Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1907-07-31
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoR.

By REV. 5. u. boyle.

by REV >. "a ~ LIE
Topic.--The conservation Of our bodies.-
! Cor. vi, 10. 30: Rom. xii, /. "a vacation
consecration meeting)
Christianity Is sometimes criticised
upon the ground that il considers the
soul and not the body Of men; that it
deals only with future heaven and
not with practical questions of human
life. But such criticism only displays
the ignorance of the critics. Christian
dty is the one thing that does not de-
spise any form or phase of mans life.
1t emphasizes the care of the physical
as well as the spiritual life, the TEN
poral as well as the eternal. While of
course it places supreme emphasis up
on the most important of all. the spir-
itual and eternal life. Other profess
sions are chiefly concerned with the
other phases of man and his life. The
supreme care of the physician is the
body, while professors and teachers
give their lives to the development Of
the mind Why should not religion
give supreme place to the soul and its
life? God knew what He was doing
when He organized His church. the
supreme mission of which is to save
and sanctify the human soul.
But, while the supreme mission Of
the church is to care for the soul, it
does not neglect the mind or body. In
the early days of our history the
church did most of our educational
work. and our great universities, such
as Harvard, Yale and Princeton, were
founded by Christian men, and until
recently their presidents have been
ministers of the gospel. And the
church today. as always, does all in its
power to keep the mind of man free
from religious errors. such as skepti-
cism, unbelief and infdelity. The body
has also been the object of the
church's care Gods word demands
the conservation of our bodies to Him.
Thou shalt sove the Lord thy God
80 with all thy strength" is His own
command. This practically means that
our bodies must be consecrated TO Him.
and that they may be they must be
kept healthy and clean and our phys
zeal natures free from sins that defile
and destroy the body.
Our bodies should therefore be con-
eecrated to God. first, because He de-
mands their conservation TO Him. Paul
writing under the inspiration OF God
makes a similar demand-'I beseech
you, brethren, by the mercy Of God
that you present your bodies, living
sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, 49,
and be not conformed to this world"
. God therefore demands our bodies OF
us. Second, because all phases Of
mans life are so closely interviewer
I that weakness in one part means weak
ness in all The ideal Christian is one
whose entire being is consecrated TO
, God, who loves God with his heart.
soul, mind and strength" While
sweetest saints have sometimes pos
sessed weakly bodies, yet imperfect
health is often hindrance to growth
In grace. and. of course, this is always
true where physical life is abandoned
to sin and evil The Holy Spirit. as
the representative of Christ, dwells in
us. know We not that We are the
temple of God?" How sacred our very
bodies should become to US for this
reason God dwelis in them. They
are his temple. Let no sin detile them
Let no neglect unfit for the habitation
Of God.
BIBLE READINGS.
Lev. xix, 26-2s; Ps. xxxiv, 1914; l
Cor. iii, 16, II; vi. II, 10. XIV, 1914; II
Cor. vi, lis: Eph. v, 1920; Gal. v.
1925; Jas. ill. Ill: John Iii, 1-3.