New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-10-25
WORKING WITH GOD.


The Rep Henry Ward Besrtc al Plymouth CkUrc C0Hgrgd
hOarD.
The subject of Mr. Beecher's discourse at
Plymouth Church yesterday morning was man as CO.
laborer with God. seated in the audience were William
NJ. Eyars, Lord Hougiton Orchard Monckton Milnesl,
Dr. Edward Beecher. and Mira Harriet Beeeher Stowe.
MI Beechers text l. Corinthians, III, 8: For We are
laborers together with God"
The greatest Of all workers, said he is God The cold
conception Of passOnless pefcctness seated in eNter
calm will never do except for poets and philosophers
This is not the God of the Old Testament nor is it the
God OF tie New Testament. Nor in large induction can
We believe that the scheme of creation is under
the conduct OF Cod and set its evolution and
destiny concerned, God sits pasiOless, and origin
ates forces which relieve him toll solicitude,
Mn,,n aSi in = crai1 sense nI suffers TGonsh il may
be easy FOR m 10 create yet II God holds the fountains
soulroes Of God! lie Is n0 vexed by gnoble care
does lie stumble through Mistakes but He gives sympa
stature W. cant conceive OF being who taxes par; in
humanity Who is mol worker laboier lie is The nus
bandman of the universe; He tiils and He tolls AndWe
prCnOuDeed by The apostle 10 DC ldb0reIs together
with God Ye are Coos husoandry, Els eulCingi ana
Though poetic, Il Is not simply poetic; 1t Is not merely
1t is a narrow idea that when We do something good
when We think Of God, and therefore worship him. or
line Of Christian work, that then We are working to-
gether with God This idea must be laid aside rather,
augmented. tis conception OF the scope Of the inter
working; il is only line Of t-a small part OF tie
We moi TO discredit This uoton we 70 %
nothing more tian he thisiiedov,i or shadow. We
talk OF mans power: talk Of the dignity, the glory
the grandeur 81 the human lace-Inl h9t Improperly
and yet mans power Is no. N LihseiI; oar Whole
All the laws Of or nature, all our sources
OF supply aud demand are manifestations OF God;
DlNme wisdom ana strength ne VINO thWaL's or
attempts e. contrary TO Divine Laws grows weak All
nature, whether it 10 manifested in tic world in the
workings Of society, or IA God; We can conceive or
As long our natural functions are in accordance with
tie Divine viii, reals tie benefit. THIS i rue O
elements Of absolute law. There IS nothing the storm,
in the forest upon the Occau that j. not held by ysi
cal laws absolute Is the Work in the laboratory. There
Is, IN fact 10 disorder in creation In society the whole
b seS SS i ge to o 51e I or Civic roon
the sane Is true Man has nothing too much in hun. The
undcr0nes OF our ninds- appetite and passo1-arr no,-
nal and necessary they should be cherished, Int II IS The
abuse Of them thai IS 10 ic avoided. Whatever h rZit
In them ia In The lne al IL III. courr.t on These side.
OF human pOssiUiuCs 0f value. They a have tins IN
comniOn-that they work together when Obccnt Ia ID
vine law. NJ does good Is kind charitable he
ncyoleDt, works, sleeps docs anything nut he work
ing together with God. Lave are the expression Of the
peIpetuattd VIA OF Coo There rs DIVINE Providence.
both general ana SPECIAL, ~ which We are al woISihg
the beginning The history oil the race Is from the aAi,
mai 10 the spiritual from the clOd 10 tic invisible aud
ihcorp3reM. Cl'lihatOh II not Wetehee. II l. the
ments and In the ancc;iOGsideaity thrown them
all II You hseye that the race began AZ the bottom,
how IS II that II has found ITS way to The higher realms
where men live NOT Icy sight MOI by sense but 10y the
been sep AT all there Bs been step direction.
Money and bread are as real nov as ever, buc
love-, sna refined N' choice GSS ri SGT hoasS s
We do not live by bread alone nor by tho nglng OF tie
passions alone; all who cttucd live in the higher
realms o the nirt 20 far conception Of tie final
product IL concerned men may do when they don't
know than When they do know that they working
ge,hei with God II tie whole drift Of life is really alOng
tie line OF Divine law, are WORKING with God when
ever We are working at all All thGt makes better
and stronger II the working OF men with God. The hue
band ana wife IN the true sphere OF marital afe ton,
working for each other without thinking OF each other
But there do cOuIo hours OF rest memory In wic
their souls seem 10 melt and mnge. IL be and
not easy 10 reach, nevertheless, this absolute inter
spBeing n the highest fora OF working together But 1t
casts dscrcdt the forms which arc lower. IN
The presence Of God a. times am In sympathy with
Him. 80 also am in wfys other than this and below
this
We arc not labSTers together with God in technical