The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-02-10
The Revival Meetings.

The evening meeting OF Friday was held in
City Hall and that spacious room was filled to
It's utmost capacity-the choir and ministers of
the city filling the platform. The choir sang
| several pieces before the hour for service, and
at the opening of the services Mr.. Needham
| gave ont hymn No. liz, "Jesus of Nazareth
| fasseth BY. The great congregation stood dur
| ing the singing and added their multitudinous
voices to the volume of sound Rev. DR.. Car
ruthers offered prayer and the choir sung
hymn No. % 1.-THE half was never told" AZ
ter giving notice of meetings Mr. Needham
read the Sth chapter of Luke, narrating the
work of Jesus and his disciples, including the
| parable of the sower. After the reading,
prayer was offered by Mr.. Needham; and the
hymn No. 80 was g-'Sowing the Seed
the congregation rising and singing with the
choir. The text was from Psalm 18th, ~ will
love the Lord my strength There are many
symbols employed 10 the Psalm to denote the
glorious character of Jesus. All the kingdom
of nature contributes emblems of the Messiah.
The lion his strength; the lamb his meekness ;
the rose his beauty; the lily his sweetness; the
gold his worth; the rock his stability and Sc
curlty OF those who trust in Jesus He is the
strength of his people, the rock of ages, their
refuge and firm foundation He has been as
sailed by all the infdels and skeptics of the
ages, but all in vain. Jesus stands the secure
refuge of those that trust in him. The grave of
Voltaire in Paris is seen, yet dishonored at this
time, while the Saviour whom he intended to
dethrone rules over the nations In Exodus
we read the incident Of the shifting of the rock
of Moses, and tie water gushes forth; and Paul
tells US that this is the type of Christ smitten
for his people. What should we think of one
who would lay down his life for his friend?
But Jesus laid down his life for his enemies;
and with what depth of gratitude should we
look upon his love. We all merited the deep
displeasure of God; but Jesus stood in our
place and suffered the penalty that would have
been exacted of US. For all, the high, the low,
the rich, the poor, for all-all even us. This
water of life is very near to us. We need not
go far to get it, for Jesus has brought it to US.
We cry to God for salvation as though it was
far away; and yet the word is here with US, and
Jesus is here, let receive him into our hearts.
In Isaiah 23d we read that Jesus is like the
shadow of great rock in weary land. He
is refuge for US to shelter us from the blast of
VIC uOoClt3 uCipinS Us W Ulcdh uu6 JULIUS VI SlU,
rescuing US from every evil into which sin has
led US. Oh ye lost helpless, hopeless ones,
this rock of refuge is for you. smitten rock.
The mother will die for her child, but Jesus
will save his enemies-he died for them and at
this moment is knocking at the sinners heart.
He is the Rock of Ages, the smtten rock-the
rock of refuge, the rock of shelter, God grant
that we may flee to him and be saved
Mr.. Samuel Thurston sung solo of great
sweetness and the congregation sung hymn No.
Ill, Rock of Ages" and Rev. Mr.. Fem pro-
nounced the benediction.
Mr.. Needham was exceedingly impressive in
both matter and manner. and was listened to
by the crowded audience with deep interest.
Full as the hall was, there was the utmost
stiffness and order throughout the services, and
very many indicated by their silent and pre-
occupied manner in leaving the hall that the
speakers words had aroused serious thought
in their minds. A young mems meeting was
appointed by Mr.. Needham at the vestry of
the Second Parish church, and an inquiry
meeting tn the Reception room, both to COM
mence at o'clock.