Year: 1874

HOW to Live and How to Die-Sermon


by the Rev. George H. Hepworth.


owing to the inclement weather the attendance
At this spacious edifce yesterday was not so large
usual. At the close OF the regular services the
Rev. Mr.. Hepworth preached sermon, taking his
text from the Gospel according TO ST. John, T.,
III am the good shepherd" There was not
ne said, chapter in the New Testament which
afforded better Illustration OF the human as well
as The divine side OF Chrst's Character than that
which had just been read as the morning lesson.
Ii was, perhaps little difficult for those OF the
nineteenth century TO appreciate a figure which
depended for It's force upon knowledge OF the
pastoral times in which 1t was uttered. But
there was little difficulty in getting glimpse, at
least, OF that tenderness, solicitude. anx-
iety and perfect laithrulness in His work
OF which the figure or metaphor mentioned in the
Gospel was type. He wished the congregation
might go back for o few moments and stand In
imagination in those far distant days when such q
figure as that referred TO was exceedingly orcble.
In our times mans wealth consists in the


BULK OF REAL ESTATE


he possesses or In money The world has so ad-
vanced In civilization that there is very little bar
Ter, as 1t was called. But in the earlier times o
mans wealth consisted IN his hocks and 1t was
exceedingly important that he who had charge OF
them should be q faithful true herd, stout bodied
and a courageous man. The wealth OF the pro-
prietor whose emplOye he was depended to a
very large extent upon the single heartedness
and falthlulness OF him who not only had charge
of the nock in its maturity hut also of the lambs
In their infancy, and according to his character
and attention these little helpless creatures lived
died, thus adding to or detractiDg from the
property OF the owner. II would be seen from the
2Etithesls made use or In the words OF the Gospel
that there were some


oyERsEERS OF FLoCKS


who we're simply hirellngs ana who cared nothing
Tor the interest OF their master but everything
1Or their own ease and comfort, and who earned
their money in the easiest possible way. leading
the hock TO the pasture In the morning ana doing
the hours away TILL the sun set, and then, gather
ing them together. retu. ned TO the fold. But
beasts overlook them, he was simply hIreng-
running Tor his own safety, caring l0r his own life
and fought the wild beasts hand to hadd and
when IT became necessary perllled his own SAFETY
to secure the safety OF the nock 1t was to such.


AN UPRIGHT SHEPHERD


that Jesus nkened Himself, and IN doing so II was
not evidence OF concelt or assumption. He
told simply the truth, which was never indicative
OF concelt or egotism. one who read the Testa-
ment casually or with indifference could not fail to
be struck by the often repeated pronoun "l,n and
he got general impression that CHRIST assumed
great things OF Importance; but king who sits
upon throne has right TO command, and II ne
states the truth, and that alone, he gives no evi
dence or


CoNcRIT OR RGoTIsM





cannor be described. The reverend gentleman
went on to say that he wished to speak concerning
the influence Christ had upon our lives, and also
OF the influence He mad upon our death. No one
doubted the influence which CnrIsts life had upon
US and interest IN the death OF the dear Lord.
He marveiled more and more when he tried 10
measure the extent OF sucn influence. None could
explain the mystery OF that advancing religion,
winch began Ia the manger at Bethlehem and
wnich would end on the throne OF the universe,
and yet, as the word itself advanced, the spirit
and the purpose OF that religion were more and
tnA In "a PC nara fhnr
were only lew martyrs; IN the next generation
there were only something Ike half milliyn men
and women who accepted the doctrines OF Chris
tianity. After three long centuries had passed
only f0ur millions OF men ana women be
lsysd me MystsTy ssa ans ys5 w,a
spirit controlled our public opinions, suggesting
educational institutions and institutions Of
charity, moulded the form OF our laws and built
chui cnes throughout the universe. In this view
the prophecy was likely TO be fulfilled that every
knee should bow and every soul confess that
Christ was the only religion Of tue human SOUL
and all this TO the glo OF God, who had planned
the redemption OF the humaa race; There were
In the world. me Whiriwind swept over the
forest and ielled the trees as ii they were only
blades OF grass. There were exceptional men,
who were Just like this whlrlwind, who compelled
every class OF society to bend to their single des-
potic WILL Napoleon was like this whlrwlnd,
whose autograph was stamped all over the East
ern Hemisphere, and who was the greatest
despot since the time OF Caesar. Then
there was another kind kind Of Of, influence;





mnd behind which was a loving heart. 1t was
curious lact, moreover, that sucn men were gen.
orally martyrs, aud at their head stood Jesus, the
Prince OF Martyrs. He spoke truly and did KIND,
generous and sympathetic deeds HIS love for
humanity was unDounded. HIS words OF peace
and OF love, His words oiprophecy and consolation,
we're ike


oUNPowDER IN THE MIDST OF FLAME.
They exploded the institutions of the time, the
hypocrisy OF caste and OF class. He exploded the
nonsense OF ceremony. The influence OF that lie
was not to be told IN a few words; neither Was it
TO pe understood by every one. IL seemed to him
that there was mystery about godllness whcn
was me xplcaple No man knew anything ABOUT
Christianity by critIcisn. Nobody could sound It's
depths py an intellectual pinmmet. No man could
asceI tain It's height with telescope. lt must be
appreciated. Those who nave not iet 1t have no
right TO judge Of the legitimate influence Of their
brotneris belief or confidence


MODERN SCIENCE,


with its social eccentrlcties, ran rampant with
It's new IDEAS oil marriage and lts new IDEAS OF
domestic lie; but II seemed TO him that the Bible
IN itseli contained the whole system OF co-exist-
eDce. But those modern scientists knew nothing
OF It's glory and nothing or It's grandeur. The lie
OF Christ could be viewed best by uim VINO was
Christs disciple. The higher the allegiance OF
man TO God, the more completely one yielded him.
self up the purer, noDier and grander he became.
The lie OF Christ had personal influence upon
every true disciple. and the death OF Christ was
not only the elimination oil grand hfe but a
new scheme OF God, that had more direct refer
ence 10 our own salvation. No man could doubt
tnat VINO read the Testament No man had any
right to heaven; II we got there IL would be only
Through the love CHRIST has borne lor us, and
through the sacrifice He has made IN our behalf
liz conclusion the reverend gentleman earnestly
besouQhJ the congregation To WORK In Cbrstis
name and TO labor III His vineyard While there was
yet day.


CHURCH OF THE DIVINE PATERNITY.