The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-01-29
BRO TIER PAUL AND BROTHER BEECHER.

BROTHER PAUL AND BROTHER BEECH:R.
1 To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
| observe that some OF your contemporaries have
taken TO task one OF your reporters for having Rver
faithful transcript OF the words which fell from
the lips OF the eloquent aud popular pastor OF tn,
| Brooklyn Plymouth church last Sunday and tn,
| effect which those words produced upon his au
dience, who, we are told, welcomed, among othe
things with loud laughter the remark OF tn,
reverend orator. that ST. Paul was 'san insignificant
| Dlear-eyed Jew"
confess that, for one, this shocked me. From
| my childhood have been accustomed TO regard
Paul as one OF the purest and cheiest followers o.
| Christ although he modesty represents himself as
1.-THE least or all the apostles.n Perhaps his very
| personal appearance which Mr. Beecher ridicues-
| his "insignIficance" and his ..beared eyes'-may
| have been the 'fhorn IN the flesh" OF which Paul
speaks, and which ne laments, but OF which he
never complains.
Yet his devOtedness to the cause OF hls Divine
Master, whom he SO faithfully served through so
many fearful trials and temptations and such varied
suffering, forms record, in his own simple words
which. in infinite pathos, has equal In the New
Testament, save IN the example or the Saviour Him.
self.
Now let us see what this "bleareyed, insignificant
thereto and then, by fair contrast, let compare
his with that OF the modern APOSTLE who raj sed
loud derlsive laugh In his fashionable congre-
CATION at the Woodworking minister's expense.
In respect Of those who were Boosting OF what
they had done for the cause In which he was en-
gagged, and for which he had done so much, Paul
says-admittng that he is almost ashamed OF
this "vain boasting," we founded still modest as
II ls-yet II was forced upon him: IL must needs
glory,n he expalns:-
Are they ministers OF Christ, l am more. In
labors more abundant. IN stripes above measure In
prisons more frequent IN deaths oft. Uf the Jews
five times received forty stripes one. Thrice
/ suffered shipwreck. night Md a day / have
been IN the deep In journeyngs often, In penis of
countrymen, in perlls by the heainen in perils in
the city, In perils In The wilderness, in pers in the
seq, in perlIs among false brethren, in WEAKNESS
and painfuness, in watchngs often, IN cold and
nakedness Beside those things which are without,
that which cometh upon me daily the care OF all the
churches.
Poor faithful Paul. He 'labored more abun-
dainty than they all;'' he was troubled
on every side yet not distressed; per-
picked, but not in despair; prosecuted, but
not forsaken; cast down. but not destroyed bearing
about in mis- body the dying OF the Lord Jesus 'that
the life also OF Christ might be maze manifest In his
body.n
In all that he said and in all that he did Paul
looked not at the things which are seen bat at
the things which are not seen; "for the things
which SEEM" says he, "are temporal;
but The things which are unseen are eternal"
When he was present among his brethren, and
wanted, be was chargeable to no man. Elm all
things.r he says, with pious pride, IL have kept my
sell from being burdensome unto you, and so will
keep myself But with all this there was no vain
glory, no ostentation OF himself or what he had
h,t ma al
advice to all with whom he had any Thing to do
BE kindly anectlonate one to another" says he,
with brothcrly love: in honor preferring one
another Rejoice with them that do rejoice and weep
with them that weep. Mind not high things but con-
descend TO men or low estate. Be not wise in your
own conceit.n Could single word be added to
brighten the effect OF this simple but most eloquent
farewell OF St. Paul to his brethrenG
s"And now go bound In the spirit unto Jeru
salem, not knowing the things which shall befall me
there save that the Holy Spirit witnesseth that in
every city bonds and Affections abide Me. But none
Of those things move me, neither count my life
dear unto myself that may finish my course
with joy, and the ministry which have received OF
the Lord Jesus to testify the gospel OF the grace Of
Cod.
''And now behold ] know that We all among
whom l have gone preaching the kingdom OF God
record this day that have not stunned to declare
unto you all the counsel Of God. Therefore, watch
and remember that by the space or three years
ceased not 10 warn every one night and day with
tears
.'And now. brethren, commend you to God and to
the word OF His grace, which is able to build you up
and TO give You an Inheritance among all them
which sanctfed. have coveted no mans
silver nor gold nor apparel. Yea, We yourselves
know that these hands have minlStered unto my
necessities and 10 them that were with me. have
showed you all things now that so lab0rDg We ought
to support the weak; and to remember the words OF
the Lord Jesus how he SAID, 1T is more blessed to
give than 10 recelve.''
No wonder that after he had kneeed down and
prayed with them all Paul's brethren fell on his
neck and kissed him, borrowing most Of all for the
words which he spake, that they should his face
no more.o
And now, b. way OF contrast, let lis see what
Brother Paul, the 'lDsignl1caDt, bleareyed jew"
might possibly have been had ne lived III our day.
Would he nave twenty thousand dollars year for
'waggng his pow in the pulpit twice every sun
day
Would he have other twenty thousand during the
same year Tor his wr,ings-pious novels entire
things" In weekly instalments OF sentiment, at the
! highest price goingf
10 this last question IL might be truly answered.
| Every likely; Mr.. Bonner would have had HIM for
| the Ledger and paid hun honorably and with char
| acteristic lberalitv, IOr his best pieces.'''
ST. Paul 10 not reported to have married many
couples. Indeed, there Is reason TO believe that
/ he did not favor matrimony over much: yet he
did that 1T was better to marry than to burn
But the question Is, Knowing that there are plenty
| ofpeople always ready TO grease fat goose, would
| he have taken $500 In gold for marrying two
! persons TO one anotherf Now would he do you
/ think
| Would he after having stated publicly that II was
| "a shame Tor u woman To speak IN church., turn
| right round and say that women ought to preach
and practlse law in the courts and medicine and
surgery in hospitals and iamliesY
!. Would Brother Paul have done this In our time
| And II he had, what modern apostle would be ike
\ unto himY AN ANXIOUS INQUIRER
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