The New York herald., 1879-03-17
SEEDS OF TRUTH:
"The Name of Christ Shall
Endure Forever"
DETHRONE CHANCE
"An the Word Has Dreamed Of, but
Not Known Deity"
CHURCH OF THE DISCIPLES.


CHRISTIANITY AND ITS INFLUENCE ON THE
LIFE-A SERMON By THE REV. GEORGE HEP
WORTH.
The clause in the 2oth verse Of the second chapter
Of st. Fauls epistis to the Galatians. which
about to mediate. said Mr. Hepworth. is the
following:-"And the life which now live in the
desh live by the faith Of the Son of Ged who loved
me and gave himself for me-" In order that
may better understand this clause will read you
few lines of the context st. Paul says. and it is
assertion which attracts rather startles atten-
tion, II am crucifed with Christ nevertheless
live" This is q divine paradox-it Is q cruciixon
and resurrection. He partook of the sufferings Of
the Lord partook also of the risen glory. simply
and only felt because he belonged to the Lord
and the Lord to him. There is a very great
difference brethren. between q will that is broken
by brute forco and that is voluntarily surren-
dered to superior being. In the one case you have
sving death and in the other the highest expression
OF life II we look at the conversion of st. Paul
see a surrender of st. Pauls will. Jesus Christ is
the master of the soul Of Paul He did not break the
apostles will; He only accomplished his surrender to
His superior grace and superior wisdom. st. Paul.
in the presence of Christ was in the presence of
God. The matter of sacrifice not in Paul 80
much it that his character aud will were
yielded to the goodness of Christ. Paul reserved
right to himself except the right to implicitly
obey. He felt that the Master had over
come HIM by the majesty and grandeur Of
His will. Just when one naturally yields
to the guidance of an Alpine guide when
we treadng the path of the mountain top, and
he tells you Of danger, cautions and directs your
rights except that of yielding to the superior wisdom
OF his direction. The who tries to climb the top
of Mont Blanc must when he starts give up oil his
right Of private judgment; otherwise death may in
terfere any moment. The guide knows more than
he does and he will carry the traveller to the top
but only the condition that he gives mp his will to
the will OF the superior judgment. This blessed
and marvellous experience OF St Paul. and 1t was 80
glorious that all the ages have remembered it, and
have described it with eloquence that rings
retains all the freshness of first told story How
large, then the idea of Paul in relation to tho
Christian ministry. and how great and responsible is
for a few moments this Christianity that was
preached by Paul. and what it is that demands a
surrender Of life complete that which Paul
yielded.
WHAT CHRISTIANITY
Brethren, Christianity is system OF thought that
man. We cannot think of Christ without being
Christ like We cannet think what Christ did for the
redemption of the SOUL the sacrifices He made for
the destiny He prepared for the motives He pre-
sented to and the circumstances which surrounded
this gift, without tears Of gratitude and feeling of
awe brought into our being. All the world has
dreamed of God but all the world has not known
God. The Christians God is o distinct and clear
reward The philosopher has u vision OF God. but
the Christian has a sight of Him. The scientific
doubts whether there be God; the poorest and
humblest Christian who has had experiences with his
God has no doubt OF it. The Bible has served then,
to make clear. complete and well defined certain def
nitions OF Christianity The chemist tells us that in
glass of water that IL evidently clear there Is
held in solution large amount of alum. He cau
put mysterious acid into the water 1t will give
up the alum be as clear crystal. It seems to
me. brethren that mankind have held the idea Of
God in solution; 1t was there in all their seekngs,
but it had no distinct form. When Jesus Christ
the alum separated from the water, and the
world has such distinct and clear ideas of God that
the child speaks Of Him ''Our Father, which art
in heaven" But Christianity Is not mere system
of thoughts 1t is mode OF life. and 1t is this which
satisfies the SOUL man may become perfect ami
NAL without God but ii he desires something better
than his body. manhood within, he must be filled
with something like angelic wants. The whole
world has had its idols Athens and Rome had theirD;
the Epicureans and the Stoics had theirs; yet
It easy to reach their God and we sigh
think Of how vain their effort to become
Think of st. Peter poor fisherman, unculturcd and
unlcttercd but filled with the Spirit of God. He
breaches tho word of life ho gives mp his home his
friends, everything that lie may servo the Master.
He asks when his life is to be offered sacrifice to
his convictions. that he may die not his Master
with his head downward toward the earth. The soul
is in its normal condition OF goodness when 1t
answers in that way to the thought of God. Mr..
Hepworth concluded his discourse by the relation OF
an experience he had last summer in of the
cathedrals of Europe in which there were two organs
and where he heard music these instruments that
blended so harmoniousy. ono in the distance softly
answering thereto in louder tones. He urged his
hearers to 80 attune their lives that harmony so
divine should be preserved that they would blend
with tho music of the heavenly host.