Year: 1875

PLYMOUTH CHURCH
Mr. BEEcHER ON THE ELoQUEScE or SILENCE


AND THE POTENCY OF ISAcrIos-REcEPTIoN


or NEW MEMBERS


The crush TO hear Mr. Beccher yesterday was simply
immense. Hundreds turned away from the doors
and remained throughout the service in the lob
bes where they could only occasionally hear the voice
OF the preacher. on the platform, either side of
Mr. Beccher's chair several beautiful baskets OF
ferns and flowers The music yesterday excel
lent as usual Before the sermon members
received into the church-eight upon profession
OF faith and two by letter.


The text OF the the nth OF the nf-
teenth chapter Of Mark"And Jesus answered nothing
80 that Plate marveed" We have been long
customed, said Mr. Beccher, to think Of power con-
nected with exortion, that likely to forget that
tho want Of excron is sometimes more powerful than
any display OF active force. We accustomed
to regard the power OF speech In reasoning in clio
quence that forget silence be far more eloquent
than speech. We accustomed to look upon crea
the evidence Of God by the acts Of creation that
hardly look for Divinity in quescent form. Now,
however much the speech OF Christ was eloquent the
silence OF Christ more eloquent The silence OF
Christ much divine as His speech. The uni
versal ofmen is that Divinity is at the core
ergy aud their conceptions Of energy derived from
physical things That Is God which makes more noise
than all the rest Of the world TO the uncultured.


THUNDER MS RIGHT HAND;
the most ignorant savage tremblcs at that
But back the old world history extends II was
a moral earthquake and whrlwind that God employed,
and II worked still that the soul could hear H. but
not the Consider the exertions that are con-
stantly made among mcn-tho forth putting OF energy
both IN the Word OF God and yet more abundantly IN
the Church Indeed, 1t has to such pass that,
according TO the popular phrase, working is almost
equivalent to conversion, and 10 work for Chrst has
become cant phrase, ! am sorry TO say,
like many other phrases which, in my ear are both ir
reverent and offensive. So it Is with the phrase
up Jcsusn Once, in a mans dying hour, 1t
well have him "stand up for Jesusn but when tho
phrase is painted every Sunday school banner aud
shouted IN every prayer meeting and everybody stands
at all times for Jesus becomes mere rafting sound
which has lost all reverence and almost all meaning, At
last there comes the impression that the man who
talks the most breaches most and does physically the
most Is the most active Christian, and men sup
posed 70 grow IN grace as they grow IN activity True
Christ never will be equallcd in activity and external
force by any OF his followers You will recoect the
that occurred when He arrested, when Peter
drew his sword and smote OF the right OF the
want Of the high priest Christ rebuked him. and said,
'sfhnkest thou not that could call twelve legons Of
angels SO that to not do and TO not speak form two
OF the most salient points in His whole ministry. He
would not act, He would not speak, would lie let
others act or speak for Him.


EyEN rnE rouGn HIDE op PoyTIus PLATE
penetrated by the spectacle OF Chrsts silence and
he marveed at the mracenot at an epigraln, not at
ingenious defence, but ut the silence; for II was
wonderful instance OF sefcoutro where ordinary
human nature would have given way. He would have





against HIS silence.


II had al many as you are here divided by four
even, who would initiate Christ IN His selfdenying ac-
tvity, in HIS truth, IN His silence when falsely
cuscd, and II IL were known by many and continued
proofs that you we're living that life would revive the
world and you might have a Pentccost cvory year.
The why religion needs so much forcing Is that
the fruits OF religion such that don't TO
be religious | call upon young men to 20 forth and
preach Christ But what Is the Christ you to
prcachi What Is the preparation necessarily Have
ye Christ in yous BE sure that only those who have
hon tfa rails
notions Of life and OF affairs low. sordd,
aud worldly you will never do any good. You must
have something OF tho samo nature and the same will
ingncss to spend your life for the ungrateful that
Christ had before you be permitted 70 become a
worker together with Cod am preaching out Of my
heart now had this comfort ~ all my ministe-
rial life. ! have never sought my own ends and Coo
knows whether have ever preached from ambition or
whether ! have felt envy jealousy ~ those
round about have given my strength and my
best powers TO the work. nor do know that have
written word or preached sermon that would
be afraid Of on my dying bed Or


CHRIST


In other respects cannot say a. much, when take
things but the spirit lifts itsclf up, when take
count Of my Willingness 10 suffer indgnites from Others
and SILENT when take account Or the zeal and gen
tlencss that IN my Master


Here Mr. Beechcrs voice became inaudible to those
sitting little distance from him. His lips continued
70 move ani the words ." have struggled very hard"
heard ndigtincty Then he broke down entirely;
sobs choked hb utterance tears weicd into his eyes
aud be stood or several moments spcechcss n lie
were dumb. The congregation we're 70 still that pin
could have been heard to drop while the pastor
NAMED in this attitude when his voice became
audible again ho was saying, ~ ask myself this
question, Have been like Hm2 Have ! done for
Him all that lie gave capacity TO do for Himf Have
shown that patience that belonged TO Christ when
He said 70 Peter Put up thy sword when He stood
before the Roman Magistrate and answered nothing
absolutely nothing y that could have such
Of God as 70 al up our el II rs there that mourn
for the want 81 herosm, for the want of exatation
for the want or power In the Holy Ghost Now
Christian brethren let take hold Of hands together
and promise that BY the grace Of God will eschow
hereafter all envy, AL revenge all reproach and all
that aggressive against those who njure u.s. that we
Will stand IN the sweet spirit Of silence and that by
all


THE POWER or THE GHOST


by all the inspiration OF Christ, will 90 rood for
evil and that living or dying We Will be a sacrifice
sacrificing ourselves for each other and for Gods
Church and fgr Gods Christ and for Gods sake This
lifc thai Is before and Il is not easy one
] have been disposed 70 make this time ~ renewed
dedication; desire TO begin more earnest covenant
with God viii you begin with me IN holy consecra-
ton rot the Church but TO the higher life With
Chrsxs 1esusg And in tho respect that have pointed
ous this morning. will you endeavor to work with
TIA. c.1erx may be exalted and that tho OF the
Ee6esnsr ray be glorlhedf