, 1878-03-30
THE cHURcHEs SUNDAY.


the lines defending Constantinople.
.-
THE CHURCHES SUNDAY. s
METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH.
D. Bagly, Pastor. Moiling. Leading
thought demands of the times. Text.
Ephesians, v. 16. "Redeeming the time
because the days are evil" The times
demand. 1st-A more hearty belief of
the Divine presence. as a reality. AS
the light shines into the eye. so the Di-
vine presence if realized would shine
upon us and into the soul. As the air
enters with every breath We inhale. so
wonld the Divine presence be inhaled
as an invi ,orating force into our being
2d-A hearty faith in the presence and
works of the Holy Spirit in the Church,
enlightening. convincing, regenerating,
sanctifying and conducting, through and
by the Ministry of tie Churches. 81 A
Christian devotion full of hearty cheer.
Which WAS illustrated and enphazised
by reference to eminent Christian ex~
amples and the nature and design of
earnest piety. th-Llving deeds, more
than empty pfofessions-a very cheap
commodity indeed; and finally, a more
earnest type of piety and religious lie.
Evening. Text, Rom xv. 1. "Whatso
ever was written aforetiMe. was written
for our learning, that we through pa
ience and comfort OF the Scriptures
might have hope" Leading thought:
The past should be for our benefit: we
should gather up the good in concen-
trated form III our memory, heart and
life. The Scriptures were defined and
spoken of as producing what they re-
quired. Hope was regarded as made up
Of earnest desire. time, expectation and
a good foundation for the desire and ex>
pectation. The speaker considered
prominent lesson read us by what Was
written aforetime as vigorous demon.
trative pie:y-in the heart and life,
making Bible quotations to enforce the
thought. It was observed that what
crushed feeling would crush out life, i:
continued-t the fire s,ifed would
die, that affection, emotion and the life
of God in the soul would die if unex>
pressed and repressed. Stiffness was
regarded as an indi cation Of death, ac>
tivity as evidence of vitality or an in>
ward force, that Gcd's grace. abiding in
the sou! was living force all along the
line Of ALL activites-the strong current
of experience bearing along to victory;
renewal and final.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
"Bible Reading and Bible Study"
was the theme of the morning SER
mon, from which we give the fol-
lowing:
"another fact should shine here
full-orbed. Ignorance of scripture
is not confined to the mass. Very
able men are very often in eclipse
as to the sun of scripture. You
know well what the common idea is:
leading mans opinion on religion,
regardless Of his actual knowledge,
is very potent. Ii he is a statesman,
scientist Of ability, poet Of emf
nence, popular author, successful
physician, or leading lawyer, to our
common thinking he is qualified to
deliver an authoritative opinion
touching religious questions. Law
yers are especially able as extempo-
raneous theologians. And of late
men of science have been able to
settle, with a wave of the hand, the
most towering, the sunlit theme of
theology. But when we come to be
truly scientific, men of science,
members of the bar, editors of the
daily press, and all others, will find
it necessary to study and investigate
and consult authorities and come to
conclusions with eminent diligence
and pains-taking when they pro-
nounce on questions raised by the
Bible. We are sailing along stormy
coasts and on many points we must
build up this fact as lighthouse
and in the top light the lamp with
the refectors thrown out over the
ocean; that the religious opinion Of
otherwise intelligent men are moth
ing but guesses and coniectures.
without thorough study of the Bill le
and its literature. Ivalue the op,n.
ions OF our Sunday school teachers