Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1897-04-29
CHRISTIAN ENDEANOR.
Topic For the Week Beginning May 2.
Comment by Rev. :. ii. Doyle.

Topic For the Week beginning May x
Comment by Rev. :. Ii. Doyle.
TOPIC Christian enterp Prise. Jonah iii,
lilo.
This is an age of enterprise. The
world is more active and energetic than
ever before. Gigantic schemes, of which
the world scarcely dreamed in days gone
by, are being hourly put into practical
effect. This spirit also pervades the
church Of Christ. The church is more
enterprising today than at any time in
the past. Christianity Is coming to
mean more than mere profession and
a formal and occasional worship Of God,
1t stands today for activity, energy,
work. Nothing, perhaps, has done more
to bring about such a desirable state Of
affairs than the Christian Eudeavor
movement, and no enc should more
earnestly desire and anXiously labor for
its continuance and spread than the true
Endeavorer. Active. energetic, enter
prising men and women are needed in
the Christian world today as never be
fore, and the EudeavOr societies should
furnish them.
In the topical reference, taken from
the life of Jonah, we see some of the
practical phases of Christian enterprise
illustrated
/. Christian enterprise is diyincly
commanded Arise, go, was the
command of God to Jonah. Arise,
Ego, is the command Of God to the
Christian church today. go work in
Ny vineyard today, 60 We into all
the world and preach the gospel are
the commands of Christ Himself 1t is
the "arise and GO spirit that Is needed
in our churches today. The loyal Chris
tian cannot sit still. He must arise,
He must GO ARISE and CO. is the di-
vine command to every church, to every
society, to every Christian, today.
2. The object of Christian enterprise.
It is included in Gods command to
Jonah, ARISE, go and preach
~<% that bid thee" The work of the
church is to preach, to proclaim what
God commands it-all the word of God.
There may be methods Of various kinds
introduced into the church life to attract
and interest men, but these are only
means to an epd. The end and aim Of
all Christian work should be to proclaim
the word of Gcd to men, that they may
be saved from the destruction that
awaits them. 1t requires labor to do this
and do it well. 1t took Jonah three days
to go through the principal streets of
Nineveh and proclaim what God com
manded him. Nothing can be accom-
plished without time, trouble, expense
and labor
8. The effect Of Christian enterprise.
a. 1t had Its proper effect upon the peo-
pie toward whom it was directed. They
believed God, they repented in saekcloth
and in ashes The word and work Of
God faithfully and truthfully proclaim
ed and carried ON viii have their effect
among men b. Itrceeived the approval
Of Ged. God was pleased with Jonah
and with the people. He heard their cry
of repentance. Speaking as Gf men, He
repented. The conditions being changed,
His intentions We're changed, and Nine
web was spared.
Bible Readings. -Math. Y, 1G; xx,
JIG; xxi, 21-3I; XIV, 1850; xviii, 10,
20; Luke xix. l2-26; Acts VI, Is; Xiii,
Is; Rom. XII, IL; l Cor. Nv. 5o; Gal.
iv, IS; Vi, 8; Phil. ii, l2; II Thess, il,
II; Titus ii, IA; Heb. x, "a.