The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-04-21
AMONG THE CHURCHES.
Rev. Mr.. Price breaches to Large
Audience About the Christian
Era.
Mr.. Berry Tells How to Teach
Transgressors the Ways
of the Lord.
We Should Keep in the Right Direction
by Keeping Our Eyes Fixed
on the Bible.


ing sermon at the Grand street Methodist
church yesterday morning on the theme of
the Christian Era. The congregation was
large and the singing was excellent. The
opening hymn was No. 469 awake, My Soul,
and Press With Vigor On,' The text was
taken from Phil 8. 13- 4.sAmong other things
Mr.. Price said:
'There was nothing so exciting or at
tractive to the Romans as were the Olymp-
ian Games and Paul very naturally repre-
sents the Christian race under the smile of
an Olympian race. Paul's sincerity and
honesty is marked and his humility before
God and man manifest. Of the various
professions and callings of life we are ac-
customed to saying that there is room at
the top and Paul implies in his statement
that there were heights he did not know
and breadths he did not comprehend IN the
spiritual realm, and we may say no one
fully apprehends all the loneliness, grand
eur, richness and vastness Of the heavenly
prize, and Paul very consistently says:
count , not BIT hi myself not d dG nsss
because of this. but seemed to fully apprec-
late all difficulties and adjust himself to
Gods plans, realizing that some sweet day
.'beyond the rivers brink and Jordan's
chilly tide perfect knowledge his raptured
and spotless soul would possess. -.
II. The undivided heart: This one thing
I do" Blessed purpose! Singleness of
heart. Half heartedness will never win with
God. Think of a man of Paups magniti-
cent accomplishments concentrating all OF
his powers in attaining the Father COM
mediation well d1ne at the END ensio OF the
all the languages. arts and sciences OF his
day, still not hesitating a moment to use
all these powers to know Christ and obtain
the prize-eternal life. Two thoughts sug-
gest themselves, viz: (a) The estimate
Paul placed upon the prize, 90 and what
he thought necessary and was willing to do
to obtain it. One thing l do Our obser-
walton in natural things has convinced us
that the man of one work is the man who
succeeds best, and Jesus Christ has taught
us plainly that we "cannot serve God and
manmon."
III. Forgetfulness- Forgetting those
things which are behind.'' God never in
tended that we should remember all of the
past. We forget the griefs, vexations and
losses of the past in present success or the
hopeful signs of a better day. The morbid
done or suffered in the past is positive
clog on the wheels of christian progress
Paul doubtless had reference to the attrac-
tions of the world. His devotions to hi
former life had been strong, and perhaps
there were many ny hsv
in my way, nor shall the memory of any o
my sins, for God has not only forgiven bu
forgotten. Forgetfulness ia coupled will
forgiveness in what God does for us
Again, Paul would have you understand p
foreetfulness his complete separation i
heart from the world. If men could leav
home and endure such severe discipline t
win a crown that would soon fade, why nc
do even more to obtain a fadeless one?
" Progress-"Reaching forth unto thos
things which are before" With all Nigh
nears up to God and the end of the race
All the possibilities of the soul were lynn
out before him and for these he was reach
ing forth. He was realizing how large tin
soul would become under the regimen o
itual dwarf. The christian road WAS vas
incline and day by day he assembled it, eacl
day gaining fresh inspiration from his new
experiences. V. Touching the Goal. .
press toward the mark for the prize OF tn
high calling Of God in Christ Jesus." SRun
the lines limiting the course and run within
the lines, and they were not crowned how
ever we'll they might have run unless the
ran lawfully. These lines | must watch
the way is narrow according to the flesh
and keep my body under subsection, for thi
race is not for day but for life. ! press
constantly apply myself. l climb Hill afte
hill up toward God, pressing the prize-th
reward which God by Christ Jesu
calls me to receive. Pressing bat waitin
upon the Lord, knowing that those VII
wait upon the Lord. shall renew the
strength and mount upon their wings a
eagles. Paul here sets apart his soul ane
to God and it is santification-not perfecte
Paul but Paul perfectly given to the Lord
and from that moment he was ascendin
step by step up the mountain of God, pau
ing here and there moment to take 8
enchanting view of what was before. l.
spirited and refreshed by each succedi1
view onward and upward he goes pressil
the goal till on Bonded knees before Il
throne of God he presents his spotless SO
and has placed upon his blood polished bro
by the loving hands of his assembled Lor
the crown of everlasting life, bedeck
with many stars, and rises to shout, "Al
lula, the Lord God Omnipotent Reigneth
as the whole sweep of the glorious view
the promised land burst upon his ravish
vision.