The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-07-14
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvORERs.
Christ, the Worker, a Model for All
q
EndeaYOrers.

Discourse by the Rev DIR. Potts of Toronto.
Cleveland. Ohio, July l3-At the Christian
Ende9vor Convention this evening, Rev.
John Potts, D. d, of Toronto, Ontario, de-
hvered an address upon the theme Christ
the Worker-A model for all Endeavorers."
DIR. Potts is one of the most eloquent Meth
odist preachers in Canada. He said: 1t
seems fitting that at convention OF the
Christian Endeaovr society the example of
Christ as the model worker for all disciples
should be made prominent, and especially
as the Sunday school world has begun a
year of study of the Life of Christ. This
July should begin great year in the study
of the life of our blessed Lord. The study
of the life Of Christ should enlarge our
knowledge of Christ, our faith in Christ
and our resemblance to Christ. The gospel
of work must be preached. Christ and his
disciples lived it and preached it. In extoll-
ing the doctrine of justification by faith We
seem to have belttled works-works the
fruit of faith. Paul and James are reconcil-
able. Christian work is Christ's way of saw
ing sinners. Work is Christ's way of bless
ing the church, 1t is by work that Christ
makes the church healthy and strong and
happy. Christ's greatest apostle was
constantly exhorting deciples of Christ to
oonsecrated service. saying: "Let US not
be weary in well doing, for in due season
we shall reap, if we faint not" How many
there are who call Christ Master and yet
do little or no work for Hmm the church,
and yet living selfish hves-professing to
believe the word of God, and yet doing
nothing to save men from impending ruin.
How refreshing to contemplate Christ the
worker as model for all C ristian workers.
An inspired apostle afterwards gave that
brief but beautiful description of Christ,
"Who went about doing good" That was
the very description of the man Christ
Jesus. 1t is something worth remembering
that Christian work can be done anywhere,
everywhere and always. If We would initiate
Christ the worker. we must have his spirit
of prayerfulness and of zeal for the glory
of God. Jesus was found in the temple.
Men have found Jesus in the temple since
them. What picture-Jesus in the midst
of the doctors, both hearing them and ask
ing them questions. 1t would be good for
the teaching doctors now to have Jesus in
their midst-Jesus in the midst of our theo-
logical schools, Sunday schools, End eayor
societies, and in the midst of all church
work.
Take Christ's thought of religion. How
impressive it is. Religion business, relig-
ion the business of life. Let young people
get this Jesus idea of religion-that is bus
mess 1t should be a lifelong business-no
retiring from it. In the ordinary affairs of
life it is we'll for man, when able to do SO.
to lessen the business cares and burden and
take life more quietly in old age than in
early manhood, but in the great
business Of religion he should cease at once
to work and live. His knowledge and ex-
perience should be of great value to the
cause of God and to the young people.
Contemplate religion as the great business
of life. Let me ask, when should a business
be learned. When should musician learn
music, or artist painting, or a lawyer
law, or a doctor medicine, or mercha MT
commerce? Is it in old age? Is it in middle
life? Is it not rather in the days of youth?
So of the great business of religion It
should be begun in the days of childhood |
Remember Jesus and His declaration of con-
secration to His Fathers business. How
beautiful is this early conservation. How
desirable it is in the light of prevention
With young person it is not religion or
nothing; it is plants of grace or weeds of
sin. 1t is habits of godliness or habits of
sinfulness. How desirable in the light of
u6e1ulneSS. Two men-On0s D0glnS Christian
life at fifty and works until he reaches
four score years; the other begins Christian
life at twenty and works till eighty. The
one has thirty years of service for Christ,
the other twice thirty. An ideal life of con-
secrated service would be to begin in child
hood and to render an uninterrupted,
Holy Spirit directed service, until at the
close of life's long day, the-whisper is heard
from the Master, Come up higher. Young
people learn the lessons of early consecra-
ton to the work of God from the childhood
conservation of Jesus. Begin early and be
about your Fathers business until the end
shall come. Let parents and teachers give
all diligence to win the children for the
service of the Lord.
Shall Christianity or infdelity have the
young people? Infidelity is catering for the
young. In the sugarcoated but poisonous
periodical literature of the age there is the
most persistent determination to ALLEVIATE