The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-08-08
BROOKLYN CHURCHES.
PLYMOUTH CEUaCa.

The Effect of MIR. Beecher's Absence-A Slim
House Yesterday-sermon by Rev. A. EuI-
lard.
The absence Of Mr.. Beecher had decidedly per.
ceptbJe effect IN diminishing the attendance at Ply
mouth church yesterday morning, as the edilce was
not more than half filed and but little interest was
apparently manifested by those Who despite the
warm weather. hocsed there to hear Rev. A. Ballard,
Of Detroit the officiating pastor In addition to this
falling Off in the congregation not more than one
half the choir iii, indeed, as many even as
that put In an appearance Ia fact, all
the lady members were absent having
probably sought the seaside or the mountains to
pass there the few weeks which will elapse before
Mr.. Beec her returns. The church yesterday looked
comparatively deserted, and presented strange
contrast TO its animated appearance when Mr..
Beecher Is present. Empty pews were noticeable on
all sides. and the people MAJ were present sat list.
lessly tanning themselves and endeavorlng to keep
cool during the services, winch were quite BRIEF
SHORT AND SWEET.
The sermon was noe very long one. Rev. Mr..
Ballard selected his text from II Timothy H., and
9-"Renember that Jesus CHRIST, OF the seed OF
David, was raised nom the dead according to my
gospel Wherein | suffer trouble as an evil doer
even unto bonds but the word OF God Is not bound"
The resurrection of Christ and the encouragement
OF his people, Mr.. Ballard remarked, the subject
brought to our notice in these words. The time
these words were uttered was q very dark one for
Christianity Its enemies seemed to have everything
their own way. and Its advocates were looked upon
ers OF civil dlscord az well IS OF religious dispute.
Its most needed champion WAS prisoner at Rome
awaiting the cxecutloner's sword, and from his
dungeon Paul dictated thls last letter to Timothy
and from him to tie Church of all future tlne
Timothy was to remember, and we must remem-
Der, that Christianity once saw q darker time
and lived through it-tbat darker time when
the author aud founder OF our holy religion Him.
self fell victim to the rage and hatred Of his foes
Antichrst supposed it had done enough when IL had
killed and buried Jesus; but thing more was
needed, and that was TO
With the first Of these housekeeping Him dead
His lmurderers did not trouble themselves They
thought that II o man once d.ed lie was ALWAYS
dead; but the one thing they wanted to be sure OF
was HIS continual burial, since Jesus had foretOd
lie would arise again the third day.
IL was only over the sepuichre that
watch was set, and herein rested the utter
failure OF the murderer5 plans. They made the
great mistake OF imagining that the Omnlpotent
one was hedged by HIS own laws. They left the
supernatural out OF account altogether, which was
the same as leaving God out Of account. The WIS.,
dom OF God was TOO much for their cunning. The
thought robed IN these words therefore, Mr.. Ballard
held, was that the work of God went on in this
world without interruption. There were long
periods OF apparent stagnaton, when seemingly
nothing was doing, but the work still continued
MIR. Ballard also preached at the evening service.