The New York herald., 1877-09-10
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.
RELIANCE on THE LoID-sERMoN BY REV. d

RELIANCE on THE LoED-sEIMoN By REV. DI.
JULIAN.
Rev. Dr. Julian, OF New Bedford, occupied Mr.
Beechers pulpit in Plymouth Church yesterday morn
ing preaching to a moderately large audience from
the text, Romans, xxxL, S:-'lf God be for us who
be against usY' AS introduction to the Lesson
sought to inculcatc from the text DR.. Julian OBJ
served that every thoughtful knew thnt all state
ments OF truth in human language might be made TO
affirm what is false if the point of view from which
the words were uttered changed or ignored.
Even those who seldom think learn that the ordinary
language of conversation Is never exact Any man
whose words have been recofded may be made to de-
fcnd what he rcpuuates and oppose what he accepts
II please to consider his utter&nces separately
from the standpoint of their declaration. Even
the language OF the philosopher, SO ex-
ceedingly exact compared with conversational
language, also capable or fmsconstruction i men
were unable to appreciate or purposely ignored the
point OF view from which the statement was made.
"Looking back over the history OF the world" said
The preacher, and calling 10 mind the wonderful
eentiuns and discoveries OF later centuries, We COM
ment on the ignorance and want of enlightenment in
she past but when turn TO the future and consider
what be learned, when take, for instance,
any particular science and follow 1t lar revealed
from meditation declaring what blind
groping In the dark all human history and human
thinking are There IS q standpoint from which
intelligent man looking at the progress OF modern
science bows his head in before its leaders
ana nerc IS another IRON which he Is compelled TO
say these great men arc alter all but children, and
tho very alphabet of science is still mystery. In
the midst the and discoveries science
and arts OF this century German thinker has
recently asserted, without fear contradiction that
the great part OF the sciences comprised bnt one
single word, perhaps and the whole history OF
KIND contained but three words, BIRTH suffering and
death.'I
MEN LOVED BY COD.
Advertng directly to tue text he said that many
men estimated all arguments based on the assertion Of
Gods action in human affairs as being only an
evidence OF superstiious and narrow sentiment but
IS practical harm. The objection was BASED on the
belief that the progress OF centuries demonstrated the
laws which governed individual Iiic and the move
cnts OF society," and that the modes OF divine action
were known and worked, when the fact WIS, Lord
Macauley stated, that II compared the little truth
We knew with the infinite mass of truth did not
know We would be all shallow ard ignorant together.
and the greatest philosophers would he The first to
confess II. The teaching OF tho text was that men
were loved ny Cod had Il right TO cheer Themselves
with the thought that God their side and that
.hey need never despair OF success in dong Hts
~L There was scarcely text IA tho Scripture which
created so much discussion difference of opinion.
Men protessed to believe that II argued lavortsm en-
the part OF God and ,ncy using this teaching to
increase their own purposes sell righteousness. But
God was for all well those that served Hin;
has been plainly declared that od IS no rcspccter
Of persons and our ignorance ui the means by which
the heavenly Father gives special guidance TO those
that trust HIM proved nothing against the teaching
itself Ii reasonable 10 find comfort and on
couragemcnt IN such thought as this even II the
false and superstious aud bigotcd abuse the
teaching as oefcnce OF thcir false cni ng However
ignorant may be OF the methods and modes oil Gods
action aud may deceive ourselves or others
with false evidences of His Providence, every man
either stands ON the side OF God and has special d.
vine hclp IN his life and heart else follows bis own
course In life without His help and against HIS will
In looking at the advantage which such special rea
tiopshfp 10 God implies We should not regard as a
mere stimulant TO the emotions While in prayer
worship but as practical Improvement In busl-
ness and home life The outward life OF The Christian
vas not generally one OF much physical persecution.