The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-10-18
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.

influence Of the Spirit Of God-sermon by tho
Rev. Henry Ward Beecher.
Az usual Plymouth church was yesterday crowded
to excess. The weather was delightfully."- nne, which.
together with the well known attraction contributed
to bring together Q fashionable and appreciative
congregation. After the ordinary exercises the
Rev. Mr.. Beecner preached o sermon nom Acts
XIX, o-"And when Paul had laid his hands upon
them the Holy Ghost came on them, and they spake
with tongues ana prophesled." The reverend gen.
teman commenced by showing that the New
Testament was like mansion through whose
windows the most beautiful scenery beheld, but
its chief merit lay witnin its prominent characteristic
being that opened the way to the spiritual world.
He then proceeded to set forth the vast power
which the human mind was capable OF obtaining
and the influences BY which 1t was elevated. The
spirit Of God was omnipresent ana pervaded the
entire universe. He then alluded at some length to
the excitement, which men sometimes experienced,
produced by moral stimulants, excitement emanat-
ing from reason and from the heart which resulted
In the further elevation OF the soul. BY those sm
Tents the mind was awakened the ideas were iu-
minated and grand sentiments were formed IL
was the spirit OF God the divine influence which
was universally present and to which human beings
had access. It was the souls food, tae hearts life,
the right light OF the world. This influence ele-
waited men to q high standard and placed them
more directly In communion with the spirit OF God.
1t acted upon the conscience, awakened the facul-
Ties anu ueVelOpcU tIelT ldteut IOTCe Tue
spirit OF God seemed to act upon the human
heart by impartlng fneness and susceptibility. IL
brought the human mind into personal connection
with God. The whole being OF God lowered In that
stimulating atmosphere and by 1t men came TO
higher condition and their faculties were more thor
ougnly developed while they received moral per-
ceptive power. Then came the direct intercourse
between the mind OF man and the spirit OF God.
That fundamental truth was the centre Of moral life.
II was said that such matters belonged to the apos
toc age, but they were being reproduced every
day. Society was breaking out with fresh develop
mentioned in the New Testament Society was full
OF them, showing that there was q power
OF development IN the human mind far
beyond what man supposed. The faculties were
stimulated to rise far above the bounds OF matter.
In the early ages when those Developments
under the stimulating influences took place they
took place according to that which might have been
expected. The soul which Is lifted into the atfnos.
phere of the drome spent SO TO be perfect IN the
influence interpreted that figure Of marriage which
pervades the whole life-the glory and pride OF
being loved and III loving. Gradually the influence
becomes larger and more distinct and the soul
being under The patronage Of the drome spirit men
were III actual communion with God and God in
actual communion with men. The souls life
with God was like the chlld's life with
the mother. The little child had perfect
life in the mother. The soul lived IN the
influence was easily perceptible. What was the
reason Of certain phenomena that occurred IN our
lives There were times when the least care or
trouble oppressed us-times when everything went
wrong. Those were times when the sun OF right.
eOusness went below the horizon. No man knew
belonged to 1t. Nobody but those who experienced
what the influence OF the spirit OF God was could
explain II. The reverend gentleman concluded q
heightened discourse by an earnest exhortatlon.