The New York herald., 1876-11-13
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.

THE INFLUENCES OF HOLINEss-sEnMoN BIZ
REV. HENRY WARD BEECHER.
Plymouth church was again thronged yesterday. and
several hundred unable to gam admission Mr.
Beecher made his appearance time, looking serene
and hearty Before the sermon he baptized seven IN
fants Miss Lasar in the choir sang old familiar
Roman Catholic hymn and subsequently the congrega-
tion joined in psalms. Mr. Beecher took for the text
Of his sermon H. Corinthians K 4-"For the weapons
OF warfare carnn, hut mighty through God
to the pulling down OF stronghods." !"
Paul moro than any other OF the workers in tho
Church might be called tho apostle OF force. Paul was
moro energetic than the tumultuous Peter The
whole personality OF Paul may be called a
force He had imperial nature and tho
nation from which he sprung was imperial
The Hebrews had an organized theocracy They be-
leved they destined to and conquer the
world Pauls nature changed when he was
converted TO Christ Throughout his whole life the
genius OF the apostle that OF general Of army
going forth to conquer Between Cesar and Paul the
difference was that tho ones ambition to
come the physical and the other the spiritual world
Panl had little sensiby to poetry ana art
only the physical iorce In architecture that arrested
nower Of Rome. and his writing. are fu of fsniinv
ngures. Hc speaks about putting the armor OF
Cod about putting on the breaslpate Of righteousness
OF taking the sword Of the SPIRIT the helmet OF saliva
tion and the shield OF faith. A. no period OF tho
worlds history there SO much misery as then.
Tho dynasties oil the earth bad, very bad.
Everything sought for by physical force. by the
lower nature The best part Of manhood was
like an undug mine. The power OF goodness in every
and all relations OF lite unlearncd, SCI
cncc not discovered Throughout all Paus teachings
there tho theory that the genius OF Christianity
lay In the subjugation OF evil by tho goodness
IN man; tho intrinsic, inherent divinity that
is in the higher range OF human facutiea To Paus
md the regeneration of mankind not in reason
ing, bus In the drawing out OF the intrinsic goodness
In men. He did not believe that the world TO be
saved entirely by light and knowledge. When hc
speaks of the sword OF the Spirit means thereby
love, peace, gentlcness truth. self control holi-
mesa with these he trusted to conquer the evil
the world. Al first look goodness appears
weak and feeble before organized wickedness,
but see the power that has down
into the world from Him who born into IL In pow
erty and obscurity, and had place whereon lay
HIS head This power the power Of love and good
mesa No man ht TO reform another unless he
can feel that mans nfrmites, take HIM his bosom
and stand in his place. Tho world is full OF men who
bent reforming others by the law of terror and
Here the preacher enlarged Upon the might and
majesty OF goodness, related the effects light
upon health s'But Il" said he, in a dramatic way,
"you 10 strike match room say, Don Z
you feel betcrv It would be ridiculous" The congre-
CATION laughed and little child laughed especially
loud, whereupon Mr. Beecher said, "Out OF the mouths
OF babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise
Then there more merrimcnt and Mr.. Beecher con-
tinued and dwelt at length the beauty Of holiness
and the influence OF love and goodness