The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-11-19

| An Able Exposition of a Mighty Textile
New Pastors Frank Statement to His
People.
At the Second Parish church yesterday
forenoon, Rev. Mr.. Hack preached his
| first sermon since he was called to the
passionate There was large attendance.
He preached from the text: "The secret
| of the Lord is with them that fear him. 7"
| He said that he desired to talk about
| the secret of GodIand how to know it.
The ways through fear of God. This
| fear is not terrible. The word fear in
the old Testament has many meanings,
among them dread. sorrow. trembling or
| terror.
| The fear that causes milling and
| that would induce a lie to escape is not
| the fear of the Lord. That fear comes
| through reverence. The irreverent are
| the unbelieving No irreverent hand,
| or heart, or head, was ever thoroughly
| taught. Gladstone says that he never
knew first class statesman that was
| not also Christian. There can be no
knowledge, not even that of the school
boy, without reverence No irreverent,
| unfeeling heart will ever enter into the
mystery of music. The state can only
| restrain evil by punishme t. 1t threat
ems and Furnishes and men fear. But God
| forgives and men fear. The father in the
home forgives, and the children enter
| into that fear that hates trangresslon,
| that comes from reverence, from fear of
paining him. There is weakness in
our chs racter and religion if there is a
| lack of this fear that comes from rever-
ence.
The secret of the Lord! What is it? Is
there any? Is there any secret that only
the reverent know Every body is told
that God is in his heaven, and ALPS right
with the world, and everybody has
comfortable assurance of it. But has
the Christian greater knowledge? All,
yes. The know ledge of the Lord cannot
be second hand. There must be per-
sonality In ones knowledge of God. We
cannot hope it all we know is what
somebody has told u.s. A correct belief
about God is not what saw es us. 1t is
SO much as to the heart and conscience.
Without controversy. great is the mys-
terry of godliness.
God is revealed to the reverent heart,
not to satisfy our curiosity but to save
our souls To many He is the Deity of
the Jews-dread giver of Justice-but to
the Christian He is the personal friend.
But God spoke words that all have
heard. He is the father of all. Is not
that enough? No. That is mere hearsay.
No one ever got over unger by hearing
about good dinner. This secrst of
God is one of forgiveness, and love, and
uplifting power. To know ones self
loved, cared for, and to feel that how
ever hard the life of this world, the
future is secure-this is to enter into the
secret of God.
And now, my people. we are joining
our lives together for the high purpose
of bringing men into the knowledge of
this secret of God. / dare not make you
any promises, but l have most earnest
desire to serve Christ and the church.
But nothing. or next to nothing can be
done without cooperation, an oneness of
thought and purpose.
l want to know you as soon as posi-
ble If ever forget your names OF faces
don't you forget mine. If l pass you
without speaking, don't you pass me
without speaking We have the great
work before US of bringing men to God,
and if we succeed there is for us the joy
that is unspeakable.
Mr.. Hack has very prepossessing per-
sonality in the pulpit. His manner is
very pleasing, and mis- voice and enunci-
alton entirely agreeable and distinct. 1t
is no effort to hear his words or follow
his thought in any part of the church.
He makes himself heard and under
stood. Many have spoken of his resem-
hIapce to the Rev. Charles Il. Daniels,
who was Dr. MerrilPs predecessor as pas
tor Of the church.
Portland's Health.