New-York tribune., 1877-01-01
PULPIT UTTERANCES.
OI7TGPOWTH OF THE HIGHER LIFE.
The Roe Henry Hard Be;Aer At plymouth Church (congr9a



Tbf Rer Henry Hdrd Becac At plymouth Church conDre9a
nonaD.
Before the sermon at Plymouth Church yes
tcrdoy morning Mr. Bcrcer said that he would ne glai
10 receive aud take by the hand to-day any DHoh oI
white bond or free rich poor who might care |" ''
upon him The text Romans viii, l5-i7: "ior yo
have not received the spirit Of bondage again 10 rear
but We have received the Spirit Of adoption whereby VIC
ctv abba. Father The Spirit itself beareth witheas
,yi our sprit that we are the children oi God; ana II
children then heirs; heirs Of God ana Joihu heS WI"
Christ n 4o be that suffer with hm' that we y W.
also elornod together" The substance oI 'ho S'Iho
was as follows:
-, A., r.,,rd 10 phvslcaI things the discoveries and
,bes NJ science show us how little has really been
,,ovn even where most known. What Is the lnnc-
tlon of the leaf upon the tree BY what singular power
does the sap rise through the fhers OF the rinkf now
does the seed asslmate to itself nutrllnent ana gro"
Facts most startling and unexpected nave Deeh de-
vclopcd In regard osnch things as these or moro I"
ones where it was supposed knowledge had touched Dot
, put ~ there "a this mystery shrOuding material
ob,ects how much more so in the direction OF soul
knowledge in regard to the infinite combinations posi-
ble in the interior OF the invisible soul tbs Sun chp
OF Romans may be called journey through TINS feah o
the spIrit and dscloses It's inner manifestations lh
the subjective truth presented In the text Is 0hscur" hee
surprise no one hut tins fact Is stated III uhu'N"''
yords-that In the Christian experience the sou may
e,opd in au absolutely certain relation with God All
men can certain Of their relation t2 te %,1 JeSus
Cnrst There may b. It Is true UTnu ne E that iis
provision OF the Gospel that men oTIIhillg nn
become rs SIr t tho IanicboIG Tnr loyinp tom
rer Of the mind the spontaneous rising up oi h siII
toward cod the disposition that reaches out after other
men TO cIp them; all these more than logical proofs
OF the souls cOuditiOn-hey are eNrtriincn'H lt"ns
SncI hos bcau fbc teaching of mon fhat this tuth haS
bccn warned such was the with me In ny chiIl-
When thc way was made so narrow that Christians could
it.
lad risen 20 an exalted state and became radiant WIN
divirr hn,,r he was never allowed 10 peacefully and
Iannl lie In The rrposo OF that hope hut MS way was
agdH ciuudcd by Stem words: 80 5'"lr.lI " ,,'', VI
j!cnt" And So he was Put back aga'n into the darh
There were good things about ts Old ~ th' p'
the habit of growing up IN ignorance OF ones rotations 10
Gn1 f nm ont r9yth Of the Gospels edching1 and no.
where among The apostles do We lind any 'icI
Nv venerable father, after ne cam" 10 bi"oAiy ~ I'''
been more than % wears wcrkn for m"a-as honest
man "a drew breath, manly man am9hE ih i1Isi @
been earnestly trying TO find out the GROUNDS for my
hopes Of salvation have been examining i"r Two Gays
of a new convert aud have nnlliy coa'iudea thnhh9
carefully my lie aud my present H,slHsMUn w tn",
have right to believe shall be #FGl In, 10 ] p
leye it! why, suppose George WasEingtoE iyIE Ipon
all my mistakes and buUdcrs stu! think treaty nave
right to believe tit HaYr Dt,a p'I@D' @ II, c~,I
things We know When man Is mn m nc EnC.ii5 i
knows it aud the pcoUe about him too He KNOWS "Htn
goT ne rs !. riaan TO nm to do good Whether
hr o4rS or not for II he does not kn0" t W oNt7 ne
y
il considered foolish the word over Inc EiccAht OF
nfncr worker who has definite idca OF What he -
striving tor. successful. Ana 80 IN rcIgnH one
may be crrtnin what he seeking ana know Whci ne
has found It, -, "a. .......
remark in the next place, that while Christians may
or OUGHT to be certain of their relationship win the
Fathcr the certainty itself cyid"utia Iha mau
Is certain ne is the OF G. does EOt prove hai Ee Is
His TEACHINGS may have been wrong He aj nave th
led 10 believe naf baptism, mCmhcr-hp IN the church.
ritualsc Observance Of FORMS or the acceptance oi
certain code Of doctrines, Ia, made nm absolutely u
child of God. n' neither tccCSiaStiCil nor ltu@l
ca cy1cuc. o. rUiiricnt man may hHyc thlS ethical
i.po,.ti,n NAV do what seems 10 him to Ia right may
rudeayor 10 be good husband, citizen, ncEhbDr ana
friend without having t' certificate mat ir i Jt son
of cod Another may hc mistaken through his IerTor ol
soul lie may stir MP other mems minds, may cNh''',
uir1j ana warn may buoy TIE whole c.tthHci
frrul rcrr to heaven without reaching the En.r>hlp
men Love Is one If those manifestations that cannot lie
cauntciitiicd True love suffers Tong; through lHt
whole gav Hr whole night tlrudg. the years through
life Il not forever asking WHAT = due me-: II loi-
..s itSci. that tuaN another on Uht !OFt t!
i,rr ,rs l:I -.u.u and rcbuIS, under tEr cross ami
frIt that 70 Was Or-akru by the Father liW>rlt lhry
MAJ arc n disciple, oI Cod have entered lrin hr"inoa
lIpr ul this love, aud nationally ablIt ~ fti-
aiu trI, Nuw like al Lirh conditions ot the lnlhu,
This alilntion with God seldom comes hut
.TJN al HuUgh u seems to ~pIihE up in
some heart, souiau.ul-ly. Bat q l' open 10 all; II
may d.. dcroped ~ all IHc steps are not w"rr tnc"i
than u am other education. Nhca yucc y 8 planted IN
q Ila's heart 10 continues to grow; everything aaE-
mcuis IT, prosperity through Gattuir amt ad't!''y
tsuugu q @ cLas,u'u- ui tae spirit 40 hui ask f"u
n ta r luv fail. o. or ny church, bar ttt t'I VIII
kirdi. now MS fac within your own heart. VIII yod
uut tIy it as actual experience 10 enter mo ihe
IA /. pT