The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-02-06
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVoR.
Topic For the Week Beginning Feb
S-COmment by Rev. S. Fl. Doyle.

Topic For the Week Beginning Feb.
S-COmment by Rev. S. Fl. Doyle.
Topic.-Bible lessons from men that
failed.-Gen. iv S-12; Judg. xvi, 90 q; /
Sam. Iii, 11-14: XIV. 1923.
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.
The lighthouse as a warning is as nee.
essary to the sailor as the polar star
as guide. Mems successes should in
spire 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-
raphy. 1t records mems vices as well
as their virtues, their failures as well
as their successes, their defeats as well
as their victories. And what for but
that we may be warned as well as in
spired by their examples. To this end
let us notice the failures suggested by
the topical references and their les
sons.
l. Gains failure warns us against
anger Gen. ", S-12). 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 a lit
tie thing, and yet how serious it often
becomes. Anger in the heart is muir
der in the germ. A bad temper is not
to be condoned as simply a physical
disability, but recognized as sin and
by persistent effort and the grace of
God overcome. Else it will make life
miserable. If it does not lead to a great
crime.
2. Samson's failure warns us against
many errors Gudg. xvi, 20, 2D. 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 a
beast of the field for his enemies!
how his fate should warn us against
disobedience to parents and evil COM
panions, trifiing with temptation, dis
obedience to God and broken VOWS!
3. Ellis failure should warn ug
against neglect of duty q Sam. iii,
11-1N. 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. Saufs failure warns us against
disobedience to God Few failures in
human history have been sadder than
King Saurs. Crowned with every
earthly advantage with limitless pos
sibilities 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 attainments and bright pros
poets. 1t should say to them and to
us all, in thunder tones, ITO disobey
| God is to fall
BIBLE READINGS
Gen. iii, 1T-19; Mum. xiv, 21-24; Ps.
kew, Ill; ii Kings V, 20-27; Feel
xii, IL, IA; Matt. xvii, 10; Mark xiv,
G6-72; Luke xvii, 1913; Acts v, Ill;
II n, 4 T..lx,