Lectureroom talks Author:Henry Ward Beecher Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: GROPING AFTER GOD. HERE is hardly any experience more pitiful than what may be called the experience of a sincere person groping after God, conscious of his o... more »wn weakness, of his great want, and, in a sort of rude and imperfect way, of the infinite world, and of the great interests that belong to it. There are many who perpetually suffer from spiritual hunger, and are helpless ; and I find that in the majority of instances such persons have been misinstructed, or else have misconceived good instruction. For instance, I find a great many persons who attempt to come to the Lord Jesus Christ as a person would go to a king that had given out invitations for a grand levee, and expected every one who came to wear a court dress. While all the rich, that had silks, and satins, and money in profusion, were getting ready and going, others would be staying at home, because they had only homespun garments, or were in tatters, and had no means of better clothing themselves. Suppose you should desire to go to the levee of the King, — or the President, if you like that word better, — but should hesitate because you had not better clothing ; and suppose he should send out word, " Come without stopping for better clothing"; and suppose you should still hesitate, feeling that there must be some preparation necessary; and suppose he shouldsend out again, saying to every one: "Make known your want, and I will supply it; I will send you the very garments you need ; I will send you money with which to pay your expenses : only let me know what you want, and you shall have it, — provision for your journey ; the necessary funds for travelling ; a convoy to guide and protect you; and a ticket of entrance ; and finally you shall receive a hearty welcome. Only come, and all these incidental matters s...« less