Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1905-12-20
CHRISTIAN ENpEAvoR.


Beginning Dee. "a.
BY REV. S. II. DOYLE.
Topic.-The brotherhood of mani John
Ii. I'll. iii. 1918. "a Christmas missionary
meetingl
A Christmas topic may well include
the two ideas of human brotherhood
and of missions. The coming of Christ
into the worls made ii possible for
men through Him to become the sons
VI God and hence brethren through the
common tie that binds them to Christ.
And Christ's coming to earth may well
suggest missions. He came from
heaven to earth upon the same mission
that the disciples of Christ leave their
homes and GO TO faroff heather lands.
He came to save men through His
death, and missionaries go to foreign
lands that they may lead men to &C
cept the gospel offer of salvation in
Christ.
The brotherhood of man is a well es-
tablished doctrine. To a greater or
less extent it has been recognized
throughout the ages. The Fatherhood
Of God cannot be denied. No man was
ever self created 1T is He that hath
made us, and not we ourselves" BY
creation we have a common father
hood and are therefore brethren. In
his address to the Greek philosophers
on Mars hill, in Athens, Paul enunci-
ated this great doctrine when he de-
clared. God, that made the world and
all things therein. hath made of
our blood all nations of men for to
dwell OH all the face of the earth and
hath determine; the times before APP
pointed and the bounds of their habi-
tation." BY redemption also there is
a common human brotherhood. BY sin
we lost sonship with God; by Christ it
has been restored The redeemed sons
of God are therefore brethren. heirs of
God and joint heirs with Christ"
The brotherhood of man brings its
blessings, but also its duties and obi
cations. The latter, above all else, need
to be emphasized. Brothers. for one
thing, should love one another. If,
therefore, all men are our brethren we
should love all men, and this is the
commandment of Christ. John also de
clares that "he who hateth his brother
Is in darkness" and '.he who loveth his
brother abideth in the light" Again,
he declares that brotheriy love is the
test of Christian discipleship. I'VE
know that we have passed from death
unto life because we love the breth-
rem" In other words, no man is a
Christian who does not love his fellow
men Brothers should also be interest
ed in one another and assist one anoth-
er In the hour of need. Christ loved us
and manifested His love by dying for
US. We should show our love for each
other by self denial in each others be-
half and by the exercise of kindness
and charity toward one another. Nor
are the obligations of brotherly love
wanting. Philanthropy is widespread
today. The Christmas season amply
proves it. There may be here and there
a man who hath this worlds goods
and seeth his brother hath need and
shutteth up his compassion from him. -
but the vast majority of men respond
to the calls of their fellow men. The
human heart is much better than it is
often given credit for being. Few
priests and Levites pass by on the 9TH
er side. The spirit of Christ has large
hold upon the world. May it ever in
crease and more and more manifest it
self not only in giving men bread for
their bodies. but especially in giving
them Christ, the bread of life to their
souls
BIBLE READINGS.
Lev. xix, II, is; Ps. cxxxiii Matt. ii.
lis; V, 21-26; vii, u; xxi, 1910; xviii,
10. 20; Acts xvii, 22-2S; Jas. ii, 1926; ]
John iii, 1924.