Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1910-01-19
CHRISTIAN EHpEAvoR.
Prayer Meeting Topic For the Week
BEGINNING Ian. u. 1910.

bfayW F6SSAsH8 W. WV
Beginning Jan. q, 1910.
Topsc--Does religion payg-I Cor. II.
n-z Comment By Rev. Sherman II
Doyle. D. %.
Does religion payz This Is most
practical question. 1t Is also very in,
portant. Men are interested 10 what
pays Speak Of anything almost and
the first question asked viii be, VIII
It pay" A millionaire was once asked
to make a subscription TO foreign nfs-
sions. He wanted to know bow much
was spent on missions In year and
how many converts were made Fig
uring cut the cost of each convert. he
asked, Does IT pay TO convert the
heather at SO much per headT II was
q heartless. cruel, cold blooded way
Of looking at the yaiue Of an immortal
soul. and 1t need scarcely be added
that the man who would estimate the
sours value To dollars and cents did
not think IT paid and therefore made
no subscription to the mission fund
Opposed to such conception we can
not but quote the words Of Christ,
what shall # profit man II be shall
gain the whole world and lose his own
SOUR 1 recently visited Christian par
ents who had just lost son Of re-
markabie talents and most loving dis
position. They were naturally grief
stricken, but In the course Of the con-
versat,on the bereaved father said. "An
the millions of the world could not
comfort me today as my religion does"
In these two Illustrations we have Sud-
med up the opinions Of men concern
ing the paying qualities of religion
The man who estimates the value OF
religion on money basis Is fool and
does not know what religion Is. The
man who has 1t and can apply 1t to
his heart amid the trials and bereave-
ments Of life Is the only man who can
place true estimate upon its value.
and to him 1t is priceless and invafu-
able.
There are those who In deciding their
attitude towari religion sit down and
ask: VIII it pay? VIII 1t pay In bust
ness? VIII IT advance me socially? VIII
II lead to prominence? II they conclude
that It win be Of temporal advantage
they profess religion, but do not pos
sess It II they see no temporal ad-
vantage In 1t they reject It. They con
sider themselves wise and clever men,
but such wisdom Of this world Is fool
nhness with God" But to the man
~hungering and thirsting after right
sousness," whose 'soul longs for God'
and whose heart Graves peace with
God through Jesus Christ and who OBJ
tains these spiritual blessings. religion
II his most valuable possession Pay!
Il pays better than any other invest
ment be has ever made. 1t may cost
q heavy price-self sacrifice. the tmpos
sibility Of dishonesty attaining great
wealth. the loss OF earthly hopes and
glories-yet 1t gives back Infinitely
greater joys and hopes and giories than
II cost, for. reconciled to God In
Christ, 4all things are his" whether
49, the world or Life or death OF
things present or things to come: all |
are his and be u Christ's and Christ |
II Gods" God" said Anne of Aus
tria, -does not pay every Saturday |
night, but he pays" In spiritual JOY, |
in comfort, In boundless hopes and as
surances for time and eternity. reli-
gion gives to rs the most priceless pos
sessions possible in this life.
u EIBLE READINGS.
Prov. III, IT; ~. 1927; xii, /; Eccl |
n LII. III LA. Ioh R-11. Matt ri \
1890; xvi. 21-26; Gal v, 22-25; Tim |
", TO; Pet 1, 10.
s.
Christian Endsavor Thoughts.