The New York herald., 1876-12-25
CHURCH OF THE DISCIPLES.

BETHLEHEM, THE CRADLE OF CHRISTIANITY
SERMON BY THE REV. GEORGE H. HEP
WORTH.
The Church Of the Disciples was crowded yesterday
morning. In compliance with the custom Of the sea-
son the cdnce neatly decorated with evergreens
which met the eye on every hand IN the shape OF
cross, star or a wreath. For his text Mr. Hepworth
selected the sixth of the second chapter of
Matthew--"And thou Bethlehem. In tho land OF Juda
art the least among the princes OF Juda Tor
thee shall governor that shall rule my psople
Israeli
When Herod asked the chief priests and scr,bcs of
the people, said tho PASTOR where his dreaded rival
should be born, they tried to the words OF
prophecy, but they misquoted the prophecy leaving
out what are to the most important words. There
are peculiar associations connected with that beauti
ful town OF Bethlehem. 1t is picturesquely
situated on the crown or rugged, rocky
hill. Away of 10 the right lies the sluggish
Dead Sea with all its sad memories on therc
the north, hkc crown on hilltop, sits the holy
city OF Jerusalem, the very air which floats over II
being rcdoent OF notes OF gratitude to Cod This city
ethlehem) is remarkable also because of the assoca-
tions connected with the past Here Jacob buried
Rachel, who died after giving birth 10 Benjamin Her
tomb SAID be stil in existence aud lhither pill
crmages constantly being made by the faithful.
il was near by that Ruth cleaned wheat in tho fields
OF Boaz ancient Jewish law requiring The harvest
ers TO leave something behinu them for those who
were poorer than they. IL was here also that ihe
prophet samuel sent TO anont David that he
might rule Jerusalem, and II was just outside the
city's limits that the shepherds heard the announce
mcnt that the long promised King had arrived, the
event beng heraded by angels who filled tho air with
their song of "Pcacc on earth good VIII toward men.
Little wonder, then, that Bethlehem has become
sacred spotl Lathe wonder that devotccs from all
nations, from a quarters OF the globe. lind their way
to Its halowcd precncIs and there iit up their voices
to HIM VINO sent HIS only begotcn Son tnat we might
have lle eternal
Tue announcement of the birth OF the Lord was made
not only shepherds just outside the town. but also TO
those IN the East where the people saw the star IN
the heavens and followed until 1t over tue granite
walls OF Bethlehem, and then they anonted the new
born King win precious oils and myrrh: DO you tank
1t a little remarkable tha, the Lord should announce
this great event those people OF the orient at tho
same time He made known the glad udngs TO the
humble shepherds2 To me there Is nothing strange
about IT, Tor the Gospel OF the reform is not the
Gospel OF cquc, OF nation but II Is the Gospel Tor
the earh and Il draws all so closely together that IN
Gods good time every heart In the universe shall
THE CONSOLATION OF PATH.
And now, brethren, let me ask you TO stand here
and look tor moment at the condition in which the
world was when Jesus FIRST entered IT. Take your
stand, Il you Will, upon the hillside overookng Jeru-
sicm The population oi this city was lamentaby
corrupt and deDascd. Their spiritual notions were
very few indeed. Tncy did not look Tor an humble
child OF COD TO lead them-for who would give
them tho marvellous pit OF second sight that they
might see through the mysteries Of Cod They were
looking for military power, Tor one VINO could
bring the legons oi heaven 10 do battle Tor ana sup
plant the weakness OF their own people. Their eyes
were opcned and they the alert Tor
military spendor and worldly power alone, and when
they saw one in peasants garb, one who spoke with
great humility OF HIMSELF but who said am the
promised Messiah, viii lead you out OF the wider
ness. they condemned Him and suote Him, and thus
thcy stood a aud looked over the Son Of God,
hoping 10 ind one answering more their erroneous
notions aud designs.
AlIudlng to Athens and her great philosophers Mr..
Hepworth continued There 10 ono thing we must
know and not guess Al 60 70 an Athenian meme.