The New York herald., 1877-10-22
PULPIT TEACHINGS
The True Relations OF Faith
and Good Works.
LAW OF RESPONSIBILITY,
Vice, Crime and Sin in Their
Various Lights.
THE GOLDEN CALF.
CHURCH OF THE DISCIPLES.

CHURCH OF THE DISCIPLES.
THE TRUE RELATION BETWEEN PATH AND
GOOD woRKs-sERMoN DY REV. GEORGE II.
HEPwoRTH.
The morning sermon OF Rev. Mr.. Hepworth yester
day was devoted TO reconcing the apparently contra
dctory teachings of the apostles In relation 10 iai'n
and good works; 10 showing that God looks hot 30
much at mans outward life as at his hear'; tna'
mon look oply at a fellow mans conduct, and that
therefore It Is exceedingly important that MS
conduct should be proper and eloquent ex-
nrcss,on of his heart Tho reverend gentle
man chose two texts as the foundation OF his dis
course The Grst was from ST John-"Whosoever be-
ieveth that jesus Is the Christ is born oil God; ana
the second from st. James-"What dotn II pront
though man say no hath taith and have not worksY
Can faith save hms" AT first sight, the preacher re-
marked, there seemed to be a complete antagonism
between the statements; but on second
thought the antagonism resolved itself into
! divine harmony. Tho texts were two
strings to the Same harp When struck singly each
had music Of its and seemed to be independent
Of the other. Whom struck together they produced
perfect chord, which showed that they were divnely
intended each to complement and supplements the
otner. Mr. Hopworth said 1t had often seemed 10 him
that faith like nre. and that tho soul was like in
cense IN wnen they came together the prod
uc OF tho union was cloud OF perfume that rose ac
ccptabe before God and nlled the whole edihco with
It's sweetness There had boon great doal OF msun-
derstandug about the right relationship between faith
and works. This had obtained not only with the
word-which had habit OF sneering ut iaith and
laudng works as tho only acceptable Offering to Cod
but also on the part OF honest Christians themselves
VINO mad been u great deal puzzled at the apparent
counter statements made by 81 john anu 81. Jamea
INTELLECTUAL YAIrH
Ono who road the Bible carefully, the preacher
snd, would be greatly impressed with tho manner IN
~ fnR fplt he law
Testament commands all to believe and promises sal
vation us the consequence Of believing. The impress
sion which many derive from the sacred writer Is thai
faith is all aud that romatters are Of no conse
quence whatever. Out OF THIS false impression had
which, according to Mr Hepworlhs mind, had dono
to tho cause oil Cnrstianity ~ was made
up Of those VINO having tho intellectual part OF faith
believed themselves possession OF the substance Of
the Gospel and therefore beyond the roach oi tcmpta-
ton. II should examine these persons a httle
carefully ne would lind that their nith was Of the IN.
tellcct alone that conservation oil tho heart
which necessarily results IN pure liie man might
deude himself by misintcrpreting the Scriptures,
ana feel moro secure than he really OF ono
thing the preacher said his hearers might be ccrtain
and that was that their doctrine was wrong unless
their lives were right They might be sure that Tho
spirit OF God had not taken possession OF them unless
they were puro IN heart. inc boast OF perfection o.
the part Of certain aud women serious
stumbling block, he said, In the way OF other Chris
tians. Theirs was an error OF the most subtle ana
dangerous character SO long as we live and arc
Auman Mr.. Hepworth contendcd We will be weak;
30 long We arc weak temptations Will beset US and
poastiully tho cross. Instead therefore, OF claim
ing to perfect ought Ito down the dust and
Claim the mercy OF Gods proAises.
HARMONY TWO TEXTS.
Mr.. Hepworth went on to show That tho two senti-
nents contained in the texts were the emanaton or
thought and one purpose. Faith, he said, Is tho
most beautiful element Of human nature. Perfect
faith born of perfect love. When faith was per-
feet love was perfect and when faith and love are both
perfect their obedience perfect Tho human heart
had object Of iaith and its love- Coo, who
IL all wise and all powerful and ali good. Once
stinledly, would pour oCt mis- whole nature 70
Him God could be trusted under all circumstances
all times God was sky without cloud; His provi-
denco without detect, His love without blcn-
isn His power without limit Perfect faith and per-
feet obedience the preacher claimed, stood 10 each
other in The relation OF cause and elect aud whcn
man had perfect faith In God dsobedience became an
impossibility
A mans conduct boro the same relation TO his soul
tho clothes TO his body-it was the mere outward
covering often very deceptive. Consequently God
never looked at mans outward lie, ior u had no
value IN His sight lie looked within nj tho heart,
the soul man might obey the whole ceremonial
law every particular ald be entirely correct his
theological opinions ana yet not be acceptable 10 God
His light might bc tho glittcring covering OF q bad
soul 1t was not enough, Mr. Hcpworth said, ior u
man to do rlgn man might do right from begin
ming 10 end, and 60 straight to hell. HIS hearers
should not be startled by this declaration, Tor
might right always and yet be restrained from do
ing wrong by The very lowest motives. II
human conu uct that was golden-it was the nearL
The wny get INTO right relations with life
to get INTO right relations Win God. When mans
heart changed by tho processes Of the birth
his lips refused 10 utter the old words and his mind
refused to sanction TO the od thoughts. He be-
came throughout by becoming now ut the centre.
This what ST. John meant when he sad every
must believe iu the Lord Jesus Christ "Boievc
ana be saved" "A new commandment give unto
you, that you bolievo in the Lord Jesus CHRISTI
CONDUCT IMPRESSION SOUL
At this point the preacher turned the picture over
and glanced tho other side, showing the necessity
ior works. A could do right IRON wrong mo-
uves, but no man could do wrong from right motives
Every stood IN Two different reatiuus-one
toward God and tho other toward men. tar
nre rnod, they discover
lives must DO laKcn as the natural expression OF
hearts Therefore ST. James says that II you have
faith you must prove your faith by your works Your
good deeds but the capitalization OF your good
thoughts The transforming power oil the 1orld IL
love ol Jesus Christ God had ordained but one way
10 roach heaven, and that way was the Lord Jesus
Christ; the scriptures declared that there was
other way. Men might think IL bard that they could
not be as they pleased but Mr.. Hepworth
thought they should bo glad that they could be saved
nalL
..You have no business" he said, ito set up your
private judgments, that you have proven 10 be aloo
Dver and again. against the Judgment oil Cod who
created tho world set tho their places II
bod was the maker oil tho world we certainly should
trust Hin, and there was difference between us
aud heaven, and should give tho preference to
Him, and rest assured III the long run we would DO
proven wrong ln the Old Testament We are tod 10
trus, the Lord. la the New Testament the phrase
oogy Is changed. jesus never says 'frust In tho
Loru,' but Trust In me. The implication was that
the Jehovah OF tue Old Testament was tho Christ OF
tho Now May God give you iaiih, brcthcn' said tho
preacher CONCLUSION, and God graut that your lives
may be the transcript of your fatn."
MASONIC TEMPLE.
VICE. CRIME AND gIS-SERMON ny REV. O. n