Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1900-09-12
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvOR.

Espic For the Week Beginning Sept.
1e-Comment by Rev. $. II. Doyle.
ToPsc.-The broad way; the narrow way.-Aath-
VI, Il. IA.
Christ here uses the familiar illustra-
ton Of way to describe life. He
points out that there are two ways,
one Of which we must follow, and then
describes these ways by contrasts. He
speaks of the gates (the entrances to
the way, the ways themselves, the
ends of the ways and the number who
travel them. In this order let us study
these solemn words of the Master.
l. The wide gate and the strait
gate. The gate or entrance to the
broad way is wide. 1t is easy to go
through, because in entering 1t we fol-
low our natural inclinations, and it Is
easier to do this than to go against
them. The gate or entrance to the
narrow way is strait or straitened or
pressed together, SO that Il is difficult
of entrance. Christ Himself is the
door to the Christian life. and we find
Christ through repentance and faith.
All recognize the fact that the human
heart naturally inclines toward sin aud
from Christ rather than from sin to
Christ; hence the wide and strait
gates.
2. The broad way and the narrow
way. The way Of sin and the world
Is not only more easily entered than the
Christian way, but it is easier to fol-
low. 1t is broad; the other is narrow.
A broad way Is easier Travelled than a
narrow way. particularly the narrow
ways Of the east. 1t is hard to live a
Christian life even after we enter the
strait gate. We still go against our
natural inclinations. 1t is easy to trav-
ell on the broad way because we are 60
ing with the stream. In the world we
go with the current: in Christ we go
against it. The one Is therefore easier
to travel than the other.
3. The broad way leads to destruc-
ton, the narrow way to life. The end
of the one is hell, eternal separation
of the soul from God. The end of the
other is heaven, the eternal life of the
soul with God The end of the ways
should determine which one we should
travel. A wise and prudent man looks
at the end Of a road to determine
whether or not he will enter 1t. What
though the entrance be easy and pleas
ant if the end is death? He'll is robbed
of none. of its sorrows because we
reach it by an easy road. On the other
hand, what though the entrance to
road be difficult and the road itself
hard of travel If the end pays, if the
end is eternal life? The joys of heaven
will be all the sweeter because they
have been difficult of attainment and
because they have caused US toll and
labor, self denial and sacrifice.
A. Many go in at the wide gate and
travel the broad way. Few find the
straight gate and enter it. If this Is
true. it Is no reason why we should
enter the broad way or travel upon
1t. To know that millions are poor
does not alleviate the sufferings that
sometimes come as result of poverty.
To know that millions were dying of
hunger or thirst would not lessen our
sufferings if we were in the same con-
dition. The numbers of the lost will
not detract from the sorrows Of the
lost. Let Us follow the voice of wis
dom and enter and travel upon the
road that leads to eternal life.
THE PRAYER MEETING.
Make this meeting evangelistic in
character, giving associate members or
others present an opportunity to enter
the straight gate to the narrow way,
which leads to life.
BIBLE READINGS
Deut. xxx, 1920; Ps. /. 1-6; xxxvii,
s; xxxiv, 1: Prov. iv, 1927: xiv, Il;
lisa. xxxv, $40; Math. vii. 24-o7; Luke
xiii, "a; John xiv, II.