Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1902-06-25
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoR.
Eopic For the Week Deginning June
2o-Commeat by Rev. ). III. Doyle.

2o-commeat by Rev. 5. III. Doyle.
Topic.--National prosperi,y.-Prov. xiv
u. Deut vi, lob
Never In the history OF our country
was our national prosperity greater
than it is today. Our political domain
Is more extensive than ever before.
and our prestige among the nations of
the word has reached its highest point
up to die present time. We are in the
midst of an Industrial prosperity that
seems almost like a dream. Egypt's
seven years of plenty were not TO be
compared TO the unbounded extent and
the unriyaled character of our national
Industrial condition. Religion, the arts
and the sciences are also prosperous in
our land, and we can say with genuine
enthusiasm, God hath not dealt so
with any other nation" The present is
therefore most opportune moment in
which to make a thoughtful and
prayerful study Of the subject OF ma.
tional prosperity.
The topical references suggest two
important facts upon this subject.
1. National prosperity is a blessing
from God. God is the God Of nations
as well as the God OF individuals. he
raiseth up one and bringeth down an
other. That the prosperity Of nation
is a gift from God is the direct teach
ing of the Scriptures. Ii was God who
In Canaan was to give the Jewish nation
''goodly cities, which thou buildedst not.
NJ FIJI af tFle
thou filledest not, and wells digged,
which thou diggedst not. vineyards and
olive trees, which thou plantedst not"
Nor is prosperity less from God be-
cause il comes usually Indirectly
through His blessing upon nature and
the works OF oar own hands. Pre-
sumption and pride should not possess
us in our hours Of national prosperity,
but rather humbleness and trust in
God, the Oliver of all good gifts. As
Israel In the day of its prosperity was
warned to beware lest 1t should forget
that 1T was the Lord who brought II
out of Egypt and made Of the people
great nation. SO we should be on our
guard "Iest we forget"
2. National prosperity can only be
continued by fidelity to God and to the
righteousness that is pleasing in the
sight OF God. Righteousness exalteth
a nation. but sin is reproach 20 any
people" THE nation that forgets God
shall perish" Ii becoming proud and
presumptuous in their prosperity the
American people become unjust. i'm
moral, goddess. extravagant and reck-
less. leaving the paths OF righteous
ness, of Judgment and OF equity, what
a crash there viii bel Prosperity pro-
duced by divine favor will give way to
adversely. the result OF divine condem-
nation. We may well wonder what IL
to be the outcome of the present unpar-
alleled conditions In our country. and
in our speculations we may rest assur-
ed that just as certainly as night fol-
lows day IL as nation we forget
God, disregard his laws, trample under
foot His day and neglect His house
disaster will come. Our prosperity will
be swept away In night, and dark
ness. disaster and despair will cover
the land. The supreme national duty
of the hour is to keep close TO God. 1t
is to be guided by His wisdom. to prae-
tice His laws and to depend upon Him
alone as our national guide and pre-
server.
BIBLE READINGS.
Ez. vi, $40: Neh. II. 10: Ps xxxiii.
10-2; II, IS; Jer. xxx. I; Matt. xvii, "a
81; Luke Kill. "a; Rom. TX. is: K. 1:
Tim. ii. l-3; Heb. XII. SIG