The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-02-18
The Solemn Utterances OF
Pleading Pastors.
rs CHRISTIANITY SAFE 2
influence Of Ritualism and Love
of Self.
THE AMERICAN GENTLEMAN.
CHURCH OF THE DISCIPLES.
n CHRISTIANITY sAFE?-sERMoN BIZ REV

Mr.. HEPwoRTH.
Rev. Mr.. Hepworth. at the Church Of the Disei-
pies yesterday morning answered tho question--"Is
Christianity saief" He selected for his the A.
teenth verso Of the second episte OF ST Paul to
T,mothy-sStudy 10 show thysclf approved unto
God, q work man that needeth not TO be ashamed"
There arc tao factors Dr. Hupworth, in the grsai
warfare OF our Christian life against which the hottest
Ore Of the enemy directed. They are our belief In
personal God aud in the Bible authoritative
declaration Of Gods plan and will. II there be God
and creator OF tho universe then IL Is fair
70 believe that He is the governor OF It,
ana out Of that TACT comes the doctrine OF
Providence There Is a personal relation between the
Anite and the Infinite; between that which Is made
and the maker; between the child and the father
Then there is authoritative revelation Calvary IL
Q great fact In human consciousness, and overtops
and overshadows all possible doubt by The truth
which the cross stands Tor and symoolizes. l need
not say 70 you, brethren who have been
think somewhat concerning these matters that here
Is the battle field Tor the next twenty years. Standing
within these bastions We must never acknowledge
ourselves defeated and yield ourselves 10 the
queror All other questions arc comparatively unIm-
purtant These fundamental. Give me those two
sta,cments-thcre is personal God, and the Bible Is
true. and you may have all that Is lett want to
Of the world toward those two bastions--on what
lou they really restY IL makes very little
adherence what oo an@ LINK on sns I'm ma.em
what the theologians, think about H. want TO take
ny position on some hgh vantage ground, where
san look the battle field and tell OF the
signs Of the and how tho battle is going. II Is
necessary for begin with the German thinkers.
because Tor many generations they have been Tho
most patient the most thorough. Germany, In.
tsIlecIuaiy, rules the world Our best works come
from Germany and our highest authorities are all Ger
man. Thirty years ago, wnen boy and took
my nrst outlook upon the great problem OF life,
death and Immortality, l was taught, ana WITH eood
was railroads.&c.. Those thirty years have effected
> strong marked change To-day no country in
a. lnkS~ ia han
highest thought runs parallel with the Bible. Inc
OLD cry OF 'doubt' has died out, and an ecno of IL
single generation ago. denied The miracles OF the New
Testament and almost sneered at tho supernatural
now looked upon obsolete. The new thought Of
Germany believes the Bible, ana upholus IL ny the
strength OF It's great thought
the ruixKxRs ENGLAND.
Let turn TO The thinkers of England and
10 is unknowahc-that He 10 so high up that
lie is practically out Of reach and out Of sight
Mr.. Huxley talked about God as that mys-
ferrous substratum In tho phenomenon OF mutter,
when only another way of saying that He Is SO
far down That He is beyond all practical knowledge.
Mr. rynda turns the corner oil this question without
saying anythng that is very audible; his utterances
die away, leaving only a faint echo. Then therc 10
Mr. Darwin. Professor Gray tells that his theories
Arc perfectly consistent win u belief in God These
bhinkers do little moro Than say at may boz" "It
may not be-" ana that is all Now look at the other
Duke oil Argyll, Thompson and Wallace. Everyone
Of these an athlete and giant and an authority
GU scientific matters that there Is necessary
dict between most advanced science and what is
comm only denomi mated the NiceDe Creed.
WORD COD
But you say me, II the Bible 10 the Word OF God
why doE'L believe II, aud why Is IL not believed
~ kind OF dvine cecrcion2 The answer 10 easy
TO give ana not 1ar 10 get. Why has not our civil
laws made good citixcns9 We acknowledge them
10 De wholesome, yet We acknowledge there IL immo.
Gaty In tao country. The drunksrd believes IN TEN.
psrsnce with all mis- heart yet be drinks himself into
the grave The deaultlng cashier believes In honesty,
and vet ne steals. IL the Sermon the Mount were
written IN letters OF goid uncouded skies the world
would believe II. Tue difficulty Is IN your own
life. Wh,D a man Is honest oil purpose, has q great
thirst soul and goes the B0ie he gets what
wants Ii afflicted with dishonesty OF pur-
pose ny Indifference the character OF his motives
Ihen Bbie IN way anu he never reaas " or
cares for IL, shelters himself behind doubt OF its
authority.
Dr. Hepw orth concluded by showing that real think
ing concerning these matters did not impair mems
faith, and that II tho inconsequentai limiting
that did the harm.