The New York herald., 1870-05-09

way beyond the clique OF Athenlan philosophers.
The mass 8 had no faitn. They did not know what
to believe and so en- ed Dy bel ewing no hing. When
Cf rIst came He spoke ~ one having auth rlty; az
one who knew what the reilg ous wants OF the word
were and who fet able 10 salts them. so we call
lila wor IL a revelation. He stood on hillside OF
Jadei, but lie preached TO larger audience than
was gathered within reach oI lbs voice. ne spono
10 mankind. All the ages sin nave lsteneu anu
been glad 20 hear. His whoe work IS indica,ed by
the text. He taught men that God Is their Father
lie stands thus III bold relief AGAINST tnc general
iatn Of The hour. Men stood Ia awe that looked
Ike fear when they offered ther opiaouns
at the altar. They tremoica M ,hay ho sspr'y, snpw
little conservation when dear one died.
for they had been taught That such calaml lia .
reversed ell this. and said that what we call cv as
well as what we call good comes from Fathet's
hand. The birth and the death are alike decreeu py
Him whose name is Love. People hnd II very easy
to believe In Gods fatherhood when they have all
they want. II Is not q difficult task when every
thing runs q smoothly a. thy Wish; when s9ey
time. But they find 1t very hard 10 trust
when life grows dark and the way rough naas ana
religion grand personal reality. When we
see God as vast power we tremble ana are AFRAID
rolls over our heads, and when the storm bursts
rpon us IN It's fury 1t seems as thouan Deity wee n
wanful mood and we creep INTO corner UNI .nc
the religious nature OF single human being
When, aoain we SEQ Him In the wisdom OF which al
nature s fill, we may be startled INTO wonder ana
rhp; but even then the deer est sens bil ties OF
our nature are not reached. We may wonder a.
the delicate skill OF the man who made our
watch. but we are not nee essarily drawn
towards him. We may admire thousand
miles away, without any desire to get neaIer.
But when Goa s revealed as love- AZ one VINO mas an
interest In US, one who helps u. then personal re-
liton ls at once established We ny fat) HIS arms,
we tell him everythlng, ana we bear the heavy bur.
den with cheerful endurance II we are assur that
He thinks it best and will help US TO do our duty.
This revelation Of the love side OF Gods character y
pecul arly Christian. Mr.. Hepworth then spoke OF
the her0ism to which such doctrine gives rise. lie
pictured the GirOndists I'm the od French revolution
going TO death SO bravely, and said that
they could never have SHOWN such cour-
age but for the faith that there Is provi-
dence In human affairs. Some of them may
have been socaled sceptics still in all their hearts
there must have been faith that they were buying
with their blood the future glory OF their country.
He urged, In conclusion, that We are be Ginning to
apply this principle to all our inst tutons. Years
ago prisoners were brutally treated; now our penal
institutions try to be reformatory. Years ago insane
persons We're chained; now they are treated by medi
col phlapthr0pists The Prodiga Son IL the typical
parable Of the New Testament. That makes God o
father looking earthward wi h arms 0utstreJched
and with heart beating with pity for poor hu-
manity.
The s'rmon as are all his discourses was listened
to with the most earnest attention. Singing hymn
and benedictl0n closed the exercises.