Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1870-11-02
HENRY WARD BEECHER ON HEAy
EN- AND HE'LL.

Rev. Henry Ward Beecher preached a
sermon in Plymoth Church, Brooklyn,
on Sunday. the 9th ult., in regard to
the future state, which has attracted con-
siderable attention, and, we presume,
will anew raise the cry of heresy against
him. Most Of the Now York papers
publish more or less full reports of it.
The Herald's report says:
The audience was very large, hun
dreds only obtaining standing room with
in the doors. The flowers and the green
house plants that adorned the platform
gave il the appearance of small conser
vatory, and were rich in their darker,
deeper coloring, ard more profuse in
number than usual. Mr.. Beecher was
in one of bis best moods. Either the
bright morning or the inspiration of the
past weeks religious festival had bright
ened up his soul 1t might be seen in
the glitter of his eye as he caught sight
of the congregation when be entered
the house. His eloquence drew like the
music of the "Pied Piper of Hamelin."
Like q skllful master on the keys of the
piano, he moved his audience to laugh
ter and tears ct his own sweet will 1t
held the hearers fast; though the stand
ing crowd was jammed. like sardines,
he stole away their feet, that they should
not depart. Throughout the hours SER
mon the audience seemed TO have crys-
talized its three thousand self into an
individual one, and the preacher held it
by the magic power Of his pathos and
his we'll chosen words of wisdom.
The following report of the discourse
is mainly that of the Tribune:
The text was st. Matthew xii. 80:
"For in the resurrection they neither
marry nor aIe given in marriage, but are
as the angels of God in Heaven"
The philosophy of the Jews, said Mr..
Beecher, consisted largely of puzzles and
riddles, and their enigmas and proverbs
and dark sayings. According to their
land system, by which property was to
he kept in the several families, if a man
died his widow was taken to his next
brother, and she became his wife. Here
is a specimen of the way in which they
thought. The propounded case: There
were seven brothers, and in turn they all
conveniently died, for the purpose of the
story, and she pass d from one to the
other and became the wife of all. "Now"
said they, "in the other life, whose shall
be of the seven?' The answer of the
Saviour was substantially this: "You
are a set of ignorant FOOLS" 1t was
coached in other language than this,
but that is what it amounted to-
Ye do err" said he, "not knowing the
Scriptures nor the power of God. For
10 the resurrection they neither marry
nor are given in marriage. but are as the
angels Of God" How is that? He
don't saw. He likened them to the an
gels, and then did not tell US how the
angels were. The reply of our Master to
this question in spcct to the future state
is remarkable for what it says, aud l
think quite rs remarkable for what it
leaves unsaid. He said that there was
a part of man that ceases and does not
90 into the other life; that a portion of
his powers. which fit him for this lower
life, will stay here, and wither and fall
bach; and that in the other life We shall
carry those qualities which are highest
and noblest. Not only here in this pas
sage, but everywhere in the Bible, you
will be struck with how little he has had
to say about the other state. He poured
light on life and immortality, but he Ger
! tainly did not reveal them. When you
come to examine, you will be struck
with how little is actually taught us with
respect to the future state in the Bible.
The question of continued existence is
only recognized ia the Old Testament
1t is not taught. The whole Mosaic
economy lies open before US, and there
is not one single instance in it where a
motive is addressed to man in conse.
quence of Immortality; all the motives
are drawn from secular things; virtue
shall bring in this life its reward, and
wickedness in this life shall bring its
punishment. That you know is the key
note to tina! sublime drama of Job, in
which, arguing from that basis, the
friends of Job said to him, = Since wick
edness is punished in this life and virtue
in this life rewarded, and you are horri-
bly punished. 1t must be that you have
been horribly wicked; and it is vain for
you to say you have not been" People
ask, can Universalists be Christians p
Let me ask them how could God main
tain an economy for 1000. years, and
never recognize any such thing as fu-
ture state.
What was the method adopted by
Christ and bis Apostles in regard to this
instruction tina: in His hands first came
into authoritative disclosure, and was
taught as positive truth? There is nc
attempt in the New Testament to deter.
mine whether Heaven is condition or a
place. This lie left for our modern spec
ulatiou. There is nothing definite taught
10 respect to the relation Of this coudi.
ton or place to the universe. There is
no account given of its materials, of its
occupations, what changes will pass upon
our nature. Are we to 90 into the heav.
emily state in bodies! Paul declares ex
pressly, no! Flesh and blood cannot
inherit .he kingdom of God. He de.
| clares that there shall be form CORES