Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-10-02
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVoR.

CopIc Tor the Week Beginnirg Oct.
6-ComInent by Rev. $. II. Doyle.
ToPIo.-TAis grace also.--H Cor. viii. 70. Civ
hg)
The grace that Paul here alludes to
Is the grace of giving or of Christian
nberahty. In the part of his letter to
the Corinthians be is urging them to
D. ready TO meet the obligations which
they had taken upon themselves to-
ward the poor saints of Jerusalem.
Titus is to come for their offering and
Paul is anxious that they shall have
1t ready. and presents to them a num-
Der of reasons why it should be. These
reasons are applicable to us today. The
grace of Christian liberality needs to
be practiced today. The calls for
money are many and varied. The
church must be supported. Gods poor
saints must he helped and sustained.
The spiritually poor in heather lands
must have She gospel sent to them. That
these causes and others may be sus-
tanned great liberality must be prac-
ticed by the people of God.
1. Paul urged the Corinthians to
practice the grace of giving because
they had received so much. "As We
abound in everything in faith, and
utterance, and knowledge. and in all
diligence and in your love toward us,
see that We abound in this grace Also
God had freely given to them the most
desirable Christian graces. They were
rich. Why should they not out of
gratitude and love to God for what he
had given to them freely, also give of
theirs to the children of God who had
not? Having freely received, they
should freely give. This principle ap-
plies to us. Spiritually and temporarily
God has blessed US. Let us, therefore.
fn gratitude and love cultivate the
grace of liberality.
Dark days have their mission in the
world. "All things work together for
good" and we are taught many useful
lessons in the days of darkness that we
would never learn otherwise. /. Dark
days teach us our dependence upon
God. In prosperity how independent
we feel; how easily we yield to the
temptation to trust in ourselves or in
our possessions, But sickness comes
or adversely sweeps away our earthly
belongings. How helpless we become
and how quickly we fee to God and
find in him a refuge. a strength and
help in time of trouble. 2. Dark days
teach us the preciousness of prayer.
Who prizes and appreciates prayer like
the man who is in trouble? We 'cry
unto the Lord in our trouble" and APP
preciate then as at no other time the
priceless privilege and power of prayer.
3. Dark days teach us to appreciate the
goodness of God and to praise Him for
His goodness. Continued prosperity
would lead us to lose sight of the
providence of God in our lives. Were
the days all sunshine. and no darkness,
the hand Of God would not be seen.
But, Test we forget" God sends the
dark days, and when they are passed
we appreciate the goodness of God and
are more than ready to praise Him for
it. Gods providential care is over us
at all times. Let us appreciate this
fact and praise Him for 1t. 'Oh, that
men would praise the Lord for His
goodness and for his wonderful works
to the children of men,"
THE PRAYER MEETING.
| Arrange a special programme cover
ing completely the subject of the provi-
denee of God.
/ BIBLE READINGS.
Gen. xviii. 1922; xiv, Is; Ps. XVI,
is; lisa. Xvi, IT; Math. V, 1912; John
xiv, 1-3; l Pet. i, 10; V, 10, IL; Rev.
vii, OH.