The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-12-14

ton unless can unfold to you the rationale
of all these things and tell you precisely what
the virtue is that comes from Christ for our
salvation then will send you down TO the
western Union office with the question of the
Coresn ambassador, "What then is electrici-
t." and will show you men availiDg them
serves .t all tne while OF an agent OF which not
even the wisest among them knows what it is,
but only how it works. o, If you would only
do with the Gospel as power OF God for your
salvation what you are always doing with the
power OF God for your service, you would ina
mediarely conform to its conditions and turn to
Christ in faith and penitence. When YOU do
thus comply with its conditions and laws, then
you Will be saved; for no power of God ever
iaiis. Ihat Is why we speak here with such
unqualified confidence. If that result depend
Gods power, we should fear 10 exaggerate;
but we are absolutely sure of that. Then,
nnally, because 1t Is Gods power, it is not a
thing to be trifed With. You know what hap
pens when a man plays with electricity. Let
him violate any OF its conditions and he Is in
stantly destroyed. And SO, If YOU refuse to
avail yourselves of the Gospels power of sal
walton according to its conditions and approach
lt ss an antagonist or railer, the very fact
Ina. .i II Is GODS powor will work to your perdi-
ton, and you will be struck down By the out
flashing of the wrath Of the Lamb
But the suggestiveness of this parallel be-
tween the power OF God in Nature and in
Grace has led me little away from the point
on which wished, first OF all, to insist, this
viz: that if you have to do with God in the
overtures of the Gospel then the hearing of its
proclamstions assumes very serious character
indeed. For on such case you have to answer
not the herald but God. The minister is but
man. he may be also very poorly surnished
man, and If he were talking other subjects he
might show himself much inferior to you in
his requirements and abilities But ii he ia
proclaimirg the Gospel, If as tested by the
statements OF this book his representations are
true, then he has been the Instrument OF
bringing before you the message of God to
you; and from Ethat point ON you have to
do not with him bet with God. The most he
can say is what God said to David, "Advise
now and see what answer 1 shall return to
him that sent me, but the answer is made to
God not to him. Have you thought of that
sufficiently, my hearer? 1t may be an easy
thing to put me off. 1t would be no great
matter to despise me. 1t might be even venial
enough TO amuse yourselves If you choose over
my words and ways. That were little If that
we're ALL But in SO far forth as / publish
Gods overture that HE was in Christ recon-
CLING the world unto Himself, not imputinx
unto men their trespasses; that He made Him
to be sin for us who knew no sin, that we
might be made the righteousness OF God in
for Christ, as though God did beseech you by
me" then it is with God that you have to do
and not with me. That Is the Significance of
this open bible upoD this desk. That Is what
makes the enjoyment of Gospel privileges so
solemn. 1t Is great opportunity, but It is
great peril-an opportunity OF salvation.
peril OF peculiarly aggravated perdition.
lmplore You to consider well all that these inn
God. ~ N''As WIN
The speakers third head was that wa have
to do with God in the dispensations of Provi-
dence; his fourth that he have to do with God
In the duties of daily life and finally that we
snail have to do with God in the awards of
final Judgment.
Inc charge to the pastor OF Rev. Mr.. Sewall
was most appropriate, aiming only to give some
friendly hints as to his methods of work. Two
or three great forces were referred to as means
OF hitting up the people. One is to put the
thoughts OF God into the people. Another,
power to move men in their impulses The
minister has access to host of these impulses
with which to move men. Another agent il
the power of personal character. This is be-
hind aud above all sermons, and can lift the
people up towards God
Rev. Mr.. Bayley gave a cordial and most
fraternal welcome to the new pastor, assuring
him OF the hearty sympathy and love of his
fellow workers and the cooperation of the
churches.
Rev. Mr.. Adriance gave pleasant words of
counsel to the church, urging them to work
earnestly with their pastor in carrying on the
work of the Lord. He reminded them that
besides their relation to their pastor, they
were related to each other. A third point
they should remember is, that the church is
Christ's church, and its great object is to save
souls. This is the day for the church to 90
out to all classes, and as individual workers
seek to save the lost. The speaker made
touching refereRce to the dangerous illness of
the infant child of the former pastor of the
church. Rev. Mr.. Clark, and he was also re-
membered in the closing prayer by Rev. DR.. |
Westwood.
All the exercises were especially interesting |
and we should not fail to refer to the installa-
ton prayer of Rev. DR. Carruthers, the Oldest
living Congregational ex-pastor in this section
Of the State.