The New York herald., 1876-02-07
CHURCH OF THE DISCIPLES.

REV. MR.. HEPwoBTH ON OUR ONENESS WITH
cHRIsT-A PLEA FOR THE REVIVAL
The usual congregation assembled in the Church OF
the Disciples yesterday morning. II being the nrs
Sunday in the month the rite OF holy communion
observed. TO which service Mr.. Hepworth gave his
usual liberal invitation. twenty-five members Joined
tbe church-eghteen by profession OF faith and four
by letter Mr.. Hepworths text ST John, xvii, IS
. part Of the prayer OF the Lord Jesus Christ The
prayer call the Lords Prayer is msnomer; that is
aform ofprayer for use; but John xviii have
. prayer which Christ made for Himself These are
the words OF my text'I them and thou in me, that
they may be made perfect in one" This has always
struck me very remarkable sentence, because it
indicates a very remarkable possibility possibility
of which we should never have dreamed but for the
Impressive assertion Of revelation. Christ ntmates
. oneness between and Himself as the con-
dition OF further unity between us and God.
IL is unity OF will and OF purpose and OF being u Is
complete union by means OF which our weakness Is
driven away through the presence OF His strength
union by means OF which need be
come by evil, because when temptations press
hard permitted 10 borrow Of God endurance
and resistance. Brethren, il is wonderful privilege
10 be able 10 look Christ enjoy all the preroga
lives that now from that fact to look at Him, not
simply as historical hero, but as a victor DEATH
lhe worlds schoolmaster your redecmer; and
your own obedience the certain consequence that
kind OF affection, and It is but the high road to further
Intimacy. We frequently In our love expand In our
power Of appreclaton; the more we have the more
want and the larger our ability 20 appreciate and COM
prehend each other There is end or limit 10 our
COMPREHENSION Of the life and death OF Jesus Christ
And brethren, another thing follows, In which you
and j take great delight The fact that We are per-
nitted sit daily al Christ's table ana Of His ood
makes kngly. The fact that every day we can sat
II His feet and hear Him discourse OF His expert
pnce gives us by slow degrees larger proportion
n body and wider scope Of thought and proiOunder
fepth Of sympathy Though We may never nope TO set
On His throne yet the fact OF HIS friendship lits
above the PEASANTS destiny.
Let rs look at Ehis unity which Christ prays for We
20 be one with Him, first OF all 10 faith Faith is
part OF the fundamental doctrine See what Scripture
ccsarca Phillip be asked bis disciples, saying
Whom do say hat am They said, Some say
that thou art John the Baptist some Elias and others
Jeremias or one OF the prophets Evidently the
people had been talking about this subject They did
not think God had created anything new, they sup
posed that God had brought back one Of the old
prophets 10 do special work. But Jesus said
sWhom say ye that ann" And Simon Peter SAID
sThou art the Christ the OF the living God" And
Jesus answered aud aid.-"Biessed art thou son Of
Barjonas, for flesh and blood hath not revealed this
unto thee, but my father which is in heaven"
have seen great many crceds Ia life. but that
is the longest and best the proioundest Theological
fact Is hidden in those words What Is
n necessary for you 10 believe when you come
on the platform Of Christianity Is II necessary
for you 10 have any theology At al7 Yes; every man
tbnks something and whaiever he thinks his creed
and every man should think Alright and you shalt be-
Iieve IN The Son Of Cod IL you do that nothing
shall be required, ana reason demands that nothing
great question for you 70 decide s the one Jesus asked
His disciplcs-Oo you believe Jesus was only one or
fhs Old prophets raised up y Goe 70 40 sempo,sry
Jesus has nolhag do with your futnref No brcth-
rem think your mind docs not run In that direction
n you say ~ believe Thou ari we Ohrsb 'ho son