The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-07
SERMONS ON ALL SUBJECTS
The Coming Twelvemonth. Its Prospects
and Responsibilities.
ARE WE ONLY MORTAL 4?
Christmas in the RussO-Grerk Chapel
Feast Of Epiphany.
CHURCH OF THE DISCIPLES.


ARE WE ONLY MORTAL ?-sERMoN BY DR..
HEPwoRTH.
Dr. Hepworth, in his sermon yesterday morning.
replied tho question, 'Are we only mortal ~ select
ing for his text l. Corinthians. XIV, 44-"rnere Is
natural body, aud there is a spiritual body" Ho
said There are in the human organization TWO ap-
parently unrelated substances one of which is called
matter and the other mind. These substances arc
clothed by attributes which differ essentially Matter
Is visible, mind IS invisible Matter has bulk, weight
and color, all OF which pecuharities arc noted oy
our senses. Mind is invisible; cannot DO char
acterized as having weight size, or
color. or any other popularity which can
be taken hold OF by tho senses oil man,
Now II curious TACT that this inner invsibc ele'
ment is the important of the two Although our
bodies wonderful IN the compexity and adaptation
OF their machinery yet the mind after all, is tho chief
characteristic OF man, because by 1t alone he attans
dominion the experience and all tho natural
forces with which he comes in contact. Man Is not
the equal of the deer speed, or OF the elephant in
strength yet by OF this subtle, Intangible and
iudescribable something called "mlnd," he Gun cup
both and thcm for his own caprice. BY means
OF the IN ind man becomes as the Bible describes him
10 be- the OF the world. He not only discovers
natural forces and natural laws but he subjects them
to his own uses aud makes them subservient
not only 10 his own necessities bat also TO
his own comforts. Now, brethren, IL Is exceedingly
difficult oil course, to judge OF an element which ~
subtle and when you cannot measure, and which
fits from you, plays hide and seek whenever you set
u0ouL investigation OF It However subtle you
may be, YOU nnd II more subtle still. You only
know II by what it Philosophers tell Us thai the
mind never acts separately from Inc body. You can,
therefore, easily conceive OF The inpediments In the
way OF the progress OF ali accurate investigation OF
what mind really is. We have never seen NINA scpa-
raie from matter We know that every time sone-
thing happens in the MUD something happens IN the
DOuy. NOW, tuefc Is CLASS Oh tHinkcT5 VINO
assert that tnese two suostances-mnd and
luatter-are so inter dependebt with the
other mat they canuot exist except togethcr that
when the body dies all powers oi thinking die with
IT, and that a man carries something which he calls
soul which Is Lana IN the grave, ana disappears IN It's
darkness whenever We put body there. say that
there IA certain number OF people who believe this
and argue this direction. would not have you
beeve that the bulk oil the scientific thought points
tu tins direction, because 1t does not The greater
weight OF research goes TO prove the existence OF u
soul, and assumes The Immortality OF The soul /
have brought this argument before you because am
only too we'll aware that there are some among you
who have shadows Oh doubt IN your minds,
aud that tnese doubts assume importance
enough to affect your spiritual progress. Let
this inler-dependence OF body ana mind ny means
proves identHy. which Is an important point. Two
Substances may go closely exist that, while their
union remains complete, they may apparently
w inseparable the one IRON The other, and
yet higher terrace may intervene, on which may
disccr "A union aud yet allow each to travel
along the road which Providence may point out. To
convey what mean to your mud must use ius,ra.
picture In my minu's eye.
LAKE, MAN AND A BOAT.
l can see lake; IT Is overshadowca by tho clear
ether OF God; gentle breeze rppes It's surface, ano
over 1t again cloud dts leaving a shadow Tor a
moment on It's depths. AS 1 look this lake
! that the yet risen
all nature is clothed with Tie shadows Of
the my stery oil morning Through the mists OF yon-
der shore there comes boat. do not know from
What part vi the shore 1t comes; neither do know
how the man got into the boat Unless | had seen
the same sgu. before my present experience would
seem 10 indicate TO me that the boat tho
pert OF each other. try TO solve the question of
th.ir origin, and fail am conscious oil oniy ono
1act-that the man anu the boat came from somewhere
aud that they are gong somewhere. That Is all |
know about IT, NOVEL propose TO study that boat and
that man tor little, anu TO apply the methods and
arguments OF science 10 that apparent OF
boat and man, ana which involves the mystery OF
progress. In the first place, We told
that there cannot DO any thought without brain.
Thinking Is The result OF the mind ana the mind
the nerves OF the brain Tor its purpose. Yot 1
See thcre cannot be any movement without the CON-
b.ned action OF the man and the boat. movement Is
The result OF the union OF the boat the
the man on the other. The man depends upon the
bout just as the mLd depends tho body. There Is
ho other way to get across the iake Ia tho second
place materiasm says that there an equiliu-
rum between the mind and the body. The mind
The body must both be healthy before you can have
healthy man. so in the boat it is necessary to
have pose. II the man siis the middle
and he pulls deeply the boat will 90
straight. II he pulls only with one hand
the boat will not take straight course. but Will 60
Que side AS we look al this man and boat that
the Two are not iden ica, much they appear
10 be- When he reaches the shore strands the boat
which Is worn out, lays the oars across IT, rises from
his seal aud goes on his journey. We lose sight OF
him In tho shadows OF the forest; tell whero
lac Is gone. He came from the msts OF the morn
Ing and now the shadows OF night tall MIN. DR..
Hepworth closed by number OF practical illustrations
aud aD earnest anu beautiful appeal TO his congreqa-
ton 10 be strong in The fain that the destiny
reaches beyond this world.