The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-28
CHURCH OF THE DISCIPLES,

How Christianity Proves Itself-Dif-
ferent Religious Systems and their
Basis-Sermon by tho Rev. George III.
HepwOrth.
The cheerily bright sunshine OF yesterda y
though with an accompaniment OF wind and dust
that savored Of painful prolongation OF the ides
OF March, attracted large and fashionable attend
ance at the services yesterday morning at the
Church OF the Disciples, corner OF Madison avenue
and Forty-dfth street. The Rev. George H. Hep
worth preached the discourse, his subject being
christianity Proves ITSELF" and the text Colos-
slams l., 13-"Who has delivered us from the power
of darkness and hath translated US into the king
dom OF his dear son." ! make no exaggerated
statement, he began, when say that the chief i'm
pulse OF q Christian life should come from Christ.
you are sculptor you are very foolish If you do
not study the best models, and SO say Of the
Christian, let him choose for his model.
THE BEST MODEL.
And II there is best model let us sit at His feet
and learn as children OF parent. And let us be
proud that although OF ourselves we are ignorant
ana weak, through Him we are wise and strong
But you say to me, How can believe in Christian
Ity9 answer you that will meet you on your
own ground. ask you to test Christianity as you
would political question. do not ask YOU to be-
lieve unless there is reason for IL; but am sure
that II you require even mathematical proof it can
be given you as much as in any of the ordinary &C.
currcnces OF life. First you ask me why am such
FANATIC ABOUT CHRISTIANITY
Why is 1t accept such system OF thought?
answer because OF Its intrinsic worth. IL has
promises have never been broken and II you obey
IT'S commands you will reap It's rewards. Every
other system has q man in its centre. These
other systems are founded, flourish and decay.
This system has Christ as It's centre; and far from
dying, 1t Is every day growing higher, deeper and
fianity to be divine institution because it is In
accordance with all OF Gods works. We look on
the Pyramids and we know instinctlvely that they
are the work OF man. We look on thepromontOry,
and we see the waves dashing at its base and the
hrmness in the rock, and we know 1t is the work Of
God. We look at the Gull Stream. 1t is too large
for man to have commenced. II carries the warm
water from the tropics to the otherwise cold coun-
tries OF the North and makes fertile land that
otherwise would be as barren as the wastes OF
Labrador. When come to Christianity, come to
the Gulf Stream that starts from the tropics OF
ocean OF our life, making iowery wales where
would otherwise be snow and ice. And say there
Gods. And again accept Christianity as divine
institution. and consequently having power over
my life But, you say to me at once that
CHRISTIANITY Is NOT WHOLLY ORIGINAL.
Can 1t not be true because it is not originas You
can't hide beyond that fence. 1t Is curious tact
that all great things come in bits. The steam
engine the telegraph, the printing press were not
the works OF one brain. They were the fruits OF
many thoughts Of many men. The man who put
the thoughts together we call the inventor. We
know that virtue and morality nave existed In bits
since the world began. Not even the barbarian
does wrong without afterwards feeling remorse.
Ies these
BITS OF GOOD
were stars In the ancient heavens and men for
ages lived under their light. But who does not
know that when the sun comes up the stars fade ?
We travel under the larger light-not that we are
ungrateul to the stars but that we are more CRATE
1u for the greater light IL is with the religious
systems. Every system has been star; but each
has faded before the sun-Christanity. IL seems
TO me as II those great men had played just as q
man sometimes plays on big organ with two
pipes. One man appeals TO the Judgment ana an
other to the passlons but Christ plays on All the
pipes and draws out all the stops, and now plays
sweety and tenderly and now strongly and
solemny, and now he thunders; but every touch is
the touch OF master and the harmony thrills ana
throbs through your whole being. He can elevate
Or depress II. What man is there who can
PLAY EVERY TUNE.
j know OF only one. All there Is but one Master
and That Master Is on the throne OF heaven. What
need Is there for me to go on. There is but
lninp elt only one way remains for proving
Chrlstianity. You might argue with me all day
ABOUT match, stating that by certain laws OF
chemistry IL would not light by drawing it across
rougn piece oil marble, but when draw IL across
~ does ilght, and yeur ana my argument are not
worth that Swapping his thumb and finger. If
ycur chemistry does not prsve 1t 80 much the
worse lor your chemistry. Put your Christianity
10 the test, not with the microscope or scalpe but
take the Sermon on the Mount as your Guide and