Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1903-12-23
cHRIsrlAN ENpEAyoR.
Topic Fer the week Beginning Dec
27-Commeat by Rev. :. II. Doyle.

Topic For the week BEGINNING Dec.
2T-Cemmeat by Rev. 5. H. Doyle.
Topic.-An optimists' missionary meet
fng.-Isa Tx. -.
Many missionary meetings are not
optimistic. Ihere are so many seeming
discourag enaents in the way of mission
work that Gods people do not always
enter into missionary meetings and
service with IN optimistic spirit When
we think of the number of those who
are in heathen darkness aud their con
dition morally and spiritually we are
almost overwhelmed with the problem
before us and feel like crying out,
eWho is sufficient for these thingsy'
The result is depression rather than
citation. and many good Christian peo-
pie are often much depressed over the
conditions and outlook of missionary
work. But while these things are dark
and appalling there is another side to
the question The cloud has silver
lining, as Isaiah shows when he calls
upon the church TO arise, shine,'
/. Missionary optimism is possible be
cause the ehurchs light has come The
church is TO tighten the darkness of
heathendom, and its light has come.
Jesus. the Saviour of the church and
the Light Of the world, has come.
Christ came first to tighten His church
and then through His church to tighten
the world The first great step IN the
enlightenment and salvation of the
world has been taken. Christ has come,
and hence Isaiah calls TO the church:
ARISE, shine, for the light is come, and
the glory q the Lord is risen upon
thee! For. behold. the darkness shall
cover the earth and gross darkness the
people; but the Lord shall arise upon
thee, and His glory shall be seen"
Gods method in saving the world was
not to dispel its darkness at a single
stroke, but through an enlightened part
to enlighten the whole Israel was the
part, and IsraeIs light has come in the
person of the divine Messiah, Jesus
Christ, who is also 1.-The Light of the
world
2. Missionary optimism is possible
because the enlightenment and saliva
ton of the world are assured. The light
has come and in due time will enlight-
en- the entire world. And the gentiles
shall come TO Thy light and kings to the
brightness of Thy rising" This is the
prophets prediction that the gentifes as
well as the Jsws will come to the light
which God has sent into the world.
And this prediction will come true. II
was given under the inspiration of God
and cannot fail. The Scriptures re-
peatedly predict the salvation of the
world. God so loved the world that
He gave His only begotten Son" for
1t, and the entire world will some time
hear His name and believe in Him.
But, furthermore, the prophet in vision
sees the fulfillment of his prophecy
Lift up thine eyes roundabout and
see. All they gather themselves to-
gether; they come to thee; the
abundance of the sea shall be convert.
ed unto thee; the forces of the gentiles
shall come unto thee" And as we look
about us today we see in reality what
Isaiah saw in vision The light has
come. The church is spreading il
ABROAD, and the gentle nations are see
ing it and in large numbers, presaging
ultimate entire success, are being gath
cred in. The first sheaves have comr
and the full harvest is assured
BIBLE READINGS.
lisa. lii, Z: Nah. i. 10; Ps Xxi, Sill
1913; Matt. Y, 14-16; Matt. xiii, 31-33
Dan. Iii, a. 45; Acts i. Is; xiii. 44-43
Rev. xxi. 1927.