The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-08-10
SUNDAY SERVICES.
INDIA STREET CHURCH

INDIA STREET CHURCH.
Yesterday morning the pastor, Rev. GEO. w.
Bicknell, preached from the words found in
Acts 16, 9th: "Come over ***@ and help us. F."
This was call to Paul TO go and preach the
Gospel, Ito aid in the establishment of purity
and truth. Instantly be responded, doing
good work, and setting before US bright ex-
ample of faithfulness. Yet the call to Paul to
aid in the advancement of the kingdom of the
Redeemer in its fuIlness, we may believe was
not more earnest than it is to-day, to men and
women who have been blessed with Gospel
privileges. The demand for labor is great, but
the workers are few. The cry, "come over and
help u.s." comes from the creed bound.
The preacher believed that every inspiration
from the Gospel was cheering. Every teach
ing of the Redeemer was designed to beautfy
and adorn life. Every obedience to its direc.
| tions being cheer and happiness. But men
have walled it round with creeds, the influences
OF which produce awe and fear. Almost
every one contains some repulsve features, AMI
renders truth what Jesus did not render it,
gloomy. The Gospel is read, God and Christ
are regarded, life and its objects are interpre-
ted, by and through human creeds. They de-
lines. Now just so long as men hug creeds, in
stead of taking Christs life aud the spirit of
his teachings, as their interpreters ignoring
sense, reason, and the lessons of Nature, just
so long the religious world will be in darkness
and weakness. 1t needs light, cheer. But the
great majority of creeds depress. They may
secure professional religious life, but their in
fuence seldom secures nobler and more Christ
like walks. We do not need to know SO much |
of God merely as Creator as Father, and |
then awe will give peace to childlike trust
There are thousands who know of tie exist
ence of higher truths than they are accustomed
to hear, and their souls burn to hear and to
know. But they are timid. They do not like
to step OUT boldly. They want help. They
desire the words spoken ~ those whose hearts
are aglow with the spirit OF the Gospel, to give
strength. Do not fear, liberal minded, to
speak of the bright faiths a Fathers love per-
mits The world requires for its advancement,
religion of smiles and not of sorrows; OF
hopes and not of gloomyIprospects; of angels and
not of devils. This, the religious world is be.
ginning to see; and so far forth as it dares con-
slstent with man-mads creed, is promulgating
to the world. ft'sees that old theologies do not
move the people. Preachers know that their
utterances in obedience to Calvin and others
are not believed by the Masses and they tone
their sermons to suit; and yet are fearfuy
shocked by the utterance of men, who have the
courage to speak the true sentiment of the
heart, which they have not, and put down
heresy with mighty zeal. Get out of the pris-
the spirit of Christ's> Gospel-broad and pure
and man will not only fashion heaven on
earth, but he will render Iii; soal strong for
the heaven of the future.
Individual resorn a ion calls for help. The
prevailing tendency is to keep the penltent
back-to be sure of their lasting reformation
instead of helping them to make it lasting.
The action of Christ did not establish the
thought, that it is shame to be seen aiding the
erring toward virtue but lust the opposite, |
How grand appears his life and the lives of the
disciples, in the light of the truth that they
loved and would aid their brother man, no
matter how sinful. Men turning from wrong
need aid Smile upon the mau who is endeay-
bring to seek virtue, instead Of smiling as too
many do when be is wild Christian men
and women should stretch ont their hands to
l d those who call. But too often they permit
pitfalls to be digged across their very path
way To instance, man may, who is en-
leavorng to reform, pass his old haunts where
he smell of liquor may not reach the I
street; but let him go from here
the church) to the Post-oflice, and what does
7iew-in a most conspicuous postion-;he air {
appropriated with poisons, is shop-a dis i
grace to you and your city--and where the ;
appetite may again be fired as the smell comes
o the weak, and the tempter may. lead the
victim to his haunts again. What do you call
{? City Agency. Yes, as dangerous locality
IS we have-fostered by our governments pit
all. Don't talk of the efficiency of any force
whose duty it may be to suppress temptations ,
o wrong when Patrick or Bridget loses a ,
allon or two, but hotels sell openly, and the
ity runs an open establishment.
So too the moral and reformatory worlds call
or help. The tide of evil is strong. It is en-
eavoring to submerge youth aud maturity
let the power of the Church go out to meet
nd help amen subdue the wrong. Success
means glory. 1t means elevation of man and
he extension of Chrscs Kingdom. A great !
eformation may not be secured all at once;
'ut steady work will secure great results.
The call too comes from the Church to the 1
world. The Church is weak in comparison
With what it ought to be. If it would prosper,
must be strengthened. Men would like to
I'D, but THEY dislike the coldness-the stiffness
which surrounds too many organizations. The
Church should throw these away and make :
tself the simple organization which Christ in
TINTED. 1t is the place of learners. scholars
"A spirituality, not circle OF solemn melan-
ver and help us, let it see to it that it makes
is labor desirable. 1t is no circle of saints, :
,lt of human souls, struggling for better
ife. and should be ready to help all,-not
rive away and say TO this one or the other,
Who does not conform in every respect to its
dea, you have 10 business here. Foster
Jhrists church, and the preacher believed the
esponse to the call would be full and hearty.
So all around us, from the conditions of
,urlty, virtue, and holiness, we hear the call
or help. Let us cheerfully and earnestly re-
pond so far forth as are each and Seyerally |
IDLE, making the heart strong for all the con-
licts and activities of life; and when the call
ONES from the other shore for us to pass over !
o its scenes and laborS we shall be prepared
0 gladly respond, behOlding in the future
,rander opportunities for the unfolding of our
ouls in holiness and love.