The New York herald., 1879-11-24
Pastoral Encouragement to
the Faint Hearted.
MR.. BEECHER DEFINES RELIGION.
DR.. Talmage Hugs His Fam
lily Bible.
THE GOOD BOOK IN THE SCHOOLS
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.


RELIGION A LIFE-sEnMoN BY THE REV. HENRY
WARD BEECnER.
After announcing his text-Lukc. IL. 57-62-Mr
Beecher. 1T Plymouth Church yesterday morning
remarked that in this passage have An illustrs-
ton of the remarkable way in which the Saviour was
accustomed to select his topics of discourse. He
did not usually select His from the Scripture as
we do but found His subjects in the face OF nature
When John said master. we saw one casting OUT
devils in Thy name and we forbade him. because he
followed not with u.s. there was presented an exam
pie or fit to be leader OF our modern sects. but
John did not get what he wished. Instead lie was
told 'Forbid him not for he that Is not against US
Is for u.s." This spirit Of John, Mr.. Beecher said.
has always been the sectarian spirit, and
he then proceeded to illustrate the fol-
lowers OF Christ they are presented
in the text Jesus answered the man who declared
that he would follow Him-"You think I am .
prince but am pauper." But while He rebuffs
the one He invites another and this oues excuse.
Lord suffer me first to go and bury my father"
He answers. LET the dead bury their dead. He
made-it was pretence not . reality. And US to
the other who asked rst to take leave Of his friends
he would never get through bidding fareweii-it
told that mo man having put his hand to the
plough and looking back. is At for the kingdom Of
heaven. Is it then an offence. the preacher asked,
for ploughman to look back? In Q mellow field.
where the plough almost takes care Of itself. he
might look back but not in q field newly cleared.
In the rocky ground of Judea the ploughman who
looked back would be thrown head over heels.
WHAT is RELIGION?
This led to the consideration or the subject a. 1t
Affects the great number OF persons who regard re-
lipion q poetic cembellishment-an aesthetic accom-
piishment. In every age men have had an idea that
religion is garment to be put of at pleasure
But religion is something more than an accomplish
ment Painting. music, the French language. en-
broidery accomplishments desirable enough. but
men feel that they can get along without them.
thing-it is life in itself. Men are sometimes
heard to of religion that they get 1t as II 1t was
pill and they could swallow it-a diamond Of which
they have possession. Religion is something
diploma from college. but the giving OF diploma
does not give an education. A man lives his relig-
ion. There Is religion in the Bible. There
directions there for living Christian life.
you. Many men think that while religion Is good
thing 1t is a thing to be deferred. man may have
. million dollars in bullion. He knows that it il
gold. He feels that he afford to wait to have 1t
often regarded as the bullion Of religion. Then.
again. the idea is current that religion is nmita-
ton: therefore to be put of long 1t ID safe.
II man was certain he would live to be eighty
he would live without religion seventy-nine years
and nine months. SO that he might be just able to
shoot through. The beginnings of religion. like
the beginnings Of everything else worth having,
are difficult. This part OF his theme Mr.. Beecher
illustrated by copious examples and apt gesticula
tions. He described the early efforts or o violnst
excellence was reached. he said. the vionsts prac
tice was the abomination of the whole neighbor-
hood. but when his art Is acquired 1t is the delight
OF all.
It il understood that ON Thanksgiving Day Mr..
Beecher will preach discourse appropriate to the
times.