The New York herald., 1869-01-04
RELIGIOUS SERVICES YESTERDAY.
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.
The Duty of Man ON the New We,

The Duty of Man the New Year.
Rev. Henry Ward Beecher preached last evening
In Plymouth church to very large congregation on
"The Duty OF Man In the New Year." taking his text
from the ninth chapter of Paus Epstle to the He
brews fifteenth verse:-And for this cause he is the
mediator OF the New Testament that by means OF
death for the redemption OF the transgressions that
were under the first testament-they which are called
might receive the promise OF eternal nheritance.u
This showed the contrast between the New and Old
Testament II was not accidental. II was not the
transmission OF the allegiance from one God to an
other. 1t was the same heart and the same God.
The old dispensation good; the new was better.
The two were not hostile, one to another.
The Mosaic dispensation was changed, but
still no opposition. The old was local, and
was dispensation for all ages. The genus Of the
system was to develop natural character. The new
was to christianze ALL for Jew and Gentle, for bond
and free, for male and female. There were prin-
cipes in the new that were to reach all. The old
was to do this and i've or disobey and die. This
was adapted to,he circumstances, but not adaptable
to the people OF the present day. The new principle
was adapted to all times. The Old Testament was not
bound up in ordinances Death was regerded as
the dark, slumbrous chamber. There were places
in the Old Testament that foreshadowed the evan
Eellzatf0n OF the world The whole force OF the New
Testament was OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES from iInm0r-
tality. The genus OF the New Testament was in the
The Old Testament was secular polity. 1t taught
men to be virtuous in this lfe 1t taught them civic
The fruits Of this TO be seen IN the mortal life.
The New Testament taught love. 1t is faith that
the faith that the New Testament taught that is to
save the souls OF men. 1t was the new doctrine
viii win you you worship" The soul Is the temple OF
man, where he w0rshlps his Creator. The New
testament Kept men IN o9ndage me New Testament
requsitions. It taught new and enlightened
liberty; Liberty goes with moral sentiment. tisa
part OF the genius Of Christianity 1t is the develop
ment OF God In the human c0nstitutlon;it teaches
hope, love and charity. The Old Testament was OF
the past; the New Testament is for the future; we
the children OF the New Testament; we are the
children OF living truth; we are those over whom
tne saviour stretches his nand. He Is our breath
and our everlasting friend and benefactor. The
Pa Testament sta nsna.a had q, muiisd Cod who
in tones Of terror Ittaught Of an invisible God who
was the God or the Old Testament and old dispense.
tion. Were men living for schemes Of moral excel
ood Is glowing a meo this de
sire this daily strife EOw standing on the threshold
4 new this the The hope 0s Of a He was LED to
at this time, when the old year had passed away
and the new was but q few days old. This was the
ney and your life. This the time TO review the
past life-to think OF what you have done and what
sire to live In Christ 1t is noble ambition to
commence new life with the new year-not to
an ignoble desire but to begin with the
divine ambition to have the power Of God rest upon
you to know the sweetness Of God; to so live that
all who know you might know that the spirit of God
was upon you. This was the nobest and most pre-
cious gift OF God to man. 1t was good to own an
estate to build beautiful mansion, to surround one
Helf with the comforts OF life but there was nober
aspiration-to Hive in Christ AMI to die in his love
TO die and to hold communion with the spirits OF just
men made perfect Weare all pilgrims together MY
sight grows dim !; the whiteness OF age Is falling on
these locks the little children that were children
when first appeared here training mp other little
children. This therefore is the time when we sholud
look forward the future and lay up treasures wnere
moth canno. corrupt nor men break In and stea