The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-01-01
CHURCH OF THE INCARNATION.
sELF-CoNFIDENCE-sERM by REV. DIR.

BROOKS.
At the Church OF the Incarnation yesterday morning
Dr. Brooks preached from tho toxt OF St. Pauls words
in Acts XVI 29-"I would TO God that not only thou,
but also all that hear me this day, were both almost
and altogether such as l am, except these bonds. "
Scltassertion DIR. Brooks distinguished from
gance and considered it as the duty OF ALL
thereby Christians helped others to Christ Some
times seli-asserton is agreeable, at other times
not 1t Is not the degree Of sefassertion, but tho
manner OF 1t that makes 1t dsagreeabe Was ST.
Paus assertion that he wished all were like him, too
much? II we desire impress anything on others
we must impress IL ourselves first. This is dit
fercnt thing from saying that must be perfect
for. he can advise others II not arrogance with
st. Paul, he only said, ''There is something In mo
which you and ought to be- Once let man get
a view Of the broad and noble type OF human life
him and to help him. Christ is this type. No
can exhaust all the traits OF Christian characterize
needs others help him. man should be Christian
II there were no other Christians, but lie should
not refrain from asserting himself and calling
others help him. He who tries to initiate Christ
strength from the great fountain Of life and
should wish all to be like HIM. Now We mus notice
Paul's limitation, scxcept these bonds" Paul was a
prisoner and tho path in which he worked for Christ
had brought him into chains. To have avoided these
bonds would have made him false TO his principles,
he knew that they were not necessarily the result
OF life Tor Christ. How many there are who have
tried to put their CHAINS other men, who have
thought that because they were prosecuted others
must be SO too We arc making ourselvcs more than
a call to Christ We need TO have more faith In
selves and In other Faith will make Christians
Just tho different colors oil light reflected
from objects which the same sunlight falls Ono
soul differs from every soul which meets
It, There Is within us all power
which ought TO be brought out to make
the world better There is great typo OF life
that we find now loaded with chains now covered with
richcs sometimes in ignorance and sometimes in
knowledge. History shows us the power of Christian
ity exhibit this type No persecution or rdicule has
ever succeeded in keeping out anything in Christianity
that ought to be brought out Tmid and shrinking
characters suddenly come out strong and assert them
selves for Christ. We have them become active
Tor Christian life. My friends 1t cannot be otherwise
when mau ees that Christ is near him ana supporting
him. Tho common place man can become original, the
weak righteous, by that power Youth assert it.
self without being called arrogant; advancing age
assert itself without being called sefsuicicnt And
SO Christ has called assert ourselves because
are His servants and not because We think
great He dlskes to see lives covered with weeds.
whether they be the humble weeds OF tmidity tho
great bold OF arrogance and pride. He would
plant all with seeds to bring forth not only the
owy vine but the great tree which will bring forth
fruit and attract ALTO lin. Then We say al would
that you all such am except these bonds of
sin and weakness which my own nature puts upon
mo-" The charity OF life IN It's most perfect forms de-
ponds on our being Christians