The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-31

The Scriptures ExhOrting to a Full and
Free Use Of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS spirit
Nearer the Truth than Rom an-sermon
by Mr. Beecher.
Mr.. Beecher announced yesterday morning that
the organ concerts at Plymouth church would be
resumed next saturday. Mr.. Beecher's sermon
was on "The Use and Cultivation OF the Human
Reason" His text was Hebrews ", IL to IA in
clusve-"FOr when for the time we ought to be
teachers We have need that one teach you again
which be the first principles Of the oracles Of God
and are become such as have need Of milk,
and not OF strong meat. For every one
that useth milk Is unskilful in the word of rghte-
business: for he ID babe. But strong meat be-
longeth to them that are OF full age, even those
who by reason OF use have their senses exercised
TO discern both good and evil" This is a Gliding
for want OF intelligence, reproach for the in
dolent use or dsuse OF reason in the province OF
duty. The sacred Scriptures stand almost alone
as a
BOOK OF DIRECTIONS
in exhorting to full and free use of reason. From
beginning to end it takes it for granted that men
are reasonable creatures and are best managed by
appeals to the reasoning faculties. 1t addresses
reason primarily. 1t challenges men to examine
all divine commands by reason. Come, let us rea-
son together satin the Lord.
1t may be said that the word of God is constituted
their faculties. On the other hand, dulness,
stupidity Indifference simplicity and ignorance
are made criminal. In no instance is there en-
joined dele cation OF thinking for US, nor Is there
anywhere stated that God reposed in lody the
truths, from whom we are to take them uDques-
tiOning; not from God himself are we to take
things so. The word OF God Is grand enc0urager
OF the use OF the faculties. IL Is made the duty Of
each individual to Judge, to choose, to find out for
himself Not that the presumption that men who
confine themselves to one thing are better qualified
to Judge Of that thing than OF others Is wrong but
~ Inn slVtun fnua IN tnHrxn
weigh for himself
The Word OF God Is not tyrant; It implies no
restraint. The Protestant spirit Is nearer Scrip
ture than the Roman and yet Protestant spirit in
Its extreme Is not right and the Roman, II literally
construed, Is not without
SOME ELEMENT OF TRUTH
lift were merely philosophic tenet, and not part
Of training system. Reason is not infallible any
more than the Pope. In many instances the RO-
man tendency and the freethinking tendency,
standing at opposite extremes, are alike in error.
Men thousands and thousands OF times are obliged
to do things which they scoff at Ia hierarchy. DO
Eaen do all the thinking for themselves IL Is not
for me to go through the world IN search OF gee
graphical facts II Is enough for me to take them
facts. II IL not for test the truth OF all the
astronomical facts. In short, there is no man who
is not
PINNING HIS FAITH
on some man for knOwedge--dOing Just what We
condemn In the Romans. There Is no sphere I'm
lie but IN which man stands In the centre OF
rays leading out In every direction. II men de-
pended on themselves alone for knowledge they
would not find out half dozen facts In lifetime.
IL is indispensable that men should think for them
selves; but, on the other hand, men cannot always
think Tor Themselves; there is a constant inter-
changing Of knowledge.
There Is more than one kind Of reason. The
which takes cognizance Of external things-as
form, color. We possess this in common with the
lower creations, and not always in such
marked degree, The eaGe can zee u