The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-11-21
CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH.


worth on "lIorai Couraee."
At the Church OF the Messiah last evening the Rev.
George II. Hepworih, the pastor, preached before
tile usually brilliant and numerous congregation,
taking moral Couragen as the subject OF his
remarks.
MIR. Hepworth's text was taken from Matthew
XVI, 74:--"Then began he to curse and 10 swear
saving know not the man." He said:-My subject
this evening is "Moral Courage" and though may
address myself more particularly to those who are
lust entering upon their careers, / am sure That
my words VIII not be UNDECIDED by those OF ripper
wears. The theme is perfectly and sadly
illustrated by the incident which gives me
my text. Almost all His other friends had
forsaken the Lord. But Peter had SO lately
made public protestation that he would not
only follow the varying fortunes OF the Master but
even die with HIM If necessary, that one has right
TO expect some degree Of hcroism when 1t came to
the pinch. When the disciples were unassailed,
walking quietly along the highway, It was no DIM
cult matter to get into enthusiastic mood and TO
say things which in his heart he did not really
mean. But when the arrest had been made, and
tho
EXCITED AND UNREASONABLE MOB
called for blood ana vengeance; when the testimony
had all been given In, and 1t became certain the
verdict OF guilty would be pronounced ana the terri
u
ent matter to share the Masters fate. Peter was
false friend. He could well afford to be brave
when bravery cost nothing; but when the price to
be paid was nothing less than life itself he shrked
his duty, ana abandoned his Lord. What contrast
here between the Prisoner ut the bar and the
man who was In the Kitchen talking with the SER
vantsl Christ offered no apology and made no de-
fence. Undoubtedly lie could have used 60 achieve
babe Lazarus come forth, and the shceted dead
Obeyed; but He crushed down the instincts OF lis
human nature and without murmur submitted no.
only 10 The sentence OF the court, but also to the
base Insults or the crowd The question comes M,
How did lie do all this How did lie meet his fate
SO boldly How could he be calm patient ana en-
curing in the midst OF that terri be suffering and the
excitement OF the pOpnace2 The answer Is on my
lips. IL was because lie could trust the love OF
God more tnan He could lear the hatred OF men. To
HIM God was not theological vision, but an almost
visible aud eyer-present Father. He ielt that duty
called ann when IL did call lie heard nothing else
II He could only feel that lie was right He could
dure anything.
THE MOB WAS NOTHING
to Him, and little cared He what could do the So
cal ed court or justice was nothing. duty and God
Were everything. Now, that is what i mean by
moral courage. Let me define the words. A man may
he very brave and vet not have a specx of moral
courage A brave man under tremendous excite
ment, not thinking Of and not reckoning conse-
Guences may rush into the thick Of tie fight. and
even lead the forlorn hope. We all admire him.
But there Is Quats OF character which ranks still
higher. We see 1t when man not only seeing, but
reckoning the consequences TO their fullest extent,
calmly and deliberately suffers wrong or calam-
lty because ne leel3 IL 10 De MS duty. Inc young
man who rcststS
THE TEMPTATION TO DRINK
to gamble In the face Of the sneers and inuendoes
Of his companions, sacrificing their good opinion
rather than his own selrespect ana sense OF what
Is right is a moral hero. l sometimes think II re-
quires real character TO say NO, and mean 1t,
than does to expose oneself on the Geld Of battle.
Sometimes you know OF woman VINO is married to
brutal MANA man who has forgotten his vows
at the altar--a man who Is untrue to her, and
who ne2ects his children and his home, led by that
fatal thirst which endangers everything but who
shields her husbands faults from the rude gaze OF
the world, bears his insults without murmur, and
still strives to the good In him. and. by loving
articles to draw him back to his former and better
self. There many such romances III our daily
social life. IL could
UNRooF YOUR HOUSES
and Your hearts, should nnd more exciting scenes
than were ever told in story and should discover a
heroism, a moral courage which 10 known only to
God. The power to do 0ne's duty without asking
the worlds permission Is the true indication OF the
Christian. You can make this moral courage your
own only by making the moral facts ont Of which 1t
comes your own II you half believe In God, In Inn
morality, III Christ then you wayer; but II heaven
and duty are solemn realities, winch take prece.
dence or everything ese then you are not the slave
or public opinlOn; you are freeman OF God. You
can do what Is right and leave the rest TO Heaven.
need not tell you how much we all need this quail
ity which call moral courage. 1t Is the shield OF
the young 1t Is the fortress OF the middle aged IL Is
the comforter Of the aged.