Year: 1874

Vur Duty W hhc ShuECh Anu OnT OplA.
cations to God-sermon by the Rev.
DIR. Hepworth.


The services at the Rev. Dr. Hepworth's church
yesterday morning we're, as usual, attended by
fashionable and attentive congregation scarcely
. seat in the commodlous edihce being vacant
when the strains OF the organ pealed forth. The
reverend gentleman, after the customary exercises,
selected his text from Revelation, xxiL, l7-.And
the Spirit and the bride say, Gomez This rich
Oriental metaphor he said, was full OF significance
and suggestion, and from 1t one could weave the
whole system OF theology. As the man of SCIENCE
from single bone could inier the animal, often
times from single word, . clause or text one
could look, as through


AN OPEN VISTA,


and see the truths that lie in the eternal distance
arising from earth to heaven in all their grandeur
and magnifcence. II any invitation should come
from the palace on high we should expect natur-
ally 10 find embodied the interest and the affection
of Him who took the palms to sendtt none prepares
q banquet board for his friends, and II there be no
Interior motive behind IT, but only disinterested-
ness, then the invitation comes with all the higher
welcome, and then the heart OF him who accepts
Is warmed IN deepest gratitude toward him who
DO bountifully extends his hand. The Church OF
Christ had been called since 1t was instituted by a
great number OF endearing and significant names.
II ndQ DeeQ CaIeu Tue vile OF CQTlSL because az u
true nelpmate OF her nege lord, who has gone on
long journey, she win get the household in readi-
ness ana make preparations for the welcome at
his coming SO the Church. since Christ left the
earth has been very busy getting this house
ready for that second coming to which she was
constantly looking with a JOY that was ever great,
even unto tears. Again, the Church had been
nkened unto a virgin, because OF the peculiar
heritage OF the virgIn-chastIty of person and
har
which would soil the garments OF an angel What
che did was done from


THE LoFTIEsT MOTIVES,


regardless OF sell, and caring only for tnat truth
and justness mat honor and purity. which, like
charge ana Keeping. So the Church preserved the
gift OF the Holy Spirit. IL worked not for Its own
benefit, out for the benent OF human souls. Its
motives were personal purity and absolute disin
IerestednesS


IT'S cHIEP CLAIM


10 the regard OF the community was its willing
TO sacrifice even as the Master did that some
souls might be borne out OF the travail OF doubt
aud temptation into the emancipated state oil
higher existence. And again, as In the text, the
church had been called the BRIDE OF Christ. In
their marriage service 1t was considered some
what inexpedient in the pledging OF each to the
other to the words Glove, honor ana obeyn
and for the best OF reasons perhaps to wlt:-That
man should be obeyed at all times. But the
Church looked to her liege lord ana master and
was only too glad to emphasize those three words
which bound ner with golden link to the person
and character OF Jesus Christ The Church loved
Him, for she was





which was laid 10 do Him honor, testament OF
His glory and His grandeur. andit was her delight
body and encouraging to ner, and always knew
chat was best 10 do. She implicitly yielded to
: III, enjoying the sunlight OF happiness from the
.ay,.ent .hr vow was recorded TO that sublime
monent SS.,n the angel OF Death sounded the
summvas 10. higher sphere above. the question
arose 5nen--to whom was the invitation sentf
The invitation was sent to every one upon the
earth; not to me more than another, bat TO every
one alike; not to the peasant In MS weakness
than the king his
the king In his purple than to the pauper In his
nth Before the eye OF COO an men stood upon
eqnaty. Rags were nothing-nne linen was
nothing, but the heart and soul constituted the
only aristocracy OF which the Pather TOOK any
note. The Almighty was


NO REsPgcTER or PERSONS.


His object was to save US all, and there would be
was called, every one answered to his name and
NO one OF all the millions OF the earth should be
Ionnd missing; ssh II such might oe the case ne
and glorious notes would come from the victorious
and rejoicing spirits that minister unto the Most
text, was extenued to ALL without distinc tion,
and all should yield themselves captive unto Him.
H captivity was obnoxious, then let the people
come ike The disciple who sat at the feet OF MS
Teacher and was taught the words oi liie. one
ruth IN the economy OF religion lies In the facs
that II the Church was an aristocracy,


EXCLUSIVE IN ITS MEMBERSHIP,
there would be great desire on the part OF
mankind to belong to 1t. The reverend gentle
man then went on to explain, as bearing out the
words Of the text, tnat the Almighty invited man
pared for them. her lie dilated at considerable length
on the goodness OF God as well as on the ingrati-
forgetfulness OF gifts conferred upon US were
among our strongest peculiaritles, and, as mat
our afrection towards God and acknowledge the
necessity OF giving thanks not only for the bright
features which marked our existence. but also for
the misfortunes which might shadaw II. Every
thing we had in this world came from God. and
temporary disappointment should not create a
feeling OF ingratatude ior past iavors In what way
we're


BOUND TO THE CHURCH


and TO God, First, we were bound to them by human
nature. Science In these latter times had been
playing "hide and go seek" with religion Science
OF It's iree VIII aud accord had put itself in antago
nism against the Church, and not only argued
against 1t, but managed in some way TO sneer at
1t, TO laugh at our deepest faith as though 1t were
the superstition OF an earlier age. He was sorry
for this, but at the same time he was not AFRAID.
Despite all science couId accomplish, religion
It's great mission was accomplished Just as in
diseases Of the body, so IN diseases OF the
mind. The patient on recovering from typhoid
fever, for instance, was oftentimes as good In
every respect as he was before, and the same
might be said OF inteiects that had become disor-
dered. For some time past the community had
noticed instances OF acute


TYPHOID FEVER INTELLECTUALLY;
put the physicians had prescribed ior the patents as
vantage. SO long as man was alive ne Would oe
instlnctvely and naturally bound TO the almighty:
man nad not by some type or some Illustration
exemplhed his trust IN God long before IL became
matter OF revelation. MAN naa rom an uLnes
SHOWN an instinct TO worship in some form, and
AL the science in the world had never been able
70 dlssuade mankind from dependence on Goa:
NO matter how bad man might become ne wouId
feel at some time remorse OF cons cience, and that
was the foundation stone OF his theology. Every
man nau his bright side-every criminal nad
spark which angels might at some time ian into
name. IN the second place we were pound by the
grace OF Goo, His goodness, gracousness His In
terest ID US. 1t was


GLORIOUS THEME


none more glorious In the world EVERYTHING be-
longing to nnld ~ do
that could contribute TO our happiness--rel-
Rtives, friends, possessions, everything The rev.
explanation OF the words 'sBy the grace OF God
am what am as explained by the Rev. John
Newton and dilateq az considerable length upon
che goodness OF God, His infinite mercy nis love
and self sacrifices for mankind and the Interest
which He took In humanity. We were bound TO
God By the deepest obligations.


COMMON SENSE


cold Us that everything we have In this world Ia
the gift OF God. Above all It should be remem.