Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-12-08
Alefanorla 6azette
SATURDAY EVENING, deer 8.
Knocking Grace into u Man.

Al the last Plymouth Church prayer meeting,
Mr.. Beecher was speaking of what be termed
the divine spirit Of forgiveness and dehneo
it as ''lha disposition to regard with pity ana
kiudliress those who attempt to wrong U.s.
"Doyou mean," asked Mr. Halliday, that when
we are abased. we are to quiet our assallans -
By kipdlipess ?" well, yes-with limitations;
answered Mr. Beecher, smiling; but IT'S TO De
exDccted that person 10 whom you are giving
sncb dirrctions as these has got some common
sebse. Laughter. You must give genera
instructions to one who is setting out on oan
gerou. Journey, and he must be guided Dy MS
common sense in looking out Tor inc speela'
dangers. "Oue other question. said Df
Smith. is there no occasion tor such thing
a. self dcfeuca; are We never to slrISe Dsck
when struck ?" "Why, ,certa!a'y' va: me
rron,t ,epiy "a good knocking down Is the
best means OF grace you could give some m 1I
There are some newspaper men over 10 New
Yn1k vho would be moved by no other argu-
ucnl; if you should spank them well oDce or
,wic, IL week, | think it would be the means OF
converiur them before long. -,
In iiiu,ra,ion Of this point, MIR. Beecher told
a story Of his Western experience, which DC
nppearca 10 erjoy fully as much as the listeners.
ON Ben Haven, one Of those unselhsh men
VINO went out as ministers amorg the hrst set
,l;,s Of the West, once told me of bis expert
cnce with a blacksmith who became very an
p,v o. him because he had induced the
h, ,rksnlrh's wife 10 joi0 the church. lhe
iurv fellow threateUcd that ne would thrash
tie life out of the minister the hrst chsnce
he had We'll, Ben Baven was singing AS ne
Was riding along ono morning through !he
woods On ur of those narrow corduroy fcaos.
With don't allow OF to turn off on either side,
wil,n be met the blacksmith. He saw there
was no use trying to avoid the meeting. The
blacksmith took lis horse By ths birdie a>d ssK
Cd Your name is baveo, isn't II? YES.
sEnu YOU got my wife into your church p Yes
We'll str.r ger you've got TO como Gu that
horse There's going to be d fight here. aud
or. f US Is going to Do whirlpool Ben tried t.
argue with him. out he Saw twas no use ana so
hc said no Was sorry. but it he must. he must.
S. ie tied bis horse to u trea, and they want at
it, Sometimes he was on top ard the black.
smith va, uLde., and sometimes twas tue otner
wsy. Sometimes ho got terribly pounded, atd
sometime. The ether man. Good old Ben said
no never ID such time in his Ifs; and he WAS
ycry sure notLiug in the world sustained MIN
but the grace OF God Laughter He Eept
thinking, it won't do for Il minister of tie Cos
Del to get whipped [laughter.] and he thought
the sweetes, sound DO ever heard was when that
blacksmith cried enough But then he only let
him up upon the concition that the next prayer
meeting he held in tho vill.ge tho blacksmith
should be there, and 60 forward to the anxious
seat for prayers And the blacksmith kept his
word and he afterward united with Old Ben's
church. Now" said M. Bsecher, enphatical.
ly, he pounded the grace Of God into that
man. daughter ] The inhction Of pain is not
necessarily inconsistent with the spirit OF forgive
mesa don't think thsre can be any mistake
about that.