Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1906-03-14
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR.
Prayer Meeting Topic For the Wcei
beginning Siarch Is.
By REV. S. l.. DOYLE.

Beginning Mareh Il.
By REV. S. L. DOYLE.
Topic.-Chr:st's lfe. Ii--.;s s---1mary
of conduct: the sermon on the mount
Matt chapters 5, 6, Z.
The sermon on the mount was de-
livered to the multtudes of people by
Christ just after He had chosen the
twelve apostles who We're to be asso-
ciated With I'm in His work ana to
carry it forward after His death. He
spent the night in prayer then selected
the twelve and then delivered His first
great address upon the Kingdom OF
heaven. The place is supposed to have
been high elevation near Jerusalem,
and hence the address has been popu-
larry called THE sermon on the
mount" While many think 1t so, it is
by no means the greatest Of Christ's
addresses. 1t is ethical rather than
spiritual 1t deals with mans relation
to his fellow man rather than to God.
1t emphasizes proper moral conduct
rather than the deep inward expert
ences of the soul and its longing for
God.
In every instance moral conduct as
set forth IL Christ differed from mans
previous conception of it and perhaps
in no better way can Christs concep-
ton of conduct be comprehended.
l. Christian conduct must begin
with al Inward condition rather than
an outward one. In describing the ciu-
zens of the kingdom of heaven Christ
pronounces a blessing upon the poor in
spirit, the bereaved, the meek, those
who sought righteousness, the pure in
heart, the peacemakers and the perse-
cuted. The world pronounces its be-
attitudes upon the rich, the aggressive
AMI the strong. but these worldly con-
ceptions 90 not produce proper moral
conduct. They fill the hearts of men
with pride instead of purity and make
them tyrants and oppreSsors rather
than meek and peaceful. 1t is easy to
see. therefore, that if human conduct
be based upon Christ's conceptions it
must begin with the right kind of an
inward life. Character must begin
with what we are and not with what
we have. Men may be good in spite Of
wealth and worldly prosperity. but
these things will not insure goodness,
Goodness must have its foundation in
the heart whether it be possessed by
rich or poor. high or low. LAS man
thinketh in his heart so is he"
2. Christian conduct involves the in
ward as well as the outward life. To
transgress the law of man an overt
act must be committed, but this is not
so when ii comes to God. An evil
thought is q sin against God. The
world says a man is Il murderer when
he actually Stays his enemy. Christ
declares that he who hates his brother
is a murderer at heart. In the word
impurity to be sin must be commit
ted, but by Christ'S ideals impurity of
heart is no less serious than impurity
of life. He that looketh upon WON
an to lust after her" commits sin.
8. Christian conduct is based upon
the principle of love rather than that
of retaliation. The world retaliateS;
the Christian loves. The world says,
AN eye for an eye and tooth for
TOOTH" but Christ says, Love your en-
emies, bless them that curse you and
do good to them that hate you and
pray for them which despitefuily use
you and prosecute you" In all our
relations toward one another our con
duct is briefly summed up in the Gold
en- Rule, Whatsoever We would that
men should do to you do We also unto
them"
4. Christian conduct should be reli-
gious as we'll as moral The world
only demands morality; Christ de-
mands religion. Our duty to God must
not be ignored. 1t should be placed
first. Seek we first the kingdom OF
God and His righteousness" Our de-
voton should be sincere and not hypo-
critical. We should pray from the
heart and not from the street corner.
We should give aims in the name of
Christ and not TO magnify our own
names. We are to trust God and COM
init our way to Him and let Him bring
it to pass. He that doeth these things
shall live
BIBLE READINGS.
Prov. I, 7-16; Eccl xii, Ii, IA; Ps
xUii, l. ?; Ii, 6-19; Rom. xii, 9-21; xiv,
1-3; Gal. V. 1926; Eph. V, 1921; Col.
Ill, Iii; II Tim. ii, %.