Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1898-04-20
SERMONS OF THE DAY,

Tho Rev. George H. Hepworth's Sunda,
Discourse in the New York Herald Il
Entitled "Heresy'-Dr. T. Dewitt Tai
mage breaches on the EVIL Of Gambling
TEXT: "My heart shall not reproach me
30 long as l live."-JOb, xvii, 8.
1t Is very important that your heart Of
conscience shall not accuse you. Youl
happiness does not depend on anybody
else;s conscience or heart, but on your own
God gave you & conscience, with the com
mand that you should follow its 5ee,aicsts
and when you get into the other world that
conscience will be your judge. In Other
words, God will not judge you, but you will
judge yourself.
1t is your conscience that makes you an
Individual, which spiritually isolates you
approval of all the world beside. You can
not go far wrong il you always do what you
think Is right. You may ask advice, but
you should decide for yourself what 1t Is
best to do, and then do it, whether people
blame or praise. If every one were to fol-
ence Of opinion among men, but above 1t a
divine harmony Of purpose. When the
millennium comes we shall not all thinA
alike, neither shall We allow any one to do
our thinking for us, but we shall think for
ourselves until thinking changes to con-
viction. Then we shall follow our convic-
tions as we follow the flag Of our country,
and hold to them and be true to them, and
SO win the smile of God.
What you need most of all Is to be your
best, truest and noblest self. For that
end you came into the world, and unless
you accomplish that end your life will be
essentially q failure and the requirements
OF the Almighty will stand neglected.
Men may call you heretical, but what
men say Of you is of no importance in com.
business is to be on His side, and to be sure
In your heart that He is on your side. II,
after that, people agree with you, you NAV
well rejoice, but il they do not, that is their
affair and not yours. Your duty Is what
you think your duty is after the enlighten-
ment or illumination which always comes
to him who Is in accord with the Holy
Spirit of the universe, and thus breat hes
the atmosphere Of the spiritual life. To
that duty you should never be false for II
Is what makes you living soul, what
forges nobility of character, what opens
the door of communication with the other
world. what gives you claim to the as
sistance Of the angels and assures you of
the helping hand of the Most High. Not
he is religious, in any wide sense, who i5
merely the shadow Of some one else's
mind, but he who casts his own shadow,
because he is a solid substance on which
the sun shines.
This is very queer world In one respect
We like to be sheep and follow bell.
wether. Even in matters OF dress we must
needs be told what to wear, and whether II
is comely or uncomely we wear It, In the
matter OF religion there is as much fashion
as there is in dress. What the majority be.
lieve we try to believe because 1t is so easy
to go with the majority. II 1t does not
commend itself to our judgment we secret.
ly dissent, but openly approve. This In.
PRODUCES an element of hypocrisy into the
Holy If Hnlias Ind pA hoa -
forces from US our seif-respect, and de-
prives US Of heavenly recognition and ap-
proval. Our vital energy Is sapped, ouI
manliness and womanliness are injured, un.
less we can say of an opinion, made 1t my.
self, and 1t is therefore mine.
In this matter Of belief, of religious be.
lief, you are to search for the truth-God'a
truth, Chrst's truth. eternal truth. You
are to dive into the depths OF your soul
and what you bring therefrOm is to be the
foundation on which to build your hfe and
character. The world may say nay or IL
may say yea, it makes no difference; you
are to be governed solely by Gods yea and
nay as the words arc whispered in your ear
by Him who reveals Himself to every man
during every day and hour of his life. You
may not get Mt the whole truth-eternity
must unfold itself before you can know that
but you will get at that much OF truth az
will serve your purpose, be it great oI
small
Men may tell you to believe this or that
it is nothing. You NAV believe as others
do, or you may not; but II you believe
what God shall teach you when you and
He are together in the sad and glad ex-
periences which will fall to your lot, then
your days will be radiant and you will be
at peace.
The only real heresy is the heresy Of an
evil life. Honest belief is never heresy
but dishonest living is always heresy. To
be false to a high ideal. to grovel when
you ought to soar, to be entangled in the
delusive ambitions of this world when you
ought to keep your soul bright and clear
and pure, to unmake yourself by immor.
alities when you should be building for
eternity, to be mean when you should be
great-these constitute a heresy which is
abhorred in heaven. He who lives nobly Ia
no hereto, whether his creed BE long OF
short. He who lives on a low moral level
is the true hereto, though his creed be
furlong in length.
1 say, therefore, be yourself, and make
youJs slf all you are capable of becoming
High living alone is orthodox, and high
living is the result Of pure feeling and
lofty thinking. If your conscience tells
you you are right you have nothing to
fear, either here or hereafter.
GEoRaE H. HEPwoRrH.