The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-09
BROOKLYN CHURCHES.
PLYMOUTH CHuRcH

Faith and Reas0n-Mr. Beecher's Ideas
OF Total Depravity and Natural De-
velopment.
Plymouth's pastor was evidently In the best OF
spirits yesterday morning, and unfolded to his
hearers his ideas Of faith grace regeneration and
development with the full measure of his peculiar,
popular eloquence, Astounding with homely Illus
tratlons understood by ALL while the current OF his
mighty thought carried his hearers into the most
abstruse OF subjects made luminous by the lervor
OF his spirit. Prior to the sermon, in reading his
weekly notices, he made most telling appeal for
Brooklyn charity, In behalf of which Wendell
Phillips will lecture In the Academy ON Thurs
day night. He said the lecturer was one
whose charms interested and pleased all hearers,
even though they might NOT believe him, and
douDly so when you believe him. But the special
interest Mr.. Beecher took in the present lecture
was because it was for the funds of the Hicks
Street Free Hospital, Roman Catholic charity,
under charge Of the Sisters of Clarity. He took
the more care to urge his hearers 10 take up their
cross by listening to wendell Phillips to aid
benevolent work, because 1t was In the hands OF
others than his own sector charity cannot be
made sectaran.
Mr.. Beecher chose for his text II. Corinthians,
", 7-"For we walk by faith not by sight"
To walk Is to live. We live, In Paul's view by
taith, not by sight. What Is faith9 No other term
Is so much used in the Church which is not better
understood. The general idea Is that 1t Is the
hthess Of sense-receiving as true without I'M
Outstanding; divine inspiration, whereby, by
Gods help, we apprenend truth beyond or con.
trary to reason. The definition varies In the
different Churches to suit their varying beliefs.
There Is no better definition, however than that
IL Is "the evidence oil things not SEEM" OF things
not visible-nvisible; the evidence OF these things
not reported by the senses. That which Is the
Vse ca9
acter--an are not subject to the inspection OF our
bodily faculties man owns thousands Of acres
he Is rich But Il he is rlch pi in goodness,
il gentisness, in CHARITY, ,,. You don't see
you can measure his power. But when he has the
moral strength Of Washington at Valley Forge
ment.we cannot measure it BY eye or ear. is he
rich IN treasure, we can see that; but II be has
the rich artistic cultivation Of Raphael or the in
YOU CANNOT SHE HIS RICHES
We think oitenest and most OF those things
which we can neither see nor hear taste, smell or
show him what you think Of you answer. cannot;
Nigh. say Il Cannot see i It does not exist. Does
he thereby prove to you rle non-exlstence OF your
those things of which we think most, yet they none
the less form q large part OF our lives Paul con-
Of humanity. He bewails the indrmlties Of the esn,
which war against the inner nature. Faith is that
state Of mind which recognizes these invisible re-
aties. This realization will vary according to the
mind dealing with intellectual propositions
to us OF 1t, though some men act as though they
would have us credit them with It. It is easy for
the Imagination Or faith TO convince US Of the TACT
OF creation Abel, by faith believed In Cod. BY
faith, through fear, Noah prepared for the hood.
so others enumerated by the apostle exercised
Faith may be Interpreted by hope, fear, ambition,
avarice; by many qualities and emotions. It IS
laNer 90 I'm n n ~
verse Corinth was the most corrupt pleasure.
loving city OF Greece. Its art was second only to
Athens. The temples were sacred to voluptu.
scnsuousness were w0rshipped there. Her priest
esses were no better than they should be. Men
educated In Corinth were instructed 10 ali which
could minister to sensuous enjoyment, all that ap-
peais to the sonses. Paul said to tnem 'Tt Is not
things which their senses do not reportu ihrouSS
the thunders oil Corlnth's busiest hours there
came, Il they would note It, truth OF divine rcvea.
ton; above the clash OF her music tho whBpertnos
Of an inner truth; amid the sound Of the lutte and
all delights Of revelry the echoes OF higher lie.
prone. They are earthly. 'e' "''" "'''N'
WE SEE THE THINGS OF GOD.
Inc ,n ang gpn~ Oh m0cern philosophy faith CON
| OF the brain, above the range of reason. This
principle OF faith, though OF divine origin Is part
they are satisfied Dy present enjoyment. As they
think OF and provide for to-morrow-that thing
never seen-and far more distant repetitions OF to-
morrow, reaching to seasons and years, they rise
| by iaith into civilization. Refinement takes away
mat.ef-smooths, softens, carries US away from
thesis to corporosity, going ever higher. SO faith
s not entirely direct divine gift.
Thls Is Pauls philosophy, not mine. Nor H. not my
fault II It accOrds with the modern idea OF develop
ment There was more Darwinism IN Paul . tnsa
teacher Of his theory. while Paul would nave cop.
menued Darwin TO pursue MS .nVusn. w rxa n