The New York herald., 1871-02-27
CHtRsH OF THE nnSsiaH.

Reformation, Repentance ard Eternal Pun
isinent-sermon by the Rev. Mr.. Hep
worth.
The rainstorm OF yesterday morning seemed to
have but little effect n dampenng the ardor or the
popular pastor or the attendants at the Church Of
The Messiah There were, or course, evidences OF
dnlinuton IN the size OF the congregation but there
were no evidences oil lack OF The earnestness and
devotion on the part OF those who. despite the
storm, appeared In their accustomed places After
the usual Introductory exercises the pastor, Rev.
Mr.. HepwoIth proceeded To deliver
THE SERMON.
His text was taken from Hebrews. XIII, l0-"Chas-
tened for our proht, that might be partakers Of
HIS holiness" He sid:-I approach this morning
subject that has reused the anxious thought OF
Christians IN every age. confess that come 10 lis
consideration with feeling akin to awe. What is
10 be our punishment for mlsde eds inflicted by
a Being not any more our Judge than our Father
and on the ether hand, not Gny more our Father
than our Judge, IS problem that naturally kindles
our solcItude.
NOT oSE or rs Is WITHOUT SIN,
and not one OF Us can escape the punishment which
has been attached 10 SIN. The problem Is, however
somewhat Illuminated by the text IL informs Us OF
the motives Which acted on the Eternal when he
decreed punishment. We are chastened, hurt
whipped, not because IT gives any pleasure TO God
not because he Is ycngefu and wroh with rs, but In
the spirit N wnicn a Kind father punsnes aud
bames his clnd. tears falling At every bew o! the
rod Punishment u remedial then When God
tnunders at you ana scourges yoa because Of the
wrong Yen nave committed 1t Is because he loves
you 80 much ma he would even be stern with you
IN order TO save you.
PUNISHMENT Is OF TWO KINDS
" Is physical aud II Is spiritual Pbysicl punizh-
ment seems 10 oe almost without remedy. II YOU
break your arm In consequence oi folly, i never re-
covers It's orielaa strength. II you lead life OF
dissipation aud partlaiy destroy your bodily flnc.
lions, your recupeiaiire power Is next 70 nothing
The reformed dlunkard Caines hs diSordered sy.-
a no ara 70
He has lost whai ne can get back. The law l.
quite inexorable. the spirit, however is more
elastic and recuperaiNe. Though lost lime and on.
portuniy can never De recalled, yet the soul heals
itself In mysterious ways, and even former badness
A true repen3nce-not the repentance uf 4
deathbed, which regard a. Of very htte value Tor
RfrENTANCE j. EASY AID CREAP
when the power 70 sul l. fast e'blpg asay-may be-
followed such vigorous iie that the evil done
may serve 10 strengthen The soul. rhe warnings IN
The SCRIPTURES against bad courses nevertheless
perfectly awful. snudder at tie pictures which the
INSPIRED pens dIaw oi the irlbe consequences OF e,
doing. They DO not compromise the matter one lii
Their language is PLAN enough, and can lie al,ly
understood. they tell us in 80 many words tGat
white God il good AMI VIII exercise mercy 40 good
that he Will move heaven ami earth 10 save a soul
vet he Will not tolerate wllul evil lie has raised
iis standard OF demanded moral excellence; aud
though lie VIII take iniO consideration your motives
your advantages and your tenptetions yet lie VIII
not abate tie law which condemns You Tor conscious
neg .ecr. And why should lie The world would DC
simply scene OF inhDite disorder unless His dlsci.
pine were complete ana rigid.
THg RELIGIOUS CONSCIOUSNESS or MANKIND
npholds The justce 0f the divine decree which fear
fully Furnishes persistent sin. Now, though dr.
agree with many Of my brethren on this subject, l
believe the Christian world Is right in the .n'erpreta-
ilor Of this subject which the most advanced thought
gives We have ogtgrOwD many OF the crude IDEAS
which We had years ago. no one at least no one
who has any innnencc ~ the Chuicb' pelleNes ~
those material t0tGrcs which seem 10 give
such delight 10 our fathers. ihe brinistoue
and the lake Uf barning fire nave been
done away. 1liey have no place IN the theology OF
the day. we have, al of us, learned better thah TO
condemn 'lc CHILDREN and those VINO have never
heard tue naine Of Christ 10 nat place which ls 50
terrible TO thnk OF. The larger culture " ilie age
It's wider s. nllalAy and us greater enlightenment,
throw neN gilt Un the Elre. ara we are only too