Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-01-27
UNION SERVICES.
COME TO THE FEAST, FOR ALI
THINGS ARE NOW READY.
Sermon of Rev. II. FL. Rice at the
Congregational Church Last
Evening.

The bowling winds, the descending rain
and the muddy condition Of the streets last
night prevented many, who otherwise
would, from attending the Union services
in the Congregational Church last evening,
and in consequence the attendance was not
nearly so large as that of preceding even
ings
The services were conducted by Rev. H.
H. Rice, pastor of Westminster Presbvte-
rian Church. After the singing of several
hymns Rev. Mr.. Rice read the last chapter
of Revelations, after which DIR. Frost
offered up fervent prayer.
The minister chose for his text the last
clause, st. Luke, xiv. II: Come, for all
things are now ready" Those words were
spoken by our Lord at feast in the house
of one of the chief Pharisees The ont
ward feast and banquet has become en-
biematical of the inward the BLESSINGS
which our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
came to earth to set before mankind. That
Is the gospel l would preach to you to-
night Come to the gospel feast and par
take OF its blessings. The interest YOU
have, or the pleasures you derive from an
earthly least, depends to great extent
upon the person who invites or
EXTENDS YOU THE INVITATION.
1fit is dear friend, man of character and
standing, or one high in authority II is
highly appreciated. In the third wear of his
reign Ahasurus, as il is written in the
6ook OF Esther, made feast unto all
ms princes and servants, the power of
Persia and Media, the mobiles and princes
OF the provinces being before him. He
showed them the wealth of his KINGDOM
ior one hundred and eighty days AT the
expiration OF that time he made feast for
all the people great and small. for seven
days in the court of the garden of his mag
nIhcent palace, where were white, green
and blue hangings, fastened with cords of
fine linen and purple to silver rings and
pillars OF marble. The bells were of cold
ana silver upon u pavement of red and
blue, and whAe and black marble. He
gave them drink in vessels of gold. and
royal wine n abundance And the drink-
ing at the feast was according TO law: none
were compelled, for the King had decreed
what his guests should do every man ac-
cording to his own pleasure julius Caesar
ieasted 22,0OO of his subjects when he was
at the zenith of his power. Belshazzar
and others high in authority entertained
their subjects in a similar manner. The
very TACT that an invitation came from a
man OF wealth or distinction, AN Emperor
or nobleman, of itself gave great pleasure.
1t is the Lord God Almighty who
SPREADS THE FEAST OF THE GOSPEL.
And bids you come. 1t is not dream,
put an absolute truth. that Christ has come
down and spread feast and communion
Tor sinful man. Yes, it is true the Heavens
have been rent asunder, and that God has
spread before you the feast of the gospel
and invited you to come. He has invited
you IN his blessed word the ministers of
the gospel bear the glad tidings. You
should accept the invitation. crv aloud. and
say oh, God; l come 10 thee" There
are two ideas embraced in the word. First,
good fellowship second something good
to eat. You go into magnificent parlors,
tread upon beautiful carpets, feast Your
eyes upon the lovely paintings that deco
rate the walls, and grasp the hand of mine
host. The pleasure experienced in the last
act is one not soon forgotten. How we'll
some OF you remember taking
THE HAND OF LINCOLN OR GRANT.
And how interestedly have you listened to
those who tell you of having once taken
the hand of Washington. 1t CONVEYS the
idea of good-fellowship, communion and
familiarity. Much of the pleasure of q
banquet depends upon whether the host
IS a good or bad entertainer according tc
how they make their guests feel at ease
He that is success in this line
makes you feel as though YOU
were in your own house, perfectly
at home. Blessed be God. In
the feast of God all is good fellowship. and
YOU can commune with Father, Son and
Holy Spirit just as familiarly and tenderlv
as with your loved ones in the family
circle. Your Father, Eternal God. is a
refuge, and he will sustain you with his
loving arms. Walk with God, as Enoch
walked with God. When Jesus is present
everything is easy; when Jesus is absent
everything is difficult. With Christ in our
hearts all of earth below
BECOMES \ PICTURE OF HEAVEN.
We are invited to commune with the
children OF God i'll the temple of the Holy
Ghost We, in our daily walks. meet the
business mana kind friend, a good neigh
Dor Alter ne has become converted to
God, he greets us with grasp of the hand
J ilgbt III the eye, an affection of soul never
possible before he gave himself TO Christ
He enjoys that eternal communion of soul
with soul, which will be for ever and ever.
If the Christians in this community We're
united and blended together. the enemies
of our blessed Savior would fade from the
sight of God. Nine out of ten who visit
your house remember the visit with pleas
lre, according TO the variety of food and
the manner in which it is cooked. You
with a vivid recollection as Won
have Travelled about the world the places
where you enjoyed a fine beefsteak or
chicken dinner, and YOU remember also the
places where the feast was little more
-han display of empty dishes.
some evil persons say that the
feast OF the Gospel is nothing but
back that charge in the face Of
Infdels and describe the most dainty of
viands. Bread is food for bodies. so is truth
for the soul Truth What is truth?' is
asked by many with trembling heart. God
IS truth-absolute divine truth. God is
your food; feed upon that truth, your
Father. The Lord
JESUS CHRIST Is YOUR SAVIOUR.
The Holy Spirit is your sanctifer. It is
a fact feed upon it, We must take Christ
into our hearts and have the great and
glorious truth of God cternal-ake it within
ourselves. God has come into my souI
Jesus is my Saviour. He saved me. He
has saved others; and there are others
also to be saved. | wish to point
you tonight to the fact that Jesus
Christ has come to extend to YOU the
blessings Of Immortality. Look beyond
the grave, where many of your loved ones
have gone ON before, and feed your poor
and hungry souls upon the gospel truth.
Prepare to grasp the hands of loved ones
IN the great beyond. Look to the resurrec-
i n-when victory shall come and the grave
be forgotten-and you shall feed in heaven
upon eternal truth forever and ever. Who
ire invited TO this feast? FIRST the Jews
were invited, then the Gentiles. First
hose in the Church, then those outside.
And the spirit and the bride saw. come
md let him that heareth say, come and
ct h5m that is athirst, come: and whoqo-
sver will. let him take the water OF life
reelx. But you say, ana too sinful.
TEE WORD Is wEosoEvER."
I IS an invitation extended to the King en-
he throne, the felon IN his cell, the wan