The Portland daily press., 1873-11-17

1t is intended to reform the abuses of life and
elevate the character of man. Every great fact
of nature, or of society may be translated into
a parable of the divine word, even as Jesus
found witnesses of his truth in the lilies of the
field. There are men who believe that religion
will one day crown and glorify our being and
preside over all other interests. Religion is the
surest guide for the most common and practi-
cal affairs of life; it is ouI strength against
temptation.
Second We are wholly mistaken III regard
to the character and Office of the christian re-
ligion when we regard it as a transient emo
ton, rather than as an abiding, controlling
force. True, it will stir the profoundest emo
tons of the human heart, moving us to the CELL
ter of our being; but it will not end with this
When sentiment has ripened into principle, then
principle becomes the spring of action. This is
the best work of religion for the soul.
Third We mistake when we receive relig
ion as traditional thing. 1t is the heart that
tests it, not time. Tradition does not give it
value.
Fourth: We entertain false conceptions of re-
ligion wien we trace in it only the beautiful in
nature, and love it only for imposing forms of
worship. God does not despise the beautiful,
but it should be used as an adjunct of religion
and not for religion itself.
Fifth: True religion does not develop a
narrow and sectarian spirit, but on the contra
ry broad, generous and loving spirit.
PARK STREET CHURCH.
Rev. Mr.. Beckwth of Augusta officiated at
this church. Text Titus i, Is. The subject
of discourse was the law of life AS the man
is, so is his vision. After general illustration
of the topic the preacher applied his theme
practically to the views which we entertain of
ourselves and of others. AS we are in our in
most natures, so do we see ourselves. Self-com-
placency was adduced as an example. There
are men who are resolute in their minds to see
just the excellence that xists in themselves
and never any defect. 1t is their excellence that
they see and never defect-never by any
chance defect. They have an eye to their
mcrits-their faults they completely and most
comfortably ignore. Let the mind and the
soul become thus self-satsfed, aud whether it
be from self-righteousness Indifference or ap-
preaching torpor of the higher faculties, we
may well, like the artist Thorwaldsen, in SIM
liar case, become sad, for we know that this
obscures the vision of the highest so fatally
that the wheels of progress are stayed the soul
begins to decay, ~hatever height of perfection
it may have reached heretofore; and great ideas
and cheering signs of progress are at end for
that soul, so long as this fatal, woeful decay
continues.
does he judge of others. And herein our bad
qualities are very obtrusive. They insist on
coming forward to show their ugly faces. We
may deem them hidden away in the Utmost
recesses of our being, but now they steal for
ward and claim possession of the ground,
Every man has his own price," was a say
ing CT Sir Robert Walpole, and in this age of
swarming corruption, myriads welcome this
base conception of humanity and believe in it.
But they thereby accuse only themselves and
n ac Thau
can never asperse single noble soul-a single
living conscience, any more than the stagnant
pool steaming with corruption can asperse the
life. giving rain, the refreshing dew, the pure
and vivifying sunlight.
Again, there are men who disbeleive in disn-
terested love. They thereby really assail their
own regulations. But they cast no faint of i'm
putaton on the lives of Hannah More, of Grace
Darling, of Joan of Arc, of Florence Nightin-
gale, of Feneon of Wilberforce, of Charming
or OF Garrison. The breath of odium cast upon
humanity by selfish natures, though it may
flood the earth from pole to POLE can never
reach high enough to assail the heaven of eX
allied faith and love where noble souls abide.
1t is nobility, and nobility alone that can en-
able us to appreciate nobility in the hearts and
lives of others.
The preacher in conclusion made an appeal
for nobility CT life. Through this nobility we
become heirs of all that is noblest in the past,
we become receptive of all that is noblest in
the present, we put ourselves in the line of pre-
paration for all that is noblest in the coming
future We walk with heroic souls that are
dead and gone. New wealth and new worth
are revealed to US in the lives of humbest men
and women around us, and we come to rejoice
continually in the priceless spiritual possessions
that we have in the society of otbers-even of
the distant and the dead, as well as the present
and the living as we advance from joy to joy
and from glory to glory in the love of man and
the reverence for God.
''Be noble; and the nobleness that lies in 9TH
ers sleeping, but never dead, will rise in majes-
ty to meet thine own
The annual meeting of the Young Mems
Christian Association was postponed last even
ing on account of the storm
Prof. j. Sewall occupied the pulpit at High
street church yesterday in the absence of the
pastor. His text was found in Acts 10, So
.How God annointed Jesus of Nazareth with
the Holy Ghost and with power; who went
about doing good and healing all that were OPP
pressed of the devil; for God was with Him.