The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-02
BROOKLYN CHURCHES.
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.

Sermon by MIR. Bccc her on the Salvation of
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Encouraged
All Hands TO BE Saved If the Germ
for the Development Of Goodness Is
Within Them-God Will Not Cast Any
Away-Bctter to Begin ut the Bottom
In Heaven than Not to be There Mt All.
Mr.. Beecher preached yesterday morning to the
usual crowded congregation, sermon that the
orthodox Will regard as plea for Universalism
He selected his text from the last clause OF the
fourth verse of the twenty-frst chapter OF the
Revelations of st. John :-"For the former things
are passed away" Those words were the sum-
nation OF that which had gone before. The
revelation of st. John was in itself filed
with figures and symbols borrowed from the Old
Testament. The New Testament was fairly aglow
with these borrowed Symbols John had been
talking about heaven, ana when Jesus spoke every
thing he said seemed to be tinged with something
ETHEREAL. Let the thoughts OF the congregation
to-day, said Mr. Beecher be turned towards heaven.
To-day Is good day to talk about heaven. The
very light Of it seems spread over the earth; it
seems TO us like unto the rest that remaineth for
the peoples good There is no storm on the sea,
no STERN OF wind on the earth, and new life has
come to the whole kingdom of trees. The air Is
fragrant with the white alembic OF the morning
flowers. But there is a sunshine that Is far purer
enlivenng in the heavenly ether. Let us, then
consider the transformers of our life here and
some OF the conclusions that force themselves
upon our mind. DO believing souls pass immedi-
ately into state or blessedness! DO they stand
waiting for disclosure of a future era! 1t cannot
be said that the New Testament Is absolutely ex-
plIcit on this theme. The implication OF the New
Testament certainly is that believing souls pass
into new presence, to purer consciousness OF a
spiritual life. This was Paul's belief evidently.
In proof OF this part Of the fifteenth OF the First of
Corinthians was read, and also the fourth and fifth
OF the Second OF Corinthians. 1t was evident rom
this that there was no waiting OF the soul-not
even the waiting of
THE SEED PLANTING
and the seed sprouting Then there was Paul's
triumphant exclamation to Timothy, IL have nm
ished my course" The day spoken OF there was
the day OF his release. This does not preclude the
idea oil foreclosure OF the power OF development
in different stages OF our existence hereafter.
That was question that was settled by Christ in
the story OF the woman with the seven husbands.
The relations OF family and obligations OF earth
declared to have no abiding place there. The pas
sions which continue, the race the thirst the hun.
ger, that are dormant here are not known
there There is no use for them. manestly,
in the higher development. Then comes the ques
ton OF the range OF the soul. lower range OF
ments OF heaven. They will only possess the begin
nngs OF an undeveloped spiritual life. Each one
will carry with him into the ether kind OF super.
fetal gravity that will gravitate him to his place.
Whatever those gradatons may be we may he Ger.
tain tnat tney VIII DC as happy as tnelr VIII
allow them o be. The growth there too will be inn
menseIy rapid. 1t must be remembered too that
we shall be under the direct influence OF God. sWe
shall see Him as He ls.n Then men say
now is THIS AS TO CHARACTER
and the fitness OF character Tor an entrance to
heaven When you come to apply this rale how
great is the difficulty. The command is-.Thou
shalt lsve the Lord thy God with all thy mind
with all thy heart, with all thy SOUL" What man Is
there could have the angel Of heaven put over him
that measure as test OF his fitness to enters Not
the noblest martyr, not the nobest mother has at
tanned unto this. All must confess that they are
saved By grace, by the grace OF God, by
what is called the gift OF God. God does
this because He Wills to do IL. 81 have
mercy upon whom will have mercy God says,
In effect, III will do this because 1t peaseth me to
do itr Then the very best women and men must
go to heaven by grace. II one sinner Is ad-
mtted why not the second who IL lower In attain
ment and IL the second why not the third, and so
on unto the last? Why not the bottom one OF a2
/ don't believe that there Is a soul living on the
earth to-day upon whom the face Of the Gospel has
shone and In whom there Is some indication that
Gods grace has not entirely died out, who will not,
by the grace of God, find an entrance, and that
that soul will find itself transplanted there.
THE OUTER BOUNDARY OF HEAVEN
| is far better than the highest place on earth.
| There souls will be brought under educative and
inspiring Innuences-low grades 1t may be, but It Is
better to start at the bottom OF heaven than not
to start at all. Men mourn because their children
| have died suddenly and have given no indica-
ton OF converst0n-had not joined the Church. The
children had thought good deal Of religion, and
| had lived We that was comDarativelI Without