The New York herald., 1877-12-24
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.
PRACTICE MANY vIRTUEs-sElMoN BY HENRY

PRACTICE MANY vIRTUEs--BEGMoN BY HENRY
WARD BEEC6ER.
'Can a who prays three times day 60 to hell
Yes. Is there he'll to go tor Yes; here and one
hereafter that does not stay herc.''
These were questions that Rev. Henry Ward
Beccher asked and answered in tho course OF
his sermon. He was preaching on text taken
IRON Matthew, ", 23, 24-"Thcroforo " thou bring
thy gift the altar, and then rcmcmbcrcst that thy
brother hath aught against thee, leave thero thy gift
before the altar and 90 thy way rst be roconced to
thy brother, and then como und offer thy gift" He
had gradually led up to these conclusions in success
sion OF commentaries hypocrisy and religious
anectation.
At tho outset of his discourse tho preacher inquired
what was tho true intent und meaning OF bringing
rit 10 tho altar 1t was method III pleasing Cod.
In antiquity meant concilaton Of divine favor In
short II was worship, and in way and another the
whole groundwork Of the worship OF God concIla-
ton. Man strives to make himself pleasing to God.
At different periods the form OF worship varies, but
the substance continues the all ages. Ii tho
spirit OF these expressed to-day
should say, "rhercforo, If you come To worship sc
To the point oi tho hc would direct their
attention. II would DO observed that II not IL
about to worship you angry with ,our brother
you TO stop, not II CONSCIOUS OF having actod
Justly 10 hun; but II, consciously or unconscously,
you stopped The How Of good will between yourself
and any one you must rcopcu these channels before
entering into with Cod IL not REQUIRED,
however, that you should more than make an
honest and direct effort for the right The declaration
OF one's Willingness to do rcparaiun all that
required. But your first step should be preparation
10 set foot that which shonn reconcile you Him.
II you honestly intcDd such result then come and
prcseGt your gilt Ii your brother will not be recon
rcd you are discharged when you have shown that
you nre amply willing he should be. The orign OF
this teaching was not uncertain. All OF Christs
teachings wore relative 10 things existing about
Him. aud ono oil the things iic most severely
ccnsurod was The pharisacal substitution OF the aD-
etrpct worship OF God Tor humanity aud tho ethics OF
bcuuyoence, a prevalent Tendency cf the time. True
worship he SAID, is the Offering 10 Goa OF yourself
The rituals by which you worship OF validity,
exccp, as a means oil exhibiting your disposition. In
Illustration this position tue preacher iustnnccd tho
costly prcscnts on the OCCASION OF wedding cero-
monv 70 sonic brute of great man made by retain
ers aud thieves, may pc only wth ivcy cXpccta-
zion OF ayors come ana contrnStcd Win MS rccopt
o, these things the genuine enjoyment that would
pcfyndc another household on receipt on similar oc-
cas,on OF the most IrinDg token o. succre gratitude
suai as a cumulon handkerchief wrought oy the hands
of faithful old nurse, and presented as token OF
pure Affection.
woRsurP wiTHoCT HEART.
Who're tho heart is wrong worship - nm Insult. he
had been iouud iauit wn no saId Tor tho manner 10
wlun al times hc had assailed systems ana docibcs
but no nciations ho could utter could convey an
idea OF tho urcc Chriss dcnunciaton oi sncsnccs
that wcro ispIeasing to Him. Iruc nii lorms ana
onsrtngs OF religion. all religious ponp ana corcmony
couid not bo too grand or imposing u iui' VI 'ho