The New York herald., 1878-10-14
THE SEVENTH DAY.
Themes That Were Discussed in
Yesterdays Pulpits.
I D E A L M A N H 0 Q D
Christianity and Progress-Re-
ligion and Politics.
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.

THE CHRISTIAN IDEAL OF MANHooD-sEEMoN
BY REV. HENRY WARD BEEoHER.
The freedom and nobility OF true CHRISTIAN man.
hood was tho theme OF Mr.. Beechcr's discourse
yesterday morning. The real call that Christ
made b.. said, was s'Follow and l will teach
you 10 live.n THIS TACT almost lost sight
OF through the teachings OF a sudden conversion,
and that he who becomes Christian becomes an heir
at once. The Christian school was which
learned 10 live alter certain ideal manhood and Its
irainng em braced the whole OF lie, from the very be
ginning until the end. Mr.. Beecher set forth mis-
sermon certain aspect OF this school, basing bis
teaching upon words OF Paul 10 the philippians
Bo careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer
and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your ro-
quests be MADE known unto Goc."
This, the preacher remarked, was command given
by OF the abest professors In the school OF Christi
and ne went tell who Paul was, explaining that
al the time he wrote the passage referred Es
was aged wearied BY forty years OF toll, OF highly
sensitive and proud spirit, lying in Roman dungeon
from which he never TO escape, and was so do
spissd by men that declared himself to the very
o0scourngs OF the earth
THE
Besides, his body was insignincant and he was
afic ed in way which mado MIN appear contempti-
bic the sight of men, was evident from the
mark about the thorn in his flesh, point, by the
wuy, about which had been thousand
times more curious than they were about how
TO live Christian life. II like Paul Tor
taking care of his old body" said MI. Beecher,
enforcing the lesson that should do
nothing dshonor their earthly tenementa The ad-
monitfon, "Lct your truth be known all men. the
preacher salir:cally remarked, was obeyed by most
people IN spiritual things; but they gave animal
fu rein. Mr. Beccher expressed disgust the
teachings OF those WHO tell US Tree say that
poor miserable sinners; that We are less tnan
nf nnt Wh m Hfti rnaif
10 say that he had grown in generosity or any good
qualify This order OF things was The legacy partly Of
the ascetic school and partly OF false theology -
aver said the preacher, hat II the grace of God be
In a he Will grow. and IL Is his duty 10 bear wit
ness that he has so grown In spiritual things"
lofty spirit of self-control, which enabled q
adversely and prosperity alKe with equanImiiy,
Paul's ideal OF the manhood TO be graduated ont
OF he school OF Christ Jesus The very times
when should snow himself man were the times
when others swept away. On parade any soldier
oud M AXE good ppearance; but test when
the breach 10 be stormed. This ideal manhood
be attained by being simply converted. II
could pc attained neither easily NOR rapidly. rne
school OF Christ like every other school; all
scholars could attain 10 the same degree OF pro-
fcIency; but the ideal set bcsre all overcome,
all conditions OF lie exterior. Somo
learned fast, slow and others never learned At
ALL Tue school OF Christ graduated as many ounces
DrscPIISE OF THE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL.
People did come into thai school 10 be saved,
but be made nt to be saved The hrst step IN ne
direction Of this illness was often taken 0y large
numbers times OF ''reviva.n and SlT. Beschsr ad-
milted that there ground for criticism AID rid
sule many OF these revlyals. The end, however.
should be kept IN view; ior II one had never seen
Gsid OF golden grain. he might IN ike manner, ridi-
cnle The dirty handed man VINO apparently throw
nway into the open iurrowa Mr.
Bescher rejoiced thai wc 1--we Ia an age
OF sceplicsm; but regretted that CHRISTIANS
timid IN parting with old notions
sTrees' he saia, sknow enough to shed their Ozark;
Christians don Y ana therefore they are shaggy and
fun OF insects ali Kinds OF things that hide the
bark Inat ought to crack and peal or But they are
afraid let 20. Our conceptions oil God ought TO
become enlarged purified, Tor the old rchicai
Men, he went on TO say, were afraid OF losing the
Bible v ho never made any OF H. and many were
ready To ngnt who would not i've IL. He was
not afraid science The conception OF what man
SHOULD be was nov established In the world and
God Himself could not eoliteraie TACT. "A great
soul n said, ..s next TO God, and E
soul is bro ght uncsr the pow Holy Ghost
scepticsm sweep 1t out OF the world. IL you
sweep truth OF Christians then the Bibe nd me
creeds nnd better 20 too Gsa nad not iad down any
Christian spirit II a man could develop ~ by any
otber insirumsntaty tnan The Church, he was at
perfect liberty do But,' said Mr.. Beccner,
'.lf you have any iustrumentahty by which you can
do this better than tho ways oil the Churcn Tor Gods
sake let US know H. he went on TO say tnat was
blmself witness OF the elevatIng aud comforting
power there Christ aud repeated the words OF
the Saviour ycarDing souls, .Come unto Me-" fs.
TuE AscErIc VIEW FALSE. f-.r
If this was the conception OF human life and "
Chr,stan life we're deveiopcd out OF II any other
Of inc Christian rrgJon must needs be false. the
ascet,c view was false. The Ten Commandments be-
surposes an under class OF society. TINS ciass
always exist, SO the Ten Commandments would RIDE
tuOiIant IN Al times ~ Wouiu oe uoiceu lhat lucy
we're a string OF ncgatves-''Thou shalt nols''-whe,
in New Testament Tor the first time.
appcared the injunction "fhou snalt.p One limiled
lorco; the other opened up the spiritual forces
The OF commands necessarily preceded the
other; but man should graduate from the condition
In winch negatives ruled aud come under the In
nueuce the positive and higher law. THIS develop
meut OF nature. II was absurd for people
talk about carrying the cross; Inc cross carried
them. After one had passed through the primary
stage emerged i0to the higher rea m no should
not 20 through life with tears ana groans looking Tor
his reward only IN the lite TO Gomez he should IKE
Paul De happy and cheerful always and under all
clrcumstancvs
Any conception of the Divine nature and govern
ncnI opposed the developmont OF this pcrfect
hope and rest and trust 10 God TAI view. Mr..
Beecber believed In God OF justice, wno would
punish here and hereafter; but the pain was mere
iDstrumentality 10 elevate, and would be admins
tered without destroying the sense oil His. goodness
and eentlencss and God SO loved the world that
he gave HIS only son O Q