Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1886-11-18
Sunday In the Churches.
NITAKiAN CHURCH.

TEXT Oh II 10.
In the book OF job the attempt /. made 10
solve the problem 81 evil aud justify God
dealings with man. II Is but one among MANY
such attempts. In primitive times all evil Wa,
regarded s. coming from spirits which had be-
come angry with man for some cause To
these spirit or gods were assigned human
characteristics. Holdin: such belief every
thing imagination could devise wa. done to Az.
p"sse the gods and retain their friendship. At
length greater distinction made aud the
gods were di' ded into two great classes viz
GOOD and evil, the world being regarded a.
The battlefield Of these contendins powers.
Poivthci-m al length began to die out and
duali-m To come In. Yet the idea Of evil was
not essentially changed. The two forces OF
good and evil were lead on by two gods. the
one soot.the other evil. Aau yielded 10 temp
tation and joined the forces Of the evil
one. Thu arose al length by the interminy-
ing OF the various ph ,-c- OF though, of dif-
Trent people. the doctrin. OF Adams rsir'
A. the cause Of the evil and suffering 10 the
world. Upon no better foundation than trad-
ton ret the doctrines Of man. totsl depravi-
Is. eternal punishment. and the atonement As
the only means Of escaping damnation.
The evil ana suffering in the world are the
result OF incompetenes-. Nan il not yet
wholly adapted to his surroundings. He Is
but partially developed and 10 his weakness
and ignorance he falls victim to many ILL.,
But he is progressive being aud is continual
ly outgrowins the evils OF life. God cannot
be- at enmity with the world. II the universe
g''r, wrong God /, responsible and no, man
But the existence OF God is guarantee that
the universe moves in the wisest and best way.
That i'll the end all will be we'll
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
Text John 81: IS. Lowest thou me more
than these 2
Cbri,t'- treatment OF Peter after hi. fall is
mod. for u. He makes no direct allusion to
the past. He does not ask il he has repentcd.
He simply asks. Lowest thou mec' He does
not inquire in regard To Peters faith As on
former occasion. He only says, on being a.
>ured of his love, feed my sheep" He adapt
Cd himself to Peters special need. knowing
that loye and service were equivalent 10 re-
penianee and faith. In this he showed his
know ledge Of human nature. As the skillful
physician secures movement OF some inter-
nal organ. by giving the external organs some
thing 10 do. 30 Christ, the wise Physician OF
tbs soul. calls Peter to love and service, well
knowing that personal attachment to Christ
and service for him lead to faith In him. Faith
was progressive to all the disciples on this oc-
casion. They saw him dlmly at first walking
on the shore and then gradually came 10 know
him ss the Lord. because Of the assistance he
rendered to them. We often come TO know
the Lord by our experiences. We are out on
the ocean Of life. ioiling unsuccessfully and
Christ often appears TO US as stranger. But
he helps US. and then admits us to communion,
and thus we learn to know him. Faith may
slowly dawn but the response OF love is i'm
mediate. When Peter began to realize that the
stranger on the shore was the Lord. he hast
ened at once to his side. Love often outruns
faith. Love is never limited but faith IL often
limited. II we cannot believe all we would,
we can love Christ as we should wish TO do,
were he fully revealed to US. We can follow
him though he seem a stranger--and thus shall
we follow on to know the Lord 1t Il not
enough to love th0good-we must love Christ
personally, and then he gives us the final test
OF discipleship-tbat of supreme devotion,
Lowest thou me more than tbese?- Happy
for US il like Peter we can answer. Lord.
thou knowest all things, thou knowest that
love tbee.r