Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1905-04-12
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVoR.
Prayer Meeting Topic For the weel.
Beginning April IG.
BY REV. s. H. DOYLE.

Topic-Glorffying God in our recrea-
tions.-I Cor. X. 81: Ps xvi, Sill.
True religion is never opposed " Ie-
ultimate pleasure and recreation. God
made the world. He made it with a
beauty that charms the human eye and
created man with the power of enjoy
ment 1t would be folly, therefore to
suppose that it would be disasteful to
him for man to enjoy the pleasures OF
the world in which He has thus placed
him. But many so called recreations OF
life are ruinous instead of helpful. ans
it is just as evident that true religion
is opposed to indulgence in them.
Whatever is harmful to man is incon.
sistent with religion. for religion stands
only for that which is helpful TO body.
mind or soul.
The line of demarkation between law
ful and unlawful recreations is some
times hard to draw. Should q Chris
tian do this? is a question frequently
asked. And how can it better be an
swere than by asking, VIII it be for
the glory of God? If we can caascicn-
tiously do it for the glory of God. We
need not hesitate; if we cannot or are
doubtful, we had best deny ourselves
of what may seem to us desirable. for
in recreations we are to giorfy God.
Social life is the chief center of hu-
man pleasures. Recreations are seldom
individual Man is social animal, AMI
his enjoyments are usually inseparably
associated in some way with his fell
lows. That such should be the case is
natural and also in accordance with
Scriptural teaching and the example of
Christ. The Master had His special
friends; some homes We're the special
objects of His favor, and He graecd
the important social occasion of we'd
ding by His presence and performed
His first miracle to relieve the anxiety
and embarrassment of His mothers
friends. But social life sho2ld he for
the glory of God. In no other sphere
can we so easily divorce pleasure AMI
religion, and yet in no other can we
30 magnify our God. SaEctitiel So
cfety can be made a strong power for
good, while an unsanctiAel. goddess
social life will sap the very heart oct
Of all religious inclination AL en-
deavor. The forms of service faay be
gone through, but the power is sool
lost in the whiIi of a worldly. goddess
social life. whether, therefore, We ct
or drink lin all social lifel, or whats1-
ever We do, 90 all TO the glory OF God
! Many Christians make the ni.5t..,-o
Of seeking their pleasures outside o.
religion rather than in it. They act G.s
If the problem Of their lives was EoT
to be happy, though religious. t.
Is a serious and grieyous error. OF:
greatest joys should be found ia o.
religion. The soul is superior + ra-L4
and body, and its possibilities Of CT
ment are also superior 10 those OF the
mind or of the physical senses. Many
Christians never learn this lesson be-
cause they will not abandon them seiges
with whole hearted service to Coz.
The joy of intimate association win
God should surpass that of social rcla-
tons with our fellow men. The joy Of
winning a soul for Christ should DC
AAAA-AANNiS dOONS bAlSlb VI W IAlAA1ls, SUI No
or fame in life and especially above
that of success at any form OF social
gambling. Peace of conscience is one
Of the most desirable of human pos
sessions, and the contemplated pleas
ures of heaven should bring greater
rapture than all hoped for future hu-
man enjoyments, which are so seldom
realized
Let us find our pleasures in God and
our recreations IN the exercises of god
Illness. Then we can truly say: There
fore my heart is glad and my glory re
5oiceth Thou wilt show me the
path of life; in Thy presence is fullness
Of joy; at Thy right hand there are
pleasures forever more"
BIBLE READINGS.
Neh. viii, 10; Ps. xiii, 1-6; XIV. g.;
., II; Prov. iii, II; xxi. 1911; EccI
q, Ill; lisa. xxxv. ITO; Matt XII. 2S-30;
Luke viii, II; xvi, 1881; Phil. iv, 4.