Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1912-02-28
CHRISTIAN ENOEAvOR
Prayer Meeting Topic For the Week
Beqinninq March 8, 1912

Beginning March 8. 1912
Topic-The Christian virtues.-III. Pa
uence.-II Thes. iii. is. tConsecration
ueeting1 Edited by Rev. Sherman H
Doyle. d. D.
The epistle of Paul to the Thessa-
Ionians dealt with the great doctrine
of the second coming of Christ. They
were the first epistles of the apostle.
and the early church looked for the
speedy return of the risen and ascend
ed Lord. In Thessalonica especially
this idea seemed to have taken deep
root in the hearts and minds of be-
levers. Work was abandoned, and the
coming Of Christ was constantly ex-
pected The people were impatient for
His second advent. 1t is little wonder.
therefore, amidst the serious and per-
picking conditions of such situation
that the apostle should write to them,
THE Lord direct your hearts into the
love Of God and into the patient wait
ing for Christ" or. as the revised YER
sion translates II, into the patience Of
Christ" Had they had His spirit of
patience they would have worked and
waited until the time Of His coming;
but, being overanxious and impatient,
they committed many follies and stand
as type Of many Christians through
out all ages.
The age In which we live is charac-
terized by its impotence. No Chris
tan virtue is In greater need OF cult
walton among the American people to-
day than that Of patience. In CONNER
cial life, fortunes must be amassed in
a day. To patiently toll and wait for
the results is no longer characters
tic Of the American people. And. as
with the Thessalonians, folly and ruin
usually result. The same spirit of i'm
patience pervades to great extent the
Life Of the church and the lives of in
dividual Christian workers. Immedi-
ate results is the demand of our time.
Reaping must speedily follow sowing
or there is doubt, mistrust and dissat-
isfaetion. But Gods laws work regu.
larly and logically, and His hand can.
not be forced. Folly and disappoint-
ment only follow all attempts to
change the method of divine procedure.
Impatient fretting over the conditions
OF life, its sorrows and adversities, OF
its daily vexing routine only adds mis-
cry to misery and units US for the real
responsibilities Of life.
Patience is product of prayer.
Paurs wish for the Thessalonians is
really a prayer 1.-THE Lord direct your
hearts into the patience of
Christ" Every grace is a gift of God,
and patience is a Christian grace. We
may well therefore pray for the grace
Of patience. Moreover, like all other
Christian graces and virtues, patience
is possible of cultivation. The prac-
tice Of patience increases the power
for patience. Let us therefore not
only pray for the virtue of patience,
but increase our patience by using that
which the Lord has given and does
give to US.
Christ is the supreme example Of pa
thence. THE patience of Christi
What patience possessed the Lord in
all the circumstances of His life. How
patient He was with His disciples in
dealing with their laundering errors
and unbelief; how patient in the great
crises of His life; how patient with
the weaknesses and frailties of human
nature. BY prayer and practice let
us seek 1.-The patience of Christ"