SUNDAY READING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6566, 2 December 1882, Page 3 (Supplement)

SUNDAY READING.

SHORT SERMOX BY THE LATE PRESIDENT GAB.FIELD. I. It was expedient that Jesus should go pway for the spiritual growth or faith of. the disciples. They were materialist?. Iα Jlis absence they had not faith enough to heal the sick as He had cunnussioinvl them. They placed so much confidence in Kispers-.-n, than when lie slept on the. sea they were afraic". Jesus upbraided thcr.i for t :i< :'r lack cf faith, assured thorn that they must have correct views of His kingdom, ami, ii: order iv. do this He must go away, He must bcvoine iipiritual, that they iri'/ht r.lacc th-ir a'i'-'C-tion ou Him ?.s a:, ovt r~p--e/i■■;: C\«;ii:".;,-t<.-r. The bali>? is uct left iii t'uS e:v.diu r.U-.-.0. j This would not he cxpedie-.t. The pure:.is provide for it tood a:;<l ulotiiir,-. Tn'eu the cip.H j'>'.'o to ?f!i!<i!, to th- 1 .••■.•"•,:■■. ■!••-■ --,d to the He is lc.-.r-j.,-; rise •" oi self-rcliancr. 1T...,- Im: , £ the f.-.t!.,-.- ie-,; while- teaching : : . , H,- the son mutt, sooner o< ...•••r. ::•■> away iron: !:ci.r.e, and launch cmt into ti.--- i;c m of HrV fov hi;::' self, iiu: lie shrinks nut fr -;u :!■!• /"-.J- :.i>il d ■; I char-.-.- of dury laid iijvn hi-;,. H,-,,. ;,. t „,.. the mountain rill widens i'jt.. i-ie : i>..-:-. S.i L,t I u? ke-.-p the spirit r> i ci:i!.:h:._.."; ia ti.e strength of manhco.l. Laws are cnlore- u on -.:? i:i chiiiihot-d hi-fore wo understand the pri:,eipi..\ 1,-iw s arc the shell, th,- ca.-'-et ■.•o-tt'.iiilr.j; ;!-.e j. -,v•■■'.. In after yo.-irs, v.h.Mi the jew e! la set. :::..■:■ i≤ l:i:d aside. L---t tho >•<.-•.:•■;; ;-r::.-;:c.> virtue under rostraiTit.s, if mvis h-.>, and i.i age t';e practice will be natural. Whar. you aru .it IS von will be st -l-\ Wlu-:-. Chris: wi-.--. away He nailed tin- law oi Mi.,'.-.- to lh. CmJs, but left the moraU'.y : Lit: took away the material f<.-rm, r.nd K-ft ;!>•■ >-:=ir:r. This was an expedient oh:.nji\ Tho wit Her.i of Go>l is di.-p!aved i:i ha-'r.i-g moii along ta look up to Him and trust i:t Him. -Six thuus.i-ui year.* of discipline o:iiy leave us where we can eatuh glimpses of the Infinite Oi:e. and of our relation \o the ppirituai universe. 11. It was expedient for Christ to seaway, that He miirht iwjme u:rv?rc=:il. »'« h ; -:i He was here He was local : His pergonal mission was to the Jews, and few persons could git'.i.T round Him. People yot on the housetops to see Him : they lowered the t-iek into His presence ; they crow.kd through the iiiiilti'.'.i.ie ; an-i Z.vjijheiis climbed a tymiaore tret- t<) cateh .1 vf Savicu!-. liut when He went away, in Samaria, in Jr.dea, in Europe, and every when , , men could look up to Him as an evcr-piv:;e::t Spirit and Comforter. Tlic North Star is Mich to all the people of the globe, ami though the earth m;iy be cii.stint from its present position ; n space one hundred and eighty million mi!i:>;. as it wiit be in six months, still this star v.i;! be the star of the north. So the Star of UcMilt.'iiCiii is ever our guide. Go up to I'eutecost and see the influence of this spiritual presence en the apostles. Once these men were ; now they are converted ami have just conceptions of Christ's reign, and the Spirit is to them an inspiration, l'ctcr, who denied Jesus in the presence of a dam'el, who once had no faith, now is full of taith, and grandly unfolds the Lordship of Christ, and in.ikes I known the condition of salvation. What a change is wrought in him ! Henceforth, with x boldness and >:eal that perieeutiou could not cause to falter, lie ever served his Lord. Stephen was full of the Spirit and rebuked sin, and in faith fell ou death, and his spirit A'cnt up to God. Philip went down to ?amariaaud preached Jesus to the Samaritans. Paul was converted and weat up to Athens md unfolded the spiritu: , .! nature of God, who jommands all men everywhere to repent, beKtuse of a judgment day in which Christ i≤ ;he Judge. All of the Acts is buta record of vhat they endured for their faith. Under ihe inspiration of the Spirit they were everyvhere bold, and went everywhere planting fesiiß in the hearts of men. 111. Though eiglit;.'en hundred years have 'lapsed, it is expedient for us that Christ vent away und sent tho Comforter. We can low look up to Him as an f-vor-prrsent Spirit, iome talk of the coining of the spirits of their iepirted friend-, but they cai.isot take the •lac.! of our Lord -Mid Saviour. In fullilmont >f His premise, '"I am withyoiv' "the Comforter will come .into you," there is one ;reat eternal Spirit ever present with the : 'bedient disciple. By liiiihs raid by day, in he closet and in the crowd, on the land and m the sea, men call on Him with the as- : uranee that He is an abiding spiritual pre- ; ence, and a present help hi time of nr:>d. Men .ire tending io materialism. Houses, and, and worldly goods attract the attention, nd, as a mirr.ge luve th;.ir. on to death. Hhristianitv, on the other land, 'ea.ls only : he mp-terinl body to dust, at.d fur the spirit t points out a house not made with band.", tern;: , , in the heavens. Ciiri:.tianitv" teaches hat the converted arc to receive the .Spirit, hat they arc sealed by it, and changed by it nto the image of God. I have not much conidence in any one who preaches the wordlone theory, for God is always with iiis won;, nd Christ is in the heart of every believer. have not ninc-i confidence in that man's 3hristi:inity who ;-oes after the material and icglects the spiritual ; 1 ha 'v noi mil, li couidenee in any man's Cliriooiai'ity unless ho •ray and fit his spirit for communion with Jod. The man who builds his house in the andy bed of the river knows it must tall. : >et every man buiM on the Kock of .Ages. That man labours in vain who dies not ' ultivate his spirit. The student studies in ain, and the hero must end his career in [ uft and dismay. But lie who receives ; Jhrist, and cultivates his own spiritual ' atnro, may see mirrored in the brook ud flower and cloud and sky, and be led up ' 1 adoration to Him who is separated from all ; materiality, and is full of universal love. An these thoughts are now before you, let ' ie ask you to cuoose the undying Jesus as our Friend and Helper. Letme ' rge you to follow Him, not as the Nazareue, ] he man of Galilee, tho carpenter's son, but ' san ever-living, spiritual parson, full of love ' nd compassion, who will ttand by you in ' fc and death and eternity. The hopes of ;e world are false, Inn as the vine lives in !ie branches, so Christ lives in the Christian, nd he shall, never die. The Comforter has ame. and Christ reigns in the hearts of men. . -1857. j

THE GIFT OF THiC SPIRIT.

BY THKOIHIKK L. CI'VI.KK, l>. 1). " Our Lord promised this jdorioustiltto those _. >at seek aright, and declared that "your . Leaveiily Father will fjivo the Holy Spirit ; ) tlioin that r.sk it." When we pray for the ; Loly Spirit understandingly, we do not ask ; )r a mere inlluinee. We ;isk for the pre- , ;ncc and power of a Verson, the third erson of the Uivii:e Trinity, who possesses . ie attributes of personality ns completely \ i Jesus Christ did when He assumed a , nmm form. The Holy Spint i 3 the . xeentive of the Godhead. Through Him | ie efficiency of the Godhead upon human < nils is exercised. He is the R e v.-aler of all J ital and needful truth. He is the Author . t tlmt wonderful Word whose pen: /Hi He ispiri'cl. I.i my Bible ;v litjht unto my feet mi ft lamp '.into my p-ith ': He kindled tJie imp. The liolv Spirit j;ive3 me uisccrni nt to apprehend aright" the great truths ] f the Word of Life. He convicts overy j nner of \\\.\ guilt and dan:;cr who is | iMiuinoly convietod ninJ bn;;u;ht to true • .•pi'iitan'cu. Tim m/irft pov.ertul sermon ' •c'uld nit move o-.i<- ="-.ljtury si:"aer one inch ' iwi-.nl H'.'avi. , !! Nvitliiut the agency of the ' [oly Spirit. When tlui Apnstl-j aiidresFed ; ixfe'il.MV-Ciir:!--ti;;n:--. hiiyaid in then;, '• \oa 1 atli He (luiekencd ,- — i <-~ to vou hath Jle ' ive-n life Vro:u tin: .lead. If lam a Chris- ' :mi, with any p-iv.-tr fnr good in this world, l Lid :\:iy linpi- of <:!ory in the WL-xt, it is ! fcia-e' the Divine Spin" vc;;."i.;-.i!.-.l in ■. ' ii ll:m I owe inv ni ,v i-inli, ju-r ;:•■ vori- ' il-lv, th'iin.'h i> •■';>! Uie .-v.mt: way. that I 1 ive'my naf.'.vni liirrh to my n.iv.'nts. In my 'v. ''ihen !Uis- ;^.5 II.MC-, and s»l.:Mii-:.:r,n to Gud, id fervent love t:i my tVllon'-iaou, and itirnc, and every other nevdful and h:-.\\i-ful Linice. V.'it'mnit ilin. I a:n nothing; -iili 'Him I iii'.ve power. _-> 11 this being •lie, can there he any o!-ject of prayer that even eomp.-.raUe. to this jrift of the Spirit f Cod ? Sli"uM not tin; foremost request v. " < Jrant unto us Thy 1 loly Spirit V Tr.o Xev/ Test.i.meiit't-jaeiits u.-i tint the lily two that .".re to i';:s sinni'tl.in wiiild \>vrk to 0.-.l an; the Holy pirit and the (Jhri.-lian Churuh ; but the ihurc'n without t!ie Spirit • j as utterly power;.s:j to move itsoli or innve others, as p. >eOMiotive is to ;)rf>pel a train until :■- flame i'i indled iKider its boiler. Ucro lies the :T;ut of the ineliieieney that, so painfully ITeets and eripp'es our pulpits and our Uim:hes. Hero lies the real cause of the itnentalilc lack of conversions which is now t> much commented on in every quarter. Ve do not road that one of Christ's Apostles ver eouvertoil a single soul until the gift of he Spirit had beeu granted; but when

AMERICA, i

Peter, who had been reconverts I received tho power fron on high, he u. I three thousund to Christ by one discourse That master workman in the salvation of - J souls, Charles G. Pinney, acknowledged that I sometimes his preaching was as useless as i sounding brass ; and the reason was that ho j relied oil himself, and not on the Almichty ! Spirit. Then came what he called a " break--1 ing down before God," when he renounced .' siu and self-reliance, ano cried out for a. fresh j baptism of power from on high. When he : became filled with the Spirit, the weight of ; l;ia sper.r was as a we:iver"s-beam and his j words were clothed with thunder. [ This was hi the direct iir.e of Scripture : and experlo'.'ce. The command ItM th_- .-l;-o-:i'i!c Chnr-tiar.s was, "Jle ye , filiv.i with ti:-. 1 S;>::-ir."' 'iv. o b'odips c-n:iuot ; .::._:i:py tl.c ::■:•• : :-:;re at the -?a:i;e time; ! :;:):!. y. cur !,v.-r:s :i!-o !:!U:d %vit!i the Spirit i of 1 -ui\, ti.e:-.: >:i no r-i.::u tiv..r.- for the-reedy ! :.nd -.mlliss u\.n!. L : iibe!:ef llees avv-Tv like j the "liarkne---. :it the i-e-mii.j; of the dawn. -, K\i'v l;:-:i>-o il:r:v.-s an.i L;rov.?. We are • ir:«p:r '! with tj:!:!-r sympathy ior others ■ ".1 .1 1...-:oii!f ititvi.stly si'lieicoiis for those who ; are livii':: w:-.h;.ut a;;d living without ! !:.•■'-,■ _ We _-~■: :oiik. share of the that ' (.■rai::iei.i h: , .' v.i;ea he pr.iyed all night, i b-.-f re 1)t. >:.lwr-.rd X. Ki: k "came to preach J hcfr.r-.- ids r .-i- ~:-.;-s and street-Arabs in : L-.v:iio:i. O: e,-ii!-s>.-, si ; <.-h praying, followed ; bv such pri:u!i!: -u'. lin-hod hearts of Hint. jV> ; :i .-., y-e ;>.iv ;'::!i; i wirii t.;e Spirit, we do : !■• '- tier,"; be druiniiicd or s-colded to a j }•: .-.;. 1 r-servi-.v, c,r to be baiteil to God's ! ilt.'.-.so by proilii;v pulpit or some j i->.;-.c-h;.- O,::t i>in : t -.s euriotily. When j w:'.;i fie S|>:nt. thv jmr.-e opens easily at the I iii-.wh i>: clanii, the tongue is unloosed to sn- ak fi>:- Cl-.risr, and what we say and what v >'>-' do '•;■ atter.ilfd with a supe; natural power. I lo !>e ii.': .1 with the Spirit is a revival. t ±\t iTio!r.e:it this ■wcuuer - working of Uo<i, on Whom our very lives c'.'ren:], is absolutely " grieved , ' away and j "i[in.-:.--:'..cfl" in too many oi our churches. I "Ye do resist the Holy "Ghost" is the treI'.ieudyiis ini'i.-t-.r.i-nt that lies against every p-i&tc.-r and cliuieh that are now cursed ■with ba.i-niess. Such churches hamstring all I their o->v;i capacities, and, by quenching the J heavenly fire, become hke an ice-field of Siberia. The one hope and th-: only possible hope of all suci: Christians is in a fresh outp.urir.g of the Holy Spirit. This must bo ionght. A few persons in every church may inaugurate a new state of things by putting themselves ;:i the riiiht posture IK-f-.ro God. TI.CK niny he -i genuine .-ind soul-renewing revival in any church, if only ■1 few sieivous !;o!:est'y, humbly, and earnestly preparo the w;;y. There must be a clearingCiiit bi fore t!:ere i.-- " filling up ; a breaking-d-r.vii before t>od, (>2icre there is a buildingup into new dimensions and beauty. When ev.n thi'-e or tour penitent Christians thirst for the Holy Spirit, and cry out for Him, :nid tiviV.e ror.in for Him, He will hear tho jin.yer of faith and come. When the sun comes, then comes the morning. The gift; of the Holy Spirit :"s, since Calvary, the mightiest, richest, holiest, and most unspeakably precious sjift that the Godhead can bestow. It is within our reach to-day. Shall we have i: ? Auii, having it, keep it?

A BEAUTIFUL INCIDENT.

Onboard the ill-fated ffcimerSeawaiihaka, was one of the Fi;-lc University singers. Before leaving the burning ship and committing himself to the merciless waves,- hecarcfully fastened upon himself and wife life-preservers. Some one cruelly dragged away that of the wife, leaving her without hope, except; r.s she couid cling to her busband. This s'u: diil, placing I'.er hands firmly upon his shoulders, and resting there until her r-triiiigth becoming exhausted she said, "1 can hold no longer!" "Try a little longer," vas the response of the wearied and agonised hi::-bai-.d ; " let us sing ' .Kock of Ages.'" And as two sweet strairj-T floated over those troubled waters, reaching the ears of the sinking and dying, little did they know, those sweet singers of Israel, whom they comforted. But !o ! as they sane, one r.fter another of the exhausted ents were seen raising their heads above the overwhelming waves, joininj; with a last effort in tin's sweet, living, pieai.in.; prayer:— K.;c-k of A«t3, ..-l-.>ft"for me, Lα 1:10- h-.i,.- myfeif in Thee. With the sorg seemed to come strength ; mother and yet another was encouraged to renewed elf-iris. in the distance a boat ivus .--ecu approaching. Could they hold out 1 little louder ? Singing still, they tried ; and •0011.with superhuman strength, laid hold of the lifeboat, upon which they were borne in safety to land. This is no fiction ; it wasrelated by the finger himself, who said he believed Toplady's sweet "Rock of Ages", saved many another besides himself and wife. —Selected.

'CASTING ALL YOUR CARE UPON HIM"—(1 IVter v. 7).

Iu the sunnier of IS7S I descended the Rhiiri with one of the most faithful of the old Swiss guides. . Beyond the service of: the clay he gave me unconsciously a lesson for life. iii 3 6rst- care was to put my wraps v.id other burdens upon his shoulder. In loing this he asked for all, but I chose to keep haul: :i few for special care. I soon found them no lirib; hindrance to the freedom of my movement; but s-till I would not ;;vc them up until my i_'ui<:e, returning to> me where I sat resting for a moment, kindly but firmly demanded that I should give him L'vcrything but my alpen-stock. rutting :hem with the utmost care upon his sboullers, with a look of intense satisfaction, he igain led the way. And now, in my freelorn, I found I could if.ake double speed ivith double safety. Theu a voice spoke inivardly, "Ah, foolish, wilful heart, hast ;hou indeed given up thy last burden? Dion hast no no:d to carry them, nor even ;he right." I saw it :-.1l iu a flash ; and then, as I leaped lightly from rock to reck lown the iiiouuvain side, I said within my•elf, "And even thus will I follow Jesus, Tiy Guide, r.iy Burdcn-bearer. I will cast ill my can: upon Him, for He careth for "ne."—Sarah P. Smiley.

FEAR NOT.

Would our King tell us again and again, "Fear not! :, if there wore any reason at all to 'ear? Would lie say this kind word agiin m<l again, ringinc as of the beils of icr.veu u[on it, only t> ineck us, if He knew ill the time wo could not possibly help fcar.n!» ? Only «ive half-an-hour to seeking out Me reasons He gives wliv- we are not to fear, '.nd the aH-ir-olmivu ciremn'-tanees in which tit: s.iys we are not to fe.-.r ; see how we. are ;o fear nothing and r.o one, and never and lowhere : see "how lie Himself is in every ;ase the foundation and the grand reason of riis command. His presence, and His power ilways behind ic: and then shall we hesitate .o say, •' 1 will fear no evil, i'cr thou art with no?" Shall we even fancy there is any inswcr to thos-e crand and forever unanswered jiipstions, " Thy Lord is my light and my lalva.ion: whom shall I fear '. The Lord is :ho strength of my life ; of whom shall I be ifraid ?'—b\ K. Havergal.

ONE MEETING OMII'TED.

" But Thomrw . . . was :;ot with them." :Io was absent. 1. Xot hei::'.ii;e he did not ove the Saviour, for he did. '2. Net because ic iliii love the Ircvthivu, for be did. !. lie was not kept .-.way by any places of LiimsL-ineiit. 4. Busiml-ss did not prevent lim froip present : lint 5. He was dis:oura<;c'il. Iff \\i\.< in a doubting, despairing, • tatc of mini], and thought it useless to he "iresont. In consciiuciitu of hi-; absence, hb nicsed a. whole week of enjoynciic, a glorious ei;;bt or the Lord, anA )bt:iincd a daniaced reputation that will eiich to the '.-r.d of tinu-; but at tlie next i:ceting he on ii:\'.:.l, for he had heard he fji.-id tidin-r.s ami V.wn; lie s.iv,- auil his ijord nud Cod. — Dr. ILciisou.

luv v.MM, b:-: done.

Or '.::.: ;„ !;.... .■. I !-:-.v..' i.j Theo: To b> rr no: t- !i..- ! U-.:v,: ; Tiivonly ivi:l h-j .lo:iu.-in me! All my rt:::!f !i nru l<) t in ":ic, '" r.-Uhcr, 'l'l:y o:.!y will bs 'lone." SullU'o tV.at for iho sc-snn ;>.-.Et Sly.-:..-'.!" i:i t!ir.:,- . iliviaa I soi-.-iit; Anil !iir.rim:r«l tli-.il T ound t'ltli'l aot. I In ivo it no:-.- lei ih.'e alone •* Fatli'jr, Thy only v.i'.! bo iloce." Thy giftr. 1 cb.'.'.in:'..- t-.r i:o m<.ri>, 0.-::-i'is'!ly Tliv ?r:-.u-n r..".j!i : :i; An evil lic:i:t. t- v.irr.i-li ■■Vγ. Jj.i Oivi-':. I d.-Mri'. ** Afr.T the f..-.h no ior.L'ii- Itin.vn:^ V.-cle -mo ~lil:B the urow.i i>r cross. Trouble I <:•.:!• o; i;rr pe ■<=;>. KoV j.'y. net , griff, '""r J«iin, nor ease, X. r l:i.;,"ii'.ir ileith ; liut evi-r given, •'KiV.iier, Thy only -vill be ilor.e."