The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-11-28
UNION SERVICES.

Rev. G. Ii. Aliens Sermon at the First
Presbyterian Church.
Union Thanksgiving services were held in
the morning at the First Presbyterian
church. The pastor, Rev. G. B. Allen,
preached, taking for his theme: 1.-THE
Divine Faithfulness." His text was from
Joshua xxi, AZ: '"There failed not aught of
any good thing which the Lord had spoken
concerning the house of Israel-all came to
pass" He said: "We are accustomed to
attach great weight to the testimony of
those who have had experience in the mat
ter concerning which they speak. The truth
30 apparent in the text is affirmed by mil
lions to-day, and has been affirmed by all
who in every age have known the God of
Israel. Polycarp, the aged bishop of
Smyrna when urged to curse Christ and
thus save life replied, Eighty and six have
served Him, and He has done me nothing
but good; how could curse my Lord and
my SAVIOR Paul had a most eventful life,
life of thrilling experiences, of trial, toll
and danger, and he too bears testimony to
the truth of this text. Joshua here declares
that in all Jehovah's dealings with His peo-
ple He failed not in any one good thing
spoken concerning the house of Israel.
1.-THE reference IN primarily to Jehovah's
faithfulness in bringing Israel into possess
ion of the promised land. So numerous
and SO mighty were the difficulties that con-
and through the wilderness, so mighty the
force with which they had to contend be-
fore they could possess the land promised
them that they must have seen themselves
exterminated had not Jehovah fulfilled all
His engagements with them.
'"rhe text may also be expressive of Gods
faithfulness in the fultillment of His prom
Uses to the church. First: He promises His
presence and the power of the holy spirit
to His people, That promise was verified
to the early disciples. Twelve men. some
of them Galilean fishermen, proach the Cos
pei of despised and crucifed Nazarene,
requiring faith in Him as condition OF
were often in conflict with temporal power,
were brought to martyrdom. The religion
of Christ must have persisted before the
end of the first century had not God been
faithful. Second: In the centuries
me- f0ewnH the ..d death aah
heresies prevailed. Julius. the apostate.
used his mighty power as tho worlds en-
peror to crush the despised Galileans, but
God had asserted Himself. The church
emerged from the bondage of pagan idola-
try only to fall into the sorer bondage
2uO uOckoE Noulouuout % pdkpAl superstition
and vice. The vices of the church of Rome
were many; her sins smelled to heaven.
Church preferment was bought and sold as
any other commodity. Those who held to
the truth were driven into the caves of the
mountains. But God never wanted wit
nesses to His truth and the light and the
truth once again prevailed in the days Of
the reformation. In more recent times
men have proclaimed their ability and
their purpose to explode christianity. Vol
taire declared the Almighty will soon see
fine sport in France and in twenty years
christianity will be thing Of the past In
the room where he uttered these words the
bible was bought and given away for years
Men in our day havo declared that christ
ianity was failure. 1t is time that there
il much of the spirit of the world in thu
church. But believe that there is less O
it to-day than in any day since the frs
century. Gods people are throwing Of
illness, more and more and more assumin,
that godliness which the will of scripture ant
the exiRenoies of dying world alike de
mand of them. Never before as now ha
SO numerous host of consecrated sons o
the church stood forth to herald the man
dates of her king. Streams of benevolent
deeper than ever before pour into her treas
ury the means requisite to the worlds evan
Relization. God is in her midst. He i
manifesting His power and His glory. W.
have nothing to fear.
ut is true of individual Christians a
vel! as of the church that not aught of an,
good thing which the Lord has promises
has ever failed. We have found that on
hopes are built on the solid foundation
that God is the loving Father and Jesus tn,
mighty burden-bearing. soul-saving Re
deemer, they profess to be. In glancinl
over the year past we may not now under
stand ell Gods dealings with us. But Go,
has been faithful. We have been pros
pered; He has brought us out of trial int
wealthy place. He has given us gar
ment of praise for the spirit of heaviness
He has made all things work together TO
good to those who love Him. If He has nc
failed in any one promise thus far, then v
ma, trust that He well fulfill every prom
ise and bring rs at last to the heavenl
Canaan. We shall see Him. We shall be
come sharers of His glory. Eternity wi
exhit fresh occasions of wonder and q
praise that We have been singled out a
brands from the burning and brought int
the possession Of infinite deliRhts."
CONGREGATION EMANUEL.