The Portland daily press., 1877-02-03
The Revival Meetings


Yesterday afternoon the vestry of the First
Baptist church was filled, and Mr.. Needham
read from Genesis 32d, the incident of Jacob
wrestling with the angel, and commented at
some length upon the patriarchs lack of faith
IN God until the Lord showed him his own
weakness. 1t was when he saw and felt this,
that he cast away all his own plans and
schemes, and relied simply and solely upon the
Divine promise. Wescan never become earn
est and successful workers for the Lord until
we are emptied of self and trust wholly in
God
In the evening the main audience room was
filled, and the exercises commenced with sing.
ing the hymn, 1.-THE half was never told" and
Rev. DR.. Smaller offered prayer. The choir
sung another hymn, and Mr.. Needham read
from the 9th chapter of Luke concerning the
strife among the disciples as to who should be-
the greatest; also the incidents following, max.
ing appropriate comments as he read. The
hymn was sung commencing "Oh, to be moth
Ing, nothing. 1t was sung as a solo, the choir
singing the chorus. Mr.. Needham then read
the 9th chapter of Isaiah, and said he wished
to speak of the qualifications needed by those
chapter that before Isaiah could work for the
Lord. 1t was necessary for him to have right
estimate of himself; after this he needed to
know the power of the sacrifice 10y which he
was cleansed He obtained the power to right
ly judge of himself in the light Of the presence
and glory OF Jesus. 1t is when we get this
view of ourselves that We become fit for Gods
service. When we look at ourselves in compar-
ison with our fellow men we think we are not
SO bad; but when we are revealed to ourselves
in the light of Gods holiness, then we see our
own sinfulness. 1t was when Peter did not
know himself that he boasted that he would
never deny his Master; but after he learned
his weakness by his sad fall, he became fit to
work successfully for God. Then our first
qualification for Christian work is to have no
confidence in ourself But the prophet was
made pure by coal from the altar OF God We
must individually know the power of the atone
ment of Jesus We must have a personal ex-
perience of this great truth-must know that
our own sins have been forgiven. When we
are in this state, then we shall be fitted for
Gods work; and shall be ready to carry his
message to meE.
Lee cholr then sung the hymn, watching
and waiting for me-" and Mr.. Needham offer
ed prayer, and DR.. Smaller pronounced the ben
edction.
The revival meetings will ba continued dur
ing next week at the High ST. eet church as fol-
lows Sunday morning, from 9 to 10, meeting
for Christian workers. Preaching in the even
ing at o'clock. Prayer meetings every after
noon from to 4, and preaching every evening
at q o'clock. MI. Needham will have charge
OF the afternoon prayer meetings.
Prayer meeting this afternoon from to 4, at
the First Baptist church, led by Rev. DR.. Car
ruthers, and union prayer meeting at the Y. M.
q. A. rooms this evening, at 81 O'clock
There will be a meeting for young men at
the Free street church yestry Sunday evening
at 81 O'Clock, at the close of the evening
service. Mr.. Needham will take
charge. All young men are invited TO come.