The Portland daily press., 1880-05-10
PULPIT AND PLATFORM.
NEW JERUSALEM CHURCH.


The Rev. j. K. Smyth preached yesterday
from Gen. xi:4-the building of the tower of
Babel. He said it is difficult to believe in the
direct narrative and the enemies of the Bible
take great satisfaction in the difficulties. There
are five different clumps of ruins near the site
OF Babylon which have been severally selected
as the remains of this tower, rnd it is remark
able that such an edifce for such purpose
should have been commenced on plain. But
the New Church has a rational explanation
LOT these earlier chapters OF Genesis, holding
that history commences with the call of Abra-
ham, and that the earlier portion is the re-
mains OF an earlier Word which was written
IN parable, or MS Dean Stanley thappily OK
presses it, book within a book. In this pres
ent age OF intense activity we find constant
endeavor OF each man to surpass his neighbor,
and the sentiment of the old Babylonish
builders, LET us make us a NAME" seems to
animate our own people. Ambition is not rep
rehensible, when it is a just ambition to feed
and clothe and educate ones self and family,
it is proper if the end be good, but wrong if
the end be selfish. When we are governed by
false ambition we are building this tower of
DdUol, duu We nave DrlCkS 1Or SuOQoS and slime
for mortar. Perhaps but few succeed in rear
ing their tower of pride, but there is tenden-
cy to build one in every field of human en-
deavor. The schoolboy strives to triumph
over his mate; the monopolist. the politician,
the professional man, the minister, the writer,
the scientist allwho strive for personal power
and fame from selfish motives, are erecting
this tower of Babel, and the nationalist is
striving to overreach heaven itself. Even the
religious societies who compete with church
adornments, music and ceremonials to increase
their congregations are open to the same OBJ
lection. 1t is creditable that the society should
be well organized, and proper to wish that the
truth should have many hearers; but do not
neglect the interior while decorating the exte-
rior But look deeper and we may find the
danger to which the New Church is peculiarly
exposed. Many of its fundamental doctrines
were new to the world one hundred years ago.
But with this great advantage the New Church
man is liable to endeavor to erect this church
into sect to Overtop all others; but this is not
its mission. Its truths are free, and other
churches are adopting them, and our mission
is simply to keep them pure. The Roman
Church was given a similar mission. but am
bition entered and that church fell, While
Professionalism grew over its ruins. Let us
scatter abroad over the earth, from pulpit and
from press the truths of the second advent,
but let the tower of Babel go. We have no
mission as a church, but duties as possessors of
truth. I say nothing against a church organi-
cation. We could do little without it. The
New Church must have her societies, her
board of publication, land organizations as thor
ough as possible, but there need be nothing
vain in it; no arrogance of belief; and we
must recollect how imperfectly. as yet, we live
up to the doctrines which we hold. We are
not to neglect beauty of adornment, but the
essentials are more worthy. We need earnest
work. We know what sacrifices the early
Christians made, and we need some of that
self-sacrifce and earnestness, and sooner Or
later the tower of Babel will fall, and he who
watches over us day by day, will in another
world bless our earnest effort.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
In the afternoon Rev. Mr.. Anderson preached
from the text John xiv:6 81 am the TRUTH
In all ages, truth has been the grand object of
human pursuit. All childhood is full of exper-
iments for the discovery of truth,-so too, ma
ture age seeks for it; and every man must
have some aspirations toward the higher truth
the best good. Is there vitality important
principle; a foundation rock of higher bet
ter life? Then it is wise to know and secure
it. But truth is not only principle, lit is al
SO person; and Jesus, the Son of God, de-
clares himself to be all that is eternally, un-
changeably and infinitely good, is contained in
him. All must seek for, and secure that good,
must seek to know the law of life and obey it,
must believe that God of holiness, justice,
and love,-a personal being, must be the
source of truth and eternal life. This truth, this
life, is revealed to us in Christ We ask then
if it is revealed in Christ, what relation has it
to the teaching of Jesus. Firbt-his teaching
will be without error Other teachers must
first learn the truth; but Jesus is himself the
truth. He speaks as one who possesses in him.
self all the sources and treasures of wisdom
and knOU1adOa Ha cnQakc with divinn an
thority, and, if we refuse to obey, we must
be forever lost. Again, what help will this
view of Christ give to the Christian in the Gull
tivation of religious life? He presents to us
principles of action. Again this view of
Christ helps us, in that, truth is revealed
clearly to us. Are we seeking truth? Then
we may find it fully in the Lord Jesus; for he
embodied in himself all truth. But again,
we are helped in Christian living by seeing ali
these great principles illustrated in actual life
the life of Christ Abstract principles move
men but little; but let those principles be pre-
sented in a real life, and men will be moved
to adopt them. Men do not follow system so
So the world needs this exhibition Of living
principle in order to be moved to follow Christ.
AS we wish to know the truth-do we wish to
be true? Then let us seek to Jesus Christ; for
he is the "way, the truth, and the life.'
STATE ST. CHURCH.
Rev. DIR. W. E. Norman officiated yester-
day. The morning sermon was preached from
Hebrews, 10: S-"Jesus Christ, the same yes
terday to-day and forever" and was as able
as it was interesting. Christ in his person and
in his personal attributes, is timeless and
changeless; so also are his affections and bis
purposes towards men. We may change, hut
his affections and purposes towards us change
not. His affection is changeless love, his pur-
pose is redemption. On this purpose rest the
foundations of his kingdom, and on this truth
rest our Christian hopes and happiness. Christ,
thus permanent in his ever liv ing person, has
a history, and has ever been concerned with
men and their interests, and, in the fulness of
time, became a man among men, and en-
tered the world of men. This history is still
continued in his dealings with souls, and it
has in it an order connection and develop
ment-an orderly Gy course of development.
changeless in his affection and purpose to-
wards us ever he was In what historic at
titude is he to us now? Is all that is past SIM
ply history? No, Jesus died, but he is not
dead-unlike others who have died. His
history among men, when he was upon EARTH
represents him as he is to us now in all his
acts and Offices He lives right on, and his
true history represents him not only as he was
but also as he now is. He fills all the acts and
offices of his past history. In this he is unique
because of the permanence of his personal
history. because he is the person of the ages.
AS he was he is. AS he did on earth he does
now Thus, his word is the living word. The
sermon on the mount is as fresh to-day as
when it fell from his lips. This history has
the living Christ in it. Is your life wilder
ness, and are you troubled or tempted? He is
in your wilderness and suffers with you. If
you are in sorrow, he who once sat down with
mourners is with you to-day to comfort and
cheer you. Whatever your condition Jesus is
with you to fulfill all the old historic Offices
the same yesterday, to-day and forever.