BOLDNESS
The moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too.
All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have
occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in
one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meeting and material
assistance which no man could have dreamed would have come his way.
Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power
and magic in it. Begin it now.
Commonly attributed to Goethe.
Hugh Lattimer once preached before King Henry VIII. Henry was greatly displeased by the
boldness in the sermon and ordered Lattimer to preach again on the following Sunday and
apologize for the offence he had given. The next Sunday, after reading his text, he thus
began his sermon: "Hugh Lattimer, dost thou know before whom thou are this day to
speak? To the high and mighty monarch, the king's most excellent majesty, who can take
away thy life, if thou offendest. Therefore, take heed that thou speakest not a word that
may displease. But then consider well, Hugh, dost thou not know from whence thou
comest--upon Whose message thou are sent? Even by the great and mighty God, Who is
all-present and Who beholdeth all thy ways and Who is able to cast thy soul into hell!
Therefore, take care that thou deliverest thy message faithfully." He then preached
the same sermon he had preached the preceeding Sunday--and with considerably more energy.
M. Cocoris, Evangelism, A Biblical Approach, Moody, 1984, p. 126.
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