The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-11
MIR. BEECHER on LIBERTY.

N.Y. bEECdE6 UN LIBERTY.
The service at Plymouth church yesterday morn.
Ing began with the ch0tr's rendering with fine
expression the selection from Psalms Gas pants
the hart for cooling streams. wnf6h the unusual
heat OF the day made pleasingiy suggestive. II
being the day when. according to Mr.. Beecner's
announcement children might be presented for
baptism, soon the space before the pulpit was
occupied BY nfteen proud couples, who had each
Brought little one TO the baptismai altar and
tine choir greeted them BY chanting the words OF
Christ commencing, ''Sunsr the little children to
come unto me-" the little ones themselves being
among tho most attentive ltstsnsrA A IL usually
the case. the baoies Just then were the centre Of
interest, and ell eyes watched than, q one after
another received the sprinkling some uttsring an
indignant remonstrance some pushing away tho
pastoral hand, and others Gaxing with awed as
constituent into the pastors lace. But they were,
however, remarkably wen behaved set OF
Juveniles ~ s.......ss III
Mr.. Beecher chose for his text L Corinthians,
iii. Sl-"But covet earnestly the best giits; and
jet show ! unto you more excellsn. wsy''--and
said what were the gifts that they were to
c0vctf What was that which was better than
even those gifts We are lefs In no doubt whatso-
ever. BY turning back to tho fore part OF this
NNs~tsSA
the whole ecclesiastical framework OF the Christian
Church, Its ordinances, Its creeds, It's oncers its
polity, its methods were undoubtedly included in
this general term Of gifts" and they are all
spoken Of not only with respect but there IL an
implication OF relative and graded excellence in
them. Men are commanded 20 desire the best OF
them; but there Is something better than all OF
them. What Is that 1t Is that which is the con-
tents OF the thirteenth verso OF l. Corinthians,
which l read so often and comment on so
much that am afraid you will think / read
no other portion Of the Bible-.Though speak
with the tongues Of men and OF angels and have
not love, am become IS sounding brass or the
tlnkhng cymbal." l won't read it; simply an.
nounce what 1t Is. II ID the living force OF
Christianity, and Paul says, 'seek earnestly the
best gifts;" but there Is something better than
them, anc that il the living power OF God in the
human soul That I take 1t, would be Paul's in
depreciation OF this passage II he were present
and should interpret 1t in the light Of the present
state Of facts and faith In the Christian Church,
as, looking back to the fourth verse you will see
sN0w there are dIversities OF gifts. but the same
spirit" There are differences OF administration
OF governments and SO on, but the same Lord.
There are diversities OF oDerations-the
phenomena attending the whole work of
God in the human soul are Infinitely
various-but 1t is the same Cod which
worketh all in all OF these things in
men, but the manifestation OF the Spirit is given
to every man TO profit withaL" There is no In.
herent sancttty In these things-no worth In them
Selves they are 10 be judged OF BY the profit that
inheres In them and that they work out in men.
II they do no good they are not good; II they do
great deal OF good, then they are good. TO one is
given by the same Spirit the word OF wisdom.
That is real Old logician. preaching truth accord.
ing to high philosophical forms flor wisdom is
substantially philosophy you have no right to
ridcule this doctrinal man that breaches solid
doctrine. There Is place for such men; there is
q use for them. You may say that they look like
great knots In hard sapiess. twisted, leafiess
they preach; very We'll but there Ii q use
Tor the twisted roots and knotty branches; some
OF the most beautiful woodwork l have seen has
been made OF a veneerlng from these knotty
visited branches. There Is . use for every gifs.
TO one Is given laith, to another knowledge, by
the same spirit; to another experience, that Is
practical lie to another the gifts OF healng by
the same Spirit; TO another WORKING OF miracles,
teacnlnr) to another discerning OF spirits; 70 an.
other divers gifts, dIvtnas0n; to another inter-
nS ii sp dvdns TO eye7 tas
severaliy as tie Will. For as the body IL one and
hath many members, and all the members OF that
one body being many, are one body, So also, is
Christ. The unity OF the church ts IN Jesus Christ
there are many sects In the outward and visit
Spirit. These are merely members-some eyes,
some ears, some hands, some ieet. some Of them
are nails apparently, TO scratch well. They have
THIS is radical and revolutionary passage when
you consider that 1t was spoken In the ears OF the
much as a mans LIE was worth to say that
Gentle had any considerable rights And Paul
one BODY xhener we Geptes
whether we be bond or free: and have been made
to drink essential
NV0rxy n DVr
That the essential unity OF ali men really inheres
and develops in the lie OF Christ is mere declared;
reality Of ali these eternal gifts, we are instructed
to seek the best OF them. Yet there is something
better, that ranks higher. And what Is thatY
the lue OF God in man made manifest
by love in them. That Is superior to
Chapters are I not ssuded half ' enough IL
our day when there are so many things which cam
not be readily interpreted or judged except by the
Tree ana lofty principles that are laid down by the
Apostle Paul. aud the doctrine taught IS tnis:-
First. there is the ample recognition OF tine end and
the wisdom OF external church institutions In the
New Testament. 1t Is true that our Master did not
command his disciples to form church. You cam
not find one single word or line which prescribes
new cnurch as distinct from the JEWISH. Christ Him.
sell lived and died in the Jewish Church. commu-
meant and member OF that church. and 1 don't
think one o. His disciples understood that they
were TO step out OF the Jewish faith. For twenty
five years Cnrist lived In the Jewish Church, i0rIy
years after the ascension His disciples sun sacri.
feed IN the Temple and were counted among the
brotherhood OF the original Jewish Church. 1t would
seem the height oil historic fantasy declare that
the Christian Church was outlined and prescribed
by the good Jesus Christ. Nevertheless there was Q
church. there were religious institutions; they
were implied, and the moment the Apostles began
to preach, and especially outside oil Judea. where
there was NO temple, no synagogue, they we're
organized. officers were elected, anu there came to
be laws and methods and usages. and the Apostles
commanded without even preaching them. There
fore, II any man say there is no warrant in the
Word OF God for any church organization, declare
that there was specific or church organization
IN the christian Cnurcn, and that Is sufficient war
rant. Second, 1t Is recognized that Inele is per-
feet freedom In taxing mp or laying down rhe
ordinances. usages, laws and customs OF the In
structing methods OF the New Testament, You
may make your election among them ; you can be-
neve them, not according TO any prescribed dog
matte sect, out according to the exigencies and
necessities OF the work, you thus being the Judge;
Tor the liberty OF men. by virtue Of rela-
ton to the Lord Jesus Christ, Is the es-
sence OF the teaching OF the New Testament. We
are Individually Tree ny virtue OF our being joined
10 Christ. We have. therefore, liberty OF judg-
menL OF INTERPRETATION and OF action within the