The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-02-15
SUNDAY SERVICES.



Yesterday morning, the pastor, Rev. Geo. w.
Bicknell, preached from the text "Then came
to him tJesus) the mother of Zebedee's chill
dren, with her sons, worshiping him, and de-
string certain thing of him" Matt. Xxx. 20
1t was the old act which has been repeated
again and again-a trait of human nature-a
pretended love for, and a worship of power
which might confer, and from which some IA
vor was desired. The woman came not to
Christ to aid him by her presence, her sympa-
thy, in his work, but to gain promise, to sat
isfy an ambition-and yet pretended to wor-
ship him. The world is full of such people
pretending an interest in a cause just for what
thew can make out of it, All are not so; but
the evil is altogether too prevalent. They seek
first to gain ones onfidence-copcealing their
real designs-and only make them known,
when they believe that they have one IN their
power or sympathy. Although there is laud-
able ambition which everyone is justified IN
realizing if possible, yet the employment OF
false pretences, of dishonorable or deceltful
no mans duty to sit down perfectly contented
with what he has. The merchant has a per-
feet right to extend his business, the clerk to
aspire to partnership, and so in other rela-
tions. God gave man energy, and permits am
btion; but they are to be governed oy honor
and virtue. When men descend to intrigue
yet appear honorable, pretend one, thing and
vet are something else, then they, like the
woman, outwardly worship a noble power. but
secretly determine to win something,
We saw this illustrated during the war. Some
men worshiped patriotism, were enthusiastic
over their love for country-cbeered the sol
ders-earnest men, as long as they could get
contracts to furnish the meanest stuf men were
ever asked to eat, and they became rich through
the sufferings of others. Railroad companies
worship the interests OF the people, until they
get vote to take the public money.
The professional politician is warmi friend
of the voter, until the ballot is cast The poll
tican has perfect right to aspire; but II to gain
princple-and yet only offer the loaves and
fishes of office, he thus descends, he becomes
low in the scale of manhood. Men should be
what they seem; and if they are not, the stig-
ma of hypocrisy should follow them.
The speaker was severe upon that class OF
men, who worship the general sentiments OF
community, to render themselves popular, IN
matters of reform, and the advancement of the
Christ-splrt, with special reference to the ques,
ton of capital punishment. When man ana
theology get out of the old Testament into the
new-get up to Christ-there will be nobler
sentiment 10 the world than there is to-day.
The speaker closed with an appeal for the ex-
termination of hypecrsy-false pretences from
religion. Too many worship ChriSt, not eS-
pecially to aid on his cause, but to insure some
selfish end. The man who preteHds to love
religion, and yet would revel in the sins of the
world if he was not afraid of something terrible
in the future, who worships God that he may
win heaven, is actuated by a low spirit, lie
worships for pay-a promotion. But if we
worship chiefly for the strength which we may
gain. land our spiritual advancement will be
sure thereby in order to render the world bet
ter by living in it, to aid brother man, to Gull
tivate sympathy and piety for the weak and
distressed, to make life brighter, then our Wor'
ship will be acceptable. We should be actua-
heavenly Kingdom, not so much for what we
shall gain thereby, as for the advancement OF
the general welfare. Christ gave US the exam
pie, He labored for others, not for self we
worship, work only for ourselves, we may find
our plans frustrated until we act properly. Ii we
seek the elevation and welfare of our brother
man as we'll as our own advancement, heaven
will not forget to bless as it shall require, each
individual soul.