Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1910-02-16
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoR.
Prayer Meeting Topic For the Week
Beginning Feb. 20, 1910.


In this famous paragraph from the
book Of Romans the Apostle Paul
draws a vivid contrast between the
spiritually minded and the carnally
minded. Through Christ the spiritu-
ally minded have been made right
eous and walk lot after the sins of the
flesh or body, but walk after the Spirit
On the other hand, the carnally mind
ed or those who have not accepted
Christ and are still devoted to the sins
Of the body have no spiritual life or
power and are dead In trespasses and
in sins Their condition is most de-
plorable. They think only of evil and
destroy body. mind and soul by indulg-
ing in the sins of the body. All who
follow this kind of lives in any form
or forms should arouse themselves,
realize their danger and give up sinful
lives for spiritual ones. No man
since Christ's death need walk in the
flesh." but may and should walk in
the spirit" IF We live after the flesh
We shall die spiritually and eternallyl.
but if We through the Spirit do mortify
the deeds of the body We shall live"
Which shall it be--a spiritual life and
eternal salvation or carnal life and
eternal death? Each one must decide
this question for himself. and may the
Lord help us TO decide Alright.
The sins of the body are numerous.
Back of them, of course, is sinful
mind Evil thoughts. evil imaginations,
produce evil lives. and they them
selves are evil. "As man thinketh in
his heart so is he,' and Christ makes
a man free from bodily sins by trans
forming his mind and renewing his
will.
Some of the sins of the body are:
l. Intemperance. especially intern
perance in the use of alcoholic drinks.
No sin of the body has been more
universal and destructive than that
Of intemperance. 1t has destroyed
millions and has ruined and wrecked
countless homes and even been prin-
cipal factor in the destruction Of ma
tons. Against it decidedly the young
need to be warned. No drunkard ever
intended to become one. He intended
to be temperate in his use of drink.
But some things are dangerous to
tamper with, and strong drink is one
Of them. The only safe way is to
avoid it altogether. Let the young
men especially be warned today, for
as never before the business world
n dc 70 70 a =
fairs. The boy of today who learns
to drink faces sure failure in this
world as well as the loss of spiritual
and eternal life
2. Gluttony is a sin of the body.
Constant overeating is most harmful
and injurious to physical health and
mental activity and spiritual life. The
expressions "gluttonous" and wine
bibbers" are several times united In the
Scriptures. and warnings against both
are enjoined. The man who is a
glutton overworks his digestive or
gans and not only Injuries them, but
other vital organs of the body, espe-
sands is impaired and their lives made
miserable by intemperance in eating
too much and in eating that which is
harmful rather than helpful. Too
much care cannot be exercised over
our diet. Indigestion. dyspepsia and
heart weakness are mainly the result
Of overeating or carelessness in what
is eaten. Rich foods and especially
rich candies should be sparingly par
taken of. if at all. Eating without
complete mastication Of food should be
absolutely avoided. Take time to eat,
eat what agrees with you. but never
too much, regardless of what it may
be. The great danger here is that the
evil effects are not Immediately APP
parent. but they are no less serious
because their full fruit is not produced
until years may have passed. The
body is the temple of the Holy Ghost
and should therefore. as well as for
health and long life. be faithfully
cared for.
8. Impurity is sin of the body. The
vilest of sins is impurity in thought,
word and action. The pure in heart
shall see God. but the impure shall not
stand before Him. He is perfect holt
ness and cannot suffer impurity in His
sight. Impure thoughts and magma
lions. vileness of speech in ordinary
conversation or in the telling of filthy
stories and impurity of life are abb
horrent to Him. Moreover, nothing 80
much as impurity pollutes the human
body and mind Its secret practice in
thought or deed makes the body a
sepulcher of death. Nothing drags
manhood and womanhood to lower
depths. The temptations to it are
numberless. and the young should
summon every grace of God and every
strength Of will to keep their thoughts
and words and lives pure. No virtue
surpasses it, and no other carnal sin
so utterly debases and debauches man.
kind
BIBLE READINGS.
Gen. iii. 1-6; Est. i. 1912; I Kings
*, 1921; Prov. i, 1919: xii, /; lisa.
vvviii 1. Cor ri Q-O0. no1 o.