The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-27
PLYMOUTH CHURCH
THE LAW or NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. By REV.
urNpv wApo urrCurp

THE LAW or AssocIATIoN-sERMoN by REV.
HENRY WARD BEECaER.
Al Plymouth Church Mr.. Beecher preached on tho
law Of association and suggestion, taxing his text,
rather remotely as Il might SEEM from Psalms Xxi,
1S, l9-"His namo snalls endure forever. Hcssed bo
tho Lord God, the Cod OF Israel, who only doth won
deruI things, and blessed be his glorious name for
ever" When thing rs presented To mind, said
Mr. Bescher, IL produces immediate impression OF
itself and secondary expression by s power OF sug-
gssion. Without memory this law oil association
would be imperative. there would DO growth oil
idsas and mankind would not single step in
hundred yoars. Everything suggests something
eisc or several other things. Human language anorus
perhaps, tho bost illustration. The word eqaus ~
Latin, horse In English chepaL In French suggests
a familiar animal. brings at once bciors our eyes
aud other sonsos. We conceive OF y dead sym
boil bossoming into 80 much meaning by any law OF
nature. IL Is done simply by the law OF association
Place has just powerful influence In reproducing
thoughts and feelings. How much is conveyed to The
mind and heart by The sight Of any familiar object
sne's early home, iamar tree, a Bible, place OF
worship, room IN which ono nus passed. happy or
unhappy hours The OBJECT which suod near by
ghen some great JOY or srief overwhelmed tho soul
ran never be seen without reproducing The original
Impression more or less strongly. Mnen look from
my bedroom window tort yvuder and sec
s dax run up at sunrise, not only tho thing
sclf-l don't think alucn vi that-but my country,
my naive land stretches out before my eyes, weighted
wuh the scenes OF twv centuries Inc SWORD Is not
merely sworn, Is power, tncn glory. the throne
mcabs government, the altar 10 religion, crown
tho crcct on the monarcn's brow, " ID royalty
Itself, and the cross which oueo the symbol OF
hateful cruelty tho sign Of suffering love aud
ssdseming mercy. LIS Original meaning has bee Gu
ursiv chankeu by the law OF association aud suggcs.
lion. Tue evoiutions OF this law are infinite Its
hon universal
some remarkable phonomena may DO explained by
shs workings VI this iaw. There are doctrines IN
" tho strongest emotions, and IL claimed that be-
,sass holy ana beautiful Thoughts rise their mind
rom the contemplation OF these doctrines tnoy
true. hut TINS reason - utterly Ialsc. IL one has
been trained Wy his parents IN the CalvnisIc idea
I God VI retrUution and everlasting damnaion he
may como 70 regard tna ndeuas image as something
beautiful aud molly. There II law OF charity Ia
shs which want 70 make plain IL oocs not follow
because mans creed hard and UarDarous that he
nimsei ~ hard aud bitter. Hard doctrines
arc like hard rock--tns action Of the sun aud wind
aud RAIN soitcns aud relieves their outline In the mind
Of tnen posscssor.
PLEA roa roLKRAxox.
" depends almost Altogether ON a man,s trainins
now he VIII yard certain ideas and doctrines
servances because you believe IN mo purIsy
aud ,cacy bo,y water you are not to laugh At and
rsviis Tho Catholic who does Any holy lccl,na in
spircd ny the law OIL association is be dc6pised
Inc VINO has taught feel awed In tho pres
snce OF church or AN altar Is no better than him
who has NO, bcsn taught " take on his hat road
soitiy inside tbs portals Of a church n man mas
been brought ny Oy symbols religious ideas will mako
bis miud move more easily through tnat channel lnan
through any otncr. II a man Is superslilivus you
the most dangerous things TO change tho Associations
Of ones cniiunoou Beware Of taking away hat winch
\ man mas always hal witDout givihx him some hing
letter In place oi IT, There are pcfsous VI
pUstscai temperament who can get good
cut VI bsru, nsccuc creed and many
there are VI such u mystical temperament ynat their
form OF enjoy ncnt rs necessarily as ucUuious as tLe
coudA One man says he can worship Goa best by
waking through the woous and neIas. | 40 doubt
thcre are many such; but there are maLy more,
lear, who walch the nowing BROOKS not 10 much Tor
The sake OF the river oil life as for the sake Of
trout. know there who out o.
heir garion than they OF the Cburcn men 10
whom tho phonoincna VI nature speak much better
" God tnan the minister does II "a man waDu,ring
in tho hsus Ia better tnan IA church, blosscd