The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-20
CHRISTIAN SALVATION.

ocTmOn ny new UcOT20 EcpWOIths
Mr.. Hepworth's Church OF the Disciples was
flied yesterday morning by an apprecative audi
ence, the larger portion OF which were ladies' Mr..
Hepworth took for his text Acts, kill 26-"To you
is the word OF this salvation sent.n These words
were addressed TO the people Of Antioch by st.
Paul. and the reverend gentleman commenced his
discourse by describing the situation and mixed
population OF that city and the wonder and aston
ishment which the hearers OF that disciple must
have felt at hearing such new religion
preached to them. The religion OF Christ
was very different from any they had
heard OF before, and yet the people OF
that city and Athens were accustomed to witness
the ceremonies OF its voaries in the various tenn
pes principal portion OF the population was
composed OF merchants-a generous body Of men
and 1t appeared That religious federation was ex-
tended to oil and that Antioch was cosmopolitan
in its character, rendered SO by its extensive
merce. In this respect 1t resemDled our own city
Of New York. St. Paul told the people Of
Antioch what seemed to them strange
story. He brought to them the precepts Of
Mount Sinai and Of the Sermon on the Mount; he
preached to them religion which was ancient and
neville had come to preach their salvation. The
god recognized by the ancient pagans was very
different one from that revealed by ST. Paul. The
former was god guided by caprices and whims,
to whom it was considered necessary to offer
sacrifices to obtain his favor, and no one knew
what he might do on the morrow. The god OF the
old pagan world was like spoiled child; he was
guided solely by his own pleasures and required
to be propitiated; he was considered to own the
world. not to have any love or compassion for it.
1t was very little better with the Hebrews in their
appreciation or the great Jehovah. These nations
OF antiquity feared God but did not dare to trust
In Him who would do Just as ne pleased. 81:
you of different being, to give you altogether a
new conception OF the Deity" He came to tell
them OF God who was the same to-day ana yes;
nothing OF HIS own pleasure, but was guided by
eternal justice; who made US promises upon Ger.
whose desire was that they should be saved from
their sins. We did not appreciate the sweetness
and the aroma OF ST. Paul's sermon to these peo-
ple because we had heard the story so often and
from our childhood. When st. Iaul stated his
ideas OF God ne laid the foundation OF q human
religions religion of common sense-and which
appealed to every heart. From that moment our
renglon was built upon granite, and 1t could not
be shaken.
Gods Word was the same at present as 1t was
OF man to work out mis- salvation; lie would not
do it all Himself; there was His promise on the one
the COD wou esp
The question may be asked "What need Is there Of
savatonf" Cannot go on" man may say,
tain that shall come out all right Of lasts Why
should join church, Ior instance?' Or, 81 have
paid my pew rent; is not that enou2hT No, 1t Is
not enough. The Christian religion is a personal
matter. Gods relationship was not with any
M o. e O SR un
was q different GOD TO one man I0m
, Mas s Se'n God Re sn0'S %ao had
each his trials and troubles. Gods grace might
not come to us pre5ently-to-day or tomorrow, or
this month or this year but the conditions being
performed on our part It would come.
THE NECESSITY OF PRAYER,
We could plead with God and beseecn and reason
with Him; we could hold communion with Him;
we could tell Him what we wanted done. God
would hear our prayers and answer them, and
dlsslpate our doubts and cause them to vanish
into thin air. Were they conscious Of salvation
He (Mr. Hepworth) was all the time Did we not
need salvati0nY We're they ready to stand before
God He was not he wanted something he had
not got. They might ask him WHY he would
reply that when he read that book (the Old Tesla
ment) he heightened; 1t was there written that
II he did not obey the law he should de and yet he
had periodically broken one OF The Ten Command
ments and it was the same as to the New Testa-
the necessity for salvation. God had sent His own
Son into the world for the salvation OF mankind.
But man must work with God to obtain 1t. He
assisted man in securing his salvation, but man
s0nal friend, and we could not obtain salvation
without his aid.
Tue NATURE OF SALVATION.
Mr.. HepwOrth concluded his discourse by ex-
First ne said, religion Is personal thing; God de-
sires. through Christ to save you. He can save
you and will save you II you cooperate with Him
and keep your heart Alright and trust-blindy
everything beautiful in life and OF every hope and
Ths services were concluded with singing and
prayer.