Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1905-06-14
CHRISTIAN EsDEAvoR.
Rwsyer Meeting Topic For the Week
Beginning June is.
"a REv. 5. u. DoYLE.

BY REV. s. H DOYLE.
Eupic-Minor moralities.-Eph. iv. $50.
Christianity deals not only with our
ISOLATION to God, but also with our rela.
e1ons 90 our fellow men. -Four of the
Oommandments of the Decalogue con
loern mans duties to God and six his
dnties to his fellows. Christ summed
NJ the law in two commandments.
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God.
- This is the first and the great
commandment. And the second is like
unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighboi
as myself" Our duties to our fellow
men fall, then, only below cur duties
to God and can only be called minor
moralitles' as compared with our di-
rect relation to God. In fact there are
no minor moralities or immoralitias. "A
sin against our neighbor is a sin
against God, for Ills law prohibits it.
Moreover, we serve God in sery ing
inch" Inasmuch as ye have done il
unto one of the least Of these my breth-
rem We have done it unto Me" Religion
must deal, then, with our relation to
the people of the world, and we are
not surprised. therefore. that a revival
In religion not only revives prayer and
worship. but truth and honesty be
tween men. Let US ever remember
that no man can serve God and not
deal squarely with his fellow men.
The subjects dealt with in this pas
sage are lying, anger. stealing, coarse
language, bitterness, wrath. clamoT,
evil speaking and malice. These are
certainly serious matters whether we
call them minor or major. These i'm
moralities are characteristic of the I'M
regenerate man, and some of them were
particularly so of the people to whom
Paul wrote, but 1t is sad, yet true, that
they are universal where the grace Of
God does not abound. The heart Is de-
eeitful above all things and desperately
wicked" But Christianity is life. and
Q new life. The old man is to be put
en and the new man, which after God
= created in Righteousness and true
hciiness," Is to be put on. Lying is to
dive place to truthfuiness, stealing to
honesty and industry. anger to peace
fitness, coarse language to that which
Sdifieth, and bitterness, wrath, anger,
eaamor, evil speaking and malice to
Atndness, tender heartedness and for
a1veness. If these Christian graces
could only abound where before there
had been their opposites. how soon tile
world would become Christian! But
he eradication of the one and the sub
etitution of the other is a progressive
work. Sanctification is work of Gods
Spirit which goes on through life; but.
depending upon God for help. We
should ever strive more and more to
IDLE unto sin and to live unto right
eousness," to drop that which is evil in
Us and to put in its place that which is
good, to cease TO do evil and learn to
do WELL"
The reasons for avoiding vice and
practicing virtue are strong and con
vincing. I'VE are members one of an
other" How, then, can we injure one
another7 We should not give place to
the devil" nor should we "grieve tie
Holy Spirit Of God" Moreover, God
for Christs sake has forgiven US and
dealt with US in such way that we in
gratitude should treat our fellow men
as God has treated us.
BIBLE HEADINGS.
Elk Xxx, 12-17; lisa. j, 16, Il; Zech. viii.
16, II; Matt. v, 22-26; xii, 31-36; xxi,
Se-40; Rom. xii, 9-21; Eph iv, Lie;
Phil. ii, is; Tit Iii. II.