The New York herald., 1874-09-07
BROOKLYN CHURCHES.
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.

Jcrusalem-The Great Work To BE
Done.
Quite alarge congregation assembled in Plymouth
church yesterday morning. Assistant Pastor Hal-
day preached. After the sermon the Lords Supper
was administered. The text was from Nehemiah
sixth chapter, part OF the third verse-I am doing
a great work. so that cannot come down. Why
should the work cease whilst leave 1t and come
down to you ~ Nehemiah was one OF the
captives taken In war 450 years before
Christ He had been appointed cup
bearer to the king. One of his brethren from
Jerusalem approached him. and he inquired OF
him the condition of the Jews OF the city. and he
heard that they were In great aflictiOn the walls
OF the city were broken and the gates consumed
oy fire. All this struck deep into the heart OF
this loving man; he wept and prayed for Jerusa-
lem; nor did he attempt to conceal the sins of
TIE people,. Nehemiah prayed not only lervently
but ntelligently as well. How ardently he loved
his brethren, and though separated from them
and Jerusalem his country was as dear to
him as ever. For months the attic
tions OF his people haunted him; he
wanted to go to the land OF his
fathers and repair the walls. He was in position
IN which ne hoped to be influential in accomplish
g THIS s m ed to hae h s his Wn r9m the
he said, "Why art thou sadY' and he answered,
why should not nay countenance be SAD when
the city Of my fathers lieth waste and the gates
ear. What should he request After moments
Un his way he learned that the people were
To- seek ss wers Of the csdn
Israel. he rose in the night and examined
the walls. and in the morning ne said, Come, let
proach," and they all rose and the work begun at
once with great zeal and neartiness, but the work
Was not to be accomplished without great diff
culties. The Jews were great in thrift and pros
perity, but with the walls Of their city broken
break % in upon % them Fired by the zeal Of their
noble leader they did Use and build; they rushed
heard But Wen anb and SolEe Es
Of ss sasd os o ns% 70
per u.s." When all these
MUTUAL FRIENDS
heard that the walls were being finished they we're
But 6y day and night the walls went up. Nehe-
mah was everywhere, comforting and inspiring
assured that the Jews had become aware OF their
inspection, concluded that discretion was the bet
ter part of yalor, but they were not dead; only
thwarted. The walls were completed, but the
gates were not set up when Sanballat and
1ieshem sent to Nehemiah to meet them on the
plain OF Ono, but Nehemiah knew they meant to do
him mischief and he sent messengers unto them
with the words OF the text. God help You to take
these as watchwords. II every Christian could
only be thoroughly advised OF their place in the
building up OF Gods Kingdom as Nehemiah was in
the building OF the wall It seems M to me that these
ture. Here In this house to-day, in the presence
OF this table, let US pledge one another In tns
great work. Everyt thing that has come to us has
| come through the teachings OF our pastor mainly.
1t has been Gods spirit uttered from this platform
! Tor twenty seven years that has given us
! splcuity such other church has. How thankful
may we be that God has given such
O teacher, such q leader, and one who has az
tanned such success. Now, while you have loved
| and cherished him and been proud Of pim, has
there not been neglect? have never felt that our
pastor was not thoroughly loved. The affection
and pride Of this church lar transcends any
| ever saw in more than fifty years. experience, and
yet am constrained again to ask the question,
! Is the wall complete between your door and him?
Let me ask, have you prayed for your pastor fer.
vently?
| have not been able sometimes TO disabuse nv
mind OF the notion that Mr.. Beecher was so strong
that he needed no prayers but could carry on his
broad shoulders his burdens and others too. Have
you not in these weeks had
BAPTISM OF SYMPATHY
for him never felt before Let the honest deter
mnat0n OF every soul be to-day, will arise and
bud. Let our reply be to every solicitation, III
am doing great work, so that | cannot come
down." Our relations open TO us other duties be-
sides those Immediately connected with our pas
| tor; we have our Sunday schools, where we have
thousands OF souls to influence Let us to the wall
before our own door, no matter what the wiles OF
the enemy. Be deaf and dumb and blind to all.
why snould our work cease while we come down
to themp