The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-26
KEPWORTa,S OaATORY.

A Sermon Moral MISUNDERSTANDING
tiOns for che Erection Of n rev Church.
The congregation that listened to Rev. Mr.. Hep.
worth's sermon at Steinway Hall yesterday morn.
ing was made up OF those who have placed them
selves under his guidance since his secession from
UnlJariansm and not Of the class OF strangers In
the city and sensation mongers who usually the
components OF the audiences VI preachers at tenn
porary PAGES OF worship. Before the sermon was
commenced many OF those present signlded their
| intention to continue under the ministratOn Of Mr..
| Hepworth by subscribing large sums Tor the cree.
ton OF an edfce on Fifth avenue to bs the
| future theatre OF his labOrs. There was In all
| 100000 pronered.
Mr.. Hepworth's text was from Mark X, 51:--"And
Jesus answered and said unto HIM, what wilt thou
that should do unto theer The blind man said
unto Him, .LOru, that l might receive my sight,"
He SAID the incident is one Of great interest Most
people consider blindness q great aniicuon. 1t
must be hard to be sghtless when one mas thou
sand friends to watch ones wishes and 10 do ones
bidding. TO be shut out IRON view OF this Deauti-
Iul world never 10 see sunset or cloud, STAR or
flower; to grOpe ones way through world made
exqusitey beautiful In every part must be an affiic
ton requiring all ones patience and ner0ism. But
10 be, ike BartlmeuS beggur, dependent upon the
dOle OF stranRers--to SIT ny the roadside all day
long watching with cunning ears tor the approach
ing lOorsIep, hoping to get the means OF misera-
bic, scanGy subsistence this Is almost TOO much to
y,
opened the Deggar eyes, ana lie looked into the
face OF his Saviour.
the condition OF Bartlmeus-we are born bind
the selfish element dominates. Not one Is WHOLE
received revelation from the Holy Spirit, can put
his hand on ms heart and say, MY eyes are open:
sin thai blinds the eyes as though cataract grew
over the puDlr VINO among you That would dare
ns e o OF 9 o us
afraid Of We can pass the ordeal or Cnrlst's crlL
clsm only wnen he looks at US through the medium
OF loving KINDNESS and tender mercy. II We had
nothing better than our own merits with which to
purchase paradise we should have to stay on
day Jesus comes our way, and hearing our cry,
demands that we be led before HIM. He plties our
that We are blind some SHINING ancestor must an.
for 1t all. And II Is not Gods fault either he
did not make US SO. lie gave to our Parents the
power OF sgnt; but 10y tner mlsdeeds we are born
WITH orbs that have no power to iQox upon the beau
along we shall stay blind forever. But He does
come; He sees u.s. lie pitles u.s. He Ii wiling to nelp
u.s. lie touches our eyes IN answer TO our many
prayers and cries; and 10! with thrill OF delight
we look out upon world wholly new to us. We
tn ,ught we lived before; but now we know that
whlle we were olind we were as good as dead. We
live only whe9 we have sight. All TINS Is hardly
we nave no sight. We have nothing to do but to be
satisfied win our blindness, or To watch for the
out e, when hea M
wha. call conversion or regeneration. The man
VINO Is born INTO sight Of the otaer EOrla WIN an
Spirit, passes 1t were from death unto life IL Is
an experience through winch every man must pass.
The Christ Is always going by. You can always
hear HIS fooIfall. lie still going ABOUT through
out the world uoing good, as IN tue Oiden ume He
trOd the dusty highway from Jerusalem to jericho,
or fingered 10y the peasant shores OF The sea or
Galllee. He ls just as ready to pity now as then,
ana just as wiling to restore sight to the blind and
health to the MANNED. But now, as then, the
miracle Is performed only to those VINO know
that they are bind, who long Tor sgnt and who
cry out TO the Lord whenever his footsteps are
heard. What blessed thing to be received into
the company Of those VINO nave received their
sight! Why remain satisfied TO grope IN the small
domain wherein the sghtess must always live,
love open the darkened orb and pour into 1t the
| light OF the eternal day?
sometimes a man Is converted suddenly and
sometimes he goes through the process very grad.
| what an awful half hour II was! God spoke to him
and he saw the mistakes OF a lifetime. lie became
Christian, true Christian, in heart once. Most
| OF you VINO hear me can recall some experience
not perhaps striking and dramatic as that
| which changed the Apostle, but an
| experience OF sickness or bereavement IN
which everything seemed to change It's aspect. You
| longed for higher things 0r communion with the
| Saviour You saw as never before the worthless
ness OF this worlds goods and ambitions; you Ielt
your own slniulness; WELL that was q provi.
you entered into new relations with things you
| have been happier ever since. The assurance OF
Gods presence here and OF salvation hereafter
came upon you and blessed you.
Come, you who are aged VINO are tOttering along
| the down hill OF lie; not many days and you Will
tread the misty realm Of the great hereafter Come,
you who are In middle lie, higher lie awaits you
the Inspiration OF God shall throw around your hard
| work a halo. Come all; the Lord Is passing. You
can hear His football. Let us cry with one voice.
| 30 Lord, thou son Of David have mercy on us.n
ST. THOMAS, PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL