The New York herald., 1870-01-31
PLYMOUTH CHURCH


scrnsn by sTr. Beecher ON tho Yssng Man In
the Gospcl-The Giving Up Of thc Posaes-
8 SONS Of the S0ms-1hc spiders In the Gar.
den-The Effect Of Plymouth Char>h Ser
vices.
The incident selected for Illustration by Mr..
Eeecher was mat portrayed In ths nineteenth chap
ter Of the Gospel OF ST. batthew, Of the young man
VINO came 70 Jesus, 'desirIng to know what good
thing he should DO that nc might inherit eternal
Me- The text CHOSEN was the twenty-secon verse;
"9us when the young man heard that saying he
went away sorrowfui, for ne had great possess
sssns.n y4 UHNs.I
Phere was no greater contrast than that which
was afforded ny the Saviour TO the different persons
wn0 approached nm. II we look on the outside we
- mot see why He should have made such Differ
ence. Il seemed that Zaconens should have been
received less encouraglngy than this young man.
Aiter description Of these two characters he said
that the solution Of Tins question must Involve ques
tIUns In mental philosophy, ana the Illustration
ef that would constitute the body Of hts dis
course. The foundation quality Of excellence
in the estimation Of TINS young man
vas laid in physical wen being. The moment
the question came which was The best for him TO
choose there was no hesitation; without any argu-
Snont he choose hts possessions; and while there
game home 10 him very vividly these possessions
the higher exercises Of the spiritual life. Now our
saviour taught him that the spiritual LIE must
reign over the physical The two might 60 together
bns the physical must be under the control and
direction OF the spiritual. II man Is 10 be true
csrsuan he must bring hts spiritual nature into
socn eommanang proportions tnat IL must rule over
nature TO play down to their lower nature There
- point In every mans character 10 winch every
thing is brought 70 judgment Ii Ii subtle secret
t0AL Seems to rlng Lreat many changes. II Ia
dominant point at which everything Is brought to
Judgment before this class OF nahtg. 1t might be
sasd 10 universal way tnat II you strike the mind
Oi man by an equatora hne all below tnat was
se,asnaess = agd all ABOVE tnas ~ was 0enevoenes
Many men wele EXTERNAL y reputable, we're all that
could be desired as lar " outside appearances were
e0ncerned but they were MT In the scripture sense
s-boru again. l remember last summer watching
some spIaers in some groves where the WINDS had
tng, covered with dust aud Dirt IN all their ugness
end saw one vagrant sp1oer take 10 "mOrnlng
Rioryn In full blossom and make tnat lis nest lbs
nest was begemned with beauty and sparkling with
dew but II was the same ugly, crawling, lurking
spider tnat ever was however beautiful its nest
might be. Now, 10 was The same With the sehshness
Of u mans heart; ne might dress u up anu make IL
more attractive and less repulsve. but 1t was the
kame ugly seids nness. selhsn centred man might
EotAc himself wlih Oil manner Of outside graces.
Now II must not be said that these graces we're not
Of value. Christ thoroughly enjoyed that winch was
social and beauti Vi Ia life. Christianity did not re-
aaire neeaion OF these things That which II
asked was that these things should be rescued from
man iived true llfe he had got into q kingdom Of
hie III which love was the precominent and govern
lng motive. Taere were great many excellent:
reputable moral persons VINO live on In the hope or
being saved by and by, but who you were 10
make lnQuistions into their lives, you would find
lived at the best b1t life OF sense. He could con-
cclve OF men who had sucn an excellent physical
condition that health seemed ~ permanent inher-
ttanee They nad Keen sense Of lifc's enjoyments,
exquisite seiisiDigiues but whose being never rose
hgner lnan The eyaDcies OF the neh aud the sw eet
ahcniues and who In the hattie OF life Kept them
eIp rpr IN
taoss were pleasant men " 90 frolcklDg and pic
nicElng WITH They didn't lie, nor Steal nor swear,
nor get drunk; were not envt0us-nay, II negatives
we're o virtue they would De vtruous indeed. Tney
1--we their senses-for their eur. their eye their
thelr idea Of llle Now sucn people were IN their
congregations, and they leave the church after |
Eevice aud tiiey say hat serious things are very I'm
Aad the influences all around them at the service
were very delightful. Yes, but It was only another
kiad OF sauce trat these people drained for that
which made up the pabutum OF their iife They only
wanted these tnings for themselves. II the music
was deh1nuul they wanted more music; If the
particular doctrine preached was entertaining,
tasy wantcd moro preaching Of that Doctrine,
IA SO their life was me OF setving. SO II was
with the rich man. A man might get riches but
tacy wonld never take nim into the Kingdom Of
heaven unless God was win him ON the getting
on higher plane OF life. A man might live for
poetry. FOR painting, for intellectual power, for
thought, ana ye. forget bis God. Now % msrvsl not
wueu Christ says. aye must be born again." None
there were better than kicodemus and Jet he was 10
be born agA-n. Every man must De changed in
heart before he geis into savable condition.
Mr. Beecner concluded al earnest practical ser
mon bY urging the yolng men and women VI his
Congregation 10 decision IN their religious life. he
illustrated what he sometimes saw by describing the
bOughs VI tne Trees IN garden early In tue morning
ladan with dew, 30 laden that It scarcely SAFE
touch one OF tnen II you wished to avoid . shower
or spray. SO It was sunday after Sunday In that
church; the singing, the sentiment Of the hymns,
something that was said. made many bosom heave;
tears came into nany eyea gentle aubduiny Innu-
ences suoie the souls OF hundreds while in that
cnurcD. He urged them to yield to the strings Vi
tnat influence and TO the better moments Of that
hour and go 70 Christ a. their Saviour and their
Eternal trend