The Union and journal., 1870-05-20
Sssssdap Readi,sg.
The Beauty Of a Christian Life.

From recent lecture-room talk ofHenry
Ward Bcccher. reported for the Congrega-
tionallst. we make The following extract
When I think Of the representations
made in the New Testament Of Chris
tian life, and compare them with the ef-
forts made by men. can imagine no great
cr contrast. Hundreds arc trying to NOR
tify the flesh; hundreds believe that they
ought not to bo happy-not simply in
wrong-doing. but they think that happi-
moss itself is wrong; they make il their
business To mortify their inclinations.
This is the same feeling that actuates the
heathcn in u grosser way, when they main
themselves; Ii is the same philosophy, and
ends Just about rs near heaven. The New
Testament calls us to no such thing-it
calls us to rejoice. The idea Of the Bible
is To develop Coils nature within US and
90 reconstruct our ruined nature. We are
told that we are adopted into happy
family, that great good fortune has bcfallen
US.
Now wish to say n word about the
Christian life; and first let me observe
that there Is universal Misunderstanding
about nature. Men think that the exer-
else of naturl powers is wrong-that
good Is something bestowed especially.
Now wish to set my foot on that. II
you do not serve God with your natural
faculties. YOU wont serve him nj all, while
YOU are to act with your natural faculties
under divine stimulous. The mischief
Is this: that men are waiting for some
thing 10 fall upon them like dew. Being
Christian Is using the power that God
has given You under the divine inspiration,
Christ being the pattern. and the divine
Spirit giving you power TO follow him (;
and this inspiration and spirit Is univer-
sal.
I would say next that Jesus Christ be-
comes to every soul center; certain
element from him stains. rs IL were. our
NATURE. You all know that you are not
doing your best all the time, that when
you are with people who influence you,
you restrain yourselves. A brutal man
draws hack the devil and lets out little
angel ut sight OF his employer. You have
seen men who say that II Is impossible for
them to stop swearing; but In the pres
ence Of ladies IL would take n dentists
instrument To extract an oath from them.
Now this familiar principle by which
we restrain the evil In us In the. presence
Of good. is the principle by which the
Divine nature acts upon MS. We are
taught to have n private relation to God.
I defy any man 10 bear the best fruits Of
love publicly. There Is something in love
that shrinks. even In the intimate love OF
husband and wife. This state Of intimacy
exists between the soul and God. There
are moments when you have feeling that
YOU can not utter even in prayer. when
you have such sense Of the tenderness oi
Christ that there Is only room for silence
These are the moments in which we are
the most rebuked for our want Of love tn
the brethren, for our consciousness and
unkindness. Out OF this secret relation
grows sense Of oneness Of interest with
Christ. feeling Of clanship. such rs the
Scots felt for their leaders, such rs soldiers
feel Cor a general. We are Christ's par
tisans. Every generous nature knows
that there Is nothing sweeter than giving