The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-26
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.

REV II. w. BEECHER.
Plymouth church was thronged to Its utmost
capacity yesterday forenoon by the usual congre
cation In attendance. Mr.. Beecher appeared in
excellent health, voice and felcitous manner at
the pulpit desk, and the church choir and men,
Ders sung the psalms given out with clearness and
harmonious precision. The pastor offered an elo
quent and lengthy prayer to the throne OF divine
grace, beseechng continuance OF mercy, support
and comfort from the Supreme Ruler oil the uni
verse for all present, Tor those who were absent,
Tor those who were In temptation or danger, for
the police, magistrates, the President and all leg
slators, and In nne for the diffusion OF the spirit
OF divine love among all the nations ana peoples
OF the earth, that all may tend TO the honor and
glory OF God.
A collection was then taken up in aid Of the
American Seanien's Friend Society, and MIR.
Beecher asked for liberaty among the contributors.
While the money was lowing into the baskets
which were circulated he said he had not the con-
fdence that the further request he was about to
make would be SO cheerfully acceded 10. He said
it had always been the habit 10 consider the first
Sabbath Of May q special occasion in that church.
During the past year this church had been in fire
and In Hood; but there had been witness In their
behalf in the increased attendance at the Sabbath
school and at the Mission, of the presence Of the
grace among them during the past year would be
manifested when liz was known that on Sunday
lex emey Wou hece IVA oTei p on1 hrrc% m
lie mentioned this fact In honor and
praise OF the Creator who preserved his
people, and in evidence OF the mercy to them. He
then requested thai those members of the church
who occupied the three 'front.' rows OF pews about
the platform would quarter themselves, on sun
DAY next, as best tney could about the church,
in order that that space may be set apart Tor
na ~
riflce upon his part .Laughter). This self-aoeg-
nation on the part Of those pew hol ders would
tend to show that the preaching which they
hear In this house does not make them self-ln-
dulgng. Let the pew holders pursue the Amerl-
MIR. Beecher then read list or thirty appli-
cants for admission for membership OF the church,
followed by list OF seventy-nve persons who
had made professions OF ialtn
Tne text OF the sermon was from the Second
5:-"Blessed be Goa, even the father Of our Lord
Jesus Christ, the father OF mercies ana the q or
all comfort; VINO comlortet1 US In al our triou-
which are In any trouble by the comfort where
with we ourselves are comiorteo Of GOD. For as
the sunerings OF Christ abound In rs, so our con-
ISOLATION also aboundeth by Christi "For cody
sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be
repented Of; but the sorrow OF tue world worketh
oeatn" MIR. Beecner said insubstance there were
two degrees OF sorrow which fall TO our lot One
Is wnen 1t enters the spirit and morally Affects
or organic But no matter what form It
may assume, suffering as universal aud
OF our own knowledge comprehend It's utility IL
Is that suffering - the means OF working out
among the few the greatest good among the
whole. Then recurs the question, why was
suffering ordained DID not o Divine Being Him.
sell come down nom heaven and undergo the
greatest suffering, that others should bear pa
tiently tue Ills winch TALL 10 their lcn What man
has ever lived, Wnat man snah ever i've VINO
that which Is found In 81. Paul TO the Romans,
when he SAID, "0h man. who art thou that an.
TO Him that formed IL, Wny hast thou made me
tausY or hath not the potter power over the
clay OF the same lump, TO make one vessel unto
honor and another unite dahonorY" Man might
as well ask why did God make the world
as he did make It. wny did he make some
other things sour. Why Is the consultation some
times sharp and sometimes DluntS We ask why
only answer ourselves, we don't know. AS 10
that which appertalns 70 our organic sunernRs
when we begin to ask God why He did TINS we
can have no answer. but must abide our faitn In
His teachings and DOW our spirit 10 sorrow, winch
puraeth u. Tne Guild can ask its father for an
explanation and can receive an answer. but God
cannot tell US while In this life uni 80 we accept
the teachings OF the BIDie. The source Of suffer
ing may be sought, though ~ IS the custom 10 gen.
eralize TOO much upon me subject man may
physical suffering tile sins OF the atner aud Of the
mother 20 over and are diiiused among ina
world with maormations and such men are as It
were moItgaged structures 10 suffering. He that
corrupts his physical frame and moral condition
trails down 70 generations MS life mlseres while
ne who noards up his strength and Keeps pure MS
moral nature bequeaths blessing to his children.
great deal OF human suffering Is therefore,
m0rtgaged estate But l. not 50 with the origin
OF human suffering. Some men are born with
morbid, nervous quality OF mind, and there are
those VINO nave such al habituay cheerful nerv-
Gus system that what gives pain 70 others affords
them JOY ana pleasure. We are 70 make a dlstinc-
ton between sucn. There Is also voluntary, self
sought suffering thai wncn comes upon men BY
action OF their own, where they violate the
natural law. II includes a vast amount Of
bodily and moral SUFFERING Selfprlde Is ire
quently the cause OF much trloulatlon.
Another source OF suffering ~ that which Is
forced upon Us W reason 81 our social connections.
y u not sale Tor You to nave TOO many trends 70
engage our affections and nave you snare their
sorrows. What the speaker understands by
friend II one VINO rises with You ia your happiness
parasite VINO stands BY me in my 10Y and in
trouble deserts me. such man - parasite aud
Is not q Iriendu It is Christianity alone that
Rrappies with th0t supreme element Of human
experience and makes suffering the charm leit ..
lie. The Bible is The book which taxes into
account human suffering and tells you nov 70 get
through IL. IL Is that which reconCtles Us 70 our
triouatlons snd teaches us COW 70 turn tras laso
the cure Tor oil sorrow aud tells us how u
can be turned to the best account 70 make man
dence that Christ was God, and the speaker consd
not give up Christ unless ne gave mp Cod ~ y
fact Jesus Christ came down from heaven 70 EARN
and consented TO suffer Himself tnat all creatures
might know that Christianity possesses tue
strength which Is essential for all men 70 gain
heaven. suffering may either work toward lie or
death, however, according ~ tue disposition ~
the man. Of the latter class are chose who become
soured by the trials OF life and think not OF God put
bemOan In their own sefspifits the DOWNFALL 81
their ambitious ends or the loss OF money; also
those who sneer at the sunerlngs OF thelr fellow
men, at the wretch in the gutter aud the eulprlt.
There Is many respectable man that u worse
than the drunknrd.
Mr. Beechet drew many illustrations In Ills char
acteitstlc and lorclble way OF the men WHO pc
moan their personal trials from worldly sLanu-
POM ana think noI OF Cod nor Ol their fellow man.
Speaking Oi the effect or sorrow, lie lkened the
nature OF men 10 trees-some break easy ana
nj lnpa NnT llnal
thought That sorrow works happiness ana " also
WORKS out true manltuess. When SORROW Orlngs
us to proper realization Of It's divlne OBJECT ~
WORKS 10 our saivatlon. We should then lhanK
God for II, or the ministry OF suffering. It's not
the language OF this world: IL ~ ~ tue nHneT, lhe
honer lie. Rejoice that you are worthy 70 suner
Ia the iellowsnip OF Christ VINO died ~ save W.
MIR. Beeeher concluded by earnestly exhorting nus
hearers to dwoil upon tue snOjsot aud apply u 70
their hves,