The Portland daily press., 1876-01-04
Week of PRAYER.

The first discourse in the series of meetings
for the week of prayer in our city, was preach
ed by Rev. w. Fl. Fem, yesterday from the
text IN Jonah 8: 1, 2-"And the word of the
Lord came unto Jonah the second time, saying
arise, go unto Nineveh that great city, and
preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee"
The prophesy from which the text is taken is
among the Oldest that have come down to us,
and gives us the true idea of the prophetic
Office Prophesy is moral, not penal. Its office
was once thought to be to bless Israel and curse
the genties; but it tells us that God is merciful
and this work shows us that Gods threaten
ings are not absolute but conditional, and if
men will turn from evil God is ready to remit
His judgment and bless the penitent. Jonah
tells us that masses of men, great cities, are
near to God and he was the first apostle to the
gentiles. How practical is Gods sympathy.
He knows the vices, the temptations and the
wants of cities and deals with them fairly,
kindly and in great mercv. He does not permit
His servants to be too severe with cities
and masses of men. He was angry with Jonah
for his severity and intolerance. The book
shows that all the power Of goodness lies in
self-forgetfulness, self-sacrifce. One must
be content to see himself set aside if-he can be
Gods instrument in saving men. The true
prophet is often sufferer, not Indifferent or
insensible, but thrilled with intense love for the
lost; he must be emptied Of self and be near to
Jesus. But how far short of this does the
Lords servant often come. How unwilling was
Jonah to learn this lesson! How unwilling he
was that NiDeveh should be saved but God
humbled him by severe dealing. He thought
God was too merciful and the Lord was the me.
diator for that great city. How strange that
sinful man should wish sinners to perish! And
how different is the spirit of the Gospel. Con-
trast Jonah sitting down and waiting for the
destruction of Nineveb, and Paul in his tender
words to the Romans. The erring Jonahs of
our day should heed the lesson of the boo6
How many come to the great cities and bury
themselves in worllly church and forget God
and their duty, performing all the outward du-
ties of a cold faith. hut sleeping over the lost
ones about them. The divine spirit is stirring
the community and anxious sinners call upon
these sleepers to awake and show them the
way OF life. They are called to exhibit the
power of the divine life within them. We are
sent not to some far off Nineveh but to the
cOld-hearted professor near US, to show him the
spiritual nature of Chrsts kingdom and the
power of a true life at home. Jonah did not
doubt that there were heathens, but Christian
men now do not realize tnat there are lost ones
about them. Ministers in our city forget that
multitudes are fastening to the world of the
lost. They do not tell men of their danger as
they should, But the pulpit reflects the average
condition of the church at large. The whole
church has goae back from its duty-is
asleep and unbelIeving, and this is its great sin
and needs to be repented Of Jonah was angry
that God did not destroy sinners. You are
angry because God requires you to tell men
they are in danger of destruction. We hardly
believe any word comes from God; the church
is shorn of her strength, yet Heaven is not
shut up. God is near this city, He is making
the unfaithful ones afraid and leading them to
repent and confess their sin. Nothing but the
grace of God can enable an unfaithful Chris
tian to repent and undo the wrong and enter
with all his soul upon the right way. And yet
that grace is accomplishing this great work in
our city; in helping on the good work may we
all become true prophets and faithful servants
of the Lord.