The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-03
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.

FORGETTING THE PAST AND PRESSING FOR
wARD-sERMoN BY REV. HENRY WARD
BEEcHER.
Mr.. Bcechcr took for his text Philippians ILL.,, 10,
14-"Brctnren, 1 count not myself 10 have spprc-
hendcd: but this one thing l do, forgetting those
thin.s which bohind and reaching forth
which arc before, press toward the mark tor the
prize Of the high calling Of GOO in Christ Jesus y
This Is not, the preacher began, . general pro-
scription Of the of retrospecton, but useless
and unworthy retreat IRON tho present lilo and i,s
duties into the past. The normal state Of tho true
heart Is ono OF cheer, aspiration, hope enterprise
The whole life should point forward and upward
Our heads should be stretched forward, as travel
lcr's on an unknown road, or tho pilots, whose
eyes mover turned behind him. Any use OF tho
past wrong which tends discourage tho present
cloud tho iuturo II should be used 10 inspire but
never to check growth In virtue. The text forbds
looking back upon our achievements In n spirit OF
conccil. That Is not culture enough which enables
you 10 pass without rcproach In the company Of
cultivated men. That 10 not refinement enough
whlc h passes Tor refinement among the fashionable.
Tue man who does not require more OF himself than
me law OF the land demanas OF him 10 an igboble
We must i've Tor ideal and an Idoal should
llm,. IL should grow as wc get nearer to II We
should never be content TO settle down In the be el
that We know enough or have done enough Our APP
petite for truth euld never know abatement A
reasonable measure oil pety Is the most unreasonable
measure. Piety should nave no bounds. The hunger
ANA thirst Tor righteousness should TO as constant
and as regularly recurring our desire for food ana
drink. We should tako no counsel OF content m nt.
Forever onward forever upward, should DO our only
motto thing to oe heartily regretted is inc pre-
mature rcirquishment Of the active duties OF this
life. We should nnd IN our achievements In tho past
Tor that leisure which trenches too closely
on Incidence The young are not sill ply bilious but
romantic 4 pity the young man who 10 not romantic,
who has Ideal higher than he can reach. Though
you Mud your strength overma chsd, do what YOU
can. matter how lar IL tails below that which you
have yourself 10 do. Multitudes OF men thrown
tccts OF their lie are so lar beyond what they can
hope 10 reach that u seems useless TO waste more
time IN the endeavor. They look at the past and
thcrc tho mistakes, the mishaps, tho failures and
revolutions which have thrown them OF The track
,ud told their hands behind them, content TO walk
Iu,cty down the mil to tho ingiorIous grave that
iwa,.s them at It's loot Many In the prime power,
having acquired competency, think that they need
DO no ore. SO they retire into what they consider
= dipnincd quiet ude a refined joymcnL No man
has Il rIght TO put himself ON the shell. There are
only Two men VINO have risnt to put you as'ae-tne
doctor and the sexton. some mon are Ike tho horse
chestnut tree, which grows only one month In the
year; but sho ud ratner take tho orange Tor
our motto, Tor " 10 never without green leaves and
white blossoms.
IL Ia permitted to the worm 10 retire that II may
change It's fvrm IL enwraps itself In q sken roDe
and ndcs In cocoon 10 prepare itself for higher
lilo. But II dont go into the cocoon Tor pleasure IL
is permitted to man, as nc gross DID, TO lay asiuc
his accustomed nvocations and tako up others when
are equally usciui aud from which poverty may nave
kept him in his youth Do not sock TO lose rcsponsi
biies, but TO take tncn on. Don't talk about your
failing nsc and, above ALL for decency's sake, don't
ialk about your diseases II you have the rhcuina-
,ism be satisfied that you IT, anu don't toll US
,bout IT, 80 sure IT'S neuralgia, and Keep n to your
SELF we don't want II. Dont coddc your weaknesses
and wrap and bandasc your innfmilics. Your pride
shoud seek 10 b,de them. Let the heart OF the tunes
beat upon your heart Don't SKIP out OF the rsnk
and synipatny Of working people. Love the young
and live with them. Let little children nestle In your
heart. they viii keep II warm. A bankrupt old man
~ inc snddest sight Ia tho world; but n healthy,
happy, kindly one Is one Of tho most pleasing sights
TINS BATHS or LIFE.
L,Io /. campaign. IL you are defeased In tho nold