Carlyle, among historians, Spurgeon, Beecher, Farrar, and many others, among preachers, have led the van; and it is one of the objects of the present volume to gather together these scattered gems, that lie broadcast, and make them more widely available for all. Anecdotes are common property; the setting may be our own; the jewel itself belongs to history, and to mankind. If, in any slight instances, copyrights have been infringed, the compiler here craves indulgence. The state of his health, the claims of other duties, as well as the large number of authors quoted, have made it almost impossible to do more than name the source from which the anecdote or incident has been obtained. He sends forth his book, hoping that it may do something to reflect the manysidedness of this age in which we live, as well as be helpful to those who have the difficult task of preaching the gospel in so restless, so expectant, and so eventful an era. It is Milton's saying, and it is true in its measure of every effort, however humble, to enlarge or make available the stock of human knowledge "A good book is the precious life-blood" of its author, "embalmed and treasured up, on purpose to a life beyond life." That this work may be useful to many who speak to their fellow-men on such solemn and momentous topics as are contained in it is the prayer of their well-wisher and brother in the ministry of Jesus Christ, WALTER BAXENDALE. October 18, 1887. DICTIONARY OF ANECDOTE. ABASEMENT ABILITY 5. ABILITY cannot be bestowed by man. Buchanan, when asked how he came to make a pedant of his royal pupil (James L.), answered it was the best he could make of him.-I. D'Israeli. 1. ABASEMENT, must be complete. In the parish where Mr. Hervey preached there resided a ploughman, who usually attended the ministry of Dr. Doddridge, and was well informed in the doctrines of grace. Mr. Hervey being advised by his physician, for the benefit of his health, to follow the 6. ABILITY, Consciousness of. "I am sure," plough in order to smell the fresh earth, frequently said he (William Pitt, after his dismissal from accompanied this ploughman in his rural employ-office) to the Duke of Devonshire, "I can save this ment. Mr. Hervey, understanding the ploughman country, and nobody else can.' For eleven weeks was a serious person, said to him one morning, England was without a Ministry. . . . At last the "What do you think is the hardest thing in re- King and the aristocracy were alike compelled to ligion?" To which he replied, "I am a poor recognise the ascendency and yield to the guidance illiterate man, and you, sir, are a minister; I beg of the man whom the nation trusted and loved. leave to return the question." "Then," said Mr. Bancroft. Hervey, "I think the hardest thing is to deny sinful self," and applauded at some length this instance of self-denial. The ploughman replied, "Mr. Hervey, you have forgot the greatest act of the grace of self-denial, which is to deny ourselves of a proud confidence in our own obedience for justification." In repeating this story to a friend Mr. Hervey observed, "I then hated the righteousness of Christ; I looked at the man with astonishment and disdain, and thought him an old fool. I have since clearly seen who was the fool: not the wise old Christian, but the proud James Hervey.' 7. ABILITY, Despised, yet victorious. On the day appointed for the grand trial trip of the first steamboat to Albany, by noon a vast crowd had assembled on the wharf to witness the performance of what was popularly called "Fulton's Folly." Fulton himself declares that on that day not thirty persons in the city had the slightest faith in the success of the steamboat, and that as the boat was putting off he heard many "sarcastic remarks." However, she moved from the dock, vomiting smoke and sparks, and casting up clouds of spray from her uncovered paddle-wheels. As her speed increased 2. ABASEMENT, the sign of a Christian. the jeers of the incredulous were silenced, and soon Bradford, a martyr, yet subscribes himself "A the departing voyagers caught the sound of cheers. sinner." "If I be righteous, yet will I not lift up-Cyclopædia of Biography (condensed). my head;" like the violet, a sweet flower, but hangs down the head.-Thomas Watson. 3. ABASEMENT, to be rejoiced in. When Latimer resigned his bishopric, Foxe tells us that as he put off his rochet from his shoulders he gave a skip on the floor for joy, "feeling his shoulders so light at being discharged of such a burden." To be relieved of our wealth or high position is to be unloaded of weighty responsibilities, and should not cause us to fret, but rather to rejoice as those who are lightened of a great load.-Spurgeon. 4. ABILITY and learning contrasted. Charles II. once expressed his astonishment that such a learned man as Dr. Owen should go so often to hear Bunyan, the ignorant tinker preacher. "Had I the tinker's ability, please your Majesty," was the reply, "I would gladly relinquish my learning."-Talmage. 8. ABILITY may be discouraged. At Malling, in Kent, one of Queen Mary's justices "laid an archer by the heels" for shooting too near the butts. The magistrate was informed that the poor man "played with a fly" which was evidently his familiar. And because he was certified that the archer "shot better than the common," the said archer was severely punished, and probably thought himself lucky in escaping with his life.-The Times [From Reginald Scott's "Discovery of Witchcraft"]. 9. ABILITY may be misused. A certain probationer once preached a sermon upon the word "but," thus hoping to ingratiate himself with the congregation, who would, he thought, be enraptured with the powers of a brother who could enlarge so marvellously upon a mere conjunction. His subject appears to have been, the fact that whatever there may be of good in a man's character, or admirable A in a man's position, there is sure to be some difficulty, some trial, in connection with us all: "Naaman was a great man with his master, but". When the orator descended from the pulpit the deacons said, "Well, sir, you have given us a singular sermon, but you are not the man for the place; that we can see very clearly."-Spurgeon. 10. ABILITY, Utility the test of. If any person were mentioned to Gray the poet as a man of ability, of genius, or of science, he always inquired, "Is he good for anything?"—Life of Gray. 11. ABSENT, Justice towards the. Philip Henry used to remind those who spoke evil of people behind their backs of that law, "Thou shalt not curse the deaf." Those that are absent are deaf; they cannot right themselves; therefore say no ill of them. A friend of his, inquiring of him concerning a matter which tended to reflect upon some people, he began to give him an account of the story, but immediately broke off, and checked himself with these words, "But our rule is to speak evil of no man; and would proceed no further in the story. The week before he died a person requested the loan of a particular book from him. "Truly," said he, I would lend it to you, but that it takes in the faults of some which should rather be covered with a mantle of love." 12. ABSOLUTION, Man's. A Roman Catholic who had filled up the measure of his iniquities as far as he dared went to the priest to confess and obtain absolution. He entered the apartment of the priest, and addressed him thus, "Holy father, I have sinned." The priest bade him kneel before the penitential chair. The penitent was looking about, and saw the priest's gold watch lying upon the table within his reach; he seized it and put it in his bosom. The priest approached him and requested him to acknowledge the sins for which he wished absolution. "Father," said the rogue, "I have stolen, and what shall I do?" 66 Restore," said the priest, "the thing you have stolen to its rightful owner." "Do you take it," said the penitent. "No, I shall not," said the priest; "you must give it to the owner. "But he has refused to take it." "If this be the case you may keep it." cease to do evil and learn to do well, or else there is no absolution.—D'Àubigne. 14. ABSOLUTION, Popish illustration of. In a missal once appertaining to the queen of Louis XII. may be seen a mitred ape, giving its benediction to a man prostrate before it-a keen reproach to the clergy of that day.-I. D'Israeli. 15. ABSORBED, completely, from the world. Poggius relates of Dante that he indulged his meditations more strongly than any man he knew ; whenever he read he was only alive to what was passing in his mind, to all human concerns he was as if they had not been. Dante went one day to a great public procession; he entered the shop of a bookseller to be a spectator of the passing show. He found a book which greatly interested him; he devoured it in silence and plunged into an abyss of thought. On his return he declared that he had neither seen nor heard the slightest occurrence of the public exhibition which passed before him.—I. D'Israeli. 16. ABSTAINERS and health. Before I became an abstainer I was much subject to fainting fits. I even fainted in the pulpit, and my life was a burden; and when I had made up my mind to abstain my medical man came from London and said, "If you do you will probably die. You want the 'whip' for your constitution.' I did not believe him, and I said, "Very well, doctor, then I'll die, and there's an end of it." But I have not died. And when I met that medical man in London three days since I said, "Now doctor, what do you think of it?" He said, "You beat me altogether. I was never more mistaken in any case in my life. And now let me tell you that if there was no such thing as alcohol I should have to put up my shutters. Nearly all the illnesses that come before me have, in one sense or another, come from that; not always from the personal indulgence of the patients, but because this is hereditary."-Canon Basil Wilberforce. He 17. ABSTINENCE a recommendation. When General Grant was in command of the army before Vicksburg, a number of officers were gathered at his headquarters. One of them invited the party to join in a social glass; all but one accepted. The priest granted him full absolution; and the asked to be excused, saying that he "never drank." penitent knelt and kissed his hand, craved his bene-The hour passed, and each went his way to his diction, crossed himself, and departed with a clear conscience, and a very valuable gold watch into the bargain.-Arvine. sin. Luther was one day seated in the confessional He 13. ABSOLUTION impossible while clinging to at Wittemburg. Many of the townspeople came successively and confessed themselves guilty of great excesses. Adultery, licentiousness, usury, ill-gotten gains-such are the crimes acknowledged. reprimands, corrects, instructs. But what is his astonishment when these individuals reply that they will not abandon their sins!... Greatly shocked the pious monk declares that, since they will not promise to change their lives, he cannot absolove them. The unhappy creatures then appeal to their letters of indulgence; they show them, and maintain their virtue. But Luther replies that he has nothing to do with these papers, and adds, "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." They cry out and protest; but the doctor is immovable. They must He respective command. A few days after this the officer who declined to drink received a note from General Grant to report at headquarters. obeyed the order, and Grant said to him, “You are the officer, I believe, who remarked the other day that you never drank." The officer modestly answered that he was. General, "you are the man I have been looking for "Then," continued the to take charge of the Commissary Department, and I order that you be detailed to that duty." He served all through the war in that responsible debecame President, the officer who never drank was partment, and afterwards, when General Grant again in request. The President, needing a man on whom he could rely for some important business, gave him the appointment.-Christian Chronicle. 18. ABSTINENCE, Law of. A man of temperate habits was once dining at the house of a freedrinker. No sooner was the cloth removed from the dinner-table than wine and spirits were pro duced, and he was asked to take a glass of spirits | that he would never willingly quit his maps to take and water. "No, thank you," said he, "I am not the necessary refreshments of life. In Cicero's ill." "Take a glass of wine, then," said the host, "Treatise on Old Age" Cato applauds Gallus, who "or a glass of ale." "No, thank you," said he, "I when he sat down to write in the morning was am not thirsty." These answers produced a loud surprised by the evening, and when he took up his burst of laughter. pen in the evening was surprised by the appearance of the morning... A modern astronomer one summer night withdrew to his chamber; the brightness of the heavens showed a phenomenon. He passed the whole night in observing it, and when they came to him early in the morning and found him in the same attitude, he said, like one who had been recollecting his thoughts for a few moments, "It must be thus; but I'll go to bed before 'tis late." He had gazed the entire night in meditation, and did not know it.-I. D'Israeli. Soon after this the temperate man took a piece of bread from the sideboard, and handed it to his host, who refused it, saying that he was not hungry. At this the temperate man laughed in his turn. "Surely," said he, "I have as much reason to laugh at you for not eating when you are not hungry as you have to laugh at me for declining medicine when not ill, and drink when I am not thirsty."-Christian Age. 19. ABSTINENCE, Law of. These men [peasants professing the old heresy of the Manichees] are mere rustics, and utterly contemptible; yet they must not be neglected, for their word spreads like a canker. They abstain from food, that God made to be received with thanksgiving; and are heretics, not because they abstain, but because they abstain heretically. I too sometimes abstain; but for my sins, not for superstition and impiety. St. Paul chastised his body and brought it into subjection. I will abstain from wine, because in wine is luxury; or if I am weak I will use a little, according to the council of St. Paul. I will abstain also from flesh-meat, lest by nourishing my own flesh too much I also nourish its vices. I will endeavour to take even bread in moderation, lest by overloading myself I be unfit for prayer. Nay, I will not flood myself even with water. But it is not thus that heretics act. They make distinctions of food. -St. Bernard. 20. ABSTINENCE, Results of. In Sunderland a poor lost man who worked hard all through the week, and on Saturday and Sunday spent all his earnings, left his wife to support herself and the family by washing and other work, leaving them, indeed, in a state of semi-starvation. Well, this poor man signed the pledge; and calling his wife's attention to what was on the card, and to the ribbon, asked her to come with him and take the pledge. "No," she said, in her Northern dialect, "if they mak' a fool o' thee, thee shall not mak' ane o' me." For with all her hard work she had her supper beer, and a wee drop at times. On Saturday night when the husband went home he put into her hands twenty shillings in good English money. The wife couldn't believe it; but when she had counted it, not sure whether it was not all a dream, she exclaimed, "Eh, mon, if the Blue Ribbon 'll do that, I want a bit of it."-R. T. Booth. 21. ABSTINENCE, Safety of. "Sir, I can abstain; but I can't be moderate."-Dr. Johnson. 22. ABSTINENCE, Wisdom of. When Pomponius Atticus resolved to die by famine, to ease the great pains of his gout, in the abstinence of two days he found his foot at ease.-Jeremy Taylor. 23. ABSTRACTION, Instances of. Of Socrates it is said that he would frequently remain an entire day and night in the same attitude, absorbed in meditation; and why should we doubt this when we know that La Fontaine and Thomson, Descartes and Newton, experienced the same abstraction? Mercator, the celebrated geographer, found such delight in the ceaseless progression of his studies 24. ABSTRACTION, Misunderstood. The monks of the convent in which Leonardo da Vinci was painting his celebrated picture of "The Last Supper," used to complain of him as lazy and dilatory because he would stand whole days with folded arms before some figure in it in overwhelming abstraction, not adding a line or a colour.-Mary Harrison. 25. ABUNDANCE, Giving from. In his tours among the churches of Boston to solicit aid for the building of his Bethel, Father Taylor dropped many sentences more golden than the gifts he received in return. Casting his eye at the pillars of a stately church in which he was soliciting help, he said, “I do not want your arches and draperies and columns for my house. Only give me the shavings that fall from your Corinthian pillars." And again: "Drop your gold into this ocean, and it will cast a wave on the shores of Europe which will strike back to the islands of the southern sea, and rebound on the north-west coast, and so make the circuit of the world, and strike this port again.”—Life of Father Taylor. Do 26. ABUSE, Right estimate of. When the storm [concerning the slave-trade] was at its highest, one of Mr Buxton's friends asked him, "What shall I say when I hear people abusing you?" "Say!" he replied, snapping his fingers, "say that. You good folk think too much of your good name. right, and right will be done."-Life of Fowell Buxton. 27. ABUSE, Right way of answering. John Wesley one day remarked to Dr. Adam Clarke, "As I was walking through St. Paul's Churchyard I observed two women standing opposite to one another. One was speaking and gesticulating violently, while the other stood perfectly still and in silence. Just as I came up and was about to pass them, the virago, clenching her fist and stamping her foot at her imperturbable neighbour, exclaimed, 'Speak, wretch, that I may have something to say.' Adam," said Wesley: "that was a lesson to me, silence is often the best answer to abuse." 28. ACCEPTANCE with God, Assurance of. An old German saying he no more doubted his acceptance with God than that the sun shone at noonday on a cloudless sky, the old veteran (Father Taylor) exclaimed, “Bring your Harvard learned ones to this man, and let them learn true theology." -Life of Father Taylor. 29. ACCEPTANCE with God to be resought. A theological student once called on Archibald Alexander in great distress of mind, doubting whether he had been converted. The old doctor encouraged him to open his mind. After he was through, the aged disciple, laying his hand on his head, said, "My young brother, you know what repentance is what faith in Christ is. You think you once repented and once believed. Now don't fight your doubts; go it all over again. Repent now; believe in Christ -that's the way to have a consciousness of acceptance with God. I have to do both very often. Go to your room and give yourself to Christ this very moment, and let doubts go. If you have not been His disciple, be one now. Don't fight the devil on his own ground. Choose the ground of Christ's righteousness and atonement, and then fight him." with it. If this had been ground up with the grain into the flour it might have caused the death of himself and family. But Jehovah-Jireh was on that bridge. He made the horse back and throw the grain into the water, to save the family from the danger that threatened them.-Henry T. Williams. 34. ACCIDENTS may be utilised. When William the Conqueror landed, before the battle of Hastings, as he stepped on shore he slipped and fell soldiers raised a loud cry of distress. forward upon his hands, at which misadventure his "An evil sign," said they, "is here." "See, my lords," said have taken posseshe, "by the splendour of God, sion of England with both my hands. It is now mine, and what is mine is yours." 30. ACCEPTANCE with God, what it depends 35. ACCIDENTS used by Providence. A lady, on. A lady who was in the habit of close attendance while strolling along the banks of the Tweed, either on the Princess Amelia during her last illness de- mislaid or accidentally dropped a new copy of Reid's scribed some of the latter interviews which took place "Blood of Jesus," bearing her name and address. between the Princess and her royal father, George III, There, among the grass, the flowers, and the driftand which seldom failed to turn on the momentous ing leaves of autumn, it lay until a rainy season topic of the future world, as being singularly affect-flooded the river. The uprising waters swept it out ing. "My dear child," said His Majesty to her on into the current, and carried it downwards for many one of these occasions, "you have ever been a good miles. At last it floated aside towards a mill-dam, child to your parents; we have nothing wherewith where it became fast in the mill heck. Here i to reproach you; but I need not tell you that it is was discovered by a working man. He took it not of yourself alone that you can be saved, and that home and read it, and at once he became deeply your acceptance with God must depend on your faith earnest about his soul's salvation. After a while and trust in the merits of the Redeemer." "I know he gave himself to Christ. Several other unconit," replied the Princess mildly but emphatically, verted persons have also been blessed by reading "and I could wish for no better trust." this precious little volume. 31. ACCESS, Freedom of, to God. The Persian kings took state upon them, and enacted that none should come near to them uncalled, on pain of death. But oh! sirs, the gates of heaven are always open; you have liberty night and day of presenting your petition, in the name of Christ, to the King of the whole earth.-Ralph Erskine. 36. ACCIDENTS, Use of, intentional. Turner used to get his ideas for a picture in curious ways. At one time he outlined a sketch on the canvas, and then gave three children a saucer of water-colours in red, blue, and yellow, and told them to dabble on the canvas as much as they pleased. Of course they were delighted with such permission, but in "Stop!" He then took the drawing in his own the midst of their play Turner suddenly called out, hands, and from the accidental colouring of the children made a beautiful landscape.-Christian Chronicle. 32. ACCIDENTS may be providential. Augustine, going on one occasion to preach at a distant town, took with him a guide to direct him in the way. The man, by some unaccountable means, mistook the usual road and fell into a by-path. It afterwards proved that by this means his life had 37. ACCOMPLISHMENTS and principles. Mrs. been saved, as some of the Donatists, who were his Campbell, a Scotch lady, was recommended as enemies, had waylaid him, with the design of kill-sub-governess to the Princess Charlotte, and the ing him. One 33. ACCIDENTS may be providential. morning a Christian farmer in Rhode Island put two bushels of rye in his waggon and started to the mill to get it ground. On his way to the mill he had to drive over a bridge that had no railings to the side of it. When he reached the middle of this bridge his horse, a quiet, gentle creature, began all at once to back. In spite of all the farmer could do, he kept on backing till the hinder wheels went over the side of the bridge, and the bag of grain was tipped out and fell into the stream. Then the horse stood still. Some men came to help the farmer. The waggon was lifted back, and the bag of grain was fished up from the water. Of course it could not be taken to the mill in that state. So the farmer had to take it home and dry it. He had prayed that morning that God would protect and help him through the day, and he wondered what this accident had happened for. He found out, however, before long. On spreading out the grain to dry he noticed a great many small pieces of glass mixed up old King George III. formed a high opinion of her. She felt reluctant to accept the post, urging her defisaid the King, "I hope we can afford to purchase ciency in the necessary accomplishments. "Madam," accomplishments, but we cannot buy principles."— Leisure Hour. 38. ACCOMPLISHMENTS not everything. When Themistocles was laughed at by some persons of greater accomplishments and gentler breeding, he answered, so Plutarch says, ""Tis true I never learned how to tune a harp or play upon a lute, but I know how to raise a small and inconsiderable city to glory and greatness.” 39. ACCOUNTABILITY a fact. It is related of Daniel Webster, the regality of whose moral enwhat was the greatest thought that had ever occudowments no one disputes, that when once asked pied his mind, he replied, "The fact of my personal accountability to God."-T. T. Munger. |