IF we turn our attention to the respect that men pay to social customs, matters of etiquette, and such like, we will see what a subordinate place God has in the thought and lives of many. We would not criticise men and women because they endeavour to conform to good social custom and usage, because they like to be in style as regards their manners as well as regards their clothes. In itself, there is nothing wrong in such a desire. The point to which we direct attention is this: Many overestimate the importance of these things, and are far more concerned about questions of social etiquette than they are about the commandments of God. Just as in the days of Christ, many were scrupulous about eating with unwashed hands or taking into their bodies that which was not ceremonially pure, while indifferent to those things that come out of the man and which really defile him, such as evil thoughts, thefts, murders, covetings, pride, deceit, and such like, so there are those to-day who are very scrupulous about conforming to matters of social etiquette who are more or less indifferent to the commandments of God. Who does not know those who are more shocked at seeing a man eat pie with a knife than they are at hearing him swear? Who does not know those who are more mortified at making a grammatical mistake than at breaking a moral law? How many there are who are more afraid of breaking the law of hospitality than of breaking the laws of God? Such allusions as these, and their number might easily be multiplied, show how true it is that God occupies a subordinate position in the lives and doings of many. No doubt we ought to have good manners. We ought to pay some heed to the laws of social etiquette, but after all it is not these things that make the man. Many who observe them most scrupulously are inwardly corrupt and a disgrace to decent society, while many who are very deficient in such respects are among nature’s noblemen. In proportion as we are men, in proportion as we have strong and noble characters, in that proportion we will scorn to put the customs and usages of society above the laws and commandments of God. The relation of life, we repeat, is the relation we sustain to God, and we show ourselves to be fools and weaklings indeed if we render the customs and usages of society a homage that we do not render the great and eternal God.—“The Presbyterian” (Philadelphia).
Troubles for Christ’s sake are but like the prick of an awl in the tip of the ear, in order to hang a jewel there. Let this also put the saints upon patience: when we know that a trial will have an end, we are by that knowledge encouraged to exercise patience.—John Bunyan.