The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-04-12
SUNDAY SERVICES.

The beautiful weather yesterday conspired to
bring unusually large congregations to all Oh
the churches There are those who might nave
attributed the full attendance to the advent Oh
spring styles, and it might have been so, put
the dull male observer saw much more Oh ING
sombre clothing of winter than the gay coiors
BETTING the spring, which really appeared
to be SO near as to inspire hope for lts carry
advent.
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.
Rev. c. r. Dole. pastor of the Plymouth
church, gave his large congregation sermon OF
unusual excellence. based upon John xxi, IT.
Gle saith unto him third time; Simon, SON
| of Jonas, lowest thon me? Peter was grleved
| because he said uuto him third time, Lowest
| thou me? And he said unto him, Yea, Lord;
| tbou knowest that love thee" The object of
the discourse was to show that Christians
sbould not be doubtful concerning their love
for Christ, and to point out that many of the
causes which lead Christians to doubt their
love for the Savior are not real, but are rather
weaknesses. We have no doubt respecting our
love for our friends, for parents, children,
brothers and sisters. The love we should have
for God is not so difficult, so mysterious that
we cannot speak as confidently of it as that we
have for our friends. Love is love. Why,
then, this doubt? First: 1t is custom,
fashion, to express doubts respecting our
love for God. Our fathers gave much promin-
ence to the fear of being deceived, and it had
come to be somewhat of a fashion to speak in
an uncertain manner of feelings towards
Christ. 1t was to be feared that there is an
element of self-righteousness in this confession
of uncertainty. In the second place, there are
real difficulties in the way with many. he
ligious duties are tedious to many. Indeed, IL
may be said that such duties are irksome to all
at times. They find in the fact that the con-
cert is preferred to the prayer meeting the EVIL
dence of no love for Christ. These feelings are
a part of the experiences OF all lVes. because
ali duty is in the nature of effort, and frequent
ly hardship. To love God, to serve MIN, 10
know him, requires thought and effort, and
frequently struggle. We love ease, and 1t IS
not unfrequent that it requires the exercise OF
selfdenial to serve our friends, and those even
dearest to US, simply 3ecause, in certain moods,
any eXertion is irksome; yet we none the less
love them than if the duty was agreeaoie'
Want of certainty is in everything deploraoie
condition for ones self and mischievous IN lts
influence. 1t deadens u.s. paralyzes our efforts,
and wears us out by unrest. Christians shoulo
be tho light of the WORLD when, therefore,
they express doubts their influence Is pernl-
cious Work performed in doubt Is most llKeiy
| to be wasted effort. The hardest work done IN
the world does not wear us out; it is the tear,
| the doubt, the perplexity that breaks us Gown.
The world can never be chrlstlanlzed SO loag
as Christians are doubtful as to their love Tor
Christ To be effective, Christians must feel
that the gospel is Gods love, full, Free rich,
not restraint not hardship. When the CIVIL
war was upon US, what would have become or
the nation had men doubted whether or not
they loved their country? Would they nave
enlisted, or given money, or sacrificed ease, or
| risen to grand and noble achievement? Not at
ALL They professed everywhere that they loved
| their country, and the words and acts OF the
boldest inspired all. If men bad gone about
lamenting their lack of patriotism, the nation
would never have been saved. Is religion so
different that the same laws do not hold? Not
at all.
To be always dstrustful and uncertain is in
gratitude to Christ. How would person whom
we acknowledged as benefactor regard us if
we should be constantly asserting that we did
not know whether we loved him or not? He
would be grieved ct our distrust and GOODNESS.
Can such conduct have different effect upon
the Master?
The speaker then proceeded to indicate
methods by which we might be certain of our
love for God. 1t was not in abstract talk. We
must Work-must bring ourselves INTO truer
relations with Christs teachings. We must be
honest with ourselves. If we are not just
honest in business, let us begin at once to De
| honest; if our wives are rdened with cares.
let us lift some of them; if we have a petulant
| temper, let us strive to correct it; if we find
distress, want, suffering aud crime about us,
let us engage to our utmost to bring relief BY
thus laboring and striving in Gods service we
shall surely come to know, as did Peter, that
we love the Master.
STATE STREET.
Yesterday afternoon the Sunday school of the
State street church held its quarterly Sunday
school concert, which was of the most inter-