Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1902-10-29
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoR.

ropae For the week Bewinasnx Wow.
2--comment. by Rev. $. N. Doyle.
Tupia.-The bsss gfft--I Cor XII. ss-s1:
xf;A lila
The best gifts OF life are eagerly
sought after by all men. But what
difference OF opinion there Is as to
what are the best blessings when God
hss TO bestow upon his children. The
people OF the world look upon pleasure,
wealth. honor and power ns the best
things life has 10 offer. and they ear
nestly eovet and strive after these
suppose blessings. but among the PEG
pie Of God spiritual blessings and gifts
ars most highly esteemed and priced
Yet even here there ~ much difference
Of opinion as to which are the best
gifts. The spirit has given diversity
Of gifts to Gods people. There are.
apostles, prophets and teachers, pos
sessing varying gifts and powers. All
have lot the same spiritual gifts. yet
the apostle exhorts all to covet tse
best gifts which are possible to all
eCovet earnestly the best gifts. and
get I show unto you more excellent
way"
And what n the more excellent way
which the apostle evidently esteems az
the best GIFT IL is lovc--love 60 God
and love to man And who that stud
lee the apostles great utterance on love
can doubt It's excellency and SUPERB
GRITTY? The supreme duty OF Hfe Is TO
love--to love God and our neighbor as
ourselves. The gift OF love is there
fore the best OF gifts, for Il makes :
possible for US 60 fulGll the supreme
purpose Of our lives. To love Is 10 be
ike God. for sGcd Is love" and what
better grace can God bestow upon Us
than that which makes us Ike HIM
seif7
The Superior excellence Of love as
the best gift Is conprehenSlvely set
forth by the apostle. Note:
/. The necessity Of love txIH. l-sp.
Love Is absolutely necessary to the
fulflln,cnt OF LIES duties. Ehoqecace
without II is as sounding brass and
einkiing cymhaL knowledge and faith
without ii are nothing. and liherality
and sacrifice without love avail and
proat nothing. And whyf Because
the value of what we do depends upon
the motive that leads rs to do H.
q The characteristics OF love (xiii.
40. What a list Of virtues love pos
sesses! Love suTgresh long and Is
kind: love envieth not; love vauuteth
not itself. Is not pusfed up. doth Dot
behave itself unseeEaly,. seeketh NOD
T. ffztF4E-
eth no evil. reioiceth not IN iniquity.
but raioicefh ia the truth. heareth
all things. bellexeth all talngs. aopoth
all things, eudmrefh all things" The
superior beauty aad excellence Of a
ilfe characterized lsy such attributes
are apparent TO ali and should be eovet-
ed ard sought after ny all
g. The permanence 81 love txll, :
49,. Love never failefh- other gifts
perish or become useless. such as
prophecy. tongues aud knowledge. In
eternity we shall have perfect knowt
edge, and hence there shall he no place
for prophecy or the gift Of toagues
But love shall always end place
Heaven viii need no prophets and no
Interpreters. bat love viii stIn reign
supreme there as upon earth Faith
win have turned 10 sight, hope TO rc4F
TT. but hove. the greatest Of all ~ s-zs,
win remain forever. And now atideth
faith. hope, love. these three. ,lsaf the
greatest OF these Is love"
RrRIE EEApTSGs,
Lev. XIX. l6-fs; Tlcut. IL 4. 3; Matt
V, liz; xxi. $40: Luks XIV, lilo; John
IL. Is; Nv. L. Is; Ron. viii, $3.50; !
John 81. 1-3; iv. I'll.