The New York herald., 1874-12-21
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.

PLYMOUTH CHURCH.
SERMON BT Mr.. BEEcHER ON THE REAL PHI
LosoPHY or PATIENcE-rs DEVELOPING
PowER In TIE SOUL DESCRIBED
The snow storm had the effect OF diminishing
the attendance at Plymouth church YESTERDAY
Yet, despite OF the storm, there was
that very nearly alted every pew;
ladies' were. OF course, largely In the minority.
Previous to the sermon Mr.. Beecher made several
announcements, prominent among which was
that OF the fair now being held in the BROOKLYN
Academy OF Music for the House OF the Good
After stating its very excellent objects
and saying It was largely dependent upon private
penevolence, he SAID :-"I have more pleasure In
giving this nosce because this Institution s In the
care Of Sisters' ladies OF the Catholic faith Tnev
are Catholic and we are Protestant, but 1 hope
that We are both Christians. ! thank God that
there Is one thing into which sectarianism
cannot enter. Charity knows no sect and
therefore | hopo that when you sce the
members OF another sect striving for so good
purpose you will turn your hearts toward them,
and you will exercise a true beneyolence when
they call upon your The subject OF the sermon
was ssThe real philosophy OF patience" and the
text selected was the third and fourth verses OF
the first chapter OF the Epsile ofSt. James, "Kn0w-
ing this, that the trying OF your faith worxeth
Sat ys may BE- psrfees AND snps wansns
nothing" Language. said Mr.. Beecher, taxes
~ rise az sa esT N sas q
derived rom material things, and long before
there was any tendency toward the immater1al
terms that Indicate tho nob.ef experience OF man
kind were almost all OF them words that had an
meaning. So that in one family how long would
be preserved the derivation ~ the snades OF mean
Ing snse me- ana na Il a nDw
the distance travelled would be long, inasmuch as
1t would be as long as human nature ilself As .
consequence, VI the difficulties Of Interpreting
Scripture. which u Is supposed may have existed,
has been as to these words thai have these varied
shades Of meaning. II has been always necessary
to indicate the shade Of meaning that was nsuyo
to the place whore 1t was used. We have almost
no terms that PM osophicaiy and accurately de.
vague Impressions and Illustrations Of vart>
GUS kinds; and thus BY TINS means We
can thus very often use WORDS that can
express accurately oil the shades Of faitn which
in this passage rom James the word "parencsn
described as having Its perfect work. Patience
mas here & building power. het pa.ience ,n nave lis
patience inspires faith and reveals the iuturo to
some extent. What then IS the work of paLlences
the discipi,ne OF the child in eIucationf Mr..
Beecher here described. with some minuseness OF
detail, the education OF child. He IN went on
to describe the interior Of the nature OF man, ~
resembling commonwealth. Our nature Is
popnlous within, and sslr-govcrnment means tho
holding OF one part OF our nature while We are
working rho Development 0f another part. Let US
consider the nature OF man. First lt Is physical:
Secondly, It Is social, co0rdinately intellectual
and moral Last OF all, spiritual. In developing the
lower order as by a Thousand reasons II comes
and we begin to exait these Influences and there
by come to cultivate o repression OF influences
every every faculty az once. Tnere is NOT wind enough
In the instrument to do IL. Therefore all action In
the matter OF development Is, as mater OF faCs
a continual change OF relation. No part OF the
mind Is to have such activity that sucn develop
ment is to suppress every otherpart. Tne scope OF
this Is our happiness. 1t Is builai1g soul build.
ing. Patience worketh perfection.
HOW PATIENCE WORKS.
The means by which patience Is taught In tho
providence OF God are many. the reasons Tor
which these are employed and the occasions re-
sae6s n G a 81
sty OF industry. Men are not anything except
bundles Of tendencies and caoacitles. me p,i-
preservation OF the body, the obtaining or food
and warmth. This is 0 tendency that appeals
ton OF this FACULTY reaches wider scope and the
element OF disposition comes In, and with Ii pa
% were all In the Bioe ana the hymn book. Before
there was Bible there was physical industry
which prepared man for the use and develoomens
of nature. Then there are the economies OF lie
for example, PAIN 10 all its ten thousand forms;
soul teaching itself to endure In conditions OF suf
ferinR. It Is mankind rising up, and It generally
the earliest MANHOOD that Involves In itself prIn-
cipc. 1t is not generally the young men VINO are
willing and who are ready TO die Tor their prtnci-
pes or for their country. II Is the power that en-
dured that develops her0ism. Still more we are
obliged to discipline our patience by reason OF
own social pleasures Keep the body under,
live regularly, has become o sort OF q
gospel Now, 10 certain extent that
Is true. But we havo heart that has
spread Its tendris around and over US. can you
guarantee that. this love that 1t shall bring no
pain back to you. Can your imagination have
exc else and cometh from 1t no aching innuences2
Can by this have my happiness under my own
conir0ls What II Goa turns my cradle bottom
side ups What II my companions are to-day
everything to me and nothing to-morrow2 What
Is my prosperity, if bankruptcy comes Men are
dependent on physical things, and 1t Is wiso to
obey physical laws, but how much OF our hap
piness depends upon our trials. There are con-
ditions tnat We can arrange for but there are
many That wo cannot control. A man who de.
peDds upon his enjoyments and hts Development
In the society around him can never get out OF lt
what he seeks. THIS is where comes In the neces.
sty for the development OF patience. Mr.. Beecner
here enlarged upon the development OF faith In
man; and the need OF following after righteous.
ness and closed by q number OF Illustrations
drawn from nature aud every day lie, howinR
that 1t was by earnest, unceasing effort that we
were made strong and ut Tor tue abundant en-.
trance of the Kingdom OF God.