The New York herald., 1869-06-14
RELIGIOUS SERVICES AT WEST POINT.
the RsTlRIy.ii eaAl.dAIeS.
sermon by Rev. -Henry Wnrd Beecher.

bath at west Po'nt to the retiring graduates. The
past couple OF weeks ha been fraught with the anX
ieties attendsnt upon .. closing examination OF the
prohcencI each and all had made in those studies
when were to fit the for the various walks OF lne
most appropriate I'D congenal to their tastes and
studies. They hafi passed through the ordeal, and
now, ere bidding farewell to those scenes which ma.
ture has made 81 attractive to the tastes and sympa
thies OF ALL anfi which some OF the more stirring In
caents OF tie Revolutionary war cothe with
deeper ntere' It to the military trained mlnd they
&ere to asse mble ana listen the words Of counsel
TO be uttered by the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher who
charged h .mself specially with this high duty, one
which he is so CAPABLE of performing
AT no lfpast ten O'Clock the church within the
grounos was c1owded-as far as the gallant and
COURT ous MAJOR Boynton could possibly ind room
ther eforhy the fair ladies, the visitors proper al
We Point he lady friends Of the cadets ana Others
TIE residents Of the neighborhood, the gradu
F-htes IN their gray and white uniform, OCCUPYING all
the rest OF the space, The scene was not only very
impressive, but anmating when Mr.. Beecher
entered and took his place in the pulpit. Among the
distinguished personages present at the services Of
The day were President Grant and family, General
Mcdowell and Others.
After prayer and the usual rendering OF praise by
singing hymns for the day Mr. Beecher proceeded
deliver the vaiedictory sermon, taking FOR his
Epbesians iy 13-"Tin we all come in the unity OF
the laith and OF the knowledge OF the son OF God
unto perfect man, unto the measure OF the stature
OF the fulness OF Christi The Apostle in the pre-
ceding verses, has been speaking OF the variety OF
instruments employed in the PRONUNCIATION
OF the Gospel To some he gave apostles
TO some prophets, and some eyangellsts and some
pastors and teachers, the general object of which
was the perfectlng OF the saints Tor the work OF the
minstryfor the edfylng OF the body of Christ, for
the general service Of the Church. And the passage
have selected more particularly declares what this
work ard service was-"T1l we all come In The
unity the faith and of the knowledge OF the Son of
God toa perfect man.n And hence Know that
all churches, all ordinances, all DOCTRINES all sorts
and degrees OF moral teachings are ordained by GOD
1or the express purpose OF making perfect man.
And christianity, therefore may be said III general
way 10 be the art OF being q whole man, In contra
distinction from partial man or make-belleve man.
Ii Is not enough 10 say that Christianity makes
man better; II does that, but that Is only way to
something higher The aim and object OF Christian
ltysre to develop perfection in manhood, to continue
its work IN us TIL We all come unto the perfect man.
But that manhood cannot be reached except in
Christ Jesus This Is not only saying that man re-
which is strictly true but 1t teaching that human
nature, perfectly developed, becomes divine. We
hold nature in common with the divine nature,
and when we can work 1t out and free from 1t the
accidental, transient and local influences when
round u.s. what is left Is strictly divine. we then
come nearer Chrlst's nature. No man can be divine
In scope and degree with Christ but in KIND he may
Our natures cannot attain TO the divine magnitude
the divine scope or power OF Chilsts-but We still
have common nature with HIM. We must not con-
found Christianity and religion. One is simply wor
recting one part OF our nature 10 divine tnmgs But
Christianity takes in all the faculties OF the mino
not attempting to make men right things in
this or tnat, but its junction is to create
manhood within us-to make whole men.
Religion does not do this. Religion teaches man
dent; but Christianity teaches men to be men dong
this and all other things besides. Religion would
form good man. Christ would make whole man;
religion would save man; Christ would make him
worth saving. The noble religion OF the Hebrews
trained men for an earthly commonwealth. Christ
brought IN Immortality and trained men for an
earthly commonwealth IN order that they might be-
come inhaDItauts OF heavenly commonwealth. ii
TO this view OF Christian truth ne would call
their atention-Damely, the Christian idea OF per-
feet manhood. And first for consideration was
wnat must be the nature OF this manhood in some
respects. IL Is already predetermined by the nature
OF man. IL Is not manhood that is 70 be outside OF
the faculties with which we are already endowed
Perfect manhood VIII require the harmonious de.
mIDp and BODY " as God has already @ 'In msde
them. Nothing is superhuous In man; there |
is no par. having too much or too little; no |
appetite nxed but is sufficient; no passion that
Is supernuous; no faculty or function that is not
may have thought proper to about 1t, tue body
Is TO be cherished and honored The great, grand
Instincts OF our nature from which spring such IN
finite mischiefs and misrule, are notwithstanding
indispensable influences ID the higher ranges OF our
nature. The intellectual the aesthetic the moral
and spiritual sentiments, OF whatever rank or de-
gree, are component parts OF human manhood
Paul says:-'l pray God that your Whole spirit ana
soul and body be preserved blame ess TO the coming
Of our Lord Jesus Christ.n Manhood with Paul
meant everything that pleased God-anytnIng that
intended 10 lop OF, 70 dry up not designed TO
eliminate the faculties and powers Of the mind, but
10 give them expansion aud training and power; 10
make more OF them, not less. Paul had In his mind
when speaking OF the perfect man, four pOints-nrst
totality, tue whole man; next symmetry, well pro-
portoned, well balanced exceences; next, power
energetic action Of every single part, complete
whole; and last, quality. The perfect body must have
the funess OF action grace and continuity OF action
with ali the faculties alive 10 all the eXCelences Of
which they are susceptible. Love is commanded
but let love be without dissimulation Generosity
was incucated, but II Is not enough TO be simply
generous; your generosity must be unostentatiOus
not ike those men with hens manners, who, when
they lay an egg, must go around cacking letting
every one know what they have done. so with
every quality; It not enough that they possessed
certain qualities; they must have them in strength
and power, Keeping all lower qualities IN subordna-
hearers that TO live well for the life 10 come Il the
surest way to LIVING wei Tor the world, and living
right for ths world y, ls the surest way of
your drill ground, but your teachings here
are TO be used as machines Tor the work to be &C.
nne clay VIII leave the furnace fashioned and de-
signed as he intends. IL must 20 through all the
various processes-it must be beaten aud welded
through the grinding, fasnioning neat. And are
70 be finished and made perfect by those influences
the higher duties of life Life and the business Of
lie and al occupations are means Of grace.sSchoos
,,rnhs ere means a oi grace, but among the poorest
means OF grace But the famly-the business that |
God calls man 10 do-the labor OF MS hands hls |
dealings with MS fellow man-these are all precise
means OF grace and more etneacious than schools
or churches. The world Is the grand field 70 de. |
velop manhood Ia those who know how 70 |
use It. How base and ignoDle are they who
tsquander their manhood In this world and barter u
Nasn u were for SALE Woe to the man who has 70
took back TO his childhood for purity. Young men
loall you to Christian life, not simply because 1t
The way OF duty, but call you TO Christian life,
4 II Is The only way you can find and guide your
o. W selves. hold no man can be q that Is not
a hristian. do not call upon you TO become mem.
Der Vol particular churches. A man does not be-
com Christian by becoming q member OF a
chur, n do not urge religion upon you. ! do not
want W have you all the time thinking whether you
shall Methodist or Baptist, a Presbyterian or a
Congre, yauonalist a churchnsn OF the High Church
or Low Church. urge none OF these thIngs. ANY
churchis good enough. Every church has enough
OF the tru. TO nelp TO build you up And beseecn
you never TO lower or demean yourselves 50 much
as 10 feel bat any single sect denomination has
more spe,shN means Of grace than another. hut
you 20 FOR Lh from mere educated as a class. Throw
aM az from YOU class feelings and class prelndces