The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-10-18
CHURCH Of THE MESSIAH.

Sermon by Rev. Mr.. Hepworth-Old Churches
and Old Creeds and the Coming New
Church.
That spacious and beautiful temple OF worship,
the Church OF the Messiah corner OF Tnrty-fo
street and Park avenue, was well filed yesterday
morning to hear Rev. Mr.. Hepworth, the new minis
ter from Boston, whose brilliant discourses are
hitting sequence to the eloquent sermons of Rev. Dr..
Osgood, his popular predecessor. He took for his
text Matthew ". 4s-"Be ye therefore perfect, even
AZ your Father which Is in heaven Ia perfect.n He
was not willing to drink at the stream century or
. generation this side Of the source. He would
drink at the fountain head. This text told him that
he could make his life rythmic with beauty. Going
to the words Of Jesus he stood with the sun right
over his head. The flowers have new perfume,
the winds new inspiration. II he accepted the
creeds OF some of the churches he would Learn that
he was poor, forlorn creature. and destined to
eternal perdition. In the doctrine OF Christ there
was no saoness. 1t lifted high the aims; gave epic
grandeur TO life. Speaking OF the Roman Catholic
Church, he said 1t was tue same now as i've hun
dred years ago. mad gathered strength BY its per-
sistent uniformity IA Its old faith This religion did
not base itself on the Bible. 1t knows that human
nature is weak and wants a leader-a voice to hear
thus the Pope came into being, and cardinals and
archblshops, and bishops and priests. The priest
The subject must confess to him his weaknesses
ana wrong-doings, and penalties are pre-
scrlbed as punishments. 1t did not end here.
Alter death the priest claimed the power
to pray the soul out OF purgatory. Reviewing
at length tile rise and progress OF the Roman Cath
Ollie belief aud the present condition OF this Church.
he next took up the subject OF Professionalism.
reviewing likewise the progress of the Protestant
faith. The great trouble he insisted, was that
when Professionalism formed itself into church 1t
retained dogmas not to be found In the Bible, as
total depravity, predestination and damnaton OF
inanIs. There was not passage In the Bible
unfolding these repusive doctrines. But besides
this the great want Of charity; to-day, In many
pulpits III this city, there were cergymen who stood
ready to denounce the Unitarian Church and its
creeds, aud there were thousands OF men,
beers OF the so-called evangelical churches who
would unite with the clergy their denun-
Citations. These ministers ana these men,
bers OF their churches knew nothing OF
their faith. II would not be SO long. The spirit of
true Professionalism would assert ITSELF The present
generation would i've he believed, to see this tri
umph Of true Protestantism. The world would
throw or the letters Of false faith and accept the
true faith and the true gospe-tne gospel OF the
Bible. TO common living and common thinking tne
pulpit should direct Its teachings Religion would
be something to live; that making lives useful ana
honest; that which viii enable us to sell and buy
stocks honestly, with our faces heavenward They
were to have q church whose corner stone Will De
the sermon on the Mount and ite dogmas utterances
from the lips OF Jesus Christ The beginning ana the
END OIL true religion folded up In the mysteries
OF the L0rd's Prayer. In conclusion ne urged tnat
tnere was mission for every one to I'LL In bringing
ABOUT the dominion Of the true Protestant Church.