The Portland daily press., 1883-08-13
PULPIT AND PLATFORM.
STATE STREET CHURCH.

STATE STREET CHURCH.
In the morning at the State street church,
Rev. DIR. Hepworth preached from the text
10 John 1886. "My Kingdom is not of this
World" The preacher said that Jesus the re-
former, never struck a sadder chord in the hu-
man heart than when he uttered this saying in
the hearing OF those who believed in his Mes
siahship. His religion was essentially revolu-
tionary in its nature; it was to push aside ex-
isting systems, and his followers were to wit
ness his triumphant progress to universal do
minion. When then, at the time Of his be-
trayal, he submitted to his enemies; and in
stead of exerting his divine power to sweep
them from the earth, suffered them to accom-
plish their malignant purpose, his disciples
were dismayed over the utter failure of their
cherished hopes They intended to be faith
ful and were ready to die, il need be. for the
master they loved; butthey could not believe
that he who had ruled the storm and eonouer-
ed death could thus fall int the power Of his
foes. But they forgot that Christs Kingdom
was one of ideas; that truth and not material
force, was the secret of its power. An idea is
more potent than an armed host and the mar.
shaled ranks of earth's mightiest rnler will
melt away before the silent onset Of a oraat
truth. The right, without the aid of human
power, will conquer the wrong though allied
with all the material forces of the world. The
words OF Jesus were stronger than the armies
OF his enemies. When Constantine looked nm.
on the cross, blazing in the eastern sky and
took 1t as the sign of bis work and index Of his
thought, be brought the world to his feet and
so in the succeeding ages of the church great
truths have proved their supremacy over all
the forms of material force
Ideas, not physical power, have been the con-
trolling force in the worlds history. II has
, ,aken eighteen hundred years for the world TO
learn this fact; and while our own age il right
In Its general aim, yet it is tco impalsiye and
unstable, and needs deeper conviction that
truth is the controlling power in the world,
Carlyle said that the best government on the
earth is despotsm; but, he added-you must
pc sure that your despotsm is perfect one.
NOW Gods government of the material world
is despotism, for he governs it by unchan@.
ing law and irreversible truth. We are TO re-
member that Jesus occupies in the moral
world the same position that God has IN tbe
physical universe The word of Jesus il To he
the sole rule in the moral world. We are 10
yield implicit obedience to that word. and the
religion that has not this spirit of obedience is
mere shell.
The words of Jesus were spoken for all tina
lney We're true, and they are to rule the
Worid. All the wealth. honor and influence of
earth is nothing unless we keep in mind the
isct that oeyond this life is another and high
OF me; Inns great truth of mans Immortality
Jesus brought out and his presentation of Il
mas power TO revolutionary haracter We ra-
Jolce not merely to believe, but 10 know. that
neyonq TINS life there is bettor and higher
me. In the presence of death science is helm
less and intidelity is speechess. To each tbe
open grave Is hlled with the darkness OF de-
SPAR; and the struggling soul cries out for
nelp. The voice of Jesus answers that desnair.
ing cry; and at his word, the grave becomes
the passageway to the city of God. and throngh
deaths dark portal the redeemed soul. trust
Ing IN the word of Jesus, passes from all lifes
burdens and ascends the heavenly hills to its
eternal home.
SECOND PARISH.
kev. DIR. Dennen of New Haven preached in
the forenoon from Col. 2:9-"For ON him
dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bod
Hy. The character and work Of Christ ware
never more in question than today. He SUBJ
mlts himself to two tests, his words and his
works. He claims the reverence and worship
oi,all mankind, forgives sin, assumes to be the
Judge OF all men and claims equality with
Cod Put mere man behind these claims
and see how an indignant public would cast
him down. His works sustain and emphasize
his words. As historical facus, the miracles OF
Christ are proven. To disallow them is to
suoyert all historical evidence. The kingdom
which he has founded, which widens and
strengthens with every revolution of the SUM-
is second evidence of his divinity. Jesus
alone founded his empire on love.
In the afternoon the speaker opposed the
idea that the universe is machine, organized
and propelled by force, inherent in matter.
the object of which belief was to rid the mi.
verse of God. His topic was, the fatherhood
OF God, as seen in the rain, one of the most |
common of His works. His text was selected |
from JOB 81 Hath the rain father? or
VITO had begotten the drops of dew?" The |
hrst reference was to its abundance Thrae-
fonrths OF the earth's surface is water: the
veins and arteries of Mother Earth are full:
from tnirty-tive to forty miles of the air is sat
urated; our podles are four-ffths water. The
yastness OF this element proclaims a God
lt ls too vast for any other architect The va
rlety OF its uses is another consideration. 1t
supplies the motive power of the world II is
not only the source of power but the source of
lie. 1t is utilitarian and aesthetic agency
The rain drops are Gods scayengers: thew are
board of health. The rain beautifies man,s
abode. Taste, beauty, opnlence everywhere
marks the presence Of Gods hand. The rain
crops are coos artificers; they paint the
nelds, carpet the floor, fresco the sea- Rain
not only adorns the earths surface but it en-
riches 1t with precious metal. Again rain re-
Vels the almightiness of God. Water as a |
symbol OF sacred things was referred to. Mans |
condition in sin is likened to drouth and the |
forgiveness OF sin to baptism of water The |
provisions Of salvation are as broad and gener- |
ous as the abundance of water. The absence |
OF water typifies the state of the unforgiven
dead, while heaven is full of water. When
next you raise glass of water to your lips let
1t speak to you of Gods love.
NOTES.
Rev. DIR. Noble preached at Willston church
yesterday. He took for his morning text the
whole OF the xiii Psalm, and drew from it
most powerful and logical sermon
Rev. Mr.. Lane preached an excellent dis
course at Free street church, and Rev Mr..
Chandler at Pine street.