The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-12-22

How the Priceless Boon May Be
Obtained or Lost.
MR.. BEECHER OFFERS IT TO ALL.
The Necessity Of Resignation Emphasized
by Rev DR.. Talmage
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.

PAST AND PRESENT INFLUENCE OF CHRISTI
ANITY-sERMoN BY Rev. HENRY WARD
BEECHER.
For seventy minutes Mr.. Beecher preached yester-
day morning on the past aud prospective in.
fuence Of Christianity. He selected as his text st.
Luke. xiv. 49, 20 and 80. The figure in the text in
reference to the laying Of foundation was doubt
less. intended to be applied. said Mr. Beecer. when
used by Christ. to the rule of lfe and designed
to rebuke that false of curiosity that was
shown by His followers in those days. who had not
the slightest idea Of what that kingdom of God was
that He came to establish. OF what religious
life was Besides that relation OF the figure Of the
text 1t was also. doubtless. applicable to the
whole scheme Of Christianity itself. Tho question
as TO whether Christianity was fitted by the law
Of its foundations for the whole of human life
that to which he the preacher. would address him.
self. The fundamental principle Of Christianity
that the nature Of weak. and it claims that
1t has power that nature by which it can
change it into strength. Christianity also claimed
that it had the power change the emphasis OF e
to change it from the bodily and animal side into
rial well being. 'Seek ye first the kingdom of God
and his Righteousness and all these things shall be
added to YOU" was the brief spiritual maxim OF
Christ. Christianity ID shown that 1t had pow
to reclaim men from evil. From 1t there had gone
apower. continually. by which the leopard could
change Its spots. the Ethiopian his skim and that
those who do evil had learned to do we'll. Roman
philosophy had shown that tho worship of
the gods kept society. but 1t was far more
to show that Christianity reclaimed society. There
was nothing in the system OF the Roman gods that
could change the nature OF man. 1t had also shown
that it had power in 1t to build men up into the
influence of Christian life. As leaven it has
shown itself to have great power. and its influence
has leavened whole communities, and it has laid
foundations for TRANSITIONAL to communal life. But
these were but the beginnings. these wore but the
foundations and the question that came now for
consideration whether the architect was to
anish it. There were two theories that attempted to
answer that. One that the influence OF Christi
anity upon the nature of man was the work Of
direct aud divine impulse and the other that
tins divine impulse implied tho bringing
velop it. II the first theory were true then
this Christianizing influence was like tho wind
that blew upon q ship-the force that drove it
something that outside Of 1t, and Christian men
and women were not responsible for the fact THAI
Christianity had been in the world eighteen hun
dred years and only part OF the world had
been reached by it, The second theory was that in
Developing the Influences OF Christianity all agencies
said that all power was given to Him earth IN
heaven it included all the insrumentalities Of ma
regarded included within the scope of Chris
tanity that developed itself when its power was
demonstrated.
A UNIVERSAL SALVATION.
In this connection there were two views Of the
aim Of the Christian religion II the narrow view
held 1t gave rise to innumerable difficulties. It
was held by some. for reasons not very distinctly
stated. that the major part Of the human family
would be damned and that not single soul beyond
the number axed from all eternity would be saved.
Now II one holds to this narrow theory, said Mr..
Beecher that the design Of Christ and Of the
Gospel to save few out OF the myrads Of souls
upon the earth-if Christianity Is but boat
out to sinking ship to take of . chosen few who
there is trouble You not responsible for the
barbaric condition Of Asia and America. This ques-
ton don't trouble these men and ought not to,
should think. But there IL besides this tho recon-
structive theory of the condition of and society
Gospel. constantly implied in the New Testament.
aimed at in inconsistencies. but never
Hors chrs all no ne
the who have been the most intelligent or every
age have held that the day shall come when. from
the rising of the to the going down of the same
the human family shall have been brought up to
that condition in which. in the individual. in the
city, In political aud social life the whole economy
of possible development shall be Christike. that
ali on the globe shall sing around the throne chant
OF jubilee without the discord of single soul. Now.
II you take that theory. take 1t; there stand.
is standing at the helm of affairs. Though there be
contrary winds and driving currents. the prov is al
| ways steering to the true nillennial day. when
| the whole earth shall come under the power
OF the Gospel Of Jesus Christ This theory involves
the necessity Of making reply to those who stand
the outside OF Christianity and who apply TO 1t
the same thought that they do the governments of
secular affairs It is fair that them should give
for the faith that Is in What. then. has
Christianity to do before complete the edihcei
| That 1t can lay the foundation we have ample evil
non The svaionments and NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. tbsl
has to fight against
THE DOCTRINE OF HKREDITY.
Now, 1t has been found. by ample experiment. that
| 1t has been impossible to convert tho adult world.
| Too late; too late. There has power been known
that will lit up the human race by the conversion
of adults. Adults whom converted and brought
into the Church come in with only half
W% their od armness op nrid a'0 S
subdued selfshness II you compare them down
ward they make pretty good estimate. but IL you
| compare them upward they fail. Nor will there DO
anything better until the time shall when tho
children shall be brought into the kingdom Of God.
| so
when the father is Gods priest whom the time comes
when the Guild brought up In the nurture and ad
in that way there will be need OF those
binary after influences And there has got to be
Whereby sa ssS or Sar,s
is IL not plainly impossible that children
thine OF heredity Is trucy Yes. that is So But the
nnal triumph OF Christianity has yet to be accom-
plished by u better understanding OF the law of
transmission. II there thing that true.
| it is that God has fixed into the constitution of
things and ordered by law that parents transmit to
them. The result OF this IL tr nsmission of con
genital depravty and this implies deeper study Of
the laws OF development and transmi ssion. But
where is this taught?-not In our pulpts. II is
taught about sheep and horses. but to men born in
| the image OF God. heirs OF eternity, this terrific
| truth Is unbroached. and the whole world
is sunk in iniquity because there are so many
| ginning. How it will end and how IL will cease
cannot zee, nor do know. but before the tower IL
nnished Tor which THIS foundation mas been laid
am sure some way will be found to check this
| genital dcpravity.
Mr. Beecher then alluded to the strifes and bitter
ness OF churches and to the condition OF govern
| ments. This week inaugurated the great week OF
Advent. How Russia loved England, now Christian
England loved Russia and how both OF them love
Turkey Hopeless rs such condition OF things
looked he still beloved in great millennal day TO
be brought about by the development in the in
dividual OF u whole souled regeneration In which
every instrumentality would be made available.
RROOKI,YN TARERNACT.E
IMITATION OF CHRIST IN NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
by REV. T. DE WITT TALMAGE.
Rev. I. Do Witt Talmago preached to o very
a nrranafion incl m m