The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-20


Earnest, Lively Mcthodists-A Sermon
ON the Battle or the Christian Lffc-How
New York May BE Cleansed or It's I'M
Equities.
The gentle rain that descended so copiously and
so refreshingly upon the thirsty earth yesterday
diminished the attendance at Plymouth church, and
gave to the audience an unusual aspect There
were several vacant chairs, and there was q pre-
vailing masculinity In the congregation conse-
quent on the absence, to large extent, OF the
'last, best work OF heaven" substituting
for the 'Doly yardenism" Of feminine
attire the sombreness of black broadcloth and the
cooressness that prevails in the bodily adornment
ofthe Gre ature man. Among these men were many
Methodist strangers whose religious enthusiasm
was not checked by the strangeness OF a strange
place. Their pent-up feelings found safety valve,
too frequently checked in these days of degenerate
Methodism, and they broke forth occasionally at the
close OF some stirring passage Of Mr. Beechers
mon with an old-fashioned, heartfelt Methodist cry
of "Glory be to GOd' and q tuneful "Ialleluah p,
Mr.. Beecher's subject In the morning was "Chrls-
tian Life Battle" and he selected for his text
the following THE eleventh to the sixteenth
verse of the fifth chapter OF the Gospel OF
st. Matthew-"Bessed are We, when men shall
revile you, and prosecute you, and shall say all
manner OF evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad; for great is your
reward In heaven: for so prosecuted they the
prophets which were before you. We are the salt Of
the EARTH but II the salt have lost his SAVIOR where
with shall 1t be sailed 1t is thenceforth good for
nothing but to be cast out and to be trodden under
foot of men. Ye are the light of the world city
that Is set on hill cannot be hid. Neither do men
light candle and put 1t under bushel, but on
candlestck; and 1t giveth light unto all that are in
the house. Let your light so shine before men that
they may see your good works, and glorify your
Father which Is In heaven.v
At the outset Mr.. Beecher alluded to the positive
and the negative virtues that are set forth In the
text as making up the elements OF Christian life,
and then proceeded TO look at the character and
condition of man rs the being in whom these vir-
tues were to blossom and bloom. lie said that we
"''' '"''' THE 1ii PATTERN OF ANIMALS.
No man was ever born into the ideal OF the Chris
tian life. The essential life purpose OF man. as he
found himself conditioned, was to work out into or
up to this ideal. In developing this ideal into
practically 1t was needfu that man should con-
slider the total OF his endowment. II was not con-
science that was at the basis OF this ideal; love
was the basis OF tho Christian character. Con-
science Was but newer OF wood and drawer OF
spirit Of man was the prevailing and influential ele-
ment in bringing out the Christian character. Then
is good thing. ~ wish had more of it, said MIR.
Beechcr. But II becomes dangerous and vicious
when 1t Is SO controlling as to become ambition
and so possesses o man us to make him think HIM
self god Then man has the faculty OF temper to
deal with. This comes In In q thousand ways to
chafe him. u was very hard for example, for a
man to be Under, and to be commanded by man
who slopes the wrong way that s, Is very large on
the feet, and goes narrowing up until he gets
to cone at his head Now, ali these are
the broad, natural characteristics which are the
endowment OF all men. In view OF these
things do you suppose that In striving to be o
Christian you are going to do without lighting for
u and do you suppose that this is to be otherwise
than royal battle. The Scrptural idea OF true
piety, and the only one that IL favored Of God and
which Is likely to develop an abiding goodness, Is
the royal command to love. If o man protesting to
be a Christian goes among children and they all
shun him-run away from him, 1t Is about time he
looked into the evidences Of his Christianity Mr..
Beecher here sketched the examination of a candi-
date for membership to church. He put on sor-
rowful, long face; looked very demurely,
and fixed his eyes on the pattern OF the
carpet OF the platform; and then put the
Ideal candidate through the following catechism -
"Weil, Mr.. - you are convinced OF sin ~ eyes,
hope SOL ''IIave you proper fear OF the wrath
OF GodYn eyes, think have.r "You desire to
live life In conformity with the will Of God ~
eyes. have that desire," "You are willing TO be-