The Portland daily press., 1874-08-17
SUNDAY SERVICES.
FIRST PARISH CHURCH.

The Rev. James Freeman Clarke preached
| at this church yesterday. His morning dis
course was an able effort. His theme was
Driving and Leading" He took his text
from John 10, 10: "My sheep hear my voice,
and 1 know them, and they follow me-" We
| all need masters, and need them most for the
| highest work, but there is a difference between
them The good master leads; the bad master
drives.
| Let me illustrate this by the example of two
| teachers in two schools. One is always think
| ing of his authority; requiring obedience; ex-
acting strict attention to his rules. He has
what he seeks-outward submission, external
| conformity. The school appears in ORDER the
| lessons are recited by vote. But inwardly
| there is latent dissatsfaction-a constant ten
dency to rebel, There is no sympathy between
tlis teacher and his pupils. He goes behind
the sheep and drives them.
The other teacher interests the pupils in
their studies and himself. He is like Agassiz,
who awakened enthusiasm fer knowledge by
his own ardent interest in science. Such
teacher goes before the flock and they follow
him; and he possesses authority, not only over
their outward action, but ever their hearts, out
of which are the issues OF life.
In this country when we see flock of sheep
or herd of cattle the driver goes behind shout
ing and yelling and cracking his whip. But
the Syrian shepherds, whom Jesus chose as
the emblem of his own Influence, walk before
their flocks, and the sheep follow after. They
have names for each sheep, and every sheep
knows its own name.
sonal relation to God. He teaches us that we
are known to God, not 'as parts of one stu
pendouS whole" but as persons created by
Him in His idea before the foundation of the
world. He teaches us that God not only rules
the world by general laws, but also cares for
the destiny of each individual life.
In this Christ, the master, supplies some of
the highest needs of the soul, and supplements
what science, the master, can teach. For
s science as is aa as0 e ms sSa u 1sysaag
giving us solid knowledge, and filling all
nature with higher and divine meaning.
But science knows nothing of God as grace,
nothing Of God as providence, nothing of God
who sends His forgvng love to seek and save
those furthest off and lowest down. THIS comes
TO us through the Gospel.
Christ does not say SO much about the future
life as some other teachers. The sacred books
of the old Egyptians teach more about it than
the New Testament. But the influence of
Christ elevates ard vtaliZes the immortal
nature, and so makes it difficult to believe in
death as an end. He leads us into a faith in
eternal life. He dees not drive us into it by
dogmatism, or logic, or personal authority.
This is the authority of the Scribes-oficial
aud externa'. But Jesus has the authority of
knowledge. He speaks what He knows, and
testi6es what He has seen. He speaks as one
who Is describing the visible facts and laws of
the spiritual world. Jesus does ros desire to
have men driven to him by fear or totce. The
Christian church has too often adopted this
method 1t has too often driven by persecu-
ton instead of leading men by conviction.
prepared to receive Him. "No man can come
to me unless the Father draw him." But,
sooner or later, every honest man, every sin.
cere seeker, will come to Jesus, because Jesus
alone can fully meet and satisfy the highest
needs of the soul. Through His teaching, His
lfe His spiritual influence we are enabled to
become sons of God, and 10 feel perfect conf
dence in our Heavenly Father Such convic-
tons. when they arrive, are infinitely blessed,
and no mere outward conformity to creed or
a ritual can compare with their divine influ-
ence on the heart or the life.
This is the Master who leads and does not
drive; whose sheep hear His voice and follow
Him.
INDIA STREET CHURCH.
DR.. B. w. Lawrence of Boston, delive red a
very able, interesting and instructive lecture on
ths subject of temperance, at the India street
church, last evening. He treated the sub
ject from a scientific and religious standpoint,
appealing to the reason and making strong
impression upon the minds of the hearers. He
speaks tonight at the Allen Mission Chapel.
Mrs. Lawrence will also give an address.