Year: 1876

CHURCH OF THE DISCIPLES.
GOD WILL KEEP HIS covESANT-sERMoN BY


Mr.. HEpwoaTH.


Mr. Hepworth preached yesterday morning to an
unusually large congregation from the tex. Genesis
xviii, 7-"And | viii establish my covenant between
and thee. and thy seed after thee in their genera
nons, for everlasting covenant, 10 be God unto
lhee and to thy seed alter thee 1t Is the notable
prerogativc OF 10 hold communion with his
Creator IL is communion that approaches fellow
ship and suggests spiritual riendlness and intimacy
man has the power to work with God, to work for
God and to borrow energy from God with which
compish the task We stand alone In the order o.
creation, completely isolated IRON any influence which
might come up to us from the brute creation. Our
heritage 10 not from below: It cometh down from
above IL is not the earth that teaches
God IL schoolmaster; IT Is
from that which Is low base that
get power: it Is drawn from Him VINO Is eternal,
and who SO loved as that Hc sent His only Son into
the world to tell the story that love. We are,
ihen, SO godlike in natures since the Almighty
hath put His finger body and mind and spirit
hat the end which God hath in view respecting is
The end ought to have in view, though It may lesd
through temptation and trial and suffering Mans
happiness is IN 6od and nowhere else. He who puts
his hand upward III faith that tho angels will hold
OF is receives uncomfortable strength, boundless hap
piness, iathomess joy, which the world cannot gye
and which


WORLD CANNOT


No~, In reading history have como across one or
ltual impulse ought to mediate upon and receive.
! hnd God has made two covenants with the human
race; that he has contederated with sepa-
rate occasions; that he not only manifested Himself,
showing His presence IN indubitaole way, holding
communion by word OF mouth with men, but He has
also made compact which involves welfare
life and which has 10 do with our veal when the cur
..in falls upon The present and we stand In sho midst
OF the future


The first was a faiure-may dare to say hi Not a
failure on HIS part, but ours and the last compact
Is not yet success, except here and there Chris
Nan hearts. oh, that II might be success the wide
world over! pray 20 God that HIS spirit may yet
sweep over the world like tidal wave, drowning out
all that is base and filing full Of power and JOY and
the consciousness OF purity.


The second covenan, was made with Noses the
top OF Sinai Is was compact OF obedience;
the laws were written on stone; but that
was broken too; that could not be kept. II not
kept by the lsraeltes II not kept by you to-day
W. cannot get on on The ground OF covenant Of work
rs impossible TO succeed IN tna. direction We either
WoEt or cannot keep mo law There is somewhere q
tsar'u twis. in our nature The Ten Commandments
wh'h ware ihunocIcd forth from Sinai are broken in
roar LIE, and IL you could win title TO heaven by
Dlnple obedience 10 those laws you would lose your
little on the instant and you would confess your
unworthiness TO cross the golden threshold Of the
golden city. And up to the time Of Christ the
compact that demanded obedience on the part OF
vas failure 1t never succeeded, and II TO be
saved must be saved other grounds.


Look AZ the other covenant When Jesus camc he
put sentence into literature which stands alone


MYSTERY OF SCIENCE


and the problem OF reiig'on-"Bcieve- on me and ye
shall bo saved l tbnk that sentence the
startling one in the literature OF the world. II stands
out IN bold relief il an assertion that seems 10 have
the authority OF God behind II. blessed Lord, what
% II TO believe on Tbeey II seems to way
has been opened through the darkness Of night right
the ruins OF the old compact OF work revelation
has como down infinitely more hopeful God has
proven His love for US; He has stretched out HIS
hand to lit US out OF the gloom of mid
night Faith is our hope-taith IN our best friend,
laith IN God faith in the Holy spirit. When look
- the compact craven n stone look upon what is as
hesh OF ny flesh, but when look the other look
/
cross without looking through II, and the great
Saviour higher and higher andsat last taxing HIS
place on the right hand 0f God When the command
comes from God simply TO obey your heart grows coid
but when God looks down and says, "My chiidren
heart and understand do just Tell you and all
Will be WE'LL" then seem to be lifted up above
session OF me- and there Is a sweet and blessed com.
munor between and all things holy Tor that the
priceless gt OF the second covenant Of Godne cove


Look \, the covenant What does God says II you
will nave fa!h IN me, you VIII try to obey will
be your God. What Is 1t to be u Rod to you? A god
IL being who protccts then God must be your pro-
tector. god is a being who preserves; then God
c,scs watchul providence over ali the details OF our
lie; God promises He will be all that TO you.


But DO not Christians suffer sometimcsy Yos God
does not make compact to Include what you cali
good fortune; but God says that the true end Of life
VIII Ds happy The world promises and Keeps
promise What the world gives 1t only
lends and takes back again. but what God gives He
gives. Gods covenant is sure one; gives "a clear
little to everything. The compact made with Moses
God stands ready to mako with you. would that you
compact With You now II only you will trust Jesus
Christ you will secure yourselves against all future
contingencies. So long as you fail to give alle-
riance 10 the right King you against Him If you
iro out OF the Church you are IN danger Are you
lnsidc and on Gods side outside and the Devils
Ides This is serious question, and involves your
hereafter oh, brethren, let your footsteps bend
Come Ho so Of Christ for
heveth shall be saved. IL - Tho promise OF God