Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1909-09-01
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoR.
Rfaysr Meeting Topic For the Week
Beginning Sept. S, 1909.
by REV. s. III. Doyle

Goook OF Romans.-Rom. xii, IN (ConSe-
suration meetingy
The epistle Of Paul to the Roman
eds the superior Of anything to be found
IN epistolary literature. Paul was a
smaster In letter writing, and his let
srfers written to some of the churches
(which he had organized and some of
which he had visited afterward form
~ most important part in New Testa-
ment writings Paul was to Christ
what Plato was to Socrates. The gos-
spel writers assume the attitude toward
tChrist that Xenophon did to Socrates.
Exemption was the historian of Soc
t-tell the history OF Christ But Plato
,.nnd Paul occupy the higher positions.
Plato was the interpreter of Socrates
s-philosophy; Paul was the interpreter
s,of the doctrines of Christ. Interpret
serB occupy much higher ground
s1than mere historians. So that Paul as
sthe Interpreter of Christ's doctrines
occupied the supreme attitude toward
Him BY him the life aud teachings
is'Of Christ were formulated into the
ssgreat doctrines which are she main
foundations of the beliefs Of the vari-
,ous Christian denominations. indeed.
Paul and his writings have been so
thoroughly preached that some have
claimed that Christ has been over
sRhadowed by His great apostle. But
cnot 30. To preach Paul is to preach
.aChrist. for no disciple was ever more
ssdev0ted to his Master than Paul to
tsChrist He preached not himself. but
Christ and Him crueifed" His glory
was in the cross. God forbid that !
a,should glory save In the cross OF
Christ" was his guiding star.
Great as all the epistles of Paul are.
1.-THE greatest is the book Of Romans. in
which he sets forth so forcibly the
~Sloctrine of justification by faith.
which doctrine. seized on later by
Martin Luther. revolutionized the
Eformality and deafness OF the Catholic
s.rhurch and led to the reformation and
sfhe institution of Professionalism. Ro-
mans had had tremendous influence.
BY studying 1t Luther learned that
christianity was by faith and not such
s-works as the since called Roman Cath
s-o,ic church demands. The result was
Sfhe Protestant church. Luther's COM
zmentary on Romans led to the CONVEX
ssien Of John Wesley. who in his strug-
nglcs against similar conditions in the
Church Of England TO those In the
time Of Luther IN the Catholic church
founded the Methodist Episcopal
church, which has been and is still
great evangelical force in the world
The Presbyterian and all the reform
ed churches base their doctrines upon
Pauis interpretations of the life and
rfeachings Of Christ. Professionalism al
most entirely still stands firmly upon
rfhem, and under the blessings of God
they have been wonderfully progressive
land successful in their work.
= No one was better qualified to write
this eplstle than Paul. 1t is no local
letter. but one for the world. Jews
and gentiles alike are shown in it how
to be saved, and there is no difference
in the method. Jews and gentiles. as
tho apostle proves, must be saved, II
at an. through faith in Christ and His
death. Only Paul was really adapted
to write such book for such a pur-
pose. His father was a Jew who had
been made a citizen Of Rome His
m0fher was a Greek, which bound him
TO the gentiles. He was thus related
to DE three great empires of his day
Judea, Greece and Rome. Related tc
nh. he could naturally appeal to all
He was raised a strict Jew and edu-
scated in the highest Jewish schools
Yet. his mother being a gentle, be
would understand the gentiles better
than Jews alone. What better equip
ment Tor worldwide influence? He
1belO0EB to all nations and has led
members Of all nations into his Mas,
ters kingdom. He was a great think.
a. q master Of philosophy and Of
1agdc. and the logic Of the doctrinal
Ustem has never been successfully re-
futed or denied.
The book of Romans is readily di
vided. It consists OF two parts, the
Aoctrinal and practical. The doctrinal
part Is found In chapters l, 16, to II, SO
The practical part includes chapter Xii
rs. In Rom. l, IS. is the text of the
doctrinal part. In chapter xii, /. the
text for the practical part is found
Every Endeavorer should commit te
memory these two verses.
Life lessons for me:
!. A living and not dead consecra
tion to God xii, u.
2 Nonconformation to the world. bu'
transformation by the spirit Of Goo
xii. p.
8. My duties toward other disciples
Of Christ (xii, 9-16).
4. My duties toward enemies (xii
17-2D.
BIBLE READINGS.
Rom. |. II; xiv, 21; Lii, 1881; iv
LIZ; v, 1921; viii, 10; xviii. 80; <
10