Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1906-12-05
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoR.

BY REV. S. II. DOYLE


Topic. - Christs Life. XII. - Lessons
from the seven words of the Cross
John xix. $3.50; Luke xiii, s4-46; Mark
XIV, a.
The dying words of our loved ones
ere always remembered and fondly
cherieH.;. we listen for the last
words as death approaches, keep these
words in our memories, and very often
they exert q powerful influence in our
made Better and souls have been saved
through the influence of treasured last
words, 1t is not to be wondered al
thereto t..t the disciples of Christ
would remember the dying words OF
their .-.cct.a. and hand them down as
a priceless heritage to the church. Nor
are We .;:'nr'Se! that these words have
had vide and lasting influence and
that the 1lsv taach us useful lessons
Christ spoke seven times during the
six heurs lie was or the cross. Mat
thew and Mark each record one of
these utterances. Luke three and John
three Three of these words concerned
other four concerned Himself-His suf-
FERNS. His finished work and His
death More sacred words were never
utterej, and we should approach their
study with the deepest reverence and
humility aud give them the widest pos
sible FcAuence in our lives.
The FIRST word teaches US Christ's at
a,.I
forgive them, for they know not what
they do" These words were spoken
to the enemies of Christ, the Pharisees.
who had falsely accused Him; the mob
about the cross, who reviled Him, and
the Roman sol1iegs. who were putting
Him to death. % They teach that
Christ did not return enmity with ell
nifty. Tie hated not those who hated
Him Nor should we. There is no
place in the Christian religion for re-
taIiation. Vengeance belongs to God.
We should leave those who injure US
10 Him. t2J Christ forgave His enc
niles. His prayer for them proves that.
Christians should forgive their enc
miles. They should love them.
The second word teaches Christ's at
tifude toward repentant sinners. "ver-
ily, verify, say unto thee, today shalt
thou be with Me In paradise" These
words were spoken in answer to the
prayer of the dying repentant thief.
They gave TO him an assured entrance
into heaven. This Is the attitude of
Christ toward all sinners who repent
- hai 81 nd act- Jsc
No matter how far we may have wan
a1red into sin, there is forgiveness for
~ at the foot of the cross and assur-
ance Of an entrance into heaven.
The third word teaches US the attitude
of Christ toward His mother. In his
dying hour He did not forget His moth
u, but made provision for her future
by leaving her in the care of John in
these words: Woman, behold thy son:
behold thy mother" This lesson needs
Do be deeply impressed upon the minds
Of the young people of today. Many
young people in our age are Indifferent
to the needs Of aged fathers and moth
ers. They give them little of their
companionship, are disobedient and
disrespectful and put forth no effort to
make their declining days full of peace
and happiness. Christ did not so treat
His mother nor should we so treat our
parents.
The fourth and fifth words of the
Cross teach us a lesson on the suffer
lngs of Christ. In the fourth, my
God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken
AeT we see the full extent of His
0oul suffering. For a time God Him.
saf, as needed to be, was hidden from
Him. This was the darkest hour on
oAe cross, the greatest soul suffering
pessible. The fifth, II thirst illus
arates Christ's greatest physical suf-
frine. He had refused the vinegar
mingled with myrrh because II was IN
tended to deaden His pain, but now In
Els great pain He did not refuse the
vinegar alone offered by the Roman
soldiers. This, however. would not al
1syiate His sufferings. He suffered the
EXTREMIST agonies on the cross and all
TOR rs. Therefore we should love Him
and be willing to suffer for Him.
The sixth and seventh words concern
Christ's death. The sixth-"It ia I'm
bAed'-declares the completion of His
NE work. Are we doing. as He did.
he work which God has for us to do?
The seventh, Father, into Thy hands
I commend My spirit" gives us
glance at Christ's faith and assurance
for the future. Are we so assured
concerning our future? We ought to
be. for we know neither the day nor
the hour when we must face death.
BIBLE REFERENCES.
lisa. 1, IS: Elk. Xxx, II; Ps. xiii, 1-6:
Matt. V, 44-4S; vi, 1915; XVI, 26-29;
Luke XIV, ITO: Acts vii, $3.50; Rom. Y,
Ill; Eph. iv, 81. 80; vi, 1-3.