The New York herald., 1871-02-13
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.

Sermon ON the Universal Law Of Love.
Wrapped In overcoats and muiiers and water
proofs the Plymouth sheep followed their shepherd
yesterday through the drifting SHOWS Knowing by
long and happy experience, that on stormy days
they always get the best spiritual food When all
were "a comfortably settled as circumstances
and damp ankles would permit, there re-
manned some vacant sittings; but, judged by
other congreg ations on such day, there
were q great many people at Plymouth
church yesterday. The sermon was continuation
Of that preached last sunday, and from the same
text-"Now the end OF the commandment Is charity.
out OF pure heart and OF pure conscience ana OF
faith unfelgned." Mr. Beecher once said that he
KNOCKED THE BorTox OUT OF HE'LL,
but that he intended to keep humping at 1t. He
gave some vigorous blows yesterday, In pursuance
OF this resolution, giving expression to some start.
ling Beechersms In defence OF the doctrine OF divine
henevolence. After referring to last Sundays ser.
mon. he said that the love referred to by the
Apostle must spring from heart divinely
developed, where the moral element predomlnates
over all; and this love seeks mems enjoyment by
their perfection; 1t with the spirit Of justice
and equity and righteousness; 1t Is the largest and
supremest action OF the mind The law Of love Is
not given to man alOne-it Is the universal law OF
heaven ald OF earth-0f God as OF his children
under law whose end and object is to produce
true benencence The genius OF creation is benevo-
he for which uses
The lowest parts Of creation are governed by
ABSOLUTE FORCE;
a. life Is introduced the element OF fear comes IN.
Rising higher come Into the realm OF intelligent
voliti0n; motives grow milder; new faculties
come out government tends to appeal to the higher
elements in the SOUL till ut last force s only implied
In an undertone. All love governs by force, and
u can hn
brought TO bear. Taxing nature as rule the anal
Ogy goes higher and higher towards point where
all government shall De love- and where we shall get
above discipline. The ancient idea that wrath and
vengeance are the prerOgatives OF the gods has
willing to give pain Tor Its own sake being In
whose heart the sight OF suffering produces pleasure
is no better for being called infinite. Many man
PRAYERS TO THE DEVIL,
believing him to be on the thrsne OF the Almighty.
The Christian idea OF suffering Is disciplinary.
Christianity Is blow to the Internal conception tnat
Coo enjoys the suterings Of the damned Why, 1t is
hideous slander OF the ruler OF the universe. But,
you say, "Have we not scripture for tr man
And assassins' knives in the ore Of the mountain.
Tho Scriptures are the most malleable thing In the
world. Is ike forest into which man may go
and make anything he peases. The spirit OF Christ
is this:-"Whom the Father loveth lie chasteneth;
ye endure Christening God dealeth with yon as with
children" This Is the charter OF administration
the marrow OF history. The genius of the universe
is not fate. force or ccuel indifference. Time Is
are the learners. II thought tnat the world a
huge bag and the nations cats swinging round in IT.
nghtlng with M @'ff
l should have no heart to preach. Under all the
gr0sning and wars and cruelty there is q divine
Gulde working out good. There is good time COM
ing. It may be good wnie coming but it is coming
Any system OF theology that leaves on the mind any
other impression than tnat beneyoence is the regnant
cioQs. Systems OF theology have left this impres.
sion. remember as a Guild that the side OF God
thotu my fnxC Char Vvna
Twas taught that was 4 sinner and. above ali,
sinner because couldn't feel sinful. God was rep
loved them when they repenied; aud until then was
consuming fire. That consider
that strikes the whole Gospel Of Christ nat in the face
God 80 loved that he gave His sen-gave from love;
out OF infinite desire He gave this expression OF him.
till you are loving but takes you up and moulds
you. While you are IN the whlrf OF passion God
as q maudIin sentiment, but love armed with
f0rce fear and power; love that will work the uni
verse up 70 divine tnat w a not SCI sSs1pe to
puts the bitter cup to the lips Of her sick child. The
end OF ali institutions and laws Is love, and when 1t
Organizations and dogmas the saying OF Christ, that
the Sabbath was made fer man and not man for the
saoOa'n sao0a Is SIc ScaT sUus IN BELIEF
and all wrong IN feeling they all agree to one con.
is' There IS 10 place where Satan has spun such
webs and caught such victims as in the Church:
The Church mas been the
SLAUGHTER HOUSE OF CHRISTIANITY.
The Church has never been SO intent on ends as on
means. Lastly, We are to accept In each individual
true character and life as the end OF the law. Truth
Is better than error inasmuch as 1t is more powerful
to produce the s0u the final state OF benevolence.
It Is not enough for man to be sincere:
Sincerity don't change natural laws. But II we find
man possessed by this spirit OF love we are not to
ask him how he came BY II. Common schools are
good but II man learns to read outside OF them is
It not good say tnat the spirit Of God In the heart
of man Is all that we should ask t0r. We should
not reject man because Universalist Is
WRITTEN ON HIS BROW.
He does not come In because he Is Universalist
but because he Is Gods. A man may be q Unitarian
and yet 2 Christian; ne may be orthodox and yet
not Christian. But how can man be
Christian and not believe In Christi That Is the
puzzle. Can't man believe In Christ and not be-
iieve in Christs manner man may believe In what
the word Christ stands forItrutn, love, holiness
takes Christ who taxes HIS spirit Whoever y not
or Bis spirit Is not OF Him. You believe In Christ
but you are full OF envy, aerceness and arrogance
towards your neighbor. You believe In the outside.
but you don't believe In the inside. As u system,
do not regard Untarlanism as adequate. But say