Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1909-03-17
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoR.
Prayer Meeting Topic For the Week
Beginning March Fl, 1909.


The wicket gate.-Matt. vii, lila
sies us from the Slough of Despond
Through the wicket gate to the house
ct Interpreter. After Pliable had re-
turned to his house and Help had
0fted Christian from the Slough OF
Despond and conversed with him
somewhat Christian walked solidarity
howard the wicket gate.
Straight was the gate and narrow
the way TO it, and Christian should
have followed in the narrow way to-
ward the gate But instead he was
detected for time from his course.
On his way he soon met Mr.. Worldly
Wiseman, who dwelt in the town Of
City of Destruction. He had heard
Of Christian, and he recognized him,
especially by the burden on his back.
They entered into conversation. and
Worldly Wiseman tried to persuade
him to return to his home and pointed
out the dangers on the way to the City
Of Destruction. He even claimed to
know how he might get rid Of his
burden Christian confessed to him
that it was his great desire to be rid
Of the burden. Worldly Wiseman then
directed him to the village of Morality.
where dwelt one named Legality.
Christian was loath to leave his path
way, but was finally persuaded to do
% by Worldly Wiseman and started
to it and must needs so over hill to
reach it. and as he approached the
hill 1t seemed SO high. its sides to
lean over, and his burden grew
heavier, so that he was greatly per-
picked.
In the journey of the Christian life
almost every Christian must meet the
ypes here represented in Mr.. Worldly
Wiseman of Carnal Policy and Lee
gality of Morality. One urges him
to take life easy and to enjoy the
world, and as 1.-The children of evil
are wiser than the children of light"
20 far as this world is concerned. the
argument used is usually Il strong one
and hard to resist. Worldly Wiseman
seems respectable and prosperous.
and his voice Is very persuasive, and
he leads many astray. But we should
stand out against him, for we look
not at the things which are seen. but
at the things which are not seen, for
the things which are seen are tenn
poral, but the things which are not
seen are eternal" Mr.. Legality of the
town of Morality is also dangerous
enemy of the soul. His advice is that
through our personal Righteousness we
may be saved. There are many moral
lists and legalists. They depend upon
their own uprightness for salvation
and eternal life. But this is a false
basis for salvation. God tried the
law, but man did not and now cannot
keep the laws perfectly. and hence
cannot thus be saved But what the
law could not do > God has
done through His Son"-that is. pro-
the City of Zion. The folly of leaving
the narrow way through the advice
Of Worldly Wiseman to visit Mr..
Legality was well represented by
Christian, and we should profit by
his example
In Christians perplexity Evangelist
appeared. again and. hearing his story,
warned him CT his danger and start
ed him on his way to the wicket gate
Here he was received by Mr.. Good
WIN. who. after hearing Of his expe-
riences. started him forward again.
The gate is Christ Himself through
whom we enter into the gracious ac-
ceptance of God and finally into the
Kingdom Il am the door By Me II
any man enter In he shall be saved"
BIBLE READINGS.
Deut. Xxx. 1920; Ps. 1. 1-6: xvii,
;: Prov. ~, 1927; xiv. -: lisa. xxxv.
S12; Matt. vii, 2427: Luke xiii, "A;
John xiv, II.