The Portland daily press., 1874-06-15
SUNDAY SERVICES.
CHESTNUT STREET CHURCH.

Yesterday was the day observed by the
Methodist denomination throughput the land as
Chldren's Day. At Chestnut street it was
observed by appropriate services. The pastor,
hev. Mr.. Jones, preached a sermon on the sub
1ect In the afternoon and in the evening a
oaooath school concert was held in the vestry.
Inc exercises consisted os recitations, songs,
~c.' ana We're very interesting. The vestry
was nheiy decorated; the desk was covered
with flowers and the railing entwned with run
ming ivy. On the right upon the wall was a
harp in evergreens, and on the left a cross and
crown. The windows were filled with plants
in blossom.
On this occasion the pastor preached from
Gen. 10, 20: SIS it not little one."
1t was Lot who said this Lot lived in the
land of Sodom. The cities of this land were SO
wicked that God determined to destroy them,
but he meant to save Lot because he was a
good man. So God told him to escape from the
city and flee to the mountains But Lot was
afraid to live in the mountains, so he pointed
to the little city Zoar and said to theLord, 20 let
me escape thither. Is it not little one? And
my soul shall live" Now it was wrong in
Lot to say that. for two reasons.
lieved that God, who saved him from Sodom,
was able to take care of him in the mountains
or wherever He would send him to live. Sec
ond, it was wrong because the reason which he
gave was bad one. He asked God to save
Zoar just because it was little city and that,
in the sight of God, was no reason at all. God
is as much displeased with bad little city as
with bad big city and he is as much pleased
with good little city as with good big CITY,
The same IS true OF men, and the same is true
of the little things and great things which
make up our lives. This is the subject of the
sermon. The Importance of little things.
Three reasons may be given showing the i'm
portance of little things. /.
list. No person can tell what are the little
and what the great things of life.
2. Little things very grow into great
things, or multiply into many things, and so
become great in number.
3. Our lives are made up of little things
Every person then NAV live great and noble
| life if we will only take care to be right and do
right in all the little things. This God has
promised to help us in and il God helps us
and we allow Him to help us in all things
| great and small we are certain to succeed But
| in order to do this we must give God our hearts
There are many beautiful things in this world,
but the most beautiful thing that God looks
upon is the young heart given to Christ, the
budding flower placed upon the altar OF the
| Lord.
FREE STREET.
Sunday forenoon Rev. R. II. Ridell, of So.
| Berwick, preached from the word "Gethsem-
| ane"
The speaker first described the situation of
| Gethsemane. He then spoke of the deep sig
nifcance of single words, as Bunker Hill,
| meaning to us liberty, and free natl on;
Waterloo, new epoch in European history.
| 70 the Christian, no name conveys such a
wealth of meaning as Christ-signifying to him
victory over death; and clustering round this
name are others dear to the Christian, as Beth
lehem, synonym of hope; Calvary, appalling
mystery,-a bleeding form upon the cross, the
rending of rocks aud back of all the fact that il
sas for our salvation. Another of the group is
Gethsemane. The scene is of four coming
from the Mt of Olives, three remain outside
while one alone enters the garden. As well
| attempt to describe the brightness of the noon
| day sun as the anguish of that hour. Geth-
| semane was the field on which the battle of the
| cross was fought and victory gained. 1t pre-
| coded and prepared the way for Calvary. The
| torture of the nails the thorns, the spear had
| been borne with a thousand times greater an
| guish in Gethsemane.
Here is the divine method in cross-bearing:
| first Gethsemane, second the cross, and then
| the crowd. Whatever be the duty to be done
| be it ever so heavy-g go at once to Gethsemane
| and the terror of your cross will be swallowed
| up inlHis will. If we do our duty as God would
have us we shall have crosses each day and to
prepare for them we must visit Gethsemane.
| There it was Christ gained that heroism
| shown on Calvary, and there may we become
| almost omnipotent.