The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-01-19


Sale in the mercy of thy God"
ST. LAWRENCE STREET CHURCH.
In the absence of the pastor, Rev. B. N.
Stone of London, N. Y, preached foom Matt
Xxx, 25-2S. 1t should be most caref ully OBJ
served that Christ does not condemn the aspira-
ton for greatness ITSELF but only the spirit and
motive that prompted the petition of Zebedee's
sons. He never attempted to reduce men in
their civil and religious relations to dead level
of uniformity, in condition and rank. On the
contrary he recognized, as right and necessary,
the distinctions existing in human society be-
tween superors and interiors, masters and SER
wants, kings and subjects.
In the church of Christ, also, though be-
levers are common Brotherhood, yet they are
very unequal in worth and dignity. And in
heaven there are differences in glory among the
perfect, as one star differs from another.
1t follows therefore, from the very eonstitu-
ton of the natural and the spiritual world, that
there is greatness, pree minence, which may
be lawful object of desire. Indeed, every man
ought to aim at greatness. That which dstn-
cuisines us from the brutes is aspiration towards
the Infinite aud eternal.
But there are two quite conflicting opinions
as to what constitutes greatness. Christ marks
out a way to be great just the opposite TO that
of the world. Here, then, we reach the most
serious question, the main point in the subject
before us.
1t has ever been the common opinion of man.
kind that one will be great in proportion to his
power over others to compel their services for
himself. In all governments where christian
ity has been unknown, the people have been
regarded only as slaves, and tools, to build the
King up in magn.fcence and luxury. It is this
same idea of greatness which underles every
form of arstOcracy and caste in society and in
religion, and from which has sprung slavery.
the degradation of woman. and every form of
oppression and fraud. Thus the great object of
the world is not to serve, but to be served.
But Christ lust reverses the worldly idea of
creatures; whOsoever will be great among you,
let him be your minister. Greatness must be
gained in doing service. not simply receiving it.
And the greater the man the greater the SER
vice. The chief Of all must be the chief SER
want of all.
This doctrine is confirmed by these two con-
sdertions:
1. Love, which is the chief glory of life,
demands from it's very nature that we I've to
serve others. and not ourselves alone Love
cannot rest in what is ones own; it must seek
others to whom it can unite itself and supply
their wants from its own fullness. Every one
is SO made that what is his own can supply
some want in every other. and all others can
supply some wait in himself and thus all are
maGe perfect by the mutual service of each.
We get life from all by giving our life to all.
BY the very make and functions of our being
love must needs be servant of others as much
as in it lies.
9. The second consideration bearing on this
point is that we find as mater of fact that
ia hppn frI Nv oot int hn vvn
have become so by performing great serv ice for
mankind. .-.--a..
Jesus is universally ackn ,wledged to stand
incOmparably sunerior to the noblest and best
of the sons of earth. But how did he win his
prominence? He himself has told US: Even
as the Son of Man came not to be ministe red
unto, but to minister. His whole life was a
service-one perpetual act of self sacrifice, suf-
ferIng, bearing the cross for the redemption of
the world. And SO all others, who have been
truly eminent in the state or the church, bave
been III somc way benefactors Of the race No
other titles than those of distinguished service
will stand the test of time and be accepted by
the moral Judgment of mankind. There are
those gifted with remarkable endowment, who
have wrought wonderful Deeds whom we are
accustomed to Call great men. But it is rather
the endowment, the external position that is
great; the man himself is small; and all the
smaller because of his false elevation. Those
who have occupied stations of honor and power
by corresponding service, have in their lives not
one element of true greatness. Let every one,
therefore, VINO aspires to the high places of So
cety, remember that the true way to Greatness
is the way Of service. .--..-..
MoUNTFORT STREET CHURCH
Rev. Mr.. Mossell preached in the morning
taking as his tex.-"For God so loved
the world that he gave his only begotten
son that whosoever believeth in him
shall not perish but have everlasting life"
Expressions of Gods love are seen in bis care
and provision for the creatures, which he Las
not crowned with the dignity of free agency
and moral responsibility. He feeds the raven
clothes the lily and notes the fail of the spar
row. ''These wait all upon thee that thou
mayest give them their meat in due season."
A higher expression of Gods love is seen in
the adaptation o; the things which he has
made to the wants and nature of man. We
draw from the storehouse of nature that which
supplies our table and which beauties and or
naments our homes. Oar wearing apparels are
her gifts, and the light which warns the marin
er and brings Joy to the heart of the weary
traveller is one of her most common blessings,
We have but to touch the earth on which we
changed to verdant meadows and desc rts to
booming gardens. Now if we are led to ad-
nire the Creator of all things for the care which
he exercises over his humber creatures and his
adaptation of all that he has made to the wants
and nature of man, we are constrained to love.
serve and obey him for the gift of his only be-
gotten son. which is the highest expression Of
his love. .- r-..-- M d.
We are not able to tell why God has loved us
to such degree. Mans love is based On
some praiseworthy qalty or qualities inherent
IN the object But what is there to call out
such an expression of Gods love as this-tbe
gift of his son? We have lost the image of
the heavenly. The scripture representation is
this-Born and conceived in sin, we are unable
to think good thought, speak good word or
do good act. This is depravty. Perhaps
this is the why-we are the creatures of bis
hand, and unlike the angels. fell from our first
estate becau g of the tempter. The father
loves his son, even though he breaks his decree
to which is attached the seyerest pena!ty.
No one can think of the king, who gave one of
his eyes rather than have his son deprived of
both, without becoming awfully conscious of
the depth of parental love. The mother loves
ner son, even though his wicked career has sep
arated him from all society. But however great
the love of the parent may be for the child, it is
at an Infinite minimum when compared with
the love of God for fallen man. Can woman
forget her sucking child, that she should not
have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea,
they may forget yet will not forget thee. We
are, no doubt, very ignorant respecting the ma
ture and character of Goo, but we do know God
IS love This explains all; no sacrifices are too
great for love to make.
Admitting we are ignorant of the why. we
are not of the fact that God does love ms
and that Christ is the measure of that loye. This
gift OF the father can only be estimated in pro-
Portioh as we come to the knowledge of the
blessings which here come to mankind through
the advent OF Jesus in the world. All that is
true in philosophy, sublime in poetry, soul in
spring in art and useful in science, is some-
how or other connected with that system of
truth of which Christ is the centre The deyo-
!ion, the love and happiness which chars eter-
Uses the most pIous, are opponents of that
kingdom which he died to establish The
peace and prosperity with which our land is
blessed are no accidents but rather the leoiti
mate result of hearts consecrated to the cause
OF Christ and the good of humanity. By the
force OF his character and the divinity which
dwells within him. Christ is bringing the world
to full recognition of his kingdom and his
right to reign In Jerusalem he was the despised
and rejected, but to-day he is the desire OF ali
nations The fairest among ten thousand and