Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1903-07-01
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoR.
Eopic For the Week beginning July
6-Comment by Rev. s. III. Doyle.

Eopic For the Week BEGINNING July
5-Comment by Rev. $. III. Doyle.
Z TopIc---Endeavorers in training for pub
ltc life-Gen. xii. SS-42; Acts vii, IS. IS;
DAN vi, Ia
National anniversaries should not
pnly speak to US of the past, but also of
The present. They should not only re
call the splendid achievements Of those
who wrought well for God and country
In days gone by, but should impress us
with the necessity of our performing
In our day the duties that devolve upon
uz They should be inspirations to
present noble action as well as me-
MORALS to past noble action. The writ
ar of the book of Hebrews recalls in
the eleventh chapter of that book the
Wonderful achievements of the heroes
pf the past not simply to commemorate
them and their deeds, but that we also,
under the influence of their example.
might run with patience the race that
O. set before us, looking unto Jesus,
the author and fnisher of our faith"
Public life is as important as any
pther phase of life. A man not only
owes duty to himself and to his fam
III and to the social circles in which he
moves, but also TO his state. And this
Hnty Ia an important one. God has
raised up human governments for the
execution of his will, and He calls
upon His people everywhere to be in
terested in them and to perform their
duties toward them. Render unto
Cesar" said Christ, 1.-The things that
are Caesars and unto God the things
that are Gods" God should hold the
supreme place in our lives, yet at the
same time there is an important place
for the state and for civic duties. Nor
u it enough to point out the impurities
Of political life and beg to be excused.
That the name of God is not expressly
written in the constitution of the Unit
I'd States is no excuse for q body of
Christian people for refusing to vote.
By their votes they could help stamp
the name and character of God upon
the country itself, which is far better
even than to have it written in our
constitution. If politics is impure,
there is all the more reason that Chris
tan people should be interested in
1t, that it may be purified. God can
sustain His people even in adverse
surroundings. He kept Joseph and
Moses pure in high places in Egypt and
Daniel faithful even in idolatrous Baby
Ion. Statesmen and politicians can be
Christians if, like all other Christians,
they depend upon the grace of God to
sustain them.
God often trains His people for pub
lie service and calls them to it. He
trained Joseph and Moses in Egypt,
Daniel In Babylon and thousands of
others since their day, and when the
crisis came and they were needed men
recognized their wisdom and placed |
the reins of power within their hands. |
God still wants his people to rule this
world. 1t is His world and should be
governed in accordance with His win |
and by His people. Endeavorers.
young and old, should keep themselves
in touch with public life. We should |
be informed upon the questions of the !
day and by voice and ballot cast our |
influence upon the side of civic right |
eousness and in favor of Christian |
citizenship - for righteousness exalt- |
eth nation, but sin is a reproaeh unto
any people" Our forefathers were
faithful to God and to their country.
They loved His word, His house, His
name, His day, and they impressed His
will upon the nation that they founded
Let us follow in their footsteps, render
ing unto Caesar the things that are
Caesars and unto God the things that
are Gods"
BIBLE READINGS.
! Sam. xvi, ZIP; II Chron. xxxiv, II;
Ps. xxxiii, 1922; cxxii, 10; cxxxvii,
1-6; Prov. xiv, "a; Matt. xxi, 1922;
Rom. tx, Is; Rom. xiii, II; l Tim.
4, lie.