The New York herald., 1874-09-21
THE SEARCH FOR IDEAL MAHNCOD.
Who Shall BE Greatest in the
Kingdom of Heaven?
WHAT CONSTITUTES CONVERSION.

various hotels IN this vicinity. The Twin Moun-
tain. however, being popular resort for persons
from all parts OF the country afflicted with hay
fever, is yet well filed. If, therefore, only the In
mates OF the house had assembled, Mr.. Beecher
would have had good audience. But although the
did not run on previous Sundays enough
people came from the neighboring public houses
and villages to I'LL the great paror, the desire to
hear the eminent preacher continuing to the last
on the part Of those within the reach Of this place.
THE SERVICES,
which were OF an unusually interesting character,
commenced with the singing OF the roth hymn OF
the Plymouth Collection, the words being 'lined
out" by MIR. Beecher after what he termed the
'.good old fashion," The following Is the first
stanZa:-
Our pathway oft Is wet with tears,
u9 Dur SSw SKY WIN cioaaS Snd waax fears
Go with US to the last.
Then followed the prayer before the sermon,
which was long and earnest, ana in which the soul
Of the petitioner was poured out in thanksgiving
and praise to God for inn umerable mercies IN the
past and in supplication for renewed and multi
piled blessings IN the future. This prayer being
concluded the 733d hymn, beginning,
From every stormy wind that blows
From every swelling tide OF woes,
hsTe fs loand Senest Se sars the merev rssa scar.
was sung
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
Mr.. Beecher prefaced his sermon with .hese
words :-'Durng the few weeks that have been
here and have had the services ofthe Sabbath morn
ings under my charge, have felt that both cour-
tesy and good feeling requlred that, as far as
possible, should avoid all discussion and expo
sition that would raise questions OF difference
divided as the great Christian world is in various
ways. internally and externally, into separate
bands. 1t seems to me that the same
courtesy should be employed when one
stands in q prOmisciOus multitude in
community that IS employed IN the intercourse OF
families There are certain elements that are
different in every neighborhoOd between one fam
lily and another such that politeness requires
that they should not interfere with each others
living. Every one is entitled to his own liberty
and there is u propriety in every other one
spectng that liberty have undertaken there
fore, on the Sabbath mornings when l have
spoken to yOu-and shall this morning do the
same-to discuss these elements. which were
spiritually fundamental, and which belonged to
all Christian sects in common; for when you
touch q question Of true Christian experience.
and when you deal with great subject OF charac
ter, all difference vanishes 1t will be found that
as you recede from the spiritual conception OF
! manhood to the instruments by which men are
educated differences multiply and disputes ln-
crease, but that you go from the visible toward
the Invisible and discuss the interior lie OF Chris
tans all differences gradually cease and that men
| come into perfect unity. II you could bring the
| whole great diverse brotherhood OF Christians,
under various names, together into scene where
all were lifted to holy enthusiasm In admiration
OF some great and noble deed or aspira ton, you
would find that they would take mold OF hands
together ana that there would be no separation
The essential element OF Christianity reunites
men, its instruments and external institutions
rha
interior to the exterior OF Christian experience
usually speaks in accordance with the best judg
ments and the best aspirations OF all Christians Of
every Sect
In the eighteenth chapter OF Matthew and the
opening verse are the following words:-
At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus saying
Who is the greatest in the kingdom OF heaven
That is very much, II you sbOud put 1t in modern
phrase as II one should say, What do you consider
as the most eminent state OF Christian experience
What Is your conce pton OF the most perfect man
hood Jesus called little child unto Him and set
him in the midst OF them and said
Verify say unto you, except ye be converted and be-
dom DOM OF heaven. cave '' '-' ' ''~' '''' >''~ ''N'
Let alone who is greatest there you shan not
even get in unless you become as little chidren
whosoevcr therefore. shall humble himself as this
little child the same Is greatest IN the Kingdom oil
heaven.
! time OF the world when, IN various nations, the
| ambition Of manhood had been, or was. very
!
conception OF what was the most becoming in
man; the Greek had his ideal MANHOOD; the
which constituted the highest spectacle OF man.
hood; the Jews, who were not one whit
behind them, had clear conception
bic manhood and our Master fen in with
that universal disposition OF the best men,
ideal PERFECTION that when they came to ask him
who is the greatest in the Kingdom OF beavenr
Wnat Is the highest manhoodY He took little
!
| sign1cation OF tbaty Well, he was surrounded by
concerted men, whose ideal was easily reached
VINO had reached 1t, who had gone, as they
thought, as lar as human nature could go, and
whose thought was what lack YETI That was tue
spirit of the great mass OF the bes: Jews. Their
standard was law, and they were puned up. They
prophets. Their teachers had inspired them
with the feeling that knowledge consisted
law, and they were very familiar with
tnat; they therefore felt that there was scarcely
very proud and excessively concerted. onr. Mas
ter stood In tue midst OF scrtoes, doctors and emil
nent Jewish SAINTS, and tneir feeling was, 1--WE are
ready to patronlzc you, we recognize tnat you are
an able man; you are prophet, you are Que Of
us aud We WIN receive you INTO our company II
their own estimation they were all orthodox;
they were all saints. But Christ said to them,
| III you wish 70 be eminent Ia the Kingdom Of
heaven you must empty yourselves all out OF your.
| seves and start over again, and you must be Ike
little chid.n Now, wnat is 1t in childhood thas
becomes the model conception OF manhood 1t s
the universal impetus and hapitude 10 learn, 1t
is not sense OF ignorance so much as 1t Is an
| appetite for knowledge. rhe whole nature OF
| cbilds MAD IL, "What IS that ~ ana the child
sits artlessly and receives what every one tells
| It, IL Is hungry for knowledge, and knowledge
p0urs into II III ceaseless streams. But the Phar-
lsees felt as though they were a bay and the whole
! Atlantic ocean sprung its tides into 1t and filed
1t full so tnat no more could be got into IL. The
saviour said to them There are none among you
that knew ANYTHING about the Kingdom OF God IN
your seli.satisted state. Unless you become as
little children and are conscious that you are pro-
| tOundly ignorant and have a different conception
of what manhood means aud become my scholars
and let ME teach you the first elements OF noble
| living, you shall not see the Kingdom OF heaven."
THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
Is phrase which was better understood In an
Oriental monarchy than In our democratic gov.
! ernment. We have to fOrm very 0rttncfai
| conception OF it. The Apostle Paul defines IT az
being not meat and drink. but righteousness and
| peace and 10y In the Holy Gh0st. When you
put these elements together and bring them 70 our