The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-11
CHURCH oP THE DISCIPLES.

The AtOnemont OF Christ-The Old and
tho New Testament-Sermon by Rev.
George H. Hepworth. iT
The Rev. George a. Hepworth preached yester-
day morning, as usual, TO an enormous congrega-
ton. He took his text from John, l., 2o-"Behold
the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins Of
the world.n The atonement or Christ, ne said,
was the foundation OF Christian theology and the
Christian Church. Theology had been throwing
round 1t q halo Of mysticism. Its power was felt
instinctively. The blind man felt the sun, but
could not see It, and they lived in the midst OF the
Holy Spirit and failed to notice its influence. He
would try to explain the dogma OF atonement, and
hoped that his sermon would unite them all IN
grateful remembrance to Him who died on the
cross. While yet the world passed indir erently,
without bowling Its head to Christ, 1t was meet to
and the origin OF this idea OF at0nement in the
Testament The development OF history fulfilled
all the predictions OF Christ. The New Testament
was the complement ana supplement OF the Old
Testament.
THERE WAS NO BREAK
between the two The Old Testament was the
alphabet. and the New contained an exposition OF
the spirit which must control their lives II they
would obtain the approval Of God. When, then,
their eyes first rested tine Israelites they found
them in q state OF terrible bondage oil body as
well as mind. NO man who was PHI slcally a slave
could be Intellectually free. They longed Tor help.
but no help came. They rebelled, but tine old iron
hand crushed them again. Their emancipation
was not accomplished BY Goa alone. God was the
FIRST party in this great contract OF national ree-
dom, and He promised to give them
explicitly. The second party to the contract
were the lsraelites themselves; they were to take
the oatn OF allegiance to the one true God and
hurl down from their places the gods OF stone.
Their hearts, brains and affections were all to De
Most High. The sign OF their emancipation was
the Strengthening OF lamb. God demanded that
they should begin by keeping their part OF the con-
tract. God knew what they wanted before they
prayed; but perchance He waited till they liited
their voices to ask for succor. Alter the work OF
emancipation was accC plished, the terriers OF the
Red Sea yet lay before them, and they were to he
pursued within an inch OF absolute annihilation.
In order TO get the slavery out OF their souls they
GO THROUGH TRIALS AND TROUBLES
They almost yielded their faith in God, when the
affiiction was not enough. Afterwards the arid
deserts of sand had 70 traversed for weeks, with
God. And, alter ALL they built their glorious tenn
pie, shining forth to all the world. GLd and the
people, IN this work. were In divine sort Of CO.
There was the historic part Of the development
OF wonderful race. The Hebrews we're a marvel
persistent and cllnging tenaclously to old tradi-
tons. Now the congregation was TO see the other
simply an extension Of salvation all over the
world. The Old Testament spoke Of the redemp-
ton OF the Hebrews; the New OF that Of the wnOle
world. The reproduction OF the OLD plan as.tO be
found In almost all Its de ais in lie Christ.
First, the bondage. Let them LOOK into their
! hearts and see the many chains there. They dare
not follow their impulses aud all their natural
denotes were Tor the first impulses, OF the moment
Were II not for that CAIN lorethought that taught
| them to listen to the voice OF reason they wound
be plunged into rum. There was nothing ahead
but destruction II they did not controi themse ves
/ There were tendencies IN every nature on wncn
/ THEY MUST PUT THEIR FOOT.
/ II was very nard to DO that II was very hard
! even to keep the ten commandments Take q
child; from the first moment when 1t knew its
1 Will 1t showed Its perverse disposition. Human
nature was IN some manner awry. A physician
| would tell them that ne could not make dag.
nosis OF any case without knowing the physical
CONDITION OF the patients grandparents.
! They came from the hand OF GOD:
they came through the channel OF .neir
ancestry. Inc minister also had the same
experience. He found some people who were de-
sp0ndent even on bright day IKE this. Tne rose
mad no fragrance Tor them, the sun no heat lie
looked back and found that the awful seed had
been thrown years and years ago. Passion, their
King, compelled them to do its bidding. some.
times they reDeiled, but they we're dashed back.
Days came anu went years came and went, aud
the CLOUD still hovered over them. Was there no
Tenei forever All. let them think and think, Tor
ne would tell them story which would bring tho
tears Oh eympathy and gratitude into their eyes.
what was tnis story 7 Cod knew II and devised