The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-11-17
PULPIT AND PLATFORM
pAysoN MEMORIAL CHURCH.

PAYsoN MEMORIAL CHURCH.
Sunday morning Rev. Mr.. Dickinson of the
this church gave an exposition of the para
BILE of the wheat and the tares, found in Matt.
xiii, 24-30 and 37-43. The transition from the
parable of the sower and the seed to this one
is very natural. The sowing of noxious weeds
among the pure grain is an act of malice very
common in the East. The parable itself sums
up in a few verses the whole history of man,
but we can only give an outline of the truth
presented. "The field is the world" says
Christ, and whether this means simply the
church of God or the world at large has been
the subject of heated controversy between diff
ferent theological sects 1t probably looks for
ward to that period when the whole world
shall become the possession Of Christ, and then
the words of our Lord will be literally true.
1.-The sewers. The Son of Man, not only
real man, but the real typical representative of
our race in its highest and noblest estate. He
is the sower of tine good seed, and through him
alone has our race all its best present good and
future glory. But the sower of the tares is the
devil, and our Lord tells us that satan is an
intelligent, powerful and ever working per-
sonal being; one through whom all the
agencies of evil are set in motion and directed
in the universe
2-The next pair of truths presented is the
two kinds of seed, representing the children of
God and the children of the devil. We learn
that these two classes are found in the church,
and that they will be found there until the end
of time.
3-We come to the last great truth present.
ed in the harvest and the severing of the two
tal,- II 10 yf,rl
ou- Lord in all his acts and teachings, yet in
presenting these two states he tells us in I'M
mistakable words, of the fearful nature of the
punishment of the wicked. How can we real
iZe it? and how can we be blind to the solemn
truth? On the other hand, what a glorious
destiny is reserved for the righteous. What
shall we all say to this presentation of lnfnlte-
ly important truth by the Son of God, and
what shall our course of action be?
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
Sunday afternoon, at the First Baptist
church, Rev. Mr.. Anderson preached from the
text in Luke xviii $3.50: 'Verily I say unto
you, there is no man that hath left house OR
brethren parent or wife, or children, for
the kingdom of Gods sake, who shall not re-
ceive manifold more in this present time, and
in the world to come life everlasting" AS
Christ looked upon the young man, He was
moved with pity to see him subject of man.
mon rather than of the kingdom of Christ.
But the error was yet prevalent among the
Jews that worldly prosperity was not unfavor-
able to holy life; yet there is a real and sub
stantial prosperity to those who become the
disciples of Jesus.
Look at the characteristics of Christ's re-
ward for faithful service. 1t is abundant all
through the Bible. The blessings which God
bestows are not only free but full and abund-
ant. How full his love, how rich his graee
No.stinted measure, no scanty supply is seen in
Gods bestowal of his rewards and gifts to
men,
2-This reward is eternal. Temporal pros
perity may not always accompany Christian
service, but it is more than made up by the
Christians consciousness of personal immor-
tality with all its blessed accompaniment,
His earthly life may be full of trial, but his
true life will commence when this mortal life
closes, and that shall be full of blessings.
3-This reward is sure. No earthly temper
al blessing is permanent Or SIRE, but not one
blessing has been promised by God that shall
not surely come to the Christian.
1--WE may ask what are the conditions OF
this reward? /, 1t requires self-denial, a thor
ough remuneration of our own will and ways,
and, 2, An entire surrender of the whole being
to the will and direction of Christ. We may
ask why is this condition wise? Because we
desire happiness and yet cannot tell the best
way to secure it; hence it is reasonable for God
to require of us to seek help from one who is
infinitely wise to direct. Self-seeking will not
secure happiness. The goddess of happiness
stands by the eternal throne, and she comes as
the reward to those who are devoted to the
love and service of God. Active work, out
flowing and expressive love, are the essential
| conditions of happiness; and God IL contin-
I nc,n oil
seeking and devote ourselves to Christ and his
service, we shall secure full and abundant
reward; partial in this world, and in the world
to come, complete, glorious and eternal.
FIRST PARISH CHURCH
Rev Mr. Bellows of Waterville preached at
at this church yesterday. His morning text
was the ''Reality of SIM" The idea conveyed
was that we cannot sin without having to take
the consequences sooner or lator, whether in
this world or the next. A man need not
expect to have his fling on earth without hav-
ing to suffer for it, and it is mean as we'll as
absurd to think that somebody else is to bear
our punishment. Mr.. Bellows is very earnest
| in his manner, and possesses good delivery,
! although he will pronounce God as II 1t was
| spelled Gawd.
TEMPERANCE UNION.
Congress Hall was filled to overhowing last
| evening The address by Rev. Asa Dalton
was one of great interest and commanded the
close attention of the large audience present.
| Short speeches were made by W. Wetherbee.
| Mr.. Lunt of Massachusetts,, G. w. Murch, Job
| Sanford, J. Fl. Mcdonald and R. H. Murphy.
| Several signed the pledge,
HON. GEORGE VENDING.
Tonight the great Western orator, Hon.
George Vending of Illinois, will appear at
City Hall and reply to Col. Ingersoll. The
st. Louis Times says:
He made no formal exordiunl, but went at
once into his subject, making direct issue with
Col. Ingersoll in his ideas, both found in his
book and as announced in his lectures. He
placed in rapid array the most striking events
in their history, and with such power of elo-
quence that the audience was fairly electrified,
and greeted him with great applause. He
then, claiming that the ideas he taught were
the foundations on which the civilization of
the world rested the influence that maintained
it through the ages, and gives it the highest
dignity and power now, drew another rapid
and brilliant picture of the history and ad-
vance of civilization from the beginning of
the Christian era until now This was more
brilliant rhetoric and word painting, eliciting
another burst of enthusiastic applause.
PLUCK AND LUCK.
Tonight Rev. DR.. Peck will deliver his lee
ture at Pine street church. The Marlboro
Gazette says:
Rev. J. O. Peck gave his new lecture on
''Pluck and Luck The audience was in
hearty sympathy with the speaker. His splen
did presence, rich voice, pleasing countenance
and genuine enthusiasm carried them captive;
and when he came at the close to give his il
Illustrations in the way of word pictures, his
hearers were ready to weep or laugh as he
should will
Personal
Captain Dowker, of the Grand Trunk, has