Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-08-17

witness that we cannot dispute. But, thank God,
my text tells us that another book-the book oil
life-will be opened.
Rev. Bro Besse Of Vassalboro' made some tell
ing remarks, and others assisted in the altar SER
vice.
The sermon was able in matter, and its delivery
made profound impression. Among others that
came to the altar to seek Cod was one aged man
of IS years, attended by bis daughters who had
been praying for him many years. Altogether it
was service long to be remembered. Rev. Mr.
Besse is 10 preach this evening"
There have been great many new arrivals to-
day. The friends of the kennebec Valley Camp
meeting have reason to thank God and take cour-
age.
WEDNESDAY EVENING.
Sermon by Rev. MIR. Bessc, Luke l.22 "Haye
faith in God" The resurrection of Lazarus was
a GROWING miracle in some respects. Christ
came to seek and save the lost, and He needed to
authenticate His miss ion. Some at once acceded
to Ills claims, and others were eXasperated. His
enemies were especially embittered at this demon
straton Of His almighty power. lie was now
ready, or nearly SO, to finish His work. II seemed
fitting that the Lamb of God should be offered on
the anniversary of the delverance of the Children
OF Israel from Egypt. lie cursed the fgtree and
when the disciples were amazed at its sudden with
erng. this drew forth from Christ the words Of
the text. There are many reasons why we should
have faith in God
|. Without faith it is impossible to please God.
We arc obliged to exercise faith in each other in
all the relations of life. We cannot please our
trader, or physician, &C, without we confde 10
them. God yearDs for our confidence.
2. Faith is that attitude of the soul by which
secure a knowledge of things which are unsee
and spiritual. Faith is the substance of things
hoped for, the evidence of things unseen. Faith
is the medium of knowledge of temporal things.
Instance Columbus. Newton, &c. SO of spiritual
things-iaith is the pioneer virtue.
3. Faith is the measure of our worth A man
is valuable according to his faith, ust As in tempo
raj things the man VINO confdes In us is the man
who will do the most for US. This is true of the
child in reference to his father.
1t was an excellent sermon and must do good
Rev. w. s. Jones followed with some strong and
noble words.
The congregations during the day have been
large, considering the weather.
THURSDAY MORNING.
Rev. Brother Baldwin of Skowhegan preached
the sermon, from the following text: "And when
the day OF Pentecost was fully come, they were
all with one accord in one place."-Acts 2, |. All
these were Jews, and only l21 of them; and what
would have been the influence if all these
5000 who have continued these meetings
This increase OF % per cent. was not such a sue
cess as 1t ought to have been But Gods failures
are greater successes than our grandest ach ieve-
ments. Ought the Pentecost to have been repeat
ed : We should say not; we should say that th is
was a rare occasion, not to be often repeated. Bat
that is not the way that Peter talked. The prom
Use Is unto You and your children. and this was
but an earnest of the abiding presence, power and
fullness of the Holy Ghost. The promise is TO all
that are afar off and to all that God should call.
The call is "Whosoeycr will, let him come"
God is always ready to do his part in the way of
repeating the Pentecost, and if the churches of
Christ are ready to fulfil the human conditions
we can have a perpetual Pentecost. Many more
essentials must be emnated-the place the time,
the traditions in reference to the great facts of
Christ's death and resurrection. &C. We have the
full, and authentic and inspired records We have
never seen him with the natural eye, but we have
seen him with the eve of faith, which is better
for many who saw him not saved by him
but all who believe him are saved. The impor-
tant things are these
i. They were with an exact accord. There was
not growl IN the whole mass. Great things are
promised when two or three are agreed and when
100 were agreed Of course the Holy Ghost was
obliged to come down and settle the issue for the
mathematics OF the gospel is that of geome trical
progression.
2. The next condition was prayer. This con-
tinued, persistent and prevailing prayer for ten
days moulded them into a unity that could not be
resisted. Abraham, Elijah, etc, are examples OF
importunate prayer.
g. The people bad faith. 1t was a company of
will remove mountains. And all these charac-
teristics are within reach when we are at
our best we must initiate them.
We ought 10 have this fellowship, this abse-
uteness of prayer, this mighty faith.
This is a very meagre abstract of sermon of
remarkable power. Several earnest eXhortatons
were given at the close, and the service was one
long TO be remembered.
The young peoples meetings are well attended
and well sustained.