Year: 1869

The Cost of Christian Life.


Rev. Henry Ward Beecher preached yesterday to
very large congregation, taking as his text the
tweny-eighn verse of the fourteenth chapter Of ST.
Luke:-"For which Of you intending to build tower
stitch not down first and counteth the cost whether
he have sufficient to finish it." IL plain from the
text and the context that Christ here spoke in a
aguraiivc The crowd at this time throng-
ing to Christ with altogether an insufficient concep-
ton OF what his idea OF building meant, or
Of what his dscipleshIp wished. Counting the cost
that Is q calculation of value. A man may cacu-
late whether to build small or large, whether he
will build expensively or cheaply, whether he viii
decorate profusely limit the expenses to a mini
mum. But there is calculation which lies back Of
all this-whether he shall build at all go without
shelter The cost OF building depends largely upon
the question, whether ne intends 20 build sump-
tuously, and also upon the architect who builds
out q buildlngl This question IL twoiold. II
the cost is counted you may say you
cannot afford to build; but then comes up the ques
tlon can you afford to go without a shelter and a
homer Therefore, two questions are involved In
counting the cost; and sometimes mes, by far the most
people wish they had religion; but the article OF
Time comes IN and they say they cannot be religious
now. But this IL often an involuntary idea rather
than an avowed and expressed condition OF mind
Men reason among themselves that II Is useless for
e theV have really no moral feeling. TSey have te @





terest IN religion. II already under the infiu-
ences brought to bear IN Christian community
upon the conscience OF men-if that man has but 1T
tie moral feeling-t Is likely that as he grows older
his moral feelings Will increase. on this ac-
count men count the cost, and say, how shall I act
At this point all uncertainty arises. Some
men are born with every disposition In favor
OF religious life. They do not get an
CRY. WhyS Because the original organization
80 balanced that there Is no crash within them
selves But there are other men Of different DISPOSE
tons that struggle daily To conquer their passions
Then, again, many men say, who knows whether
religion is anything more than phantasy, and why
should spend my time In this pleasant world hunt
ing after will o. the wisp. And some men Will
say, why should I be blamed for doubling
almost everything taught by religion when the
churches themselves almost doubt everything
and are quarrellng upon points Of faith While the
churches do disagree upon immateral points they
all agree that man requires the grace Of God in his
heart. some men say that their doubts 90 deeper.
Theycannot see any original grounds for these beliefs.
But men should be willing to explore the unknown.
a. Columbus did-he saw or heard nothing, but he
moved with invlncible aim. through the night and
through the day through the clouds and the bak-
ing winds, In spite OF insurrection among his com.
panions ne stu pressed forward Till he saw beyond
the horizon the land long sought now found
Men must push on 10 that land that lies beyond the
grave and they must be prepared TO enter upon II
ana take, possession. Calculate that you cannot
afford TO live without the consolation and Joy Of
CHRISTIAN iatth--that when old aye and nhrmties
come upon you yo1 cannot afford to go without the