THE PATENT OF NOBILITY
‘The princes of Judah, with the craftsmen and smiths, from Jerusalem.’
Jeremiah 24:1 (R.V.)
Let us see wherein the honour of labour lies.
I. Labour is noble when regarded as the service of God.
II. Labour is noble as it becomes a social service.
III. Labour is noble as it becomes an education of our highest nature.
Illustration
‘To show their sense of the dignity of work, the Chinese Emperor on one day of the year holds the plough, and the Empress works the loom; but we need no royalty to toy with the instruments of toil to persuade us to the glory of humble service; the Majesty of the skies has consecrated the workshop by His presence and glorified work by His example.’