The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-09-28
PULPIT AND PLATFORM
STATE STREET CHURCH.

STATE STREET CHURCH.
President Hyde of Bowdoin College, preached
at this church yesterday to very large and inter-
ested congregation. President Hyde has clear
distinct utterance and graceful style of delivery
At the morning service he preached without
notes, from the following text: john It'll chapter,
18th verse,-''If any man will do his will, he shall
know of the doctrine" The ''will' here mention
ed is not the mere future it is the act OF choice
Radical changes are going on respecting educa-
ton. The old methods of instruction began with
distractions, after which came facts and details
Now education begins with details and acts, and
theories and books follow. The new methods re-
verse the order somewhat. Instead of starting
the students in sciences by the study of books and
distractions he is taken to the fields of nature
there to see and learn for himself and, in a meas
ure, to reach conclusions from his own reasonings
then come books and helps.
So also there has come change in the manner
of teaching religious truth. Formerly the child's
early teaching was the commandments and the
catechiSm, the hard answers OF which were some
times to his discomfort. Now, the Christian par
ent interests himself in the plans and work of the
child and teaches him in them to do the will Of
God, and thus brings him to knowledge of God
and Gods purposes by recognition of his Creator
in whatever he does.
If man have religious experience theology
will follow. To Illustrate this let us take four ex
amples. 1st-The being of God. How shall a
man know God exists? The old teachings of the
schools are known, but they require mental
training and are difficult for all to comprehend
even when the mind and body are free from dis
tress and WEAKNESS Is there, then, any way to
arrive at anything definite as to Gods being9 Do
Gods will, obey His commandments, and you will
have no doubt Of His existence, and
more NOR than Soldier doubts the existence Of his
commander whom he followed into battle. Your
oau Of Him MI, will be cerrset for your
pleasure. ID. Depravity Of Man. 1t has brought
live without reference to Gods will
think well of yourself and be blind to your
weakness and deprayity, but take the law, Chou
thy neighbours thyself' and try to do it: let that
be your. IDEAL and your failures will be self-ev-
that mans nature is imperfect and depraved
3D.. Divinity OF Christ.If any man prac-
tieally - willeth to do o the win of, Of Go9d1
men alike confess their sins and acknowledge
their failures. This is mankind's mark; Turn
now to Jesus; He could turn to all, even his enc:
sin?' He knew the qualities of his nature and
what purposes filled his heart. Compare human
feetness of character and living and you will be-
lieye Him when he says II and my Father are
one" 4th Atonement; How shall 1--we we be sure sure
courses of conduct which may be taken as to
erring men and women as you meet them in life;
You may rejoice over their sins and failures, and
may find pleasure in making them the subject of
gossip and unfriendly criticism, but in this, you
are not following Gods way, On the other hand,
and many will frown on you, and you will encoun-
ter opposition and sacrifices in your efforts to save
these depraved ones. Even they themselves will
add their opposition to that of Others 1t will cost
suffering and sacrifice which will family interpret
to YOU the sufferings of the cross OF Christ Expe-
rience in doing the will of God is the only way OF
knowing what Christ did to save the world from
sin.
In conclusion, first, to those who have not ac-
cepted Gods will as the supreme rule OF life. You
know you ought, but you say you do not Know
how, are not sure of the way, answer by an II
lustration. You want man In your store. YOU
say, come, work for me; / will give you good
salary aud make your duties agreeable. de re-
plies don't know your goods or your prices l
your methods of business, After have learned
come and learn them atmy store; you shall be IN
structed as to my goods, and prices, and methods,
and will introduce you to my customers. You
shall learn all by doing the duties of your position
and you cannot in any other way: Apply this 70
religion. knowledge of any kind can come only
ing. cite another illustration in business. You
are engaged in manufacturing. You have good
WOrkmen satisfied customers and q profitable
trade. A man appears and tells you your machin-
ery your methods and your goods are all wrong.
Your business is all mistake. You must revise it
by the adoption of scientific methods Which he
suggests You reply, / am not prepared to dis
discuss it with them. My machinery and my
workmen do good work, my goods sell well and at
a profit; my customers are satisfied. / shall re-
tain my workmen and my methods until others
are demonstrated to be better. SO in religion. A
lifelong practice of ChTists teachings has never
resulted in dissatisfaction or failure Arguments
may be made and discussions had, but so long as