The New York herald., 1873-12-15
Yesterdays Pulpit Productions.

Yesterdays Pulpit Productions.
The outline of sermons which we present
TO our readers to-day show poverty both of
Thought and treatment. The topics are varied
enough and some of them of sufficient i'm
portance to draw forth the best thought Of the
best minds in the pulpits Of the land.
But our readers can judge, perhaps as
well as we, whether the pulpit produc-
tions Of to-day present evidence of much
study or mature thought. Mr.. Beecher,
under the title of Standing and Waiting
which expresses exactly the position of thous-.
ands to-day in the Church and out of it
treats his congregation to a metaphysical
essay on many things save 'fhe one thing
needful" II may be interesting to speculate
on "the briefest space between voiton and
results )" but there are other themes Of more
pressing Importance for the pulpit and for
the Sabbath's instruction. The building up
of character, which formed part of his theme,
MIR. Beecher said was q slow work-much
slower, indeed, than the building Of the East
River Bridge, or even, we may add the New
York County Court House And yet, when it
is built, that which is seen is not al there is
Of it. Mr.. Beecher evidently believes in q
growth into rather than in Christianity-a
process about as slow as any material growth
that we can conceive of.
DR.. John Cotton Smith began last evening
the series of sermons on the evidences of
christianity in answer to q communication
printed in the HERALD recently. He did not
claim extraordinary inspiration for the Scrip
lures or any interruption Of the laws Of na-
ture in the giving of divine revelation to
man. He claimed for the books Of the New
Testament stronger proofs Of their authen-
ITCHY than could be given for the writ
ings Of Homer or Tacitus or Socrates,
and showed those who had inter-
ested themselves most deeply in the well
fare Of mankind had not themselves
written but that this work was done by Others
Hence the objection urged against the Gospels
on this ground is not well taken. Dr. Smith
evidently would not hold very tenaciously to
the belief, therefore, that the Gospels were
written by the men to whom they have been
assigned; for he makes the point that the title
of each is according to-" not "of,' John or
Mark DC. The Doctor, too, shares the doubt
of other Bible commentators as to Paul's au-
thorship of the Epistle to the Hebrews, and
ndduces circumstantial point of evidence as
TO the time the Gospels and epistles were writ
ten in that no mention is made in them OF the
destruction of Jerusalem, which took place in
the year A. d. 70. Such an omission, he
thinks, could hardly occur had these books
been written after that year.
Mr.. rockingham talked about the acquisi
lion and disposal of property, and the use and
Rbuse of wealth, beauty, intelligence, &C., and
nll the talents that God gives to mankind. And
he traced the different theories held respecting
these things to what he called the two legends
of the rebellion Of Satan and his followers
and the incarnation, life and death of Christ
He denied the right of any man or woman to
use any of these gifts of God for selfish pur-
poses.
DR.. Manning, of Boston, adduced evidence
in favor of religion from unbelievers. He
thinks If the men who rob banks, who forge
checks for large amounts, who expend the
moneys Of orphans entrusted to their care, or
who steal millions from the treasures Of cities
and States had God near them or had more
spiritual thought they would not do such
things. But among the persons who have
recently committed such crimes as our GRIM
inal records show, were some who at least
pretended to o good degree Of piety, but in
heart were thieves and forgers.
Father McNamee inculcated the doctrine
of humility, which receives such commem-
orative illustration at this season of the year,
SO peculiarly devoted to the advent Of Christ,
who, though He was rich, yet for our sakes
became poor that we, through His poverty,
might be rich. Father McNamee also pre-
sented to his hearers their responsibility for
the right use of their gifts and faculties and
powers.
Tho Reformed church, in Thirty fourth
street, celebrated itI semi-centennial anniver-
sary yesterday. The services are to be con-
tinued through the week also. Rev. Isaac
Riley delivered q historic DISCOURSE tracing
the growth of the church and the city for the
last half century, and marking the progress of
II, Il r;f,lc