Year: 1878

thought the matter over before preaching. and had
arrived at the conclusion that the wisest course was
to avoid al reference to public topcs that the poll
tics of this country were in germ condition, anu
that nothing better suited TO such situation
than rest; that all things. far as the admnsta-
ton was concerned. seemed to be working together
for good and that the only question of exciting
character was the Southern, and that that could not
be benefited by any partisan discussion.


The subject OF the sermon was ram ana Pleas
ure," and the text selected part Of the 2oth
verse OF the 10Ith Psalm"rhou openest thine hand,
they are filled with good"


Mr.. Eeecher said that the tendency and true de-
veiopment OF the world was toward brightness ana
JOY Sorrow had been used as an emblem Of life IN
above the horizon. Human life was described in
very much OF our literature US vale Of tears but.
on a survey OF the facts. this was not borne out.
His own impression that happiness WAS the
tendency OF creation, and to great extent that
tandency accomplished itself. Suffering from
the departure from tho law of right. II we noticed
we should find that complaints OF unhappness came
largely from the higher ranks and not from the gem
erai OF creation. Conscious enjoyment the
unmstakabe characteristic in all the ranks animal
life our concet ought not to blind the fact that
the human race. Us compared with the other branches
OF creation, is il hopeless minority regards num-
bers. suppose hy was born at ten O'Clock in the
morning and is caught in the web at live in the even
ing IT, at least had had seven hours OF happiness.
I have often. summer afternoon. said Mr..
Beecher. watched the birds in the pasture ! have
noticed that some feed high in the air. and only
there; some on the ground. and only there
some on the shrubs, and only there. Every
Nelu seems to have its grounds rented our 10 the
birds as it were. How happy are these birds Thcy
clothed without taiors, housed without archi-
tects fed without butchers and bakers: they nec no
to make up their beds; one to wash their
dishes and have breakage OF exquisite china
Their life is life of delight. and their eath Is with
ont pain When on a summer afternoon have
watched the business of the under classes in nature
have come to the conclusion that they are all happy
and therefore am happy for to see happiness IS to
be happy.


Mr.. Beecher then referred to the condition of man.
and said that when to reflect upon man
there great difference. Joy and suffering were
in greatly augmented just liability to discord
is greatly increased when additional stops are put
into the organ. The general impression was that
suffering the law OF the time and that suffering
was the average lot OF the human Both sides
ought to be couuted before arrive at our conclu
sion in this regard. We should reckon the days OF
unregistered peace well as the days OF pain. The
years Of childhood almost always days of unro
stricted pleasure When the child merged into adult


life there two fundamental conditions of happi
ncss-heath and activity. Sickness tho excep
shone the moral sentiments and the sweet
est aheaions. The clear, clarion notes of
the soul forth only in health. Men
pointed to the night il there had been days.
they pointed to tho stars though there had never
been sum- The arrangements for joy and enjoy
ment in the nature OF man were something wonder
full The number Of joys that sprung from the aifcc-
tons ana the reason were without number. Even
had its joyous side, and through the exercise
OF the moral sentiment we could count. as tho apostle
did, oil sorrows as joys. We forgot our joys but
membered sorrows One seepleSs night would
lie black in the memory while thousand nights of
sweet rest had no record. The very emphasis given
to pain evidence of surprise and disap-
pointnent. One day of indigestion had monument
erected to it. It duty therefore. to join in
the song OF the Hebrew psalmist. who "Al the
earth doth praise Thee 0 God" Mr.. Beecher con-
Guided by reading the 14Sth psalm.