The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1904-01-01
TTF- TT II VT TT z
CHRISTIAN E:NDEAVetR.


Topic For the Week 4Beginntng Jan.
3-CommeDt by Rev. $. H. Doyle.
Topic-The kind Of growth leneed in
1904.-Eph. ~, u-16. ssslfW feAl
The kind of growth | need in 1904
depends entirely upon the condition of
my moral and spiritual character at
the beginning of 1904. What God
wants us each one to be is a symmet-
rical, well balanced, full rounded Chris
tan No Christian grace should be alb
normally developed. No one should be
given such prominence as to dwarf the
others and give them no opportunity
for growth Each Christian grace is to
be so normally developed that when
they are all taken together they will
present perfect spiritual life, as when
the members of the body are so evenly
developed that in the aggregate they
go to make up perfect physical man.
This being the aim, we must therefore
grow in the graces in which we are de-
ficient. The missing grace is to be add
ed and the weak grace to be strength
ened. Therefore to grow intelligently
we must examine ourselves as to our
needs so that they may be supplied
Do we lack love, then we should grow
in love. Is our power to resist tempta-
ton weak. then that should be strength
ened.
But the apostle lays special emphasis
upon the fact that in the development
of the perfect man in Christ particular
stress needs to be laid upon certain
virtues. In these things all should
grow, and it is hardly imaginable that
any of us has so far developed in
them that further growth is impos-
sible. Among these fundamental prin-
ciples of Christian character stand
faith, knowledge and love Without
faith it is impossible to please God
and that we may develop Christian
character that will be well pleasing in
His sight faith must more and more
become part of our lives Growth
in knowledge is also essential to sym
metrical Christian development "Grow
in grace and in the knowledge of our
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" says
the Apostle Peter. knowledge is not
virtue. A man may know. yet not do
| But knowledge is essential to growth.
We cannot believe until we know what
God would have us believe: we cannot
love until we know whom God would
have us love; we cannot do until we
know what God would have us do
Growth in knowledge is most essential.
therefore, to perfect development. And
all growth is in love. Love is the basis
as well as the crown of all the Chris
tan graces. Rooted and grounded in
love-" we are to come unto a perfect
man, unto the measure of the stature
OF the fullness of Christ
God recognizes our need of growth
and has provided for it, His Holy
Spirit has endowed certain of His peo-
pie with special powers of religious
leadership. He has given us apostles,
prophets, evangelists, pastors and
teachers "for the perfecting of the
saints" Let us under the direction of
the Holy Spirit Himself and His in
spired teachers strive to grow nearer
and nearer to the goal of perfect man
hood set before us throughout this en-
tire year
/ BIBLE READINGS.
Ps. i, 1-6; xcii, 12-15; Hos xiv, 5, g.;
Matt. v, 48; vi, 33, "a; vii, 12; Phil. ill.,
12-14; Eph. iii, 14-21; Heb xii, 1, 2: II
Pet. iii. 1S; Rev. ii, To-
|