but now I am carrying on the same work as diligently as if for myself, and even more so: but it is now for Christ, and every half-penny of profits is handed over to the treasury of the Lord; and I feel that the smile of my Saviour rests upon me." I think that is an example worthy of being imitated. Dr. Duff.

The Rev. T. Carter, one of the Puritan ministers, once came unexpectedly behind one of his acquaintances, who was busily engaged in his trade as a tanner. He gave him a pleasant tap on the shoulder. The good man looked behind him, started, and said, "Sir, I am ashamed that you should find me thus employed." Mr. Carter replied, "Let Christ, when he cometh, find me so doing." — "What!" said the good man, "doing this?" — "Yes," said Mr. Carter: "faithfully performing the duties of my calling." Cheever.

"We can truly say," observes a Moravian missionary, "that among the very considerable number of Esquimaux who live with us, we know of few who are not seriously desirous to profit by what they hear, and to experience and enjoy themselves, that which they see their countrymen possess. Our communicants give us pleasure; for it is the wish of their

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Mr. M. was for many years a pious and indefatigable Sunday school teacher. It pleased God to call him to suffer severe affliction, and to an early death. During his long affliction, though it was painful even to see him walk, he went to his class, nor would he resign as long as he could possibly reach the school. "It was my happiness," says a writer in the 'Teacher's Magazine,' "to visit him during his trying illness; and the calmness of his mind under affliction, and his triumphant departure, I never shall forget. Nor shall I cease to remember another circumstance. Turning to me, and with something like despondency, he said, 'Well, I believe I never was useful as a Sunday school teacher.'

"Some short time after his death, I visited a Sunday school in a small town some distance from that in which Mr. M. had lived. I soon recognized among the teachers one who had been a Sunday scholar; I conversed with him and found that he was a professor of religion, and a member of a Christian church in that town. I congratulated him upon his employment, and inquired by what means he had been led to love the Lord Jesus Christ? He replied, 'The advice which my teacher again and again gave me, led me to reflection and to prayer, and I hope was the means of leading me to Christ.' And who was that teacher? He replied, 'Mr. M.' Yes, that same dear friend, who, upon a dying bed, said, he believed he had never been useful as a Sunday school teacher."

Philip Melancthon, who is universally known as one of the reformers, was highly esteemed for his great generosity. Indeed his friends were astonished at his liberality, and wondered how, with his small means, he could afford to give so much in charity. It appears to have been principally owing to the care and good management of an excellent and faithful servant named John, a native of Sweden. The whole duty of provisioning the family was intrusted to this domestic, whose care, assiduity and prudence amply justified the unbounded confidence reposed in him. He made the concerns of the family his own, avoiding all needless expenditure, and watching with a jealous eye his master's property. He was also the first instructor of the children during their infancy. John grew old in his master's service, and expired in his house amidst the affectionate regrets of the whole family. During a service of thirty-four years, how much usefulness was effected by honest John, and by his master through his instrumentality! Melanethon invited the students of the university to attend the funeral of his faithful servant, delivered an oration over his grave, and composed a Latin epitaph for his tombstone, of which the following is a translation:—

"Here, at a distance from his native land, Came honest John, at Philip's first command; Companion of his exile, doubly dear, Who in a servant found a friend sincere; And more than friend—a man of faith and prayer, Residueous soother of his master's care. Here to the worms his lifeless body's given, But his immortal soul sees God in heaven"