The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-03
BROOKLYN CHURCHES.
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.

Emotional and Practical Re11gtOn-Vts-
ions and Dreams-Work the Evidence
of Love-An Men Have Not Steam
Enough to Work the Engine and Blow
the Whistle TOO-Beecher's Sayings
Yesterday.
Although very cold yesterday Mr.. Beecher's
church was, as usual filed to overlooking. The
services were opened by the reading of the second
chapter OF the first Epise Of john The xt selected
was Matthew VIII, 21-"Not every one that saith
unto me. Lord, Lerd shall enter into the kingdom
OF heaven; but he that doeth the will OF my Father
which is in heaven" Mr.. Beecher endeavored to
show the difference between an emotional and q
practical religious life, contrast between tho
spirit Of ethical and emotive living. Among Jews
scrupuosity Of obedience to the laws was thought
to be the best way Of insuring the favor Of God.
In doing this they 0verdid the requirements of the
laws, allowing little for shrinkage. The mainre-
nance of the ritual law was the secret Of their
church life At q later period there grew up
MORBID SPIRIT OF sELF-sACRIFICE.
People thought they were Christians in proportion
to the violation of nature; they denied themselves
all their harmless appetltes and pleasures. prac-
tcal religious life consists in doing deeds OF charity
and works Of righteousness not in nervousness.
Some men mourn because they have not evidence
of their acceptance by God. Everybody cannot
see visions and dream dreams. man dreams that
he sees
JACOBS LADDER
and imagines that he has received direct per-
sonal evidence of his fitness for Christian life.
1t is not so; he is no better Christian than the
who never sees any visions, but spends his life
doing good to his fellow men and in endeavoring to
obey the commandments OF God.
do not say that an emOtive life is not to be de-
sired. Where emotion Is priest OF the soul and
joined to full ethical life it is normal, beautiful,
desirable. Men seek in revivals to carry up their
feelings to Intensity, to kindle enthusiasm. be.
lieve the mind carried up IS exerting itself in q
higher plane but | do not think being always in q
high state OF excitement Is the best life. 1t may
be good, but not necessary. High feelings appeal
to the Imagination and all high feelings mingle
which is loving lie. 1t is sought by some by the
aid OF stimulants, but We may seek excitement IN
moral as well as in physical llie There Is
DIVINE INTOxICATION,
and one may seek moral excitement to his dam
devout in all his religious observances and after
all be selfish, careless and even dishonest in busi-
ness matters if tempted. one may live in excite
ment weep, rejoice and take on and yet Inwardly
he may be seeker OF mis- own JOY.
Have you never seen an exceedingly pious per-
son, but very disagreeabie Such persons may
spend hours by themselves in prayer, and when
they come out they make you wish they had staid
longer They talk OF heaven and religion, yet are
obstlnate not disposed to humility, not in SYM
pathy with mankind. They hang as icicles, pure
but cold. There is more virtue in men who main
tain even decency than in Others who are consld-
cred good Christians. Some men have
OATHs ACTUALLY Kissing
SuDEreSS
them there Is more credit due them than to men
who never uttered an oath in their lives or ever
thought Of one. Many men have cheer and hope
who seeking daily to DO Gods Will. NO man Is
to suppose he is not Christian because he Is not
the subject OF Experiences; he who keeps the COM
mandments and Is seeking daily to do Gods will Is
the Christian 1t Is far better to bring the whole
soul into conformity to the law OF God than to have
any amount OF emotion. Some lee that they must
picture to themselves vision OF Christ to love- Ii
you keep the commandments that is evidence that
you love God. Christ says, 81 know you love me II
vonk Zoe mn m m
Is the most tender relation the most emotional
mother Is always kissing her children and max
ing demonstrations Of affection to the whole house
hold; children 60 slipshod nothing is comfortable
all is excess OF feeng all feeling and no practice
is not a fair thing in love- Another mother has no
rapture OF feeling and kisses her children rarely
but everything goes quietly; children are COM
along nosily accomplishing nothing; the other
goes along quietly, increasing volume Where
does 1t goS Down little further 1t is turning q
mill wheel. Affection don't turn any wheel,
but our happiest hours the most
subdued Working love is better than emotlve
love. 1t Is well to have both, but it is not every
one who has steam enough to work the engine and
blow the whistle, too. There is love which never
speaks; 1t spends itself in work, like sunlight
shedding its rays on the ground and bringing up
the beautiful flowers, softly and quietly. This
practical lie i accept. How well remember the
first year that was at Amherst Colleges the great
agony Of soul was in; how prayed by the hour,
longing for some evidence that l was child OF
God, when all needed was the slightest In
structiOn I am sorry for those who, reading
the Christian experience OF Others think they must
60 through the same. 1t Is not necessary to see
Christ. Live rghteously live lives OF goodness
and purity. Not those who say, lord, Lord, in
Thy name have we cast out devils" but those
who can show that they have been to their fellow
men as Christ was-such can present themselves,
and they shall be received and it shall be said Of
them, "Well done, good and faithful servant"