The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-03-28
PULPIT AND PLATFORM.


STATE. ST. CHURCH.
The pastor preached in the morning from
Matthew v, 81, whatsoever shall put away
his wife saving for the cause of fornication
causeth her to commit adultery, and whatsoever
shall marry her that is divorced committeth
adultery
Christ substituted for that clause of the
Mosaic law which permitted divorce this COM
mand embodying the principle of the per-
manenoe of marriage. 1t was an authoritative
utterance. The law-giyer's prerogative was
asserted in amending divine statute 1t was
definite. No one who fairly examines tho
saying can help believing that Chrsts inten-
ton was to maintain the sanctity of marriage
by restricting divorce to the one specified
cause. 1t appealed to the Judgment of his
hearers. The capacity of the sexes for finding
the highest happiness and the fullest develop
ment In permanent union was shown to be
the ground of the command "what God hath
Joined together, let not man put asunder.'
This plain teaching of Christ must be ac-
cepted by his people. They cannot refuse to
receive it in its integrity without impugn-
ing his claim to be divinely commissioned
moral teacher.
To disseminate it is an essential part of
their mission. A large part of the benefit con-
ferred by Christianity in the world is the re-
spect the marriage tie it has created. Society
needs the preserving salt of this doctrine now as
greatly as ever. 1t must receive it from the
church. Her ministers should refuse to marry
parties divorced on other grounds than that
declared sufficient by Christ
Christian people and friends of morality
should also use their influence to keep loose
divorce laws from our statute books.
The duty of the citizens of Maine in this
matters was dwelt upon The statute defining
the conditions of divorce was said to be one of
the worst in tie Union, allowing the judges as
it does absolute discretion in dissolving the
marriage tie. Statistics were adduced to show
that under the operation of his law the ratio
of divorces to our population was larger than
in any other New England state and rapidly
increasing. That a change in tho law would
be likely to reduce the number OF divorces
was shown by the experience of other states.
CONGRESS SQUARE CHURCH.
Rev. Dr. Bolles preached to his old congre-
cation at this church yesterday an able sermon
from John xiii, 81, on "Christs new command
ment." The prevailing idea was that the
gospel was accused of being plagiarism be-
cause the precepts of love were found in other
religions but tie fact is that thing becomes
new by new statement. The personality of
Jesus was therefore the great power in this
religion.
INDIA ST. CHURCH.
Rev. Geo. W. Bicknell of Lowell, Mass,
and a former pastor of this church, preached
yesterday morning to large audience Mr..
Bicknell breaches almost wholly without
notes. The text was ''Ye are bought with
price," Cor. 6, 20. After an alluson to
some theological interpretations, he said that
the price of advancement in the outset was
Christ's sufferngs aud death, but that there
were still human obligations left us by Christ
and which in the scheme Of salvation, must
be discharged Every thing of value has its
corresponding price and it must be paid in
order to secure benefits. We purchase the
gifts Of earth through the price of labor
Humanity demands and receives a price. Al
lusions were made to childhood and youth
how much is done for them, and our affections
are drawn out and they become even more
precious to us in proportion to our care and
interest: To enjoy love of others, we must
pay with love, and so all through the other
relations of lfe.and feeling. Our liberties, our
ARRANGEMENTS were all purchased with strug-
giles, tears and sacrifices Religion came down
to us only as the fruitage of toll,
effort and martyrdom. We have had
much bought for us, our advantages
were secured by Jesus, and supported by the
long line of apostles and grand heroes. Let
us be worthy of the price paid, and show by
our devotion and earnestness that we are not
insensible to the past, but become inspired to
those activities which may cause angels to
rejoice that even the price was paid that such
good results might be secured.
NOTES.
Rev. Mr.. Barrows, editor of the Christian
Register, preached at the Park St. Church
yesterday on "Do what you cam"