Our Churches.

Thames Star, Volume XVII, Issue 5251, 16 November 1885, Page 2

Our Churches.

The anniversary services of the Congregational Churob, Mary street, were held yesterday, the church for the occasion being very tastefully decorated with lillies and fern leaves. The Rev. Mr Potter perached the sermon in tho forenoon from the text Ist John, 3nd chapter 17 verse. He said that John had been speaking of the personal tendencies of our nature in relation to the world, and describing and suggesting to some extent the evils that we are liable to fall into, viz , " The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life." But he^turns from that, and in the text says practically that not only would he have us avoid the wovld because of its corrupting and debasing influences, but also because it is so shortlived. Mr Potter then spoke of the fugitiveness of unspiritual things, showing its truth as regards earthly power as exemplified by hia tory and by oar own every day experience, unspiritual knowledge and unspiritual pleasure. He then dwelt in striking contrast, on tho permanence of goodness. 'John tells us there is one condition of permanence, viz., doing God's will, but in order to do it we must know it, and his will is that {we should always 40. our $uty, &nd d,o the wort laat is assigned to us, whether it be a high or a lowly one. We must not suppose that we do Qod'a will by attending to routine duties, but we must obey dilligently, learn dutifully, and study earnestly. The benefits qf pernjsneqpe \fpj?e thpa described in tb|s world, such as increase, of spiritual wealth and knowledge, comfort such as the vrgrld cannot gire, apd the inspiration by our example of those all around us, as also the promise given us that " he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." In the afternoon at 3 o'clock, an address was giren by Mr It, D. Stewart. In the even" ing, the services wereoondupted by the Rev. Mr Woolley, who preached from the text —JPhilippians, 3rd chap. 12th Terse. The most important erent in our Christian life }? the pjomeut we are '■ apprehended, " by

Christ, and next when we take hold of Him. Paul's wonderful conversion, when he was in sovereign mercy laid hold of,by Christ, was ever present in hia heart, as evidenced in all his teachings; be never forgot that day, and bo it should be with every one of us. It should be the first thought in our lives, awakening grateful feelings, and inspiring us for new and active service in His cause. Just as Paul was apprehended for high and noble purposes, so in like manner are we who are Christians taken hold of by Jesus to be his servants; not only to save us, but that we should also work for Him. Paul's work was to prepare men for the coming of Jesus Christ, and there is no higher, no nobler work for Christians to do in this world than to prepare men and women for Jesus Christ, Dot to convert them, but only if we can do something ever so insignificant or so humble towards preparing and, saving a souL It was announced that on Tuesday (to»morrow) evening the usual tea and public meeting would beheld. At St. George's Church yesterday, the incumbent, Rev. F. G. Evans, preached both morning and evening,. the prayers being read at both services by the Rev, Dr. Parchas. In the morning the sermon was based upon three verses, viz., Galations, 6th chap., verses 2 and 5, and Pa. 25, 22. These verses represented. (1) the burden borne alone ; (2) the burden borne together; (3) the burden cast away. The preacher showed that the burden carried alone taught the bearer to sympathise with and help others, and by mutual help the burdens of life were easier. Chris tian sympathy was the truest way to Christian enjoyment/ In the evening the text was taken from St. Luke 15, v. 31. The two principal points of the discourse were : (1) God has given sufficient means and enlightenment; (2) if these means are neglected no extraordinary manifestation will be sent to convert men. The preacher besought his congregation to receive the word of God and to rest upon it. After the service a meeting of workers for the coming Mission was held, at which the Rev. Dr Purchas gave a short address upon the benefit derived from the Missioners' visit by the members of the different churches in Auckland. These workers will, during the week, visit all the houses in the town. ; The Missioners commence their work here on Wednesday evening, the 11th inst, by the celebration of the Holy Communion at 8 o'clock, when one of the Missioners will address; especially the workers. There are to be six services every day during the mission, viz:—Holy Communion, 8 o'clock ; Morning Prayer, 10 30; intercessory service, 12; special addresses, 3; evening prayer, 7; Mission service, 8. Yesterday evening the Rev. S. J. Neill delivered a lecture in the Presbyterian Church on, " St, Paul and'the Resurrection—Lost gospels and epistles." The resurrection of Jesus Christ may be justly called the turning point in the gospel history. Mr Neill examined briefly the different accounts as given by the four apostles, showing the discrepancies which exist in their several versions ; discrepancies caused doubtless from the fact that these accounts had not been committed to writing for some time, and that inaccura* cies in oral transmission had caused the accounts to be more or less full. He then came to St. Paul's account, and the fact that such a man, living at the time, was satisfied that the evidence for the resurrection was abundant and trustworthy is a very strengthening one. Putting together the accounts of the four apostles and the evidence that satisfied Paul, we cannot help the conviction that Jesus did really rise again from the dead. What became of the material body no one pretends to say; the clear fact is that these early dis* ciples, and Paul, a critical observer, were satisfied with the evidence that Christ had shown himself to them. It was this that went forcibly home to their minds, by which they caught the fire of a heavenly truth that there is no death, that made them speak boldly and act with unflinching faithfulness and zeal. The second part of Mr Neill's lecture was "The lost gospels and epistles," but he was only able to give a few notes, deferring, the remainder to another evening. In the Pollen Street Lecture Hall Mr Edmund Taylor lectured on Revelation sth chapter, " The opening of the Sealed Book." He pointed but that this referred to the future redemption of man. As Adam lost the dominion of the earth through his disobedience, Christ, by overcoming sin repurchased dr redeemed, the world. . s :..-;.; Rev. father Q'Reijly conducted the services in the Grabamstown B.C. Church in the morning, and in the Shortland Church in the evening.