Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1912-07-17
CHRISTIAN EaOEAVOR
Prayer Meeting Topic For Week Be-
ginning July al, 1912.

ginning July a, 1912.
Topic-Christian common sense Prov.
iv, Is. Edited by Rev Sherman H. Doyle.
d. D
Common sense is practical wisdom.
1t is the doing of that which appeals
to the reason and should therefore be
done without need of argument The
failure to exercise common sense is
naturally looked upon as folly. 1t is
in these senses that solomon uses the
words wisdom and folly" in Proverbs.
The wise man is not he who possesses
intellectual wisdom. but he who knows
the right and does the right. The fool
is just the opposite. There are certain
things In life which we all know that
we should do without any argument.
To do these things should seem nat
urally and instinctively right. But the
failure to do them is so universal that
common sense is often called ''uncom-
mon sense" But the difficulty lies
not so much In lack of knowledge, as
in the failure to do the right Fools
know what is right, but their folly
consists in not doing it. The Christian,
however, should always be willing to
do what is right, or In other words. to
exercise common sense in all the rela-
tons of his life. Any other conception
of practical Christianity is false and
fails to produce the highest type of
Christian man or woman.
Filial obedience is common sense. 1t
Should require no argument to con-
vince child that 1t is both wise and
proper for him to obey his parents.
Solomon commands his son ito listen
to his instruction" mot to forsake his
way" and to keep his command
ments." He commends this advice on
the ground that he received these
things from his father. They not only
appealed to his judgment. but TO that
of the great King David before him.
Obedience to parents is universally
recognized to be reasonable and right
Much more should therefore the Chris.
tian child be obedient to his parents.
1t is not enough for Christians to be
as good as the goddess and worldly.
They must be better and even more
faithfully fulfill the obligations recog-
nized by all to be right. That heather
children more faithfully obey their
parents. which in some instances is
the case. Is sad commentary upon
the standard of our Christianity.
The getting of wisdom is an exercise
Of common sense. Get wisdom" says
Solomon. and with all thy getting. get
understanding. The verb here trans
lated get" means especially ITO buy"
solomon therefore puts wisdom and
understanding forth as objects OF mer.
chandise, and urges US to use the same
importantly in getting them as the
merchant does in pressing his goods
upon the buyer. The reasonableness of
this advice is the great value of wis
DOM 1t Is of inestimable value. q
pearl of great price. ''The merchandise
of it" says the same author. lis better
than the merchandise of silver and the
gain thereof than fine gold" Who can
doubt this fact in the face of Solo.
mons description of what wisdom can
do? Wisdom is the principal thing.
-. Exalt her and she shall promote
thee: she shall bring thee to honor,
when thou dost entrance her. She
shall give to thine head an ornament
Of grace; crown of glory shall she
deliver to thee"