The New York herald., 1879-03-10
PULPIT ECHOES.
The Kingdom Of the Saviour and
Its Characteristics.
SECTARIANISM'S DOOM.
Ownership Of the Keys Of Heaven ---Paurs
Mission to the Jews
CHURCH OF THE DISCIPLES.


THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST AND ITS oHARAc-
TERIsTIcs SERMON BY REV. GEORGE II.
HEPwoRTH
my kingdom is not Of this world" clause Of 0
in the eighteenth chapter of tho Gospel of St.
John. the text selected by Mr. Hepworth for his
sermon at the Church of the Disciples. One
scarcely conceive, said the preacher, of sharper
contrast than that which existed between the speaker
and the listener this occasion. The one. PLATE,
the representative of military government
which up to that moment had been irresistible. The
other Christ. represented ienoble. defeated and
unsuccessful attempt at reformation, whose king
dom was. He called it, in the air. but which
was really destined to achieve victories even
lasting than those Of the Roman armies
Jesus inaugurated new epoch--the epoch of
ideas against the epoch of power 1t
He who laid the corner stone of the king
dom Of righteousness. and to prove that right
eousness alone in the long of the ages
the only thing that would be found to be of value
The ages have vindcated the Masters assertion and
look back from Pisgahs galleries and con-
template the various trumphs that have been gained
We can see that out Of the smoke of controversy
truth has come always clear and glorious. However
much the truth may bo bound in chains and con-
dned In dungeon walls those walls have been broken
ssunder by the light of heaven. Calico told the
Church that this world moved, aud the Church
Numbered out its Galileo replied that he could
demonstrate this to any mans mind. The Church,
thinking that il had the Bible behind it, cast Calico
into prison. They harasscd the life out of the old
man, and he signed his name to recantation. He
said the world did not move after ALL and then he
Bank down to rest and death. But the truth the
world did move. and that truth once uttered could
never be taken back.
THE CHARACTER OF THE KINGDOM
Jesus came then to establish a kingdom. some-
KINGDOM.
Autocracy. Carlyle onco said that the best
espotm But the Hl'a od ma% was
and slyly added. "Be very, very careful
that it is perfect" Tho despotsm of the
and king. after the order of Melchsedec. Everything
that is done in the home the courts. well the
church. If 1t is to result in happiness must be in
cordance with the principles that have been laid
down by the great Master of our souls. Human and
we have any record of them. II we look along the
line Of history what ought to astonish is the fact
that the laws laid down by Christ tor the govern
ment of his kingdom are the same to-day they
were when he announced them. They never Will
change until human nature is radically changed.
Tho Church of Christ which the Mas
ter presides was the same yesterday 1t is to-day
and will be forever Another characteristic of this
kingdom is that it is universal The subjects of all
earthly dynasties belong it. 1t is true that there
is conflict in that visible kingdom. All progress
on this side of heaven is in consequence Of conflict.
You all be subjects OF the Pharaohs il you wish,
so long You make bricks for them. II you are
willing to be owned by man. then you lie down
bread But God has promised to fight for and beside
you II you will only trust in Him. You must not
shrink from the conflict but trust in Him. and
out OF that conflict shall the calm that succeeds
victory and strife, and by and by it will be a calm
that passeth all understanding when you put your
last enemy under your feet. But until the millen-
mum dawns there will be work enough for men and
women to do. As long AZ there is evil in any com
munity it is the business OF the Church to fight it,
God is the side of natural laws and say that
so much i'll admiration of these laws in of
them. see that must be in harmony with them
and not opposed to them. II all New York
were loyal to Christ then we could afford
to rest from conflict but until then
must not cast of our burdens. What an awfuly
potent factor in our social system is intcmperancc
and how great is the need that the Church should
deal with it wisely andefaithfully How important
IL it that religion should be life in those who pro-
fess it, not allowing 1t to die the six days and
susctatng it only on sunday! You subjects of
Christs kingdom only when you bring its principles
and its laws into your buying aud your selling. Re-
member that death is not the worst thing that
happen to us. To him whose life il centred in
Christ death s not the end of all things 1t is tho
beginning OF things.