Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1905-12-27
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoR.
Prayer Meeting Topic For the week
Beginning Dec. 81.
By REV. S. II. DOYLE.

1cEinutuE OeCs OF.
BY REV. S. II. DOYLE.
Tepic.-Isooking backward. What have
learned this year2-Deut. viii. 2-2o.
Edward Bellamy's Looking Bac.s-
ward was in reality looking for
ward Before looking back he placed
himself in the distant future ami then
prophesied what were to be the social
changes from the present to that flu
ture Our looking backward ON the
last day of the year 1905 IS, however,
to be of different character. We are
actually TO look back upon the 800 days
of the year and to recall especially
have gone by. Looking backward in
this sense should be u profitable exer-
else. The memory is one of the most
marvellous attributes of mind that God
has given to us, and we should use it
for our Advancement in spiritual thing
as well a in secular affairs. Many
will recall The successes and failures OF
the past year, its gains and its losses,
but will give little thought. II any, 70
God in these rcnembranceS. Yet Col
ii His Word teaches us different doc
trine. OF this fact we have an il,ust-a-
ton in tie passage selected for our
study. The children of Israel upon
their entrance into the land of Canaan
were inst ucted to remember how God
had led t,le1s-''And thou shalt rem am
Der all the way which the Lord thy
God led thee these forty years in the
wilderness." And to US, the children
of God, there comes the command Oh
this last day of the year, And thou
shalt remember all the way the Lord
thy God hath led thee these $50 day
of the year 1905
God had led us. HIS leading may not
always have been evident to us, nor
may we have understood all Ills deal
ings with US, but He has led US all the
way and in the way that has been for
our good This does not mean that the
way has always been pleasant and de-
sirablc Israel was often afflicted i'll
the wilderness, as we are in the jour
ney Of Life 10 our heavenly Canaan.
Gods people We're humbled. they Were
made to suffer hunger and to meet
hardships and difficulties, but Gods
hand was in it ALL He humbled them
that He might exalt them. lie caused
them to hunger that He might feel
them. He afflicted them that they
might seek comfort and consolation in
Him. He weakened them that they
Tx1s,
in Him. As you look over the past
year do you recall dark days. difficult
roads and times of alfliction and dis
tress? If so do not argue that Goa
has not been with you, but be con
WINGED that He has been and thai even
glory and administering TO your good.
Then recall as against these things tie
bright days. the days of plenty. the
successful achievements and the mani
fest blessings of God, and be fiile.l
with submission to His will and graft
tude for His goodness.
Gratitude for the blessings of the
past should inspire obedience for the
future. With the command to remc-.i-
Der there is also the exhortation u
obey, Therefore thou shalt keep the
commandments of the Lord thy Goa
to walk in His ways and to fear Him. +"
BIBLE READINGS.
Ps. xiii, 1-6; xxxiX, 10; xc, IL;
cxix, S1-sS; Ecci. xii, Is, IA; John tx.
A; Cor. vi, 10, 20; Eph. V, 1921; Col
iv, lie; IL Pet. iii, S-14.