The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-13
Learned Sayings from the Lips of Leading
Preachers and Lecturers.
Mr.. Beecher Tells How Hard It
Is To Be Good.
FATHER MNAMARA MADE A BISHOP.
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.

THE BROAD AND THE NARROW wAY-sERMON
BY THE REV. HENRY WARD BEEcHER.
The subject of the morning discourse at Plymouth
Church yesterday was ''rhe Broad and the Marrow
Way" but before beginning his sermon Mr. Beecher
announced the presence among the congregation OF
the Brotherhood of Railroad Conductors There
is class in the community. he said to whom
greater credit is due than railroad conductors and
engineers 1t is safer statistics show to travel than
to stay at home Such is the carefuness and fidelity
Of conductors and engineers that it is seldom an ac-
cident occurs. woman may travel alone from the
utmost bounds of Maine to the utmost bounds Of
Oregon not only with safety. but safe to be treated
with courtesy everywhere. Few men, he said, have
travelled more than lie, and no could bear witness
to all that he had said.
The text was taken from Luxe. xiii, 23-24-'"Then
said unto him, Lord there few that be
saved? And he said unto them, Strive to in at
the strait gate for many, say unto you, will
seek to enter in and shall not be able" There is .
figure here. the preacher said, which is not alto
gether clear In contemplating the strait gate
is apt to take up the idea OF vast plain with
two roads, one plain and broad and one narrow and
difficult. This idea. Mr.. Beecher thought, did not
adequately explain the figure 1t was derived from
the cities of old rather than from the plain.
Above the ancient cities was the citadel
to which was narrow and the approach diff
fcult. In this the true Interpretation of the
figure in the text to be found. In discussing the
question Of entering i'll at the strait gate he said
that in his younger days it was problem eagerly
argued whether it was possible. by any mans effort.
which divided the Presbyterian Church. Slavery
was the mallet, but this the wedge.
IT HARD ENTER HEAVEN?
The difficulty OF entering into the kingdom
illustrated by many examples. The futile efforts Of
some men to get into what is called society"
fha milo ohn hxyA Rnaoh
may drive through the streets with the htera
and yet find it impossible to become one OF them
Liars excluded from the company Of truthful
men, Patriotism stands aloof from traitors. In
going into society in order to understand something
society meant In the same way it was necessary
to know something OF the kingdom in order to APP
precate the difficulties of those who strive to enter
in at the strait gate. The kingdom Of heaven
means that which belongs to mans higher nature.
In this respect the Christian teachings have antci-
pated the doctrine OF evolution. Above the things
which men have in common with the animal king
dom is the kingdom made up by the higher elements
of the soul.
That kingdom it is not easy to enter! Is it? 'Yes'
Is it? "No." Is it? Both" 1t is easier to live
right than wrong. A man may live by the highest
instincts or his nature more readily than by his
lower animal functions. There more hindrances
to live according to the flesh than according to the
spirit But unfortunately men are educated into
ways OF living which contravene their higher in
stincts. Selfish ends by sinuous ways are part of
is intensified by the law of haDit-becomos
clinched into the very nature Of the man.
we thlnk That our children born
in sin and that wait for their
conversion which is as If nurseryman should let
his trees grow to forty fifty sixty feet and then
transplant them. We wait until our children grow
up and then wait and watch and pray that the spirit
OF God may convert them. man who has been
brought up in certain way cannot easily change
afterward. A person accustomed to swearing may
be restrained by the society OF ladies', but he gen.
orally makes up for it afterward 1t impossible
learn to dance after sixty to learn to play the
piano or the organ after tho muscles have become
hardened.
DIFFICULTIES IN THE WAY CONVERSION.
Conversion. Mr.. Beecher said. only means that q
man is convinced he has been wrong all his life and
will try to do right. There is difficulty in the way
or succeeding. All the thoroughfares OF life have
been established on the lower plane of morals. In
order to enter into the kingdom of heaven it will be
necessary to deny ourselves at every step. The
social element is adverse The business element is
adverse The political element is adverse Broad Is
the way that leads to destruction. Men do go
church; it IL the women who go to church. 1t is
the glory of Christianity to have gathered in the
poor and needy. A man at the bottom of well sees
stars ut midday which he could not in the full
glare OF light But it is not true that religion is
the poor and needy Salvation is not sneaking
thing; it is full of glory.