The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-15
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.
MR- BEEcHER ON THE GROWTH OF CHRISTIAN
CHARACTER.

MR- BEEcHER ON THE GROWTH OF CHRISTIAN
This celebrated place of worship was crowded
yesterday morning. Every seat and aisle in the
edince was filed, the aisles being so crowded that
the discomlorrs Of standing were increased ten
fold Yesterday was the day appointed for the
baptism Of infants, and three were presented at
the commencement OF the exercises to receive the
typical washing.
Mr.. Beecher's sermon yesterday was remarkable
neither in point OF delivery nor in matter. 1t was
more AKIN to the hard, husky old style Of preach.
ing than his sermons usually are, and there
were in 1t scarcely more than three figures
ingenious and effective enough to be recognized
as the conception OF the renowned preacher OF
Plymouth church. His subject was the growth
Of Christian sentiment IN the heart and Its effect
upon lie, and he drew parallels between these and
the material life OF Christ and His effect upon tho
characters OF His disciples.
The services were commenced by the choir, who
sang the anthem, "As pants the hart for cooling
streams" Miss Clementine Lasar singing the
opening anthem with solo, which she rendered
with exquisite erect. Mr.. Beecher selected his
text from ST. Pauls Epistle to the Colossians, l.,
27-"Cnrist In you the hope OF glory"
He began his sermon by explaining
that Christ does not really enter the
heart. An aspiration alter Him finds Its way into
the heart and must be nOurisned therein. Christ
was not born upon earth u with power He
came as an infant. brought forth with pain
from the womb Of Mary, and while His mother
looked at Him with all that inenable love which
only mother can iee and Thought OF Rim as
having godness within HIS helpless body, lie
sucked his lie DourIshment from her bosom. He
grew INTO strength and wisdom ard power, as st.
John says:-"And the child grew waxed
strong, iul OF WISDOM and the grace OF Coo was
In Him." lie dd not desplse anything because
oil Hs wisdom. He did not show
tempt Tor the synagogue and the dry
ized the ceremonies AS he grew so must Chris
tian sentiment grow in men. 1t must be born IN
their hearts and be nourished into strength.
IL may take long for It's power to develop.
The blossom may not come for long
time, and even the first blossom may not achieve
ruithOou ! went into my orchard, said Mr..
Beecher, often and for long time TO spy II there
were blossoms on my young apple trees. For SIX
or seven years was disappointed, ana then saw
few blossoms. Yet these seeming harbngers
brought iorGn not an apple, and | was almost dis
yeai INTO the orchard the trees were benoIng
Their limos low down, IKE the mead Of aman
IN his heart aud the fruit upon them
was good and plentiful. Cnrist, IN iiIs life upon
eartn, worked upon HIS disciples. He broke down
their prcJudices and smootned the asperi les OF
their characters, and, finally, lie drew them to
Himself az lovers, as sweelhearts no longer keep
ing them as servants. Just does the develop
mont OF CHRIST In our hearts change us. 1t soitens
ana suDdnes our prejudices; 1t gives us con-
tlnuai love Tor our Fellows, as wei as lasting
love Tor Christ. Mr.. BeecheT, continuing declared
tnat That person has not developed fully the
aspirations Ior Christ who Is IN continual sorrow
Tor sin. Tears 90 not typify Christianity. Neither
does The crown o tnorns. To De IN continual
mental alCtlon after having arrived at the u ness
OF Christianity would be TO act like one who being
In prison, Is liberated by another, VINO comes and
with laundering blows knocks down the prls m
doors. Then he WAC was q prisoner Is squallu.
iis llthy ci0thin. IS stripped rom his body, and
be Is plunged INTO bath. Bnt when he is az
nome, should ne be unhapp5 II somebody does not
come oally SILVER the door strip oil MS clothes
and plunge MN INTO Water Does man get u
sense OF freedom only by repassng through the
mserles OF thraldomY An Algerian slave. escap-
ing by nidiD9 himself under hides or bales on u
vessel uutil the Mediterranean Is crossed, shoUld
he continuity repeaf his ex perencss on the snip
Just TO make himself certain that he was AT the
enc OF every constrained voyage? sorrow not
typlly christianity. IL Is, III TACT, Ike the acd
used ~ an etcher. The wax Is spread over the
lace OF plate ana the picture IL traced through
IT. ihen the acld ls poured aud et until IL mas
/ DESTROYED enough OF the copper 10 impress the DELI
cate racery OF the picture. Bat II II Is let stay on
very long IT VIII spoil the picture and make only
series OF blurred lines. so IL Is with our ve5. II
| the acld sorrow remains upon them too long they