Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1895-02-28
CHRISTIAN hNDEtIUR.
Topic for the WccF Beginning March
; Comment by Rev. =. II. Doyle.

Topic for the Wees beginning March
; Comment by Brv. =. n. Doyle.
TorlC -N6c.- ... r.. v~'-t,x. XIV. l5-o',
XIV, l. . t,0t. ..:H t.... Avor Diy)
Another anniversary Of the Christian
Endeavor movement The splendid work
of tnis Goa given movement has sull
gone forward, deepening and widening
with zach advancing year, and yet the
end is not IN sight There is still work
TO be done for Christ and the church,
and the topic Of Advance, EndeavorN
is therefore appropriate just at this time.
The command of God TO the children of
Israel at critical moment in their
march to Canaan was, Go forward y"
This is ever and always the command OF
God to his church and to his people, con-
sidered either as organizations or as IN
dividuals The principle of the Christian
life is advance There is to he no stand
ing still and 10 retreat until the heaven
" Canaan is reached and even then we
shall advance
LIE is, then, as Endoayorers advance.
ADV zee in Christian character, III mis-
sionary enterprise, in proportionate and
systematic benevoleuce, III lahors for
good citizenship and in every good work
that will advance the kingdom of Christ
on the earth.
l. Advance, even in the face of diff
culties. The Israelites are in critical
position. The Red sea is before them
and the Egyptian army behind them,
and there are mur4nuring and complaint
10 .nA JS
unto Moses, Speak unto the children
of Israel that they go forward. Oppo
sition within Opposition without This
is characteristic of the advancement Of
almost every good work There are al.
ways some to oppose noble movements.
The Christian Endeavor movement has
not been an exception, though the oppo-
sition is rapidly dying out. But no work
of God is to falter because of opposition.
1t is to go forward against all obstacles
and difficulties.
2. Advance in the way SGD points
out. God not only commanded the PEG
pie to go forward. but opened up way
for them, and they followed 1t God
never commands Us to do all impossibil
ity. He will point ont the way if we
will only seek for it and follow it. Gods
way Of meeting opposition Is always the
best way Human methods usually III.
crease the difficulties, but all obstacles
vanish before divine methods Amid all
obstacles and difficulties to personal. 80
ciety or church advancement Let us
search out the way by which God w1ult
have US meet them That way Will al
ways be successful. The way that guides
Gods people will often eonfound his
enemies, as the cloud was a light to the
Israelites and darkness TO the Egyp
tians.
g. Advance depending upon God.
Moses and Israel did this 1t was the
salvation of the Lord We should al
ways depend upon God for success and
not upon ourselves. The Lord is my
strength, sang Moses. The sword OF
the Lord and of Gideon" should be our
battlecry.
4. Advance with praise and gratitude
to God (Ex XIV, 1.2). When the victory
had been wen, Moses in joyful acclaim
sang praises of gratitude to God. Thus
should all Christian workers advance.
Bible Readings -Jer. vii, "a, 1884;
Acts xviii, 10; Cor. tx, "a q, Gal
vi, 8; Phil /, 9-ti; ii, -, 10; Ill, ID,
ii; II Tin. ~. :. HI b. ii, |, ,, xii
/, 2; 1t. il, II PIT III Is
Rev ii. :, 10.