Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1910-02-23
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoR.
Prayer Meeting Topic For the Week
1soinninq Feb. ~, 1910.

Beginning Feb. ~, 1910.
Topic - Christ winning our nation
Luke K, LII. Comment by Rev. Sherman
81. Doyle, D. D.
In this paragraph selected for our
study Luke describes the sending out
of seventy disciples, who, two by two,
Nere to precede Christ into the towns
md cities into which He was to fol-
low. On two other occasions Christ
had sent forth the twelve, but this is
not one of these occasions, for Luke
records both events. This was an In
creased number and probably went
before Christ into the places BE was
10 enter on His last journey from Cali
lee to Jerusalem. The twelve were the
official apostles and accompanied the
Saviour. The seventy were selected
disciples. They remind US Of the lay
mems missionary movement OF today,
In which thousands of men who are
not ordained to the ministry have
Joined themselves together to make a
gigantic effort to win the world for
Christ. These seventy men were
therefore to go before Christ to teach
of Him and to prepare the way for
His coming. Through their efforts
many would receive Christ before He
came, and in the hearts of others the
seed would be planted and made ready
to accept the Christ when He himself
should appear. This work was not to
be done on foreign fields, but among
the Jews, and was therefore home
missions, and If we follow the iniunc-
tons here laid down it will result in
Christ winning our nation.
Christ should win our nation. To
win it He needs but to be presented
to the people throughout our land in
the proper way. He Himself says, Il,
If be lifted up, will draw all men
unto Me-" and again, CAS- Moses lifted
up the serpent in the wilderness, even
30 must the Son of Man be lifted up
that whatsoever believeth in Him
should not perish, but have eternal
life" 1t is the duty of American
Christians to uphold Christ before
nation and He will win it unto Him.
This duty rests upon us in our local
Christian work. In the vicinity Of all
our churches there are many whom
Christ has not won. Let us follow the
example of the seventy and, going out
two by two for cooperation and SYM
pathy, hold Him up before those about
us. In addition to this personal work
at home, we should send missionaries
In whatever way possible throughout
every part Of the land where Christ
has not been lifted up.
Christ can win our nation. If He be
properly presented to the people the
hearts Of the vast majority will be
won by Him. There Is no greater at
fractive power or personality in the
world than Jesus Christ, and II some
are not attracted to Him the fault lies
In them and not in Him. A magnet
attracts steel, but not lead, but the
magnet is the same in each case. The
difference is In the lead. The cross Of
Christ is related to men in the same
way. It attracts all men equally, and
while some respond and others do not
the difference is not in the attractive
ness Of the cross, but in the hearts Of
those attracted and Of those repealed.
1t Is ours to uplift the cross. With
the acceptance or rejection of 1t we
have nothing to do. That responsible
ty rests upon those who bear.
The responsibility Of our nation In
Its relation to Christ is great. 1t is SO
because of its great opportunity.
Throughout our land for years the
gospels joyful sound has been heard.
If heard and not needed we shall be
like the cities which Christ condemned
for failure to take advantage Of their
opportunities. May Christ win our
nation in all its relations. May our
homes be Christian homes, our bust
ness conducted upon basis of honesty
and uprightness, our social life be
clean and pure. The relation between
employer and employed has its foun-
dalton on the principles taught by
Christ, and may every official position
from that Of the president down to the
humblest officeholder In the land be
so conducted as to receive the approx
al of Him who is King of kings and
Lord Of lords
BIBLE READINGS.
lisa. xxxv. ITO; xl, 1-3; lii, 1t; Nal.
Nv, 5, 6; Matt. X, IS; xviii, 10, 20;
Acts /, Is; Mark /, 1-3; John iv. $3.50.
39-42; Rom. x, IA, Is; Cor. iii, sill;
II Cor. V, 11-20; Phil. Iii. LIP; Rev.
II, 1919.
No Longer an Apology Needed.
Rev. W. W. Rogers in his farewell
address at Sydney as president of the