The New York herald., 1873-10-06
BROOKLYN CHURCHES.
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.

Mr.. Bcecher's First Sunday Home-Thc
Doctrine Of the New Testamcnt-Thc
Fruits or tho Spirit-Mr. Bcecher's
Views Of Death.
Yesterday was an auspiciOus day for the begin
ming OF q new year OF work. Mr.. Beecher has re-
turned, much streng hened and inyigOrated, and
ready for another year Of work. AS was to be ex-
pected. an immense throng filled Plymouth
church and the sidewalk outside at an early
hour. Mr.. Beecher chose his text from the First
Epistle OF John, third chapter, second and third
verses-"Beloved, now are we the sons OF God;
and it doth not yet appear what we shall be put
we know that when he shall appear we shall be
like him; for shall see him as he is. And every
man that hath this hope In him puriheth himself,
even as he is pure"
There is most striking contrast in the spirit of
modern science and the spirit or the New Testa-
ment, and nowhere is this lound more than in the
views taken OF man. Science tends to take man
rs he was, the New Testament as he is to be.
There may be no antagonlsm In these views; they
may be the complement OF each other one de-
scrlbes the destiny. One looks at the planting OF
the seed. the other follows with the eye the flower
and the irnit. Therefore there heard to-day,
one voice saving, man Is Of dust the other,
MAN is IMMORTAL
One says man is animal the other says man is of
God; one says come from beneath, the other
says we are to ascend. These are not necessarily
in conflict, but they are so. 1t is well ior us to
know where men came from, but 1t is better to
know where we are going to. We know that we
are sons of God. There Is one theory that men
fell from high estate, and another that we begun
low and are working up. Supposing our progeni
we begun at the bottom. The New Testament has
two 'sights," speaking as we speak OF firearms
1t speaks OF the present and OF things as they
to be. The present is only important in sight of
the future; 1t assumes that man Is low and erring
and sinful, and the iact remains that men are so
low and sinful that they need
DIVINE INTERPOsITlON,
divine succor and help to lift themselves to state
ID which ney can ca n rodua sons Of Cod
allow and admit; but can that unfolding be &C
cell ceerateds Can It be induced I ed by man himseltS
declares that what is low IN man can be elevated
and that 1t may be accomplished speedily by the
that this Is revealed as new truth, for there
more or less recognition OF divine influence in
Him before 1T was twilight; now the sun Of right
eousness arose; men are lifted high and speedily
into new ife Human nature was
JOINED TO CHRIST
by His incarnation. Our relation to Him was re-
vealsd by His sufferings There is one truth in the
New Testament which inspires us more than any.
power OF GOd and it is this nearness or man to
God this direct approach OF Coda God that 1t is
are near Him. This is the doctrine OF the New
Testament 1t is fact or nature Just as much as
tnrnips and squashes and potatoes are. Men be-
lieve they are natural but moral conscience they
don't believe in, because they think 1t is not
science Nature begun with clod ends with q
man, but man that God Sees hold that the up-
per forms OF nature are more forms OF nature so
TO speak, than the lower.
Here, then, we stand. That science is doing its
good work outside OF the Bible In other words,
by and by. when the century is turned clean
over, when the side now in the dark sees the sun,
1t Will recognize It's relation to and dependence
those spiritual influences.
THE FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT
are very beautiful, even as We look at them, though
we seldom see very ripe ones. Q4aughterJ
In Galatians you Will find that inventory OF the
& ass
one one one goes into garden and picks Soaques
to represent the style Of the garden so the fruits
OF the spirit are not exhausted here. what do We
thing we know OF love, we that saw the whole web
OF lie woven OF gold and silver threads OF family
a,ecsop, honi n there l., be ANYTHING we know, we
have seen something OF 1t, but we have not
seen 1t regnant so tnat justice took on the gar
tude. Shall he who has heard an instrument half
tuned say that he knows what it isS
great, boisterous boysh Joy but who knows Of it
as raimentS How many are there that know OF
1t thusS They know Its flash and sparkle.
I'm very fond OF music, even an old broken flute
from nelghbor's window is musical to me- II 1t is
far far enough on: When went to Boston and heard
and breadth, felt had never heard music before
think thus or
CHRISTIAN GRAcEs,
as OF clarionet with learner at the end OF 1t.
I've seen all manner OF Christians one stringed
and two-strnged, but all discordant. Take this
who can hear It, take this idea OF the infinite iruit
fulness OF love, coupled with JOY, while it shines in
blade OF grass, bountiml IN its universally
and its individuality. Who has known such oyY If
& there pc M any here let HIM speak no one even the
is peacep Absence from pain is supposed to be
peace; sleep Is supposed TO be peaceful but 1t is
read glmpses OF 1t in enthusiasts, and men smile
ana think 81 II Is dream; but no, 1t IS a reality
subtle, dlnlcult 10 realize, but real and long suffer
nOt
much long suffering; and genteness, not weak
sse Now little We does any one snow xnow Of
SO little OF our ''' sonship hy To to AGoM Cod.
Here, then, we have the CHRISTIAN idea OF man.
into new and higher life, In whicn he Is q son OF
God coming into his relationship. When once he
ganed mas come tns vn,opv into their relationship he has
views Oh lie, new sphere, he has conquered the
world ID this-that he feels he is not OF 1t, though
In 1t. II does not yet appear what we shall be
when all these buildings shall open In better
land.
brought from the White Mountains some spec
mems OF nature.-leaves, OF gold and scarlet, and
brown and mottled-and, taking them out, say,
Would anyone get an idea from them OF the
vast mountains and the hillsdes covered with
their glories2 When ] snow you this handful Of
leaves, and you say, O, now know what you have
been talking about; but, poor creature, you don't
know anything aboutit. Who ever could describe
the beauty OF the Hudson In all Its gorgeous color
Ing OF autumnY Would not the man be unatic
VINO SAT down and wrote to his wife, "My dear
Wile, am now going TO describe to You all ! saw
going up the Hudson from New York to Aibany.n
U.aughter).
When nature is teaching us a lesson we never
out all its glorious coors how grand Is naturcl No
man could describe even matter In words. All
that the
SUMMER OF GRACE
mas brought to man all It's boundless capacity for
lights and shadows, what are they? say In the
language OIL the Scripture, at doth not yet appear
what we shall be-" Whatever you think OF the
DEVELOPMENT OF theory behind, let tell you that
the development OF theory before Is worthy or
your attention. Let death assume an entirely DIFF
ierent place In our imapination--I don't mean
when you come TO die--for ninety. nine out OF 100
don't know when they die; but our habitual
contemplation OF death should be changed from
sadness and melancholy. know that nature win
nave It's way, and II Is not possible
TO break or rudely the ties OF life and
not suffer-; but / would not have the
sufferers look INTO the grave for those