The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-08-29
PULPIT AND PLATFORM.
coNnprss sonAnr oHuncH.


Yesterday, Rev. w. E. Gibbs, pastor of this
church, preached his last sermon before sever
ing hig connection with the church finally.
There was large congregation present The
text of the pastor was taken from John vi, 81.
Labor not for the meat which perisheth but
for that meat which endureth unto eyerla sting
life, which the Son of Man shall give unto
you.
The speaker began by referring to the fact
that the more carefully we study the record OF
the Testament We see Christs dependence on
the Father, and, therefore, it is all the more
surprising that we have not learned the lesson
of trust that Christ has taught us. We do not
look earnestly enough for our spiritual food,
but are too much devoted to obtaining the
bread and butter intended to support our ply
steal life. 1t is all right for us to consider our
bodies, but not to exhaust ourselves for them.
Few of us are apt to stop and inquire how
these good things we desire are provided.
Nothing exists, simply because we will it. The
climate that produces the means that sustain
us God has provided. Our skill, prudence and
efforts were powerless, or would have been if
exercised to procure it. The sun, filling the
summer day with beauty, was sent by God, land
was not the result of our exertions.
There are two motives that influence man.
kind First, the desire for wealth. We strug-
gle all through our young manhood for possess
sions that seem invaluable because necessary
to pleasant continuance of life here, We
seldom think of that man, living 1000 years
ago, who trusted all to the Father, and knew
that his wants would be cared for; who saCri-
feed all that was dear to Him because there
was something more important beyond this
life. See how JesuSS sacrifices rebuke our
sordid struggles; see how we do not stop to
consecrate moment to Him who furnishes us
with everything that makes life enjoyable
The happieSt men are not the weaithleSt men.
The Vanderbits cannot enjoy the simple
pleasures of everyday existence; there is too
much responsibility connected with the care of
their great wealth to make such men truly
happy 1t is right to be rich, and to strive for
wealth, provided such wealth is sanctioned by
the Divine approval Wealth for itself alone
is selfish desire, and should be discouraged;
it helps neither the man who owns it nor the
world he lives in, but when spent in the cause
of improving and lettering our fellows, then it
NAV truly be called consecrated to God.
The second motive is the desire for fame. 1t
is very sweet thing to obtain the approval of
our fellow creatures. No man who knows
what kind word can do, can re-
fuse to see in human praise blessing
greatly to be desired. We have right to strive
for it. but not to make it our only aim, else it
makes our life one of conceit and ourselves I'M
bearable to those about u.s. We should seek
even in this the divine approval and then we
shall be filled with the satisfaction that is the
highest mead Of praise. Jesus came to enno-
Bile these motives in man. By his own living
he exempli6ed how we shall obtain that meat
that prepareth US for everlasting life. Then
by using our wealth and our fame for the ad-
vancement of our fellow-men we shall obtain
the things that abide when all others depart;
things that endure forever. But we must labor
for these things; they are not thrust upon us.
The preacher then addressed his congrega-
ton as follows:
| am not ignorant, brethren, that this is
probably the last time in which it shall be my
privilege to address you as your pastor.
want to thank you here for a thousand pleas
ures which your love has given me, for all the
comfort and strength which your friendships
have afforded me. want to thank you for
kindnesses uunumbered. / want to pray for
you. want you to pray for me, that the d.
vine blessing may rest upon us all wherever
we are, and that, through the grace of God,
life may be made sweet and happy to us all,
and to make this prayer effective, to win and
realize the life to which such prayer would
point, let me exhort you, in the words of our
text Labor not for that meat which perisheth
but for the meat that endureth unto life ever
lasting"