Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-01-23

Topic For the week Besinaing Jan.
2--comment by Rev. =. IA. Doyle.

Topic For the week Beginains Jcn.
2.-Comment by Rev. =. IA. Doyle.
TorIc Missions, Resolutions. Rom. /. 1915
Paul was the greatest missionary Of
the apostolic church. In resolution as
well as in action he ever stands as the
ideal missionary. His attitude toward
the unsaved. his readiness TO preach
the gospel to them and his reasons for
being so anxious TO do SO are clearly
set forth ~ his splendid words TO the
Romans: Il am a debtor both 10 the
Greeks and to the barbarians; both to
the wise and unwise. So as much as in
me is l am ready to preach the gospel
to you that are at Rome also, for | am
not ashamed of the gospel of Christ,
for 1t is the power of God TO every one
who believeth. to the jew first and also
to the Greek"
L. Paul's Indebtedness to the unsav-
cd y am a debtor to the Greeks and
to the barbaslans: both to the wise and
Iunwise" Why was Paul indebted to
all classes? 1t was not becaase of any
thing they had done for him. The
Greeks had done nothing to put him
under obligation to them. No more
had the barbarians, the wise or the
unwise. Paul's debt has been well
called the debt OF strength" They
needed the gospel He had the gospel
and the opportunity and ability to give
it to them. Therefore he was under
obligation to do so--the obligation of
strength Strength Is always under OBJ
legation to weakness. The physically
strong owe a debt to the physically
weak. The financially strong owe
debt to the financially weak. Much
more does spiritual strength owe a
debt to spiritual weakness. Weakness
always appeals to strength, Those
that have are morally indebted to those
who have not. We have the gospel to-
day. The world needs it. To the ex-
tent of our ability to supply this need
ito the world we are under obligation
to do so.
2. PauFs readiness to preach the
gospel to the unsaved. $50, as much
as in me is. am ready to preach the
gospel to you that are at Rome also"
Paul not only recognized his indeht-
edness to the Romans, but he was
ready to pay it. Il am ready"
Readiness was a characteristic of the
great apostles life. He was ready to
go to Rome to preach the gospel, ready
10 go to Jerusalem TO face persecution,
danger and death, and when martyr
dom doomed up before him he was
ready to be offered up We owe the
same debt to heathendom that Paul
owed. Are we ready to pay 1t? Are
we ready 10 deny ourselves. to sacri-
fee ourselves if need be, that the
heather may be saved? We should be.
At the call Of God we should be ready
to give time. money. prayer or self
for the Characterization of the world.
God calls, What is your answer?
May it always be, 81 am ready" Here
am /, send me-"
8. PauPs reason for readiness. He
was ready to preach the gospel at
Rome because be was not ashamed of
the gospel, and be was not ashamed
of the gospel because it was the power
lof God unto salvation TO every one
who believed. The gospel Ii still the
power of God unto salvation. There
fore it actually saves men. Therefore
I 1t is able to save all men who will
believe in it, and for these reasons
we should be ready and should re-
solve to do all In our power to send
the gospel to all men-"Greeks and
barbarians, wise and unwise."
THE PRAYER MEETING.
Have bible reading" upon the
subject of foreign missions.
BIBLE READINGS.
Isa vi, Is; lii, Z; Jonah iii. ITO:
Nah. /, Is; Math. xviii, 10, 20; Acts
i. Is; xiii. 1-3; Rom. X, IA. Is; Cor.
TX. 16.