The Portland daily press., 1874-02-09

much away from the sanctuary. If minister
stood at the door after service, and demanded
from each unconverted our present, the portion
of the sermon specially appropriated by them,
he never would complete his Mss, unless by
collecting what was either given away or left
behind in the pews. Many seem to regard
church service as a sort of fine art gallery, and
ture of the entertainment People select their
sermons after the fashion of printers selecting
fresh fonts of type, fourshes and double
shades, commanding double the price of the
PLAIN od-fashioned letter. In we'll bred circles
religion is wrapped up in the tinted paper of
form and etiquette A revival has the same effect
on many people as an epidemic; they will flee
from the place where it is No one has the
slightest objection to having the gospel sent to
the heather, and will get enthusiastic over the
progress of the work in Patagonia or Japan;
yet who would feel offended it, they thought
the sermon aimed at them. There is no use in
Sinking this question to NOR convenient
season Except zoe are converted, we cannot
enter the Kingdom uf God In religion. chart
ty ought to begin at home; and those who are
so anxious that we all should wear crowns of
life, ought to wear one themselves The best
recruiting agent is one who has served for
term; lectures on light by blind man may be
interesting, but will further in very small de-
gree the science of optics. No doubt public
duties are important. but private oney are even
more SO; ana if we wish to promote the glory
of God. to extend His kingdom upon the earth,
and to serve the interest of our fellow men
the first act Of that service onght to be the con-
secraton of ourselves. Some of us may have
faded, indistinct memories of the fact, that at
one time We were the children of God, but
time has made sad work with our pardonng
certificate. Let us have clear fresh record of
our OaCn salvation to-day, and then we can
work it out in our lives. Conversion is merely
the donnilg of the uniforms, after this we
learn the drill and tactics Of war. Heaven is
only gained by sheer force No popular tides
drift humanity in that direction. No moral
moon has been strong enough to lift the surg
ing seas of thought and feeling which flood
the world and send them heaveuward.
Existence is a species of moral arithmetic;
religion is the idea which runs through it. The
thread upop which we string our actions sy-
metrical Christianity, is the want of the age
The temple of our life may be majestic in its
conception but too generally ought of harmony
in its detail. Taking the world as whole,
spiritual architecture displays but little con-
structive genius If profession spun out of
words would secure salvation, none would be
lost, for every man and woman is moral
ropewalk, but it is to be worked out not talked
out Religion has suffered at the hazards of
the age, and like it, partakes OF the shallow
and forms of faith are only typical of the veneer
and polish, which exist to-day. Our fathers
may have been slow, but they were good honest
workmen; family heir-ooms attest their skill;
religious institutions the solidity of their
faith. but now we want to worship as we work
without either vim or earnestness. "He that
doeth" enters into the kingdom. Religion is
not hot-house plant nor home-bred pet, it
was made for hard work and will live as we'll
in the world as in the temple on Sunday. Tenn
pie worship is the learning of the alphabet
Week days we are to spell it out in words
which will make us an epistle known and read
of all men. The crumbs of life are to be leav
ened. A rose tree scents every flower that
grows on its branches, and every action on the
tree of life ought to have the perfume of
heaven. Talents make no difference. A man
who has only jack-knife cannot wnittle mo-
dels as we'll as he who has compile kit of
tools. yet if he ever does, he is workman
who needeth not to be ashamed. Lines formed
OF common clay are the grandest specimens of
work in the art gallery of the world. Let us
I throw upon the canvass Of our life the pictures
of men and women who will dare to do and to
suffer for God, and having Christ for our
inspiration We can work out complete saliva
ton. The past is far from perfect; it will not
stand the test of line and plummet;it is jagged
and uneven but if we begin afresh, every man
on his own lot we can with the help of God,
build glorious temple, which will stand even
as the temple of God.
CATHEDRAL OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
Bishop Boon delivered a very able and inter-
estiDg discourse yesterday, taking for his text
Luke viii, 9TH to 18th, "The seed is the word of
God" The word of God is omnipotent; it was
by it that Moses divided the Red sea for His
appointed children; it was by it that Joshua
commanded the sun to stand still in the heav-
ems; it was by it that Isaas brought down the
rain from heaven; it was by that Jesus healed
the sick and raised the dead; it was that word
that sent the apostles abroad to preach; and it
was the word of God that then drove away su
perstiton, ignorance and darkness Tie proph-
cts were urged by His word, and the inspired
writers imbibed it. That word shines forth
upon the world to-day, through one channel
that channel is the Catholic church. The bishops
and priests of the Catholic church are com
manded by divine injunction to preach that
word, and if they do not, they will have to an
swer for it with their souls. If we are obliged
t. preach that word, how much more are YOU
obliged to hear it, The duties of the pastors and
flocks are entwined together. One cannot exist
without the other. We should listen to the
word OF God because it is the word that will
judge US on the last day. We are are
rounded as it Were by dark cloud. All around
us is vice, and iniquity. Prejudice and false
maxims continually however about us. We
are weak aud we feel our weakness; we fear,
and we are aware of it.; we need something to
inspire and ennobe us. Nothing can do it but
the word of our divine redeemer. Are we then
III neeu Oh dnyCnluS. nave we Deeu Ill udUlI
of committing sin, or been addicted to intern
perance or vice? Let us appeal to Him, and
obey His word and we will find comfort in our
sorrow and aff1iction. Some men complain of
not having time to hear the word af their max
er. Are they insane? Have they not time to
do worldly things, and should they not devote
some time to hear His word? Let us then
listen to the words of God as spoken by the
priest; let us listen to them as if spoken by
God himself. for he is His appointed servant;
let us obey His words and we will stand forth
before the world, redeemed, and regenerated
from sin, and ennobled by His divine presence.
STATE STREET.
Rev. Mr. Hicks preached yesterday morning
an able and clearly enforced discourse upon the
power af Christ's crucifxiOn. The sermon is
full of suggestive thoughts and we are glad to
be able to print an extended report of it in to-
morrow's issue.
OPERA IN BosToN.-The operas announced
for this week are ''Il Trovatore'' tonight;
"Ernani'' Tuesday; "Martha" Wednesday;
Don Giovanni" Thursday, and "Aida" Fri
day; which closes Madame Missions engage
ment in Boston for this season.
Natures Cathartie..
No medicine is needed to keep the bowels IN order
ovNr,fv {, ouA.- Ill n