The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-02-20
The Revival Meetings.

Lostoiudy alteruooH MT. NeeQnam gave d
Bible talk at the Free stree. church, on the
Jewish Tabernacle, and in the evening preach
ed at the High street church. The services
commenced with singing hymn No. Sc. "In
the silent midnight watches" The preacher
expressed the wish that the prayers of the
Ohrlstians present might 90 up for the anxious
lnqulrers to whom be wished to speak this eve-
ming. Prayer was offered by Rev. Mr.. Clark
OF the Williston chapel, followed by Rev. Mr..
McWhinnie, also by Mr.. Needham. The choir
then sung hymn No Is, so what shall do to
be saved" Mr.. Needham read from the 10th
chapter of Acts, relating the incident of the
healing of the damsel possessed of spirit of
dlVinaton at Philippi. The preacher remarked
that some time during the night the jailer at
Phllippi rushed into the prison. before Paul
and Sllas, and asked, ''What shall do to be
saved?" and before morning his question had
been answered and he was rejoicing in hope
What produced the change? We have to
thank God for present Saviour who gives us
present salvation. The question of the jailer
was, and is. the question OF an awakened soul.
1t was definite question, and received a short,
definite, simple answer. What shall do?
The apostle answered, believe on the Lord Je-
sus Christ: You can do nothing for yourself ex
cept believe Why believe on him? Because
he is Divine, and we need Divine Saviour.
He is the mighty God-able to bear our burden
and save our souls,-so that we may not fear
that he will fail to save We are to believe on
him because he died for us; he is our substi-
tute and bears the punishment due to US.
When we believe on him, we hide ourselves in
him; and though the heavens and earth shall
pass away, yet Gods word of promise will new
er fail. Let US then take this direction of the
apostle, and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ
We are to know that we are lost, helpless sin
ners, and as such come to Jesus and be saved;
for he bids such come to him for salvation.
Some one may say understand it all so far;
but what is it to believe? 1t is to believe Gods
word, that he speaks the truth. Again, it is to
trust God. Christ says to us, "You are a sim
ner, but died for you, and you shall rever
perish;'' and when he says SO, am to trust in
him for salvation-assured that he is able and
willing to save me. If our children put entire
faith ia our word can we not believe the word
of our heavenly Father? God tells me to be-
lieve on Jesus, and I am to believe and shall
be saved. We are to cease from all our own
efforts and good works and leave our salvation
to the Lord. What is this faith? 1t is the
heart grasping Christ-.hs is the beginning of
all Christian life; for no one is Christian till
till he believes in Jesus. AS a son of Adam 1
am condemned and lost; but if l believe on Je.
sus, the second Adam, come into reconclia-
ton with God-I believe 1 am saved. Spur.
geop, for months and years, carried burdened
heart, not knowing how to be saved; but one
evening he CHANGED to 60 where a simple,
minister was telling men how to be
saved. The minister read the scripture, Look
unto me and be ye saved"; the light at once
shone into Spurgeon's mind, he saw what he
trust him, and ba saved. So we are to hear
his voice, believe his word, trust in his power,
and be saved. The congregation sung the
hymn, "Rock of Ages, cleft for me-" and Rev.
Mr.. Perkins pronounced the benediction.
A prayer meeting and inquiry meeting were
held after the sermon, and the young men held
a meeting at the Free street vestry, Mr.. Need
ham requesting them to offer earnest prayer
for the special power of the spirit to rest upon
the whole city.
The meetings to be held for the week are as
follows: This afternoon Mr.. Needham will give
D Bible talk at the Free street church on the
same subject as yesterday-the Jewish Taber-
nacle. This evening he will preach at City
Hall; Wednesday afternoon Bible talk at
Free street church, and Wednesday evening the
meeting at the High street church will be ex-
clusively for women. The meeting at High
street church Thursday evening will be exclu-
siveiy for men, but on Friday evening at the
same place the service will lie open for ALL