The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-04-01
DR.. BLANcHARO's SERMON.
"The Blessings of the Revival and Its Pro
phecy.''

phecy.''
q very large congregation was present
yesterday morning at Congress square
church to hear the pastors sermon on ''The
Blessings of the Revival and Its Prophecy.
Dr. Blanchard took for his text the sixth
verse OF the eigbty-6fth Psalm. "Wilt thou
ot.reyive us again that thy people may
iejoice in thee?'
The city of Portland does not have too
much religion. Nor could any man in any
part of our country rise up and say: ''Siy
city mas as much religion as il ought to
have.' When one reads of the governor of
Virginia apoloazing to the Christians of The
South for inadvertently having cololed
member of the Massachusetts legislature
present in his house: when one reads of the
rich defaulter in New York over whose
body the pastor said that Ibis tragic death
expiate ed his possible mistake" we know
that there is need OF a revival of religion.
Sel1shness, coverteousness, love of ease,
moral cowardice, dishonesty abound. What
wonder that consecrated men and women
pray for a revival, national as well as
municipal. What wonder that such in Port
land, loving and honorine their city, wish
! to have 1t better than it is? Good results
had come from the revival. The people of
his church could not accept much of the
anderly ing theology, nut he would not cIiti-
else. but sympathize. he would see the good
and applause and seek share
The first blessing is this. The revival
made a multitude Of people think more
earnestly OF God, Christ, Duty, sin, lrrlrnor-
tality than otherwise they would have done.
Look at the city in it's ordinary conditions.
Here are homes without enough thought
of God: business places generally honora-
BILE, but yet not altogether free from dis
honesty: gambling in club houses and with
stocks and margins; licentfousnces ana
drunkenness in their abiding places. The
| churches, clubs of men and women, Sunday
schools. Public schools try to ennoble.
But many of the clergy believed il was best
to ask help from one trained to reach the
| people.
| He came: great meetings were beld. 1t
was great blessing for Portland to have
these. make SO ,cany think and so continu-
ously think. of God and Christ and duty
and sin and Immortality.
TIE second bleksing is this: 1t brought
tog her The so-called Evangelical denomi-
nations. The Catholics and Episcopalian
snd Liberal churches could not unite. But
CCnrregatfonalist, Methods. ,Ba ptists. Pres
| byte,ians. even Second adventists, who
do not believe in endless punishment were
all united. Once Congregationalists treat
ed all these with scorn. believing in unity
| with all his heart, DR.. Blanchard thanked
God for what had been gained ard deep
ened by this revival.
The third flsssing is this: Great emphasis
was placed on Iislltousness as sign tina,
men were religious. Church members were
| re buked: business lDen were asked to show
their religion in their dealings. lie who
famed Christ should depart from iniquity
Most recent IeyirE Is under the lead of Ny
Moody have this emphasis. The Portland
revival blessed by lis strong emphasis on
light doing.
The fourh h blessing@is is this: 1t made many
men resolve to lead Christian life who,
otherwise might never have SO determined
in this world. What is its prophecy? This
that, good as this revival was. it foretells
of better one yet to come.
One jarring note ran through'all the meet
ings 1t was tho appeal TO fear. hat was
not Cnrists way. The Parallels of the Good
Samaritan and tho Prodigal Son tell us of
Jesus method-the appeal to love. But il
was no. this appeal 10 fear that moved.
The great congr egations, the music, the
prayers, the earnest words of the evangelist
lifted men into communion with God. AS
be sat in the crowded hall. on the after
noon of the Midweek Sabbath, he had
prayed that his earnest brother might stand
ON the heights, might appeal to mems love
for God. 10 see Him as the Sovereign over
ruling all things for good will bring forth
love. He will not be defeated Sovereign.
He will bring home every prodigal by mis-
discipline of punishment, at last. Christ
will not DC defeated Saviour. He Will yet
draw all men to himself. And yet here is
much to make men solemn. The irrevocab bic
word and deed. the largeness OF littleness
of life in the hereafter determined by the
use OF life here. may well make men feel the
soeinnity of life. 10 lay bold on eternal
life now is wsd ON. To think of God, to
love Him, to obey Him. that is 10 be revived
and rejoice in Him. That is a manly thing
TO do, to see the greatness of Jesus-to con-
fess Him as Master-tnat is manly thing
to do. This revival past will prepare the
way for that better re sival which is set to
come.