The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-11-26


The race at large moves harmoniously he said,
but beats backward and forward like pendulum from
TO the other and to-day there Is strong
tendency to find ones whole religious lilo in intense
activity, and meditation and differentiation ara
likely 10 be forgotten. II not right, Mr. Beecher
oil plety 10 set aside the active, nor Il
advisable for the active TO set aside
the quiet and ssfconscious experiences OF tho soul
scifcxamnaton duty difficult 10 per form, but
one which produced The very beat fruits secxam'
nation he defined 10 be such an Investigation oil
mans self internally and externally as that he might
know from time to time Just how he stood as com.
pared with accurate standard OF character and oi
life II might in some sense BIO called the soui'z
bookkeeping. He that keeps tho account OF his own
soul tho centre and source OF his whole ITO Was
like a careful merchant who knew The precise condi-
ton oil HIS business, while one who did not was ike
schcming, speculative man. who was always pros
porous IN his opinion, out whose substance was
Men were Constantly tending 10 special external
Standards miss The personal ideal OF scripture,
tie perfect man In Christ Jesus, which ought TO De
the aim Of all true religion
DKrIxiSG AErHoDA
Mr. Beechcr proceeded TO lay down some OF tho lines
which men ought 10 pursue III making this self-exam-
ination. man mighs DO able 10 examine himself in
aud yet not be able to complete the sched
uc, because required great dcal OF knowledge and
experience 10 do yet Was well 10 know the whole
line Of the operation OF determination. Every man
should determine in the first place the general direction
oi his liie-whcthcr he wished TO be religious.
whether ho kept the Sabbath. read tho Word OF God
ana consOrted with good people These would give
the general direction of his lifo. Thon = man was
able 10 review his general conformity or non-con-
iormity 10 those duties which wc perform outwardly
TO The standards oil conduct as they exist Ia civil zcd
society. Then he ought 20 mako revicw Of his prae.
ticcs as regards general ethics duties he should
know whohcr he was determined TO speak the truth
whether he had q con science In business Everybody
ought 10 know about that II Was difficult for man
10 determine just where not only TO DO honest but 70
seem honest In the sight Of mon ~
said Mr. Beccher, .ft not difficult 70
ascertain what 10 thought OF IL. You can learn from
any one who IS doing the same KIM 81 , business as
reply" livery man should know whether he was In
dClcnt, setinduigent: whether no drank to excess,
his precise bearing toward TO- 0O0 Of those practi
Cal uues that LAID down in the Word OF God, and
which should come up Tor the examination Of every
man that 10 be Christian Il was part Of
the business OF every know how his life AS a
Christian comported with whatsoever things arc OF
good report among men.
PxRFUNCroRY BIBLE READING.
A man should from reading the Bible con-
tented with himself but should proceed 10 an exami
nation OF the contre OF action In him. This was not
SO easy tho examination of the oLor points, but by
sns time t ought not TO BIO very difficult In the
cendng SCALE Every man could ascertain That there
the ordinary actions OF human life One man acts not
much by tho sense of right and wrong as by what
men will say OF his actions The centre OF his
moral lite the TACT that he loves the praise
OF men. In another pride Is the centre or
scau sit,yencss and this passion really the
regcnt-tho conscience. One mans conscience Is
taste; Whatever Is fnc and exquisite IS right with him
aud Whatever Is low and coarse Is wrong Every man
duct flows aud he should also know what progress he
was making in the Christian graces and vrtues-pa-
.ience, mcekncss ana their tram Aor .ais ne should
CONSCIOUS lifting OF tho soul to God In love, IN
gratitude and sympathy In pursuing this line Of
sefexamination men would derive great benefit
from having each other's experience reflected upon
them ~ don't much ike the of talking religion,
as 1t is Called" said Mr. BeecheE tAs O clergyman
have never talked religion. should TIL nix any
better OF lawyer who should commence talking 10
the public cars about legal points, or oil doc.
- et,4 norhvtt nnhA amy
ment upon my health or ask the condition Of my
iivern In like manner, Mr. Beecher said he did not
hope today He was always glad to talk on spirit
ua matters with any who desired IT, but not 9TH
erwse Much help could DO obtained from the rela
ton OF fellow Christians experience This
has been tried In tho 'class meeting" but
the great benefit Of It there spoiled
by the fact that tho whole matter became conven-
tiona Where one related his experience for the benc
fl OF Trend one under temptation The greatest
good was attained.
MR. BxEcHER's SPIRITUAL DIRECTORS
Mr.. Beccncr said he had derived more spiritual
benefit from talking with one who was In tho class
and old negro named Charles Smith, than from all
other persons put together. They interpreted Tor
HIN what was going on In his own soul at critical
pc Rod and could discharge his debt OF graf
iludc 60 them until he should see thcm In heaven.
great difficulty in dealing with this question
was that men were ashamed 10 expose thor moral
sores and have thcm commented upon. However
disagreeablc It might be, tho man who sought life
everlasting ought 10 be willing 10 know the truth con-
relate IL to HIM. IL was, however,, very dangerous
thing tell any his faults. ~ have some cour.
age, y SAIL Mr. Beecher, "but really think would
my chances In regular fusilade stormlng
one Turkish forts than TO tell everybody In this
con grcgaton what think OF them. IL would do an
nihilationl" Tho reverend gentleman urged his
hearers 10 read the Bible thoy would household
buck oil medicine When one had physical
pain ne did not read q general history Of pnysic,
but sought out description OF his particular case,
got the remedy aud took IL A man might road the
Bible through seven times every year and not be
h ped just a man might drive u suky 30 mary
times around course without being ever In race.
Each man should read aud ponder upon that which
applied directly himself Mr.. Beecher said he
undcr great personal obligations Tor some OF the
trcatises which have como from the mother (Romanl
Church. ''Onc OF the most delightful moments OF my
Iiie - he said. 'was three or four years ago when
was in great trouble and received from the hand
OF a Jesuit IN New York-or by mail from
talion oil Christ with such passages marked
as he thought would suit ma case, and keep that
book as | do neither silver nor gold; but did not
need know II then, Tor was familiar with IT, ana
had read many years" Mr. Beecher mentioned
several other books of tho sort almost ndispen-
sable striving Tor spiritual elevation. Among
them were "rhe Devout LILO, /" by Bishop Sales. and
'The Spiritual Combat" by Scropoli. III We think
he continued, that because we are Protesants that
We know more than these hammered priests lot US
read some Of those pious treatiscs ana be humble.
We have nothing to teach them, and they have much
10 teach us IN relation TO the spiritual lc.'
In conclusion, MI. Beecher summed up the bless
ings which would flow from y careful examination OF
and declared IL would ut least lead man
the presence OF the Saviour and 10 realization
of the PROMISE al will give you rcsI"