The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-10-02
CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH.

| scrmen by Mr.. Hcpwcrth ON being ".foru
Again"-The Thrcef0ld Nature Of 1Iau-Tho
Developments Of the Mornl Sense.
The clear, cold weather or yesterday morning
brought out the usual crowded congregation that
always fills this church during the autumn and
winter months. The service was very impressive,
and admirably calculated to solemnize the minds OF
the hearers to the solemn and evangelical truths on
which mr. Hepworth dllatcd In his usual clear and
effective STYLE
Mir. nepworth's text was taken from ST. John,
ILL.,, 7-"Born again." He said great many people
besides Nicodemus have wondered at the emphasis
with which Christ insisted upon the necessity OF be-
Ing born second time. The first birth Is so great
mystery th.t we find ourselves hardly prepared to
cope with the problem which second birth in
cludes. Yet desiring to know something about It,
led partly by curiosity and partly by an underlined
longing after purer lie. We come, like our great
prototype the phdrisee-who was afraid of the broad
daylight-under cover Of the night to ask what che
thing means. We have moods in which we wish we
were In the second birth, times OF repentance when,
resretng the short comngs Of the past heartily
wish that we were more subject to the higher pow
ers. The Church has not cleared matters very much.
defy any man OF plain, practical common sense to
see through the mystery OF regeneration defined
By the Church. What Is the use OF surrounding re-
lgious experiences with this impenetrabe nebu.
lositys Christ's words are plain enough for WORK.
Ing man to understand, and
THE PROCESSES OF HIS DIVINE RELIGION
are perfectly comprehensive by the humb man
who THINKS and feels.
Man has threefold nature. First comes the
physical nature. This we are perfectly familiar with.
Every one loves his body. Every one enjoys tho
functions OF the body. We ought TO enjoy it very
mncn as the man enjoys the house that ne rents oy
the year, with the expectation OF moving out ct the
cnu OF That time and living IN some other apart
,ments. All tie senses OF the body give pleasure
we see hear, smell, taste; We eat and sleep and
these Faculties are enjoyable. Indeed 1t Is a hand
some ana Well furnished house that God has given
us to live IN IL we would only use IL Alright.
Tnen, in the second place. we nave an intellectual
nature. We think our way mp above the mountain
dig up from heneath ana pull down from above half
Tie secrets which nature has hidden away. This is
power ana Iign or fence between
brutes think as well as man. and tells US to note
the fact that we are very closely related more
edge--to The horse who can lift The gate latch and
get out OF the pasture, or me ape, who minics the
actions Of hlS cousins the human race. But have
always felt the higher ranges OF that
PECULIAR ATTRIBUTE OF NAN
known as intellect were very much a monopoly.
What a " ondrous ana Godke power this is Of the
understanding! Hardly any problem Is too vast for
Then, in the third place. we have moral nature.
To this belong love and hope, faith and aspiration.
with the mind we take cognlzance OF Coos pre-
sence IL Is a problem OF cause and edect. He Is
the mechanical force OF the universe. With the
moral nature. on the other hand. we feel His pre-
great love in our hearts. To know that
tnlng Is wrong is not always TO feel that 1t Is.
knowledge is simply passive, while faith is opera
tive Tho thiel knows well enough that 1t is not right
10 steal o pocketbook. He knows, too. that the
urse nlr to the deed. The good man. or Inc man
vino Is ruled by his moral nature, not merely knows
S s sy ne IN act se w saS ea
Cause eau S they do not feel more There is twist,
Sara ones " it o syS y esn
pete their manhood, to be born second time, and
seriousness Of body and OF mind, but how few OF US
really appreciate the fact that VIC have souls We
i've as though we were to 1--we forever here IN these
New, then, IS 1t not the great need OF the times
that we should IN some way develop this moral
sense-.his whole range OF experiences which
comes from the moral nalureP In the last analysis
everything Is valuable when and only when 1t con-
MANS MORAL GROWTH. :.
Great knowledge, all the marvellous results OF
s so5d Sy make mas
Se T, s Da2 ma asy IS make he d aI
ought to be subjected to its decisions. 1t is well
enough 10 be splendid man physically; It is well
enough 10 lie gifted man lnteucctualiy-to know all
secrets, to penetrate through the veil that hangs
before ordinary minds. and read the hidden mys-
can describe how much better 1t is-to be man
whose moral nature, whose friendship love- faith,
Holiness Is supreme? Is not honesty better Than
ideas If you can nave only oneS is not holiness bet.
ter ihan intellectual theory II you can't have
Doi2 Indeed, is IT not absolutely necessary TO You
a5 father citizen, son OF God, heir Of Immortality,
that you should
HAVE YOUR HEART IN THE RIGHT PLACE.
II you have other things DE tides well AMI good.
But this you must have, or you VIII never thor
oughly ENJOY this life and you certainly VIII never
find welcome ia the Sew jerusalem.
Make, therefore. your moral nature prominent.
Develop 1t by every means In your power consult 1t
IN al transactions ana trust 1t in all experiences IL
VI. nj
way. IL VIII lead you 10 the son OF God and, there
fore, 10 God himself You Shall experience tho Joys
o. the new blrh, The mystery will be solved, and
you Will be all the happier for It,
CANAL STREET PRESBYTE2lAV CHURCH.