The New York herald., 1878-10-21
. FISHERS OF MEN"
What Prominent Pastors Told Their
s Congregations Yesterday.
THE REALITY OF GOD.
Religion in the World and the Necessity
OF Higher Life.
CHURCH OF THE DISCIPLES.
CHRIST. THE LIGHT oy THE woRLD-sxnMc


CHRIST, THE LIGHT or THE woRLp-sERMoN
By REv. GEORGE H. HEpwoRTH.
'sChrist Pleading" was the subject upon which tho
Rev. Mr.. Hepworth discoursea yesterday morning.
rho text Revelations Ill, 2O-.Behoid, stand at
the door and knock; If any man hear my voice and
open the door will come in to him, and will sup with
him and he with me-"
These words from very familiar letter, said the
preacher, form Of the beautiful and effective
pictures Of modern times. The Master. with lamp IN
hand 10 standing patiently and silently before the
closed door, He Knocks for entrance but cannot pass
the threshold without invitation from the owner
Of the house, who holds the latch on the inside, Tor
the door opens from the Inside only. want to
ask yoa 10 look at this picture for a few
moments and to ask certain pertinent ques.
tons In connection with it-Questions that nave
Something % do with our spiritual house, something
10 do with The bond Of union bctween the nnite and
the Infinite something 10 do with tho grand possbili-
ties OF human liie something TO do with the elimina-
ton OF the disease OF from the soul and the eradi
eating Of those thousand evils which have crept into
our lives TO mar and spoil them Who Is this that
would enter and be guest and by what right and
what principle does He comet Hc tells as that He
the light Of the world. Is It arrogance 10 be In
formed OF that or is II merely kngly prerogativei
Jesus IL the moral world what the sun is 10 the
physical. 1t 10 king thai He demands hearts
and strict obedience to Hts minutest behess Is HIS
right. To-day, brethren IL our positively monarchi-
uai igns comfort and soiace which neither science
nor philosophy can give. He who was orucinsd on
Calvary 10 still tho hight of the world.
ee aasr CANE HEf te
Whence came tins powerful messenger, who knocks
He came from heaven. 1t rs wondrous story and
hard TO believe. Why should God care so much Tor
~ a. 70 send one 70 vs. from HIS palace on hisaf II
family OF tho Eternal One should ever visit the toers
OF this lower world TO save sunken and wretched hu
manity. But IL be true that He has come from the
portals OF the sky then shall find IN HIS words
probably, celestial music. Listen while He speaks,
never heard before Tns deal mao cries out and tho
Nazarcue puts HIS nDger the ear OF that man AMI
he finds that The charm is broken, the spell is dis
psied, and no who never heard before listens
TO the words Of salvation Tine mother is fol-
lowing the bier. and tno mothers wall is heard by
Him and tears come fqto His eyes Ho speaks the
voce that said 'Let there be iignt" ana there was
light, aud, the dead man opens mis- eyes ana once
more calls his mother 10 his warm bosom. But ths>
hastcr passes on as though IL were nothing Tor him
10 DO. anu never thinks Of It again. "God sent his
only beg0ttsn son the world that those who be-
licEe N Him might not perish but have everlasting
lfc" WHAT is the reception that is gwen TO this
not 10 from whatever business attraots our
and The door at once and feel ourselves
greatly honorod at having go kinglv guest? When
The Prince OF Wales was III this country, ana
IS the representative OF great kingdom, every
md south, sought TO do him honor and every word
" sad was recorded by the press for future thought
tud congrntuinu0n Whon the Prince Ot wales
ZONES the. universal heart open 10 receive him;
When the Prince OF Glory c0Inos all hearts
cosed-the door is shut And yet what difference
Esre 10 between the Two personages The Prince OF
vnos came that he might see anu be received; the
lrnce OF Glory came that He might do good. He
cpmes not 10 receive anything from you, but only
that you may receive Him, ana He would give you
A,mctning worthy Of HIMSELF something that will bc
worth more than golden gts and that VIII never wear
ml Life hero Ho win give such as you havo never
thought TO attanj lite tnat shall have light like
tie seeu aar of. Yet, alas! He stands at the
DIOR and KNOCKS ana the door Is not opened.
THE woRDs OF CHRIST.
Christ's words are not unstable phrases; they arc
MT xperimenis 10 be tried they are facts settled
sefnaliy Wue even the law oi gravitaton 10 un-
saued to-day tho law Of Jesus Christ is without any
pSadventure ana Is as Arm as the foundation OF the
eath. You remember the narrative OF tnat process
Wp-the Master on the ioa oil mn ass, tho people
sryng, "Hosinnal b essed Ia the King OF Israelm
Eighteen centuries have gone; the Roman Empire
las gone; bat in every sanctuary In every genera
Iou there the old cry that was cried In those
trsts. Is 1t oxaggeration 10 say tpat he Is knock
nx at the door here to-dayf He may not be
iisblc to us, Ho Is here He knocks AZ the door
hearts ana promising to as the most precious
gifts. Shall not then the door, invite tho
Naser In and partake OF the things that He pro-
vucdf You have been making excuses. You 40 not
cmpend lngratitudc, but 20 are ungracfuL have
BIT lhe words oil the Old Testsment TO oner-they
ptsonal, admit-"Thou art the man."