The Portland daily press., 1888-05-29
CONGREGATIONAL MINISTERS.
me Cumberland Association Cele'
brates Its Centennial.
Abstract of Rev. Or. Barbour's
Powerful Sermon.

ing event opened last evening at the Second
Parish church according to the programme
given in the Press of Monday.
After finely rendered opening anthem by
the church choir, and reading the Scriptures
by Rev. Mr.. Hallock of the Williston church,
words Of welcome were spoken by Rev. Mr..
Daniels, pastor of the church.
The speaker referred to the appropriate
ness OF making mention Of Gods past mercies
as good preparation for the right enjoy
ment of future blessings. He spoke of the
object of the formation of the association
hundred years ago-for mutual help, coun-
sci, Inspiration and friendly criticism. He
referred to the wonderful changes that have
taken place within these hundred years.
They herald yet more wonderful changes for
the year to come all working in the interest
of that Kingdom which is finally to extend
over the whole earth. The speaker closed
with cordial words of welcome to all those
that had come to participate in these
pleasant services, wishing that by them they
may be benefited mentally and spiritually.
The choir sang the hymn Rock of Ages"
and Rev. Daniel Greene, of Machias, offered
prayer, with beautiful response by the
choir after which Rev. Mr.. Hallock intro
duced as the preacher of the evening Rev.
Prof. Barbour, d. d.. president of the Con-
gregational College, Montreal, Canada. The
following is an abstract of his sermon
PROF. BARBoUR's SERMON.
Prof. Barbour took his text from Rom. s.:
35, 3S, 39-"Who shall separate us from the
love of Christ? | am persuaded that neither
death nor life shall be able to
separate u.s." The preacher said that this
wonderful epistle should be read without a
break, yet we may take one of its gems as an
indication of its marvellous wealth. He gave
a brief outline of its argument, ana then
announced as the theme of his remarks
What has the Christian to persuade him
that no power can separate him from the
love of Christ?
powers to be feared the must potent one
we may affirm that death will not separate
the Christian from the love of Christ. Why
/. Because death, as here meant, is mere
bodily change; and it need not interrupt
the flow Of love between Christ and the
Christian soul.
H. Because the power of that love over
the Christians heart Is stronger than the
power of death over that heart There are
three aspects of this change which disturb
us. One is the fear of the physical pain of
dying. But we should trust that the love of
Jesus which led him to die for us, will give
us grace for the hour of death. Again, the
terror of death to many is sin. But Jesus
has conquered death and taken away his
sting, hence, that can no longer threaten
those whom he protects and guides. Again,
some are fearful of death as the introduction
to, or entrance upon, new mode of exist
ence. The Apostles triumphant language
should remove from timid souls all such fear
as this
Ill. The gospel resurrection is powerful
persuasion that the Christian will not be
separated from the love Of Christ by death.
For. first of all, death made no change in
Jesus, or in His love. He appeared to his
disciples just as He did before His death.
Moreover, He had His disciples on
His heart as fully as before He died. In our
Lords death and rising again, there is an
earnest of our own; and He being the first
fruits of them that slept, the fashioning of
GUS body; so that, as His love after death
was like all we know of him before death,
we are assured that we shall never be sepa-
rated from that love.
IV.-The testimony of the Christian liv-
ing and dying, is another proof that death
Christ.
V.-But before and hey ond all this, the
Christian is assured of his Redeemer's love,
because. as he knows from undoubted evil
dence that this love began for him before he
entered this life, he is persuaded that the
ending of this life is not to be the ending of
that love. In concluding the preacher said !:
Let me close with :First-A.word of search
ing. Under this wonderful gospel how am
living? What power has this love over
me now? What separates me from it in
thought and life? What silly things keeps
me from feeling its power to bind me closer
to the Savior, o. | shall be an easy prey to
the last enemy if have no experience of its
power to over come the intervening evils Of
Second-'l = sn,ei,,
the.je6fd means well by us when he has had
l>such things written for us. Let this revela-
ton of our Lord have its due as a consoling
gospel full of joy and hope and certainty.
Especially let 1t reach all the be-
Ieaved, or those about to be bereaved.
Absent from us,our dead are not absent from
Linn nor separated from His heart. Until
some power shall tear the God head asunder.
and so weaken Him who is mighty to save,
none shall pluck them from his hand. And
until some one shall counterpart with success
the divine purposes, none shall separate
them from his love. What meaning does
this. put into the words: BLESSED are the
dead who die in the Lord" And for our
selves we may well say:
"Then welcome death,
Thy freezing Kiss emancipates,-
The rest is bliss"
Third-A word of inspiration. What
lies between us and the full fruition of this
assurance? Into it, whatever it may be, as
lead us, let us go-into conflict for victory as
they went, into conflict with adversely, and
disappointment.
Out of the worst Of ills we may say
Take, o world, what thou wilt, all the
sweeping experiences of the centuries,
friends, property, reputation, c0mfort,-life
itself; but this you cannot have, the undying
love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our
Lord"
The services today will be as follows. All
services will be open to the public
ga. m-Social meeting for prayer and confer
ence.
10 a. m.-Historical review with sketch of the
original membership Rev. A. HI. Wright. Per-
sonal "reminiscences from past and present mem
bers.
2.So p. m.-Sermon-Prof Egbert c. smyth, d.
d., OF Andover Theological Seminary.
$50 p. administration of the Lords Supper.