Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1903-06-03
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoR.
ropic For the week Beginning June


7-Comment by Rev. S. IL. Doyle.
Topic-Modern lessons from the Recha-
4ttes.--Jer. xxxv, lie. Is 10. CTemper-
Ance.)
The Rechabites were a section of the
Henites, Midianitish tribe, who, with
the Israelites, had come into Canaan.
Nhe real founder of the tribe was
Uonadab, son or descendant Of Re-
chab. They were worshipers of Jeho-
yah, though not Israelites, and the wor-
ship of Baal was very offensive to
Them. To guard them against apostacy
and to insure the preservation of their
peculiar tribal life Jonadab bound
them to abstemiousness and to no
madic life. They were ito drink no
wine," neither were they to build house
nor SOW seed nor plant vineyard, nor
have any, hut all your days We shall
dwell In tents" The Rechabites were
faithful to the demands of their found
er for two centuries and half. The
Invasion of ACKNOWLEDGMENT drove.
them into Jerusalem, where they still
resisted the temptations to break their
vows. 1t is Claimed that about 10000
Of their descendants still remain. They
live near Mecca, in the mountain coun-
try northeast of Medina, and still adj
here to the old rules of their tribe.
/. The Rechabites teach total alb
gdnence. They did not take a vow to
drink but moderately, but to totally
abstain from wine. 1t was an absolute
command and embraced every member
of the tribe. "Our father commanded
us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine,
neither We nor your sons, forever"
Under the conditions of life in their
day this was their only safe attitude
howard intoxicating drinks. Any 9TH
- course would have been dangerous.
They would have been in danger of
6uccumbing to enervating forms of
life about them. In total abstinence
from strong drink lies our only safety
Today. If the first glass is never taken,
the second cannot be, but if the first is
no one can predict the result
Z The Rechabites teach the POSSIBLE
aty Of total abstinence. Many people
believe that abstinence is impossible.
Surrounded on all sides by temptations,
their claim is that they cannot refuse
10 drink. Many honestly believe this,
although they would personally prefer
not to touch intoxicating drinks. But
all temptations by the power of God
can be overcome. Look at the Reeha-
bites. They had been surrounded by
the general debauchery of Jerusalem
and yet were untouched, and when
they We're brought face to face with
telnptation under peculiar circum-
stances they courageously replied, 1--WE
will drink no wine" What they did
bluntly Daniel under somewhat SIM
ilar circumstances did more suavely,
yet neither suffered for the stand TAX
en-. Nor would we today if we kindly,
but firmly, declined all invitations to
drink wine or other intoxicating drinks
The world honors and admires the man
who has convictions and stands by
them rather than the one who weakly
gives in to its temptations against his
convictions.
Y 8. The Rechabites teach the value of
total abstinence. The Rechabites lived
as they did to preserve their tribal
character and to prolong their lives,
hat We may live many days in the
land where We are strangers" For ma
tional preservation and long and hap
by life they took and kept the Recha-
bite vows, and they were amply re-
paid. Intemperance is one of our ma
honal sins, and for the nations well
fare the American people need to be-
come more abstemious. And nothing
today does more to assure happiness,
health and longevity to the individual
than temperance in all things. God
also blessed the Rechabites for their
faithfulness to the rules Of their ia
theirs, and in so doing He placed the
stamp of His approval upon temper
ance. That He has stamped intemper-
ance with His disapproval is evidenced
by the evils that result from it. Let
Us therefore follow the example of the
Rechabites. Let us decide to totally
abstain from intoxicating drinks, and
when the tempter says, Drink We
wtne," let US like them courageously
reply, 1--WE will drink no wine"
BIBLE READINGS.
Lev. K, S-11; Mum. vi, 1-3; Prov. Xxx,
!: xiii, 1892; lisa. v. IL. II; Dan. i, s;