The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-12-10
HENRY WARD BEECHER.
A DISTINCTION WITH 4 YERv
MIKkED DITEERENCE.



for our iniqultie-. The reason that lie was de-
epised and rejected Of men was that the Lord
laid on Him the iniquity Of us all and made His
soul al offering for our sin Human Cpntcmpt
!ud rejection were part q the burden w!lirh lid
bore IN our behalf. Aud hence His suhcrinss, in
all the ages have excited the profoundest grati-
tudc and sympathy of Ills followers. Thcy have
been the symbol Of divine mercy the uuuttcr-
able stopping 81 God To- the help and salvation
u his sinful children. lie suffered, not because
lie had done any evil. nor yet because any gnilo
was found In His fuouthhut because the chastisc-
mcnt Of our peace was laid upon Him. and with
His stripes we are healed Men did not hide
beca,,s" liz Was sinner. Imi because lie WI
stricken Tor the trausgrcs-ion Of the people,
He was u wonderful sufferer. the only sufferer Of
earth who Is absolutely and perfectly sncss,
and owes His suffering. not 10 His own fault,
hut 10 the fault OF Others I'm this respect ~,
snHerings are unique. Though may suffer af
lie uld, Tor Others, and endure contempt ana re-
den Of our Vicaruus sorrow h always enhanced
by the consciousness of personal wrong aud ~
desert. There is q drop IN our cup of bitterness
that never was in His and that Is the know Ledge
Of personal guilt
And while the sorrows of our Saviour are thus
peculiar, unHpprOachable by man In intensity ~
Ia character. II l. very common Tor men 60 likcn
their own woes ia those of Christ, and comfort
themselves in the tfouhlcs that come in consc-
pueute 81 quit. because ui the sinlc,s sprruWd
Of our Lord. Men who can Ind no other reseut-
hlaucc In Themselves Co. Christ shan In suffering,
are very upi to regard them. elves mcritoriouf
On that account. \ great many murderer aud
rubber~. "a great many Na,1fiuu- and brutal de-
sulilrr- of fuuucDurp and uuritV when tlcv fr.
ceivc the iufauiy aud disgrace Of their offence,
are wont To console Themselves 10y reference
to the oppr"hram and corn that Ten ON tiq
-aNioutS head Tile annals Of crime are hll' 1
with the records Ut offenders against an law. vino,
when the lash of human scofu aud human iu.-
their own condolences los illusions Go the iutit-
nous charges which the Pharisces hcaped upon
the saviour and the hatred and madncs which
prosecuted HIM. The only thing la which th,y
have re.cmhled Christ has been the desp itc and
rejection Of men, the disgrace and shame which
have come to them. The cause OF their suffer-
ihg- !. a. unlike Tie cause OF His as ic darkness
th'lr reason as ichNch or Itll. II Whrn
ie 90 wei ye suffer Tor II; happy are le,
but let mo- man suffer as % thief au adultcrDr,
"A murderer or "a husyb"dy ~ other mons
matters Not long ago. ono ~ the most noted
lecturer and offenders Of the day who had COM
hined more intellectual hrillancy Of a metcorig
Kind and more -cusuous and unholy conduct 4
an earthly sort than any other man on the Amer
lean platform, compared himself IN the disgrace
and pain OF his slitfcring' to the Son II God.
and took heart ia the contempt which followed
lls vice.. IN the fecollcctiuii 90 The hatred wDIrh
had followed the uucathly virtues 81 Jesus
lie sought the sympathy OF the public In his
despiscd and rejected 10y men also. We took
occasion at the time So give short cummenMiy
was it very long after he had made draft ON
SORROWS had So closely rescmblrd the saviour s.
he did a thing which most con~picuou-ly dc.
monstratcd that, II in his life hc had been dr,.
pised ana sandetcd WITH "a Nchemehce equal To
secuted Jesus. he, at least, deserved all The con.
tempt which he received. Aye, a thousand
fold more even. for the shameful attempt he
had made to secure public sympathy 10y plead
Ing his likeness to Christ
When the unhappy David was followed 10y the
traitorous Shime with cur-ng hc recognized
the propriety of the foul insuence. Let linn
alone aud let him curse. The Lord hath hidden
MIN, was hi- reply to those who would have
slain the traitor. lie felt that his hlameful life
mertcd the cursng Of that day II his greater
son had then been ON earth. doubles. he wond
have sought the mediation Of that blessed
sufferer. nor once have dreamed that the wrath
which scOurged his sin. was like the sorrow
which broke the saviour heart. There r. a