The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-02-08
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.

Sermon by Rev. Henry Ward Beecher.
The usual overfowing congregation assembled last
evening at Plymo uth church. The principal object
OF the Rev. Mr.. Beecher's discourse was mainly d.
rected to show the importance Of 6xedness Of pur
pose in carrying out good intentions. In the first
place every man knew enough and had SUFFICIENT ex-
perience to be Christian, though he might not be
thoroughly acquainted with great spiritual truths
He might know little Of the modes Of worship, yet
could nevertheless be saved 1t did not require
great learning or knowledge Of doc
trinal lore to love God. Few there were
who did not know that they had power within
themselves to accept or refuse salvation through
Christ. Men were generally conscious Of the
wrongs they did and Of the moral influence which
repentance had upon their minds. Experience in life
went to prove that no man could sincerely say he
did not know what was required Of him in order TO
cs M he aau % Ga
teman went on to show the evils attending the want
OF purpose among men. Some men had commend
good actions were disjointed and disconnected, by
reason OF which the results Of their excellent char
acteristics were literally squandered: Their NE ME
having any distinct relation to the other. Those
men were perhaps near the kingdom OF God, but,
then, want OF stability and organization would final
ly overthrow them IN this life even the absence Of
determination exhibited its baneful results. Let
On Ss was IN n
ness and he would certainly appear to much better
advantage than q good man. whose praseworthy
qualities were OF ascattered and cisointed character
Many men were sorry when they did wrong but their
failure to proceed In the work OF repentance proved
their ickeness Of temperament Now, such men
might not be far from heaven, but they would never
reach IL. There were many wicked men In the
world had more generous feelings and greater moral
sensibinty than good Christian men, more sympathy
for their fellow men, but were wanting in the one
grand feature ofsuccess How many men In the world
who had done noble deeds Of charity and benevo.
lence, had made good promises for the future, and
then visited neighboring hotel where In joval
bowl with the landlord they forgot all about 1t, for
grace and Bourbon did not agree Such men COM
united burglary against their own consciences. In
deed, many actually struggled more earnestly not to
become true Christians than they did to follow
the dictates Of their heart to love Goo.
Now. It might naturally be asked what be-
came OF all the good that was done by
those men whose want OF resolution was so lament
ablef II man were condemned TO prison for life,
but pursuant to his determination not die there
commenced to dig under the foundation In order to
find egress, and had succeeded to almost within
foot OF the outer surface and then his heart
failed him and he abandoned his work, what use
would be all his previous aborY None whatever
though while engaged every stroke OF his arm
brought him nearer TO his freedom. II was the same
with regard TO religion The reverend gentleman
concluded by pointing out the necessity OF conti-
nuity OF purpose and the importance OF well organ
lZeu resolutions.