The New York herald., 1870-05-23
CHURCH OF TIE MESSIAH.
The Bible, and How TO Read It-Sermon by
Rev. George ii. Hepworth.

1ScVs WcOr&c He depWOrths
The usually large, intelligent and refined congrega-
ton worshpping at the Church OF the Messiah cor
of Park avenue and Thirty. fourth street, with
many strange faces attracted by the brilliant reputa
tion Of Its young and gifted pastor, Rev. George II.
Hepworth, was promptly In attendance at the open
Ing hour for yesterday mornings services. Pleasant
morning greetings in the vestibule and rusng of
silks soon became hushed to deep reverentlai still
ness, In keeping with the sacred character OF the
day. and the low, soft tones Of the organ played with
mastery skill by Mr.. Edward Howe, Jr., the organ
ist, filed the spacious interior OF the beautiful temple
Of worship with their divine concord of sweet
sounds, and the hearts OF the Worship
pers with sweet accord, In harmony
with the exquisite, soul-enlivening music of
the voluntary "He Shall Feed His FIocks,n from
Handel's messiah" But what more inspiring to
inner soul worship than The anthem, by De Monte
folowing-"Praise the Lord. Oh My Soul PIN which
Mrs. Flicker, soprano; Miss Rushby, alto; Mr..
Whiting, tenor, and Mr.. Shattuck, bass, each OF
whom sang with their accustomed sweetness and
expression The whole music, indeed, was unusually
fine, and especially the Crock OF Ages,n quartette
by G. W. Warren with solos by Mrs. Flicker and Mr..
Whiting, and another quartette the vespers after
prayer, "Heaveniy Father Graciously Hear U.s." by
George L0der.
THE SERMON
The sermon, the subject Of which was "The
Bible. and How to Read Itn was pre-
eminently clear and forcible discourse, and, de-
was listened to with the closest attention.
Mr.. Hepworth took his text from Matthew xxiv.,
IA "Thls gospel OF the Kingdom shall be preached
In all tile world, He began by saying that no part
OF the worlds literature has put to such severe
tests as the Bible. For more than fifty generations
that part OF it known the New Testament has
been gaining new influence and c0nquering new
victories. No part OF 1t has escaped the
sHREwD ANALYSIS OF THE SCHOLAR.
His keen criticism has hunted into every obscure
passage, has examined the original manuscripts
fnI pnh Ara hfnfppat
been collaed, has called in question It's statements
one after the other, and SO lar without avail AS
the grass, the flowers and the fields of wheat into
life every season, never once yelling his face because
Of the scientific scepticism which has to probe his
BIBLE HOLDS IT'S SUPREME PLACE
in the affections of the world even in the ages Of
gravest doubt When Voltaire scofied and ridculed,
when Strauss tried to prove that the Scriptures
but o collection OF myths, the great body OF the
encouragement which blessed their lives Like some
granite boulder far out at sea, against which the
stormy waves OF centuries beat, ana beat In vain,
only breaking themselves with snowy spray, so the
BLDG stands. II is enthroned In the worlds great
protected % by rhe ovenae ca W I mghv @ GoG
and Will be the religious educator OF mankind until
the last man closes his eyes ia death and history
SHUTS ner DOCK ana clasps 1t with O clasp. book
mas lately appeared, written BY French scepc, and
IL has been received very warmly by part OF the
press and with great sadness by large part OF the
teachings, and all the more Characteristic Incidents
OF the New Testament, are simply pagiarisms from
the sacred books OF the East With the seeming Of
great schoarsnlp the author gives FIRST the story as
he finds II In the Bible, and then the same story as
he gets it from the Sanscrit He then excainis:-
"See, Christians, how you have been w0rshpping a
false idol have already knocked 1t of Its PEDESTAL
Thousands OF years ago what you call your Bible
was part of the religious literature of the Brah.
Minis" At first the unearned were shocked. The
faith of some gave way. Scepticism reared its
head and laughed with sc0rn. But soon a clarion
voice is heard from England, and Max Muer tails
that, lar from being stolen from the East the
Bible. or the best parts Of It, were centuries ago in
corporated into tue sacred books Of the Brahmins
aud thence Translated ny our French author whose