New-York tribune., 1876-12-25
, SUNDAY THEMES.
POWER OF LIVING FAITH.
n, Psp Henry Ward Bseeher al Fyeuh Church tco0re
az - GGtf0llat).


POWER OF A LIVING FAITH.
TIE Rev. Henry Ward B.ssss5 saS S fy"'uH OT''" ''''
Mr. Beecher's pulpit yesterday morning was
bright and fragrant with camellias, caalilss ana oAn
las To the rear section attached cord trels upon
which rare oreepers and vines were ent"ined Inc
vice was opened with the singing OF the Chrstiuas an
tbcm "The Shepherds watched their tocks by night.
The text was from Corinthians, v, 10: Always bear
ing about in the body the dying OF the Lord Jesus tha
the life also OF Jesus might be made maniiest IN our
BODY The discourse, in substance, was as roioWs'
We are always curious 10 know by what inside courses
everything moves This curiosity Is whlcn ipeiS US
10 learn more of individual lives. But there Is con-
tcmpble kind of n1ustiyeuess not felt by gentlemen OF
ladies' but by persons in proportion as they are vulgar
II is pandered to By many OF the daily papers, and IL
leads people TO inquire into the sacred privacy OF domes
tic fe But it Is not with any such feeling that we ex
anime the impulses that moved the soul OF Paui 10 MS
noble lfe Such he honor their race ana wo par
cipate in their honor. Paul was heroic more than any
man of bis time, and it is no moro morbid curiosity
which leads us TO study his life than Is that which
prompts us to study the life any hero of history There
never was q man whose writings were more biogFaphi-
cal From his experiences he nodded the ihsteEils
by which to illustrate the universe He In common WIN
all the early Christians had many advantages over US III
regard to Christ long years they and their iathers
in war; in captivity in famine in pestilcnce, In all sor
therefore when Christ came their life received an I'M
pulse that to us is nconeeivaDle ANA tneh o was s
WIN @ them; tney sSeSv 1 Alter Him
dObtfuly Again, all the disciples were expecting VIC
%ST atopPed out here and there all through
the Epistles which show that IL they did not
speedly To those who are expecting every day that
Savior viii appear hamn dire from The heavens this
to burn ont the dross from their lives wish could
believe Christ to como in my own time. There are
any ey t6e fp ,at6 To S Such bSrc WouG transform me into
another being. But cannot believe what want 70 II
could II thought that any day OF hour the son OF God
would come down to earth again, woudeee Hln con,
stanty before and be raised TO naeH more sNaed
this faith made for them extraordinary ana WOhuerIW
lives. - ,....o.
over them. We do not see Christ surrounded 9y most
rows. But we have long vista Of history down which
look and perceive the real power OF HIS ne Hn are @
manifestations OF globe life. The personal experience OF
Christmas is wider and deeper to-day than ia the times
OF the Apostles in proportion as the culture OF mOdern
e a WIDER and dec than Of that early day IL Is DOS
sibe for have deep and sincere leeug rs 70 eA
hbited in the text Here we have Paul bearing ABOUT
In his own life the knowledge OF Christie life and death
His nature was wrapped up IN his LoGdS WI VIII .br. LII.
what heroworshp ts highest plane ald n0Dlest form!
All his experiences OF worldly troubles anu y vs
bnt tho knocks Of his Masters hand on the door OF his
life. No man ever hyed VINO Iet bOre tns nes 20 VI P
and herOlsm He knew he was born TO wiold lnhhence
And this worlds seh was 10 nm cOh5tdht cAyViH
fi0n bu his Christianity made of man, Naturally the
most morbid Of the most healt ana nOOe lhee
is not in Shakespeare any pTOiaDe literature sny 10
neatOn of character equal 10 that which Paul draws OF
himself But I'm all his conflicts whenever he ielt ths
force Of temptatiOn ani resisted, when nc was pressed
down 10 the ground and rose up again through the
strength OF Ills manhood, when he was able 10 slay
troubles and pssS uuhATmgd through suffering, ne al
ways felt these victories TO be but le VI
Christs spirit through hmself. Ihps dd nc ai",sys
bgar about IN the body the dying Of the Lord Jesus
And now with this elucidaOn OF the semPOetlc cDaf
acter OF Paus herO-worship let us draw IRON " some
lessons for the hour Firsi then no man has any Chrs.
Who uas not one born out OF hlalseL PauIs Chlst
walked and talked by the Sea or GaliCe ana IN the
Temple. the most OF yOu never there Inat Chrst
Is but the sDeeter OF history lie can never be me Christ
az your life and heart There is q Christ OF Art we
accent meu conceptions OF this Lord or Lods "a they
portfay them on Though none OF then can
express needs, tney bring us peasle. sun ny ore ore
than this you have none. Then there Is the CflSt OI
Philosophy that Is for instance, tho CHRIST OF Tue doc
thine Of tie AtOnemei or OF tIe doctrine OF Ie ~.
udgm6nt or the reason has Chrst for the heart lie
must come forth out OF the elements OF your 0"
what Is the meaning OF lIei Nut Is tne ploDieni p
n a. the soruW of man That God d not revealed 10
him But when ont OF the suffering thu we
go through there rises conception tht hsIe Is
vino 1. also suffering with because lie loves us-ad
love alygys sueFsthen do we learn What Il 70 DC
io.ned with Christ and 10 bear about with Us HIS BODY
How sacred Is the household, now sacred are our aNoe
cns how sacred the street the hospital the retreat
lie itself when against the dark Rembmnduc covering
uf life there stanus the light Of God growing Orgte ana
Art i'm hc Christ Of Philosophy, but rely on the Cnris re-
Yclcd Ia your own nature. lie Is your Clsl LOt nAe
mine. not ike this mans CIist uhyeIsL ~ 90 eItit
10 be enshrned la one soul Ana now ~ tls tilhe
OF the cee ebrRton OF His coming why should not such
Christ be revealed you you never conceived or De
fore this child CnIist be born once AGAIN m thc man
ger OF Your soul Rejoice IN al the iuness OF manhood 10
da. give gifts each other aud De glad but ABOVE all
lei this Christ DC manifested IN your own soul