The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-08
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.
THE TRIALS OF THE EARLY CHURCH-How TO
USE OUR TRIALS.

THE TRIALS OF THE EARLY CHURCH-How TO
USE OUR TRIALS.
Plymouth church was 80 crowded yesterday
morning that Mr.. Beecher, who came In little
late, could scarcely effect an entrance. Some
members OF the band OF jubilee Singers were
present and Mr. Beecaer asked them to sing after
the sermon, which they clio, bringing tears to the
eyes OF many by their peculiar, plaintlve music.
Mr.. Beecher announced that the Rev. DR.. Bacon,
Of the orange Valley church, would occupy his
place In the evening. He chose his text from the
First Epste OF Peter, l., 7"rhat the trial OF your
latin, being much more precious than OF gold that
perisheth, though 1t be tried with fire, might be
found unto praise and honor ana glory at the ap.
pearing OF Jesus Christ.n Peter called himself
apostle to the Gentiles Paul regarded him.
self IN the same light, and the epis. lie Is
addressed to the strangers scattered throughout
Pontus, Galatia, CappadOcia, Asia ana Bithynia.
BY strangers, doubtless, were meant exed Jews
his own countrymen. who had wandered into
every part OF the world and to whom, first al.
ways the Gospel OF Christ was preached and to
whom, generally, the Gentle converts were
Joined; every Gentle Chur n was at the centre
Jewish and round about 1t fringe OF Gentle con.
verts. The general character OF the epstles
written by PAU and other apostles shows that
they were affected by the thought Of the Jews
but when, as at CoriEth, O large part OF the
Church were Greeks, the letters had a constant
regard to Greek thoughts and Ideas; so every
one or the letters bears not only the personal
character OF the writer but reveals something OF
the Church to which 1t was addressed. WHAT are
we to understand. then, by the trials they were
going through
First, as to faith, We are to bea. in mind In the
earliest period OF Christian teaching they
taught q personal Christ Peter goes before
an audience and says:-'T am the man that was
called by Jesus Christ; this is His history, these
are His words; was with Him when lie was ar
rested; saw Him cruci1ed; was among those
who went earliest to the tomb when heard He
had risen; / talked with Him; these are His
words" NO man can say that to us. The truth OF
CHRIST then the living Saviour presented. This
was the early faith. We have to take Him by an
historical intervention. They knew Him not only
as having lived but to come again. The power OF
the expectation OF seeing Christ was inconceIva-
ble. so there was personal enthusiasm In this
faith for the Lord Jesus Christ who had gone up
to prepare and vas coming back Systems Of
truth as they present themselves to you and mo
were not born then not for 800 or 400
years was there any system OF doctrinal
Christianity. Inc primitive iorm was Al ardent and
entnusiastc tehef IN living person called Jsslil
christ, ana II was the enthusiast IN OF personal ad.
n ,.n, 70 Jesus; lie was their hero, ana they
tauRht the nlghest iorms OF Lero-worshlp. 1t was
A PERSONAL WORSHIP
or the LORD Jesus Christ They were living close
by the days In which lie had suffered, and we are
| living 2V0 years away; they STOOD where they
could almost hear the footsteps Of Jesus: the