The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-06
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.


REV. HENRY WARD BEEcHER.
Plymouth Church full a the morning service
when Twelve young men and women we're baptized,
by sprinkiing. and forsy-ons we're admitted 10 tho
church. M Beecner preached from Romans l., l6:-
"For | am not ashamed OF tho gospel OF Christ"
rhroughout HIS life the preacher began Christ ist
she pressure OF contempt aud OF shame In the com.
munity where He moved, and He affirmed thai Who
ever should ieel ashamed OF Him Then He himself
should be ashamed of when He stood before His "a
thor. Al even Christ suffered much on this score,
how much must Paul have ielt. who was
OF ali men the moss sensitiveY Alone, with.
disciples or foilower In Rome. which then
ensmeiled thickly, as It wsro with the Greek cvil,za
lion. no everywhere met with repulson from tho
proud, aesthetic, imaginative people whom he boro
mis- message. He WAS . man Of exceptional power,
but one whose power lay IN an unusua direction, and
though the highest In the kingdom Of God yet not
appreciate by the mon oil bus own ume He found
himself among great men and suIoundsd by institu-
tions Of arr and poetry anu philosophy which were
never surpassed. Coming from dsspisod race he
brDught In one OF hY own people, who W his own
people had been put 10 death rs ma leiactoE To
preach sucn y man to the Romans NJ that time was
suflceDt &c render him liable 70 rdicue. Yel when
ho vent among them hs SAID be would preach Christ
only, and Hun crucined; he was ashamed vi Il,
aud no WAS not unwilling TO 20 10 Rome such
IA isson. dow vas that he OF 3D. Tho pn
extremely sensitive. aud why o. all meu has
most abundant expressions OF hope and courn.
Il was because he mad thrown his whole soul so Gu
Enthusiastically tnto me service Christ whose nature
and mission lie saw more clearly tnan any oi me
disciples.
Tho Jews made r.ghtcouslesf, perfect hood, tho
emu aud aim OF all tncn tneoogy aud religious teach
Ject because u was too weak ana 100 strong.
Tue str.ng. Of the N.w Testament ~ that u SHOWS
maui ,nd tue true nature o God. Tho most inlcili-
gent Of antIquny acknowledged that Tho heaihsn
mytloi0gy did uot make men moral. Tue gods lived
apart from human sympatny anu we're never loved,
and though Jupiter Was called the Father OF Mon &c
was only pocllcal term. Nov Cnrist tho
world rs Representation oil tns div'ue character 10
show that God part ana parcel OF the
lie iato The worid sufficiently divi1e TO inter-
pre-. iuo whole nn,ure oil God N iatons TO human
life ana human conduct fhis Paul proclaimed aDovs
everything else. CHRIST was revealed nrst
saviour. then as Lord. being LORD ouIy
because LIE u saviour, DIVINE by reason
oi his adaptation to purify aud
mankind. Hereafter tho wnois question oil
MAPS sinIulnoss Is TO bo discussed GU a different
basis. The Lu3hc mind has changed 10 the origin
vi man. ComnieDtAlors have mad facts prescn.ou ~
them with which they must zeal, Tor they caunot 20
round hem. Tue latest views origin y
man cvpnrm scripture 10 an extraordinary degree
They show nrst The imperscion vi nan-that Is, inc
uugrowu, rude, not ~ soy raw, copuiou oi i4cui
ties; secoLd, his inhimity, his weak, imperfect
state; snd last, MS sriuiness or actual tansgrrs
sions, when distinguish between right
aud wrong aud knowingly transgresses tue law.
These three stages were too often couioundso IA
ALL BY reason OF these needed personal, SAVING
God Paul taught 2,OvO years ago science teaches
CONDITIONS Of wcnkD0ss or strength OF good or eva
inciinatons. aud OF different degrees oi mental
physical aDity. They are thrust INTO thv word NOS
IN form, stamped with tho image of tner maker.
but with every conceivable VARIATION OF temperament
and viii Men arc ocru into iie IN tho body. alter
rise " the exercise OF iheir uIghor Iacuito
Paul says In the Epistlo to the Ronans:-.srhat
which would not do 10, and that wnicn would 40
do not NY spirit looks on anu condemus; but my
flesh rises anu rooes. IL u not bot tny desh. VINO
snail deliver me from this uDaerDody. winch Is con-
stantly snscklDg me aud puiiiug me down." IL
makes difference whether Paul describes this US
his condition PRIOR 70 or alter conversion.
Il Is hts philosophy with regard 10 moral
condition of the human race. CHRIST revealed not
Coz Of pure justice alone NOS Cod ~ho stands
side OF The worid ana curses IT, He created " know.
Ing what He was doing, anu u was this adaptation OF
the avine nature to wnat men we're aud and viii
DO. that showed itself IN Christ aud gave Paul
joyfui hope. He taught tho iden.ity VI the human
spirit with God lie did not hesitate 10 call bfetn-
ron He bids come 10 HIN because OF our innrmi-
ties. He comes and calls US TO Him. Men are
not psrsuadng Cod 10 forgive them, but God 10 per-
kuadl NIX mon 10 DO forgiven.
Alter Tue sermon the sacrament was administered
by Mr. Bsecher and M. Haiiiuay.