New-York tribune., 1881-03-25
But when sne doffs her waving plume,
aha etanda q maiden fair.

GOD %S AND OTHER SERMONS. l2po gP gP 2Ss ;, iSs ~
Rev F. H. CIfAPD, d. Pastor OF sne I,lIa EIn" " 'D0
Divine Paternity. FeW-York: James hnier'
The recent death OF the distinguished author OF
these dscourses imparts to them an interest wnich
deepens the impression Of their high excellence
Moat of them are extemporaneous dlscourses pre-
served by the stenographer, bat the second volume
contains seyeral manuscript sermons. The extern
pore sermons, however, unlike most OF snch enorVS'
read well, and do not leave In any degree the I'M
prssion OF carelessness or crudity. However spon-
tanecus the language, the substance bears the
marks of careful thought and management Inc
style is wonderfully vigorous, simple ana airec',
racy and ipcisive. relieved at times by q QuainV
figure or q flash of humor, but withal serious ana
dignifed throughout, never running into luppancy'
nor disiigured by the CHASTITY attempts 10 DO
funny" which too often characterize Hii0'i'i
preachers.
True men of all creeds will recognize in these ser
mons the utterances of true man of large, gener-
GUS nature acquainted with both mer and Dopks'
and keenly alive to the evil and sorrow Oh the
world. Without trace OF asceticism, with a GER
tain robust heathiness the dscOuIs are yet most
reverential and devotional in their tOne christ 10
their keynote the centre of the preachers love anu
loyalty In his view the deep spirit OF all the DeSt
movements Of society como IRON ChrlsIs iiie auu
teaching. Spite of all minor and technical perplex-
glory of Jesus the spirit of Jesus Christ the great
ness of the works of Christ overwhem all these
Faith in Him is more than historical belief. 1t re-
ouiros the conviction of the intellect and the beet
of the heart; belief not only in His divine preex-
istence or HIS deity but belief in Him as the way
thu truth and the life involving an assimilation 10
His spirit and life.
He ia not blind to the magnitude OF the ISSUE
raised between science and religion These issues
he SAYS are arterial questions, compared WIN
which our sectaran controversies are only skin deep'
They reach far beyond points OF teXtual CRITICISM,
or even of historical Christianity. The facts ot
science cannot be cancelled. Therefore, in relation
To the great interests of religion they must be adj
iusted. believe they will find an explanation
IN which re Iigion will emerge with renewed fresh
ness and reality. But they are questions when IN
no way are to be shrked or paltered with" Az inc
same time he claims that F" they who maintain the
affirmations of the Church arc not merely the ue-
fendants in this trial" Christianity has facts no
less than scencefacts of history and facts OF con-
sclousness; and "each having his own checks OF
eason and experience, why should he whose iacts
are ranged upon one plane of being surrender W
him whose facts are ranged on apotherf ln"eeu
dogmatism and assumption arc confined to no party
or profession. The materialist in his way is Us
intolerant as the Churchman or the priest. There
ia bipotry which arms itself with the cruciDle ana
the microscope as there is bigotTy armed with the
crozier and the creed.' Dr. Chaplin deals with the
outcome of religion rather than with Its phlloSo-
pky: with the kernel of Scripture rather than WIN
the exegetical shell. Not unfamiliar with exegeti-
cal difficulties he dwells on them only so FAR as Is
needful to clear the way TO the heart OF his text
He does not affect contempt for theology, but Keeps
il in its true place behind life and practice. "Ihe
truth or falsehOod of any theory Is important thaE
bears upon spiritual realities. and colors ali our
views of life and God and duty. This is the value
of doct1nal truth Not that it gives us intellectual
or logical consistency; not that 1t constitutes q
sharp-edged system with which We can win con-
troyersy; but it is valuable because of the great
truths it clears up, and the different stand
points from which we may look upon God, our own
souls, our Own relations possibilities and powers
His own moral insight is deep and keen, and his
exposure of moral sophisms relentless. lie Is
hearty hater of shams of oil kinds and Is at no
pains TO conceal the fact. He knows how 70 handle
a social evil with equal planness and deiicacy' as
is apparent IN his sermon on Shameful Lite'" he
is powerful and tender in appeal, bold III the ex-
nression of his convictions without regard to their
conflict either with social sentiment or theological
opinion. A man OF the same robust type n Mr..
Reecher his training was sev.ger and his preaching
more methodical. Not lackiE,, in spOntanrity, his
mental and emotional currents were not 20 swift
and impetuous as those OF the Brooklyn preacher.
Not so prolific in illustration, In which Beecher IL
perhaps without peer. he uses Ii fellcltousIy anu
tastefuy Not 30 startling he is equally fresh and
ouite as stimulating to thoughtful hearers. His
diction is neither so stately 80 gorgeous, nor so
highly polished as that of DR.. storrs, but equals 1t
in clearness and surpasses it in ncisiveness. II
congregation which has listened for succession of
years to such sermons as these has not been IN
formed with higher motives and stimulated to
better living it has not been the fault OF their la
mented pastor.