The New York herald., 1874-08-07
WORSHIP IN THE WOODS.
A Crowded Congregation at Plymouth
Church Lecture Room.
GaIlagher's Consolation
tor Beecher.
The Ambition of Mankind De-
scribed by DR.. Cordo.
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.

Fine sunday and . Large Congrega-
tion-scrmon by DE-. Robinson ON the
sPower OF Belief In Gods
The Plymouth lecture room and parors were
flled to overnowing yesterday morning, and there
was to be heard that well known ring and thrill OF
feeling which makes the singing or the hymns so
heartfelt. The congregation having remained
seated during the first two hymns Mr. Halliday
said that as a small minority in his corner pre-
ferred to stand up while singing, perhaps tho ma.
jority as Plymouth church folks were known
10 be very magnanlmous, would yield to
the minority. adding as an inducement
that they could sing so much better when stand.
mc which afterward appeared to be the fact. Mr.
Halliday also announced that next Sabbath they
would be able to worship in the church, as the
cleaning would then be completed.
DR.. Robinson alluded very 1ee.ngy to the pastor
In his prayer, praying that, now he was far away
from the voice OF caumny and annoyance, he
might get that rest which was 50 necessary to
him, and come back spiritually and physically re.
newed, and be able to teach his people more fully
and earnestly the power OF love and trust in the
Father and in Jesus.
The text selected was from the second book Of
Chronicles, the thirty chapter and part Of
the third verse :-"Whfie ne was yet young he
began TO seek after the God OF David and his
fathers" This Is also recorded OF David, who,
during his earlier years. led a very wicked and
idolatrous lie; and even after he had repented
the people still continued worshipping the craven
images which he had set up. So it was when the
young King Josiah, mere child Of eight years,
was made king. He had awakened to the idea that
idols and craven images were not the true God.
ana that to worship them must be very wicked;
30 after searching and thinking for twelve years
he began 20 teach me people thai there was
them down and burn them and rebuild the tenl-
pies OF his fatner, David, which the wicked kings
enduring character OF the God OF David's testk
mony. David's greatest influence was through
repented deeply. There was no pretence about
nim OF appearing what he was not No man sung
he; and with such enthusiasm did he sng
OF hts God that for 1oIr hundred years after
Gs was saa s aer
OF defence in time OF trouble aud JOSIAH having
been taught in this faith. had the same iceling,
father David. Now we come to the way Josiah
sought .arer God; there was his first spiritual
TO put down the desire to worship them; and as
means this end repairs the houses OF God; this
then his conviction and repentance; then he had
terrible feeling OF sorrow at rndng himself 30
much nearer the light OF GOD, whose minds are
lifted far above their fellows and in that light
se
selfaccusations. 1t ls only IN the familiarity OF
family relation TO God tn1t we awaken to
thorcugn conviction Of real sintuness:
Then we come to his public profession OF
God he read the word OF God publicly in a temple.
See how this Willingness to 90 Gods will proves
the Saviour's words when He says, HE who will
lngiy doelh my will shall receive the true doc
trine.n Now this life OF Josiah may teach us
many things. Religious life, commenced in early
years and carried on all through life, Will land us
safely at last. There are many wicked men who
laugn at the purity and symmetry OF young
rs0us h SHOULD N'w rv Tae ,a lead osr sG.
dren into early Christianity, we should not
expect too much OF them: Josiah was several
years, even up to manhood. before he came TO a
true knowledge OF Cod. The same with men who
come 10 the Church as haven OF refuge and are
met by the Examining Committee, who fear that
and others never do, by the by. JOSIAH was the
OF an ilregious man, and this lie OF his should
encourage US in our Sunday schools, In helping
scholars OF wicked parents. Some years ago there
whose home and parents were the most wicked
and miserable imaginable. He did not seem TO
improve much or take that interest in his lessons
which show ed TO his teacher that he was pro6tiDg
by them. short time after he had been there the
stress OF poverty, which puts work early on the
young, obliged him to go away into the country.
Some years afterwards as one OF onr missionaries
was passing through one OF the worst paris OF the
city, ne heard voice singing one OF those beau
ri1ul psalms which we sing in the Sun
day school, and on entering the miserable
cellar, found this poor fellow. now young man,
on his deathbed. went to him, and he said he
2od try to teach him; and he died repe ating that
most beautiful OF all psalms "Ihe Lord Is my
shepherd, shall not want lie leadcth me
through green pastures dt was all cold and
OF righteousness; Oh my soul; thy rod and thy
stan they comfort me;" and. though one would
think he bad more OF the rod than the stan, stin he
held to the stan and was saved.