The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-22
BEECHER ON LIFE WORK.


attendance at Plymouth church Yesterday, every
space into which hearer could be crowded SO as
TO listen TO the PASTORS voice, even by standing
through the morning services being filed A
beautiful anthem opened the exercises IT CON-
menced with contralto solo OF supplication, fol-
lowed by one for the soprano, Miss Lasar, in which
clear ricn voice mad scope Tor some OF It's best
effects, and ended by glorious chorus, in which
Mr. Camps grand choir all joined most admirably.
Mr.. Horatio King presided at the organ IN the alb
sence OF John Zundel who has gone TO his Old
nome IN Switzerland. Mr.. Beecher gave notice
that there would be no services last evening or
Tor the next two Sunday evenings. After next
sunday week he Will not occupy his pulpit during
the not season. Having read, after the invoca-
ton. the Sermon the Mount from the fifth
chapter OF Matthew. he named his text
Revelation, xiv, 49, land / heard voice
from heaven saying unto me, write, Blessed
are the dead which die in the Lord from hence
forth Yea, satin the Spirit, that they may rest
from their labors; and their works DO follow
tnem.u THIS is a uenediction. Ii is benediction,
TOO, falling just where we look for something the
reverse OF ielicitation. Waste, decay, bring the
natural mind into condition oil grief and agony;
but. under the teachings Of the New Testament,
we are 10 look upon them with sentiments OF con.
ndent nope and JOY. There we are to see waving
fort is predicated Of that change which had before
been the worlds dread and aversion. This asser-
lion OF blessedness in death is proper parallel to
the beafitudes pronounced by the Master in the
Sermon on the Mount have read in your hearing.
In 1t Christ ran counter 10 the prejudices and con-
vicuons OF the world; but the truths which they
recognize carry US beyond the present in our es-
inmates OF the dealings Of God with US here. We
are to Judge them by tests which are beyond the
conditions and limitations OF this lie. II is de-
clared that those who die in the Lord
REST FROM THEIR LABoRs.
Yet, activity is very pleasant. When one is IN
full strength, even endurance OF pain or fatigue
gives Us pleasure But in all working in this world
there is friction. We are worn by the emery dust
OF care. We work unsatisfactory with uncon-
genial companions, and the more man is inspired
the more he feels the imperlections and the blem-
ishes in his work. 1t would be- indeed, blessed II
one could always work in harmony with his asso-
ciates, and with the general tendencies OF the
world about Us. often what we do not do is more
important in the estimate OF our work than what
we DO. We snail rest from all this IN death, in that
grand transition, for the reason that our work
snail follow US INTO the realm which lies beyond
this state The tenacity with which we cnnR to
work Is one OF our hindrances. Our work Is only
nature IN rdnsttu. Men marvel when useful, active
men are taken from the midst Of their iabors. They
what captain shall mead that band who
fight Tor truth. We forget that dying often
makes better work than lie. Christ's work sped
best alter ms death. SO the Apostles were most
successful when after their death throngs arose
TO take their places IN spreading the doctrines of
salvation by the Redeemer. He that could from
the stones raise up seed unto Abraham Is able TO
take care oil His WORK But
MEN DO NOT CEASE WORK WHEN THEY DIE
The nindrances are left behind, but the work goes
on. he who lives III the spirit of Christ,
4 builds his house Of enduring materials and
constructs with skill and beauty to chal-
lenge the or adInlr isda OF al, hls negnoor
ter Of those around. yet his work shall last when
the stones crumbied with age, the beauty OF
architecture persisted good mans lie is a seed
sower, and is constantly throwing out the germs
OF goodness in others The air is filed, the bot
aDsts tell u.s. with spores OF iung too minute Tor
our sight, yet their organization Is as perfect
as tnat OF the rose or dahla. SO Of
being good carries untold usefulness ana power
What 90 children know OF the character in their
parents which influences the formation OF Their
young character We remember the mothers
care or the restrictions OF sunday and, perhaps,
the religious teaching; but 1t is their actual good
ness and genteness, the difused influence OF their
lnmost life and nature which stamps Itself upon
all. The humblest man. Doked away In an obscure
shop seeing pot score OF persons Ia we e.s Is
example Of patient worth and fdeilty IN ms sta
ton may shed ITS influence wider than the most
noisy deeds of worldly greatness.
WE LIVE IN OUR CHILDREN
and beyond them in theirs continually, ana IN
multitudes whom we know not. When che Rhode
scions cut from the parent tree and planted into
others spread IL wide till now no wen regulated
orchard is without It; and countless markets and
bins OF the fine Favored fruit through these slight
STICKS trace their origin TO the original seeding
tree, long after II has passed away and its place
been forgotten. One humble man or notable wo-
man casts an influence into the lives OF thousands.
You works follow. they go on alter you ana your
deeds are forgotten. This source OF unconscious
power has strange manifestations. When the
Emperor william was overwhelmed by Napoleon,
4 his queen Louise. sunk under the blow.
sculptor has carved her monument ia marble
4 representing ber finding rest In death. 1t IS a
\ triumph OF the scnlptor's Skin. No man can look
unmoved upon that picture. That dead queen,
figured IN marble, exerts cheering power on all
VINO see 1t, 1 have the photograph hang
Ing IN my study, and many time
~ mas buoyed me up with hope wnen oppressed oy
discoHragements. n such power resides IN cold
| marble now much more in warm, sympathetic
soulf Such influence comes to us from father,
mother, wife, friead. The example Of parents IL
lelt III tber children through generations. we are
what we are IRON the transmitted character OF
/ . OH STURDY OLD ENGLISH FOREFArHERS.
lou cannot tell how mucn yon are indebted to
forgotten ancestors Tor your character. Nor ~ our
/ lnnuence confined only 10 those who respond
thereto. Seeds do not always spring up at once.
| some must lie over winter Some may remain
| through Long years before they Rnrtng up bearing