Year: 1876

CHURCH OF THE DISCIPLES.
SERMON BY REV. GEORGE H. HEPwoRTH ON


THE CHRISTIANS RACE.


Despite the bitter cold weather the Church OF the
Disciples, OF Lexington avenue and Fortyhfth
street, was yesterday morning filed TO It's utmost
capacity. Dr. Hcpworth preached the sermon, taking
for his Paul's Epise to the Philippians, ill., 49,
l4-s.Brethrcn. l count not myself to have apprc.
hended; but this one thing 90, forgetting those
things which behind and reaching forth unto
those things which before, l press toward the
mark for the prize OF the high calling OF God in Christ
Jesus.n


These words, said Dir. Hepworth, are remarkable as
the expression OF high ambiton-the possession OF
prize-and also the expression OF a prophecy that
the ambition will be grated and the prize will be
would like to call particular attention to the first
words OF my text:"l count not myself TO have appre
bonded" There wero mysteries in tho life of Christ
which ST. Paul had not compre nded-plans Of grace
respecting himself which entirely nscrutabe.
He had power OF vision which could penetrate
them, grasp OF mind that could take hold Of them
But there thing no sure of-,he resurrcc-
ilon of Christ and that those who trusted in Him
should in like manner DO lifted up So laying aside
those things that retted his mind he gave his whole
heart To God ana determined that, whether he under
stood or not, lie would obey ana one thing he could
do-he could forget the things Of the past and he
could toward the mark for tho prize OF the high
taiii3S.


ST. iaui Isl vivid writer. Although exceedingly
plain and practical times he is nevertheless exceed
tngy poctical, his imagination now and then soaring
isil on the WINGS OF eagle ! have doubt ST.
Paul had race from one OF the benches of the
srecian amphitheatre. ! have no doubt he entered
nto the ENTHUSIASM OF the occasion, uttering stento
nan shouts for the victors See the arena! Six
hundred eet !ong and all around II high ampnithea-
Ire in which seated 10, 900 Spectators And Just
here AT the starting point the raccra They have
rdcd themselves Tor the race they have long been in
training, counting nothing loss tho loss OF
strength The judges stand is yondcr, and from
II comes the word, when of the go not speeding
themselves at first but careful to husband their
strength that the critical moment they
may pour IL forth as Hood and stretch
forth the hand to grasp the prize with eager gaze and
glad heart As they run around the Spectators are
some for and some against them. Here they receive
encouragement, ''wcll done! Keep on and you shall
win be OF good cheer; the prize is almost within your
reachl" There Kisses and cries OF derison and
tempt swell upon the air from q hundred throats
"ohl he'll never win, he has not strength enough
Sec what n laggard he is.n But the keeps his
taco the goal and loses sight Of all else Even when
bc tails he gathers himself quickly, forgetting the
lnings that caused the and presses full Of
Denomination that nothing shall stand in the way OF


THIS Is the picture that ST. Paul gives us as symDo
ia CT his lie, and certainly lite Is just such ralc
has faded, but crown OF immortelles that last for
ever There IS a cloud OF Witnesses in the arena
holding US IN full survey. We do not see them but
they see US. They are interested partly in our
success and partly in our defeat They try 10
encourage US or TO discourage and retard
You know they are IN the very air-you are
conscious that there is dual influence at work
round about you all the time At tho Same moment
you are urged toward different points II you
yield TO you wretched; II to the other you
happy ana serene, ana you know not why. To dsobey
to walk in your way wilfully DO wrong act,
wiIiully say wrong word, Us to live weather
this, with scanty clothing; may endure it. but
you never are at case YOU stand In need of another
gasment which you do possess. Everything within
and without you is tsagrecabe. because you cold


ask the Christians here present What has been the
result OF your CHRISTIAN eXpcrienccy And you answer
JOY and happiness You feel that there is a
watchiui, KIND and loving caro- exercised over and
about you, and 1t gives you strength and comfort un
speakable. In your hour of suffering you say "God
leads; It's we'll The philosophy OF the cause and
effect may be difficult Tor to understand. Like
ST. Paul you have rot apprehended But the expert
encc is yours, you sure OF that II turn to tho
other side and ask the worldly man or woman what
has been the result OF his or her experience there will
be but restlessncss 1t has been
sharp and angular edge OF unhappiness You have
lost your temper, and the have criticised
yourself Tor doing You have done and felt SO, not
knowing why. You have been uneasy, you have
heard s,il small voice speaking TO you, nnd you
have turned to worldly pleasures and excitement
Of you have oven turned TO vice to avoid facing the
truth And yet you know no man ever yet lived with
oul having to face the truth. No man woman
lived whom Death did not summon, and he swill sum-
you. OH the happiness OF having friend
Witch TO lean-to know you have u Saviour who
ior yon and who Will gladly bear all your burdens if
you but 20 to Him Oh, the wretchedness OF going
through the enemy's country at night and knowing a
Toe may iurk n every bush and may come out and
Iounce upon you at any momentl Oh, brethren
there Is great difference in the man who orge,s tho
lhiags OF the past and presses forward and who
does not In the great arena there are eyes looking





and others eager with hope and prayer
that you succeed. There is Satan himself and he
wants your SOUL and he Is using his utmost endeavors
10 have lose The PRICE and he who loses the prizc
wins death. How plausible he isl Never did man
wrong but he would make good for IT. No
man ever into hell itself he sent back
plausible excuse for falling, and Satan says to you
rs he has often SAID to me-"Why hurry along so
SIT down anu be at ease; the race Is aready won."
But you have tho other side Christ and In the
Grccan arena the racers saw the pillars marked with
such encouraging words Excel ~ Finish tho
race ~ Never yieldl in the great Christ
courages and bids keep eyes upon the throne
aud press forward Jesus has said, Il Will send
angel 10 you lest you dash your foot against stone"
Again. II Will be with you even to tho end OF the
w0rld.n