The New York herald., 1877-10-15
THE IMPERFECTION OF MAN.
Honestly the Great Need of
Our Day.
THE SAvIOUR'S DISCLOSURES
Farewell Sermon of Archbishop Gibbons
at Richmond.
CHURCH OF THE DISCIPLES.

CHURCH OF THE DISCIPLES.
rHz HISTORY AND MEANING OF cHRIsrs
CHURCH SERMON By REV. DIR. HEPwoRTH.
The Rev George IL Hepworth yesterday morning
based mis- discourse the Book OF Acts, l., 3-"BeLg
Of them forty days, and speaking OF Things per-
tanning TO the kingdom Of heaven" He sad what inc
Saviour said during the forty days ALLUDED 10 IN tne
text, during which tho new kingdom OF Christ was
constructed, we may never know. There undouDt-
edy q sweet communion between Him ana those
unlcarned disciples who looked II m for the joys
and rewards OF another world Jesus Christ In found
ing nex Church only acted in accordance with the
ex,Renc,es OF His work So long as reform reposes
ouiesceuty in the OF the teacher remains mop
erative, but whom is embodied in an institution, and
raises up to expound its spirit, the world adopts
II as q practical means OF progress and development
Now this ngdom which Jesus founded Is called
by various names 1t Is called the Kingdom of heaven,
as though bound the earth to heaven; 1t is called
the kingdom Of God as though 1t bound man TO God ;
again II is called the Kingdom OF the Son Of God as
though would reveal that Jesus is the Vice Regent
and OF tho Everlasting Father. And those that
belong TO this kingdom arc also called by precious
names. They are spoken OF Chriss flock, the shep-
herd being the God on High, ana the sheep being HIS
children dwelling here upon earth Again they are
called Christs housenod and realize that the Head
Of this household would rather pcrish than TO allow
His TO be lost TO Him.
sLst us stray for q lew monents," continued Mr
Hspworth, 40 the place where the now Cnurcn was
born. There the eleven apostles, the faithful
women, the SAviour's mother, some disciples, the
brethren OF Christ-in all as wo are told by Luxe,
about hundred and twenty persons. They seemed
all ike orphans bere other PARENTS they were all IN
deep despair, and only hoping hat Christ would mani-
Pentecost Day rewarded by the conversion Ut
a 600 OF their hearers and these 5000 aud the l20
have spoken Of above constituted, us II werc the
very nrst Christian congregation we know OIL" The
speaker described how the different apostles
raising up band Of faithful believers in Christ IN the
very midst OF dolators and heathens 'You have
heard how the deposits Si Doudsra ana Inc Inc
sea" he continued $50 these apostles were bouldcrs
OF iath round which the eddyns tide OF humanity de-
posted here soul and there soul until these deposits
raised into islands and continents and reared
now Church. better civilization and truer oelle
The Time distant wnen Christianity VIII have
conquered this world and II VIII be heathenism that
will struggling for existence and not the Church OF
Christ The Church oil Christ has thus lar fulfilled
It's destiny and as the swell into rivers, and
these how into the ocean, so the hopes and hearts
Of humanity swell from brooks into rivers and are
borne out into the OF eternal life
THE CHURCH A UNIT.
ssBut II this iB the Kingdom OF God, you Will ask,
vny is II that there are SO many divisions t2 But
In reality the Church is Concerning certain
the different sects OF the Christian religion
dncr concerning essentials they substantially
unit. II makes no differences whether Methodist
Baptist strikes the blow against the cv; II makes
no difference whether called by this tnat
name; these but the outside trappings Of religion
If you right in your hear II you are faithful and
whether you worship Him IN this building or IN that.
You know that IN chorus the one sings bass,
the other tenor the third baritone, while al produce
really one tone, harmony, all contribute 10
the same effect. Why do they sing differently Be-
cause their voices OF different quality. SO II IS IN
the Worship The loves to worship ais Saviour in
q simple plain fashion, because his temperament is OF
that simple, plain character. The other delights In
lights in pictures in the enbems Of decorative art,
and Il 10 these which he likes TO surround himself
with worshpplng his God.
ssThat sympathy which like to have bestowed
upon In the hours oi our necessity, aud which we
nos extend TO the sin-sick and the suffering, the
Church OF Christ has taught US to practise What was
II that taught to build homes for the aged and for
the sick The Church. Behind the roar OF war we
can hear the blessings and soothngs Of the Samaritan.
the Sister of Charity, the minister and tho priest, and
their kindly administrations were taught by the
the oil and wine upon poor, suffering anu bleeding
humanity. The Church should be sacred TO Us. In
tho cathedrals OF Europe there is something far
beautiful than tho stained windows and lofty pillars
and groiued arches is the gratitude OF the people
who helped 10 raise these temples oi Cod" MIR. Hep
worth then related his experisnce IN Cathedral OF
Venice, which Was erected III the peoples gratitude
tor the extinction OF plague with which Venice was
then visited II was Tor this that tho church was
built and christened Santa Maria del salute
He also related how deeply touched he was TO see In
the cathedral oil Venice above alluded TO- scattered
round all sorts OF tokens and giils OF more or less
value He asked hts guido what these gifts meant,
and guide explained that when some member had
prayed TO his patron saint tor his profession or dev
erauce from suffering sickness and his prayer was
granted. he sought 70 express hts gratitude Dy laying
these offerings OF tho gratitude OF his heart the pa.
tron saints shrine This spirit religious gratitude
was beautiful indeed. "Let every one Of you, my
brethren" the speaker continued, take personal
interest shis church IN which your children have
been baptized, 10 which you have been joined IN holy
wediock, aud from whsse pulpit you have received
spiritual consolation la the hour OF your and dis
tress Let this winter not pass ~ without seeing you
display in thus very building IN which we worship, this
spirit of gratitude to God, who has led here 10 HIS
feet God bless the people ia the Church and God bless
the church which the people have raised to Him.