Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1900-02-07
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR.

,ic For the Week Beginning Feb.
I1-Com ment by Rev. 8. Ii. Doyle.
iToPie.-Se.k first the kingdom OF God.-Math.
ali. 44-46 Union meeting with the Juniors)
The topic is illustrated in the lesson
by two parallels of Christ, the parable
Of the hidden treasure and that of the
pearl of great price. IN the first in
stance man is working in the field of
another and finaeth a hidden treasure,
II being very common before the days
OF banks to hide yaiuables in the
ground. He covers it up, goes and sells
all that he has and buys the field, that
be may Lave the hidden treasure. In
the SECOND parable dealer in precious
stones, when ae had found one pearl Of
great price, sold all that he had and
bought It, Thus the command of
Christ. "saek We first the kingdom of
God" IS Illustrated in parallels.
/. Seek the kingdom of God first in
the day. No Endeavorer and no Chris
tian should begin a day of labor. of
temptation. of trial. without seeking.
first In prayer and in reading Gods
word, help and strength for the day.
.. Seek the Kingdom of God first in
point Of time. Remember now thy
Creator in the days of thy youth"
This is the command of God, and God
has also promised that those who seek
Him early shall ind Him. We all know
from experience and observation that
It Is much easier TO find God early in
life than late in life. In early life ev-
erything. every influence about us,
draws us naturally toward God. The
life is pure and innocent. The heart Is
tender and easily impressed. Outside
Influences are all In this direction. But
how different II is later in life! The
life Is tainted with evil The heart has
become hardened. and the environ
ments OF life are all against us. He
who seeks the Lord early In life rows
with the stream. He who postpones
this search till later In life rows against
the stream. Let us row with the
stream. 1t is easier and surer.
8. Seek the kingdom Of God first In
point of Importance. Make religion the
most important duty in life. Give 1t
the first place, not a secondary or I'M
important place. Christ teaches US very
clearly In the parallels before US that
we should do this. The men in the
parallels put the hidden treasure and
pearl Of great price before everything
else. They sacrificed everything else
that they might obtain them. Thus we
should exalt to the first place the king
dom of God, the salvation of our souls,
and II we do we will be sure to be
saved. Endeavorers, what occupies
the first place in your hearts? Is 1t
God. Christ, your soul. or Is 1t the
world. Its pleasures, its fame and its
wealth? Let us see to 1t that we seek
first the kingdom of God.
THE PRAYER MEETING.
Arrange a special programme. Have
the Seniors and Juniors each furnish
q special musical selection and read
the Scripture lesson alternately 1t
would be good time to invite all the
children and young people of the
church and have the pastor preach a
short sermon on the topic.
Bible Readings.-I Sam. xvi. 11-13;
Ps. xxxiv, 40; CIV. 4: cxix. 2-10; Prov.
xii, 6; Eccl. xi, 8: xii. l; lisa. ", Ii;
Lam. iii, -; Amos V. IA; Matt vi, So;
vii, Z. s: XIV. 1-13; Mark K, 1916: Luke
Xviii, 1911; II Tim. Ii, 90.