ROUND THE CHURCHES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIII, Issue 15000, 10 April 1899, Page 3

ROUND THE CHURCHES.

9 -— - PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH. Considering the inclemency of the weather there was a good congregation yesterdaymorning in the Belt Street Hall' to hear the Rev. J. Cocker speak upon the words, "For My Sake.'" A man was noble or mean according to the" motive which prompted him, said Jhe preacher, hence it was a false standard to. measure a matt by 'his actions '0n1y,., a man might serve his fellowmen riot because he loved them or fof- the soke .-.of Christ, but' for his own glory and. praise. (1) Motive was the true measure of character. In some men like the miser the sensuous man or the ambitious man ■ the motive was easily discerned. •'One man is ofen blessed for the sake of another. For Jonathan's sake David placedM ephibosheth at. the kings table, the orphan is adopted for the sake of the parent. , Potiphar..and Pharoah were blest for Joseph's ' sake, God blesses the saint for- he sake of his son. (2) Love to Christ is the true motive of Christian ervice not fear- or- formal duty. A number pf illustrations were given of persons working for the sake of tnfe love they had for others. The saint served his Saviour out of love and gratitude for what He had done for him. (3) The followers .of Christ -when actuated by • this motive often lived singular lives. Christ lived a singular life. His was a lonely life, His parents, brethren, disciples, opponents, and friends misunderstoodhim. ln Gethsemane, the Judgment Hall, and on Calvary He was alone. In following Christ "wo should be' prepared to live singular lives. Livingstone's life was a singular one. The life of the faithful saint was singular to the world. For Christ's- sake should be the motto of the Christian worker. CHURCH OF ENGLAND. The Rev. Bartlett, preaching yesterday morning, took for his text the fifth chapter, lst Epistle of St. John and the lst verse. Easter is the most fitting time for baptism for that time is always connected with our Lord's resurrection into life. Then the peacher went op to say that the Catholic 1.c., tho Universal' religion, appertains not only to one part of the world or one particular nation. We should rather carry religion with Us into our business and not consider it a, hindrance but do our duty in that path of life in which it has pleased God to call us. The Rev. Mr Maclean took for his text ■in the evening the 3rd chapter of the Gospel according o St. John and the 16th verse. "God so loved the world hat He gave His only begotten son, etc." To many people'it is an easy matter to understand that God loves he Svorld, but when people begin to lose faith the very first thing that they begin to doubt is this. Why, they argue, should the Almighty God love such an insignificant thing as man, but to those who believe there is no doubt whatever. God's love for he world cannot be overestimated when we think that when He gave His only son to it He waa treated with scorn and contempt, and only really noticed by a few fishermen and sojne poor lepers. It wi^s not hi? kind deeds that made our Lord disliked nor his going about healing people, but it was the fact that when He spoke to people they knew that they must make a choice between Qod and Satan, and this wqs. so apparent to them that they turned round and murdered Him. People should love the Lord and not fear Him. The man- who buried his talent feared the Lord and the man who loved trusted and received his reward.BAPTIST CHURCH. The Itcv. Harold Peters preached at this Cburch yesterday morning on " Tlie Sisters at Bethany," Luke x., 38-42. This is the description of a household incident arising out of the most commonplace of circumstances—namely, the extra work occasioned by -a, visitor. . It is a revelation of Christ's | interest iii all human concerns. Martha, I acting on her belief hi this, found help of an unexpected sort. Everything so ordinary as household service may prove the touchstone of character, and the anvil on which destiny is forged. . Christ takes an interest in the commonplace because it is important. Many people appraise the characters of these women as Christ did not. The stirring, worrying woman finds more admiration than her calmly contemplative sister. Or the attempt 'is made to account for. both and to justify both on the ground of " temperament." But much that goes by this name is nothing but weak indulgence of sinful tendency. The roots of the distraction of many lives may b« traced to what is evil. Self-importance, self-pity, Self-trust, imd self-will lie at its roots. And its fruit is found in just suel irritability, hasty and harsh judgment, anc even complaint against the Lord, as Marthi ' showed. Distraction is therefore not to b< easily excused. The judgment of Jesus o'i the sisters is plainly right. The one guv* a prominence to self that the other gave t< the Muster. Further, Christ specially con demned excessive .attention to earthly con cerns. The " one thing needful " does no exclude the performance of any common dv ty. Hut it secures that the right place b given to each interest, "by making Chris first in life. It Is not true that the bus' Martha does more in the long run than he' sister. Distraction does not tend to gooi work. If less were attempted more wouli be perfected. IJe who abides in Chris has a power that effects greater results thai fussy self-relance. This is brought out b the thought of the permanency of the high est things. In the nature of things muc of the fruit of our lives pusses away. H who has the one thing needful hus an inalici* able possession. Lastly, these 'wome show contrasting views of the nature c Chrit, and of their relation to Him. Th one would .be Christ' hostess, the otb« His guest. One would confer much npo Him, the' other thought of receiving muc from Him. These ideas are the maste thoughts of life. And as the latter is ur questionably the more correct, it works oi I into a calmness and effeetivaiMMS of life t be desired by all Christ's people. In tl XLIV g 20 1 ' Petm PPeachedl cachede ached from Is *M