The Portland daily press., 1885-11-30

PULPIT AND PLATFORM.
rnpr srREEr BAprIsr ouuRcH.

FREE STREET BAPTIST CHURCH.
Rev. Albert 7. Dunn. pastor of the Free street
church, preached to his congregation yesterday
morning from the words in Matt. xiii 20:
"Neither be We called masters for one is your
Master, even Christ" The speaker said that
these words were spoken at this time in the pres
ence Of the disciples because they had shown to
Him the passion they felt for distinction and
worldly preferment, and this lesson of humility
was intended as rebuke of the pride they ex-
hibited. An essential element of Christianity is
humility, and everywhere it is taught by example
and precept as in the calling the little child whom
they were to become like to enter the kingdom Of
Heaven, and in the incident where the Master
washed the disciples feet. These illustrate the
spirit of Christianity and show that the Christian
life is a service of humility. In the anecdote
where a mother answered her childs question as
to the way of acquiring the rich fame won by
some Industrious men by saying it was by being
obedient and good we have correct and direct
way of reaching practical goodness, that which is
the bud and flower aid fruit OF Christian faith.
The Lord is the example of truest faith; from
humble manger to humble cross He shows the
same absence of Self-seeking and counselS His
disciples to abstain from it. Humility is an
clement of power; without it mans life is INSULT
cient for good and his Christian character is but
dwarfed.
1t has happened, and most naturally that men
have given prominence to His character as their
of gratitude awakened in ones mind when he
feels he has been freed from SIM Though this is
cherished way in which to view His character, we
should hold it carefully for While lie is Saviour,
He is at the same time Master and Lord. one OF
the dangers confronting our national life arises
from the fact that all the freedman has yet
learned is that he is free, and has not gained
proper conception of the duties and responslblll-
ties resting upon him as citizen by reason OF his
freedom So in the Christian life very many do
not get beyond the fact of the new birth: We
talk of serving Him. but are we ready to 90 ltp
snonG When # co comes Submission runs all
through the New Testament and is printed on
the forehead of every Christian; it must be there
for him to offer the truest service. Slight matters
of Self-will have kept many man from christ;
until utter surrender He cannot enter the heart
This submission is not for life but for all time.
Some Christians fail to understand that it is con-
tinuous and not spasmodic. II he becomes our
Saviour it is by an eternal surrender TO nm CIV
life. Since the time when we surrendered our
will to His will, we have not been and can never
be our own again. Let us never forget, whatever
may have been our lives since them If at that time
we were born into Gods Kingdom we nave not
The earth life of the Christian is then neither
one of ease and Incidence, nor OF entire indie
pendenee. but it is one of service which he has
Voluntarily chosen. The. New Testament con
stantly refers to it as kingdom. He with the
right to command, we with the duty to obey;
obedience will bring joy and peace 4,.
We call Him Master and Lord to many these
words are but empty titles when they might
reveal the wealth OF His beauty and power: He
TO CilLrOI all D6dTlS duu uNtSs Oul UCiClo
De subject to him. We often hear "that it makes
no difference what man believes so long as he is
sincere;" but sincerity is no proof OF correctness
the mother at the Ganges Is SINCERE. III does
make difference sVhat a man believes, ana we
shall make shipwreck Of our faith # we have any
other commander.
He has charge of our life in every interest and
detail All should recall this who attempt to
divorce business and religion. The true Chflstlan
principle holds man to as much honesty In
traae on Monday as in prayer meeting on sun
day. The Lords standards are the same for every
day in the week and an honest prayer cannot fol-
low an unfair trade. The Master has charge OF
our social life that very important factor in living
for good or evil. The Christian has no right TO
have companions who drive away the Master and
bring spiritual loss to himself and reproach to the
cause he processes to serve In choosing our
companions and amuSements we must remember
that we are Christians. Nor are we to select by
the standards of the world.
He has charge of our minds; we cannot wen
separate this from other departments Oh our NE.
They have been given for a purpose, 1t IS our
right and duty to develop them. Ignorance sell
imposed is a sin, and man who is SatlShed WIN
his present development is stopping far short OF
his opportunity. The books and studies should
be chosen which will help his Christian growth; it
is hard to estimate the influence OF good books
Rum and bad literature are the greatest agencies
in filling our prisons An appalling and growing
evil in Christian homes is the increase OF trashy
novel reading. They tend to impair the mind and
dwarf the powers of thought which God has given
MS When we have His approval the literature
we read will glow with fresh inspiration and our
minds will expand to take in the deep and hidden
things of God So in every way Christ holds the
mastery of our lives from the beginning to the
and If is such a Master and Saviour as this whom
we present to the world today