The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-11-10
HEAVENLY TRUTH"
Words of Wisdom from Men
Ordained to Preach.
THE AUTHOR OF GOVERNMENT.
DR.. Talmage Shows How the East
Wind Affects Morality.
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.

xHx PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIsT-sERMoN By THE
REV. HENRY WARD BEECHER.
Mr.. Beecher preached yesterday morning at
Plymouth Church before q large congregation on
the priesthood Of Christ. He took for his text,
Hebrews. vii. A-2S The doctrines Of Christ and
His person. taught In the epstles of the New Test
ament the preacher said, have nearly always re-
lation to the old Jewish system. Although already
the Jews scattered IN every city they had their
synagogues Jesus the contrary of tho Jewish
high priest. To the Jews the high priest was more
than king-one who was In sympathy with the
spiritual OF the people. Jesus was sent forth
high priest on the same ground. but with
higher enunciation. of much nobler sphere and
nature. Unlike the high priest of the jews He had
NO need to otcr up sacrifices for His own sins and
then fo the peoples. for this He did once when He
offered up Himself Christs priesthood is I'M
changeable, holy. harmless indebted. separate
from sinners and higher than the heavens.
PHYMcAL IIyE rHE DIVINE LAW.
After fully expounding his text Mr.. Beecher con-
siderod the divine govcrnmept in its relations to
man. In the first place he said 1t concerns itself
with physical life and its materials 1t deals by
natural laws. but dealing with men rs matter it
deals blindly and without any moral quality. On
the lower plane Washington and Arnold though
they stood world wide apart. offered the same
poisoned chalice. But even in this lower plane
y
within certain limits may be healed of their
errors. One step further on We reach human
society and there all is changed. The law is no
longer indiscriminating. The bodily acts are NOT
alone considered, but the soul acts. 1t is of the
welfare OF society that the OWL law takes cognzance
and its ends the preservation society and the
reformation of the criminal. The intiction of pain
tor the sake Of pain has no place in this SYSTEM but
1t is on still higher plane that stands the direct
intercourse OF soul with soul.
Mr. Beecher rapidly sketched the attributes of
this higher hfethe intercourse of soul with soul
friendShip beQeVOleQce. M
pathy and love- 1t has character he said, distinct
from either of the other administrations. On the
the social blanche suffers also, but his sufferngs
are modified by his deserts. In this highest condi-
ton forgiveness does not depend upon deserts but
upon love. The father only thinks upon the return
Of the prodiga of the household-"My son, N.Y.
son.. Every father has in himself that which pours
out his whole soul in forgiveness and makes him
say as David said, my son. my son. would that
could have died for him."
God is the author Of government-of royalty as
we'll IS republicanism. He governs in all of these
ways. through society 4 well the law of love.
Mr.. Beecher then illustrated the government by
love by numerous examples. A man Is . mining
engineer: but rude his life is underground shut
out from the stars and the sun above ground, he is
more than miner-he Is citizen; he is more than
. citizen-he is householder; he Is more than a
householder-he is a husband and father. Only the
companion and the children know the heart that is
buried beneath the rude exterior of the miner.
Christ set forth the symbol Of compassion upon
the ignorant and those that out of way He
King of kings and LORD Of lords This compassion is
that element. above all Others which the human
race needs Every creature that Is born comes into
lite to make an experiment What friend every lived
that was to o man like his mother? What friendship
has been like married love? The preacher then
described the pcrturbed sleep OF men, and said the
sweetest hing he ever the sleep of little
children. In conclusion, Mr. Beecher said If there
to stand at the door where come out of this
life q fateful God to strike them down he would be
impolled to cry. Lot there be no God" Justice is
the first attribute. and God promises that He will
have mercy Men may become the recipients Of the
higher nature Of God and be saved through the
INTERCHANGEABLE priesthood Of Christ.