The New York herald., 1869-11-29
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.
Perfectness of Manhood-Sermon by the Rev.
Henry Ward Beecher.

Per1ectness oil hunhood-SermoD by the Kew.
Henry Ward Beecher.
The text chosen by the Rev. Mr.. Beecher yester-
day taken from St. Paul's Epistle to the Coos-
slams, ill.,, 4:-"And above all these things put on
charity, which is the bond OF perfectness.u The
apostle had previously enumerated many Christian
qualities, but In the passage Just read he said that
above and over all such qualities should be placed
the guide OF love, for it brought the Christian
character TO a true idea OF perfection. There were
four figures which appeared and reappeared very
frequently the first being an architectural figure,
which represented man as building or amansion.
striking instance OF this found in the Corln-
thians where 1t was written, "For we are laborers
together with God. Ye are Gods husbandry; We
are Gods buidng.n The next was MIL
targ figure. "Put on the holy armor OF
God, that ye may be able to stand
against the wes OF the devil. The third was mill
taty figure, occurring In Ephesians w., 10, "Til we
all come IN the unity Of faith and OF the know ledge
OF the Son OF Coo unto perfect man, unto the
OF the OF the funess OF Christn and
the fourth was domestic figure, setting forth the
duties OF home appertalning to a Christian hfe But
above all those, them all, put In charity. which
was the bond girde Of perfectness. After advert
ing to the figure OF man being built in Christ which
carried the idea OF an act OF intense love, the
preacher observed that all those figures had ee-
ment they pointed to one great truth and all agreed
an representing the true idea OF Christian life. Now
this building In Christ was not complete GIFT but
Il was growth 70 be developed All the figures
referred to clearly showed that the divine end sought
for man was not to be found In single or special
line, thought or feeling. IL was NOT to
be sought IN getting man into any
line OF succession. Perfectness OF manhood was
the grand aim In view; but periectness Of manhood
did not come IN the lump. The great object could
be gradually obtained, the Lord Jesus Christ being
the model There must be perfection IN all the
parts; perfectness OF manhood required develop
ment OF full and healthy condition OF the body, be-
cause one part could not be separated from the
other IL required a regulated use and discipline Of
The physical and spiritual condition Of man must
harmonic for the more thorough development OF
the perfectness required, while the clear light OF
reason must be thrown over all, like the windows
IN dwelling house. Moreover, the understanding
must likewise be developed, for ~ with the others
constituted the one organic manhood which
religion sought. il was for that the Church
was established, 20 educate men to that
perfectness OF manhood. Christ did not come INTO
the world 20 establish Church; lie came 70 estaD.
Ilsh spiritual manhood and develop truth; TO make
men larger and show them how they could be pos
sessed OF every attribute that God IN his original
9eslgns , intended for humanity II was that which
lne thufch sought, and II was also the foundation
stone OF the New Testament. Contrast that with
Lne current partlasms OF life. There were great
many men who thought that religion was the found
MneIeon 70 be saved, and that all they had 10
40 was 70 avoid sin and keep rid OF il. Certainty
W wy eShnlng oI religious life was the fOrsaking
farmer spent all his time wedding and Keeping the
RIouha clear OF weeds there would be no corn or
other necessary productions from the SOIL
Iue IeVSienu gentleman then referred at some
length 10 the question OF what he termed negative
peJ. "A man mlghtbe Christian and sin ten times
as fnuch as announcer man who had not a single ele-
meDt OF Christianity. There were men who staved az
home the nveionR day-went 10 church of course
ae ana G s,eP.mhap6y, I IPnlegmatc men, who worked
church was merely established az nm ednoatnr
academy where men learned now TO be aayed huit
the church Of itaeD eouid pot save man. After