Honor by J. Clarke

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 11, 1865

Honor.

By J. Clarke

“Before honor is humility.”—Proverbs.

Honor is obtained not so much by seeking for it, as by deserving it; that is, he who does what is good and praiseworthy at all times, with a noble wish to please his Creator, and obey his just and holy decrees, and this without pride or any desire of personal or selfish reward, such a person will in the end attain to honor, such honor as will eclipse all worldly grandeur; and even here the exemplary and holy person draws out the unwilling homage of those whose hearts are all stained with hypocrisy and sin.

The spotless character of Moses, the purity and dignity and excellence of Daniel, do to this day command the homage of the world; and scoffers often shrink back intimidated at the power and influence of these great and holy men, whose names adorn the sacred page, and to this late period bring with them such immense weight and power.

Compared with them, what is the influence of Cæsar or a Napoleon, or any character delineated upon the page of history? In vain do we seek among the gods and heroes of the ancients for such men as those we have mentioned, who being dead yet speak in tones of authority and love.

Such men as Moses and Daniel, forced their heathen contemporaries to do them homage, not by seeking honor, but steadily pursuing an upright and honorable course, and living a holy and spotless life. They silenced the mouths of the slanderers, and thus put to shame their enemies, while their good acts and holy lives attracted hosts of friends, and gave them honor and influence, extending far and wide.

J. CLARKE.