Daily Kennebec journal., 1884-05-12

AT THE Frnsr BAPr1sr.

AG0DeSttVe CA0TCAGDs
Ar THE FIRsr BAPTIST.
The pulpit vas filed by Rev. DR.. Pepper
Of Colby. Text. Acts ~ 20: For We can
not but speak the things which we have seen
and heard" Much of the sermon vas in sup
port of the truths Of the bible.
Ar THE CoxGREGArIoxALIsr.
Rev. Mr.. Skeele exchanged pulpits with
Mr.. Bailey of the State street church, Port
land. Mr.. Bailey preached very deep and
able sermon. taking for his text Matthew
XIII 81: Another parable put he forth unto
them. saying: The kingdom of heaven il like
to q grain of mustard seed ,sowed in his field. ="
Seed life is illustrative of the christian life.
First, in its slow beginning; second, in its
gradual development; third, in the reproduc-
ton of itself. Mr.. Bailey also delivered an
excellent discourse in the evening.
Ar THE FREE BAPTIST.
The sermon was by Rev. r. Churchill of
Richmond, who took for his text, Rev. XXI:
5-"And he that sat upon the throne said,
Behold make all things new" The text
was finely illustrated by analogies from life
and nature. Our bodies are constantly
changing and decaying, but God renews each
part as it has need, God makes all things
new in the materia, world and these are a
manifestation of his purposes. The autumn
we saw decay now instead we see resplend-
ent forms. Stand in the midst of these things
and forget if you can that God only renews
nature but the soul. God will call us to ac-
count for our knowledge. Reason asks how
does God make all thing. new. and we an
swer by perfect submission to His laws. God
is the same in spiritual affairs as in material.
By obedience to His laws heights are at
tanned as in no other way-''For there is none
other name under heaven given among men,
whereby We must be saved
AT THE METHODIST.
Rev. Mr.. Bradlee preached from lisa. XIII :
81. Subject-Methodism The words of
the prophet, applicable to all truly christian
people, were used to designate the denomi-
nation represented by those that stately
worship in the speakers congregation. Re-
ligions sects and denominational bars are
necessary. Every christian should have a
religious home that he should love tenderly
and support generously. One should not be
hastily in making the selection, but when
made it should be a positive one. Six
months probation required before joining the
Methodist church gave opportunity for de.
liberate and conscientious choice. We
should aim to be intelligent members of the
church. The entire history of Methodism
could not be outlined in a single discourse,
but the speaker proposed to continue the dis
cussiOn in subsequent sermons of the year.
The three following questions were consid-
cred briefly: What is Methodism? What
has it done? What may it accomplish? 1t
was stated that there we're 3,775.740 Episco.
pal Methodists in the United States at the
present time and that the total number of
Methodists in the world were 5, ,064, ,564.
AT THE UNITARIAN.
The pastor occupied his pulpit. Text
Matt. vi :2S-"Consider the lilies" The
soul hungers after scenes directly from God
and the text reminds US of the profound mean.
ing that lies in the simplest objecss. The
lily builds itself up from within. We must
grow from the root of our being, and be true
to ourselves. If the tiny bells or even a leaf
were torn away from a lily, it would still
struggle TO fulfil its life, because it grows
from the root, and the root is not gone. Shall
we be stripped of something we bold dear.
and therefore cease to grow? Garry on your
life work with patience and energy, and rest
from the too weary strain, by remembering
that he who clothes the lilies is round you,
close as the air, warm as the sunlight, with
His helping ministers. Learn also the les
son taught by the beauty of the lilies, and let
your beauty be as theirs-the outward ex-
preston of an inwardly pure nature. The
| lilies grow everywhere in Palestine, and
wherever we are placed, let that little spot
be more pleasant because we are in it. Con-
tl.,a 4 Af tl,
attract moisture and thus Great the conditions
under which vegetation can exist. How
useful, In beautifying themselves they
beautfy the world. We must fertilize the
society in which we move, by cur influence
and example, make it more possible for 9TH
ers to live nobler lives. Shall we be con-
tent with what we have been, or with what
we are now? Let us transmit to others what
we have ourselves received. and do our part tc
brighten the world with purity and blessing
AT THE UNIvERsALIsr.
A large congregation gathered to hear the
special discourse advertised to be delivered
at this time. The pastor took for his tex
Hebrew XII IS: But if We are without chas
tening, whereof all have been made partak
ers, then are y bastards, and not sons" Hs
dwelt in the forepart of the discourse upor
the absolute certainty that punishment
would follow every transgression of the di
vine law, but proceeded upon the postulate
which is the corner stone of all christian
theology. Out of this comes the law, out O.
this all penalties and punishments for thu
violation of the law. With this they mus
harmonize, and into this, at last, they mus
all be resolved. God had great object il
the creation of the many moral obligations