Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1895-02-28
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR.
Topic For the Week Beginning March 9.
Comment by Rev. :. III. Doyle.

4OPAC NOr tHc " cN- A5rSiHAInB lArCn ..
Comment by Eev. \. III. Doyle.
ToPIc.-spiritual death and spiritual life
Rev. lii, l-3, 7-ls, 23-22
Spiritual death and spiritual life are
actually represented id the references
from God 5 word to illustrate the topic
The importance Of the topic as well a.
its solemnity can be clearly seen. Spirit
ual death What a solemn thought that
there can be such thing; that the soul
may die TO the duties it owes to God
and to the blessings that it receives
from God in Christi Spiritual life
What a joyous, happy thought that the
soul may live in vital connection with
Jesus Christ, az the branch to the vine,
and may receive life from Him. Spirit
ual death should be earnestly Stunned,
while spiritual life should be anxiously
desired and sought
l. Spiritual death (Rev. iii, I.3).
Death is here represented in the church
Of Sardis. Thou hast a name to live,
but thou art dead p" Sardis was one Of
the churches that received unmixed re-
proof. Ii received no praise at all. II
was spiritually dead 1t had not always
been SO, for Christ reminds it Of bet.
ter condition in times past. Nor was ii
necessary at this time. Spiritual death
in church or individual is a sad condi-
ton. 1t isn unnecessary, unnatural, is
dishonoring to Christ and to ourselves,
and stumbling block in the way OF
many who might by better example be
led to better life. But there is pointed
out in connection with Sardis the things
that may be done to bring US back again
to state Of life. l. Be watchful. Guard
carefully against continuing further in
to the state Of deafness. 2. Strengthen
the things which remain. All was not
hopeless. Some even in Sardis had not
succumbed to the general spiritual
apathy, and some works were not entire
ly dead. These men to be strengthened
and others would rise around them. 8.
Remember the past Recall better days
that you may earnestly covet them
again. 4. Repent. Turn from evil. Turn
back to God But Sardis disregarded
these injunctions, and her candlestick
was removed. Let US be warned by her
fate against her example
Q. Spiritual life (Rev. iii, 7-I3). This
is exhibited in the church Of Philadel-
phia. We know less of the church Of
Philadelphia than some of the other
seven, and yet we love it. 1t was alive.
It did its duty faithfully and we'll.
Christ had no reproof for it at all 1t
had strength. Itwas trusty. 1t had been
faithful 1t had not denied the name Of
Christ 1t had trouble with those who
claimed to be Jews, and yet were not,
but it had been patient and loyal To
Christ. Itwas abundantly rewarded It,
enemies were to be humiliated before
them. 1t was to be kept in time Of
temptation, and these promises were
crowned by one Of the noblest pledges to
him that oyercometh in verse II. These
are the characteristics of spiritual life,
ecclesiastical or personal, and some of
their rewards. They are open to all and
free to all No one need be spiritually
dead Life is offered to all. Behold ]
stand at the door and knock, and If any
man hear Ny voice and open the door
will come il and sup with him, and
he with Me" (verse 20). If we let Christ
in the church or heart, we may have
life. To exclude Him means spiritual
death.
Bible Readings lisa tx, 2; Math
vii, 21-23; John Vi, 50, 81; Rom. v,
1919; viii, 6, 7; Gal ii, 20i Eph. ii,
10; iv, IL, IS; '. IA; Col ii, 10; iii,
8, 4.