The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-13

holy and glorious cent Z, the Universal rather,
Ill our differences are forgotten; we are made
enc We have become one IN Co.."
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.
Mr.. Beccher ON the Kingdom Of God-It
Is i'm the individual, Not In the
Church.
Mr.. Beecher was in q critical mood yesterday
morning Among the notices on his desk he
picked up one announcing concert In his meet
ing house for the "Brooklyn Maternity" 1t stated
that "tne following gifted artists were to appear"
Now" said the parson, that's tautology. To
say is an artist is to say he Is gifted If not
gifted he Is no artistn Then, going on, ne read,
''the Swedish singers, double quartet Of male
voices" .'Wen" said he, "mae voices may be
the voices Of hons or bulls, but from the connec-
ton infer these are mems voices" lady was
named as "giIted vi0llnist," and there was
another "gilted' in the list so he concluded the
notice by saying that at half past seven O'Clock
the "gltea" doors would open, and In spite
Of the folly or the advertisement ne be-
neved 1t would be an excellent concert
TOR q most worthy charity. Having read
she thirteenth chapter OF Romans in which the
Apostle calls love the fulfilling OF the law, he
named as his text Luke xvii, q. ''The Kingdom Of
God is within YOU" This same declaration runs
expression the same truth is found in the Old
Testament; but the new Is full OF this constantly
repeated teaching that mems characters lie in
their inward individual dispositions, not In exter-
nal circumstances organization. The Saviour
and his disciples dwel much on this as q funda-
mental prlnciple oil spiritual liie placing peculiar
stress upon it, The Kingdom or God ia not meat
and drink not sacrifcal service, says the Master,
but It is righteousness, peace joy in the Holy
Ghost he that has these right moral conditions is
named as acceptable TO God. It Is not II he belongs
20 the right sect. and is orthodox but II no loves
God and his fellow man be Is assured OF accept
ance and approval. me spiritual kingdom is a
moral iorce-the living force Of LOVING heart
That Is the power OF the kingdom of God. nope
Is Resides IN The church, but no association OF good
men Is necessary to development OF the Kingdom.
IT EXISTS IN INDIVIDUAL CHARACTER.
The New Testament, without specifically stating
the TACT shifted the cent? al point authority and
responsibility. in the Hebrew economy the iather
was the head Of the house, the family, Of the wife,
OF the child. II ne was guilty the family must sur
ter with him and Tor MS offences. sU, too, was It
under Roman rule. But the words OF Christ and
the apostles place the individual above even the
family and all organizations or cations. They
substitute the individual as the seat OF responsible
tty. So then every one shall give account Of
himself. No one has right TO stand In anotner's
way. In this we have iul assurance OF personal
liberty OF opinion ana action and OF INDIVIDUAL
responsibility. We are not thought OF by God as
members Oh families or churches, put as each the
representative oI the Kingdom. Moral character
sons heart by his voition. subject to instruc-
ton and influence. We have been taught that we
naturally siniul that we inherit sin from our
first parents: tnat we fell With ADAM BY ma
ture we are not worthy. We are
BORN EMPTY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,
as we are empty or skill or muscular force. We are
~ first bunue OF elnptiness-empty OF walking,
OF geography, OF mathematics OF music ana OF art.
1t Is not alone the religious element OF which we
are destitute at BIRTH. We are merely a bundle OF
tendencies, ana rom them out oil our surroundings
ana innuenr es must elaborate character. We must
devotion out of ourselves whatever become.
We have all the same faculties at the first. as the
alphabet is the foundation OF our language. Each
man Is to develop Tor himself out oil these natural
gfts which all share, his own character and spirit
nal life. We all know how TO develop manual
Skill or intellectual ability. So must we develop
our religious character by continued effort. This
Is the highest element OF human nature, and as
undertaken. III the spiritual realm we have, as ia
no other one, central and sovereign disposition,
winch regulates and Controls all the other Gle.
ments. IL Is the grand celestial spirit Of love, OF
which
RELIGION is so FULL AND THEOLOGY so EMPTY.
This is the vital force Of the spirit. We have in the
intellectual and physical deveOpment no such ele-
ment In the spiritual life we have alone THIS
central purifying and regulating force OF love. In
winter the florist. If he wishes gerani,ms or yioets
or roses must plant these, and only those which
he plants and tends will grow to repay his toll and
care. But in summer, not alone do we raise the
mowers we SOW but nature brings forth others
2bundantly without our asking. SO in the
sure not to lack all other graces and virtues The
atmosphere OF love brings them into LIE, as the
SUMS rays IN summer cover the eartn with vegeta-
ton. one man tries to learn to hold his tongue
a good thing to learn (4aughter) was unlor-
tunate In that illus ration, TOT the Apostle tells us
that he who can govern his tongue could do any
thing. But 1t Is unnecessary TO cultivate special
virtues and graces. All who have the solar force
OF Christian love Will find all virtues grow spon-
taneously like summer crop of vegetation.
After love all else follows In It's proper
place. We do not come to this by chance or ailt,
put by choice and by slow growth. None are born
absolutely good. though some are by birth better
than others None are born endowed with this
element oil love, That comes by each mans choice
and begins In the soul in the seed form, needing
time and growth through culture. Morality Is
not to be despised; 1t Is Indispensable But alone
1t Is simply conformity to external standards.
vine left to sprawl about on the ground. u Is
tangle, without symmetry. The moral man, with
family is ike vine trained on trellis; II grows
symmetrical, Is abundant In leaves, put destitute
Of fruit. Only in the lie Of religious love can we
look Tor that abundant fruItage which besses men
ana pieases God. The moral man Is all right In
Dut az Inc leaves. He should bear clusters OF tue
1Suit oi righteousness to develop
MANHOOD IN THE LIKENESS OF GOD
=. Iiticlse the attempt to live Christian lives ny
s1c uiscipiihe OF conscience. Men who try 1t are
Iways unnsppy Conscience Is incxorabe--it
Wsexacting by indulgence. 1t is like an Old New
England housewife--no one dares sac or stand in
the mousse IL Is uncomfortable hy reason OF neat
ness 20 tnat one fears to go in or to come ont.
conscience Is OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES how to work
and WHIP, but not now to govern a household. A
mOtner's love crust is better than all the spar king
summer IN Westminster county to reonlste fhe
growth OF sorrei and daisy, TO conduct Christian
lie ny cutvaung special virtues. Stay at home
valleys with green. Cultivate love and there Will
be no lack OF virtues. They viii not come by spe.
ciai efforts. one man attempts to keep the Sab
bath by rule. lie gets up and
MUST NOT SHAVE;
IL would be . breach Of the Sabbath; nor must he
enters It with due decorum listens scepiIy TO The
sermon. and M&xcheS sedately home, saying "Our