Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1898-06-15
CHRISTIAN ENDEANOR.


Topic FOR the week SeSlnnlnE June 10
Comment by Rev. 5. II. Doyle.
ToPIc.-True friendship Prov. xviii, "a
Mark V, 1913; John XIV, l2=l5.
Nothing is more desirable in this life
than true friends, those who will COM
fort us in the hour of trouble, assist Us
in the hour of need stand by Us in the
hour of trial, look charitably upon our
weaknesses and frailties and appreciate
shat which is best and truest in us.
Some characteristics of true friend
ship are suggested by the topical refer
enCeS.
/. True friendship is born of true
9riendlineSs. A man that hath friends
must show himself friendly prov.
xviii, "a. Love besets love, kindness
begets kindness aud friendship begets
friendship. 1t is impossible to have
friends and not be friendly. If we feel
ionely sometimes and the need Of fel-
1ows4ip and association with others and
have it not and wonder why others have
such host Of friends, let Us examine
our own lives and see if we have not
been uufrieudly ourselves.
2. True friendship manifests itself
Sn the h1ar Of need ~ friend in need
Is a friend indeed. - "Thera is a friend
that stieketh closer than brother, -
says the wise man. We apply these
words to Christ. solomon did not. He
had learned fyon experience perhaps er
from observation, that men had some
times found friends who were more con
STAT and more faithful than brothers.
IT, Is 4 common human experience. In
the darkest hours of life in the hours
of greatest need, friends not bound to
us by the ties of blood are often more
faithful to US than those who are. The
supreme test of friendship is the hour
of need, and it has not been infrequent
that friendship has often stood the test
Of need better than relationship. In the
hour Of need we should be true and con
slant to both brother and friend. Our
sympathy and our aid should be at the
call Of all who have either claim upon
us. The greatest need of our friends is
their spiritual need. If we have receiv-
ed healing for our sins in Christ and
our friends have not, we should tell
them of the Christ who is able to heal
hll IuSu. SuIISt Sdlu W lue HAL OuI VI
whom He had cast devil, go home
to thy friends, and tell them how great
things the Lord hath done for thee and
hath had compassion on thee" So We
should tell our friends what Christ ha.
done for us, that they may be led t,
desire His friendship.
3. The truest friendship is divine
friendship-the friendship of Christ.
lie is indeed the friend that sticketh
closer than a brother" He has stood
His own test of ideal friendship that a
man lay down his life for his friends.
Christ as a friend has power to help Us
an time of need. He understands us as
mo one else does or can, and is therefore
able to help Us as no one else. He never
will disappoint Us. He is always near
and ready TO help Us. His friendship is
Intelligent, dlsinterested and constant,
Can We do without it: To have it we
must be His friends and to be His
friends We must obey Him. eye are My
friends II ye DO whatsoever l com
mand you. VIII you do it:
Bible Readings. -Bsut. Xiii, 6-S; l
Sam. xviii, !; II sam. !, 25-2f; Il
Chrou. 1x, : Prov. Vi, Is; xvii, II,
xxi, p; KY, IL; xvii, s, $, l.; Mic.
vii, .; Zeeh. Xii, Luxe Xii, 4; jas.
ii, %; IL, Ii; John ii, I5-I7.