Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1905-01-04
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoR.

BY REV. s. II. DOYLE.

BY REV. s. H. DOYLE.
Topic.--The making of Christian; his
bfrth.-John iii 1-S.
"The making of Christian is a
most important subject. In the max
eng of tradesman, a business man,
= Journalist or a statesman much time,
money and care are spent. Men are
systematically and skillfully prepared
Hor the great professions and positions
1n life. Much more should all things
needed be used in the making of a
Christian. Man is the noblest work of
God, and the highest type Of true man
hood is that developed by Christianity.
In view of its importance, this subject
= to be our topical serial for six
months, in which we shall study the
various steps in the making of a
Christianity his birth; (2) his speech;
o. his food; a. his exercise; 90 help
ing one another 60 his destiny. Such
q subject is worthy of our most ear
nest and careful study, and as we take
each step in study we should advance
IN it experimentally at the same time.
Let us grow in grace as we grow in
knowledge.
The first step in the making of
Christian is his birth. He cannot be
made in a workshop or in an educa-
tional institution. He must first of all
be born. Naturally man is not
Christian. THE natural heart is en-
nifty against God" The Christian man
possesses the spirit of God and de-
lights to do the will of God. Chris
t1anity is first of all an internal life,
and then it manifests itself in the out
ward life. And that we may possess
this life the human heart must be
changed, and this change is called the
new birth. and no one can become
Christian without this new birth. 1t is
D necessity. "Ye must be born again"
said Jesus to NicodemuS. A new heart,
q changed heart, is essential to Chris
6anity. We do not keep Gods COM
mands that we may become Chris
kians, but because we are Christians.
a new heart makes a new man. Put
new living principle in a man. and he
becomes changed throughout. The SIN
mi man turns from sin, and the neg
1ectful man from his neglectfulness
From sin they turn to God with new
suppose of and endeayor after new
obedience"
But how is Christian born? Evil
GENTLY not by his own power. No man
can make himself a Christian. Nor
oan any other human power do it for
him. God has given man boundless
powers, and yet from him has been
kept the tremendously responsible
power of creating life, either physical
or spiritual The power of God alone
ean recreate the human soul ana
make sinful man a new man in Jesus
Christ and a member of the kingdom
Of God. And this work is the special
function of the Holy Ghost, the laird
person of the Trinity. The work OF the
Spirit is mysterious.
- How these things can be we do nos
know, but with God all things are pos
sible. The Spirit enlightens our minds
tn the knowledge of Christ, renews'our
wills, conyinces us of our sin and mis-
cry and thereby persuades and enables
us to accept Jesus Christ, freely offered
to US in the gospel This is the proc
GoS, Dut HON II ID QOiC We CdlihOt Ca
plain. by their fruits We shall know
them" The new heart produces new
life. The child of the kingdom of Sa-
tan who is born into the kingdom of
God must lead different life. Are we
doing so, Christian Endeayorers? Have
we the virtues of the Spirit within ami
the testimony of new life without
that we are members of the kingdom
of God? Let US examine ourselves and
zee how we stand on this subject. If
not born again we may be. Christ's
Me and atoning death have made it
possible for all to enter the kingdom
e God. Do you wish it, pray for it.
And let us all pray that Gods Spirit
may move on all unregenerated hearts
- the end that they may be born
again and thereby become heirs to
Gods kingdom.
BIBLE READINGS.
Gen. vi, 8: Ps. Ii, 10; Jer xxi, SO, "a;
mex. xi, 1920; xxxyi, 1928; Matt vi,
g; Acts tx, lis; XIV, SO; John /. 11-14;
lit lii, II; Pet. i, %, %; John lii, g.