Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1909-12-08
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoR.
Prayer Meeting Topic For the Week
Beginning Dec. ~, 1903.

Beginning Dec IL, 1909.
Topic Pilgrims Progress series
XII. Crossing the river.--I Cor XIV, 81 IS:
Heb. Il, 1918. Comment by Rev. Sher-
man Fl. Doyle. d. ID.
In this subject we see the last OF
Christian in his pilgrimage toward the
Celestial City, for after crossing the
river" he is admitted through the gate
into the heavenly city and beholds Its
glcries and abides In it. The great
allegory of Bunyan closes, having
traced Christian from the City Of
Destruction step by step until he en-
tiers the Celestial City, and in his great
work he has In figure described the
progressive steps that must be pur-
sued by the sinner today who turns
from sin and at the end Of life enters
into the eternal happiness Of heaven.
May all who have engaged In or fol-
lowed these studies be thereby made
better able to meet the trials and trib-
ulations Of the Christians life upon
earth and to look upon death not a.
q dreaded enemy, but as a kindly
friend that brings US to the gate Of
heaven. through which we enter by
faith in the person and work of our
Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Christ.
The last incident in Christians prog
ress is the crossing Of the river. Be
tween him and his companions and
the gate was river, but there was
no bridge to go over; the river was
very deep" The pilgrims were stunned
at the sight of the river, but those
who accompanied them said, you
must go through or you cannot reach
the gate" They were told that there
was no other way to the gate and
that the deep water became shallow
by Increased faith in Christ. Then
they plunged in. Hopeful found the
way easy, but Christian began to sink,
and it was only by Hopefuls cheering
words that be was able to proceed.
He passed through awful experiences,
but at last his faith strengthened. He
saw Christ and was soon upon firm
ground again.
The crossing of the river signifies
death, the last enemy of mankind
The thought of 1t causes even Chris
tians at times to fear. and as they APP
proaeh it they are often. like Chris
tian, much troubled and distressed.
But it should not be so. Christ has
overcome death. He died and burst
the bands of death asunder. Faith In
Him win make the deep places shall
low and turn the bridgeless river into
fording place easily crossed BY faith
He will be with us. when thou pass
eth through the waters | win be with
thee" YEA, though l walk through the
valley Of the shadow of death. l win
fear no evil. for Thou art with me-"
Faith in Him. who has Himself cross
dread of death If we must fear. let
us fear life rather than death. 1t is
not death, but life, that determines the
destiny of eternity. We may well fear
Test we fail In our Christian faith and
life, but never death, If we have been
faithful unto Him unto death. BE
thou faithful unto death, and I will
give thee a crown of life''
But Bunyan in his last words warns
us against postponing the salvation of
our souls until the last moments Of
life. He describes such a one crossing
the river without fear, but when he
reaches the other side instead of enter
ing the gate Of the Celestial City he
was pushed through a door to hell
Deathbed repentances are poor sup
ports to rest upon. From the gate OF
heaven lost souls may be cast into the
place Of outer darkness. "Now is the
accepted time" Take advantage Of 1t
now and risk not the souls welfare on
the future.
BIBLE READINGS.
Ps. xiii, 1-6; lisa. xxxviii, 1-21; xiii.
Is; Acts vii, $3.50; Cor. XIV, 1926; II
Cor. iv, 1918; II Tim. iv, Is; Rev. ii,
10.