Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-01-16
cnKl THAN ENprAvoR.

Topic For the week Regsnning Jan.
2o-Conment BY REV. $. 4. Doyle.
ToFlc.- Abiding inauenee.-neb. xi. .; Msts.
XVI. is.
"The evil that men DO lives after
them. The good is Off Inferred with
their bones" Thus writes the great
poet, but 1t is not always the case.
Good has an abiding influence as wen
as evil, and the good that men do often
lives after them. and they being dead
yet speak. The fact is that both good
and evil remain after we are gone and
exert an influence. and this fact only
makes it the more important that our
lives should speak for good instead of
evil. How long and how farreaching
the influence Of life is to be no one
can know. Eternity alone can reveal
the length and extent of the influences
of our lives What an inspiration this
should be In favor Of a good life,
What a hindrance in the way of an
evil lifel
In the topical references we have
two Illustrations OF abiding influence.
and In both cases for good.
l. Abel's abiding influence. Heb. xi.
4, "By faith Abel offered unto God a
more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by
which he obtained witness that he was
righteous, God testifying of his gifts,
and by it he being dead yet speaketh."
ADel's life and this particular act in
it speak for faith, for the true spirit
of worship and for the sacrifice of the
best to God. The man who believes
and shows his faith by his works has
n great influence, and his influence not
only lasts during his lifetime. but 1t
is an abiding influence. Abefs faith
has been an inspiration to thousands
of worshipers and has directed them
Alright in their worship. Abraham's
faith in God. shining out brightly in
the days of the grossest idolatry. has
been a beacon light in every genera
ton of the world since he lived and
has kept multitudes true TO their faith
in God. So it has been with all the
worthless of the past who have believed
and who have kept the faith. A life
of faith in God has an abiding infu-
ence.
2. Mary's abiding influence. Math.
XVI, 13, "Wheresoeyer this gospel
shall be preached in the whole world
there shall also this that this woman
hath done be told for a memorial of
her" These are Christ's words of eu-
logy upon Mary for amounting Him
with the alabaster box of ointment.
His prophecy has been fulfilled. Ii is
fulfilled today. For 2,0e5 years this
beautiful story has been told and has
had an abiding influence. This act of
Mary's speaks for good deeds and H.
illustrates the fact that not only faith
has an abiding influence, but also good
deeds. Simple, humble. loving. unself-
ish deeds of kindness live forever and
bear eternal fruit This should inspire
us TO fill our lives full of such good
deeds. No one wants to be forgotten,
and, that we may not. let us initiate
the faith of Abel and the service of
Mary, and then throughout all time
yea. throughout all eternity-we shall
be remembered for what we have be-
Aetcu anu iba @uai we nave NoAc.
Though we are dead. our faith shall
speak, and our deeds of loving service
shall be remembered.
THE PRAYER MEETING.
Have testimony meeting. Let each
one try to tell what have been the
words and deeds of others that have
influenced their lives most. Thus we
may learn what win influence the lives
of others.
BfgLE READINGS
Ps. XIV. 1-5: eli. 24-2S: Prov. xxi. 8;
Eccl. /. 4; Math. vi. 10. 20; xiv. 81:
Luke xvi. l-1o: John XIV, 1-io: Rom. xiv.
Z; Cor. XIV. IS.