The New York herald., 1878-10-07
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS COME NIGH UNTO
UsERMoN BY REV. MR.. BEEcHtR.
After an unusually long summer sbsence Rev.
Henry Ward Beechcr preached from the Plymouth
platform to crowded congregation. Beside the pas
toral chair the usual large bouquets The audi
torium looked brighter and cheerful after its re-
cent cleansing ana rsdecoration. Mr.. Beecher
seemed In rudy health, unless the bushes on his
cheeks were tokens only OF pleased embarrassment.
HIS figure stoulcr, hts manner vigorous as ever
He prayed with deep earnestness, giving thanks tor
the restoration to and the greeting and the rejoic
ing in the Church that had been TO It's people q
gateway to heaven" The singing OF second
hymn followed by tho delivery OF the sermon.
The text was chosen from st. Luke, K, 9-"And
heal the SICK that therein and say unto them the
Kingdom OF God is come nigh untoyou" Nothing, said
Mr. Beecher. be more striking tnan the spiritual
insight that Christ displayed all His teachings II
from hkcning outward things 10 the eternal and
remotest truth. He taught as one VINO only saw the
outer lie illustrating the ihner as one who inter-
pfetod by insight oi thoughts which lie beyond tho
nses. There are facts or truths which can only be
dlscerned by certain acuties
CHRisr's VIEWS OF LIFE.
Those who have suOtiesL sensibility or percep-
ton possess insight, or further sight, whichever
you prefer 10 call IL. by inner INSTRUMENTATION OF
the nina they see beyona The mere surface
Spiritual insight existed in the Mas
Yer s was peroepsou, comp somprsnsns,on ~ o.
and religion IN the different stages oil lie. He mad
higher iaea OF right and wrong. Justice as men
behold u is as ragged as the suns edge or the noun
tops. AS He II IL radiant develop
mcnt o. love. We look upon men as they are. he
saw them as the SHADOW OF what they ought 20 be.
All time lay in the plane OF Hi vision. Lie
Him unl. Meu rose up not only AS creatures here,
OF ha.ie birth; hut whose HE Is Infinite DE Was
the master OF absolute truth Ha behclc human
nature projected upon the spheres where Cod HIM
Sell dwelL While He them weeping, H3 saw
m, TOO, IN fearless LAND. In becoming human he
was MOI exenpIeu from tue alienation OF human light
shade. Lille did not always wear Tor Him the
same level aspect There were some hours. doubt
less, He Ielt only man. There others
III whicn He knew that He had come iron the Father
woula return him. Once the human lmpul-
guided to tho washing OF the disciples ieet
Apa,n the neayens opened ana The whole divine con.
5ciousness tered INTO His soul dc iIe and
man higner realities ana divine possibilities TINS
perecl state OF thought ana ieeiing he called the
this that He tolc the disciples
preach. Times OF general religious interest BRING
the Kingdom OF God nearer 10 men, Revlvals
are iacis do not mean 10 exponnd them or TO de-
end tnem or to Apply TO the problems which they In
voIve any philosophical solutions whether tney are
10 DC explained Dy known natural laws OF the body
do not undertake to say. But wc do know that they
are IKE tue tides which cone up INTO ,he naroor aud
lift the grounded craft They are tides oi spiritual
feeling that beat into colnmunities. Muiitudes Of
men, socially sympathetic must so with the tide II
gracious Iorces hit community it Is easy
70 be carried on 10 a hgner and safer anchorage.
ANY CONSCIOUSNESS which strikes rough mau giving
10 nls inner sense u keener dissr ctlnr edge whicn
separates greater the rgnl trom he wrong,
brings HIM nearer 10 the Kingdom Of God. Multi
tudes OF Us do not try 10 discriminate between the
good the bad out take Lie we hnd it-C0arse,
crudc-contriDutir only 10 the necessity OF living.
Our animal Daiure becomes morass from which arise
exnaatons oil appettes, OF passion anu oil pride,
fouling the upper atmosphere OF life. Human nature
Is the same IN the church outslde-wOrsc, II any
thiAg-for men nowadays substitute religion Tor
morality ana pubic observance IS cloak Tor private
RELIGIOUS ASPIRATIONS.
But bad as men they alter all In the initial
state. TINS Is the line OF G0d's thought Human
iruiL But does tue acid never turn 10 sugar. Does
the green never turn 10 yeIio~ aud rcdY there are
~ Wall street ON wDon temp atons see 10 sDt
ike the current oil stream, passing ny ou either
side. Utuer think that tney nave q design IN not
snnng-lhat II Is policy, and not nobility oi sou.
VINO rs 10 him SAINT. l am sorry Tor any man who
satisfied that there is concrete holiness this
worm. Little culluren are our angels and the aged
our apostles They preach the beauty OF hoii-
mon live seinshly throughout their active iiie and
by and by get SO good taste OF well doing ana mud
II sweet novelty that they change the whole
character OF their behavior. Those who come
gain sense OF lneir own loliy aud OF the wsdom Of
words, clay up Ior yourselves treasures In
heaven, are not far IRON the ngdom of Cod Many
oil them, however, viii never get any nearer. Any
endless development OF hle carries rs toward God.
To men oil sensitive natures there come aruent
yearnpgs unreaiizcd Iongings Tor better ie. Thank
God, these are something different from common
sense, as averaged by men OF Inc world. These I'M
pulses, these cries tue inward man. are real There
worthy but gives thought 10 these tn ings.
IL possible TO throw them ben md your uack-io be
called Dy all voices and yet TO refuse 10 listen To
ionow. But tor those VINO do thus Is reserved The
simple awful ultcrance:-t'Ihe harvest is past
rhaQ MAJ Ia nd ad Va ro n nj Suved