The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-19
BROOKLYN CHURCHES.
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.

MI. Boechcr breaches ON ~Man's COncep-
tions OF God''-What Paul's Gomez ption
Was-1he Natural Philosophers Work.
ers Together with God-How the Com
necticut Woman Brought UP Eight
Boys successfully-How Judge Noah
Davis Represents the Idea of Justice.
Plymouth church had Its usual crowd yesterday
morning, and Mr. Beecher preached sermon on
'Man's Conception Of God," which contained more
than the usual Beecher characteristics. The text
selected was the second chapter of Paul's Episte
to the kphesians. the fourth to the seventh
verses-'But God. who Is rich in mercy for his
great love, wherewith he loved us, even when we
dead in sins, hath quickened US together with
Christ 10y grace are ye saved), and hath raised
us up together and made US sit together in
heavenly places in Christ Jesus; that 10 the ages
to come he might show the exceeding riches OF his
grace, in his kindness toward Us through Christ
Jesus.n One OF the most interesting studies, said
Mr. Beecher. in the New Testament is the progress
or development which may be traced in the mind
OF the Apostle Paul. From the time he entered
upon the Christian life to the time that he lett 1t
there was in him-as there k or ought to be, in
every noble.mnde persona steady develop
ment and growth. so that the last part OF his lie
is vastly richer than the earlier part More to be
admired, not in conduct, for Of that we know but
little; but that there should be revealed in his
later writings that which Is more transcendently
lovely than that which could to be revealed IN his
former. Whatever doctrine of inspiration we may
hold there is that which travels with 1t, some
thing that is part Off and inherent It, There Is
no such thing as a divine inspiration, that takes
out of the divine nature
A PRETENOE
or q truth and thrusts 1t, as 1t were, into the
world without any human mixture. Even human
worlds are discovered through human organs,
and the discovery of these implies the
evidence OF the senses themselves That
which is true OF the moral nature Is
still more true Of that which works through
the higher senses. After reference to the nspir.
ing influence Of the power OF association In con-
nectl0n with the memories OF those we loved and
revered, Mr. Beecher proceeded to speak OF tho
opening Of the conception of Cod In the bOundless-
ness and largeness Of HIS grace. What TINS con-
ception became In the human heart depended
greatly upon the use that was made Of it. The
reason why tie sun produced in one place ger.
anums lilies and azaleas and does not pro-
duce them in another place Is not because
sun shines on the south side de- of my my hem EN-
themselves and for the chickens to nestle. The sun
shines on the south side OF my neighbours hennery
another use Of the same sun Just 40 it is with the
difference that Gods love Is to different men.
There Is a sense In which every man may be said
to make his own God. am speaking now OF mems
conception OF God. Every man forms his own con-
ceptiOn OF Cod Any person to whom God comes
as o reality Is one to whom God has really come,
for God never reveals himself and has never peen
seen In sections or chapters. In the OLD Testament
God has been revealed more torcibly under the
representation OF regnant power, as God over all
nature, God over the nations. The reason OF this
was that the human mind was occupied during
physical and sensuous life had to do with. In the
Ola Testament God IS always revealed as the God
OF adaptation to want In the New Testament, In
the iuIness OF time, In the
RIPENEss OF TIME,
the idea having grown by the stem, made itself
soft ana hquaceous development, there came as
the result view OF God and as the result OF such
development, the God OF goodness gentleness,
derness. Now these qualities existed in some de-
gree IN antiquity, but they have had no such de:
was q divine efIervescence and tropical. 1t grew
with him through mis- life. Nowhere to him was
God the God OF the nation: He was God OF at
tive power came still later. Passing ON to the con.
slderation OF the influence OF the idea OF God upon
s neeS Sa saS ,Ss to III It. When
the ideas originated by that name Millions OF
dollars. when l present the name OF shake.
NO man has such conception OF him. He thinks
OF the wealth OF Imagination, OF thought and OF
Homer distinct conception arises Then there is
the name Of mother: There are children whose
mothers have weaned them by the mouth, but not
workers, names that will send nre through loo. 600
men. When thousands Of men returned from q
and the name of Sherman was raised. what shouts
came up, Now, when the name OF God Is men,
toned what does 1t bring upf An abstract phil
osopny; something that you are afraid or That is
wnat IL does on men collectively. What Ia its
enect on TINS congregation, which Is pretty fair
average congregations When the name Is pro-
pounded is It name that makes your soul
qulverY When you are sad with business
cares ana some one says that your
WIFE AND CHILDREN
are expecting you home, why, 1t takes the Mrin-
kies rom your brow; at least hope 1t does when
you are loaded with trouble and care and some
one says God, does II touch your Does that mean
everything that Is sweet and lovely Does that
mean Gil that you aspire TO and ten million umes
he loves those who are dead In trespaeses ana
Sin How Gan God love sinners don't Know;
man who Ia Oa thsomo within and lOathGOm0 With