The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-20
CHURCH OF THE DISCIPLES.
Sermon by Mr.. Hepworth ON Seeing
Christ-Tho Average Christian No Rep
rescntatfve of Christianity.

Sermon by Mr.. Hepworth ON Seeing
Christ-The Average Christian No Rep
rescntative of Christianity.
Yesterday morning the members and congrega
ton Of the Church Of the Disciples assembled al
Stenway Han.
Mr.. HepwOrth's text was taken from John l., 40
"Come and see" He said this was very pthy
answer. Philip was aware that ne was no logician,
and so he used other weapons. Ifpeople who can't
argue would not insist upon argument we should
have more peaceable time. Philip could not mea.
sure swords with Nathaniel; but still he was sure
that he was In the right. Nathaniel probably
looked upon his friend as mildly insane. He
did not care to hurt his feelings so he simply
shrugged his shoulders and uttered that word
which is partly sarcasm and partly a sign of con-
tempt. He said, Hemi Indeedl He came out OF
Nazareth Now, my friend, don't you think 1t
reasonable to suppose that when the Messiah comes
he will probably make his first appearance in Jeru-
salem, and among the first families Do you think
he will come out Of god-forsaken place like Naza-
reth, where the people have to grub pretty hard to
make both ends meet Come, now, be reasonable.
YOU ARE EXCITED.
Look the matter fairly In the face, and you will
see that am right and you are wrong. What de-
lightful complacency! Could anything equal it The
whole matter is disposed of in minute. OF course
God would not act without consulting Nathaniel
and Of course II Nathaniel thought that the Messiah
was to come with letters of introduction to the
high priest, why this whole story about Nazareth
must be humbug. There is something grand
about that method OF argument, but 1t Is the
80 saS the np
that could refute the argument of his friend
'yome and see,". All, yes, that will settle the
he found out that Gods ways are not always
Nathanael's ways, and that Gods thoughts are
t agae as1 thoughts We
less the Almighty does what your judg-
m 1aer approves yol refuse to accept the
learning OF Him, You virtually assert that whatever
is done against your Judgment is simply mlsdeed.
How many people get theory Of reon and
can be twisted into a props When was In the
South had long talks with Shareholders When
Old Testament In my face and poor 0ncsimus, In
the New, had to stand guard over the whole plan
tatlon. In vain quoted the Sermon on the Mount.
Bible is Bible they said, ana again they hurled
their favorite passages at me. Thee is whole
school OF thinkers who say there can't be reve-
laws are never broken. This Is sublime position
to take
GOD CAN'T DO WHAT PHASES HIM;
he must do what pleases me. l wont endorse His
work unless 1t is done just rs want it DONE That
is the way In which great deal OF shallow philoso
mighty's mind, and 1t is quite impossible that there
should be anything which 1t does not understand.
Well, little while ago this same style Of argument
Heavens Do you think you can dig through hin
or rock and . MI up gully and not destroy the
mad2 Horses must be worth penny
piece II You succeed, and the whole agri-
SSS &c OF the said realm Rn Win be
simply replied, ~ don't know whether it can be
done or not. know that 1t Is already done, and
Manchester to Liverpool The most ridiculous
thing man can do is to say of anything nova
days, it can't be done. Well now, dear friends, !
stand by the side OF Philip and say of Christ and
His Gospel, Come aud sec; you have argued about
this thing long enough, now just come and look at
1t. You turn on me and say, have examined
the specimens which you have turned out OF your
MILL and don't like them All, you touch me on
tender spot II Is ne mat have
IL with sadness.
DON'T MUCH BLAME voLTAIRE
for saying that Christianity Is u hunbug because
some priests hypocrltes. stu his argument was
one that child ought to be ashamed Of Because
men build an laguistlon and put thnmbscrews In
Christ . baby ought to know better than
that. Because the Puritans tied women to
Dyer on Boston Common, is the New Testament
therefore falseP lovely logician, you are! You
ought TO too @any city, oss
t. e., draw your salary and do no work for 1t. am
willing to confess that even the average Chris
what of It Because men are bad Is the
New Testament counterfeit? There was
once great scamp in heaven. He was driven out
and had fall that lasted from night till morn,
from morn to dewy eve. You would not argue, II
you We're in your right mind, that there was no
heaven, no angels, no God because the devil got in
there. Now, away with your logic. If you want to
find out what Christianity is and whether it Is
divine or not come and see for yourself. Take it's
principles, put them into your heart, live by them,
and then you will put your hand on your heart
and say, God was right and was wrong Don't go
to the deacon of a church, go to Christ. Do as
Nathaniel did-go to the real Christ; listen to His
words and when you find yourself nplifted then you
will find that the proof Of His divinity is not to be
found in the books, but in every true and noble
life.