The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-02-26

Nv tbO iACOoiuS VI OulloVidu WO~hCio yCotCA-
day morning, Mr.. Needham spoke of the at
tachment to Christ being the greatest incentive
to Christian faithfulness and earnest, effective,
christian work. He read illustrative scripture
selections, such as the narrative of Ruth and
Naomi, David and Attaetc In the afternoon
at City Hall he spoke of the unmeasured folly
and guilt of those who practically put God out
OF their lives and out of the world. The fool
hath said in his heart, mo GodP, So, also,
are those inconceivaby foolish who in their
devotion to the gaining of wealth, peril their
souls. How unspeakably foolish were the
virgins who slept away the opportunity of en-.
tering into the marriage feast, and awoke to
the despairing consciousness that they were
shut out forever. In the evening at the hall
great audience gathered, and the services COM
menced with singing hymn No.G4 'HalleluJah,
It's doner' Mr.. johnson offered prayer and
then the choir sung hymn No. "a, who's on
the Lords side?" Mr.. Needham read from
the Sd chapter of Revelation-the message to
the churches in Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodi-
cea. Jesus is represented as standing at the
door of the sinners heart and knocking for
admission. Sometimes he speaks by taking
away loved friend or relative and SO calls up
on us to admit MIN into oar hearts. MIR. john
son sung the solo hymn No. q, Knocking,
knocking, who is there?" The speaker wished
to call the attention Oh the audience to some
passages of scr pture describing the Saviour's
mission. In Matt. 9;13 Jesus says 81 came to
call not the righteous but sinners to repen-
tance." One of the marvels of Coos dealings
with men is that he should condescend to come
to earth. mingle with men, and assume the at
titude of a suppllant But He does so come,
and He comes to you now and entreats you to
be saved. He came to Noah before the food
and bade him enter the Ark and be saved from
the fearful Judgment soon to come upon a
wicked world. Bnt more fearful judgment is
to come to the world, and God entreats men to
hasten into the ark of safety and be sheltered.
In Proverbs, Wisdom, or the Son of God, is
represented as visiting the children of men in
all their places of business and entreating them
to be saved. But we are to remember that this
loving call is not to continue always. If he is
persistently rejected Christ will at last turn
away from the sinners, and then it will be for
ever too late. In Luke 10 we read that Jesus
came to seek and to save that which was lost.
What amazing condescension that the son of
God should not only pity lost men, but that he
should go over the dark mountains Of sin and
tread YEARLY through the wastes of this wicked
world in order to save the lost transgressor.
But Jesus not only seeks the lost; he also saves
them. He is able to save them-not the good,
the moral, the amiable, the learned, the noble,
but the chief of sinners. Precious truth! He
is able and he is willing to save the most aban-
doned sinner on the face of the earth and raise
him to new, holy, happy and glorious life.
But Jesus is ready to save now. We are not to
wait till tomorrow or next week, but now, at
this moment. What infinite folly to wait for
the vain efforts we may make to save ourselves.
In Revelation 800 we read that Jesus is ready
to come in and sup with those that hear his
voice and open their hearts to him. How
many poor, sinful souls are sorrowing over the
emptiness and pain Of the earthly life, and yet
refuse to come to Jesus and be saved. Nothing
can satisfy the soul save the love Of Jesus, and
this will give perfect peace. Are you who are
present here tonight, willing to accept Christ?
He comes not in wrath to crush you, but to
save you. He came to CALL to seek, to save, to
satisfy. God grant that you all may hear his
voice, believe in him, trust him and be forever
saved. Mr. johnson sung solo, "Behold, he's
standing at the doorp' The choir sung hymn
No. 65, "In the silent midnight Watches" the
congregation sung the doxology ard Mr.. Need
ham pronounced the benediction. The prayer
meeting was held at the Second Parish church
where large number gathered.
The services of the evening were very i'm
pressive, and Mr.. Needhams address was one
of The most effective that he has given during
the meetings. Every one who can make ar
to attend these meetings will find
that his attention will be called to host i'm
portant truth and he will receive strong i'm
pulse to a higher and more efficient Christian
life. The meeting tonight will be in the City
Hall; for all the rest of the week the meetings
are to be at the Second Parish church. The
morning prayer meeting will be from half-past
eight to half past nine, each morning; the Bible
talk from three to four in the afternoon, and
each evening at half-past seven, and
young mems meeting at zine o'clock in the
evening.