The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-06-04
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.

Mr. BRRcHER ON 1HE INFLUENCE OF GOD ON
NAN AND TIE PROGRESS or MODERN
THOUGHT.
Plymouth Church yesterday morning put on for the
Srst lime this season summer aspect: the doors
open all sides There were several pews
partly occupied and thero was no crowding OF stran-
lsrs The different entrances. The floral decorations
H the platform abundant aud Of great variety OF
Iolor. The subject Of Mr.. Beecher's sermon was the
action OF tho divine nature man, and an oppor-
tunity was taken to comment recent scien-
size theories that are generally supposed to be
antagonistc orthodox belief The text selected was
the thirteenth verse OF the second chapter Of the
Epistle OF Paul to The Philppians-"For God which
worxeth In you both will and 10 do OF his good
pleasure This passage. said Mr. Beecher, Is 60.
ng to be q point Of much greater interest than It
has been, although It Is always precious.
II s really philosophical statement Of the relation
Of the DIVINE mind TO tho whole pncnomena OF
sure, and has within II questions that just now
agtsted by various discoveries and the relation Of
theology 10 science. These are questions that are
pressing just nov upon the minds Of all thoughtful
people, and the result OF any change IN philosophy ID
always 10 breed doubt unless very carefully acted
upon. IL Is always necessary 10 remember that tho
statement Of n truth may vary and be different from
hundred or i've hundred years ago. and yet
lhe truth In that statement Weare apt 10
khipk That because II comes 10 US IN o different form
the ruth itsch has been abandoned We have here
the statement that God Is the oil vitality When
look Within and without In the PHYSICAL realm and
in the spiritual world that God INSPIRES tho
tviiy Of The general or normal condition OF our ma
lure
WHAT WAS ONCE THOUGHT
Look at the progress OF human thought on this sub
pcs Originally u held that everything proceeded
Rom dircct OF tho divine sovereignty; that God
nado all the countless myfIads OF iie ana that IL
gas derived from local aud direct action OF God.
Everything was foreordained all the phases OF social
md national hfc were the direction OF God. Men
thought that 0ou put Judgments ON kings and that 1t
Nas all thought out heaven, and that He directed
svcn the strategy ot bAttles. Nooody adopts this
philosophy method oi the divine action tn these
lays The government OF God 10 intermediate. God
Is not WORKING out your saIvation he Is working IN
you Tor you ~ work II Men NJ hrst began to feel
that there were natural laws; and then they made
Their progress by beginning 10 recognize the ind
yiuuuuty Of the human Will. and thus men began 10
eeI csponsb iliiy, which was an impossioo emotion
unless lhay could control their own conouct ineh
they began TO ee that nations and armies were unucr
The influence OF certain laws IL was almost bias.
phsmous nj Que say that Sod was on 10. SIDE ot
The strongest baitalioDs Nobody thinks basphemous
now I hen men last beginning ~ thnk tnat tnis
is the true philosophy Of the intellectual realm that
All products are the result OF great mental
laws and that the energixEg influence may 90 from
God, but that man can DO more than nis mental
powers will allow him 10 do. II Is the same IN Toe
spritua realm yet men, for the most part say .na.
Ibis the Holy Holes, and that IN this realm zoo
shuts Himself up Yet tits not so ln ~ sphere o.
religious experience vi every other experience, tue
eject % general upon you IL God that workstn ~
you. man who studies mathematics don't pray W
God 10 solve hIs problems for him. he NAV pray that
0od may give him vitality OF mind and energIze ns
nAsssa bst has al Ne hes say right 10 expect Vhs