Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-03-23
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoR.
Prayer Meeting Topic For the weei'
Beginning March -.

bcS Mareh -.
Topic.-Jcsus' work for His own coun-
Dry; what can l do for mine?-Matt. Nv,
B-25; xiii, q.
There are some countries in the
world that have had peculiar power
10 arouse the love CT their sons and to
inspire them with a deep spirit of
patriotic self sacrifice Scotland is
such a country. The Scotchman the
world over still loves his native land.
Two gentlemen being introduced, one
said to the other, Are you u Scotch
mani" The other instinctiyely drew
himself up, raised his hand to his fore
head, saluted and replied, Il have that
homer, sir" America has also been
q land characterized by the intense
patriotism of its people. So also was
ancient Palestine, the land of Gods
chosen people The ancient Jews fond
ly loved their native land, and the mod
ern ones, scattered worldwide, still
look with longing eyes toward the sa-
cred land of their fathers. David sang,
IF / forget tAee, o Jerusalem, let my
right hand forget its cunning ana my
tongue cleave TO the roof of my mouth
II prefer not Jerusalem above my
chief Joy" and Paul wrote, Il could
wished myself accursed from heaven
for my brethren's sakes who are Is
raelites."
!. Christ felt the spell of Jewish
patriotism and first of all loved His
country. This love was specially mani
tested in His exclamation as He con-
templated the future destruction of Je-
rusalem. the holy city, 20 Jerusalem,
Jerusalem, thou that killest the proph-
cts and stonest them which are sent
unto thee, how often would / have
gathered thy children together, even as
a hen gathereth her chickens beneath
her wings, and We would not" In these
words we have the passionate cry Of
the lover of his country. We should
initiate Christ in His patriotism. First
IL all, man must love his land if he
would serve it,
4 Christ lived for His country His
public ministry was largely spent in
Palestine. He went about teaching,
hcaIing the sick and doing good. He
gave His life to the uplifting of His
people philanthropically educationally,
socially, morally and spiritually In
thsse ways we can be of use to our
country. We can live for it, do all we
en- to extend goodness, morals and re-
ngion, for as these things exist or
cease to exist a country becomes strong
a. weak.
& Christ obeyed the laws of His
country. In every instance where
Christ came into contact with law He
sbeyed 1t and upheld it. He paid taxes
to the despised Roman government and
urged the people ito render unto Caesar
the things that are Caesars and unto
God the things that are Gods" If we
viii respect, uphold and obey the laws
Of our land and encourage others to do
SO we will greatly serve it. Every law
breaker is an enemy to the best inter
ests of his country. while every one
who holds the law sacred and complies
with 1t is the friend and supporter of
his land
4 Christ died for His country Christ
died for the world; but, first of all. He
died for His country, for His own
people. He came first ito the lost
sheep of the house of Israel" If
called upon to die for our country we
should be willing to do so. and in days
Of peace we should always be willing
TO practice a spirit of self denial to-
ward the land that protects and guards
US. Let us love and serve and pray
that God may always bless our land
and make it more and more Imman-
ueFs land
BIBLE READINGS.
Ez. vi, $40; Neh, ii, is; Ps. Ii. IS;
cxxxvii, 20; Prov. xiv, "a; Jer. xxx, I;
Matt. xvii, 24-27; xxi, 1921; / Tim.
II, Is; Heb. xi, SIG