Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1902-07-30
CHRISTIAN ENpEAvoR.


Topie,-The cali 70 separation.--lI Cor
vi 14-Ess J Jghn H. ls-E
II has always hsen the desire and In
tentien Of Sod that His chosen people
IN this life should be separated from
the peopie q the world While IN the
world. yet Il was never His inteHtioB
that they should be 81 the world. This
fact is fully testified to Ia The history
OF the chosen people q Gcd. God de-
veloped the Jews into distinct and a
separate people. lie led chem from the
land q Eeypi to the land ef Canaan.
which was 70 he their distinct and sep
arate possession. lie there surrounded
them with peculiar customs and laws.
that taey should be distinct and sep
arnte freEa the people round about
them. The laws and the customs OF the
Jews made them as separate aud dis
tinct frou tie surrounding nations as
IL was possible tor naticn 70 be.
Even In the matter Of dress God dis
tingulshed His people from the nations
1t Is HIS Intention that this separation,
in different way. should exist today.
The church OF Christ Is distinct and
separate institution from the world
The disciples Of Christ are also to be
separate and distinct in their lives.
This is set forth In the New Testament.
Paul says In the first reference: BE
ye not unequally yoked together with
unbelIeyers. for what fellowship hath
righteousness with unrighieousness
and what communion hath light with
darkness. and what concord hath
Christ with Beliai. or what part hath
he that bclieveth with an infidel?
Wherefore come out from among them
and be ye separate. saith the Lord. and
touch not the unciean thing. and win
receive you and will be a Father unto
you. and ye shah be my sons and
daughters. saith the Lord Almighty"
In the second reference John says;
Love not the world, neither the things
that are In the world. III any man love
the world, the love Of the Father is not
IN him"
The necessity Of emphasizing this
truth of the Scriptures is very great
today. II is evident to all that there
IL not the distinction between the
church aud the world and between the
people of God and the people OF the
world that there should be. There
have been days in the past when this
separation was marked and distinct
In the early Christian centuries this
was the case. BY the difference in their
lives it was possible for the Roman
masters to distinguish their Christian
and un-Christian slaves. and not only
in these circles. but In every grade OF
church life. there was GistIpct sepa-
ration from the world. In the early
part of the history OF our own country
there was this marked separation be-
tween the people OF the kingdom Of
God and the people Of the Kingdom OF
this world. The Puritan fathers were
particular TO emphasize the duty Of
separation from the world. Today.
however. there has been great change
in this respect The church is In the
world and the world is in the church
TO an extent that perhaps has never
been eaualed or surpassed in the past
The duty. therefore. to emphasize this
truth Of the Scriptures and this desire
of God is evident. and we may well
remember today Gods call TO His PEG
pie TO be separate and distinct from
the world. a chosen people unto Him.
self and His peculiar possession.
The distinction between the people
OF God and the people OF the world Is
not today to be manifested by any pc.
culiar custom or the observance of DIFF.
ferent natioaal laws. but purely In the
manner OF living. II is by the lives Of
Gods people that they should lie recog.
nized as His people and as the follow
ers Of Jesus Christ A clerical dress
does not make q Christian minister.
nor does Christian Endeav orer badge
upon the lapel o. a young mans coat
make a Christian Eadeavorer. Chris
tanity is life. II is the life OF God
IN the heart and the lives Of men. ana
IT Is possible Tor the people OF God to
follow SO closely in the footsteps OF
their divine model. the Lord Jesus
Christ. as TO be noticeably distinct and
separate from those who are not be
iievers in God or worshipers OF Him.