The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-01-08
"THE POWER
OF GENTLENESS."

The following sermon ON "rbe Poower
OF Gentleness in the, New YORK
Herald prize series was written
by Rev. Ricnard q. Woodbridge, pas
t,r OF ths Central Congregational church,
Middletown, Mass:
Thy gentleness hath made me great. =
Psalms, xviii, 36. There Is little In the
popular idea Of gentleness to make IL de-
s.rable for God or man. We think Of 1t
as lacking In vigor and a long way re-
moved from greatness. Sd suggestive Is
10 of weakness and softnsss that We want
very little to do with 1t.
Our ideas OF gsntleness need reohfying.
We speak often OF gentle horse What
Co we mean by itf That horse Is gentle
that Is nervy and full Of mettle. able to
pass anything on the road, and yet 90
easily subdued that the voice Of little
child would pring him TO a standetill at
once. That man Is gontIs who has the
streE 9Th of a Hercules and the tenderness
OF woman. Gentleness is power with
holding itself and spending itself in good
ness
A good illustration Of gentieness was
that on Spanish battle cid. A gallant
French soldiers sword was uplfted TO
strike his foe to the earth, but he saw as
the sword was about 10 descend that his
antagonist had but one arm. Instantly
he stayed his sword, brought 1t to sa-
Lutte and rode OF.
Gsntlensss In woman Is lovs's'migfAy.
magnet, and will attract Its own from
the ends VI the earth. A woman with
out IL IL monstIosity; n warrior with
It IL greater far than he who shows his
power ly burning Villages, destroying
crops, executing prisoners. 1he great
General at Appomattox considering the
them az bis fellow countrymen, silenc-
ing the salute already under way TO cole
brate victory lest they should be further
humiliated, and sending the defeated
onss home well fed and equipped for labor
on the farms, declared himself gentle
man as well ms a great soldier, and did
more in that hour TO mnbe his country
great than other great men have done in
a lifetime. Grant could have crushed
the south In that hour: instead, he cares
Ell II as "a mother ber weak and way
ward child and melted IL to tears.
We speak often nf the power OF God,
but It is the 0entleness Of God that works
the greatest wonders IJ Is this that
makes a. en- great See the gentlensss or
God at the beginning. IL is not the
strong arm, but the tender heart that
concerns itself with fallen man. It Is
net Kings voice that We hear I'm Eden.
but fathers. Pathetic crv that,
Adam. Adam, where art thouY When
God came down In human flesh To save
lost world He came in the same spriit
A still and quiet night II was when tho
saviour was born. The stars looked down
peacefully upon the shepherds as they
watched their sheep. The world was
wrapt In sumter. It was into this still
pess and quiet that Gods angels came
and Gods glory shone around. Gentle
words those were the angel spoke" Be
not afraia." 80 sweet and gentle was
the music OF the angelic host that no one
rave the shepherds heard IL.
The spirit OF the Gospel Is the same.
1t is summed up in the wor1s:-''A
bruised reed will he not break; the
smoking flax He will not quencb. 1t is
by Rentensss that God seeks TO win the
world to righteousness and truth. "1he
Lord God is a sum-" Sooner or later cold
ana Icy hearts must give way before Il i'm.
We need more aentlepess before the earth
uan become like heaven-gentleness on
the part OF parents You can shout at
your children and bring them into tiem-
bling submis n you can hrash them II %
o.edience; yJu Gu starve them into SUD
mission. Lne strong can bring the weak
TO terms tor awhile ny any Of these
methods. But IL you want 10 show your
child the sweet rsasonableness OF your
position and To make him dooile, ohe-
dent, trustful, sit down and talk gently
with him and soek 20 make his heart
your own.
We need more gentleness on the part of
children-gentlenes OF speech, gentleness
OF manner. Children need 70 learn early
how mean q thing it is to tyrannize over
any one weaker than themselves. There
Is no one for ~ bom a healthy bov has
Inore contempt as he grows older thac for
u bully.
We need more gentleness on the part of
teachers. 1t is by appealing To the best
in boy that the best Is developed. HUI
IN n
ana you have not subdueu him. Beam
upon him gently and lovingly, apart and
alone, and he Will be your friend for ever.
We need more genteness on the part Of
preachers. the servant Of the Lord must
not strive, but be gentle toward all men,.
The Great Preacher was so gentle that
Simon the Pharifee asked him to dine
with him; the poor harlot fingered near
Hts feet caressingy; Zaccheus and
Mathew. the publicans, became His loyal
disciples, and even thief. In the agony
OF crucfixion, cried, Lord remember
me. The world needs nothing mora
than 1t needs gentleness and love.
Human henrts are hungry for the music
OF gentle voices and the touch OF tender
ness. Why should we not all try 10
show that we are the sons and daughters
of the gentle Godp
Rough, rude boys have been made
Grent tor time and eternity by the sweet
ness and gsntleDess of mothers and
sisters. Dull, wilful, petulant scholars
have been IL ade thoughtful and earnest
by the tender, patient love of self-deny-
ing teachers. Souls small. mean, selfish,
sinful, have been made great bv the gen
tie, faithful labors OF those not willing
that any should perish.
Ihe night Of life is coming on apcce.
It will be sweet To have the gates swing
inward at Our approach to the city eter-
nal and 60 20 welcomed ty some watch
hnnp nm N 20 ban IN
joyful lips sach words as these Thy
gentleness hath made me great"