New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-29
PLYMOUTH PRAYER-MEETING
Mr.. pEEcHER REPLIES To CRITICISMS ON
HIS PREACHING.

The Friday evening prayer-meeting ut
xxrneuA Church. last evening. attended by large
audience The body Of the was filed, several per
.o.s being compelled to stand up ct the OF the
rhe time OF the n.csting has been changed for
the Summer. from -s20 to p. Among those
,resert were Aessrs Shcarnan and Porter of Mr.
Beechcr's counsel. and also Mcssra Cleveland and
uslhdsy Mr. Beecher entered few minutes
sefpre the time. He in smiling and
stood by the door moment hand in mis- pocket the
other holding his argc light felt hat He then for
ward aud sat down the steps Of the platform, talking
With those around him. and just before no assembled the
plstform had short talk with Mr. Sherman. Suddenly,
~ reccilecting himself he stepped upon the platform
and took his seat Mrs. Beechcr entered just after the
srs, hymn had been announced. small bouquet Of
spring Howcrs surrounded by fringe Of reen stood
Che table After the usual exercises Mr. Beocher spoke
- follows:
ANYBODY that undertakes TO preach system Of doc,
tna truths which shall exhaust the topics belonging to
Shrssn religion. who attempts to nj up calendar of
sSirences truth has need 20 learn what the very
first principles OF truth itself You never can put
All the truth thai there is The bible don't contain it
that ~ bible IS boIk OF samples. 1t gives speci
mons here aud there but the fabric OF which the
or tie truth in connection with the experience men
veil IN connection with divine souls. the realm.
SrssdtS 81 possible Christian truth is such that
hsimply absurd TO tak OF tle bloie as consuming the
On The road contained the road which II merely roints
tian truth when 1t simply Discriminate. The thing
itself cannot be ia printers types. in the writer's
siyinc soul IL Is thought; II il feeling il ia growing
developing ard the whole world is not largo enough to
40 then the Bible Is like the keys OF a piano in which
there tones but in which there is the capacity of
philosophy are there and touches and conbnation
q aoibst Is for The reader and the expcunder and
is' fs fe Itself &c. INC them Ram mem. erit
, sSS ana soc sad sSc re are not
whole truth He doesn't des, In these great doctrines
been given certain truths in past days. and which have
met rxigncies OF those days-it is supposed thai
these to loo reproduced. Reproduced produced. aud
m the same lines. A may be philosophical man
but need be reproducing Plato eli his days
,On and shSkespeare an his life onS man may be
prosen Eing the truth Of the Gospel of Crst ntligenty
beics the medievs theology. And this is true
uent the element of hope and love ON the one
side consiod with CONSCIENCE and fear the other
side dcn s ss ~ say ,ss ann speaking Of my
much Kind and very judc!ous advice in that quarter.
In first place. 1t Is said that out fear in
my preaching and that have introduced the element OF
which Lack the ribs and backbone of those systems
Of truth by which tine world has been governed and
that the doctrine of love has become moekish enfcebe
and ont, bringing in the first instance selt
TO have a doctrine that viii draw men
sss got a to hScs the don sys
either conscience or fear preach them al the time
But preach them as II yoT were men end not animals
quietly, " Geo." and they "Geed." you don't want TO
rem theu with goaa or yea were training an IN
head in the Of an accomplished rider by the
yoS would rather have a horse trained that
way When men ure so that nothing but fear
thing better than death And how coarse
tho fear II brutal that you teach
after being educated enshruing glory generations
and change and that We not TO go in with
hail and brmstOpe hell and dannsS0u. This is to bar
barrie the Gospel; 1t 10 70 question the philosophy of
truth.
drcn. We forbid far as When it To
that time when the passions develop then we help them
(slspping his hands in imitation Of whipping. We make
our children foar because we can do no better. But that
esF oans e nOs 70 it's nan In the beSnnhr 70 the
child does not stea! gingerbread aud sseetneats
snank IL IL Is not fcar or II it is fear it is very remote
Twas afraid to do good many things when my mother
iag.in sappng his hands, and it worked in very salu
iafY aud yet right by her sat the good old nurse
won my heart. and when she told rue no.
se 40 told s not t. gather the apples that were lying
on tie ground. would say to myself " But can get up
isyc aid mustn't and didn't You ear nako fear
the stimulating ssrvsot q the higher fasa aa anu the
the things that are wrS S.so. The man man, who so
nnsheathed sword-thst man il as near brute as when
be began He must be stimulated to higher nature 50
thai IL may be said his brute nature Is destroy cd
That il he full meaning Of that declaration, perfect
10 10 b used medicine H. If you can't do any better
But you can do something better.
M New he IDEAL i1s the
ideal that power OF the Gospel was to I've hopeful and
Se Of % This 70 VS. not to gs soss Ss S CSn
: SsF. to T Se s nSe Trey we're the
FL. a.s SRs'r9 HsnS CT & 20 sA
aRis pat @nas es the ma w Eo Osas
SAWS or hispandrian who hires servants do MT take
into hs confidence The way IN wnici servant
saye fsut says Christ. IL take you into contdeace."
The and the %1s G nse t take a 9 iaVf
have told you what the Father has told me"
Gra In one NC ars men s and tnsnutes them and
their children from serving him by fear or by conne rcia
hs declaration Now il may 100 said that that IL mere
nge passage, and Is not 10 he closely considered Inc
ses har ceased with bat the substance. for
righteous NO one may DC per 1assns e Tor gc1
bling, into antithoss two Christian Qualities That .
Of man VINO Is Just. truthful. good, seEcontent and
there q great deal of nobOlty In mat. bat II don't
s sDa' nobody wlH be found to die for
ouIy ril.t. ,ls. But tase the Nan that rs good
What do you meant be isn't al the time cleansing his
ot,.r people he Is like the Lord Jesus Cnris: he
athzns Sge ", Csf, Ss5 say sat ry aS see
your good works Make character 50 that people may see
It's goodness -. ,, 100
,rnmeft rs fanrp. any church That neglccis 10
inst,ct rcu in duties conscience n so far failure
and asv when you have done all tLls. you have not
touched the elements OF IL. Lord Jesus Christ
What IL that IL ia this power OF love. ~
Il that with which, while he may have sl that II
truth he has JOY and peace That the ifiit
az the Holy (hust we are sOld This s thai dOcti Inc OF
truth nat preach: the love that casts our ar wen ~
don't pce, t any more; love that cas,s ot rear mat III
may g,in ;he aObler aud Ligher sentiment
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Yup NUT SVJYER GARDEN