The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1866-04-06
BEAUTIFUL FOR OHRIsT's SAKE.
From No. % OF HENRY WARD BEEcHERs Lecture
Room Talks, published In the N Y. Indtpsndsnt1

From No. % OF Henry WARD BEEcHrR's Lecture
Room Talks, published in the N Y. Independent
Now, you are bound to DO beautiful, for
Christ's sake. And the power OF Christ in
your heart, if It be allowed to be free and full
will make you beautiful, just as love makes
anybody beautiful in this world, will make
your conduct beautiful. and will make your
life and experience attractive. For Christ's
sake everything about us should DO beautiful.
How seldom it is that We feel any obligation
in this regard How seldom do We attempt to
make religion practical! How less often do
we succeed in doing it And yet it does not
require very much to do ii. You may be so
faithful in your industry as to attract tho at.
tention of men, and men may say Of you, al
like to deal with that man: he IS upright and
trne;" but II there is anything about you that
men admire, it ought to rebound to the glory
of Christ, and you ought to feel, "By the grace
of God am this that am" Your kindness,
your patience under provocaton. your utter re.
fusal to avenge yourself in any wise - that
ought to be attributed to the influence Of Christ.
In some way II ought to be made known that
all that which is be,utiful, lovely, and attract
i've in your character, is the result Of Chris,
dwelling in you. In short, II II be sincerity,
if it be chcerfulness, IL 1t be gentleness, II !,
be love. if it be fidelity whatever it is, men
should know that Christ is in you because his
spirit is manifested by your life. He makes
you what you are, and you are bound to bear
this testimony.
know that there ore m,ny persons who feel
great delicacy on the subject Of their religious
feelings; nor would rebuke il. think there
may be a sort Of exhibitoriness which Is incon.
ais ent with richness and depth of Christian
feeling. But, on the other hand, do not be.
licve that any man can be cheerful, and hide 1t.
! do not believe that any man can be truly be-
nevolcnt and hide it. do not believe that any
man can be really conscientious, and not have
it appear. do not believe that any man can
be active, and not have il known. In other
words, great salient tendencies of Christian ex.
pericnce arc to show themselves and make them
selves felt. II Is not necessary that you should
make them q subject of conversation; but 1t II
needful, rs a part Of the fultllment OF your
covenant vows, that you should, in your inter.
course with .nen, lot them see that, in conse.
quonce of your union with Christ, you have
something in you that is better than anything
that you had in you before, and better than
anything that most men have in them.
II your Righteousness does not exceed the
Righteousness of the good moral folks about
you, why arc you better than they? II you
have nothing that is better than your neighbor
has. who is not q Christian, why should he
try to DO Christian? Why should he come
to your ground, unless your ground is higher
than his?
While, then, We talk about religion, while
we preach, while We visit, while we hold vari.
Gus meetings. while We employ the means with.
in our reach for the instruction Of men, as it is
very proper Tor us to do, we ought not to for
get that, niter all, the mcst attractive and win
ming influence which wc can bring to bear up
on men is tho disposition made sweet and beau
tiiul by the indwellng Of Christ Jesus.
Now, this duty Of testifying for Christ ev.
erybody can perform. 1t does not require &c.
MUS or learning. The things that will make
Christianity most powerful in this world are
things that arc accessible to persons of tho
most slender opportunities and cndowments.
BE iull Of moral and spiritual elements, he nc-
tive and rich in them and that will make you
influential upon your fellow.men.