CONTENTS.

SERMON I.

PAGE

Experience and Doctrine: By Rev. George Bates, Tur-

ner. "And were by nature the children of wrath even

as others." Ephesians ii, 3.

......

SERMON II.

The Christian Principle: By Rev. Calvin Gardner, Wat-

erville. "And the king of Israel said unto Elisha when

he saw them My father, shall I smite them? shall I
smite them?" II Kings, vi, 21.

SERMON III.

Man's free volition and God's supreme government: By

Rev. F. A. Hodsdon, Belfast. "Be not grieved nor

angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither; for God

did send me before you to preserve life." Genesis xlv, 5.

SERMON IV.

A Spiritual Feast: By Rev. N. C. Fletcher, East Thomas-

ton. "Ho! every one that thirsteth, come ye to the

waters, and he that hath no money, come ye buy and

eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and

without price." Isaiah lv, 1.

....

PAGE.

SERMON V.

Godliness more profitable than bodily exercise: By Rev.

L. P. Rand, Orono. "For bodily exercise profiteth lit-

tle; but godliness is profitable unto all things, having

the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is

to come." I Tim. iv, 8.

SERMON VI.

The Religion of Christ a Treasure: By Rev. N. Gunnison,

Hallowell. "Again: the kingdom, of heaven is like

unto treasure hid in a field; the which, when a man

hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and

selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Matt.xiii,

44.

SERMON VII.

Subjection to the divine government: By Rev. J. P. At-

kinson, Westbrook. "Furthermore, we have had fath-

ers of our flesh, which corrected us, and we gave them

reverence shall we not much rather be in subjection to

the Father of spirits, and live?" Heb. xii, 9. ....

SERMON VIII.

The Power of Example: By Rev. G. K. Shaw, Dixfield.

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see

your good works,and glorify your father which is in heav-

en." Matt. V, 16.

......

SERMON IX.

A Reason for my Hope: By Rev. S. Stetson, Brunswick.

"Be ready always to give an answer to every man that

asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with

meekness and fear." I Peter iii, 15.

SERMON X.

Progressive Glory and Happiness: By Rev. T. J. Tenney,

Norway. "But we all, with open face beholding as in

a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same

image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the

Lord."

11 Cor. iii, 18...............

100

122

141

164

188

211

SERMON XI.

The subjection of all things to Christ and God: By Rev.

G. Bailey, Brunswick. "And when all things shall be

subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be

subject unto him that put all things under him, that

God may be all in all." I Cor. xv, 28. ...

SERMON XII.

The sympathy of Christ an example and a consolation to

humanity: By Rev. L. L. Sadler, Portland.

wept." John xi, 35.

SERMON XIII.

PAGE.

228

"Jesus

247

The True Light: By D. T. Stevens, New Gloucester.

"The true light which lighteth every man that cometh

into the world." John i, 9.

.....

SERMON XIV.

The Life after Death: By Rev. W. A. Drew, Augusta.

"Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at

the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham,

and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. For he is

not a God of the dead, but of the living for all live

unto him." Luke xx, 37, 38.

SERMON XV.

:

The benevolence of Christianity, defended in a scriptural

Exposition: By Rev. G. W. Quinby, Saco. "I, also,

will laugh at your calamity, I will mock when your fear

cometh." Proverbs i, 26.

272

301

320

66 "AND WERE BY NATURE, THE CHILDREN OF WRATH

EVEN AS OTHERS,

No subject within the wide range of biblical history, or of christian theology, is of deeper importance, or of more thrilling and vital interest to mankind, than that of experimental religion. In this subject, is obviously involved all that pertains to the present enjoyment, and the future hopes and prospects of the pilgrim of earth; all that enters into, and constitutes the essential elements of true piety-all that forms the character, elevates the affections, and disposes the soul for communion with Heaven. It should be considered, also, that experimental religion is an individual, personal matter; that we are not