The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-04
BROOKLYN CHURCHES.
FALMOUTH CHURCH.

MIR. Eeecher Pruyer-Its Effect ON Those
Who Pray nnd Those Who Prayed
For.
Mr. Beecher selected his text yesterday morning
from l. Timothy ill., l. 2-I exhorr, therefore, that
first OF all suppcatiOns, prayers, lnterceSsions and
giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and
for all that are IN authority. that we may lead
quiet and peacable life in all goodness and
honesty.n You will see the compass OF the Apostles
thought and prayer IN his multiplication OF terms
a compass which indicates ON his part desire that
every form OF prayer may be uttered by Christians
for all men. Paul prayed for men ana
their officers This Is called microscopy prayer.
Christ and the disciples invariably prayed for Others
rather Than for themselves Paul's lie seemed one
great breath or SPECIFICATION for all with whom ne
had abored We are apt TO leave out or our
thought in prayer the personality OF God. II men
10 us always asking Tor something to eat or TO
wear we would soon look upon them as beggars;
but they asked for higher things should begin
to feel fellowship with them; ana this IS the same
way with God. Do you not suppose that divine
sympathy IS in proportion the height OF the plane
which the suppliant stands9 microscopy prayer
Is the prayer or generOsity-of unselfshness-and
we are nearer God when we pray for Others The
habit OF praying Tor others keeps our minds higher
than when we continually praying for ourselves,
The things that true in our low moral appIec18-
tons more true IN higher sphere. There Is
much the forest and wilderness nature left In
Society, ana the law OF strife and cunningthe VIII
derness LAWS stu the law of men. Men are mere
animated facts to and yet every soul has great
drama playing within 1t. We don't the manhood
In masses OF men It's bad for people TO call them.
selves Christians when they only see the physical
Praying for them brings their spiritual needs and
POSSESSIONS To our sight.
It is dangerous 20 look upon the weak side OF men.
1t is dangerous for us TO see how black and shallow
humanity 49, unless we see 1t as the physician does.
maj
tanned by prayer We look upon men who
make us satisfied with ourselves as good fellows;
but those men " no take away from our comfort and
ease we note Win condemnation. Is 1t not better
we should measure our opponents as God measures
there are none that are bad without excellencesA
We see the mistakes and corruptions OF men, as II
there were any who mad not sinned. 1t Is possible
for look upon an OutcasJ with horror which
God will say is a higher mlsdemeanor than the bad
we despise. 1t may not be safe for our house.
holds 10 be thrown wide open to humanity; but there
Is no man who cannot take up ms fellow man In
ciolne the body, but 1t is much more beautiful to
clothe the spirit in prayer. We live very much In
man aud man. The inward struggles they nave we
never think OF. The habit OF praying for others
tends TO increase our patience toward them. 10 the
court of own secret souls we condemn
men unheard. Ii there be amy pleading, our vanity,
pride or interest plead against them. II you be
Christian men you VIII see that TINS inside Judg-
ment regulated by the most scrupuious laws OF
charity and justice; and we can do tins In 70 better
way than by iraylng Tor those whom we would
question. We pray naturally Tor our children first.
HOW much more beautiful are our children to
us II we are accustomed day by day to
hear them In prayer to GOD II is very noble lining
to ask Goa TO convert them; but, alter all, u Is
bringing prayer down TO q narrow limit II We only
pray for that We ought not TO pray for our friends
In general way alone. We should pray Tor them
specially. We do not really know our associates.
No man Is known until you can see not only what
he Is, but propnesy as TO what he Will be. Then
You are able TO think OF others somewhat as they
think Of themselves In their best moments. In pro-
portion as we are pr0spered 90 we need 10 remem.
Der the pit from winch we have come. Tue WORST
thing in life Is 10 be consciously independent OF your
fellow men, God fOrgtves those VINO are III revolt,
and so we are specially commanded to pray Tor our
enemies. We arc told TO love them. we must
feel toward them Just as spring DAYS feel toward
frozen gronnd Out OF your warm life breathe that
| winch you think they are deficient III. IL Is
very hard Tor man TO curse long into the heart Of
| q blessing. The Christianity we find harder to
practice tnan all the mystery OF The CreedS Is to
pray for them that desptelully use us. We ara
| also to pray Tor those that are representative
| positions. am AFRAID that In our land democracy
| mas loose to sucn an extent that veneratOn ii
| almost iOst We invegh against political and
| and believe II we prayed more we would find less
| TO condemn. We have had most lamentable ln-
| stances of the fall OF magistrates, and OF the
greatest causes 1t seems TO me, Is that don't take
them IN Christian prayer straight 10 The Throne Of
| Grace. When the Methodist prays he prays for ali
| good Methodists and so with other denominations.
| Now We ought not 60 forget tnat Coo has other
| sheep than those IN our flock. 1 was taught 10
| great dragon; but find IN them qualities as good
| and sincere as any OF my own denominations.
CHRISTIAN churches will never come together In the
| spirt of indifference or or Church creedS but II
because men have learned that GOD looks the same
on all and mat because He smiles on one belief It
| does not fOllow That lie ir0wns down every other.