Acts 10:30-48 And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold… "Now, deacon, I've just one word to say. I can't bear our preaching! I get no good. There's so much in it I don't want that I grow lean on it. I lose my time and pains." "Mr. Bunnell, come in here. There's my cow Thankful — she can teach you theology!" "A cow teach theology! What do you mean?" "Now, see, I have just thrown her a forkful of hay. Just watch her. There now! She has found a stick — you know sticks will get into the hay — and see how she tosses it to one side and goes on to eat what is good. There, again! She has found a burdock, and she throws it on one side and goes on eating. And there! She does not relish that bunch of daisies, and leaves them and goes on eating. Before morning she will have cleared the manger of all, save a few sticks and weeds, and she will give milk. There's milk in that hay, and she knows how to get it out, albeit there may be now and then a stick or weed which she leaves. But if she refused to eat, and spent the time in scolding about the fodder, she, too, would 'grow lean,' and the milk would dry up. Just so with our preaching. Let the old cow teach you. Get all the good you can out of it and leave the rest. You will find a good deal of nourishment in it." Parallel Verses KJV: And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, |
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