Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1903-02-04
O. alsTIAN ENDEAvoR.

rorfe For the Week Rer1 inning Feb.
s-Comment by Rev. s. IL. Doyle.
Topic.-Bible lessons from men that
failed.--Gen. Nv. S-I2; Judg. xvi, %. Il. /
Sam. ILL., n-14; XIV. 23-29.
Failures teach their lessons as well
as successes. 1t is as possible to
learn salutary lessons from the mis-
takes and errors of men as from those
things in which they have succeeded.
Ghe lighthouse as warning is as nee
essary to the sailor as the polar star
es a guide. Mems successes should in
epire- US to success; their failures
should warn US against failure. For
such a purpose Christ recalled the
failure of Lots wife. pointed out to
His disciples the weaknesses of the
Pharisees and pictured the folly Of the
prodigal son in leaving his fathers
house for the far country Of sin.
The Bible is true history and biog-
faphy. 1t records mems vices as well
Is their virtues, their failures as well
- their successes, their defeats as well
a. their victories. And what for but
nat we may be warned as well as In
epired by their examples. To this end
let us notice the failures suggested by
the topical references and their les
sons.
!. Gains failure warns us against
anger (Gen. ", SID. Angry and jeal-
Gus, both without cause. Cain slew
Abel, bis brother, and thus became the
FIRST murderer. A disposition to loss
Of temper. to anger, seems to be lit
de thing, and yet how serious it often
becomes. Anger in the heart is MUIR
der in the germ. A bad temper is not
70 be condoned as simply physical
disability, but recognized as sin and
by persistent effort and the grace of
God overcome. Else it VII make life
miserable, IL 1t does not lead to great
crime.
2. Samson's failure warns US against
many errors (Judg. xvi 20, 21). His
downfall was a sad one, and its
various steps are distinctly marked. He
began with disobedience to his parents;
this led him amid evil associations.
This resulted in temptation; he dallied
with the temptation, at last yielded
to it and in doing so disobeyed God,
broke a solemn VOW, and his ruin was
complete. He who had been strong
spiritually and physically lost the spirit
OF God and was physically degraded
by having his eyes put out and by
being compelled to grind corn like
beast of the field for his enemies!
Gould ruin have been greater? And
bow his fate should warn us against
disobedience to parents and evil com
panions, trihing with temptation, dis
obedience to God and broken VOWS!
8. Ellis failure should warn US
against neglect of duty q Sam. iii,
lila. The calamity that came upon
him and his family was not due to
what he had done. but to what he had
failed to do. Neglect of duty is failure
as well as transgression against the
law of God. 1t causes ruin and de-
struction almost as widespread as
those resulting from broken laws. God
warns us against many evils. He calls
Us to many duties, and
Where duty calls or danger
Be never wanting there,
4. SauPs failure warns us against
disobedience to God. Few failures in
human history have been sadder than
King Saufs. Crowned with every
earthly advantage, with hnitless pos
sibiIties before him, his life became
an utter wreck and ruin simply be-
cause of his disobedience to God. The
career OF King Saul should be an awful
warning, especially to young men of
brilliant attachments and bright pros
poets. 1t should say to them and to
MS all, in thunder tones, ITO disoDey
God is to fail"
BIBLE READINGS.
Gen. ill, 17-19; Mum. xiv. 21-24; Ps.
kew, Ill; II Kings V, 20-2I; Ecci
hi, 13, IA; Matt. xvii, Is; Mark xiv.