THE M'NEILL BURKE MISSION.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8963, 29 November 1894, Page 5

THE M'NEILL BURKE MISSION.

The Opera House was again filled in every part last night, when the Rev. J. McNeill tnd Mr Burke continued their United Evangelistic Mission. The choir, under Uve cbnductorahip of Mr Burke, sang a anmber of hymns at the opening of the meeting, Mr Davis Hunt presiding at the org*n. Prayer was offered by the Rev. JEL 'K. Dewsbury, and'Mr Burke sang the 4olns, "Sometimes We'll Understaud," and «' Where Will You Spend Eternity?" The Rev. Mr McNjsill took as the text of hifcaddrees the words in Epheeians, eh. v, v 14, "Awake thou that aleepeat, and Arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." H*e pointed out that the text contained two trumpet calls, "Awake ,, and " Arise," and th«u salvation by the light of the .presence of Christ atreamiug in upon the newly awakened ,tonl. Be also drew attention to the fact ,ibat some texts, such as the one given, contained the whole meaning of the scriptures. "Any man," he said, " who knows John iii. and xvi. or Revelations iii. and xx. may be laid to know the Bible " The words he had selected were something more thaa a text, they were a sermon. He then proceeded to <ieal in order with the three points contained in the text, his efforts being directed to •thoroughly arousing: his hearers, and preeeutiug the message he had to deliver in a dear and unmistskeable manner. He ex,p!ained at the outset that he might have nurd things to say, but he added, "Let mc be faithful whether you like "U or not." He referred with a touch ufsly humour to their alertness in worldly matters, and went on to say " The measure wide-awakeness in worldly things n»y bo the mfeasure of the. soundness of things" Xα stirring tones he called upon those that llept—the Tniey idler, the serious Christless, the wise fool-—to awake. He told the well-

known si ory of the Abbot and the jester to illustrate the folly of not being prepared. He then went on to deal with the second point, the call to arise, and took exception .to a critic having said he made use of illnatraiions "bordering on the homely." "You look- like homely people," he said, "yon live" at home, don't you? Why should you not have homely illustrations ? I couhl give you classical etories which yon would not remember, because yon liever heard Ihstit before. I could tell you aboat heathen gods and goddesses, bat I would rather talk to you about the people of Chrisrchnrrh. I take mare interest, in you Ibftu in gods and goddesses, and perhaps you take more interest in yourselves." , lid pointed out that there was a difference between awaking and arising, a gap that was difficult for some people to bridge. "Arising generally is simply lying on the bed of laziness, self pleasing, worldly mindedoess and mere, rei igioua formality; and (be added With sudden animation) the whole scheme of truth goes absolutely for nothing. It's a delupion and a snare. God grant it May not be co in your case. Get up (this with impassioned energy), get np and ahow your earnestness and common sense." He touched upon the ttote of the dreamer, who imagined he was awake, and impressively sketched the condition of the somnambulist. He, in deliberate and solemn tones, urged those, who were dreamers or sleep-walkers and sleep- ' talkcra to listen to him. He expressed his - pity for the congregation who had to listen to the mutterings and jabberings of a somnambulist in the pulpit. "How are you to know you are awake, so subtle are . the delusions which are so like the reality ? " Was a question he proceeded to answer by , relating his own experience as a bay in getting out of bed on a cold, dark morning. It was the feeling of discomfort caused by the cold air which proved to him that he W>s awake, and one of the proofs to him that his hearers were more forward in the matter of personal palvation that night was because they were co uncomfortable. "Don't gag t-ouscience/ , he forcibly urged, "or you will go straight to hell. Let conscience ring out its warning voice." With pathos and feel- - ing he then proceeded to'lay before them Wβ third point,. " Christ will give you light." They were to do nothing, mit aunply to lot in the light. He took exception to the false sentiments in poetry and literature regardiu*; the darkness in the - world, and said that surely Christ came to ened some light. He referred with undisguised sarcasm to the modern abomination known as "cultchah," and said there was no real culture which did not admit of a belief in God and Christ. He concluded with an earnest appeal to bis hearers to look to Jesus, and all their troubles here would have an end. The meeting was Iheo closed with the doxology and the: . Benediction. '