Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1898-06-22
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR.
6opic For the Week Beginning June ee.
Comment by Rev. S. H. Doyle.


Comment by Rev. S. II. Doyle.
fsToPIo.-The right use of time.-Eccl. iii, Is;
Acts xiv, "a, %.
One of the most important things in
life is the right use of time. Time prop.
er1y used fits men for both time and
eternity time neglected or improperly
used units them for both. Our temporal
and eternal destinies depend upon our
use of time. How important, then, that
1t should be rightly used!
The topical references suggest some
Important reasons why time should be
rightly used.
l, Time should be rightly used be-
cause God has appointed ito everything
q season and time to every purpose
under the heaven. - We can easily see
That this is true in the physical world.
God has time for every season, a time
for day, a time for night, time for
summer, a time for winter, and with
6nfailing regularity each season comes
at Gods appointed hour. God also has
appointed times for the life of man.
Every hour has its divinely appointed
duty, and he who fails in the perform
lance of it fails in his duty to God. Our
greatest anxiety concerning time should
be to learn what is the divinely APP
pointed duty of the hour and then to
perform it.
2. Time should be rightly used, be-
cause it passes swiftly by and never re-
turns; if, therefore, the duty of the
hour is not performed, the opportune
haS haf
there would be in the physical world if
the duties of the hour were not perform
ed. What if day should extend into
might or night prolong itself into the
day, summer extend into winter or
winter continue into summer? Confu-
sion would be the result. How many
human lives are thrown into absolute
confusion from such cause as this
The duties of one hour are neglected or
postponed until another, and this is con-
tinued until SO many duties crowd upon
ns that it is impossible for Us to straight
en- out the confused affairs of our lives.
There should be no procrastination in
our lives. 1t is indeed the thief of time
The more important the duty of the
hour, the more certainly it should be
performed. There was time in the life
of Felix when under the vigorous
preaching of Paul he was on the verge
Of decision for God and for righteous
ness, but he failed to seize his splendid
opportunity, he put off decision till a
more convenient season, with fatal re-
suits. The foolish virgins had time
for buying oil. They neglected it. and
when they sought the opportunity again
it was too late. Time is given US of
God let US use it Alright for God.
As to how to use our time Alright no
better advice can be given than that Of
Richard Baxter: "Spend your time in
nothing which you know must be re-
pented of, Spend it in nothing on which
you might not pray fer the blessing of
God. Spend it in nothing which you
could not review with quiet conscience
on your dying bed. Spend it in nothing
which you might not safely and proper
" be doing if death should surprise you
in the act -
Bible Readings.-Ps xxxix, /; &c,
1-12; Feel. xii, /; Isa. ", 6, :; Math.
v, 25; Luke xix, IL, IL; John tx, Vi,
9, 10; xii, 30, &c. Rom. xiii, S-14; II
Cor. Vi, ?; Gal Vi, 9; Eph. V, Is, 1G :;
Col. iv, 5, 6; Rev. Y, s. g.