ANOTHER NEW LEADER OF THOUGHT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1785, 4 September 1888, Page 4

ANOTHER NEW LEADER OF THOUGHT.

Under this heading “ Amicus Ecclesue ” contiibutes to the Melbourne Daily Telegraph the following report of a visit to the church in which (he Rev. David Gordon, formerly of the Presbyterian Church, Tomuka, now It will doubtless be of interest to the many friends of . the rev. gentleman in this district:—

Having heard much of the reputation as a preacher of the Rev. D. Gordon, the recently-inducted paltor of the Presbyterian Church,Brighton, I on Sunday made one of the congregation, and was well repaid for my journey. The church is small, but neat, and elegantly fitted up ; the congregation large, intelligent-looking, and very closely attentive. And they bad something on Sunday to merit their attention—material for reflection, sound and wholesome moral and spiritual food. The new minister, who has just resigned a charge at Invercargill, New Zealand, to assume the Brighton incumbency, is about foity-five years of age. He has a thoughtful face, the face of a student, a consumer of “ midnight oil.” Ho roads and speaks somewhat slowly, but vary impressively ; bis enunciation is not loud, but distinct; his emphasis is both correct and pleasing. His opening prayer was most solemn and chaste in tone and manner. It was the reverent approach of a devout mind to One with Whom communion is found to be both awe-inspiring and comforting. He read the 24th chapter of Exodus, interspersing the sacred text withmostiustructive paraphrase, addressed chiifly to the Sunday-school teachers, that chapter being the school lesson for the day. In bis remarks he illustrated the nature of God’s covenant with Israel of old, touched on the mediation of Moses as being a type of a higher intercession, and pointed out the paramount importance of soul consecration to God. His sermon was based on parts of two verses in the 32n.d chapter of Genesis, “Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let Thee go except Thou bless me. . . .

Aik) he blessed him there.” The life of Jacob, said the preacher, is full of important lessons. ll* was » mother-spoiled bny, and, there is reason to fear, had been somewhat neglected by his father. He grew up selfish, greedy, and cunning, and by <i! ceiviug his father, he supplanted hia brother both iu birthright und blessing. The way of transgressors is hard, and Jacob’s fault brought about its own reti.bution. Ha had to leave home to avo d his brother’s augur. As she gave him her parting embrace at the tent-door, his mother exp cted to see him back in a few weeks, but she never saw his face again, and thus her complicity in his deceit was puoiahed. Wearied with his journey, the waudoier l.y down to shep, and in his slumber saw the visiou of a shining staircase resting on earth and reaching to heaven. This is the first great event iu Jacob’s life. He (the wanderer) ia taught thereby that God goes with him, surrounding him with attendant angels, instructing him in the doctrine of mediation. And we also are taught by this wondrous dream that every purpose and deed of our lives should be entertained and acted out in dependence on Divine providence. During the twenty years that Jacob served in hia uncle’s house we see in him the sane character and aims is in his youth, and are presented with the unpleasing spectacle of nephew and ancle continually trying to over-reach each other The subject then leads us back to Esau, coming with his 400 wdd followers to meet hia brother on hia horn* ward way, and shows how crafti'y Jacob prepared to appease his brother by a gift. Too night before the meeting, God met Jacob again ; showed him He had kept His part of the covenant made at Bethel, and that heaven is on the side of a relu/niog m n. Theie are times with us, times of deadly peril and wondrous deliveraocp, when ihs angels draw near and bear the child of God in their arms. When Jacob had crossed the brook, he was restless and sleepless, and returned. His conscience was awakened. Nemesis movus s owly but surely, and there came upon him a conviction of guilt und a sense of imminent danger. He looks up and sees a strange form beside him. He wrestles with the Angel of the Covenant all night, till just at day dawn the Celestial visitor cries: “Let me go, for the day breaketh,” and Jacob, in strong faith, and with the energy born of the urgency of moment, answers, '• I will not let Thee go, except Thou bless me.” This address, said Mr Gordon, was his first official message. It is the cry of each heart that God will make this place Bethel and Mabanaim and Pei-iel all in one, and that each may l«y hold of the Messenger of the Covenant, and, with persevering boldnesa, exclaim:, “I will not let Thee go, except Thou bless me !’’ The blessing from God must bu sought in wrestling prayer. When we do our par, God always does His. All along the history of the Church this grand truth comes up, and man’s extremity proves to bo God’s opportunity. Israel, in tl,* bondage of the brickfield, prayed and God heard their groaning, and sent Hia answer dowu at the back of the desert, where He bad been educating Moses to be the national deliverer. And so it has ever been. Whenever His people wrestle with Him in believing prayer, He pours out Hia blessing. For ten days after the Master’s ascbosion, the disciples continued in prayer with one accord ; then God came down, the Holy Spirit was outpoured, and Peter’s sermon added 3,000 to the inf nl church. We want the baptism of the Holy Ghost, the blessing from the Lord of Hosts, How are we to have ii ? Ask and ye shall receive. We will not let Thte go except Thou bless us. Whenever there has been a time of quickening it has always been preceded by a time of wrestling. We have wrestled here individually und for each other, and God ii preparing the droppings 1 of a shower, foretaste cf a great outpouring of benediction. Let us take Jacob’s words again : Ws will not let Thee go until Thou bleu us. And why does blessing follow wrestling] God loves to draw near to us and to draw ua near to Him. The earth!} father’s heart yearns for his absent boy ; longs to bold him in loving embrace again. So the Great Father loves to see hichildren drawing near Hia throne. We me living iu a time of strange worldly prospsriiy; these are b'essings of tlm footstool, but wo need the blessings of iluthrone. Jacob saw God face to face ; aru Hu b'essed him there. Have wo received this benediction] Has the eye of our faith gaged »n the King m His beamy ? John, in the loneliness of Fatmos, was

excluded from the communion of eai*.t,s, the fellowship of his brethren ; bnt God came dewn, opened Heaven to his view, and gave him an ecstasy of experience wh'ch more than made up for his isolation. We have special need of Divine help in this time of indifference and sarelessness. Let us in His sanctuary lift up our soul* and cry, “ We will not let Thee go except Thou bless us.” The rev. gentleman concluded with a few earnest words to parents in reference to prayer with and for their children. The singing was hearty and good, accompanied very expressively on a sweet-toned cabinet organ. Mr Gordon has made his mark, and Ins people are to te congratulated on the acquisition of such a spiritual guide. Long may the happy connection between past or and church continue ; long may Mr Gordon be spared to “ allure his flock to brighter worlds, and lead the way ! ”