The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-10
CHURCH OF THE DISCIPLES.

I Thee ten thOusnhu years deaTeT
10 our race than Thou art to day."
CHURCH OF THE DISCIPLES.
THE EFFECTS OF THE BIBLE coSTINUED--sER-
MON DY REV. GEORGE II. HEPwoRTH.
Rev. George II. Hepworth preached his usual
largo congregation yesterday morning from tho text
H. Timothy, ill.,, 16sAll Scripture Is gwen by inspira-
ton OF God, and profitable for doctrine Tor reproo
for correction, for instruction in righteousness" We
at the present time, you know, standing IN tho
/ midst oil anniversary associations Of tho utmost I'm
porance OF the exciting interest More than
eighteen hundred years ago, at this time OF the year,
circumstances convcrgng, arriving at focus,
and the consummation of a historic tragedy at
hand. Christ from tho hilltop looked down upon Jcru-
salem HIS way to that reereant city. Tho
people, always volube, and to be de-
pended upon, and moved for the moment
by divine enthusiasm, shouted better than they
knew when they cried out, 'Hosanna" and called
Christ the King OF Israel prophesied OF old They
express nothing more than common loyalty whom in
their zeal they tore their very garments FROM their
backs aud tho branches from tho trees that grew
by the waysde, and strewed them on the triumphant
pathway OF Him who went into Jerusalem as q king
and went out of 1t us criminal Jesus left behind
Him, when he took His seat at the right hand OF God
first, an example which we arc to follow closely
except at great distance He left also the sad
solemn yet victorious heritage OF HIS sacrifice IN
behalf, the spiritual value OF which Is hard
lett, also, certain words which are ike The ONT.
ment which Mary put the iect of the
Master, the perfume Of which filled the whole mouse;
for those words, rcdolent Of beauty have touched
hearts OF every generation and dried tho tears o
row IN every century and gwen TO mankind blessed
hope OF the eternal life when circumstances cannot
take away Jesus said to His disc pies that won
deriul chapter OF John which have often alluded
to that the Holy Comforter alter his departure should
teach all things and bring all things their re
mcmbrancc, whatsoever He had said unto them. Tho
Holy Spirit then quckcns their memory and the word
which we have Is, then, the word Of God, written by
Gods hand, wh the same authority that uttcrances
OF his own lips would have, and we are to receive IL
the foundation Of our ncton toward each her and tho
Most High, and the corner stone upon which our i'm
mortal happiness is buiided. And yet seems me-
dear friends, that have not yet appropriated the
Bible ought to have done. IL IS everybody's
properly, ana therefore belongs To no We
understand how men are to DO saved but not how we
TO be saved ourselves. We look upon the New
Testament MS the expression Of Gods love but arc
apt TO look upon the Old Testament the hardness Of
God. II seems though the universe had suffered n
terrible CONFUSION when the last prophet died. aud
BRiDGELEss cfiAsM
interviewed between the old and now, and II Is a gen.
cral impression that II believe IN tho New Icsta-
ment We can fairly neglect the Old; that ind
our comfort IN the words OF CHRIST ana no comfort IN
the words OF the older book. II seems this have
made almost fatal mistake. We have abridged,
through carecssncss and fooshncss our spiritual I'D
vantagcs. We have unnecessarily narrowed the crclc
In which hopes grew, which spiritual good
comes There is no book in which take moro delight
than the Old Testament, and l find Christ there in
every chapter and every verse. | do not believe
that God revealed Himself the Old Book,
more as a king and despot than in the New The Ola
Testament is all love from beginning 10 end; IT Is u
record OF Gods great affection the human race.
revelation OF His constant promise 10 those who VIII
enter Loyalty toward himself You may to
any page and lind that my words ere true Look at
cncampcd at the loot OF Noun, Sinai my words are
true II you will listen you viii hear the awful voice
Of God and all the people shake with fear and they
ask Moses 10 into the mountain Tor they dare not
hear that voice. Your impression Is that God is
seated on throne, and that He gave TO hoses tho
commandments, and Noses came down with his
stony tablets, and the nrst words re:-''Tnou shalt
not" They begin almost all the commandments and
you say, worry naturally what hard hearted, stern
being God is-Hc will what He WILL and what He Will
not cannot DO. There Is something hard and angular
about Him. But you have been looking at Sinai all
the lime Turn 10 tho green grassy pain what you
secs Thousands tents and scores OF banners lifted
nigh and right in the centre you see the tabernacle
buiidcd by Gods direction, and about II the visible
presence OF tho Almighty himself. Tho cloud, which
the revelation OF Gods protecting and love- the
cloud In which God hath hidden himself which neither
the tempest nor tho rain can cause TO disappear; u
stands there firm God Is III II prove by day aud night
that He loves HIS people and Is ready to guide Them
stands still they must stand STILL think you will find
this true evcrywhere-the incident have given is but
illustration OF Gods love Ia the Old
Testament Look through Deuteronomy, Tor
instance. and see how constantly the people
given to idolatry, and how forbcaring God IL
with them; the punishment comes TIL they get down
on their knees and pray ~ Him but the moment the
tear OF repentance then the God who parted the
Red Sea aud the Jordan and fed them mamma the
wilderness VIII kindly forgive and build them up
again. so again and again. TIL the doctrine Of the New
Testament - fulfilled, that man must be forgiven
seventy times seven Many people ask, 'What Is tho
road TO Heaven that the Scriptures point ~ Let
me begin with tho twentieth verse OF the seventeenth
chapter OF John-the diadem in the life OF Christ OF
precious vauc 10 poor miserable sinners IL Is tho
verse In which CHRIST utters prayer to the Almighty
God IN your behalf aud mnc 'Neithcr pray Tor them
alone, but for them also who shall believe me
through their wordn And II is very precious thought
20 me that when Christ, in the travail OF his SOUL
uttered this prayer to God. he prayed only
| for those immediately connected with the church
he had established but also for you and these
long distant agcs that might work In the vineyard
and that our work ana theirs might alike rebound TO
the glory Of tho Father IL is precious thought that
should be an encouraging thought that He with whom
there Is past and iuurc looked into very face
and iiited His bleeding heart TO the Father His
saving spirit might be vouchsafcd to in trials
ana temptations And yet wc are all sinful Let me
turn TO passage that puts US all on the same level
The church, aud never yet have disputed the word
OF any man who made that assertion. know II and
he knows IL ana God knows IL The question not
whether you are good enough, but whether God will
take you as you are Some OF you expecting 10
grow more worthy Ny brother, you will die before
you become worthy u you expect TO become worthy
by your own Efforts lie don't ask YOU 10
make yourself clean. Hc asks you TO come ana
let him make you clean. II Is written There Is
righteous--no, not ono. That means you aud me. DO
you read your Bible except as matter o. dutys We
have either got 10 accept IL with all ~ conditions,
else discard IL We must learn 70 read ~ as matter OF
pleasure and understand what u demands Of Us aud