The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-08
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.
METHODS OF GROWTH IN GRACE.

tered.
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.
METHODS OF GROWTH IN GRACE.
Plymouth church was crowded yesterday morn
ing and the services were marked by several
unusual incidents. These were the formal recep-
ton OF new commandments into the church, the
public baptism OF some OF them, and communion
service participated in by large number OF
devOtees. The platform upon which Mr.. Beecher
stood was less decorated with Mowers than 1t Is
wont to be. There was however, at the
preachers side, as he sat at the rear OF
the platform, vase, niled with Gala lilies,
Jonquils, passion and Other flowers, and
sprays OF smilax trailed over it. The services
were opened by the choir, which sung Zundeps
re Deum very finely. Mr.. Beecher then made
feivent prayer and read the fortieth chapter OF
the Book of Isaiah. At the conclusion OF the read
ing of the Gospel he announced the names of GER
tain persons who have been received into the
church since the last communion. He called the
new communicates up before the congregation,
and, having administered the rite Of baptism to
some among them, he introduced them to the
members OF Plymouth church, who acknowledged
the presentation by rising.
Mr.. Beecher selected his text from the chapter
OF the Gospel which he had previously read. II
was Isaiah, xL, 31-"But they that wait upon the
up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not
be weary and they shall walk and not faint"
He said There are two striking facts in the
light OF modern philosophizng. One is that mod
ern piety has to 60 backward to procure It's most
1T expressions. 1t has to 60 back to the time OF
Isaiah and the people OF his race Tor them. 1t Is
wonderful that expressions and nomenclature
should have been made by the Israelites
fitted for the utterance OF the religious
feelings OF people OF oil time And 1t Is wonderful
that they sprung not from priests but from the
minds and hearts OF people outside OF the Temple.
The lsraelites were not praying people. They
were controlled by a hierarchy, and were prayed
for by 1t. But there was q feeling among them
which taught them that all men should use such
special gifts as they had And it is from the use
OF special gifts by Isaiah and others that we now
have sucn sublime methods Of outpouring our re-
lip,ous feelings. Referring to the development OF
spirituality in men, Mr.; Beecher said In effect.
to the pitch OF religious feeling. 10 think con.
stantly upon single subject Is to become insane.
MEMS THOUGHTS MUST FLUCTUATE.
II we are filed with religion to-day we must
change tomorrow. Ignorance OF this iaot makes
mdoa S be on s the The BSe .
20 Of the hsrooS Of New
chart. You must 60 out into the earSo!, sound
SS PSe e ed Sn y Tne
present in the world. You must study these men.
10 dong and saying these things the
Bible as a chart ana with 4 60 into Gods work
shop, the world, and study men.
SOUND HUMAN NATURE
to verify my chart Mr.. Beecher went on to de-
in man. Speaking Of It as the product OF time
he compared one who has entered the church
M an ss age 70 e ase na an9 10 the
throughout the summer, while the jOnqui, the
hyacinth, the numerous other summer flowers
garden or y the xsysideS Yet. Whom the The
brighten the view until the winter cnllls 1t to
death Prematurity Is bad. Many people have
not stretched across their minds which vibrate
to great spiritual truths. Mr.. Beecher thus Illus
e or o. strn a who was
able to fnd 1t, and who was constantly told BY
dogmatic preacher that he was to blame himself
for his failure to md 1.-two men are looking
distanily at window In which there Is o clear
glass cash. One Of the men speaks to the
beyond the window, but which his companion
cannot see. The second approaches this window,
Gown so mat he cannot see through it. You can
not see through ground glass. But the first man
saw through the plain glass which had been in
Continuing to show the other preyen.ves Of
the growth Of spirituality in men. Mr.. Beecher
instahced one OF the most effective to be the
rODbing OF religious things or their beauty. He
going policeman, ono VINO said always. Now,
young man, look out Tor YOURSELF lie protested
against pcluring God as being as
l.. CRUEL AS CAIIGULA OR NERO.
ne protested against roboipg ANYTHING OF It's
creed and reliei ceremony that develop spiritual
growth. IL II Is done, said Mr.. Beecaer, by sign,
picture or ceremony, by poetic discourse or plain
exposition oil the Gospel, 30 that IL Ii done, the
means matter not II It can be done by sign, pic
ture or ceremony let the man who is benefited
OF poetry or the glamour oil imagery, let him go to
my Eplscopanan, my Presbyterian, my Baptist
De sat upon by any particular brd. 10 the man
WHO should say 81 the development Of his sp,r;;
9a r0v Would M oe saS
friend my preaching was medicinal to you. but
have s Il oi mud d San and iS as
the tide recedes the vessel careens over on It's
side. When the Tide comes up the vessel gradually
rlghts. The captain las been WORKING to ready
the snip for the action OF tie tide; and when the
vessel noas aaaia some Of the people cry out that
the captain has effected ner deliverance. But was
| II the captain VINO ala III
NO, IT WAS GODS WORK.
Mr.. BeeCher, continuing his Illustrations OF the
motives OF spiritual development, drew one very
opt illustration RON his reniem brance OF the way
In which the people used TO sink wells when he
urally nnd their pleasures just beneath the
soil but sorrows come and sink the wells deep
| into the soil. Is rrows are thus beneiactOrs
There Is nothing more useful TO 0ne's soul than
another soul ! would, probably, be set outside
one can often 10 mole Tor sick man with a jest
than Win prayer Many man has been
winged 10 the gates OF heaven by prayer, aud
| MANY soul has been sent down deep by pray +.
! soul II the souls best medicine. | was taught
this by my old Trend Moody tnot Moody Of Moody
/ Sankey) but lIelOw student in Amherst Col
| legc. He took me by the hand at time when
was burdened by the IDEAS OF God,
which i had been taught; when, indeed,
was trying 10 be religious by eradicating common
sens RON my mind I ove0 my Old President,
Dr. Humphreys, aud from linn | drew some IDEAS
OF strict justice. had got some OF the same class
/ with great hopefulness from my father, but to my
| fellow student Moody owe THANKS which can
never express iii We meet IN that land where he
Will need 10 commentator.
| In concluding his sermon Mt. Bcechcr compared
the gradual development OF spirituality In men TO
the ngnis OF a bird from branch TO branch OF q
tree, and It's perfection to the time when the bird
stays on the treetop precnng It's wings before
making joyous dash into the air ana soaring up
ward out ol sIgpt.
Mr.. Bcecnef ended hi3 beDelictlon with the