The Portland daily press., 1878-08-05
SUNDAY SERVICES.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.


At the First Baptist church Rev. Dr. King
OF Boston preached. His text was from Matt.
5; 2O-"For L say unto you that except your
Righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of
the Scribes and Pharisees ye shall in no case
enter into the Kingdom of heaven Two
subjects are at present receiving special dis
cusson in the religious world. 1t has always
been so; and we need not be surprised If any
one doctrine of the gospel be specially attacked.
One question is-the doctrine of future
punishment; and the other is-the relation OF
religion to morality. Some writers are trying
to separate religious belief from holy living,
and they would introduce nerveless religion,
without living, active power, in the place OF
the pure, noble, self-denying gospel preached
by Jesus and his apostles. Let US look at the
righteousness of the Pharisees. They had
Svery many estimable qualities. They were
also very religious. They were also very bene-
VIOLENT. They were in all respects almost in
fDitey in advance of the mere moralst OF the
present day. Aud yet notwithstanding all
their religious exactness, their upright conduct
and benevolent deeds, they were far, very far,
from the kingdom of heaven; and we too
must fail of heaven unless We are more
righteous than they. Here we may advert to
the distinction between Righteousness and
morality. True holiness is quality OF the
heart but mere morality may refer merely to
the outward conduct. Outward morality may
exist when the heart is far estraDged from
God; but true religion Can exist only in a
heart in harmony with the will and mind of
God. If we would have this personal righte-
BUSINESS that will fit US for heaven. it must
spring from heart renewed by the spirit and
grace of God. This Righteousness does not
purchase our salvation-that comes by the gift
of Jesus. Let US coma 10 loving, trusting
obedience; casting away all dependence upon
the vain attempts we may make to become
fitted for heaven by the mere morality of an
outward upright life. The heart must be
changed, and the grace of God must be present
to form US into the likeness of Christ. 1t is to
be observed also that the more fully the soul
becomes imbued with this righteousness of
Christ, the more sensible does the heart be-
come of its natural sinfulness aud it's unlike
ness to an Infinitely pure and holy God.
NEW JERUSALEM CHURCH.
The Rev. Mr.. Reyes was greeted yesterday
by large audience Of his old friends at the
Swedenborgian church He preached from
John xv12, Is, IA, on the doctrine of charity.
He commenced by saying that he recalled with
pleasure and satisfaction his past experience
in Portland, especially the few months of labor
in this congregation. Years have gone over
our heads since then. Many of US have ex
perienced changes. So far as these relate to
the doctrine and life of the new church he was
grateful to God for them in his case. They
had brought him nearer to God and taught
him to regulate his life by his word. or the
doctrine of charity he said it had been greatly
misunderstood. 1t could not be separated from
faith, but must walk hand in hand with it.
He objected to that thin charity which is sem
timental and philosophical only. Even people
who are kind and affectionate to their kindred
deceive themselves in thinking they have char
ity. Genuine charity is not of this earth, but
is of heavenly instict, governed by divine laws,
and must be directed by prudence and jude-
ment The true theory is to devote ones life
to the welfare of others. Every thing we eat,
wear or use is wrought for us by some one else,
some of our c0mmonest food coming from the
antpodes, and man, rejecting on this, should
consider that his life should be dedicated to
serve that world which SO serves him. Every
thing in nature has been created for the gen.
eral good, and the only apology we have for ex-
Istence, is that we may serve our fellows. One
secret of the present business distress is that
men are waiting and expecting to be taken
care Of, instead Of finding their duty and doing
it. There is no cure for these evils but dill
gence and labor. A life of charity is not life
of monasticism, life of alms-giviug, but ss life
of use