Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1895-02-21
CHRISTIAN ENDEANOR.
Topic for the Week Beginning Feb.
Comment by Rcv. :. II. Doyle.

Sopic for the Week Beginning Feb.
24-Comment by Rcv. ;. II. Doyle.
syes?-Acts TX, i'll, Ill
The topical references record the his
cory oi TIE CONVERSION oI saul oi IaIeu>,
who was subsequently called Paul the
Apost335. Ono f5asI,r- of Christ s appear
ance to Saul WAS that he was stricken
blind in which state he remained for
three days. until God sent Ananlas to
him, through whose coed offices, under
the blessing of God, there fell from his
ayes as it had been scabs, and he re
csived sight forthwith, = but not only
physical but also spiritual sight. The
conversion Of Saul may be taken as
model, representing to what Christ
opens our eyes when we are converted.
/. Christ opens our EYES to proper
conception of ourselves Paul first mis-
sake was that he did not see himself as
God saw him He was Pharisee Of
she strictest k4nd and had the idea that
In prosecuting Christians he was doing
Sod $ will He did not see the error II
his heart and life But Christ opened
his eyes to SEE that and the conscious
NESS Of his personal guilt before God
usver left him One of the first steps in
conversion is the consciousness Of our
personal guilt. and therefore our need
Of a Saviour We must be convicted OF
ssn before we will turn from it to God
This was the case with David when Ma
shan pointed out his sin He saw II and
cried to God in sorrow and repentance
The repentant thief on the cross illus
crates the same fact He saw his personal
guilt We indeed justly. for We suffer
Che due reward of our deeds. " 1t is the
same in all cases.
g. Christ opens our eyes to proper
conception of Himself as the Messiah.
This was another error in Saul s charac
car Raised az jew and as Pharisee
he was taught to reject Christ as the
Messiah He himself said it was through
ignorance that he had prosecuted Gods
people-through ignorance because be
did not believe in Christ as the Messiah.
But when the scales fell from his spirit
nal sight he also saw Christ as indeed
he Son of God and was ready to confess
Him as such, for he cried, Lord, what
wilt Thou have me to do?' The thief on
he cross had the same experience. He
was led TO seq his own guilt and also the
true character of Christ We indeed
Justly he said. confeSsng his own
guilt, but this man" that is, Christ
''hath done nothing <amiss Christ
cpens our eyes not only to see ourselves.
but Himself And when we see Him in
she beauty and loneliness Of His charac-
ser we cannot but admire Him and de-
ARE to be like Him.
g. Christ opens our eyes to the duties
resulting from proper vision of our
selves and Himself When Paul received
mis- sight, Immediately he arose, was
baptized and ever afterward did the will
of God To see ourselves Alright and
Christ Alright is not all of Christianity.
Conversion is more than turning from
sVil. 1t Is also turning to good We
must cease to do evil, hut we must also
lsarn to do well Conversion to Christ
results in Christian duties Christ opens
sur eyes to these duties. and, like Saul
of TarsuS, we slogld mot hesitate to d
them. TiIfb val},s are both neces-
sary to s..hsulo
Bible H., 80 II. ii, r-t' -
xix, s; cxiA- g. Irav Ky. T.;
xxxv. .; XIII &, :. .Ier. y. - -.