Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1902-09-10
CHRISTIAN ESDEAvoR.


Esrse For the week Bexfnninx sept.
I$-cornnens by new. 5. H- Doyle.
Tcpse Delight in cods house.-Px
txxxty. Id c. Ia
The church Is a divine Institution.
The Old Testament church was insri-
tuted by God and the New Testament
church BY the Lord Jesus Christ We
are told that '.the Lord loved the gates
Of Zion above al the dwellings OF
Jacob" and Chrisf's love for the New
Testament church was illustrated by
the love which exists between the hus-
band and the wife. The New Tesla
nent church Is called the Bride Of
Christ Such being the divine origin
OF the church Of God in the world. Il
necessarily follows that II has pecul-
far claims apSn ali men. The church
Is not only OF divine origin, but It's
purpose is to carry forward the work
Of God In the world knowledge OF
God and the way 60 God are 10 be set
forth above everything else In Ills
church.
The church not only has claims upon
all men. bat it should be pleasure
and a delight to meet these claims and
obligations II must be confessed.
however. that In too many instances
this Is not the case In many cases
the obligations OF the church are ig
nored or denied, and in many others
their fulhilment Is looked upon as
drudgery and a hardship: purely as
sense OF duty the forms OF worship
are observed IN the house of God when
there il no interest and no delight
manifested In them, This. however.
should not be our attitude toward the
worship OF God In His house. We
should find JOY and delight In this wor-
ship and service
First-we are called upon to delight
An God's house Enter Into His gates
with thanksgiving and into His courts
with praise" is the exhortation OF the
Psalms. Thus we are called upon to
find delight In the public worship Of
God. and In response 10 this call we
should come with spirit Of joy and OF
giadness. OF praise and Of Thanksgiving.
into the house Of God
Second--The house Of God Is worthy
our delight How amiahie are Thy
tabernacIes. O Lord OF Hosts ex-
claims the psaiFnist. My soul longeth.
yea, even fatnfefh. for the courts Of the
Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth oct
for the living God. The sparrow bath
found house aud the swallow a nest
for itself. whore she may lay her
young. even Thine affairs. o Lord OF
Hosts. my King and my God. Blessed
are they that dwell in Thy house; they
win be stu praising Thee" The worth
OF worship In the house OF God is ap-
preciated by all who enter into IL with
xhe right spirit This was the expert
ence OF the psalnist. for be declared
that his soul Ionged for the courts Of
the Lord Even the birds Of the air
delighted to make their nests about the
sacred temple. and certainly II the
birds could thus delight Ia the house OF
God much more should His people. who
understand its value and It's blessings
Third---There are many sources OF
JOY and delight In the house OF God
ca There Is the delight OF praise. We
are to enter Into His courts with
thanksgiving and with praise. and the
heart and voice that truly praise God
find delight IN this devotional exercise.
o. There Is the delight OF fellowship
with God Gods house is the place Of
His particular abode Here above all
places He delights 20 meet His people
Here we can have the best fellowship
md communion with Him II is al
ways supreme delight 20 those who
are truly His children. sci There Is the
joy OF Christian fellowship aud Of
Christian service.
BIBLE READINGS
Ps. Xvi, l-i5. ixxxix, liz; cxIv. IL
10: cxxii. l-9. cxxxy. ID. exxxvli. i-G:
Matt xiii. 1920: Acts II. sa-4T. III. Is.