The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-02
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.

THE GOSPEL STORY OF THE RESURRECTION AND
IT'S MEANING-sERMoN By REV. HENRY
WARD BEECHER.
The first worshppers who entered Plymouth Church
yesterday morning shortly after nine o'clock found tho
air mpregnated with tho subtle perfume exhaled by
yellow icssamincs and white roses, which, with erns
passion lowers Gala lilies and orchids, filed largo
baskets-one either sido OF the platform Mr..
Bcechcrs congregation, however, expect to SEQ those
baskets every Sunday just confidently as thcy OK
pect 10 the pastor ascend tho platform and sit
down on his and grcatcoat. that there moth
Ing unusual In tho display Of yesterday Neither was
there any extended musical programme prepared in
honor OF the day. Az the opening Warren's Easter
cantata, sThc Singing OF tho Birds was sung very
finely by Miss Eta Camp. Soprano ana Miss Emma
Cranch conrao and choir In the chorus and this
was the only extraordinary feature Of tho service.
THE SERMON.
Mr. Bcecher In his sermon dealt with tho subject of
the dawnng resurrection from tho interior stand
point, from the standpoint OF the Apostles expe-
renee and with relation to tho dawn OF correspond
ing experience the hearts OF Christians IN time
He referred to the manner which the story Of tho
great drama have II together. There
were five dinercnt accounts and not one Of them
could be lit into another accurately. Tho
rallve the New Testament not TO DC taken from
the standpoint OF fact No statement had been
by the saviour HIMSELF nor gathered from HIS lips, ny
tue disciples oil HIS own thought ana personal view
under arrest the cross or IN the sepuchrc Tho
standpoint from which everything had been taken
the effect produced upon The minds OF
tho apostles and spectators oil pncnomcna which
are but obscurey recorded II divine truth III
history was DO the record Of the development
OF certain states OF mind, that tho only thing
which revelation gwen is that tho presentation Of
truth lying OUTSIDE the path OF ordinary knowledge
should be intact ana saic then incidental mistakes OF
details OF consequence. Mr. Dcecher re-
counted the incidents IN which the Saviour was con
the day He arrived in Jerusalem until The
haLa IA pl I'M
Two apostles proceeded TO the sephuicro when they
were informed that Christ risen, Mr.. Beccier
marked that John could not orbcar 10 record that he
beat Peter IN that sacred IL Jonn taken
mean love, and Peter zcai the incident furnished
Instance OF the fact that love VIII beat zeal in any lar
race
INTERNAL EVIDENCE TRUTH or THE NARRATIVE
In the minueness OF tho narrative-whicn men
tiOEcd even that napkin when had bound ChrIstS
head was found rolled up in one corner Of INC scpul-
Chre-Mr Beccher saw evidence which destroyed Tho
theory OF those believe that the Gospel myth;
that gnt germ OF truth been originally taken
up by supcrstitious aud added TO time went by
until II attained present The various appear.
anccs OF tho Saviour alter tho resurrection-to tue
holy women, 10 the eleven TO ST. Thomas, and alter
ward to the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS rehcarsed by the
preacher, pointed the TACT that there was
utter absence VI grand dramatic elect such as would
have appeared IN The history had 1t been FICTITIOUS. Mr.
Beccher then called attention the slowness with
winch teaching comes to conviction In the soul
1t took weeks aud weeks after the Saviours
death the disciples tho facts which they
should have known and believed IRON HIS teaching
SO to-day taught tho truths oil Christ and yet
without feeling their force, perhaps Tor NE
time. until great sorrow and made icel
backward along the truths thai wc have known
long; but when tnen Tor the nrst time, take lie to
us and bring most precious conviction that
can come 10 the human soul, Jesus Christ loves me-"
Faith III the living Christ was tho child OF SORROW
Tuc knowledge OF Christ, Mr.. Bccchcr said,
each man an individual anu pccular experience. IL
could be arrived al by ratsocInaon, II grew up III
And now, said Mr. Becchor in conclusion, on
this morning, when every one comes 70 celebrate the
coming forth from death 10 lilo OF our LORD III The hs
lorcai evoutop--the day Oh which HIS form came
fortnon this day there any other presentation OF
the Lord Jesus CHRIST more worthy Of your thought
thpn tn,s-How shall the Lord rise out o the sepui-
cnre oil my soul ana DC to mo living saviour not 10
NV eve nor my ear, but 10 my spirit a living
Saviour? How shall / nave u risen CHRISTI Your
year ola Christ won't 90; your Christ
~ Jerusalem won't do; your Christ OF the books aud
vour Christ Of the bo won't do. These are all seed
corn but seed Is not harvest There must DO 10
Won n persoual Christ There must be 10 you Christ
that shall DO 10 you individually and IN deed not weak
ness but strength bondage or liberty, AZ home or
abroad the schef among thousand and altogether
loveIv. "