The Progress., 1892-12-17
CHRISTIAN ENOEAVOR.
Topic for the Week Beginning Dec. =.
Comaent nv Rev = H. DOYLE.

Topic for the Week Beginning Dec. 4.
Comment by Rev. 5. u. Doyle.
ToPIc.-Everyday mercies. Acts xiv, Ia;
Deut-xxviii, rs.
The mercies and blessings of God are
like the compassions of the Lord, as Jer-
emiah described them when he said,
"They are new every morning" 1t
was probably the remembrance OF daily
mercies that led the psalmist to sing,
ait is good thing to give thanks unto
the Lord, to show forth thy
loving kindness in the morning and thy
faithfulness every night" 1t Is spe-
cially appropriate as we enter upon tho
last month of the year to recall and
think upon the mercies we have re-
ceived day by day throughout it.
1. Everyday mercies are from God.
In Deut. xviii, 2-s, Moses says they will
come from God. In Acts xiv, II, Paul
says God has sent daily mercies, such az
rains and fruitful seasons. the Scrip
ture seems specially desirous to impress:
upon our minds the fact that the com
mon blessings of life are from God, and
not without good reason. 1t is easy
enough for us SO see the hand of God III
great events. But how easy when II
comes to the common events OF day
not to see it! How easy to attribute the
sunshine TO the sun, the rain TO the
clouds, and fail to see Gods hand back
of sun and cloudsl AS from day to day
by our individual labors, we supply
clothing for our bodies, provisions foi
our houses and other comforts and bless
ings, with how little difficulty we at
tribute these to self and not to Him who
alone gives us power to labor and oppor
tunities for our labors! Let us remem
Der that from God come all blessings.
small as well as great.
2. Everyday mercies testify of God.
Acts xiv, II, "He left not himself with.
out witness, in that he did good.
What was his witness when the world
knew him not directly? Daily natural
blessings. The earth and skies pointed
back to him as the Creator, and the
daily bounties of rain, sunshine, crops
and harvest pointed to him as preservel
and benefactor. If the sun, rising and
setting as at present, had been perpetu.
ally hid from the eye by an intervening
cloud, we would still be forced to be.
lieve in the existence of a great lumi.
nary back of the cloud to account fol
the daily light of the earth. IL nothing
else convinces us of Gods existence,
nature, with h7r adaption, wisdom.
bounty, beauty a. blessings, ought to
convince us of til xistence of Creator
and preserver rthy of our highest
admiration, purest love and most faith
fui service.
8. Everyday mercies show Gods love.
How do parents best show their love tc
their children? Not by special acts OF
kindness on birthdays or holidays, but
by daily and hourly caring for THEN
wants and providing for their needs. Sc
God, not by special gifts, though they
may often come, but by day by day pro
viding for us our daily bread, our hourly
needs, best displays his wondrous love
and care. Christian Endeavorer, think
often upon the everyday mercies of life.
and for them return to their Giver graft
tude, love and obedience.
Bible References - Lev. XVI, SO
Deut. xi, 11-14; Job v, $40; Ps. xiii
@; xxxiii, 5; lii, /; Ky, 10; lxxxix,
cxlv, o; Isa, xxxiii, 2; Jer. XXI, r2-14
Neh.. tx, II; Math. V, IS; vi. IL.