The Portland daily press., 1878-06-10
YVES rBROoK SEMINARY.
BaccaIaureate Sermon by Rev. G. w.
Bicknell.

Yesterday forenoon Rev. Geo. w. Bicknel,
pastor of the India street church, gave the
sermon before the graduating class of West
brook Seminary at Stevens Plains church. A
large audience was in attendance. The text
was from Philippians III. 8 Il chap 18th verse
"Press toward the mark" The life of Paul
was one of earnest, consecrated activity. He
had one aim, the upbuildng of Christianity.
To it he devoted every energy, pressing forward,
no matter whether trial and sorrow, or success
and joy surrounded him. His example was
not only for his co-laborars, but was and is for
all. Success 10 material relations is gained
only by earnest labor. The higher the aim or
work, the more Jealous must be the effort to
gain it. Indifference always involves loss If
we would be in the front rank, whether in
business, politics, society, or intellectual rela-
tions, we must work. Obstacles may only
bring out reserved powers. Do not be afraid of
Them Meet them aud triumph over them.
The same earnestness is called for in the re-
lgious relations of life. The man who thinks
everything is to be done for him here or here
after, and that he has nothing to do, will never
be triumphant Christian. Spiritual character
is gained Only by constant, personal building,
aided, inspired, directed by Christ. In religious
matters men ought to be alive, earnest. Here
they can gain, not only for the present, but for
eternity. Amid the whirls of business. tie
tendency is to forget or become Indifferent to
religious obligations to studies in the earth
school, wherein we may prepared for advance
ment. We should never lose sight of PauPs
Injunction to ''press forward;' while his mark
the mark OF everyone should be-the upbuilding
of Gospel principle, the establishment of
Gods Kingdom, not only in ones heart but
round about him. Man has but to believe he
can do in order to gain grand power by which
he may be successful. To any work which God
may have calledus,we are never to think we can
not do. 1t We are weak, yet DESTROYS and
earnest, He will help If we are weak and
Indifferent, We need not expect help. We
shall not be pressed when we ought to press,
for God cannot specially love cowardly or
puny Christian. There are some features of
pride which are right; and that feature which
makes us courageous to battle wrong and give
victory to the right, is heaven blessed. We
cannot press forward too earnestly in this war
fare. The preacher urged his hearers to press
forward toward the marks of purity, love- and
Christian conservation, briefly celebrating each
point. God has given us 10 His Word a
precious gospel. In an understanding of it we
have made sure progress, enough so that we
should be inspired to press forward in more
perfectly understanding its glorious truths, its
gracious unfoldings, and heavenly wisdom.
In closing, the preacher addressed the class,
admonishiDg them to remember that, wherever
they were, toward something still grander and
better they were TO press forward. The funda-
mentals of an education acquired. they are still
to build The man of business who sezes
upon his spare moments to improve his intel
lectual powers, will be more of man than he
who is Indifferent thereto, even though he gair
| double the treasure of the first. The young
| woman who still presses forward in usefn
| influence than she who neglects. The world il
| demanding culture. Many look to the edu
Gated. Their responsibilities are increased
though not necessarily the burdens of life j
| rightly directed. He congratulated them upoi
| the advancements which they may have made
| upon the fact that they 60 forth to make bette
men and women than had they dsregardet
their privilege; that they had treasures NOR
valuable than gold; and upon the preciou
memories they must carry with them, AM
which might. inspire them in the future. l.
the grander works of life especially, citin
among Others the unfolding of truth-fosterin
love among men-developlng the beautiful il
humanitY-an understanding of God breathe
Word-gainipg brighter views of the cart
mssion-overpowering wrong and corruption
the pursuit OF that spiritual culture which
pre-emiDently preparation for a higher
grsnder life, he exhorted them in the words
him who toiled and yet won, suffered, vet b.
lieved that he had a crown laid up in th
heavens, "Press forward" Sacrifice if nee
be, but labor; be faithful, true to manhoo,
true to womanhood, and true to God.