The Portland daily press., 1878-02-05
The Revival Meetings.

The afternoon services yesterday commenced
by singing No. Gospel Hymns, followed BY
Rev. Mr.. Gardner, and hymn No. 3S by tht
congregation. Mr.. Morehouse then wished tht
people to turn to their Bibles to learn what Goo
says about the duty of studying His word
Some read the Bible from sense of duty, but
have no real enjoyment in it. Some praise the
Bible but do not read it; but it is the book Of
books, given to guide us into all the truth, and
demanding our constant study. In Acts 2S: 49,
we find that Paul got his power in preaching
Christ from the Scriptures; and in John 8: 80.
we learn that our Lord Himself thought Of the
Scriptures. In this chapter Jesus calls on John
as one witness to His divinity; again His works
are another witness; then Gods word, the Sa-
cred Scriptures, appeals to as third wit
ness, and then He tells those about Him that
the Scriptures are full of testimonies to His di-
vinity; but bow many 60 through the Bible
and see very little in it'll In I'd Pet. 1: 16, the
apostle tells of the voice from heaven as a tes-
word of prophecy which we are to heed-the
never-faiiing, unchanging word of God.
In Luke 16: 81, we read that those who refuse
to believe Gods word would not be convinced
by one rising from the dead. In Luke 4th we
read OF the temptation of Jesus by the Devil.
God had declared Jesus to be his son, but Satan
says, eff thou be the Son of God''-Satan
doubts Gods word and puts in this s'if" We
must come down to the simple question, what
does God say. In Heb. 4: II, we read what
Paul says Of the power of the Word of God.
We must realize that power, and seek Gods
it, study it, pray over it and live by it. Hymn
No. 54 was sung by the congregation and the
benediction pronounced by Rev. Mr.. Fem.
In the evening full audience was gathered,
and the exercises opened with singing No. 129,
"Rejoice and be glad" Rev. Mr.. Hincks read
the parable of the "Prodigal Son. and offered
prayer. Hymn No. 20 was sung, and then Mr..
Morehouse called attention to the 18th chapter
of Luke, in which the narrative of the lost son
is given. He remarked that several parallels
are given in connection, of which this is the
third in order-the "lost sheep" the 'lost
piece of silver" and the '1ost son." In the
first story the responsibility was upon the shep-
herd, in the second upon the woman, and in the
third upon the son.
Contrary to the general application the
preacher said he wished to apply the parable
to the church, and by it illustrate the back
sliding professors In the story of the prodi-
gal we learn that after he had spent all his
money he found himself in the midst OF FAM
inc. 1t was not a famine of husks, nor of
swine's flesh, but of these he could not eat.
But now many Christian professor is in a
"far country" cold and lifeless, and far from
God. But this poor prodigal was a Jew and
the Gentles set him to feeding swine. So in
the world, men of the world are pleased to get
one of Gods back-slding children where they
can point to him and excuse themselves over
his sins. We see some Christians who are sat-
isfed with the thought of just getting inside
the heavenly gates but Jesus wishes his peo-
pie to do more than this. But what did the
prodigal lose? He lost his home. Home! the
sweetest dearest word in our language. Moth
ing can come to the heart like the thought of
home But if we are far from our Fathers
house, we may get back again. Again. he lost
his bread; he had nothing but husks to eat and
he could not be satisfied. But he lost his work
also. While in far country he could do no
God we can do nothing for Him in His glorious
work. Again, the prodgal lost his testimony.
He bl0nged to noble family and in his faith
er's house was wealth and hoROr and love and
plenty, but he had no evident title to any of
these. But some things he did not lose He
did not lose his citizeDship-he was a Jew,
however far from home. No- did he lose his
fathers love. God thinks of us. too when we
are far from home. A fathers love follows us
through distant lands.
Hymn No "A was sung and the benedction
pronounced by Rev. Mr. Perkins.
The preacher gave notice that on the next
evening he would speak upon Christian assur-
ance. He also took occasion to administer a
pointed rebuke to some dsorderly boys who
disgraced themselves and annoyed those about
Them by their disreputable conduct.