THE TWO SHOEMAKERS by Hannah More

Quick take:

The lives of two people who became shoemakers are contrasted. Jack Brown came from a hardworking but nonreligious family and his mother spoiled him. He was given to dishonesty and debauchery. James Stock was an religious, honest, and hardworking man. They both became apprentices at the same shoemaker. The story plays out the many decisions of life and their consequences.
My impression:
An interesting and sometimes colorful story, that presents moral ideas for living everyday life.
Quote:
“If a blind fiddler, a ballad-singer, a mountebank, a dancing bear, or a drum, were heard at a distance, out ran Jack; nothing could stop him, and not a stitch more could he be prevailed on to do that day.”
Excerpt:“Mr. Stock soon went back to the prison. But he did not go alone. He took with him Mr. Thomas, the worthy minister who had been the guide and instructor of his youth, who was so kind as to go at his request, and visit this forlorn prisoner.
When they got to Brown’s door, they found him sitting up in his bed with the Bible in his hand. This was a joyful sight to Mr. Stock, who secretly thanked God for it. Brown was reading aloud; they listened; it was the fifteenth of St. Luke. The circumstances of this beautiful parable of the prodigal son were so much like his own, that the story pierced him to the soul; and he stopped every minute to compare his own case with that of the prodigal. He had just got to the eighteenth verse, “I will arise, and go to my father”—at that moment he spied his two friends; joy darted into his eyes.
“O, dear Jem,” said he, “it is not too late; I will arise, and go to my Father, my heavenly Father; and you, sir, will show me the way, wont you?” said he to Mr. Thomas, whom he recollected.
‘I am very glad to see you in so hopeful a disposition,’ said the good minister.
‘O, sir,’ said Brown, ‘what a place is this to receive you in! O, see to what I have brought myself!’
‘Your condition, as to this world, is indeed very low,’ replied the good pastor. ‘But what are mines, dungeons, or galleys, to that eternal, hopeless prison, to which your unrepented sins must soon have consigned you? Even in this gloomy prison, on this bed of straw, worn down by pain, poverty, and want, forsaken by your worldly friends, an object of scorn to those with whom you used to carouse and riot; yet here, I say, brought thus low, if you have at last found out your own vileness, and your utterly undone state by sin, you may still be more an object of favor in the sight of God, than when you thought yourself prosperous and happy—when the world smiled upon you, and you passed your days and nights in envied gayety and unchristian riot.
‘If you will but improve the present awful visitation; if you do but heartily renounce and abhor your present evil courses; if you even now turn to the Lord your Savior with lively faith, deep repentance, and unfeigned obedience, I shall still have more hope of you than of many who are going on quite happy, because quite insensible. The heavy laden sinner, who has discovered the iniquity of his own heart, and his utter inability to help himself, may be restored to God’s favor, and become happy, though in a dungeon. And be assured, that he who, from deep and humble contrition, dares not so much as to lift up his eyes to heaven, when with a hearty faith he sighs out, “God, be merciful to me a sinner,” shall in no wise be cast out. These are the words of Him who cannot lie.’ ”
     
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THE SHEPHERD OF SALISBURY PLAIN by Hannah More

Quick take:
David Sanders was a shepherd who tended his flocks on Salisbury Plain, England, during the eighteenth century. Mr. Johnson, who is Hannah More’s friend Dr. Stonhouse, found him to be an intriguing man of faith because of his humble and peaceful attitude about life, while having modest material wealth. He delighted in his occupational counterparts like Moses, David and other shepherds. This true narrative was very popular when written and is filled with the thoughtful insights of a simple man with an old family Bible.
My impression:
A touching story of a very poor shepherd with a very humble sense of graciousness. The excerpt below about accepting the day's weather is great to honor God's sovereignty.
Quote:
“It was to shepherds keeping their flocks by night, that the angels appeared in Bethlehem, to tell the best news, the gladdest tidings, that ever were revealed to poor sinful men; often and often has the thought warmed my poor heart in the coldest night, and filled me with more joy and thankfulness than the best supper could have done.”
Excerpt:
“Mr. Johnson, who was on a journey, and somewhat fearful from the appearance of the sky, that rain was at no great distance, accosted the shepherd with asking what sort of weather he thought it would be on the morrow.
‘It will be such weather as pleases me,’ answered the shepherd.
Though the answer was delivered in the mildest and civilest tone that could be imagined, the gentleman thought the words themselves rather rude and surly, and asked him how that could be.
‘Because,’ replied the shepherd, ‘it will be such weather as shall please God, and whatever pleases him, always pleases me.’
Mr. Johnson, who delighted in good men and good things, was very well satisfied with his reply. For he justly thought, that though a hypocrite may easily contrive to appear better than he really is to a stranger, and that no one should be too soon trusted, merely for having a few good words in his mouth; yet, as he knew that ‘out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh,’ he always accustomed himself to judge favorably of those who had a serious deportment and solid manner of speaking. ‘It looks as if it proceeded from a good habit,’ said he, ‘and though I may now and then be deceived by it, yet it has not often happened to me to be so. Whereas, if a man accosts me with an idle, dissolute, vulgar, indecent, or profane expression, I have never been deceived in him, but have generally on inquiry, found his character to be as bad as his language gave me room to expect.’
He entered into conversation with the shepherd in the following manner: ‘Yours is a troublesome life, honest friend,’ said he.
‘To be sure, sir,’ replied the shepherd, ‘ ’tis not a very lazy life; but ’tis not near so toilsome as that which my GREAT MASTER led for my sake; and he had every state and condition of life at his choice, and chose a hard one, while I only submit to the lot that is appointed me.’ ”
Background:
This narrative was published as part of the "Cheap Repository Tracts," in 1795.
   
THE SHEPHERD OF SALISBURY PLAIN by Hannah More - Paperback - $6.95.