The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-11
BROOKLYN CHURCHES.
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.

SERMON BY MR. BEECHEE ON fA4Id AMI
R1aHrEoUsNEss-A PLEA FOB THE NEW TEs-
LAMENT MODE OF PERFECTINd MEN.
The temperature OF the atmosphere, which was
far below ireezlng point, had an appreciate eject
yesterday upon the attendance at Ply
church. In the morning the church was filed,
every seat being occupied. but there was no
crowding In the aisles or Hobbies. Two children,
cold as 1t was were baptized, and among the
STRANGERS we're Miss Anna Dickinson, the well
known lecturer.
Nr. Beecher preached very able sermon, with
ali his characteristic power, on the subject OF
Faith and righteousness" The text selected was
st. Paus Epis,le to the Philippians, ILL, e-'And
be found in him, not having mine own righteous
ness which is OF the law but that which is through
the faith OF Christ the righteousness which Is Of
GOD by l3ith."
There are two expressions here, said Mr..
Beecher, the Interpretation Of the meaning Of
which has filled the world with Infinite pamphlets
and numbering books. hope to give some aim,
and at any rate hope some happiness, to those
minds that have been twtted with explanations
of faith and works. and faith and righteousness.
1t is now the concurrent belief OF the CHURCH, and
the Roman Catholic Church. that faith Ii the gift
OF God-,hat faith is an indescrbable quality, and
that there Is no such thing Us salvation without
faith. suppose nearly all persons have very
vague impression that faith Is q kind OF solution
OF salt that God sprinkles into men, that stimu-
Iates them and makes them resemble GOD, making
them equally bright with Him in heaven. That
God is an indispensable quality. who comes down
when men nave got that ialth IN their breasts
and that they are then ,., saiva .ns. III II
that man Is good, even on the ground that his
conduct is good aud perfect. This feeling, on the
Arvnt andn nh ~ RI
sary to salvation Is subject to censuie, and moth
ing is more suspicious IN preacher than MS teach.
ing morality sad tna5 ne Is b mot mosay
II he breaches nigh doctrine, aud, above all JUST
ncat.on by iaith, ne is a man VINO loves the Bible
Is capable OF high principles ana mas got TINS view
OF faitn over all-that fixes It,
PAUL's EXPERIENCE.
Now, J GU Will notice that the Apostle Paul here
gives an account OF his own experience. NO
man had more reason 10 nave confidence In his own
personal conduct than Paul. Hear what he SAYS.
baptism; "of tue stock OF Israeli got the right
nation; 'Of the tribe Of BENJAMIN." the
yf a.ort Wy a on le dfn 81 ns
''as touching. the law tine ceremonial law
and tpai Sas an Essence concerniss ZEAL perse
cuting the Church - "touching tie righteousness
which is In the law" the ceremonial 81 the Jews.
foundations OF 1t all were gone VIVA! che had
counted gam lie counts as loss for Christ" 1hs is
is '.tnrough faith" Faith is itsen an instrument.
Suppose q man should speak OF the eye IN the
same way, asking that which ne sees i man
has got an eye then he can De philosopher; but
he cannot be one without IL. 1t IS the end
sought. not the means by which you seek IT, 1t IS
comes to Christ. You notice lnat Paul does not IN
any way get behind the truth tnat righteousness
Is the great end and aim OF human lie. ~ IL ritual
righteousness that he condemns.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE HEBREW.
Mr.. Matthew Arnold has SHOWN, in one OF his re-
cent works, that there Is no more wonderful TACT
in history than the development OF moral ideas by
the Hebrew race. The moral elements In ideas
that strike men to-day are those that were Kept
WITHIN that little pocket Of land that as situated
on the eastern end o. the Mediterranean. The
Hebrew moral nature was thas OF periecSness > IN
their ideal 1t Is true tDat as time went on this
idea was largely absorbed IN the construction OF
the State and the Cnurcn, ano In this they made
use OF man as the material. TIE teachers OF
Israel were never their priests, and the most pow
erfui influences OF Israel were never their SER
vices After all, tie fountain OF their moral law
was 10 their prophets. Ana with single cxcep-
ton, they were never o0 ordained priests; they
TO that nature aud TO that conscience.
Such was the peculiar genius OF the
Tor every talent 10 D., exercised. II n man were
poet, ne might he. II woman were poet she
might be- and sing too. Ii she were prophe tess,
she might prophecy, and TINS was rIght. She was
permitted to do everything tnat she could do. and
n she could do better than man she was per-
mitteJ to 90 tnat. That, too. was right. IL was
the prophets who struck right ut the moral
sense OF the people. All through they were labor
a
get every part OF his nature right Wen, That IL
righteousness. He Is a true man VINO IL righteous
man. The systematic forms oil virtue and man
hood came later.
DHNUNCTATIONs OF AMOS.
have never said any hing about churches and
dogmas that has begun to compare with the Old
words OF the prophets with respect TO The most
sacred things tnat belong TO the Jews. When the
Jews came to Practice ritual observance, then
the prophet Amos denounced them. Here there
was something else thas was put In the place of
righteousness.
THE NEW DIsPENsATI0N
When the new dispensattOn came IN the old was
put out. Justification by faith came TO be tho
purpose OF the New Testament. IL simply became
the better way Of ATTAINING the same result. Tue
Old Testament sought to attain TINS by one KIND OF
education and the New Testament by another.
The conception OF the Spirit oil God ~ made iDan-
fest In Christ Jesus God gave, In the manifestation
OF Ills love Ia HIS son, an epitome OF what man
saouId be. IL gave TO man larger sphere Of duty,
IL gave him new Inspiration and motive. IL
brought near to nm the love OF Cod DO not
know anything that ~ mob or than the STRIFE or
the Old and new LAMENTATIONS. Mr.. Beocncr con-