The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-17
PLYMOUTH PRAYER MEETING.
OUR WANT OF eRAT1TUDE-THE sELFIsHNEsa
OF PRAYER

OUR WANT OF eRATrrUDE-THE sELTTsHNEsa
OF PRAYER.
The disagreeable weather last evening did NOT
prevent the usual large attendance ct Plymouth
prayer meeting Mr.. Beecner came In at twenty
minutes past seven and alter gave out the
hymn. Brothers Charles. Morton ana Davenport
prayed. Then Mr. Beecher began his remarks By
saying:-The greatest element OF power in the
New Testament Is that 1t was written by men who
suffered everything, and was written to men who
were suffering aud distressed, and in the uncer-
tainty that comes from the change OF base In re-
llgious belief. 1t has become almost truism that
o book written by refugees, expatriated men,
suffering to such y degree that they did not &C.
count IL extravagant TO say that they died deaths
daily; that this BOOK. written by such men and "a
such men. should be the most comforting, insptr
lug, hopeful book Is strange Tennyson, IN tha
Isle OF Wight. IN MS beautiful home-to see
him throw OF those voluptuous p0ems-volupta-
GUS not In bad sense. but In the nignest-we
would say that that was what was 70 be expected;
we should suppose tnat man out OF sucn luxury
should com ort people. But That tine
GREAT BOOK or CONSOLATION
TO humanity, Lnat meets every need and ID
ada ted TO every phase written In dungeons and
in exile, by men IN peril from their c0unIrymen
aud from ialse trends should be such,
deal OF rlca soil Is better for some things
better roses but mgnonette loses all It's scent
IN rlcn soil and Is exceedingly fragrant In poor
soi. Aud 80 II Is IN human nearls-theY grow az
lar "a weeds aud as worthless In PROSPERITY and
many are never fragrant till they are pressed on
falls ouI tnat all through the book we nnd whsi
might be called
or the happiness they ielt We read them and
read them, and have. no more thought Of
what they mean than boy SKATING tninkt
OF what IS under the Ice. Here il one OF them =
continue In prayer, and watch In the same Will
the presence OF the dear Lord. and IooK on ms
bright side Of everything" That Is about tue req
0ering. DO not draw your COMFORT IRON what u
Just aoout you, hut realize tnat you are the Dc.
loved OF the dear Lord, and ;nat you can speak
with Him ABOUT everything. be In that state Of
troubles ana Joys freely 10 Him VINO watoass youl
and In regard 10 everything study Thanksgiving.
directions ald be Anything but courageous.
brave man. This matter OF thanksgiving. an
AFRAID. we DO 4 up Almost al together; once :
thought OF as q Christian grace.
see a sparrow hopping along the ground; he
bee: ne WON'T toucn anything but flowers; tnat u
his business. And so IL IS with some MINDS tneJ
Iney pass by. Yet there is In everything some
subtle sentiment oI pleasure. II we only nave tue
power 10 nnu It, III We had this disposition rs
would Destroy half the temptations, It would
DRY HALF THE TEARS.
This Is not merely IN my Inauguration. as ron win
nothing. The thought OF care mere Is OF the DIS
tur0ng, carping sort, not IN the general sense OF
responsibility. be careful Tor nothing. but IN
everything, by prayer aud snpphcatloR, with
thanksgiving, let your request be made known 70
God DAD ~ ever occur TO YOU that prayer IL about
the most selfish thlng knOwn 10 Carlstlaus IL
is. what would you think lf you we're
q banker, well or ana your SISTERS son sets up In
business aud IL Ia want OF money, and asks you TO
lend hin 5000 You give " TO him, and ne takes
IL aud spends IT. aud the next DAY comes back and
asks Tor 5000 more. de takes that, ana comes
DacK IN fortnight ana asks Tor $4,000 He geu
II. aud gees on, never saying anything. and comea
BACK anu says, ION, uncle dear. generous uncle
let me nave $4,000 more;i and by ana by ne comes
ana says, ION, uncle, let me nave $lU.0O0n
That is the way we pray-beg. beg fof
everything, ana never giving thanks; yet
going to God all the time, Oeseecntng ana beg
ging; there IS no comfort IN you, ASPIRATION,
NJ inspiration OF attn or love, no gratitude; Dut
all tue time. Lord, give, give, give. On, but some
say, uOnit see tnat nave anything 10 be thank nj
Tor. That depends. DON'T suppose PRIDE ever did
md IL mad auy thing to be thankful Tor, for pride
LnInks God ought neglect everything TO attend
10 II, and tneu lie would not quite 40 his dutJ
tnlng else but hungry, aud IN such moods disc0n,
tent IL naturai.
Shai not a Christian stand on his manhood
shall ne not leel that ne ~ superior 70 disaster
ana tue opinion OF men III you are Gods, tnen
you can AFFORD TO Carry your mead nigh. Thanks
giving springs from an appreciation OF the good.
ness OF God and watcn aud pray con tlnuouslyl
let II 0e an acquaintance between you aud God,
iull o. The sense oil his protection aud goodness
And n you have this sense, cultivate It. search
alter n, pursue II aud win IL and tnen glory IN
nall OF the unnapplness Is tue grumDng OF tnd
animal that is IN men, and N tney were living
IN TINS higher toi m they would nave lever occa
Tor COMPLAINT.