The New York herald., 1869-11-22
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.


Self COntrol-Sermon by the Rev. Henry Ward
Beecher.
This church was yesterday, as usual, crowded to
the doors The Rev. Mr.. Beecher took for hts text
Romans viii., 2s-"And we know that all things work
Tor good to them that love God" The eighth chap
ter or Romans was the great centre Of spiritual and
Christian doctrine; 1t the evolution Of the thought
OF the divine nature and the great fountain OF moral
Idea. After some general observations on that sub
ject the reverend gentleman proceeded to
d!iate at some length on the sefcontrol-
ling power Of mankind. He showed that it
was possible for man to resist his passions and
struggle successfully against all temptations, how
ever strong or lnslqtDuS. lie lnStanced the case OF
prize fighter IN training for pugistic encounter,
as an example OF the great power OF human ell
durance. such men were not generally possessed
Of much moral culture refined quantities, yet
when preparing for Their battles they conquered
their DESIRES abandoned for the time their depraved
associations, and Win an Iron Will restrained their
otherwise violent passions. Yet while men should
strive to vanqulsn the temptations that surrounded
them there should nevertheless be no want OF force
on their part Tor by mems own energy were they
made strong. Men having intense convictions in
regard to the great affairs in life likely
ceed. Advertlng to the influences OF public senti-
ment, the reverend gentleman explained That
on Christian Ilfe. Public sentiment was silent, yet
powerful. Like natural law, working day and
paratus Men became better worse unconsiously,
and SO 1t was always unsafe for man, no matter
how good he was 20 keep bad company. Notwith-
standing all the dangerous influences which some
thought surrounded pubic sentiment there were
men who found way to elude public sentiment by
the eddies which characterized 1t. Now. 1t was held
by men, both In the high and the low spheres OF
or lie, that public sentiment marred their religious
progress. Professional men and Others would con-
tend that no man could follow their business what
ever it might be, and succeed and at the same time
ssd ne The Msa ne %nsisi
mason, IN fact, men OF every grade, substan.
italy asserted that, to be sure, 1t was
very fine thing to be good, but no man fol-
lowing their pursuits successfully could be Chris
tian IN the proper of the term. That was no.
thing short OF being declaration OF infdelity. In
the next place, there were binding temptations
peculiar to individuals, and which they were under
the impression were irresistible. But there were
considerations against ali the arguments brought to
bear upon that subject. Tne Will was the grand
controlling power. It was possible Tor q man to
overcome all temptations, counteract the influences
OF public sentiment III regard to himself and rise
into 0 pure Christian life. by the power OF mans
own will all the 1nsidious snares by which he was
surrounded, every temptation In life, whether
political sensual, or pecuniary, the world the flesh
and the devil, could be defeated. The reverend gen.
tleman demonstrated that though the Christian life
was marked by difficulties, yet the determined en-
ergy Of man would enable him TO pursue 1t success
fully, no matter what position IN lie he might
OCCUPY.