The New York herald., 1879-12-15
THE WAY OF THE LORD.
Small Congregations Addressed by
Popular Divines.
RELIGION IN EVERYDAY LIFE
Mr.. Bcecher Recommends Implicit Faith in the
Presence and Providence Of God.
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.

THE PEACE OF GOD-SERMON BY THE Rev.
HENRR WARD BEEcHER. .r
"And let the peace of God rnle in your hearts,"
the text selected by Mr. Beecher yesterday morn
ing. He commenced his discourse by The statement
that in tho Greek text it not the peace of God.
but the peace of Christ and that read in the
Greek. Let the peace OF Christ rest in your hearts,
He then spoke of the conflicts and agitation OF the
human heart and urged that the peace spoken Of in
the text was intended to rule and reign over the
human spirit. that its discords might experience
harmony and unison. and the soul of man might be
filled with peace that the apostle had described
undeseribable when he said 1t was peace that
passeth all understanding. In defining the OF
these disturbances and conflicts Mr. Beecher
the unrest that felt by conscientious believers
when they reflected on the requirements Of con-
science and controlled them with the performance OF
their duties. To man with keen spiritual percep-
ton there were times when this incompletepess and
non-performancs of duty produced exceedingly
painful unrest. It was. however. in the midst of
those conditions that the peace Of God was to rule.
The possession of this peace was fundamental to
Christian discipleship. and II there any signs
that man would ultimately POSSESSES this peace II
was shown in just that condition of mind that saw
the conflict that manifest between the percep-
ton and the performance Of duty. In support
Of this assertion the preacher quossd; several
Iss Sermon Peter Who aa
.nreached peace by Jesus Christi the Advent
song. Peace on earth ana good will to men," and
the benediction OF Paul to the church at Phltppt,
sThe God OF Peace shall be with you, and the very
God of Peace sanctify you wholly" These passages
quality Of Gods nature. When. however. we spoke
or this peace in the way just described 1t was very
a fruit without mentioning the various Intervening
instrumentalities. The outcome OF our spiritual
life was the fruit Of perfection But when the Cos,
pei was first preached 1t was anything but gospel
OF peace; yet the New Testament was almost as full
of these Scripture references to peace as the hesv
VAS to produce peace upon the human soul, not .
soporifc influence. but as ahsrmonization OF the
soul with God The inevitable tendency of such
spiritual development to work into q harmony
that eventuated in peace with God.
HOW TO GET PEACE.
Tho process by which this harmony was brought
about was described by Mr.. Beecher. who said that
in many instances there were very bitter expert
ences in tho Christian life. out OF which, later on.
was evolved much sweetness. However useful might
be ZEAL and however beneficial might be the uses Of
nor excitement was . fair exponent OF Christ.
Christian life demanded activity, but the zeal that
H"ns Christian experience It was never to be for
gotten that in the obtainment of this were
workers together with God. who through the infiu.
ence the holy spirit tranquillized aud harmonixed
Of this unspeskable JOY. and who through
unison with our perpetual resolves. Many
persons, however, in their religious experience
wanted to travel by the train but warted run the
train Also Every little squirt OF steam every little
stoppage, every shrek OF the whistle. was TO them
an anxiety and worry They were not content to
lot the engineer run the train. they must worry
about it themselves. The true way was to rest salts
fled with the engineers capability to conduct you
safely along Many people tried to make their peace
with God depend upon their knowledge of how God
manages. Such persons had very little foot room.
after ton of water strikes in continuous waves
against the sides of the ship - 1t Journeys along the
Atlantic we know not how the ship resists It and
gdes along its way serenely. riding in the storm.
All we know is that that burly. nerveless captain
knows them well. We have faith in him.. Implicit
faith in the presence and providence Of God is nee
esssry II to possess the peace that was spoken