The Portland daily press., 1878-02-15
The Revival Meetings,

| The afternoon services commenced with sing
| ing hymn No. 50, "What hast thou done for
me-" Rev. Mr.. Gardiner offered prayer, and
| hymn No. 50 was sung, 81 am praying for
YOU" Mr.. Morehouse asked his hearers to
turn to the Sd chapter Of Ruth, where we see
the remarkable change in the language of
Naomi. Once she sought rest for herself-now
she claims to seek rest for Ruth. When we
are in the land of Moab, away from God, we
are selfish, but when we get to Bethlehem, the
house of GOD, then we think about Others
Then we seek the salvation of sinners We
are not told who did the harvesting for Boaz.
but we read that the master himself did the
winnowing. So the Christian worker, must re-.
member that his work Is to be tested by the
master. How important then that we strive to
be faithful. In Cor iii, 10, we read that the
foundation is Jesus; but Christians build upon
him, and much building is hay. wood, stubble
all this will perish; but faithful work, good
deeds, kind words, everything done for the
master in faith-these will endure and become
gold, silver and precious jewels in heaven. In
Rev. H. 10, we read what wasi to be given to
those who should be faithful unto death-"a
crown of life" Every Christian had now eter-
nal life. but to the faithful would greater hon.
or be given at last than to the unfaithful
Many humble worker will, in that day, find
blessed and everlasting reward bestowed upon
him for his faithfulness to his master in his
work on earth. In Cor. tx, q, We get an
idea of the winnowing.. Some think Paul ex-
presses fear lest he should be finally lost.
But it does not mean that Paul was speaking
OF getting reward, a crown. He was now
saved, had now everlasting life, and he was
striving for that glorious prominence which
was to be accorded to those eminently faithful.
But we read that Ruth, to prepare herself for
the presence OF her master, she was to be pure,
sweet, beautiful. Many Christians are not 80,
they don't cultivate purity, sweetness of
soul, or beauty of character. In Eek. xvi, 8,
we read Of the beautiful adjoining of Israel at
the hands of God; and what God did for Israel
then he will do for his church now. But Ruth
was directed to rest at the feet of her
master till morning, and then her kinsmau
would care for her. So the church
must rest at the feet of Jesus till the morning
came, and then the Master will bestow the six
measures of winnowed grain. What Chris
will not let us go away empty. The preacher
wanted to impress upon his hearers the i'm
portance of first sitting at the feet of the
Master and being themselves first fed, and then
bearing life to others. Don't Iey upon lesson
papers, or the words of others; but go to the
Bible itself, with prayer and earnestness, and
realization of eternal things, and then go to
your scholars and tell them of their danger.
and point to Jesus as an all-suficient Saviour.
The doxology was sung, and Rev. Mr.. Bos
worth pronounced the benediction.
The evening service commenced with singing
hymn No. 6, s'Fully Trusting" Rev. Mr..
Clark offered prayer, and Rev. Mr.. Gardner |
read the 18th chapter of Acts. Hymn No. |
was sung, "Hallelujah, What Saviour!' and |
Mr.. Morehouse wished his hearers to open their |
Bibles to 1 Peter, j, 10. as he desired to speak |
yet again of the precious blood of Christ. Last /
evening we looked at the substitution as the |
ground of the sinners hope; tonight we wish /
to look at the subject of pardon, forgiveness of |
sin. Some Christians think that they cannot /
know that they are forgiven till they stand |
before the great white throne in the day of /
judgment But Christians are to be conscious |
of present forgiveness; and in all the words of /
Jesus and His apostles we read that the people
Of God are to rejoice in the sense of assured /
pardon.
In Lev. iv, 49, we read Of the atonement for
the transgressiOn of the people; and we find |
that in no case is sin spoken OF as forgiven
without the shedding of blood: hence the sins |
of Christians are pardoned through the suffer-
ings and death of Jesus.
La Psalm 81 we read of the happiness of |
those who sins are forgiven. No one can be
happy or at peace until God has pardoned his
sin; and when sin is not imputed to us, then we
may rejoice.
In Psalm 1O3 we read of the Joyous thanks
giving Of one who has been forgiven of God, |
BLESS the Lord, o my soul and forget not ali |
His benefits; who forgiveth all thy iDiquities."
Five things God does for the penitent: Forgiv-
etb healeth and redeemeth, crowneth and sat-
ls6eth. All these He will do for us if we come
to Hin.
In Matt 9th, 6sh, we read of the pardon aud
healing Of the palsied man. The Son of man
has power on earth to forgive sins; and Jesus
delights to exercise this power. Tonight the |
Saviour would rejoice to forgive the sins of
every poor sinner in this house. Do we ask, |
will He forgive US? He will; He will forgive
every one who asks Him, and if we feel unable |
Or unfit to come to Him, yet let all come and
ask Him to have mercy upon us and He will
not reject our prayer. The Lord Jesus him.
self invites, urges, entreats the sinner to come |
70 Him for Salvation.
In Acts 18th, 39th we read that through Jesus |
8 proclaimed the pardon of sin: Jesus is not
mere in person; but He is here by His spirit,
telling of pardon and peace to poor lost sinners
The preaching of the gospel is telling sinners
hat they can have their sins forgiven. But
can God forgive me? Yes, God proclaims if,
out is He willing to forgive me-? Yes, for GOD
declares it.
Hymn No. 26 was sung, "Song of Salvation"
and Rev. Mr. Gardner pronounced the benedic-
tion