The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-01-29
Religious and Church Items.
LAST SUNDAYS SERVICE.

-Hsth0dSt Ep1ScOpdI. Inc GaStOr, lteV.
Mr.. Phwbus, in the morning, preached
from Acts, Goth chapter, 35th verse: cit
is more blessed to give than receive" and
1st Cor. 10Th chapter, End verse: "Upon
the first day of the week let every one of
you lay by him in store as God hath pros
pered him, that there be no gatherings
when l come"
He said the first passage is the only in
stance in which Paul quotes saying of
Jesus, that is not recorded by any one of
the writers of the four Gospels. In this
saying, he has given us in condensed form,
a text which the Saviour illustrated by his
whole life, for he came not to be ministered
unto, but to minister, and give his life {.
ransom for many. The second selection
was to show how practical application of
the subject may be made. On what is our
Saviour's declaration based? First, on the
uniform action of God who dispenses his
blessings according to the wants of the
race. The same will be attested in the
spiritual aspect of the proposition, if we
look upon the gift of Christ, a gift for the
whole race. Second, the call for charity,
the agencies of the church of God for its
own preservation, and for extending COM
mon salvation to all, education, the distri-
button of the Holy Scriptures, tracts and
good literature, the poor to be ministered
unto, &c. Third, the principal Of the erer-
else Of charity: first as to its manner, it
must be systematic, "The first day of the
week lay by in store,'' &c. This teaches
self denial, and lays the foundation of life
of economy. Second, the measure, ''as
God has prospered you, principal not a
rule; as God has prospered us in fortune
time or talent, How much owest thou thy
Lord ?" Talent, sympathy or time are
often better gifts than money. 1t is false
view that limits charity to aims. Silver
and gold have none, said Peter; but such
as | have give thee. To give in support
of idleness is pernicious. We must, there
fore, systematic our giving.
Trinity p. E-Morning service, con-
Quoted by Rev. H. A. Skinner, Rector
Text-Matthew, Sth chapter, from LIST to
23rd verse.
No better representation of sin than lep-
rosy and palsy; the former, with all it's loath-
someness, was healed by the Saviour's touch
and the man made whole; so with sin, the
vilest soul becomes purified by the Saviour's
touch-the Holy Spirit. All Trinitarians
| agree on the existence of three persons in
one God, but all do not reverence the Holy
Ghost as coequal with the Father and Son.
In the Litany of the Church, beside the
prayer to the Trinity, there are three sepa-
rate or distinct petitions; first, to God the
Father; second, God the Son; third, God
the Holy Ghost; and yet, still further, in
the prayers of the church, the Holy Ghost
is duly reverenced and addressed as equal
with the Father and Son; yet sad to say,
many, many do not look upon this in the
light they should; they believe in the influ-
ence of the Holy Spirit, but not personally.
In Holy Baptism, the Holy Ghost is just as
surely present as the minister and the per-
son coming to be baptized, though we can
not perceive him with the eye of flesh So
also in the Holy Communion. The Holy
Ghost is surely present with us, not tran
substantiated; this cannot be- AS such
belief is merely Pigment of theology, which
cannot be proven or substantiated by Holy
Writ. But at every feast of the Lords
us nearer to Christ by His divine and blessed
influence. What we want is prayer, earn
est heart prayer, not merely form and lip
service; and though we cannot SEQ with the
| eye of flesh, still with a heart of faith all
things become plain.
Presbyterian. Sabbath morning last,
at the Presbyterian Church, the Pastor,
Rev. w. W. Heberton, preached, taking
for his text, list Timothy, 4th chapter, 9th
verse: " Take heed unto myself"
The subject was personal religion. First,
in it's effect upon the character, in all it's
| relations in life, in the training of chill
dren, in business in intercourse, and in our
political relations, &c. Second, it's bear
ing upon the prosperity of the church.
In the evening the text was from Exodus,
3rd chapter, 7th verse, last clause: :" For
| know their sorrows" the words being
spoken by God to Moses with regard to the
Affections of his people in Egypt. The
subject was the interest which God takes
in the troubles and sorrows of his people.
The MONDAY prayer meetings are still in
progress, interest appearing to be on tie
increase, and the attendance large. We
would commend these meetings to our read
ers, as seasons of great enjoyment.
The protracted services at the NJ E.
Church still continue, with increasing in
terest. Quite number have profesSed
conversion, and others are seeking. The
PASTOR Rev. MIR. PhGbus, preached each
evening, except Thursday, when he was
relieved by Rev. Mr.. Heberton, of the Pres
Dyteran Church.
At the Protestant Episcopal Church on
Wednesday last, the Feast of the Con-
version of St. Paul. was duly celebrated
by services, morning and evening.
The extra services in the Presbyterian
Church closed last week in the usual We'd
nesday evening meeting. All of the meet
ings were largely attended, and were char
acterized by the deepest solemnity. Gods
own people were greatly built up and some,
we trust, are entering the kingdom, who
were before without hope and without God
in the world. A good religious interest
pervades the congregation By way of
outside matters, we notice new board
walk has been laid from the main building
to the chapel, which was much needed
PORT DEPOSIT.
In the Presbyterian Church, the Pastor
preached an able and very interesting SER
mon from end Timothy II, holding forth
the infinite superiority of the Gospel of
Christ to all worldly wisdom; showing its
power to raise man above the vanities of
mere earthly ambitions; above the msts of
superstition and the fires of fanaticism; to
lift us out of the depths of indifference,
doubt, and gloom, and place our feet on
the Rock of Ages, and fill our minds and
our hearts with heavenly lights. Without
| Christ's Spirit in our hearts we cannot
attain tc perfect manhood; to accept Him
is the only true wisdom; to reject Him is
folly and madness.
| A handsome walnut book has been
placed in the Sunday school room the old
one proving too small to contain the grow
ing library. We welcome this, and also
new stove in the infants school room as
we do every thing that adds to the comfort
and attractiveness Of the chlldren's "Sab-
bath home"
| The services at St. James Episcopal
Church were conducted by the Rector
The text, for the morning service, being
taken from Hebrews 2:3: "Iow shall we
escape if we neglect so great salvation %
| Many of the excuses which men give for
their neglect of the means of salvation
were considered and their fallacy exposed,
while his hearers were eShorted to enlist in
the service of God and thus make their |
calling and election sure.
The sermon at night was devoted to
response to the question, "Does the Epis-
copal Church believe in revivals of religion
and promote them
The Right Rev Bishop.Lay, with mum