The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-23
HEAVENLY SUNSHINE
Light from the Throne on the
Powers of Darkness.
WHITE ROBES FOR THE T0ILERS.
The Great Shepherds Farewell to
His Flock.
GODS SYMPATHY WITH MAN
The Tests Of Theolo gical, Religious and
Social RadcaIsm. {.
WHITE ROBES FOR THE T0ILERS.
GODS SYMPATHY WITH MAN
CHURCH OF THE DISCIPLES.
PREPARE THE HOUSE FOR GODS OCCUPANCY
SERMON By DIR. HEPwogTH

SERMON BY DR. HEPwoRTH.
Avery large congregation gathered in the Church OF
tho Disciples yesterday. Mr. Hepworth preached an
eloquent sermon, taking for his text H. Timothy, ILL.,,
17-.Thoroughly furnished unto all good works" ST.
Paul said the preacher very wise In all practical
concerns Hc had a marvellous knowledge Of human
nature and when he gave advice II consisted OF the
warnings and the admonitions which he had learned
by hard experience In the epistic from which have
taken my Paul is cndeavorng TO prepare his dear
and youthful friend Timothy OF the inevitable
endorsements and harassments OF liic He begins by
telling him perous times arc coming; that he will
meet traitors, men that arc ''heady," lovers of
pleasure lie then speaks OF class of persons per-
haps the most dangerous 10 true progress; men
who have a form OF goodness, but who deny
the power thereof He then makes the assertion that
nil men who will live cody in Christ Jesus shall suffer
persecution, and In order TO thoroughly furnish his
friend with the weapons necessary to win the victory
he tells necessary to study the Scriptures with
great care, and he ends the chapter by saying II is
every mans duty to to il that he is thoroughly
furnished with everything he shall need in the journey
Of life.
MANS ENEMIES
The enemies we have 10 encounter are OF peculiar
kind They not physical but spiritual. They are
called in the Scriptures the powers Of darkness the
powers the air They arc very subtle enemies they
come the shape Of evil thoughts, they oeeet US with
promises they able pay, they tease u.s. they
fret u.s. they iii with doubts concern.
Ing holy things. Now, there rs certain class
OF people In the world who say II makes no
difference what man believes that II his HE Is right
that is enough There is more plausible sentence
than that literature, and there Is no sentence In
literature that is logically weaker There thought
in the community that nas larger influence II Is
the vanguard Of nhdeiy u Is on Inc ups Of satan al
there a thorn. Let me, II can explain more fully
We told IN the Scriptures that the ar is occupied
BY hosts OF angels We not only watched by the
of who have gone before bur we are guided
BY unseen hands. Many OF us are turned away from
our wonted paths, We know not why, ny those whom
God hath sent The other world is not far from us; II
Is closer than think. We are seen BY those who
are beyond and many a time angels eyes weep over
us We are alone when we are most alone Soil
tudc is impossibiuty in human lie. God is with US;
the Holy Spirit fills the air with The divinity OF His
presence.
Did II ever to you, brethren, that II there
good spirits that there may also be bad splritsf II
there are good who are leading right, there
are cmssaries also from the other world whoare trying
TO lead you in the wrong. How otherwise you
account for those strong tendencies to evil winch
sometimes come upon you suddenly? Yes, there are
Influences IN the ar for evil us well as Tor good satan
Is lighting TO win the victory over us, and God using
all the angels OF Heaven 10 persuade US TO successfully
resist and TO lead us away from all shadow OF sin
into the blessed sunlight OF HIS glory and
obedience TO His commands Now. brethren,
suppose for instance, that evil spirit knocked
Al the do,r of your lie, and he finds your house
Is empty that you have guests at ALL that you have
no FAITH no love toward God that doubts be found
In every dark corner suppose the evil spirit found
your heart such condition. would he NOT lind Il
easy task with his logic soft as velvet, yet hard
IRON, would he not find easy TO persuade you 10 let
him the threshold and then now 1t is to let
him the doubts OF your heart by throwing the
shadow OF biting criticism honor and justice and
ruth Now suppose, the other nand, when Satan
knocks the door OF house the door open and
the Lord Jesus Christ stands there There not
the two only one can enter there 10 reside. The
Lord ana Satan cannot i've under the same roof II
the Lord IS there. your welcome guest then Satan
but aud leaves you 10 your happiness and
your peace. Satan has a wondrous power over an
unoccupied house; Satan has power when Jesus is
your guest Is IL not, them absolutely necessary TO
make certain preparations in order 10 receive the Lord
Ind rcpel satan Is II not necessary TO have house
which God would be glad to enter At makes dif-
ference II our life be good2 Whose life is good? Are
We willing receive exact justice at the hands OF
Tod Do make claim upon God tor mercy No
mans life IS good Christ said lie not good Him
sell; only One good and that Us God But you say
n a man does best he is that enough,
spcctive OF his belief? Well brethren, have lived
now IMAM forty years and have been pretty
careful observer oil human nature, and never yet
have seen man the iootstool who could conscien
trously say he did his best all the ume
DO not believe there human being who
always intended to do his best. our peculiarly
Is our weakness Who does the best he CAM Ii there
is one here who has done the last twenty years,
let him speak. God knows and you know We do not
best. We pect constantly TO be urged ana per-
suaded and threatened, order that we may accom-.
psh even In poor way the duties God sets us. DO
our best, indeed, and II We could do and did
DO H. what would that "best' ueY Oh, wretched,
miserable man, with the seeds OF evil in your body,
with life teasing and irettng you day and night Satan
lying IN ambush, pray tell me what your best would be
~ the golden coin with which 10 buy eternal life