The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-07-20
MEANS OF GROWTH.


The Christian Endeavor topic for
July 20 is found in Phil. ill.,, 1915;
Col. l., 1914. To grow in Christian
grace, love and charity is a necessity.
1t is necessary because we can new
er In this life come to state of moral
and spiritual perfection. At least this
was Pauls opinion. After nearly
thirty years of most devout and zeal
Gus service and Conservation he de-
clared that he still pressed forward,
not as though I had already attain
ed, either were already perfectt but
follow after, If that may apprehend
that for which am apprehended of
Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not
myself to have apprehended." Ian
guage could not be palmer. Paul at
least knew nothing of perfection here,
and hence he must needs always
press on toward the goal. The same
necessity for the same reason rests
upon all Christians.
Paul was actuated in his desire for
Christian growth and progress by a
profound reason. Christ had appre-
hended or laid hold of him for saliva
ton, and, if he failed in experimenting
that for which he was apprehended
in Christ, then Christ's work for him
would be made vain and ineffective.
Therefore he was Zealously anxious to
follow out and to lay hold on the eter-
nal life which Christ had apprehended
for him by His death. This profound
motive should influence US all in desir-
ing to persevere unto salvation. Christ
died that we might be saved, and lest
His death be in vain we should &C
cept Him as our Savior and persevere
in Christian faith and life until the
end.
PauPs method of progress or of
growth is also set forth in the topical
reference. 1t consisted Of singleness of
aim. "This one thing I do.
1 press toward the mark of the prize
of the high calling of God in Jesus
Christ" Christianity must have the
supreme place in our lives if we are
to grow as we should. Christian pro-
gress can only be made by putting
Christ first and making all things re-
volve about Him as the planets re-
volVe about the sun. And that we
may press forward with singleness of
aim, Paul suggests that we must for
get the things that are behind. Paurs
past would have interfered with pres
ent progress. But God had blotted out
the past, and why should he dwell
upon it to the detriment of his ad-
Vancement in Christian faith and
else that interferes with out constant
growth must be forgotten or brushed
aside. One thing, singleness of aim,
%
Shall we falter or refuse to press on
to victory? The contestant in the
Grecian games thought it an honor to
win an immortal crown. How much
greater is the winning of the peace
and glory of the better life beyond.
PROGRAMME OF CHRISTIANITY.
The Epworth league topic for July
20 is found in Matthew iv., %; Mat
thew X, rs. The programme of
Christianity is to preach, teach, heal.
A pure soul in a sound body is the
need of every one. Jesus had much to
do with healing when He was on earth
and had entered upon His three years
of ministry. We have no account Of
any cures performed by Him previous
to His baptism. After that event His
whole course seems a continuous Sc
ries of healing the sick.
When He sends His disciples out
to prepare the way for Him in the
towns and villages He tells them to
proclaim the nearness of the kingdom
of heaven and, in token of it, to heal
the sick.
The work of the Christian church
is not done when men have been
brought to repent and forsake their
sins and to serve God. The work
has, in fact, just begun. Now there
must be training in all manner of work
of mercy and beneficence. How to
live rightly must be discovered and
practiced and taught. Social condi-
tons must be understood, their evils
recognized, remedies found and ap-
piled.
In all ages the duty of giving aims
has been recognized as binding upon
Christians as truly as the duty to wor-