The New York herald., 1872-12-16
CHURCH OF THE DISCIPLES.

The Eventual ObliteratfOn OF Christ's
Words Likened to the Crumbling OF
Rock-sermon by tho Rev. George II.
HepwOrth. s~-
Stenway Hall was well filed yesterday morning
by the usual select congregation. After the COM
pletion OF the customary predatory exercises OF
singing and prayer Mr.. Hepworth arose and an
nounced as his text Matthew, XIV, a5:-"Heaven
and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not
pass away" This Is certainly imperial language. he
began, and no ordinary man or king has the right
TO give utterance to such sentence Is there no
exaggeration here, and what Is the meaning OF
''shall rot pass away ?" Will not these words
GROW DIM AND MORE DIM
and gradually fade out OF memory We look at
the rock jatting out into the ocean and the angry
waves dashing against it. Whole generations pass
away and still there Is no perceptible decrease in
Its huge proportions; but science tells us that,
atom by atom, 1t is crumbling, and before many
generations will be leveled with the beach, Science
tells us that this earth is breaking away beneath
our feet, and that the fXed stars will go out OF
their orbits and lily into the
BOSOM OF THE SUN.
Science Is still more daring when 1t says that the
sun, which is now in , the noontide Of Its glory,
and 60 out into nothingness. Who Is
this that dafes utter such language, and
dare speak thus 2 Has he an army whose swords
reflect the glistening Of the morning sun Is he
clad in armor and seated upon thronef No; he
is simply Hebrew YOUTH a carpenters son. He
went down to the river and was baptised, and en-
tered the church at Jerusalem. There was some
thing strange and extraordinary about his birth.
heavens. heavens. This kept moving and they followed it
until 1t disappeared directly over the stable IN
JESUS WAS PREACHING TO THE PEOPLE.
There was no one IN his congregation that might
be called well born, and oil earned their bread by
the sweat OF their brOws. There was Peter, impet
% nous to great degree anar and John, loving and
great. There He stood, surrounded BY His
spake these words, "Heaven and earth shall pass
away, but my words shall not pass away.n Was not
this arrogance There are no facts to substan
is too much for Him. He is tried, condemned, exe
cuted Just outside Jerusalem some one Is trying
to dig place in which to plant the cross. The
MALEFAcroRs
grOan at their fate, but the other convicted one
stands motOnless while Gods almighty voice
whispers to Him. The scene is ended. Jesus bows
His head. and, crying out that 't is finished, dies
the ignomnOus death OF one who has greatly
offended the law. Where Is there defeat on the
page OF history that will compare with thisf He
days after the crucifxion they went to look
behind the stone, into Jesus sepuchre, but moth
broken, the stone rolled away and the crucifed
One gone. In day or so the apostles met and the
risen Christ met with them. A great power en-
tered the bodies and minds OF the apostles and en-
abled them to perform the great works which they
afterwards did. They went TO Antioch because
1t was a free city. and preached to ten, and that
ten becoming preachers preached to yet another
ten. There was hardly hillside or valley upon or
IN which there was not a Christian home. When
children died or sver-headed parents passed
away the bereaved ones submitted to Gods will
with faith which was beautiful to contemplate.
Paul went to Rome, whose armies were scattered
all over the earth; that ruled the world and that
believed in power and power only. He preached
in the city until the Old ma rble gods
JUPITER AND APOLLO
got down from their pedestals and SUNK away.
Before six centuries had gone by the Word had
been preached from shore to shore. There is no
arrogance now. The words were imperial, but
not those OF king The triumph is come, but the
Master js gone; gone, yet ever present. The words
Of Christ do not appeal to societies, but to in
dividuas. 1t holds not only the avalanche sweep.
ing down the mountain side, but it is so gentle
that 1t controls the atoms beneath your feet
Christ came not only to ransom the WHOLE but Y ou
and me. "Come to me We who labor and are heavy
laden, for Will give you rest.n