Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-11-02
CHRISTIAN ENnEAvo


aesinnfng Oct. 2
Iopic---tiow can we emf ~.
prove our work p Matt,
BY REV, S. r. Is,
The topic emphasiz vac 'ao' i''1'
we have work w 'u'0 ,'' '''''. ~
and improve it uDss we u'u- ait
for every Christ mere Is wo.~-
ITO every man work We have
not on,v IA nIsonal work OF life in
c;denfni ~ .. existence in a world
Ike the onen which we live, but ,
much lard life and worka Wag.
for end 5r the church of Christ as1
for huG4hity
No latter how wei we may have
don. our religious work or in what
impoved coalition II may be, it usy
b. enlarged. No human effort ever
caches a point so near perfection tiIat
1t Is impossible Of improE ement There's
fore tie commands of God have ever
been for advancement. To the an
Gent children of israel He said. 10
forward IA the time of solomon tie
pr0verb was given. let thine eyes
look right ON" The church IN IsaialI's
day WIS commanded: Enlarge the
place Of thy tent and let them stretcl
for the curtains Of thine habitations.
Spare not. leHgthen thy cords and
strengthen thy stakes" The last com,
mand Of Christ to His disciples was,
''Ge ye throughout the world.
And. 10. am with you always" Tn
der these repeated inspiring commands
we should make every effort to enlarge
and improve our work. II Is the orcn
ing of the busy season OF CHRISTI
church. In the fall every church and
society should begin "A well though,
out campaign and. trusting in the
Lord Jesus Christ for strength" pur
sue it until success crowns the labors
put forth.
What we have is not to be lightly
esteemed or cast aside No new site
for the tent was to be selected. but tiat
space enlarged. TIE same curtains
were to be used. only enlarged and
stretched over the wider space Cords
were to be heightened and stakes
strengthened. on the basis Of what
we have. If it be the true foundation
which is Christ Himself, we should all
strive to enlarge and improve.
/. Enlargement. What Christian En-
deavor society is there that Cannot
enlarge9 In every place Of meeting
there must be some space that could he
occupied by additional numbers, or. II
not, there mgst be new space that can
be added to that already in use. W-Iie
viii make this increased space neces-
sary by bringing new members into the
society? In this work every one should
have part
. Improvement. Enlargement with
out Improy enlent Is of no avail. Nun
bers without spiritual graees and qual
ifcations are In vain ia Gods work
at is not by might nor by power, but
by My spirit. saith the Lord" Paul
may plant Apollos water. but God
only can give the increase" The Er
deavor tent at the Denver convention
blew down The tent was too large
and heavy for the poles and cords tlIsl
supported it, Let IL not be so in 0ul
societies. Let us enlarge in personal
piety, In numbers, in labor, but let us
also improve. Let US prove our pro
fessions by our performances. The tie
tree puts forth its fruit before its
leaves. A tree with leaves upon 1t
should therefore have had fruit. The
one In the topic had the leaves. but not
the fruit. 1t was a false professor
and hence its spiritual significance Z
the Jesus aud to us. Let ua be workers,
not idIers, in the vineyard of the Lord
Let US bring forth fruit and not simply
leaves. BY faith and prayer and fast
ing let US enlarge and improve our
selves. our society, our church and the
church universal.
BIBLE READINGS.
Neh iv. 10; Eccl tx. 10; Zech. iv. 1-6;
Nal. iii, SIP: Matt x, Is; xvii. 1920;
Cor. x. 81; XIV. IS; Gal. vi. ITO; Rev,