The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-01
PLYMOUTH LECTURE ROOM.

Mr.. Bcecher's Review OF His Ministry.
MT. Beecher gave his last stalk' last night pre-.
vious to The summer vacation. He reviewed his
ministry ana brought out some interesting opinions
from the brethren concerning methods of preach
ing. lie said:-I live till year from next Octo-
Der shall have been the pastor OF this church o
quarter OF century. No man look back over
such work without great deal of serious thought
1t was not given to 60 in the beaten
path. have been obliged to work as I was
directed. ! do not undertake to say that l always
have done for the best, or thar have always been
consistent. But there are some thoughts that have
grown with me- One is that the Word OF God Is
THE BEST BOOK
yet to INSPIRE in US the nobest conception OF God
and help us best TO reach God I rely upon It more
implicitly than ever did. attempt TO keep abreast
OF scientific thoughts OF the day and Of all the
schools. both at homs and abroad. Everything else
seems to me like char when compared to the Bible
when 1t comes to the relations OF the soul TO God.
All the knO wledge that see substituted for it is
KNOWLEDGE THAT PUPPErH UP,
in the words of the apostle also have growing
sense Of the universal need OF every human heart
OF the sinfulness OF man and his need OF God at
every step. That Is q growing feeling, and out Of
this comes pity. abhOr wickedness. but less and
less do abhor wicked people. ! also stand strong
in the conviction Of the power Of the grace OF God,
through our Lord Jesus Christ, to regenerate the
heart. believe that men do fnd Christ personally;
that there Is a vital union OF the soul to Chr st.
With these great truths what ought 10 be the
genius of mans mlnistry-in tellectualf ought 1t
to arouse men by the power Of conscience and ears
admit rnat lear mas It's s,t place. bus was not
but 1t was given 70 me to preach
HOPE AND LOVE.
Now 1t becomes to me a painful question to know
II my method has been the best, ! have 1elt, and
feel more and more confident, that the power OF
love and sympathy trust ID hope is the strongest:
character have n0ueed IN my own minis ry that
this way OF giving the truth has had great power
fown o al restraint sere onaa the
OF a new life. in Inc next place this mode OF ad.
mn,stralion has tended to develop type OF Chris
tian character tat Is joyful and courageous 1t has
had tendency TO Danish ascetlcsm You Will seldom
hear in our meetings the lncessant declaration Of
ones own sinfulness end the sin o. One's nelghb0rs
A man should not forever ruminate his Sins.
THE SENSE or SIN
should give a man upltft. The apostle says
.forgettng the Things that are behind" l think
this preaching produces as much activity as any
other. don't think that men converted under the
press sure OF fear average well those under SYM
pashy anu love. Love Is Gods blood. and
THOSE WHO HAVE LOVE CAN WORK
else does. am satisfied that In the main have
been on the night track, though | have failed 10
come up 10 my idea, and be ieve that the Church
OF tue future VIII preach more and more Gods vic
tOriOuS love-
"BRorHER" expressed the opinion that Mr.
Beecher might preach more about conscience and
justice to advantage, TO which
Mr. BEEcnER replled:-' You agree pretty much
with me- NY preaching isn't perfect; j have had
that op, Mon long time" should like to hear, he
continued. whether the Gospel az preached here
sweetens men i'll their business, whether they live on
the love principle? That Is the ann OF my preach
ing. Preaching means business or 1t means
nothing. IL Is the cmptiest work II
II doesn't show character. To say preach splen-
did sermons Is well enough, but II my preaching
doesn't result in character 1t isn't worth anything.
What glory In Is the growing up OF men beginning
to be like Christ. don't believe anv OF you under
value my preaching as much as do myself. feel
all tie time as II l underdoIag my work. l
never have begun to attain to that which hovers
before me, always just before and always GLIDING