New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-01-11
THE MISSION OF FAITH.


ing the earlier part the services in Plymouth Chureh
yesterday morning The attendant circumstances OF
the rite performed In this house are very beautiful
when the parents had taken their places at the ioot oil
the platform with the children IN their arms MT
Beecher descended the steps and stood, with bowed
head facing the sponsors and the congregation. Then
Prof zunde touched keys OF the great organ. and
the choir softly sang in slow measure the chant
beginning, Suffer little children to come unto me-
The pastor took small curiouslY carved bowl OF olive
wood bound ned with silver, from It's place on the
platform beside OF Gala lilies and again raced Tue
sponsors He pronounced the few simple sentences OF
the service ending with the benedction and the sprin
linz Of wafer each child. Tls attendance was
much larger tnan any ono would nave expe'1-i on 50
cold a morning. Tndeel the church was hrd, though
not crowded IN any part There was some ds,!tisi.t,
the railways nearly fifteen minutes LONGER than usua,
owing 10 disposition among the usner' % give the p""
holders additional grace on account Jt tur
consequent confusion caused by the auction 6dc o.
seats last week When Mr. Bcecher came ne was near
TO reb Ike This policy. ana to advise the IN als
sion OF all u the interior or tue Dul diA@ Hie'pecl
lively Of pew-Owners. The heavy burden 81 anxiety m
der which Mr Beecner must aDor is never Vlsle "le
he Is IN ms church. even II the people are r!EAI WIO
imagined that they detect II III his manner IN me court
room ana at the prayc meethgs Possibly tnsIe W.
few tokens OF WEAKNESS IN his appei early Ia the
services and especially IN the nrst prayer
warmed with his SUBJECT aud spoke with hrs
accustomed fire and brilliancy; The tex was
Philippians ill.,, 9; Aud be found In Ll1 not Wig
mine own righteousness, which - Of the Law. but rnat
which IL through the iath Of Christ, the righteousness
which Is Of God By ia,h.'
Here are two expressions said Mr. Beecher the inter
probation OF whose meaning has ued the world WIN
infinite pamphlets and numbers OF books II l. now the
current doctrine, not Protestant Church alone,
but Of the Roman Catholic Church as We'll Adl !dln 20
OF God, aud that faith indIs penaDe quality. Ana
suppose that muutudes " persons have very vague
Impression mat faitE-weH, mat II is a Alhd OI
celestial salt that God spriuke7 inro men,
and it keeps them. and stimulates them.
aud makes them relishiul; That II IS quality bred ia
heaven aud that 10 is injected by God into men exactly
as II IN you took coal OF lire and pat 10 TO
a candle as they used do IN the good OFT darl and
fame and tnat Is light, ana that u fal5n 20
there - a spiritual quality that grows up ID Go1 OF
around Him. and that bv PRAYING Tor IL 10 comes
down IN some mysterious way; and When men
have that faith in their hearts they salvaOlr Tns
has the glow OF n love declaration: Not having
mine righteousness, which i OF tue law
Ne IL not speaking Of morality, huJ or that
which the ritual OF Observance ant r)utlej-" Da,
that which through the laitd OF Christ y lce th!'
Faith il itself an instrument some suppose man
should speak OF the the same way. suppose nc
should say that every man who has st the ~" can DC
a philosopher. Is the the taing the Instrument
And faith, lt quality disposition IN man, or tlas
OF God. Of Christ OF spiritual tningsi YIn val notice
Paul does not hold Ip righteousness rs the great
end OF human life You VIII take notice that wleh
he Is speaking to Timothy OF his departure,
the language s, THE time OF departure at hand
nave fought good n<1t, nave mashed ms course
have kept The faith. Hencef0rn there is laI mp for NE
a crown righteousucss"-I crown OF righteousness.
not crown of faith" which the Lord, the righteous
Judge. shall give that day" crown or pertec-
tiOn crown which shat include IN 10 the fact Ot all
that excellence winch | have stated inspired DY the
example aud spirit Of Jesus Christ, tnat conception "
manhood which have onged for and striyen alter;
snail nave crown OF thdt leiiI As soon as 'ha iec
my heavenly home His rejoicing was chat there should
be GROWING or completing OF MS nature aud maH-
Tie Hebrew moral celebrated the world over
now. Matthew Arnold. wei, think, otned IN the
affirmation that more wonderful mora. development
ever place than tuat which took place 10 tue Oh
Hebrew nation. The modern ideas on the subject found
their model largely there Tie hebrew moral Ia IRE
sought ppr!ectnes- IN Tlat Was the ambition tuat
the IDEAL In tneir later periods tue synaeosie
mad function and did great deal OF work this dI-
rectiOn, but af'er ali the fountains OF power were
their prophets. These sDrlnE up from among tAe
ne,olf They we're automatically prophets.
Jeremiah saws he "calied TO be prophet fr N
his mothers womb and 6ucu was the peculiar gen Us
talent Whatever 1t might While churches were
teaching ritual periOTmanccs' 1t was tue prophets
tnat we're striking bold strokes morals Of pco
pie. The conception they aDorng after was tnai
INTO sympathy and beauty to perfect meu.
And perfect was one who acted Ia every part "
his nature ght.
IT'S sad thing to see how the world has CROPPED and
Travelled in pain I'LL now. Iue Hebrews were rJlng 10
develop the ideal moral tue Greeks tryiuZ
To develop Tue idea man III the matter "t physical eX-
ccllencc. You will SEQ the nations wlr. separately
striving TO develop what was their conception OF bet
ter
Now when our savior came, there a change, and
did It cease to be emf which men shOult seek
INTERCHANGEABLE that cease 10 ne an eudf Vas ust-
dcation hy aith put IN the place righteousness
suspect that wnst good many people believe There
Is no change AT all. TIE Ola Testament amt tue eN
taught the same thing only the taught u the De ter
way. II latin is smpY method VI the MIMI, Dy "Ach
we attempt 70 educate ourselves You will in tIs
first place taat PRAYING for faith Except general
way, IL loves Labor lost. Now mcn pray Tor idltA
a. il that something tlcy had only % ask Tor.
Sometimes flitn works by love, sometimes by fear,
sometimes interest. That WulCu W.
nray Tor Ii the fruit II tth-trust, love- uop-, courage
purity fidelity. manhood reverence, OOeIrucc -euJ.-
ness. humity-tnat Is what W. wIus. Dr.lg o my
God the results Of my suvugs anu attaumcnts D--
cause they are perfect ALL nut because H. - Of M
tIre that He accept umperectiJn IN man when H.
thing be sought. Do you suppose God OO FOR this
name or That on mani man Is Responsible accord
luz 10 tue age ~ winch he Ves.