The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-10-04
PULPIT AND PL ATFORM.
wILLIsroN CHURCH.


The pastor, Rev. F. E. Clark, preached a
very effective sermon yesterday from I'd Peter,
iii, 8: "The Lord is not slack concerning His
promises as some men count slackness, but is
long suffering to usward, not willing that any
should perish, but that all should come to re-
pentence" 1t seems that the divine writer
knew that in all ages some would pretend to
look upon God as hard master, and so here is
refutaton of that idea. That monstrous as
sertion that our Heavenly Father delights in
the eternal suffering of his children is shown
to be most false. Judge Conscience has again
and again held court in our hearts and has
shown us that we are guilty. God holds us in
nocent if our quickened conscience holds us
guiltless. God Furnishes no man who does not
pronounce himself guilty. Our courts of jus.
tice provide an advocate for the guilty that
he may have his side of the case properly pre-
sented. What an advocate we have with the
Father! IF any man sin, we have an advo-
cate with the Father, even Jesus Christ the
righteous" You know how He pleads Look
at the crown of thorns? The cruel spikes
that have pierced His hands and His feet!
Think upon His agony, and then listen to the
prayer that ascends to His Father for those
who have so cruelty tortured Him, Father,
forgive them, for they know what they do"
Do you think that He was willing that any
should perish? Gods mercy is not at war with
His justice Gods love will always ratify
what His justice approves.
The speaker Gle Sed with q beautiful word
picture of the love of our Saviour as our adj
vocate with the Father, and as our judge
FIRST FREE BAPTIST SOCIETY.
Yesterday was the first anniversary of the
Rev. j. M. Lowden with this society. The
subject of his discourse was 'Consecrated
Ambition" taking for his text Gen. XII, 4:
"Let us make name.'
These words were spoken by the people at
the building of the tower of Babel, the object
of which was the ambition to make sound
ing name. The descendants of Noah attempt
ed to establish universal empire and this
tower was to give to them a name lest thev
should be scattered abroad. A very lucid ex-
PLANTATION was given on this point by the
speaker.
The application of the text was that all am
bition which, like that of the builders of the
tower of Babel looks merely to the gratifca-
ton of personal vanity and the praise of our
fellow creatures, is weak AMI unworthy of US,
while that which is conSecrated to the service
OF God will return to us the highest honors
and most lasting praises
The communion service was held in the eve
ming, and the hand of fellowship was given to
the four who were baptized Saturday evening.
In connection with the past years work
Children's Benevolent Society has been form
ed, having for its object mental improvement
and the development of true benevolence.
NOTES.
Rev. e. Y. Hir cks, pastor of State street
church, occupied the pulpit yesterday for the
first time since his return from his European
trip. The morning sermon was based on the
8th verse of the 18th chapter of Hebrews:
"Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today,
and forever" Theme-The Interchangeable
ness of the character of Jesus Christ
Rev. w. r. Stocking, missionary from Per-
STA, delivered very interesting address at
Plymouth church last evening