New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-14
DR. LEONARD BACON ar PLYMOUTH
CHURCH.

CHRIST As TIE LIGHT OF THE WORLD TIE srDJBCT
or The SERMON.
Last evening the Rev. DIR. Leonard Bacon, ID.
d., of the Yale Theological Seminary, filled Mr. Beechers
pulpit at Plymouth Church. very large audience filled
all parts OF the house, many being DESTROYS OF
hearing DR.. Bacon, who is the author OF the cele-
brated letter addressed to The Independent, which
provoked Mr.. Ton's reply, and brought the
Brooklyn sean ial prominently before the public.
This is the first time since the Of the scandal
began circulated that Dr. Bacon has preached In
Plymouth Church. A few minutes before the time
appointed for the opening OF the service nc
assembled the platform aud took Mr.. Beechcrs
chair. He followed by the Rev. 8. b..
Halliday, assistant pastor Of the church. and Dr. Ed
ward Beecher. DR.. Bacon is a small, spare man, with
very small features, white hair, and snow-whte
beard. His voice weak as compared with Mr..
Becchcr, but 1t very clear and was distinctly heard
every part OF the church In reading Dr. Bacon stood
back from the stand with his hands sometimes at his
back and at other times folded in front of him. reading
slowly and giving great weight to his words.
Mr.. Halliday introduced DR.. Bacon, whom he said they
were glad TO have with them In the prayer which fol-
lowed the Sermon Dr. Bacon prayed 80 Lord. we pray
that Thou wouldst confond all false witness and justify
innocent" The text of the chosen from
John viii 10: hen spake Jesus again to them saying.
am the light of the world. He that foloweth me snail
not walk In darkness hut shall have the light OF life"
That which maketh manifest, said the preacher is
light and Christ is the light of the world as revealing
and making manifest to men that OF which they had
otherwise been ignorant When such character as that
of Jesus Christ exhibited among men as reality.
then light shone in the darkness OF the worliT
a Light which in the simple and immortal record
IF His written history shines on from age to age ana
spreads from cline 10 cline. Christs disciples having
learned of Him ard bearing something or His IMAGE
are called by Him as He calls Himself. The
light of the world" and If they who. IN the
midst of many mpcrfections and intImies exhibit be
fore feeble resemblance OF Christ are therefore
in inferior sense " the light OF the world how much
more and in how exalted Is He the light OF the
world, from whom they derived their brains and whose
glory full Of grace and truth is 10 every eye that Teve
rem y bchods ii the glory Of the "Ony gotten OF the
Father" 80
into the world by his teaching. When lie was on earth
performing his public ministry there was that IN the
matter and in the of his teachings which went
through ignorance and error. and even through preJ
dice and passion and Weakened the moral zen,
sibilities OF men TO 49, perceive the titn
from Christs great work Of atonement and mediation
fcstaon of God III the world The condition on which
this light of the world becomes cfectual to illum
nate the world ia that we must look; we
must use our eyes. And: Furthermore obeying
Christ implied in the idea OF following Him obeyinS
He who follows Christ must be disciple following
master He must begin and 20 obeyng and expecting
TO obey, whatever comes from his Masters lips.
(Fbrreports Of ether Sermons, see Fourth Inge]