Year: 1870

A Storm Without and n Calm Within Ply


mouth Church-sar. Beecher ON the Dealings
of God With Mana Sermon Without Bsan-
crpnn Thunder.


storm of wind and rain acted as damper on
the devotions OF Plymouth church congregation.
Pews In various parts OF the church quite de.
serted, and although the congregation was large yet
1t was small as compared with the crowds that
thrOng this church on fine Sabbath mornings.


ItwOuld in some circles be considered high trea-
son. and it would certainly not at any time be true,
to say that


HENRY WARD BEECuER WAS DULL;
but 1t is true to say that like the lilies and the fora
that adorned the minister's platform he Is snscep-
tlble to meteorological influences. He Dasks and
grows eloquent the sunshine OF the earthly lumin-
ary not less than in the sunshine OF popular ap-
plause.


The subject yesterday morning was!lnspiring, and
was tenderly touched but there were no Boanerges-
passlon-torn-to- o-tatters sentences. He contented
himself with telling the story Of the dealings OF God
with men in "still, small voice. aud, as usual. 1t
reached the hearts OF those who heard him; and Of.
ter all, this is the


ALPHA AND THE OMEGA or PREACHING.


Mr.. Beecher's discourse was founded on the
twenty eighth verse OF the eighth chapter OF the
Epstle OF Paul to the Romans-s.And we know that
all things work together for good to them that low
God; to them who are the called according to His
purpose"


1t was'notceable that this passage started with a
firm declaration, 1--WE know" There was no doubt
or hestancy about. This language differed from the
speculatlons and philosophy OF modern times, and
Paul rose into either sublime prophecy and insight
or Into a


SUBLIME InPUDENCE


After little phiosophizng on this line OF thought
Mr.. Beecher endeavored to establish the fact from
familiar illustrations, that II was not difficult for
to suffer and to endure when they had purpose
to gain by the endurance OF that suffering. AL that
they required was nope 10 sustain them, to COM
fort them and they would go through much suffer.
ing There was much In this aspect OF suffering
that was perplexing; for all things did appear
to work together for good for anybody, and cer-
tainly not for the good folks. Neither did good en-
seem to be blest spiritually. Yet it was all but a
seeming; for man, renewed In life, in character and
In his hopes anu aspirations, what had he TO fear
What had the world to give him IN comparison with
the love Of God NOW, man thus renewed believed
In Providence 1t would be very strange If he didn't
believe In it, Believing that they obeyed his orders
yielded to the leading Of taat proydence, all that .
his orders. lie is told to stand at the fringe OF that
wood until


EVERY MAN IS CUT OFF,


and he does 1t. 1t was very hne pleasure to have
your own way, and ~ cannot help remembering
that have mad nv pleasure Ia it;n but il was q
greater pleasure TO give up that way and yield it
unto God. To do Ibis o man must believe in God
and He must be real to him; he must have trusted
God with trust that has been Drought home TO MIN,
and seen Gods hand moving in mysterious way
His wonders to perform. Thus knowing that God Is,
and that He is a rewarder OF those who diligently
seek Him, he comes to have o pellef that lives on
faith, and he prays with believing prayer 1T was
very hard Tor man to


SAY HIS PRAYERS TO A PrsArIRE.
but when man trusts God with a full purpose OF
heart, has the inner CONSEQUENCES OF the greatness
and goodness OF Coo, the man trusts not only for





thus grows in spiritual things; and he comes to de-
clare belevingy with Paul, These light afilctlons
which are but for q moment will work out for me
far more exceeding and eternal weight or gory.u
The element OF the future is also in The prospect OF
such believer; it was always present TO Paul and II
was always present to every good man. MIR. Beecher
said he peculiarly sucepuble to seaslckness ana
when he was anticlpating MS voyage to Europe he
and the ten days. suferlng but then there was the
exquisite enjoyment beyond OF a three months visit
to Europe, OF seeing that which he had read and
heard so mucn about, and he braved 1t all, and
when the horrible nausea came he thought OF
Europe when he could, and lived and endured on
tnat hope. When he returned he came IN stulnpy
logged boat, fourteen days' voyage, The boat was
heavily laden with contrabano goods, which she
were to 90 on to Bermuda, ana thus get into the
states. He was sitting by the side Of the smoke
stack at midnight When the boat got into still
water ana the cargo began to be discharged he
thought no saw q mans figure come up by the side
OF the steamer and presently It made its way to
and said, care you Mr. BeecherS" and when
he said he was, the man handed him
your your w Wife" Then said Mr. BeechsrI Bsl fG re-.
allied was on my own continent and near
home.n. Mr.. Beecher concluded by q practical
adaptation OF this illustration to our earthly life,
and OF our passing away on to the heavenly shores
which there was much that was very tender and
touching.


At the close OF the sermon the choir ana congre-
tion sang the popular melody


'HoMEwARD BoUND'
with considerable feeling and heartiness. after