The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-10-02
EPWoRTh LEAGUE.
Topic For the Week Beginning Oct.
d. "KnoVw and Obey the Word Of
God"-Text, Matt. XIX, 1TJ Jas. T.
22-26I Pa. elk, o, IS-Bib4e
study Rally Day.

Vacations are over Schools have
begun. People are once more back in
their homes The hot weather is past
and the season Is favorable for more
energetic effort The preparation for
the holidays Is not yet pressing. Now,
II ever, Is a good time to push the
work Of the church. Now, If ever, 1t
Is needed
Routine OF church work and home
life has been 50 long relaxed or broken
up completely that many will drift
away from regular habits and lose all
religious life unless special effort Is
made to reRwaken interest and re-
esta blish regular practice Of religious
dutiea
The Sunday school and Epworth
league, prayer meeting, class meet
ing and public worship should all be
put in line for progressive work. The
plans should be laid comprehensively
for the forward movement in all de-
partments for the whole season. Spe-
cial emphasis should be placed on
Bible study. Too little Of this is had
school Is not In any great measure fill
ing the requirements OF our people, nor
can It do so completely under its pres
ent limitations No adequate provision
is made at the present time In the
churches generally for a proper I'M
Outstanding Of the Bible Lesson helps
are published in superabundance, and
DO g t. -
the people who attend church and Sun
day school is dense and lamentable
II any one doubts this few questions
put to the scholars of almost any
school or congregation, If any answers
are received at all, will dispel doubt
and add astonishment This holds
true not only on matters of Bible his
tory, biography, geography and the ex-
teTnals OF Scripture teaching, but is
equally fact In regard to the funda-
mental principles of divine truth and
the rules Of human duty
In consequence of this lack of real
knowledge of essential laws Of con-
duct and faith there Is a relaxing of
EFFORT for righteousness In social, indus
In devotional matters.
The danger from the drift of the
times Is imminent. The tide of poDu-
lar interest sets strongly away from
righteousness, as 1T always has. There
must be determined effort, skilifully
directed and persistently maintained,
II we are to escape the disaster of an
3iyina revelation in the Christian Scrip
lures
No solid basis for personal piety can
be found except in a knowledge of and
obedience to the commands of God
found In the Bible. There Is no way
to arrive at proper conviction Of di-
vine truth except by persistent study
Of the Bible This must be by indfvid-
ual application. When one steadily
reads the Scriptures with earnest de
sire to know Gods will and determine
ton to do 1t when known there come
enlightenment to the mind and the
thrill of divine power to the soul and a
possession of truth which Is deeper
than intellectual ideas 1t IS vital ex-
pefienC0.
Every revival of devotional piety or
ethical righteousness must be based on
substantial and fresh knowledge of
Gods will and work as recorded In the
Bible. There Is no substitute for gen
uine, thorough searching the Scriptures.
If you want 10 know and serve God,
search His word.
If you want to help others to saliva
ton, search Gods word
Apply yourself to the truth. and the
truth Of God shall be applied to your
heart
Every great revival the world has
ever known has risen from earnest
searching the word