Anniversary Services.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4297, 9 October 1882, Page 2

Anniversary Services.

The Congregational Church held their anniversary services at the Church, yesterday. The Eer. A. Hidings, of Auckland, occupied the pulpit morning and evening. The morniog address was based on the 16th. Terse of the 6th chapter of Jeremiah:—" Thus saith the Lord, stand ye in the ways and see and ask for the old pathß, where is ihe good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein." The Her. H. Bull gave an address to scholars and parents in the afternoon, taking as his subject the parable of the Pharisee and the publican. The attendances were good at all the; sertiees, (especially in the erening; the result of the collections was also satisfactory. The subject of the discourse in the erening, which was attentively listened to, was the 4th verse of the Bth chapter of Judges—"Faint, yet pursuing." The text was one which to be fully understood had to be read with the context. Gideon, a man of piety and ralor, was called to defiri* God's people at a time when such a thing appeared impossible to anyone who had not implicit faith in God. At the very outset: he received some rery discouraging repulses, not from the' Midianites, his enemies, but from his own people; numbers had volunteered to serve under him in

driving out the intruders, but many of these.when the time for action came, became fearful and left him—fell away from the ranks. Shortly afterwards a second sifting took place. Gideon and his men arrived at a brook, and in preparation for the battle Were told to drink. Those who were slow, and bowed themselves to drink, | were rejected, and only those who lapped the water were chosen by the Lord to tight. And now the commander looks around and sees only three huudred men ready to follow him against the enemy, who^were swarming like locusts on the plain beyond. But he knew in whom he pat his trust — the battle was not man's, but God's, and He had shown His interest in. choosing a* leader for the instruments who were to deliver His people from the bondage of their enemies. And now God was going to help; still further, He was going to fwrnia glorious victory. At the given signal^ when the Midianites were asleep, the loud trumpet call burst forth from Gideon's three companies, and this and the sadden glare of the lamps astonished the enemy so much that they fell upon one another, and the Israelites gained | a leqmtolete victory. 'But when they returned after the pursuit, their ! commander was not met with joy, as j might have been expected, but with chidings ; the men of Ephraim wanted to knowb- why he had not asked them to participate in the fight, and others spoke 'sharply to Gideon, wanting to know why he had attempted such a great thing with so small a host The same thing occurs to day, the same kind of people live now aa did then,—the words "Well done." when said to others jar on their ears ; and they continue quibbling and chiding, much in the same way; and, as this: kind of thing is discouraging now, so was it then ; and we can well imagine how Gideon naturally felt. To hear this, when he had laboured 'for the people's welfare to the best of his ability, was very hard. It is human to faint, and' the best of God's children are liable to do this at times, but it is a disease of the.flesh, w which is, weak, while the spirit is strong, and outside circumstances have much to do with the feeling. Paul said, " Bear ye one another's burdens." All have their trials and troubles; all meet fwith theirt defeat at some time or other; but to such he would say, "Plod on though faint." Ministers were particularly liable to inquire, "Who hath believed our report?" To answer this question let the people tell them when they got good from their ministrations. By doing so ho (the preacher) assured them that they would reap increased good themselves. But while it was the duty of the people to help their minister they should also help another class of people ■ altogetherj who were often overlooked; they sit on the same seat in church, and yet no notice is taken of them—those who were anxious on account of sin should be aided in every possible way; should be spoken to kindly and frequently, and always in such a way as to draw their attention. toHim " Whojsame not to.seek the righteous, but to call sinners to repentance." And although it was possible to speak often and long without doing good that was manifestly apparent, yflfc, remembering the many promises given for their encouragement, they should still press toward the mark set, before them* and if faint yet still be pursuing the . attainment of nearer likeness to their Master.