The Portland daily press., 1875-12-20
SUNDAY SERVICES.

Notwithstanding the severe gold weather
yesterday the churches were we'll filed and a
numter of excellent discourses were preached.
FIRST PARISH.
In the morning Rev. s. f. Jones of Chestnut
street church preached at this church from 1st
John iv, 8: 'He that loveth not, knoweth not
God; for God is love- The theme of the dis.
course was that nothing can be more important
to US than to know God truly. To come to
know God truly only by loving Him. God re-
veals His love to man, thereby teaching us to
love Him supremely; then, and only then, can
we appreciate His love for US. The congrega-
tion were much pleased with the most excellent
discourse.
In the evening Rev. Mr.. Hincks delivered
sermon before the Portland Benevolent Asso-
citation. His text was taken from Mark x. 81:
''Then Jesus beholding him loved him. The
theme was the love of Christ for map, the type
of Christian love. Christ, it was said, loved
men because he saw in them something to
love. Humanity was precious and lovable in
His sight. To appreciate His love for men we
must see them as they appeared to Christ He
looked at them in their manhood without re-
gard to their station in society. He did not al
He did not let their sins hide the value of their
humanity from His eyes.
The speaker went on to say that the love of
Christ is the type of Christian love, and that
a love like His is the fountain out of which
true charity flows. He then proceeded to en-
force the claims Of the Benevolent Society as
an organization which did work of Christ
like life benefcence.
CONGRESS ST. M. E. CHURCH.
The pulpit of this church was occupied yes
terday by Rev. Charles j. Clark of Boston
Highlands The text was from James 5, 20:
''Shall save a soul from DEATH Subject: The
worth of the soul and the means used for its
salvation. First, the object to be gained in saw
ing of the soul. He contrasted the superiority
of man over all other creatures. The difference
of the value Of the soul and the body The
soul is the real life, that which quits the body
just as we cast off an old worn out garment.
The body is the casket that holds the soul for
time, and then crumbles into dust, but the soul
will live on and on. The powers of the soul
indicate its value, its memory, its affection,
etc. Man cannot create, but he can do almost
anything else He cannot make the stars, but
he can count them, weigh them, measure their
distances. The man stops short of his full de.
velopment who cannot. or does not look up
through nature to natures God. 1t immortal-
ty must be taken into consideration. Jesus
says, "He that liveth and believeth in me shall
never die" Then as the soul is to live forever
we must consider it of infinite value. But this
soul has been defaced by sin. We all have
gone astray. The soul has suffered a terrible
wreck But amid all this we have perfect
pattern. One who lived our example, and
died our sacrifice. What is the death of the
suol? cannot answer, and further, none of us
l,,{,f W., .lra% hn1I
with our doubts and fears, and blot it out of
| existance, but we cannot do it, There is a
heaven and there is hell, if we believe the
word of GOD. The agencies for the salvation of
| the soul are the promises of God in His word.
He sent his only son to die for fallen humani.
| ty. He has made clear high way of holiness,
and not soul will be lost that believes on Him.
His holy spirit is another agency All can
have it, by. asking and living for it. The
| church is the human instrumentaltyin the work
| of saving a soul. Don't look at the inconsist-
| encies, but to the Head of the church, and ask
what has God not done that He could do for
you and me. Individual effort is one of the
| greatest agencies, and no church will be sue
| ce IS without it. The gift Of God i, eternal
| life Come unto Him and have life
CHESTNUT STREET.
Rev. Dr. Hill of the First Parish church, Of
| ficiated at this church yesterday morning. He
preached an excellent discourse, taking his text
| from I'd C0r1ntnlapS, L, Alst anu AAl. Lie us
course was eminently practical one, and
was an expansionssof the many images contain
ed in the text.
| FREE STREET.
Rev. j. N. Cushing, returned missionary
from Burmah, gave very interesting account
OF the missionary work in Burmah at this
church yesterday morning. He stated that 40
years ago there were only 70 converts in Bur-
nah, now there were 10000.
Rev. Messrs. Gibbs and Bcknell exchanged
pulpits yesterday morning.