Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-02-27
oao,lsrl,S ENDEAvoR-
Topic Fer the week Beginning March
3-Comment by Rev. :. II. Doyle.

Topic For the Week Beginning March
3-Comment by Rev. ;. II. Doyle.
. TorIc. RarEe ni.ess.-Luke xiii. 60.
The topical reference is the parable
OF the barren fig tree. This parable
was spoken by Christ to teach the
Jews that unless they repented and
brought forth fruit they would perish.
PLATE had slain Galileans at worship
and mingled their blood with the blood
Of their sacrifices. A tower had fallen
upon is in Sloan and had Killed them.
The Jews concluded that these things
were proofs that these people had sin
ned. They looked upon these calauii-
ties as the =, lgments Of God for sin,
and as ne special judgments came up
on them they falsely concluded that
they were righteous and that the abb
sence Of calamity and adversely was
conclusive proof that they enjoyed
Gods favor and blessing. To abuse
their minds Of these errors Christ told
them the parable Of the barren fig tree.
It brought forth no fruit The master
ordered II to be cut down. The vine
dresser pleaded that it might have one
more trial and then declared that If it
bore no fruit he would agree to its de-
struction.
1. Barrenness Is not in accordance
with the will of God. God has placed
all mankind in this world for pur-
pose--to glorify Him and to do His
will. He has for every nation and
for every individual work. We live
that we may bear fruit, and he who
fails to bring forth fruit is a cumberer
of the ground. He stands in the way
OF others. He makes it impossible for
others to do what he himself fails or
refuses to do. Such a life is displeas-
ing to God, and destruction awaits it.
The tree that is barren is cut away and
destroyed. The branch that abides not
in Christ that it may bring forth fruit
to the honor and glory of God is like
wise cut off and cast into the fire. Bar
renness where there should be fruitful
ness Is not to be tolerated. 1t was not
with the Jews. the chosenpeople of God,
and much less will it be with us. God
expects in us the fruits of a Christian
character and a Christian life, and a
severe punishment awaits US if We fail
In producing them.
2. Forbearance in the matter of judg-
ment Is not to be misunderstood. 1t
does not mean Indifference. A year of
grace added to the fig trees life did not
make its destruction less certain If it
did not repent, as it were, and bring
forth fruit For Christs sake God
used great forbearance with his peo-
pie. They misunderstood this forbear-
ance. They took delay for entire post
ponement. We may often do the same,
but we should not. Punishment for
barrenness may be delayed. If it is,
1t is only with the hope that we will
correct our mistakes. Punishment will
be as certain and even more severe If
we remain unffuitful in spite of Gods
forbearance By faith let us abide in
Christ, that we may bring forth fruit.
The cumberer perishes. The fruit
bearer casts his crown before the
throne of God in heaven.
THE PRAYER MEETING.
Have a voluntary discussion of the
topic.
BIBLE READINGS.
Math. iii. 10; vii, 1920; xxi, 1920;
XIV, 31-46; Luke iii, 10; John XIV. lie;
Eph. v, oil; Titus iii, Ia; II Pet /,
LII.