New-York tribune., 1875-05-15
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION.
MR.. BEECHERS FRIDAY EVENING TALK.

MR.. BEECHERS FRIDAY EVENING TALK.
CONVERSION nor NECESSARILY A SUDDEN TRANS
Observation-Disclosures UNFOLDING IN THE
CHRISTIAN LIFE-RRIGION NOT DEPENDENT
UPoS THg CIRCUMSTANCES wHfcH SURROUND
MEy-POvERrY OR UNPLEASANT SURROUNDINGS
NO BAR To RELIGIOUS ExPERIEyCE-PROGREss
IN CHRISTIAN KxPERIESCR AND RELIGIOUS
EMOTION.
Last evening the Plymouth prayer-meeti ng
was attended by about large audience as that Of
last week but there little than half OF the
usual number present Mr.. Bcecher came in at 7:'O p
IN. accompanied by Mrs. Beecher and Col Becchcr aud
his wife Mr. Beechrr looked very tired and almost worn
out. He suffering from very bad cold and spoke
hoarseiy and with difficulty. Inc whole party took seats
the platform, where they joined by
Dr. Edward Bcecber and Deacon Howard Uion
the tsblo flowers In profusion. there
being 9 largo Of roses and lilies.
cluster OF and basket Of trailing arbutus Dr
Edward Beechsr who first oE.rod prayer. thanked Goa
for bringing the pastor through his long continued tra
10 safety. worship TLee, sweet will OF GDd.' was
then sung, after which Dr. White prayed for the pastor
and for The words Of cheer AMI hei he Lad so often gwen
them He asked that God might continue his labor' ana
that he might b.. spared for a long time After
the hymn. Thou very present aid In suffering and dS
tress" had been Mr. Beecher spoke as follows
There could very little meaning to very much OF
tie New Testament Scripture tho work OF conversion
"A
leaving OF the old Of sin. Ivy the mere power OF
God, transformed Instantly into new man. per
feet The transformation L. gradual II is more or less
the work Of the Divine Spirit, because it il gradual IL
is the less impossible for regcrcrnie himself
in every part OF his nature because II work OF me
nature Of education and placed under the Law OF etc
ton. that Is the Law Of the human mind unfolding The
supervising euisi tening and sncfy ing Split oi GO
taught and may ruy bciieve rests upon
influence OF the experiences Of The higher
range OF hum faculties In the Irs; pace, then re-
member that your Christian olucation l. important
to yOu than merely joyful conversion just as Innch
more important 10 80 years OF welded life IA
growing harmony md happiness more import mt than
the joyful wcdinrday The bells ring. the crowds come
tOgeher-tho bssiul novelty, all the Wild and floating
visions. and dreams. and ALL make the beginning day
wonderful. But afer al the day may Change. the iraIt
Of il may bitter. /; br spring from which -hal
flow through tie whole lifc trouble aud -Orrow III
l. suspicious only 1t eli, 10 sus?icous io. Le
value of the b 'nnng day is measured by what comes
after. md what fu1lls the Io. itch Is set forth in the
beginning.
In regard 10 Christian life, however ordinary is TIE
converiou however hopeful. whatever may les the cir
tho education that follows gives it' import
beginning IL in more important thol-hud
fOd that you should I've educated into way which II
growing little 10y little all through your life. than II - that
you should have attractive start in that education
Now. in tnis process oi edncaon first uembery You VIII
be educated the situation in which GOds piOvience
has placed you Il is of to say II was young
sce now what would do" TIE H. has nothing TO
do with YOU You have Ia take yourself just ~
yOu are and educate yourself from that point
Or you say, II | not happy and
cay I could myself down 10 religion Religion
isnt sober Yon might well say that light Ia black rs
to say religion sober in that i.cligon Ia
liberty and love. "Yo children of lose and II you
sober you have not got religion aud by 80 much ~
you gloomy. by much you have not religion that Is
power aud Joy. And yOu may say, III wls soadier
and oi'r. tink could ~ into Religious life better
But you not older. You aro young
and you havo TO begin 10 educate yourself
in The Clrsiian religion just whero yOn are. Yes. II
you saw -" AIN impctuous Now it 10 no trouble for that
man to keep temper bat nothing touches hat 30
sparslc" -, that is 80. but you have {" educate
that disposition educate 1t for the Lord Jesus CIri-t.
The Lord wants sparkle. Another mau says. Wei,
ir had only that" But yol haven't got it; yoa
have ut gUt it and there iu wishing what you
have not The various constitutional pecuaIite {
God hs given 20 you viii rrln hni the question is,
VIII You mold ten the will OF Christian life and use
them FOR thc ovo Of Cod
Then you VIII not materially change your circu,n-
stancca You poor; then you have Ia learn to be
Christian in poverty. YOu rich; tien you have 10
learn how bc Christian Ia tho midst OF riches. And
IL hard ten which Is the most difficult But It doesn't
matter which is God has put you there you have to
work there. You bound up work II you only had
leisure to study only had hours day TO 10 at peace
but now your tine belOl-s Otlcrs.' YOu
nre pushed here AMI There, nni you are
tf1cd aad another. i0l dc fun
tau education, you TO ret II NOT by change or disp
slt.un. change The circ u.since and then
not Cls,i,n where You You not To be Chris
tan all 80 lhen. not by longing Tor cLGuAe OF ,ir-
rmstsurr an condition, hut by ACCEPTING the position
where you you are to nd tie motive and means of
Christian education. II 1t riuiies lOnSc0niinued pa
ia tis ~ Iti,.
ana when Pii'nce noodcd III IL requires
nave Thoussn s OF persons do in lu&urinrr because
they have nothing TO t'acn Item eiideiaL nat Is me
lesson you need rhese hard lessons and tes pam III
,ssos wr,schile often, they after all the ones
at best for uh and teach you t0 be satisfied Ill LIE
snaLuu in winch YOU are II yOu content. then you
dn MI compa.n II you not content tnen De e.,ure
OF your dsconent Is the measure or your d0-iiitn
Then rel consider education is aways m
fold ng process simple to compox i"in coae to
ine. Mnen good pain country People ~ T. nous, kre
-cl load Of UiLL0es AMI he Store where picid.es
are soid nse L.ie- iiiiy OF kind, merchant pictures.
lhat l. oil ne xowS aDoui a.. io bnys TWO ana taArs
them home and puts them IN his paroT. aud tLcy los
beautiful roDpa IN and SEQ iLen and say they
AMI ai hrr LIE long and those pictures louk just
handsome forty years alter ~ they Hli forty years Do
wnh tao word Increases. you tIko notice thas pretty
into the palior Nothing u tlhs o. bi-l liter
thnn tine former. TH-y see tho dIlernc" them
ltroines wealthy. his taste has bcrn cultured
aud ciueated. Hnd You md tiat Tue Two list
c,c into the nIns room, ANA IN taeir place. tere are
soul very fLe and 50 IN ie" ears' you VII
Iui that tli- nimis.r will Decrease and tnc quaLy VIII
incra-o std ri, 9n wall have nVe ga ok gtns-tA4u
lie NOW tn Of PEE iIr- outside are nj hdl
that chdnge inside willch ici inl Lo sct
rno OF tne beautiful of TASTE the out
1.d forms measure the dPNeiopulrut 81 taOsc WHO
me- In tnu house And when "A man has an exquisite
picture ho has not lost In tine retaliation Of Ito g,ri
,G.cs is bld effects. They gO'd their place bu
Ais power or eJ"ynoDt has Ilsn u hghtr nc-e hId
we ho ,IiUJs the higher scenes, Le ENJOY III dcSte
uc lower ones. Nobody IuOro tlan tHc artist clJu!s a
few s.ctclrs- few Iines struck win cisyOn thH
do not bring picture, hd Just hrt ~ IT, For tduc