The New York herald., 1870-11-14
CgURgH OF TIE MESSIAH.

ssThc Whole Armor OF G0d',-Rev. DIR. Hep
worth on the Christian Soldiers Fight
No Place fer CowarGs I.asgards in the
Celestial L.egions.
Rev. George II. Hepworth. the pastor delivered a
highly attractive discourse last evening at the
Church of the Messiah, Park avenue and Thirty
fourth street, taking his SUBJECT "The True
Soldier of the Cross.n A select and numerous con-
gregaton in attendance, ana the interior OF this
neat and cosey church edifce was marked by a
CHEEKY and pleasant aspect that in itself fea-
ture OF the evenings service.
Mr.. Hepworth's text was taken from Ephes ans,
W., 13-''The whole armor OF God.p He began by
saying what Il wonderful sermon is this which the
philosophc apostle writes to the Ephesians. 1t Is
short, but full of salient points, II you read 1t once
you remember 1t forever. The modern sermon Is
scholastic and full OF distractions The sermons OF
Christ and Paul deal with the simple business OF
everyday life. Their teachings not an cxnibi.
ton OF their scholarship but or their wisdom Their
only aim was to teach men and women to live better
lives, and they both give Tile impression that
even God Himself Is very solictous on this subject.
so they both talk in such simple phrase tha. the
poorest In the crowd can understand. When was
had read great many books. Ny idea OF a sermon
was that II should never under any circumstances.
excite smie but rather that il should show that
was hard student SO
ALL MY HEARERS WENT TO SLEEP
pretty regularly. Now 1 have discovered that the
sawdust OF philosophy Is not the material out OF
which good sermons are made. To preach success
fuly one must TX OF the every day experiences Of
his people and show how they can bc beau. .iied and
transflgured by consecrated heart.
ST. Pauls sermon Is OF this kind. He lived in times
when waging war was business OF every people.
lie mad himself been proud OF his hOrsemanship, OF
his courage and OF his deXterty in The use OF the
spear. He saw all around him ambitious young
men who were preparing for the tented field, who
were trying on their armor, testing their strength
and their swords, and al once he selzes upon The
TACT as an Illustration OF spiritual truth. He says
"fes, you need to have armor, for you must fight
many hard battle. But the soul must have It's
panopy as well as the body. You want the shield OF
iaith as well as
THE SHIELD OF BULLS HIDE,
the helmet OF salvation as well as the helmet of Steel
and. Ia word, you must put on the wnoc arinor
OF God II you are TO the rea victory the real
battle feld.n There is wonderful ring TO these
words Though may not in these peaceful days
appreciate their vlgor, they must have had pecu-
arsgnihcance III those old days OF military pageant
and show.
Now there are three kinds OF soldiers IN the battle
OF lie. These are-irst traitors, men who have no
respect for anybody but themselves and who are
willing to sell nonor and virtue ior worldly advan-
tage. These men are not so numerous as We are
sometimes told. have only pity for them. Fer a
knows II better than he does himself. To feel That
you are SO weak that you vii sacrifice q point OF
nonor for money or position Is TO be utterly and
hopelessly miserable. have seen great many men
who were bad, nut never yet saw one VINO in his
heart OF hearts did not condemn himself with bit.
terness which far exceeded the criticisms OF
Others. Second-there are neutrals, men who make
professions of goodness and who think this an
excuse for all they do. l can get on with
POSITIVELY BAD MAN,
but have no patience with Indifference In politics
one may be neutral but in religion this Is impos-
siole. would rather hear man deliver q terrible
1nvective than TO see him simply snrug his shoul-
ders. Third-there are loyal soldiers, men who are
lighting under their own mag, who feel that they
have enlisted 'fOr the war; and who are willing to
submit to the proper discipline and TO suffer the
necessary hardships, hoping at length to receive the
appreciation Of their commander.
Those OF us who have reached middle life know
full well that it Is easy thing to do exactly what
Is right. One must engage in a severe struggle not
only with the temptations which meet him at every
turn but also with the fury Of his own passions,
present lnclinatonsto to shirk his duty II man
control himself he is master Of the SITUATION"
| This is the real fight. And II you are to be
A SUCCESSFUL SOLDIER
you must not only have very distinct notions Of vr
| tue. bat you must also act up 10 them. Many man
has good theory Of life who practices his theory
very rarely. You ought to belong to some Christian
church; you ought TO take deliberately, and with a
prayerful determination to be true TO 1t, the great
oatn OF allegiance you ought to put on the Uniform,
and to feel the responsibility which goes with it.
do not mean by this to persuade you to join my
church. TO accept my creed, but DO Insist upon
The necessity OF joining some church and accepting
! some creed. All Christian churches are ways and
| means by which heaven Is reached don't know
that any Is better than any other, but do know
| that 1t Is immense safeguard TO belong TO q
Christian organi zatIon ana to feel that your name
is inscribed the roll Put on the arlnor and, hay.
ing done so, be true to it.