Year: 1874

Sermon by DIR. PorteOus I'm the Hall OF
tho Young Mems Christian AssOcia-
tion.


AT the usual time the Rev. DR.. Porteous dellv-
cred an eloquent sermon TO a very large congrega
ton ln the Young Mems Christian Association Hall
yesterday. He took for his text the l61st verse
OF the 1l9th Psalm Thou art near, Lord"
He brieoy compared the past and present GEN.
turtles OF the world since the Christian era, and
contrasted the gifts we enjoy and receive from
God, which were denied to our predecessors,
showing the truth OF the text which he com
menoed with. The various sciences. said he, prove
this TO U.S. and the testimony of our own conscious
ness which Is an overmatch for the sciences.
proves 1t beyond any doubt. Fresh discoveries In
the sciences and penetration into tine depths OF
philosophy demonstrate II to us-demonstrate IN
plain and general terms that God was never more
to US than In the present tlme-never more near
the human soul than He Is In this nineteenth cen.
tury. Though dwelling infinitely far away beyond
the universe, In light aud glory, inaccesslole He
is yet near to us that He may minister TO
they Scea to ns BY His % a s9
The whole Chr. .stlan world tells us OF His
to take our hand ana Uphold in DANGER near to
us in our thoughts and actions aud whatever we
do. There were centuries IN which ne was. or
seemed to be, distant from those who came before
US and are now gone; in days when the people dic
not care for ais law and followed without bounds





the case especially In the days Of Voltaire and
Oiseau, when infdelity swept over the land and
lnStilled its poison into every one But now the
heresles are thrown away through the influence
OF the mon that de parted. Being near us, we can
obtain everything fOr our spiritual good He Will
be our strength and refuge IN oil danger, and when
weighed down with grief We can turn TO film,
who Is our only hope and strength and our kind
protector; who would rather have the universe
60 into CONFUSION, yea, go to perditon, than leave
one human soul TO be lost he watches over the
fles and other insects, how much more are we
than the sparrOws


But 1t Is chiefly Tor future state we want the
assistance OF God while he s near tor to be
with HIM in the hereafter. There must De mere
after when there Is q here just as when there ls
q tomorrow there must be to-day. and the here,
or present time Ia given us to prepare for that
hereafter. and this Is great thought, and wnO-
ever meditates upon 1t Is In q healthy condition.
But where the mistake Is, your souls are too full
OF the present and OF all things pertaining to this
transitory life to think OF the future You ought
continually to think OF tomorrow. God is always
near us, and near all, without exception near the
prisoner in his cell as well as with the wealthest
being in the world. and as He is we ought to be
sensible Of His presence. II you feel that you 90
not love Him II is not because He has laed in His
love to you; 1t Is because you do not pray lor HIS
love. II you only think OF the mafvelS OF His kind
providence. HIS goodness and love LOT US will In
duce you to do 80; and II you do you will have no
difficulty IN coming to the conclusion OF the truth
OF the text, and will be cOnsOled In your trouble
by the words. "Tn0u art near 70 US. Lordr'