Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1903-03-04
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvOR.
----e rvr rue week Beginning March
S-Comment by Rev. s. Ill. Doyle.

-~~-s rvr rue week Beginning March
S-Comment by Rev. s. III. Doyle.
Topic.-Lessons from the sermon on the
mount: What Christ teaches about heart
righteousness.-Mat v, 2o-4s; vi, 16-lS.
Christianity is religion of grace,
but this does not mean that it is a re-
iigion of license. Sin is not to abound
Ia the Christian life that grace may
much more abound Christ came not
to destroy the law, but to fulfill it. The
grace of Christ lis not pardon of the
past with Indifference as regards the
future. 1t is forgiveness as a founda-
ton and preparation for new and bet
ter life. More is expected of the Chris
tan than of the Jew, of the convert
than Of the sinner" No one realized
this fact more than Christ, and He
took particular pains to lay stress upon
1t in the sermon on the mount. He
demands a superior Righteousness of
His followers to that of Judaism. what
our topic well calls heart righteous
ness What does He teach about it?
/. Christ teaches that Christian right
eousness begins in the heart. The right
eousness of the Jews was external rath-
/ er than Internal 1t consisted too much
In the deeds of the hand rather than
In a right heart condition. But Christ
wanted this order reversed in Chris
tianity; hence He said, Except your
righteousness shall exceed the right
eousness of the scribes and Pharisees
We shall in mo case enter into the king
dom of heaven" In fasting they dis
figured their faces that men might see
their pretended devotion. In praying
they stood upon the street corners that
men might witness their supposed pie
II. Though guiltless perhaps of overt
acts of sin, they were not guiltless of
malice and hate and lust within. But
Christ demands inward Righteousness,
internal good will toward brethren and
purity of heart as we'll as of life.
2. Christ teaches that heart right
eousness should be cultivated at any
sacrifice. To rid the heart as well as
the life of sin may require heroic treat
ment. Actions are much easier con-
trolled than thoughts and magma
lions. The hands may be kept clean
while the heart Is far from pure, but
clean hands and pure hearts are both
required of those who would find &C
ceptance with God In Christ; hence at
any cost heart Righteousness should be
developed. 1t should be valued above
any physical organ, such as an eye or
q hand. Gods Spirit alone can create
In US clean hearts, and We should de-
pend upon Him to keep US in inward
righteousness.
8. Christ teaches that heart right
eousness should manifest itself in the
life. Reconciliation is to precede the
conservation of gifts at Gods altar; ad-
versaries are to be agreed with speed
Ny; for any wrong done full retribution
is to be made; personal and social oaths
are to be avoided; vengeance is to give
place to meeknesS, and in the various
relations of life more is to be given than
can be legally demanded-for one coat
two are to be given; for one mile two
miles-that is, Christians who are right
eous at heart must also be so in their
lives, and not only so, but they must
exceed in their lives what can be just
ly expected of them. They must 'love
your enemies, bless them that curse
you, do good to them that hate you and
pray for them that desPitefully use
you" The standard is high, but by the
grace of God we should strive toward
4
BIRIE READINGS
I Sam. xvi, Z; Ps. II, 10; Prov. iv, %;
Jer. xvii. 10, IL; Eek. XII, 1920; xviii,
q, 80; Matt. v, s.; II, $3.50; Eph. lii.
14-19; Phil. iv, 6, Z.