Year: 1870

Communion Dny-The New COvenanf-Public


Admission Of Members Into the Church


Sermon on ssChrisiian Steadfastness."


The morning service at Plymouth church yesterday
was more than usually impressive. 1t was the first
SUNDAY in the month, and was therefore "Commu-
MON Sunday" when the church members, at the
close OF public worship, partake together OF the
Lords supper. On these mornings there is break
IN the public service that, under any circumstances,
would be significantly solemntzng and eminently
calculated to make up all that Ii best In the moral ma
ture not only OF those who are the immediate cause
Of It, but the spectators who are witnesses OF ,hs
public confession OF the putingon.of Christian life.
This, however yesterday had an additional signi1-
canoe and interest that VIII be found more fuiiy
alluded to as the reader proceeds with the reading OF
this report.


Previous to the Offering OF the prayer before the
sermon, Mr.. Beecher read list or names OF persons
who were to be admitted as members Of the church,
and thus qualify for the communion service that was
to follow. There were fifteen in all husbands and
wives young men and maldens. AS each name was
read the person to whom the name belonged stepped
from the pew and won't to the front OF the plat
form taking their stand In a semclrcle before the
communion table. There were two who had not
been baptized infancy ana Mr.. Beecher descended
the platform and performed this rite by the sprnk-
ling OF ater upon their heads. He then read from
the Olvet stand the following form OF ADMISSION 10
the church. 1t Will be remembered that recently
plymouth church has occupied considerable atten-
ton in the religious world In consequence OF the
form Of admission having been nberalized, or, as
other persons put it-and some OF them members OF
the church-accOmmodated, 80 as TO place no bar
rlers Ill the way Of those who from intellectual con-
vlcOns may not agree with all the articles Of faith
that the church laid down for itself wnen 1t was
tablished on the sta OF May, lS47


Whatever be the merits OF thiS controversy
the merit Of 1t must be small to the truly liberal
minded Christlan-tne simplicity, the sententious-
ness and the significance OF the covenant that these
new members were asked TO give their assent To
must have commended itself to the Judgment and
tue conscience OF all who heard It. The semlcircie
formed aud the lnltiatory rite Of basJiSm over, Mr.
Beecher read this .addrels, which s printed In the
published manual OF the church,


You have separated yourselves from this congregation
Joyful acts Of your HE You will never cease 70 feel the
cus to that Keasemer wnom you are now


yq Won ss1 ss Ss'
you snail put Christ to shame this deed and this


You have been deeply convinced your persona sinful;
ness you have heartily repensd you have believed
your fs to Him tina. deaics.ion you
cast down Though have though, lee. 20 admon
ish you, Y with calm and cheerful hope that He who in
shall stand IN Zion and before God.


Then follows the covenant, read with solemn
emphasis as f0iOws:-


Do avouch the Lord Jehovah be God Jesus
Christ 70 Saviour the HOY Spirit to De your sanc
you consecraie your whole body the service OF
liodp Do you receive your fe aud
by His assisting Will this
Grafton unto the endr


All these new members bowed their assent and
thus SOemny took upon themselves as thousands
have done before them, the yoke and burden of
these coyenanted promises. That they would not
tind IN this wicked world the burden Of this yoke
easy or thus burden light the Oldest and the most
earnest Christian present would fMly endorses but
that tney would endure unto the end and get the
vicIory over flesh and the devil must nave been
dearest Wish Of every soul IN that vast congrega-
ton.


by way of encouragement and help In this new
pathway OF life the members Of the church were re.
queSted 10 rise while the following was read and
feet:-


We them the members Of this church. do joyuIy
daily receive you into our number We promise TO bear
with you to love- edify and BY all means In
advance you ia the divine life. Amen.


The new members filed on TO their several pews,
and when all seated the pastor offered prayer.


The sermon was remarkably appropriate Ior the
occasion. The subject was .Cnrlstlan Steadfast-
way. the text selected was from the epIste OF st.
Paul TO the philippians l., 6-'Belng confident OF
this, everything tnat He which hath begun good
work In you will perform It unto the day Of Jesus
tic theory OF "0nce saved, saved unto the end Mr.
Beecner said tnat would be SO II man were ike y
letter sealed, directed and put into mailbag and
thus Kept BY divine force unto the Of MS life
But IL was not so, and yet 1t was true what Paul
said, that ''he who has begun Q good work in YOU
win perform It unto the end" II lAWap were earnest
% s ~ yS R The lseS S Of and vs
that OF God and man, seemed strange and difficult to
understand; for We were told to 'worK out our own
salvation with fear and trembling for 1t is God that
worketh IN you TO VIII and TO do OF HIS own good
pleasure" Yet this coordination OF two wills was
familiar TO US In every day life. IL was the general
who LAID down the Dian Of the oamuatRn, and yet u