Ellsworth American., 1912-07-31
CHRISTIAN EHOElVOR
Prayer nsstins -epsc Fer TIE Week
Beginning Asz. &. 1872


Beginning sss- 4, 1872
ToSse - TIE CarAxsasn vhrr0ss VIZ
Tezayezapce Car. tx, Gs-E tCozz@ers-
taou sseszlasD Edited ~ Kew. saezza<n
Il DcVze. y. ..
In the topical refere1ce Psul llrs-
natee tie Christian life by fOot race
and a boxing contest In order 70 wiz
the race st the IsthmIan games the
eonteStznf tad % carefully train him
SELF and especially 10 refrain frS1
eating Of drinking that which world
weaken bis staying powers Al ia-
Guigence wss prohjhitsd. and temper
snce IN Ell things WIS Required The
successful boIer was Compelled to
strike, not feign, strong bows There
mEsr be No fighting as one beateth
TIE air." but IS S1e who strikes Ur-
Ger the eyes, Thus we hare both
tie negative and the positive side Of
the Christian life illustrated Like
the runner iu training tbe Christian
must keep himself free from al harm
fri indulgence and at the sane time
fight sggreSSfveiy against al evil With
In and without TIE fight Of faith Is
not q shan hattie or q fake prize
fght, but serious and constant strug
gle and warfare To be successful In
this warfare we 1nEs aboTe ali master
ourselves. We mast be willing 70
practice self denial, 20 subordinate tie
physical appetffes and passions 70 the
higher demands that are made upon
ns. fnteupe-anos means weakness.
and weakness means failure In any
walk Of life.
Christianity demands Temperance In
al things. Self mastery Is Frequently
emphasized and euIogized In tie Scrip
lures. The r9an who controls himself
IS declared to be greater than be who
tzketh d city. Nor does II deny or
conceal the fact that sEch self mastery
requires self denial and absolute mod
Grafton In life Instead Il places es-
peciaI emphasis upon these facts Paul
here declares that be keeps his body
under-thaf is. he keeps lis physical
desires uader perfect control-that he
bruises Il. leads IL about as slave
and suites Il under the eyes This
language ia Of course only rgurarfvs-
Self torture never produces self mas
terry. II weakens the body instead Of
Strengthening X IL was By self deny
Ing iabors for Others that Paul kept
his own desires and appetites in con-
trol, and we should follow his ex-
ample if. Hike him, we are 70 tight a
good eght'' and receive the crown OF
eternal life.
The world demands temperance To
succeed II life. which is no small part
Of our mission here. we must practice
Temperance in all things. and especial
ly SO far as alcoholic drinks are con-
cerned In the battle Of everyday life
no weakling need hope for success.
Life is too real. too earnest, too strenu-
ous. Temperance means power, while
intempersnce means weakness. inca
pacity and failure There Is physical
power in temperate life Some peo-
pie have the impression that alcohol
Is food and that II builds up the
body. This Is mistake. Science has
demonstrated that alcohol gives nc
strength; that il reduces the tone of
the blood vessels and heart: that II
reduces the nervous power. that II
builds up DO tissues and can be Of no
use as a substance for food" Ten
perance Is necessary for mental pow
er. II alone keeps the mind clear and
ft for proper thought intemperance
weakens the memory. duils the imag-
ination and enfeebles the intellect
The brain worker above all Others
must avoid strong drink or failure
will follow. II we want to succeed In
life we must have "a sound mind In a
sound body" and these are only pos.
sible through the practice OF tenn
perance.
Temperance In all things rs required
Of us. II is not only required so far
as strong drink Is concerned, but in
eating, in speaking and in all our
actions Many people practice sobri-
ETY.. but are very intemperate In their
thoughts, their speech and In habits
Of various other kinds. But II we are
to win the immortal crown we must
be temperate in all things"