Bridgeton pioneer., 1889-05-02
Mr., MILLS In BRIDGETON.
THRONGS ATTENDING HIS
THREE SERVICES.
Forgotten ssSelf.
Dedication and s.Ease in
Zion" --- Overflow Meet
Ings held in other
Churches.

Churches.
What did you think of the sermon
this norning?''
Il liked it; but | don't think near SO
much Of myself"
Thls was the comment of one Chris
tian nearer on the sermon, which the
Rev. B. Fay Mills preached twice
Sunday; in the morning at the First
Baptist, and in the evening at the
First Presbyterian church. 1t is like
ly good many more people thought
in much the same way. Mr.. Mills
breaches plain, direct, eloquent Gospel
truth, and tries to hit every time. He
wastes no time nor words; the morn
ing service was out long before 10
O'Clock. His choice of language will
please the most fastidious, while it can
be understood by child; and he gains
great control over his hearers.
Neither church, though chosen as
among the largest in the city, came
anywhere near holding all the people
who wanted to get in. This made it
apparent how wise it was to repeat
the same sermon morning and evening.
At both hours the Committee opened
overflow" churches, the Central in
the morning, where Mr.. Handley had
particularly selected Mr.. Beadle to
preach, and at the Second Presbyter-
ian church in the evening, where Mr..
Mcneil preached. Thus there was no
distinction of denominations anywhere
to be seen. On the big new choir plat
form at the Baptist church in the
morning, sat pastors Cass (Baptist),
Stultz (Methodist Protestant), Neal
(M. E., and Belden (Presbyterian). A
similar fraternity was seen in the after
noon. In the evening the First Pres
byterian Church was packed to reple-
tion, crovding every part of the house
with perhaps even more than the.
mornings congregation. The over
flow went as directed to hear Mr.. Nc
Neils excellent sermon from Matt.
xvi, is: Thou art the Christ, the Son
OF the living God" This congregation
were evidently not the regular Second
Presbyterian one, and fairly filled that
house.
Mr. Mills preached morning and
evening from ii Corinthians, viii; 5:
First they gave their own selves to
the Lord" This is what we need to do
if we desire a revival; not to pray that
the Holy Spirit be outpoured upon us,
for He is in the world for us and has
never withdrawn from Gods people.
We should understand then how to
give ourselves to God To be a real
gift it must be done of choice, our
own choice, fighting against what
ever sin is peculiar to US. And it
must be without any motive, but
to please and honor God, not selfishly.
and it must be irrevocable. Self-dedi-
cation goes before everything else.
Life may be said to be made up of
knowledge, experience and service;
but to obtain any of them in the
Christian life we must give ourselves
to God first. If we will do this sincerely
and thoroughly, we shall receive the
power of the Holy Spirit. The dis
course was filled with beautiful and
impressive illustrations and appeals,
which brought tears to the eyes of not
a few hearers. The congregations were
thoroughly representative of the best
people of the city, and indeed of all
classes.
Mr. Mills afternoon sermon was one
OF rare power. His text was Amos vii,
"Woe to them that are at ease in
Zion " Israel and Judah forgot that
true prosperity depends on God, and
we are enough like them to use the
text. Every man is ''at ease in Zionn
who is living inconsistently with his
own ideas of duty. Much as would
fear having Ingersoll for neighbor
or in my house, would rather have
even him than man hypocritical in
regard to religion; for the inidel could
not and the hypocrite would seem to
convince men that religion is not what
we claim it to be. Again, whoever is
living life bent on gaining material
things before the kingdom of God, is
"at ease in Zion." Mr.. Mills gave a
tremendous illustration, of rich man
ufacturer of shoes in New England,
who, when Mr.. Mills came to make
plans for meetings in his town, left his
business affairs, at time of crisis in
the shoe trade, and spent two hours
of the day with him. He said it was
almost an insult to a Christian to call
his shoe trade his business it was
his business to save souls; and he STOP
ped his works, and called his hundreds
OF hands to hear Mr.. Mills, paying
them for their time; and God greatly
blessed him even in business" An
other ease in Zion" is indifference to