Some Sermons Are Timeless

By: Hallee
On: 30 Sep 2009

I came across this quote while surfing through some blogs this morning and decided that I love it:

A true wife makes a man’s life nobler, stronger, grander, by the omnipotence of her love, turning all the forces of manhood upward and heavenward. While she clings to him in holy confidence and loving dependence, she brings out in him whatever is noblest and richest in his being. She inspires him with courage and earnestness. She beautifies his life. She softens whatever is crude and harsh in his habits or his spirit. She clothes him with the gentler graces of refined and cultured manhood. While she yields to him and never disregards his lightest wish, she is really his queen, ruling his whole life and leading him onward and upward in every proper path. ~J.R. Miller

So, because I love the wording of that quote, I looked up J.R. Miller to find out who (s)he he is/was. Turns out he was a minister and best selling author in the late nineteenth century. One of his Jr-miller ministries was The United States Christian Commission which ministered to troops during the Civil War (which, can you imagine the great need for that ministry – how admirable). He lived from 1840-1912.

The full text from the sermon from where this quote was obtained is found here.

Here are the first two paragraphs of the sermon:

It is a high honor for a woman to be chosen from among all womankind, to be the wife of a godly and true man. She is lifted up to be a crowned queen. Her husband’s manly love laid at her feet, exalts her to the throne of his life. Great power is placed in her hands. Sacred destinies are reposed in her keeping. Will she wear her crown beneficently? Will she fill her realm with beauty and with blessing? Or will she fail in her holy trust? Only her married life can be the answer.

A woman may well pause before she gives her hand in marriage, and inquire whether he is worthy, to whom she is asked to surrender so much; whether he can bring true happiness to her life; whether he can meet the cravings of her nature for love and for companionship; whether he is worthy to be lifted to the highest place in her heart and honored as a husband should be honored. She must ask these questions for her own sake, else the dream may fade with the bridal wreath—and she may learn, when too late, that he for whom she has left all, and to whom she has given all—is not worthy of the sacred trust, and has no power to fill her life with happiness, to awaken her heart’s chords, to touch her soul’s depths.

It is DEFINITELY worth the time to read. Pull it up with a nice cup of coffee and ten minutes you can find for yourself and enjoy, be inspired, be encouraged.