The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-07

An Explanation Of Asking for Mercies
for Christ's Sake.

for Christ's Sake.
The lecture room was filed before half-pas
seven O'Clock last evening. Alter the usual exer
cises Mr.. Beecher said We have all thought to
ask God for blessings in the name OF Christ, we
have all thought to pray for Christ's sake. Now,
don't know, don't understand whether there Is
any forensic reason why merces should come
from God through another; but this shall say,
that the impression has been left on my mind in
regard to asking Gods mercy for Christ's sake.
The explanation that mas been given has made the
whole matter hard, unsympathetic. Men look to
ind reason why God should not look directly on
man, and don't thank anybody for making the
PORTALS THROUGH WHICH GO
to heaven SO hard, so stony. On the other hand,
this representation seems to be addressed to some
unseen want, that there are attractions beyond
the ordinary; it il to enable you to see this that
will open this matter from a standpoint OF lofty
human experience. He has not been richly
endowed who does not know how often he will do
things on others account that we will not do on
our own. Suppose you see poor little lame boy
going along and larger boy teazing him and
finally hitting him. 1t would make me a thousand
times more angry than If he should hit me.
should feel like saying, as boys do, Take one Of
your own SIZE" Our feelings are often more ex-
cited by sympathy for others than Tor our
selves, the kindly affections go out more
person comes to me wanting money,
occupation and personal solicitation to get
But do secure HIM position and he may not
know the reason why. He may be like my boy
who was slain in the war; he may waken train
dental resemblance. A striking case occurred in
Brooklyn. l was called to visit young man,
Southerner who was sick in the hospital and mad
been taken out by some rich people, and the
story was simply this:-They had had boy
who went TO Missouri and was taken
a
Secesh took him home and took care OF him with
all the Kindness of our parents ill he died. and so
SICK in the hospital they took him out OF his
wretched accommodations and cared for him till
stitutions. Not substitution IN the hard, common
emotions act. 1 love my old indiana home. i re-
member the names OF people IN my church there,
and every now and then some OF them come on
here. recOllect one who had two sons in the
war, and who believed one had been wounded and
brought to New YORK. secured the whole city;
but, happily, he was not wounded. l would have
done It for any one; put let me know It was for
an old friend and there was a double motive
Wen, now, we have this in low degree; but i'm
agne that there is
LIKE NATURE IN THE DIVINE,
and imagine that, when we say for Chrst's sake
we do it not as If He sheriff, who says, ''My
son, mas there been ample satisfaction for this ~
Only think, what character 1t would make to
transfer our low, barbarOus nature to the glorious
nature OF God He acts as loving soul acts, Tor
imperfect, but viva" Impressions, in which
we do things for our own sake. We often do
things for our under self. man may do kindness
to another Tor his under self, but we often 90
things because We love to DO them. Well. for in
stance, go along the street and l see fine rosy
child-chidren break out on me like sunshine. and
yet do like to them cean-but see gong along,
poor. dirty, lousy, little beggar, a stack on his
shoulder, going home to be beaten afraid of it.
1t is not exactly the thing you would
like to sleep WITH and yet l feel very
like taking it IN my arms and carrying 1t over the
crossing and giving it money. Now, you say do
it Tor the chids SAKE not for my own sake. l
don't know why am made so. know wnaI it is
to give money to people to get rid OF them; but
there is feeling in me that leads me to do things
Tor the love OF DONG and If this feeling had free play
IN man 1t would produce thousand acts OF love
service. When man looks into his own heart there
is so much that comes up to show him his un-
worthness. And If he did not feel that God could
love him through all, a sensitive man would never
have the courage to bring himself in the presence
OF God but il we feel this 1t IS not because are
right. God does much Tor our sake, for Christ's
sake, from a feeling of love, and when | think
OF this ask God to please himself when
i ask Him TO forgive me, l think OF
Gods infinite mercy, OF his long suffering, and all
shall work to brace me up, and when you say
that God helps men, how lar does 1t go? SO far as
the east Is from the west, so lar sins are
taken from u.s. Now is there any time when man
needs GOD so much as when he is convinced that he
is covered with Sin?