He, then, that judges man by what he can do, judges him in the seed.
Henry Ward Beecher
The Public Record
Henry Ward Beecher was an American Congregationalist clergyman, social reformer, and speaker, known for his support of the abolition of slavery, his emphasis on God's love, and his 1875 adultery trial. His rhetorical focus on the love of Christ has influenced mainstream Christianity through the 21st century.
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While, then, his industrial value in life must depend on what he can do, we have here the beginning of a moral value which bears no relation to his power, but to his future destiny.
This relationship begins in the fact that we are created in the divine image; that we are connected with God, therefore, not by Government alone, but by nature.
This initial truth is made radiant with meaning, by the teaching of Christianity that every human being is dear to God: a teaching which stands upon that platform, built high above all human deeds and histories, the advent, incarnation…
The race is a brotherhood; God is the Father, Love is the law of this great human commonwealth, and Love knows no servitude.
One more element to human liberty is contributed by Christianity, in the solemn development of man's accountability to God, by which condition hereafter springs from pure character here.
However heavy that saying is, every one of us shall give an account of himself before God--in it is the life of the race.
Who shall trifle with such a creature, full bound upon such an errand through life, and swelling forth to such a destiny?
Clear the place where he stands?--give him room and help, but no hinderance, as he equips for eternity!--loosen the bonds of man, for God girds him!--take off all impediments, for it is his life and death and struggle for immortality!
Let us not, therefore judge one another any more, but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block, or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
By making man important in the sight of God, he becomes sacred to his fellow.
If he must stand by what he is, how surely must he be given over to weakness, to abuse, to oppressions.