Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-06-01
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoR.
Rrayer Meeting Topic For the Week
BeginntnE June 5.

bSSAn June o.
Topic.-How my silence witnesses against
Christ.-Matt. xii. 80. Luke xvii 1918.
That any one who has really found
Christ as his Saviour should want to
be silent concerning Him seems almost
Incredible, and yet we all know that
this is frequently the case Many
slaim b know Christ, yet they do not
want TO confess Him by uniting with
His people and engaging in active
Christian work. Others who have unit
ed with the church are often silent
when it comes to personal testimony
concerning His goodness. The, op2or-
tunity to speak for Christ in public
meeting is theirs. yet, having the abil-
ity to use il, they do not avail them
selves of it. Again, some particular
blessing comes to US through the Mas
ter. yet we do not tell it To His glory.
Like the nine lepers who were healed.
we accept tie beuefaction. but fail to
praise the benefactor.
The silent attitude when the occa-
sion demands confession or testimony
Is a false one. But let Us particularly
emphasize the condition. The believ-
ers should always confess Christ of
course and yet there are many not
qualified to testify before others, ANA
no ones salvation is dependent upon
his being able to speak for Christ or
to pray in public. Some people wit
ness against Christ more by speech
than by silence. swift to hear. slow
to speak was the apostles motto. and
it is corrohorated by the worlds prov
erb, speech is silver, silence is gold
en-" But, there being the man anu the
hour, the speaker ana the occasion, 81
lerce is not tie true attitude toward
Christ. Let the redeemed of the Lord
say so" is the eXhortatlon OF the psalm
list, and Christ Himself commands us
to confess Him before men, and this
cannot be done by silence. There may
be times when silence is goiOen, but
there are also times when silence is
cowardiee, and cowardly silence has
no place in the Christians creed or
life.
Silence when we should speak wit
nesses against Christ in two ways.
a. HE that is not with Me is against
Me-" The world judges a mans atti-
tude toward Christ by whether or not
he confesses Him and takes his stand
among Chrisfs people. If man We're
at heart Christian and yet was silent
upon the subject, the world would
count him against Christ, upon the
ground that If he were for Him lie
would manifest it, BY silence there
fore, all his influence would be against
Christ. % By silence we lose golden
opportunities TO present Christ to
others and thus witness against Him.
The nine lepcrs who were silent lost
most splendid opportunities TO tell
Others what Jesus had done for them.
and in the telling they might have won
many converts for Him. Who can tell
what word in season will do? BY
1t Andrew led Peter TO Christ, Nathan.
lei led Philip. and the Samaritan
woman brought her entire village to
see Him. Has word of ours ever
led soul to Him? Ii not, let MS seek
pardon for past opportunities and rot
fail to take advantage of those to
come.
BIBLE READINGS.
Ps xix, Ii; Ii, -, Is; evil, Is: Matt
xviii. is; xix. 20; Mark V, Is, 20:
Luke xii, S, Q; John iv, $3.50; Rom.
Z, 9; Phil ii. Ill.