The New York herald., 1876-12-18
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.

ocst for welfare and encourage US in pursuing
the right path.
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.
HOW CHRISTIANS ARE CALLED TO BE PEcU-
LIAR PKoPLE-sERMoN By HENRY WARD
DETcHER.
Mr.. Becchcrs sermon yesterday founded upon
Pau's words to Tius-"Jesus Christ who gave him.
self for us that no might redeem US from all iniquy
and purify unto himself peculiar people jealous OF
good works" The followers OF Christ tho preacher
said, to be peculiar people; but not, as many
misguided persons suppose in their outward dress
obscrvanccs, but nwardy, in their spiritual nature II
a man be Christian, he said, there shocld be quality
Of disposition that would mark him something sep
aratc and distinct from round about him. Tho
teaching which is continually urging to separate
themselves from the world not congenIa
to the spirit OF tho New Testament There
were nowadays a great many conventional signs
which men expected 10 carry about evidence
that they Christians Among these was peculiar
form Of spcech--"cant' It was sometimes called at
Others, "pious phrase" These signs multiplied as time
went on until by and by men were covered all over
with seemngs and wore masks darker on Sundays md
black on fasting days Then there were regulations
almost numerous Ihose OF the Mother Church,
which undertake provide beforehand for every si;u
alton which III his large activity and freedom is
tho necessity OF Judging and turn him into nero
machine and the priest turns the crank. II there Is
one thing in the world, the preacher said, which de-
mands express itself IN its way 1t is Christian
hic-iree large, spontaneous. born OF GOO. II takes
more prescription from preachers than tho
flowers or the held take IRON botanists who are
obliged to take them they grew and unable TO
make laws for them. The real signs by which men
should know Ch ristian the qualities they should
sec IN him-the purity, the aspirations, in some
the grandeur and in all The elevated disposition
Love to God ana love OF our ncishoor were the root
and branch and the circumference OF true Christian
iite. mere moralist, however good, was always
common. Grandeur In man could not be mad until
he allied in way 10 the infinite and the I'M
mortal. Even superstition was more enriching than
bald ethical love that had atmosphere, no be-
yond, God Mr. Beecher said he would rather
worship Jupiter and Apollo and Mars, the
Oriental metaphysical gods, than TO deal IN that kind OF
dull realm OF The unknowabic, wherein men nope
and grope and back saying. Nothing certain ;
nothing IS known" Whom men should reach such a
state as 70 believe nothing which they could not figure
Oul upon slate then tLcir minds would be limited
the extent OF their arms length The man who became
Christian, developed Christian traits and learned to
live Christian, have the fullest possible
DOM He was not 10 bc bound by laws Of chivary or
creed forms, TO be shut in by tho obscrvances OF
cumstances whose hcart Is III sympathy with Cot He
Is not Gods slave he s not even His servant he s
His Mr.. Beecher combxted the doctrine held by
the Catholic Church and stil chung by many OF the
which had sprung from her that necessary
found which inculcated tho necessity OF Withdraw ing
rom the evil which in the world" but order to
do that IL necessary 10 retro from IL.
CANT DENOUNCED
Besides, we live in an age when Christianity has
shone Tor Z, 900 years upon the earth. Farming and
mercantile pursuits were AS necessary to the Divine
plan churches schools, and their tendencies
continually working toward a higher state Against
the entoual religious phraseoogy Mr.. Bcccher
weighed powerfully. II foolish when they
became Christians TO ec bound to speak OF truth It
had been expressed by others There we're thousands
OF persons 10 whom the Technology life would
abundant 10 express their experiences. Men say as
they 20 out OF tho house ''Gooi6y." and that -
straghlen themselves up and say in unnatural
the iu significance OF the word 'God DO with you,'
place. don't wish TO bc thought to speak
Ill OF good people; but 1 must say that
already minister never would be |
have encountered people who sat down beside and
whispered who was, and then the tone changed and
tho topics chan ecdand not tor the better-unii be-
gan to teel us II were in presby terry, SO was del
uged with what the world calls 'cant" II a man IS
called do something which he Is perfectly COM
petent To do hc should do It, perhaps remark that
he Will think OF and decide. Sometimes says,
i will pray this very carefully, and then
such answer as God may givc to me will impart
TO YOU There is harm in q mans thinking that
but the moment hear OF mans going to pray over
"a thing-g0odby! (Smicsl Are We then TO speak lightly
the gate OF heavenful OF delicacy and richness
ana powcry And ought u not TO be, your mothcrs
virtue lifted high above all thought OF rdcuey Yet
how the soemnty Of prayer banded about by cant
phrases. have known men who mover stabbed until
they prayed and never prayed but they stabbed
slander pcople--in tho church or out "f it-in
prayer when they would not dare TO do 1t
tiun
All the elevated feelings that came OF Christian
liie Mr. Beecher held, ought TO be expressed in good
naturcd phrase. II should say heartily and
urally TO man, Now come; do better the coming
year than you done. You ought to set your chill
drcn example, 1t would probably have good
effect Du. II should come 10 him with n long
drawn face and tunercal aspect generally, and shuttle
through his nose "oh. my niend, ! beseech OF you.
now, TO think about your soul; bescech OF you 10
think about the claims OF religion upon YOU" ho
would probably excite only disgust.