The New York herald., 1876-07-31
COVENANTING WITH GOD.
Lessons from the Parable of the
Steward and His Master.
THE EFFICACY OF PRAYER
Thoughts Upon Things Revealed
and Unrevealed.
CHURCH OF THE DISCIPLES.
I AM WITH YOU ALwAY-sEBMoN BY REV.


largo congregation gathered in the Church OF the Dis
cipes hear Mr. Hcpworth's last morning sermon
before vacation His text was from Matthew, xviii,
2o-"Apd 10. with you Away, unto the
end Of the world"
Such n sentence that, said Mr. Hepworth, pro-
pounced by one in authority is OF priceless Importance
to the world 1t is revelation OF very startling fact
II might be well for us then look at the crcum-
stances under which the words uttered, md DIS.
if the general Interpretation put upon them
the correct Jesus walking under shadow.
The morning CT Hi life had passed He had borne the
burden and the heat of the day. The afternoon had
gone and nothing left except the setting OF tho
sun. He was very anxious indeed, apparently, that
the work begun by Him should be carried to its
completion after Hts death, and in ordcr to do this He
said to His disciples, "Go yo therefore teach all
nations, baptizing them in the Of
the Father and of the Son, and Of the
Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all
things whatsoever have commanded you; and 10
with you Away, even unto the end of the world"
II would appear then, that Jesus knew the weight Of
His utterance; that He meant exactly what He said,
and said precisely what He meant He gave promise
TO the apostles that they should work alone that
immsasurabe forces should with them in their CON-
mission and give them cearness OF mind a nd boldness
OF heart. Now, if you please, look at two thrcc
place He gave His disciples duty. He set before
them hard task. 1t
No ROAD
in which they walking. /. not
beneath the ciear and cloudlcss skies that
they to spend their time. Their
feet DO by the brers OF the worlds hatred
He did not promise them that single iota of the
burden He had given them should be lossened. They
to perform their duty in full. They wereto be
faithful In the discharge of their duties but He says,
81 will be with you this work Will DO help to
you .; and 1t is wondrous privilege TO feel that tho
Master who gave the law is helping US to keep It,
and that He who king above all kings, is personally
our friend IL is one oi the prerosaives OF the
Christian 10 rely upon Heaven to vc-y large
extent, and to draw his encouragement and
strength from the fountains that above his head.
The man OF God is surrounded by cloud oil witnesses
and is safe The man OF the world SINKS into tho
and dies OF despair life is full Of sorrow and
trouble him. But he who trusts IN the Lord and has
faith in Goa walks IN the upland firmly and securely,
and though he stumDes ana falls he is lifted up and
though everything else gives way his trust IN the
Father never tails that is like npouring
OF hopeulness in the time OF temptation and trouble
Tho disciples then went forth not alone, but with an
unseen by them, leading them and helpng them.
Christ promised that He would be with thcm, and
He always keeps His word But He says moro than
that He says "a will be with you alway," and that
is the most important word in the sentence. Now
you and l. who have been Christians for many years,
have seasons of despondency There are times when
we shut ourselves up in our room and feel that God
has withdrawn His presence from us One OF you
came TO me the other day and SAID, with tears IN his
eyes, al do know what 1t is, but must have done
something for all my consciousness OF Gods nearncss
has gone and my companionsnp with the Lord is
broken OF have prayed, but have seemed TO pray
into tho air, ana | am sad and IN SCRABBLE" Well,
brethren take 1t that this promise which have read
TO you the antidoe Tor that poison. II is truth
for your doubt; II is the
SUNSHINE PoR YOUR DARKNESS
If you but cling to the Word OF God you shall yet
be lifted up songs OF triumph. You shall be lifted
up you shall the stars shining in all their bright
ness and beauty once more. II Is not that God has
Withdrawn from you; II Is that you have withdrawn
from God. Perhaps some habit stands between you
and God SO long as II is your whole purpose TO do
your duty Gods promise ia yours, and He will fulfil 1t
in spirit and letter. 'Lol am with you alwav." That
Is what Christ SAYS and then Ho takes another
s,tp, and, as If the word Away did not express the
whole OF the giit, He adds, ''unto the end of the
world " Then you and are included in these words
Of Lord Then Jesus Christ makes these promises
TO you aud to me. Although We may not be able TO
comprehend the why and wherefore what God is
c mot tell believe He is, nevertheless. How God
operates on my lie while am endowed with agency
| do not know. still must believe that God is in
my lie Just as believe tho sun is IN the heavens
Without God | can do nothing, end without the
aay feeling that God Is with me, that Hc
Is the most patient OF all my friends, that
Hc Is the most gentle, the most sympaihizng and the
most willing help. These iacts which are the
very rock which stand, and without that hope all
my happiness would be washed away; but the very
mome feel that God is with me, and that whatever
happens is subjected His control then, brethren,
am safe. No danger ovcrwhcim me THIS life is
no,hing-the other hic Is everything ana look right
over all troubles and temptations OF this present time
with To get hoiu OF the better Things
that come by and by The great trouble is we
live though to-day was to last forever II Is to-
morrow that to last forever To-day is bu; an atom
Of time To prepare the future We forget TOO often
that this life the slender experience OF the soul
which Il gets ready for the grandcr duties of tho
future. Christ said al will DO with you Away, only
that He IN aht express Himself In tender relations
as II you have read the fourteenth chapter OF
John, dear friends, wish you would do so, because
lherc you have almost precisely the same thought
q littlo further, you will find 1t recorded that
tho Holy Ghost will teach you all things and then
He adds, as master would say 10 young
PUTTING on HIS ARxoR FOR BATTLE
Let your heart be troubled neither let be afraid
And friends Jesus felt the peculiar weight OF His
words You remember that episode in HIS career when
He predicted that HIS disciples would leave Him. lie
said, ''fhey will leave me alone;' then, lifting His
eyes up 10 heaven He added, 'and yet not alone Tor
Ihc Father will be with me-" often think what
wondrous privilege 1t not to be alone, because the
Father is with us dear friends When one is travelling
alone in the woods at night, though he may be never
determined TO reach the end OF his Journey IN spite
OF his fatigue nevertheless there rs loneliness steals
over him, klnd OF terror IN his heart To be nied
with a consciousness that no matter how loudly you
may cry out u danger approaches, no one viii hear
that fearful But how sweet IS TO Walk, no matter
how long the journey is, no matter how thick the
shadows may be that gather about YOU, II you have
companion by your sidc Aud. II tha. companion Is
able ana willing help you II he speaks TO you words
OF encouragement ~hcn you feel you may iaii then
you can do anything. The twigs may crackle out there
the darkness may be impcnctrabc, u Is no matter,
yoa have Trend tn you aad he projects his courage
into your heart; and you walk on with bravery and
bopc 10 the nome you Fastening TO. 80 ought II
be on your Journey Christ, bu. there Is one thing
strange and that is that you aud ! are so bound 70
ke.n ihe windows toward heaven shut tight We open
THE WINDOWS ssLRisnNEss
and let the breczcs play through but the other WIN
d,xs are closed and the curtains drawn. We DO not
thiok pcrsstently enough concerning the greater
things beyond We much absorbed IN the thlngs
nf ms world as though there we're no other world at
ali ne Won know here goingY Ars you in the
right way The good you arc hoping 10 caohf Doyou
r.ud IN fear the judgment OF God, or DO you look
forword with 10Y unspcakaule for your rewardf All
friends we approach from day 10 day. seeing moth
ing except that which lies immediately before
ne. In is The privilege of the Christian To
i,v ms eyes up 10 the broad expansc
ot heaven and TO look beyond the deep blue ether to
e.od tnat SITS on high ! wonder how men ol tho word
o,.r ss, on one who has never pledged himself to
christ and never graspcd the great truths OF Snrs-
tlou,y | wonder how that man ever succeed% Nnen
our hopes have departed, one alter ano'hcr "hen
vile or child are taken away TO the great beyond "has
10 HE to you them feel that this e is ,he n' 81