The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-08-21
PULPIT AND PLATFORM.
CHESTNUT STREET CHURCH.

DIR. McKeown Of the Chestnut street churcn,
having returned from his vacation, occupied
his pulpit yesterday, preaching in the forenoon
from Matt Z: 20. "By their +, uits ye shall
| know Them This text, which the Saviour
gave by which to judge of the character OF
men might be used the speaker thought to de-
termine the character of books. He wished to
found an argument for the truthfulness and
divinity of the scriptures on the fruit they
had borne on the obvious, admitted effect
they had in leading men to virtue and happi-
ness, and the highest attachments humanity
had made The presentation of such an argu-
ment he thought timely because OF the prevail
ence of doubts as to the entire truthfulness OF
the scriptures Such doubts had been sown
broadcast by infidel teachings, and had been
eagerly seized by the naturally unbelieving
hearts of irreligious men, who were thereby
rendered invulverable by the shafts of Gods
word. They had poisoned the minds OF the
young and old, had loosened the restraints OF
virtue, and were the greatest obstacle to the
progress of religion.
The presumptive argument for divine rev.
elation was first considered. Ii we advance
step beyond blank atheism, and admit the ex-
istence of God it is presumable that he would
in some way communicate with his creature,
man. We could not conceive OF God, the par
emit mind and man, the offspring mind, exist
ing together, and both capable of communicate
ing thoughts and feelings, for such we know to
be the prerogative of mind, and yet they never
have any intercourse Was it admitted that
God might communicate with man in spirit
ual manner, Gods spirit making an impression
on mans spirit? That involved all that was
claimed for a word revelation-that "holy men
of God spake as they were moved by the Holy
Ghost" God, in giving the thoughts gave also
necessarily the words which embodied then,
but such words as correspondent TO the mental
calibre and characteristics OF the mind through
which the inspiration came. Here was ample
verge and scope for all the peculiarities of
style found in the scriptures, and yet the
words were of God as truly as the thoughts
Thought is inseperable from the form OF ex-
preston containing it'll 1t is not thought with
in our grasp till it is at least mentally embodied
in words. Hence we do not call the bible the
thought of God, but "the word of God" If
God ever communicated an idea to man it
must have been in words, unspoken words 1T
may be, but words nevertheless. We say he
speaks to the heart. not suggests
II there is a word revelation from God it
must be the bible. There is not another book
that has the shadow of claim. 1t is this or
nothing; this, or God has not spoken in the
ears of men; this, or we are not only orphaned
but disowned.
The speaker then proceeded to elaborate his
argument drawn from the benefcent effects ct
the bible on the race. Wherever it is known,
revered and obeyed there humanity rises, andka
in exact ratio to the degree in which it is |
known, revered and obeyed. This could not be
successfully disputed, and it was impossible |
that error could have this effect. Nor could |
it be said that the bible was partly true and |
partly false, and that it was the truths that |
had produced the good, for precisely those |
parts of it to which exceptions are most gen |
orally taken have been specifically endorsed by |
the scripture Writers whose teachings have |
reformed the world, by Paul, by Peter, by |
Jesus.
Y. NJ. C. A.
The Young Mems Christian Association held !
three services yesterday as follows: Prayer
meeting at the rooms at 9.15 a. M, open air
meeting on Fore street at s p. M, gospel meet
ing at the rooms at 1850 p. m. The attendance
at the open air meeting numbered over three
hundred the address was by Rev. DIR. Nc
Keown OF Chestnut street church. The even
ing meeting at the rooms which was also |
largely attended, especially by young men, was
conducted by Dea. I'll. W. Shaylor of High i
street Congregational church At this meat 4
ing an earnest and practical address was made /
by Mr.. w. p. Crombie of Toronto, travelling |
secretary for the Young Mems Christian Assoc
Citations of the provinces of Ontario and Que
bee, who is spending a few days in Maize for |
the benefit of his health.