The Portland daily press., 1874-05-18
SUNDAY SERVICES.
CAsCo STREET CHURCH.

er the flesh do mind the things of the flesh:
'ut they that are after the spirit, the things of
he spirit
In thewritings of Paul flesh and spirit are an |
agonistic things; the former is death, the lat
er is life While the flesh hates God the spirit |
owes Him. By these words men are separated |
ntO two classes the carnai and spiritual Just |
10 long as man remains in the flesh where the |
1esres of the body dictate to the will, Just so |
ongwil he fail to please God. There is an |
other class who have been born of the spirit |
who seek after the things of the spirit. There
is vast difference between the two classes and |
they have different destinies This difference
is very much like the difference between a
Christian and his former self. They NAV ex-
hibit no marked difference in moral deport-
ment. SO that one who is in the flesh may an.
pear as moral and uprigh as one who has been
born of the spirit. A close examination will
frequently show fatal lack of conscientious
ness in the carnal MIND. There is a marked
difference between man who has no consciep-
tousness at all and one whose every action is
guided by conscience. The outward walk NAV
not exhibit this distinction for that is deceitful:
but search the heart and you will find it,
The heshly mind seeks the things of this
world and not the righteousness of God. The
carnal man does not wrestle within himself be-
cause he does not reach an ideal goal of perfec-
ton. The heart which longs for spiritual
things earnestly desires to have Christ within
Again, he that is in the flesh has no concern
about the spiritual condition of other people
He neither works nor prays for their CONVEX
sion; but having ohce passed oht of his carnal
Itttfla hA fhnF, DtNtz al,
of his fellow men and longs for their CONVEX
sion. The Christian heart makes no distinc-
ton between men but calls upon all alike to
come to Christ. This is a perceptible and vi
tai difference between the two classes of men.
Again they unlike in their endeavors and
inltheir work. The spiritually minded man tries
to do Gods will and to abstain from whatever
He forbids. He has purpose to do the work
OF God and this holy purpose sanctifies every
Christian soul. You may cay that with all
81 MS endeavors he comes nowhere near peerfec.
ton. But if there be first willing mind it
is accepted of God. Here is wide chasm be-
tween the man of feshly mind and the one of
spiritual mind. aH
Then the inward experiences differ greatly in
the two. Dread of alienation from God forms
no part OF the experience of carnally minded
man. He can have no sense of peace with
God. There is a vast difference between the
ends OF the two liJes-One is all uncertainty
aud unrest and the other is all peace. The one
man is what the other is not-a child of God.
For he that soweth to his flesh, shall of the
flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the
spirit, shall OF the spirit reap life everlasting,
ST. STEPHENS.
"An Ethiopian Of great authority: What can
he teach usa" was the subject of noteworthy
sermon preached by the Rev. A. Dalton Sun
day week. 1t came too late for publication
with other church services of the same date
but is worthy of reproduction in type even at
this tardy hour.
Acts 8: q, 2S-"Behold a man of Ethiopia,
an eunuch of great authority under Candace,
Queen of the Philippians, who had the charge
OF all her treasure, and had come to Jerusa-
lem for to worship was returning and sitting
in his chariot, read Esaias the prophet.
To make good sermon, two things are nee
essary in the preacher, and two in the nearer:
In the preacher the selection of suitable topic
and the proper treatment of it; in the hearer,
attention, and a disposition to profit by the
truth spoken. 1t is thought by some that many
preachers compromise their dignity and dero-
gate from their duty by Inveighing against sins
to which their hearers have no mind, while
they pass lightly over those to which they are
inclined. Preachers before kings and others in
great authority from their rank or wealth, are
particularly exposed to this temptation. Not
such man was the royal chaplain who, preach
ing to congregation of courtiers from the
words of the text, divided it into these three
heads: The text, he said, relates to Chree great
marvels, and is. therefore, properly introduced
by the exclamation sBeholdy' Hear, and wonder
to hear, First, that courtier is found reading!
Second, that he should be reading the Bible!
Third, that he should then desire to know
what he should do to be saved
Now for your minister to take up these points
and inveigh against the vices of courts and an
aIistocracy, might add something to your sense
of self omplacency plain republicans. but
would not contribute anything to your spiritual
good The division is indeed one of the most
if not the most natural, that strict construc-
ton of the text offers Nevertheless, we must
seek our instruction from other, if remouer, APP
plications of it. And yet we have not far to
SEEK so af1uent is this, as the other Scriptures,
and SO capt to instruct US. What, then may
we learn from this ancient and foreigner, this
imam of authority" the treasurer of Queen
Candace.
1. We learn that it is possible to rise above or
escape from the greatest evils There is no
greater evil than idolatry, none more debasing to
man, or that more dshonors God, none there
fore more uniformly denounced by the Bible.
But in idolatry was this man born and bred.
Ethiopia was at that time, and had long been
an important kingdom. Homer alludeS to it
and recognizes its idolatrous character What
natural superiority is implied in the ability of
this Ethiopian to rise above the superstition of
his countrymen, and what moral earpestness
that he should brave their prejudices by re-
nouncing their ancient worship.
Very difficult is it for us to trace the steps in
the gradual enlightenment and conversion of a
man SO situated. Jews devoted, then as now
to commercial pursuits had penetrated the At
rican continent, and carried with them the
Septuagint, or Greek version of the Old Testa-
ment The Greek language had also been diff
fused as widely, and so was the Ethiopian able
to read, il not in his own, yet in another and
purer tongue, the wonderful works of God.
But his Greek culture wonld not have conduct
ed him to knowledge of the truth, had he
not with care cultivated his moral nature and
spiritual faculties an earnest purpose to seek
the truth, and follow its light at any and all
risks of fortune.
But2. With the knowledge CLEANED from the
reading of the Old Testament, many would
treasurer. He makes long, difficult, and per-
haps dangerous journey to Jerusalem in order
to obtain farther light, and learn more perfect
ly the will of God
3 While in Jerusalem, he is doubtless dill
gent in attending the services of the Great Fes-
tival to which thousands came from all parts
of the world, both native Jews, and "proselytes
of the Gate" such as the Ethiopian
While at Jerusaiem,he probably heard some
thing of Jesus, but nothing clear and conclu-
sive as to his character and doctrine Therefore,
he leaves the city uninstructeu in the Gospel,
which indeed, had just begun to be preached
5, He farther shows his interest and earn
estness by having his Bible with him on his
journey, and reading it as he rode along.
6. When perplexed by difficult passage he
thankfully received Philip who prOvldentIally
met him Sin the DESERT" to explain to him the
meaning, and who then preached Christ to-
the Ethiopian. The mind of the eunuch was
so well prepared and generally instructed, that
he Immediately processes his Faith, and is by
baptism received into the Christian Church,
and ''goes on his way rejoicing"
To sum up the points thus made What the
Ethiopian has to tell us is,
1. All idolatry is to be renowned and the
One True God only to be worshipped.
2. That the reading of the Scriptures will
promote onr higest welfare and secure for us
true happiness. ..
q 3. That religion is something worth seeking.
even if it costs time and money.
4. That a man charged with the HIGHEST
duties and greatly burdened with cares, can
find time both to study the Bible, and to SAT-
isfy himself as to the truth of the Scriptures
5. That man whose position secured tn
him wealth and honors in abundance, was not
satisfied to live and die without seeking hiob
er things and setting his affections on THINGS
above.
6 That such man in the use of the an.
pointed means and his best faculties in noble
spirit, is sure to avoid error and discover the