Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-01-01
WATCH NJ EXITING.
"Thc Old Year out and the New Year in''
Sermon by Rev Mr. EcOb at the Union
Meeting.

There were upion religious services at the chap
cl of the Congregational church, last evening, a
large number participating. The meeting was OF
a social nature until nine O'Clock, when a fine
discourse was preached by Rev. j. II. Ecob.
Mr.. Ecob's subject was "Visions of Cod from
the text in Goth of Acts, 10th verse-"I wa9 net
disobedient unto the heavenly vision" Jacob is
fleeing from the just wrath of his brother Esau,
whom he had so shamefully defrauded; at the end
of his first days journey he lies down in desert,
with stone for his pillow. He dreamcd not a
gloomy, terrific dream, as one might expect, but
upon ladder stretched from earth to heaven, he
dreamed that he saw angels ascending and de-
scendng. Had he been an angel he could hardly
have dreamed fairer dream. Twenty years al
forwards God visits him, not in dream of celes-
tial light, but a strange and awful power comes
suddenly in the darkness and wrestles with him.
Jacob triumphed finally, but he always bore the
marks of the conflict.
The second vision fell upon Paul, ON his way
from Jerusalem to Damascus. He, too, was fresh
from his sins, and is errand Of wrath
against Christs children. Yet the vision Of God
falls suddenly thunderbolt, and smites him to
the earth but he is bid 10 arise and 90 forth on
mission that angel might coyet. In this vision
Of Paups we see the same elements as in Jacobs
vision-the man going on in SIM is not met in ter
ror but in love noble mission is unfolded, ey-
ceeding great and precious promises made; years
afterwards came the necessary warnings and pun
ishments.
The third vision is recorded in the heart of an
infdel whom the speaker knew. \ scholar, man
of fine talents, fine sensibilies--yet an ntdel in
belief and in life. Seven years ago he was met
by vision of God, and became suddenly inter
ested in religious things. He attended meeting
and seemed to be seeking the higher life, and
made few attempts at reformation, but he surely
and slowly slid backward and downward into
deeper depths of infideliy But in the midst of
his sins he had revelation from God of the per-
Cor aI,vrS q thn nsfV hr,sf hnn
warning, the heavens were parted and the IA
dance of eternity fell about him. You would
think to look into the gloom Of his face, and
the still heavier gloom Of his life, that he carried
IN his heart a radiant picture of Christ.
From these visions we learn that SIN does not
prevent God from coming upon the soul in revela-
tons of himself. God does not reject as men do.
The Holy Spirit visits the most debased; God is
not afraid to come close up TO sin no man can
plunge deep enough into sin to get away from
God. Men try to drown themselves in sin, but
he Examinations will core, and conscience will
be awakened and cry aloud, and We compelled TO
see ourselves as God sees u.s. The further gone
we are in sin the more solicitous and unintermt-
tingly becomes Gods watchfulness. just as
friends stand over one exhausted by disease, and
awaken him every few moments lest he die in his
-leep Gods spirit rouses the souls Of men con-
tinually from the heavy and fatal sleep of sin. Are
we not all compelled to acknowledge that He
hath not dealt with us after oar sns"' tod has
IL
The preacher here made an eloquent plea for
his Master, and urged his hearers TO choose the
better ife as above the earthly Many go on in
sin, carrying all the while the visions of God in
their hearts. They shut their eyes agaipct these
visions pludgc into sin tc drown their convic-
tons, but the light of God shines on. As well
might YOU confront sunset and curse its beauty
not ray of the shifting spleIdor will fade out
till its mission is accomplished. SO our disobe-
diencc cannot dim the light of God. How will
the sinner answer God, when he has often un-
veiied to him His eternal glory 1t is certain that
any man who year after year is disobedient to
these profoundest convictions of his own nature,
must be introducing into his life elements Of con-
fusion and disorganzation that in the end most
utterly dsmantle his soul. If a man will not be
ruled by his own better self he may expect to be
ruled by any wandering devil that may chance to
come in AID take possession. In the great day of
Judgment, when the heavens are parted and roll
ed away as a scroll and we lift our eyes to the
great white throne and to Him that stitch there
ON, we shall behold Him who has met us many
times the pathway of life in Heavenly visions.
If we have been dsobedient to the last our CON
domination will not be some strange and trag ic
sentence, invented by an angry God, but the old
words with which we have been familiar since
childhood will fall upon for the last time,
eye knew your duty, but We did it not
After the sermon the social service continued
until the hands upon the dial face told of the
death of the old year and the birth of the new.