Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1885-11-12
Sun day in the Churches.

Al the Methodist church the pastor the
Rev. F. H. Osgood. preached from the text
Take We away the stone" John lI-39.
Gu, upon the hillside in Bethany sleeps
Lazarus. Death has done its work. -Four
days ago bereayed company deposited
there in cave the cherished form Of him
whom they had reluctantly surrendered into
the hands Of death. a ponderous stone
now rests with resisting weight upon the
door Of the cave. Death hold, It's victim in
an iron grasp.
Jesus who is the resurrection and the life.
stands at that grave ready TO revive the
sleeper. But his kingdom is a kingdom of
laws and conditions and he will no, Sc, aside
the laws Of his righteous government even
in the working OF miracle. One Of his
laws IS that he viii not do for men wha, they
can do for themselves
Omnipotence becomes tremulous with vi
Ia energy to make human extremity the d.
vine opportunity hence brief sentence of
three words brought Lazarus to life and sen,
him and his rejoicing sisters to their home
in great JOY. We invite attention 10 three
thoughts growing out of this narrative
|. The analogy existing between the
physical deait and burial Of Lazarus and
the spiritual condition OF the unregenera,ed
ii. The analogy existing between the
process Christ used in raising Lazarus and
the process he will use in saving souls.
III. The analogy existing between the
obedience to Christ Of Lazarus living
friends in order to his resurrection and the
obedience the church must render to God in
order to the salvation of souls.
Disobedience on the part of Lazarus
friends would no doubt have kept the dead
man in his grave. So the salvation of souls
is not a question of human ability but a
question Of divine ability through human
| obedience to God.
| If human instruments are right God will
speedily accomplish the salvation of men
through them.
! AT the Baptist church the sermon of last
| Sunday followed up that of the week be.
| fore. on "Repairing the Church" from the
| text, "know We not that We are temple of
| God ?" Almost every church in the place
| has spent large sums within the last few
/ years IN repairing and beautifyng its house
of worship. What they need to do now is
| to set TO work and repair and adorn the spr-
itual temples of God in like manner. No
/ church OF Jesus Christ can plead poverty as
an excuse for the poor condition of its spir-
/ ltual house, when each member of it has the
bank Of the grace of God upon which he
may draw. The text last Sunday was, BE
strong and work, for am with
you, saith the Lord of hosts" Common repu-
tation is good indication of real character.
Let church deserve respect and it will have
it. Ii surely is no extravagant ambition
for church Of the Lord Jesus Christ to set
its heart upon winning unqualified respect
for the common virtues and graces of
good life. Every Christian should write
upon his heart for inspiration and guidance,
that old Jewish legend, Strength and beau
ty are in Thy sanctuary" until such time
as it can be written upon the walls of the
house of worship. and be only the simple
truth respecting the spiritual temple
The discourse at the Unitarian church
treated Of Gods impartislity and mans place
and duty in the world. God is as much the
God Of one people as of another. One is
no more bis favorite nation than another.
Truth is as free to one as another. Human
ity has come to be what it is only after
long and severe struggle beginning far back