The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-17
BROOKLYN CHURCHES.
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.

IolhCs Oh comparison Between FMyS1c0k
and Moral Truths-Nothing Good Ever
Lost-Gcd the Father Of Truth-SermoD
by the Rev. Mr.. Beecher.
Notwithstanding the extreme inclemency of the
weather yesterday morning the Rev. Mr.. Beecher's
church was well attended. Before opening the
services Mr.. Beecher announced that he would be
absent during the next two Sabbaths, and that his
brother DR.. Edward Beecher, would fill his pulpit.
Mr. Beeeher said that he did not leave his congrega-
ton often, and that 1t is twelve years since he
did So vacations excepted. The object Of this abb
sence IS TO enable him to make tour In the West,
to visit those places in which his public life
menced, and he spoke with great emotion
as "reminiscences of his past days crowded
before him. Mr.. Beecher's text was taken from
Isaiah w., 10, 11-"For as the rain
cometh down and the snow from heaven, and
returneth not thither, but watereth the earth and
maketh it bring forth and bud that it may give
seed to the sower and bread to the eater so shall
my word be that gOeth forth out of my mouth: it
shall not return unto me void, but 1t shall accom-
psh that which l please, and it shall prosper in
the thing whcreto sent it,"
In that little strip Of land called Palestine, said
Mr. Beecher, which on the map looks like a narrow
line, is combined so many elements that the figures
drawn IRON nature there have fitness for every
climate on che globe. In the northern part among
the tans, there Is always snow. In the south
ern part we have graduation Of climate for o dis.
lance OF $50 miles to the sands Of Arabia. In the
valleys the sun pours its rays, rever-
berating from every side, making 1t so
warm that everything is in bloom in the middle Of
Winter. We have In Palestine an epitOme Of cli-
mates From this land came that word which has
borne the truth to us-the Bible. 1t is for the
Summer aspect as well as the Winter aspect that
the text is meant. Truth is like the snow and
rain hal Ot fail tn In VIII nd
stoned it to do. Look at the points Of compari-
son. think how the vapor and rain lie far above u.s.
invisible. Men can see no storms coming. That
are not organized finely enough to feel and know
ourselves. SO out OF the great and unthOught OF
realms come truths. so it is that abstract truths
are not visible until we are touched by them. How
feeble is the commencement OF q stOrmi
On mountain you can go through clouds;
come rounded drops, which seem to do nothing but
make haste to fall out of their high estate; and
gently aimless, weak and powerless, and yet it il
in its power to put out the eye OF ships to block
less snow. The truth of God has very much the
experience. Men find single facts and OBJ
s grIn nut ie them toaetheT How Slow dsconnected
and vague the progress Go back to the day when
Abraham. Jacob and Isaac lived. See how mean
their resources were; with what slow steps did
truth develop itself to them, iragmentary local,
and not till thousands OF years could they arrive at
satisfactory results! SO the knowledge that we
have to-day has come little by little.
GODS TRUTH FALLS ON TIE WORLD,
to live out what they have thought ont that they
have found the truth 1t disappears in ferm but
aeappeai rs organaon GODS truth comes ana
and truth is most potentia! when 1t Is organized.
1t is not
not by visible means. but by organization. There
venton has ever been lost. The GRAND Of
truth is a successful one; nothing that ever was
g nas G wo9a Ss
moral truth or spiritual truth. Men say there
have been such Important secrets buried In the
past. Yes, there have-such as ought to be lost.
Let us hope some things have died out. The scope
of thought is broader and human faculty was never
so great as it Is to-day. We could build pyramids
if we chose, but we build workngmen's cottages
instead. All that pomp and splendor, thank God,
nations. There is nothing to mourn or regret.
The world might snake OF more and be the better
The fear that men have that religious truth will
shrink is grOundless. 1t has 80
PERIODS OF ECLIPSE,
its summer and winter but to have that fear Is to
be afraid OF the continuance Of Gods TRUTH 1t is
to doubt God. Let hot those doubt and fear who
of darkness to put out truth II is part OF the pro-
cessiOn OF universal organization. rise higher
than those doubts and fears. rise as high as the
throne of God, and though it takes time am not
alarmed. have learned not to expect good with
out labor pains No great truth is born without
pain, and when, therefore, men can say believing
it, that God is the God of liie-when they believe
that-they ore prepared to take
THE INCIDENTAL EVILS.
II Is not you that preserve the truth; 1t Is the
truth preserves you. Just as IL the pCkaxes that
the miners in getting the gold out OF the earth
should say one 20 the other Brother Ptckaxe, am
afraid we are not good for much more work and
the miners viii have to stop their work. Men are
GODS PICKAXEs,
and God is the miner, We are the instruments. the
might and power are far above us. God is the
Father OF truth. 1t Is God VINO thinks and Wills,
and draws men into sympathy with him through
thinking and willing. IL Is not to diminish your
sense OF the power OF truth that speak, but to-
show the power OF God.
Truth owes little TO men compared to what men
owe to truth. Men say the Church has preserved
Gods truth. but the tfuer saying Is that truth
has preserved the CHURCH. Ii every man was dead
to-day the truth would remain the same. II IL not
we that keep God alive, but God that keeps us
alive. Whatever may be the external Appearances
remember that the marrow and the soul of truth
are not with you but with God. The truth Of God il
imniutable.
rivuaoV m c,ur 0r~ru