The New York herald., 1870-12-19

| Belief in a Deity Natural TO Mnn-ScrmOn by
| the Rex. DIR. Hepw0rth.

Belief in a Deity Natural TO Mnn-Scrn,On by
the Rev. DIR. HepwOrth.
This handsome church was. US usual crowded to
the doors. The ability Of the pastor as an expoun-
der OF the Gospel and as an exhorter Is so well
known that Sabbath after Sabbath fnds every pew
and every seat filled with eager listeners. At the
service yesterday Mr.. Hcpworth's text was taken
from Psalms xlv 1.-THE fool hath said in his heart
there is no Cod" He SAID 1t Is curious fact that
though early history gives the record OF different
deity for nation 1t plainly asserts that belief
In God is universal. Atheism Is the product OF CIV
ilizatIon. 1t Is philosophy run mad. Sometimes IN
the pursuit or knowledge man will lose his balance,
and In the attempt TO grasp and comprehend the
great problem OF the universe he will miss
his path, just us a traveller at night sometimes gets
or the highway and 1nds himself In the mlre. Most
atheists declare that there is God simply because
they do not understand all ABOUT him. 1t Is about
as sensible ii would be for man or ordinary edu
cation denv the reality OF the solar system
he cannot understand the now and the why of It's
existence. Belief In Deity Is natural to human
beings. Tney not educated into II, though they
are sometimes educated out OF It, Go back to the
infancy OF the race ana you will find everywhere
some expression on the part OF the people of their
faith In the Unseen, and, TO theni the Unknown.
The rudest savage tries 10 propatc and to win the
favor OF his God, though his conception OF Him
be rude in the extreme. In tue East the
sun and Moon were deded: In Greece
later times all this has given way before cultivated,
religious nature and we worship and have faith in
race has been at school, aud has gone through the
primer 0f worship OF material things, though they
be beautiful as Grecan statue, ana learned at last
to pray 10 the Unseen. think the number OF think
erS VINO have arrived at
TIE DISMAL SWAMP OF UTTER NEGNrIoN,
called atheism, Is greatly exaggerated. They are
to society what warts are tree, and are III
| about the same proportion. Once In a while
a monstrosity, never to be envied always to
be ped There Is n tnge & Of atheism in
this lnqulstivc generation. 1t will undoubtedly be-
come the strongest ally of true religion in the next
ers history and the doubt OF to-day will certainly
change into larger and more rational faith tomor
dcplorabe and enervatlng as that OF permanent
doubt. Thesman VINO does not believe In a Deity,
who once made and who now governs the world
mol as despot, but as wise and loving father, has
no incentive virtue, and power to resist temp
tation. cannot paint too vividly the
SPIRITUAL HORRORS OF ATHEISM.
The man who dehrones God, always and OF neces-
sity cnthrones passion ana self. lie who does not
believe in the Infinite Law4iver becomes law
himself and is ripe Tor the commission or any crime.
Black darkness stares such one in the tace, and
the present has no value and the future has nc hope
The Old motto says 'Let eat and drink, for
row die.n Only once in history have we seen the
principles of atheism embodied In the laws and con-
trolling the sentiment aud usaRes OF society. In
France, when the nation throbbed with the anguish
OF a dreadful revolution and when the people had
established iorms ana faiths Of the Church were
rudely laid aside ana a poor abandoned woman
made the symbol OF the peoples spiritual condition.
But only anarchy and disorder resulted. The
nation was compelled 10 go back to the old faith
before peace could be restored Now, though there
is little speculative atheism In the world, there
too many in whose lives there Is no living faith
IN present Deity. II you pass logically from the
Christian laith TO LIE in which IL Is perfectly re-
presented, from The hcoretic to an embodied belief
in Deity what herosm and faithfuIness, what calm
endurance and symmetry OF soul You discover. But
II you take most OF
OUR LIVES JUST AS THEY STAND,
with all their shortcomings weaknesses and even
crimes, deduce from them the faith, or want OF
faith, Which would naturally produce them, you
meet with practical atheism In society which bodies
good. In politics. III trade, In the professions, IN
fashionable circles, not true religion but sham re-
ligion, reigns; not quckenng faith in God whose
law is supreme, bu sort OF hair belief that the
whole theory Of religion Is uncertain foundations
This Is the danger against which would warn you.
Believe with your whole soul. uyou doubt, find
your way out into higher truth. Make your faith In
God the foundation OF your character, and then
your life Will be beautiful and your future hopeful.