The Portland daily press., 1874-05-04
SUNDAY SERVICES.
ST. LUKE's CATHEDRAL.


Two relations of Christian duty:-one gener-
ALTO "al men''-honor; the other specialize
the Christian brotherhood '-love
Though Christian duties, they concern us all
alike, whether living up to the standard of a
Christian life or not; for God deals with all to
whom His moral law has come, as Christians.
Why are all men to be ''honored''?
First as created in Gods image, which, how
ever defaced and marred by sin, belongs
chiefly to our moral and spiritual nature, and
so cannot be destroyed The spark of Divine life
is in every soul for whom Christ died, however
hidden from our sight.
Secondly, as redeemed by the blood OF Christ
Can we conceive any higher honor to the race
of man, than that the Son of God should give
up His life as man to exalt that race and 'eveAy
individual of it? What are all earthly differ
ences and distinctions by the side of this work
of love for man? What will they be in
Heaven where degrees Of happiness can only
depend on the fullness and reality of spiritual
life in Christ?
Thirdly Our race, our nature and all who
share in it, have been exalted, renewed, sanct-
fed by being united in the person of Christ to
God himself, who through the Incarnation of
His Son has given to all the Divine Life, and
the possibility of developing it into perfect and
eternal life
On all these grounds the command to hon
or all men" can admit of no exception. But
what is that honor due to all?
First, one plain, practical nciple-never
desptse any one. Sin we may despise and hate
both, but sinners. never And if we may not
despise any one for moral unworthiness, how
much less for difference of mind, or station, or
wealth? st. James condemns in the Christians
of his day fault not ut all uncommon now
that they had ''despised the poor" Distinc-
tons between the rich and poor must exist but
the spirit in which they are observed may make
them deeply sinful. The reproof of st. James
is against spirit of contempt for worldly pov-
erty, brought into the house of GOd,-the one
place where no one can clam honor above an
other, where all worldly distinctions ought to
be forgotten.
Next, take for granted, what is really the
case that there is some good in every one,
and try to make the most of it. Our common
practice is rather to admit the existence of
good in those we may dislike, with a protesta-
ton against Its having any weight in their
favor.
If we combine with these, thirdly, princi-
Pile of good will to all men, founded on the
love of Christ for us all, and an earnest desire
to increase their happi-ess, we have three
fold cord' to bind this precept on our hearts
Thus far, the command embraces all of hui
man race. The Gospel of Christ exalts thus
far even those who stand aloof from it, rec
ognizng. even them brethren 1t cannot
treat with contempt, as did heather philoso-
phies, those who know nothing of Its high
truths.
Yet there is broad distinction here made
between honor and ''iove," "al men, and
work OF Christ for us, and our position in His
sight, are of more importance than any thing
else in this life. If we honor all redeemed by
Him, we owe different and far higher love to
those who have put on Christ, who are en-
dued with regenerate nature and partakers ia
His One Cup of Blessing. The idea is very
common that all earthly ties are more impor
tant than that of Christian fellowship, that it
is the mark OF narrow mind to look upon the
fold of Christ as the limit of our hi CHEST love.
But We are to lift ourselves above the world in
these things, and take onr true place ''as free,
and using our liberty as the servants of God, %
not OF the world, or OF self-interest. We are
free of the world, pledged to higher service
NOT to seek the level of worldly glory nor
cIinge beneath it. We are to honor all men,
but give our highest, deepest, most>endurng
love and interest to the Brotherhood of Christ
FREE STREET.
Rev. Mr.. Matt of Wakefield, Mass, preached
at this church in the morning and afternoon.
In the morning he delivered sermon from
John xiv, 6; ''No man cometh unto the Father
but by Me-" After making few preliminary
remarks the preacher spoke npon three points,
viz:
First-The need that men have of coming to
the Father.
Second-The difficulties in the way of COM
ing.
Thrd-How those difficulties are removed.
The paa1 hot havo IN,
God is shown in tina r4stlassn.ss.. Z,
fs1cc. IzFyiy man ought to come to God; it is
uot enough that He should como to us; we
should show our willingness by going freely.
We need to come for our moral good, for our
happiness and for our Souls good. We need to
move ourselves toward God at once. We need
Him in the m DIST of our worldly prosperity
Every natural desire in man is good, but it may
be perverted and put to improper use, and
then il is not good. Another proof that we
need God is the fact that we are always looking
for something that we have not got This per-
petual aud universal restlessness of man is the
proof that this world is not adapted to give
happiness, 1t is necessary that every man
should come 10 the Father.
ii. Human ignorance is the greatest cause
of our not Coming to the Father. There is a
great difference of opinion in regard TO the at
tributes of God Some think that God is an
easy going, good natured being, who will do
them justice, aud others think Him the very
essence of injustice. We cannot conceive of
God beng spirit; it is too much for us to
think of spirit Our consciousness of sin,
| aud our unlikeness to Him are reasons that we
| do not come to God When the human con-
science is accused of its guilt it wants TO CO me
| to God, bnt dare not, on account of its igno-
rance of Him. Thus men often repel God on
| account of their lack OF knowledge of Him.
Ill. Every man may come to God if he
| comes through Christ. We must understand
| the relation that God sustains to or we can
not receive him. Christ Is the mediator, who
stands between God snd us. His is blessed
mission 10 plead with God A proper concep-
ton of Jesus Christ greatly helps our weak
ness, ana that longing for something that we
want is all met in orr Mediator. He knows
our feeblepess, for He has been upou the earth,
and suffered as we now suffer He stands aud
takes our sins and bears them for US. How
freely we shonld come to Jesus, not covering,
but in hope: come boldly to the throne of
| grace. Come not in our own name, but in the
name of Jesus The best of this offer is that
| the most guilty person in the world can come
| Just as freely as the best saint. Come and He
will breathe into you His spirit, and you Can
say, ABBA, Father and be one of His