CHURCH NEWS.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 26 February 1901, Page 4

CHURCH NEWS.

[Notes by Amicus.]

In compliance with a request, we purpose giving a part of our space each week to brief reports of sermons, etc., in connection with the various churches. For some time a precedent has been established by many leading papers in New Zealand and Australia, and we believe a largo number of our readers will be gratified with this new departure.

On Sunday morning at Holy Trinity Church the Rev. Mr Fox, from Reefton, preached from I. Peter, V. and 7: “ Casting all your care upon him, for he carcth for you.” Reference was made to the danger of isolating a text and making it convey a meaning compatible to almost any special line of teaching. From this had arisen many of the heresies existing to-day. The text for discourse might well be used to teach that Christians could not hold lightly their responsibilities and cares. The special feature of the text was to be learned in conjunction with the context, where it is clearly taught that disciples are not to he overanxious for their apparent dangers in life, but to trust more to God for guidance. There were legitimate cases that came upon us and there was a temptation to meet them without seeking. Divine aid. The anxiety of cases would mimimise prayer, engender unbelief and create a weakness in Christian character. To comply with the Apostles’ admonition wo needed prayer, meditation, and a simple trust in God. The address was charac-

tcrised by fervour, and was helpful to those whose daily life is spent among the vexations and worries of modern life. The Presbyterian Church was well filled in the evening, when the liev. Mr. Douglas, M. A. of Hokitika, preached a leagued and eloquent sermon on “ Christ as the Great Teacher.” The preacher was confined closely to his M. S., but the discourse revealed the most careful

preparation and proved an intellectual feast to those present. Any listlessness on the part of any of the hearers was to be attributed to the oppressive atmosphere rather than the want of interest in

the subject dealt with. The text was suggestive—“ Never man spoke like this man.” The rev. gentleman said if. was

not the style of Christ’s preaching that elicited this reply given the Pharisees, but the nature of the matter His message contained. The goodness, greatness and grandeur of His teaching aroused the dormant sense of His hearers. Christianity owns its place and perraaney to this teaching to-day for it has the same power still. The revelations of (ruth were not to men of our colour or our country but to every human heart. The great teacher was a teacher of justice as seen by the exposure of the hypocrosy of the Pharisees. His conception of the Sabbath showed the transparent truth of his judgment, which at the same time revealed the spiritual hypocrisy and fig tree covering of his critics. Christ was a great teacher because he taught authoritatively. He was always master of the question put to him for solution, and created perfect harmony with the teachings of Moses and his own which showed the over mastering personality of Christ. He was a groat teacher because (3) ho taught with accompanying power. At his word devils fled, death opened its gates, the hungry were filled the deceased healed, the downcast cheered. He was even gracious and sympathetic. To the wisdom of Nani, Lazarus, Mothers of Salem and to the sinful he ever revealed the sympathetic heart. Christ’s teachings also showed (4) the absolute goodness of light and knowledge, His knowledge was not attained by laborious reading, but ho relied on that intution of Divine omniscience which never failed. He has taught

us the way to goodness of knowledge. He was truth itself and cou!d not err. For the teachings of Christ the World will discard that of Confucius, Buddha, Brahma, Zoroaster or Mahomed as true leaders in religion. An earnest peroration by Mr. Douglas to adhere to the great Revealer’s teaching ended a thoughful and impressive address. While the pulpits of our churches are supplied by earnest and intellectual discourse as that given on Sunday evening we do not question au increasing interest in Christian teaching.