The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-24
CHURCH OF THE DISCIPLES.

God Infinitely Great and Small-sais
Love and Unceasing Watchfuiness for
Us NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. by the Rev.
George ii. Hepworth.
Stcinway Hail. where the congregation calling
Itself the Church Of the Disciples still meet for sun
day worship, was crowded yesterday morning-a
pleasing tribute Of appreciation OF Rev. George H.
Hepworth, the popular pastor, and the moro
marked as he had been absent the previous Sab
bath. His subject was, "The Providence OF Cod"
and his text Pains cxxi., 3-"He that keepeth
thee will not slumoer There Is no stronger or more
intense expression, he began to express endurance
Sleep is the last test Of physical power The spirit
may be willing but the flesh may become weak.
Tie infant il sick; the mother has watched
by its bedside for three days and nights;
the crisis is at hand, but the mother falls asleep.
The great sleep has overcome her In spite Of her
love for her boy-a love that would give its own
life for the life of the child. But there Is
NEvER-TIRING VIGILANCE.
Week after week. month after month, that eye Is
always open looking into the recesses Of your soul
and watching for your welfare. And 30 want to
talk to you about the providence of God. 1t is the
marvellous doctrine Of the New Testament We
can understand the general interest," the interest
OF the architect in his plans but He has in US
far deeper interest. He is never more marvellous
than when viewed through His works. The
very imagination refuses to follow Him. II you
would get an idea of Him who says, II will watch
over thee" leap this space to Mercury, then to
Venus, then to the earth q little speck OF SAND,
little drop OF water in an ocean. Then take
another and holder hight to Jupiter and Nep-
tune and you will be appalled,. You will feel as
little as when you stand within the great Cathedral
amid the lofty columns and the echoes OF the
swelling organs. But you have not yet begun your
Journey: The sun has not yet risen and you are
tired. There are voices that bid you leap into
INFINITE SPACE.
You may go further and further, but you will find
no end. U, Cod thy deeds are greater than my
deeds, thy thoughts greater than my thoughts. In
what a marvellous world are we hving Look at
the stars, and there are thousands more beyond
your sight. How marvellously great is God And
this Is the God who has said "Ay providence shall
never slumber" Such is the being to whom we
have been taught to say, "My Father which art In
heaven" Such is the general providence of God.
Now let us look a little closer and see what means
His :, sneS.a! previaenee Put Ivy your telescope.
than does the fly the beliry Of st. Peters of the
vast Cathedral. Now, let us take down the micro
scope. Look at single drop OF water or II leaf.
YOu ina in each drop and on each petal q whole
nation, who are not only alive but happy. Look ut
them, and you can see they have lungs and hearts.
Your eyes take in only limited view. You can
see just what is intended for you to see This
BEING WHOM WE CALL GOD
is not only great but minute. He not only governs
the huge world, but the animalcule in stale drop
OF water Then religion entails responsibilities
upon us. He cares for the world as separate nd
viduals. That is why are able to say the Lords
Prayer. what strange truth this is cannot
believe It, My science, my philosophy tell me that
l am insignificant. take the Bible that says that
God marks the sparrow's fall, leaf fall though
millions are falling. and II we, who are to live for
ever, and If we would only believe tive who are
in the very focus of that power-ir we only grasp
the hand IL will safely lead US through trial and
temptation, sickness and the grave. We are al
ways in Gods mind, as Child is always in q
mothers mind; she may be apparently busy, but
she hears fall and she PUSHES to her child. The
Do you believe this with all your mind DO you
work on this plan You have not an aspiration
o& wop1 o # IS
lips have spoken it. Oh, what strength is
there in it. Have you ever had this experience
You must have had 1t. You have lost your money
or your friend or relative and you have lost all
hope. You have thought you were
AN Accidental wAIF.
Yes, that Is the feeling, and what Is its eGectp It
chills you to the marrow. Yon cannot sing the "Old
Hundredth," on the other hand, have you not sat
dearer than your own. and said 1t is all for the
best; not my will. but thine, Cod be done.
can say that but Christian. Tired you can hear
in the air voice of encouragement. Were that
voice to fall YOU would be lost. But the voice will
never die. He who watches over you neither Stun.
bers nor sleeps. This providence should make us
exceedingly grateful. Oh iriendsi remember that
the eye that looks upon you never slumbers. 1t is
Coos eye.
ROSE HILL METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Church Extension work-Addresscs by
tho Rev. Messrs. Dickinsor, steele and
Bnmhart-The Progress OF tho Work
and Its Benefit to the Methodist
Church-StntisfIcs Of the Mission.
meeting was held last evening in aid OF the
chur h extension work at the Rose Hill Methods.
Episcopal church in Twenty-seventh street. The
meeting was well attended, every pew being full
The Rev. John Dickinson, after the singing OF a
couple Of hymns, said that he would not take up
the time OF the congregation by reciting the object
of the meeting there that evening. He would
leave that to others who had come for the purpose
He then gave way to the Rev. j. w. Bamhart Of
the Forsyth street Methodist Episcopal church,
whe taking the pulpit, Immediately went into
the subject OF the church extension matter. He
said that as far as he knew this mission was one
OF the most noble and most salutary to Methodism
shat could have been devised. Fortunately the
Plans Of the society were done with, the mere
organization OF the work had ended and now the
only thing to do was to push the thing and make
1t useful as 1t could be made In this great CITY
To be sure it required hard work. ana, more than
hard work, 1t required
MONEY
This was what the faithful had been called upon to
do, TO subscribe. lie had heard with some sur
prise that 1t was not the intention OF the minis
ter to gather collection that evening; but no
doubt there were good reasons for it. At present
the main need OF the Methodist Church was not
to lose It's ground In this city, II certainly would
unless something more than mere passive waiting
were done. 1t was very well Tor the mountain 10 20
to Mahomet, but when 1t would not then Mahomet
should go to the mountain. When the people
woulk not OF their own occord 10 to church
then 1t was the duty OF the Church to 90
70 them and take them by the hand aud
invite them in. Many were quite willing to go to
church, and wanted to go, VINO did not dare CO.
Ihey could not make up their minds TO enter into
q Ru
wnen missionaries were sent out and invited them
IN many accepted the invitation joyfuIy. Then
there was another thing down town the church
had TO combat great deal. People who were
humble and gradually get even rich would leave
down town andEraduallygo up. Riches begot pride