Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1905-06-21
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoR.


BY REV. 5. Ii. DOf LIZ
Topie-our national heritage.--Isa- w.
l~l3 tHome missions This may also be
used as a temperance topic)
In speaking of Christ in the opening
chapter Of his gospel John says, And
of His fullness have all we received.
and grace for grace" The addition Of
grace to grace not only comes By
growth. but also by Inheritance. We
inherit oil the good of the ages that
have gone before US. In philosophy
In invention, in theology and in religious
experience we have the advantage of
all that has been thought out and ac
compllshed in the past periods of hui
man history The heritage of the
American nation is a glorious one
When we think of the priceless priyi-
legcs and glorious advantages that We
enjoy today as nation as a result of
Gods blessing upon our cody anees-
try we cannot be too thankful TO God
and too appreciative of the sacrifices
and tolls of those brave bands of men
who at great cost laid the foundation
of the republic, whose freedom and
manifold other blessings we enjoy today
as an inheritance that has cost us moth
ing. As a nation we can truthfully
say, ''The lines are fallen unto US In
pleasant places; yea, we have a good
" heritage
Not the least of our national bless
tngs, inherited from those who have
gone before, are our religious bless
yr-t.. Eos5I -,
lions of our republic were strong re-
iigious men. The manifest men of the
world have always been religious men.
The religious privileges that should
have been theirs by inheritance had
been cut off by tyranny and oppres-
sion, and to new land they came
and won them back for themselves
and handed them down to their chill
6ren and their children's children, let
ms hope, until the end of time. These
Deligious blessings are ours today
kAith in God, the Bible. the Sabbath
Jay, religious liberty and all the minor
blessings that go with these greater
possessions. And these priceless in
Aeritances are abundant proof that God
has called us from among the nations
mknown when Isaiah wrote and that
- q nation we have earnestly sought
he Lord our God and the Holy One of
Israel because He giorified God. Hith-
Gto our national life has conferred in
God and in Christ, who glorified God.
And may 1t ever be So Realizing that
nations as well as individuals should
sseek first the kingdom of God. may
cur nation ever give God the first place
IN its life and exalt that righteousness
which exalteth a nation and avoid sin,
which is a reproach to any people.
The inheritor, to show his apprecia-
zion of his heritage, should use it well
and strive to pass it on to those who
come after him in still better condi-
tion. One Of the darkest facts in hu-
man history is that of wasted inher-
ttances. In how many cases inherited
fortunes have been curse rather than
u blessing May it not he so with our
national inheritances. As We have
fully received the gospel from those
who have gone before US, may we cx-
tend it throughout our land and hand
it down in its purity and simplicity to
those who come after us. And as our
national ancestors lived close to God
and avoided the evils of life that de-
stroy, so may we also live, practicing.
above all things, that self control for
which they We're noted and by means
OF which they were able to do great
things for their God and for their fell
lows. Thus can we best thank God
and thank them for our goodly nation
nj heritage.
BIBLE READINGS.
Elk. Xxx, S-11; l Kings XIV, Ills; II
Kings xviii. Is; Ps. xvi. 81; xxxiH. 12-
70; Prov. iv, 1921; xiv, "a; Acts i. s;
Rom. tx, 10; Y, Il, 10.