The Portland daily press., 1878-03-06
The Revival Meetings.

The afternoon service commenced with sing
ing hymn No. %, 81 left it all with Jesus"
Mr.. Needham offered prayer and Mr.. Cato
sung solo, "Seeking the Wanderers" Mr..
Needham read from John. 4th chapter, con-
corning Christ's talk with the woman of
Samaria, as bearing upon the subject of the dis
course for the afternoon-the believers ap-
proach to God. The Saviour took this oppor-
tunity to give to this poor woman instruction
concerning the true worship of God, and by
His words we may all be taught ell we need to
know in respect to the worship Of God. In the
81 chapter we read of. Jesus as giving life; in
the 4th we read of the Spirit as the source of
life; and elsewhere we are told that God the
Father gives life to the dead. God seeks
spiritual service, for there are two classes of
worshippers- true spiritual, and the natural
or formal. Bat the Spirit is the life-giving
source of this true worship. Now the water is
spoken of as symbol of the Spirit, for from
th ose who are filled with the Spirit shall flow
forth living water in acts OF Christian service.
When Moses smote the rock in H0reb and the
water flowed forth for the thirsty multitude, it
was type of the Smitten CHRIST giving life to
the perishing host of sinners. Not till the
heart is full Of the Spirit can we offer true,
acceptable worship to God. True worship is
God with full appreciation and appropriation
of Christ's atoning sacrifice to ourselves and
grateful, adoriug acknowledgment of Gods
mercy and grace in leading us to himself. In
true worship God is the frue object of worship.
When we commune with Him We ought not to
have our minds fixed upon ourselves, with our
sins and shortcomings; but we are to be occu-
pied with God alone. We are to have true
idea of what Christ has done for US in taking
away our SINS Thoughts of God and Christ
or IN no n N
what is the place of worship. Each sect thinks
its church the right place.
But the place is where the priest is, with
in the veil. In Deut. xii, we read OF the place
appointed for Jewish worship, and that was
but type of the true temple, where Jesus has
entered within the VEIL Hence, as sinners, the
unconverted do not ever enter there with Jesus;
they cannot offer true worship. But again,
what tiGle have believers to approach God?
We read that Moses and Aaron, and the sons
of Aaron, and the seventy elders of Israel, af-
ter they had erected the altar and slain the sac
rifices, then went up and worshipped and Toasted
before God. So by blood we obtain the right
to come 3efore the Lord, and the blood of the
blood of Jesus through which the believer
draws men to God. But if we have the right,
yet we lack the ability. This comes from the
gift of the Spirit for by this we are made fit to
come before God in true worship. In the type,
there was the altar, the fire and the pure in
cense, and in Jesus presented to God IN true
worship, we too have the cloud OF incense as
cending before God. Without Christ we can
not be accepted of God, for through him alone
can the sinner approach to God in Spiritual
worship. Mr.. Needham closed with prayer
and the benediction.
The evening service commenced with singing
hymn, "Take stand for Jesus and Rev. Mr..
Andrews offered prayer. Hymn No. n was
sung, "Jesus is mighty to save" and Mr..
Needham read from I'd Cor. 9Th chap. Speak
ing of Pauls confidence that when he died he
should 60 to heaven. Many say they hope they
will be saved, but Paul knew it. Is it possible
to have this assurance when we are cast down
and in the midst of af1iction? Yet if we do
not feel 80 exultant, yet we may be assured.
or confident of our salvation; for Gods word
is sure, whatever our feelings may be- Mr..
Needham prayed and Mr.. Cato sung solo,
rye must be born again."
remarks the words of Paul-"H any man be
in Christ he is new creature" lis life that
poor sinner need, and it is life that Christ in
this new creation gives to the sinners when ne
brings him into his kingdom. Jesus has a
right to make the laws of his own kingdom;
and we may not justly complain of them. This
is Zone of those laws, that we must be born
again, must become the subjects OF new
and spiritual life. This new birth is indispen-
SaDl6 TO tn0 one VINO WOulQ DecOm0 b LEuo lol-
lower of Christ. An exterior morality will
not suffice; it may be very good counterfeit;
but at the judgment every mask will be torn
away and the character will appear in its real
nature. The new birth is not sham. God
begins with the heart, and the fruits will
appear in the outward life; but man begins
with the outside and the heart remains un-
changed. Let US seek to be true, real, living
Christians, not merely nominal ones. If we
have any need, let US stretch out our hands to
God and he will give US what we need. This
new birth implies change of heart-a new
heart. Tits easy for US to change our habits;
but God alone can change the heart; and if the
heart is changed we become new creatures.
When we are thus changed, our sins are
forgiven and our hearts are at peace. Let us
realize our sin, our poverty and our need, and
come to Christ,-accept him as our Saviour,
consecrate our lives to him and live to his
glory, then will he at last take US to his
heavenly home.
Mr.. Cato sung asolo-"Escspe for thy life, y
and the assembly was dismissed. An after
meeting was held to which many renamed.
| There was large audience in attendance al
| the preaching service, and close attention was
given to the speaker.
The meetings to-day are the same as on
previous days-at 81, LIZ, 8, 81 and d. The
| closing meeting on Thursday evening will be
| held in the City Hall.