The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-05-23
PULPIT AND PLATFORM.
CHESTNUT ST. CHURCH.

CHESTNUT ST. CHURCH.
In the morning at the Chestnut st. Methodist
church the pastor, Rev. DR.. McKeown, preach
ed from the text in John 10: 14-15-"Ye are nv
friends, &c."
The preacher wished to call our attention 10
the advantage of being friends of Jesus. The
advantage of this friendship is that Jesus re-
veals to his friends the things of God Through
it we come into confidential, helpful and
blessed relations with Christ. But we may
ask what is friendship? 1t is not like any
natural relation. 1t exists between those who
are not related in other ways, but it springs up
between those whose hearts are drawn to each
other with mutual love and esteem. How can
we nave the friendship of Jesus? We must,
nrst DE the friends of Jesus We are to be his
obedlent, loving servants. When the soul is
IN harmony with God then shall we have in
our hearts tide of love and devotion flowing
through the soul. How can we present this
friendship in such guise that it shall be most
precious and delightful Remember that
Jesus is real and distinct personality; and
his friendship is real, living thing-not an
abstraction, but present reality. Many look
upon Christ as a historical being, who was
once alive, but is now dead. But he is not
dead, he is ever alive and present with u.s.
First-His friendship is true not like many
human friendships-buta always faithful. What
ever other hearts are false, he is ever true
Second-This friendship does not despise
the poor and wretched. None so low or poor
or wretched, that Christ will not pity, bless
and save them.
Third-It is an all-sufficient friendship.
Jesus can always be near us and can give help
in every time of trouble and sorrow. He can
go with us in the last great trial, and bring us
safely through the dark river to the shining
fields beyond.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
In the afternoon Rev Mr.. Lowden preached
for Rev. Mr.. Anderson at the First Baptist
Church. His text was in Isaiah so: 4-"The
Lord God hath given me the tongue of the
learned that 1 should know how to speak
word in season to him that is weary
This world is simply masquerade, human
life is not at all what it seems. Men are out
wardly gay and laughing, but often the heart
is sad. A thousand things are causing de-
cay, ruin aud death in external nature; but
there are counteracting forces So in the
moral world there is misery, discomfort and
sin, yet here also there are counteracting
forces. We should ally ourselves to these
remedial forces, and strive to make the world
better and happier. We may do this by speak
ing pleasant and encouraging words. They
will do; they console sorrow and change moral
character. They encourage and instruct and
lead men to God. Perhaps some are procras
tinating this good work. They await better
time, or more convenient season. Better
coffin without flower, or burial without
eulogy, than q life without kind words. Let
the sympathy of loving words reach the sor-
rowing hearts Of those about u.s. How true it
is, that all men are living much alone. We
have many hours when no human being can
approach the lonely heart Who then can
approach the lonely heart with tender sympa-
thy and consoling words? The text tells us
that it is Christ, the Saviour. We need him
to speak such words to us when God shows us
the evil of our own hearts. We need Jesus
also to speak such words in times of weakness;
in times when corroding cares come to us;
when loneliness Expresses us; when no earthly
friend can sympathize with us. At snch times
Jesus comes with gentle touch. and loving
words and dispels the darkness, and brings us
into the light. We need Jesus to speak such
words to us in the hour of final separation
from loved earthly friends. The darkness of
death is made light by the comforting words of
Jesus. 1t is the glory and beauty of our relig-
ion, that it brings us into actual union with
personal, loving Saviour 1t is our consolation
and strength that our religion brings to us an
almighty, loving, sustaining, ever-present Re-
deemer. Such may he be to us ALL