The Portland daily press., 1874-09-07
SUNDAY SERVICES.
CHESTNUT STREET.

Yesterday morning the pastor, the Rev. S. i.
Jones, preached from John V. Z; IL have no
man when the water is troubled to put me into
the pool; but while am coming another step
peth down before me-
A man in state of absolute helplessness! A
man without man! A man left quite to him
self, lonely, responding, despairing. Such is
the man of the text. A helpless, friendless,
lonely man in the midst of crowd; many eyes
bent upon him, but none in pity; many forms
fitting by him, but none with cheering word or
helping hand. Others, one and another by his
side are pitied helped and healed, but he is lef'
in cold neglect or rudely thrust aside. Such is
the man and such are the conditions which
make up the scene presented by the text.
Now there is great deal of this kind of thing
in the world; feebeness and helplessness in the
midst of so many who could so easily give just
the little help that is needed. Most men have
sometime experienced this in some degree.
Some, perhaps, never have; but they are the
exceptions. The mass Of men are not heroes
and giants; they are rather the humble and
feeble; they need cares and culture under the
benign law of our Christian brotherhood, we
that are strong should bear the burdens OF the
weak" This is true in temporal matters
Young men setting out in life feel this. They
need to have their way opened: little help of
some kind to start in business Business men,
men who are established and successful in BUSH
| ness should always consider seriously their OBJ
| legation to help such, and especially those who
| in the beginning were helped themselves. Bus
| mess men should feel called upon continually
| to make room for and help forward competent
and energetic young men.
But the man at the pool represents moral in
| trinity no less truly than physical. The moral.
| ly infirm men who want TO do better and would
| do better if they were helped. are everywhere.
| There is nothing more common to humanity
than this desire to do better. There is no heart
that is not touched by it, that does not, at
| times feel the thrill of its holy impulses. Did
we but know it, the banks of the River OF Life
| are ALWAYS crowded, multltudes of souls hang
| ing over the brink looking longingly down into
| the waters and waiting for little help. be-
| lieve this and carry the thought of it contin-
| ually in my heart.
| look out upon the world and say, o that
men were better! The response comes back to
me from near and from afar, "We want to be
better; we would be better; who will help us to
| be better" The moan of an uneasy sea is in
my ears. hear shrieks in the air and cries as
| of pershing men. strain my eyes and catch
| through the thick mists a glimpse Of haggard
| beating the air as OF men and women sinking
| and cutching in death agony for help
| God have mercy upon us all. How shall we
| find these? How shall we help them. How
shall we save them? We lift up voice and stretch
| out hands towards them. Now and then we
snatch one up but mutitudes are passed by and
left to perish daily. Multitudes are beyond our
| reach. They come not to our sanctuares. No
churches arebui.t for them ;uo gospel is preached
| to them. Perhaps they are wild and hayward
and wicked. Perhaps unfortunate In birth, edu-
| cation and tenn ptation; but the Great Father
| keeps watch over them always, broods over
| them daily with the influences Of His Spirit
and breathes into them thoughts and desires
better than their lives. L have touched here the
broadcast and deepest moral problem of the age.
| The church is waking up to the solution of
| this problem. Men are growing restless and
dissatisfied with this sitting and feasting at Ia
| bles that groan under twice the amount of food
| that can be eaten whilst gaunt faces are peer
| ing hungeringly over their shoulders. God will
ere long take the skill and energy, which to-day
| is tunnelng mountains and bridging rivers
| and piercing oceans with Geographic thought,
and launch 1T against those social impedimen is
which lie across the pathway of the church till
| they break down and the spirit of Christian
| sympathy and charity aud practical benefcence
| shall overflow the whole face of society and
Christ shall be ''all and in ALL" The sermon
closed with hopeful and encouraging words to
the morally intirm.