The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-08
PLYMOUTH PRAYER MEETING.

THE LIABILITY OF CHRISTIANS TO BECOME nurA-
ToRs-THE TWO PRINCIPAL ELEMENTS OF
TRUE CHRISTIAN LIFE.
Plymouth lecture room was only comfortably
occupied last evening. Mr.. Beecher came IN i've
minutes late, accompanied by MS daughter, who
took seat on the platform behind him. Alter
two unusually short prayers, and the supple men-
tary hymns, Mr.. Beecher began MS remarks
by saying:-0ne OF the mistakes which people
fall into when entering upon Christian life is
that OF limitation. IL Is natural that you should
look up to persons around you who best repre-
sent your idea OF Christian life, and IL Is quite
natural that, aside from any purpose OF imitation,
you should fall into that habit lnsenslby, and at
last that these limitations should take the form OF
duties, and the example OF q single person should
come 10
STAND FOR PRINCIPLE.
Thus In DR.. Paysons time 1t was natural for
people 10 feel that religion required them not only
TO be 10 earnest, but 10 have zeal that glowed
aud corruscated all the time. Now, it Is not for
me 10 say that these things are not right; but be-
cause Dr. Payson's genius developed itself In that
way, 1t does not follow that nine should. When
God has made a man He does not make another
ike him. aud he means that eaca man should dis
close Christ In himself, as II II would take the
wnoe race 10 set iortn those qualities manifested
In God. Now. analyze for moment suppose
man Is OF comparatively slender build, has
brown nair and gray blue eyes, and has a sensi-
tive nervous system, that ne goes into raptures
aud truth stands out TO him
LIKE POEM
But the man who sits behInd him 10 obese, has
paIlld skin. watery eyes and slow digestion; ne
never UNDERSTANDS q Joke until every one else mas
got through laughing. This man sees the man IN
'front.' q MIN 20 mt rapturous state =! rengious
never feel as that man does; - religion
Ii is a good thing TO be = poet; but cannot a
man be q good farmer and no pOetf 80 4
man OF cold temperament can never follow
trouble 10 DO so is only waste OF time II men
should seek TO mould themselves TO one IDEA the
Churcn would be Impoverished, for when the tree
begins to grow IL grows one central stem, but II
IL shonld continue to grow 10 tnat way IL would
tnis side ana another on that. II - the vast
spread Of diversity which makes he tree beautiful
so It Is OF the church. Again, some tnink
have a great deal OF PRAYER. All men
are not gifted alike IN the matter OF PRAYER. Is
prayer gIftS Yes, some nave IL BY D,rthrlgnL.
Uonsider prayer IN It's largest dlspensation, as
communion and fellowship with God. In the first
pace there Is vast difference IN the manner In
which dideTent people comprehend the Invisible.
IL Is natural TO some people TO pray c0aflnually,
ana il it's not natural DO you suppose God keeps
that one three hours, the third Que hour
and the iourtn ten minutes. some men say
iour hours. Now. far from undertaking.
prayer, l say strive for u. But we are called 10
ceptance by the Lord Jesus CHRIST. A man may
be a goou Christian and not accuse his con-
others. There are certain great elements you
should all strive Tor. The nrst Is true sense OF
Cnnst present with you aud the relationship OF
his love and power over you; the sense that you
are entering q hfe OF individual relationship Win
the
BEST BEING N THE UNIVERSE.
His fulness against your emptiness, the sense OF
Christ present vita yOu-tnis 10 the primal con-
alteration OF . Ccrislian lfe IL does not matter
whether you get IL out OF the Bible, or art, or
works. The method does not matter. IL does
not matter that You should hold 70 special doc
trine ofChrlst. You are called TO be freemen, not
slaves. he says. "Hencelorth | call We not SER
wants, but friends; Tor servants know not what
the master doetu.n
The second element IS the reproducing in you
OF tae elements which make Christ what
lie is-not tue power 70 raise the dead.
but those dispositions out or which come
the beatltnues, Blessed be tue pure In
heart; blessed be the persecuted;" ali those
utrerances. Here. then, are the two great
elements OF Caristlan lie, Christ and Christ
likeness. and though YOU may use all means OF
Dooks ana prayer Jon are not bound 10 them.
Tue instruments Dy wnica the frame oil mind is
produced are not unimportanL but they are not
your masters: and wnen you nave these two ele-
ments your lite becomes comparatively victorious
every day. out or THESE TWO things now spon-
taneousy all Christian life, and the best way Is TO
STRIKE at the higher at once.