Ellsworth American., 1907-02-27
CHs,sy,AN tNDEAvoR.
uyer Meeting Topic For the Weel
BEGINNING March 3.
BY REV. 8. 4. DOYLE.

BY REV 8. 4. DOYLE.
Topic Being honest with yourself and
Rod.-LuEe xii, 1-3: Josh. xxiy, IA.
Dishoucsty toward God, or, as it is
More comN-@aly called, hypocrisy. has
brevailed throughout all time. 1t be-
.Ean with Cain, who made an offering
- God. but not sincere and honest
one. In the days of Joshua there were
chose among the children of Israel who
Drofessed to believe in God, yet wor-
sahiped idols, and therefore he was call
"A upon to exhort them to fear the
,l.srd and serve Him in sincerity and
N truth and put away the gods which
your fathers served on the other side
~ the food and in Egypt and serve ye
Ahe Lord" In the time of Christ the
pharisees were the personification OF
hypocrisy, and the Master often de-
nOuncel them for their false profes'
sions and warned His disciples against
their example. And how much hypoc-
Iisy there is in the religious world to-
Aayi How many profess religion, yet
1UO UOt pOSStSS II. AAc" AiloiS nav NhN
form of godliness, but not its power,
All such are dishonest with themselves
and with God. Many of them are de-
sewing even themselves while they are
.1rying to deceive God. No doubt many
: Pharisees in Christ's day really be-
sMeved themselves to be all they pro
fessed. They were blind. and. while
ever ready to pick flaws in others, they
could see no faults in themselves. No
more pitiable condition can be imag-
lned than for man to be hypocritical
In his religion and yet to think that he
- honest and sincere. His case is al
most hopeless, for if we do not realize
sDur sinfulness it will be impossible for
- to seek pardon for it. Let US there
lnore examine our hearts thoroughly
And see whether we are really what we
profess to be-whether we are honest
IN our religious lives.
There is every reason why we should
Ae sincere and honest in religion, and
no argument can be advanced in favor
~ hypocrisy. Hypocrisy ayails nothing
with God. We may deceive men for
time by pretense, but God cannot be
Aeceived. Insincere religion is no reli
ZION God is spirit, and they thai
worship Him must worship Him in
spirit and in truth Otherwise it is
not worship, but mockery. The hypo-
krite may repeat prayers, but he never
Drays. God sees the heart, and no reli-
g1ous forms, however numerous or
elaborate, can make up for insincerity
IN the heart. Moreover. hypocrisy is
soon detected. Job declares that hypoc
risy is like the spiders web. How apt
the Illustration! The SPIDERS web is
wonderfully woven, but what is weak
ler? And, though we may most care
fully weave false life, sooner or later
its true character will be known. We
may deceive men for time, but not
for all time. We may even deceive our
selves, but in the day of judgment, if
not before, the scales win fall from our
own eyes, and, with shame and re-
morse. we will call upon the hills and
mountains to fall upon us and cove.
rs And in that day Christ tells u
that there is nothing covered thai
shall not be revealed, neither hid that
shall not be known" Those who avoid
detection in this life will then have
their true character made known.
Why should any one be satisfied with
mere religious pretense? 1t is just as
easy, even more so, to have religion it.
self. God will give any one who wants
1t new heart and help him to lead a
sincere life. So why should we be sat
isfied with mere profession? If rel
gion is worth initiating. is not its pcs
session infinitely more valuable? I.c:
us therefore love and serve God, but
let us be sure that we do it ain sin
cerity and in truth
BIBLE READINGS.
Ps. i, 1-G; V. l, 10; Eccl xii. 13. Il.
Matt. vi, Ill; John iv. 1924; Acts Y
Ill; Rom. xiv, II, 12; Gal. vi. Z, 8.
Eph. iv, 25-32; Phil iv, 8, 8; Rev. xxi.
10. 22-27.