Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1913-08-20
CHRISTIAN EADEAvOR.
Prayer Meeting Topic For the Week
Beginning Aug. "a. 1918.


Beginning Aug. "a. 1918.
Topic.-How I have proved Christianity
and seen it proved John ill., $3.50 XXI
"a Is Edited by Rev. Sherman Il Doyle.
d. D
There are many things of which we
are absolutely certain, but which can
not be mathematically demonstrated.
Christianity. in certain sense. is one
of these. 1t is an experience, and the
one who has had the experience does
not doubt its truthfulness. yet may not
be able to prove 1t to the one who lacks
the experience. The blind man could
not tell how he was healed. but he
knew that. whereas was blind. now
| see" That was sufficient for him.
The same is true of Christianity. yet
there are certain great facts in con
nection with it that are most convinc-
ing of its ruthfulness
First.-Christianity is suhstantiated
by prophecy. Many of the prophecies
both Of the Old and the New Tesla
ments have already been fulfilled. and
the others VI i'll be. The Old Testament
prophecies concerning Christ were so
accurately fulfilled that their truthful
ness should be conceded by all, The
manner Of Christ's birth. its place,
events in His life, His triumphal entry
into Jerusalem and, above all, His cru
cifxion are accurately described In the
Old Testament just as they took place
In the New.
Matthew uses these fulfillments of
the Scriptural prophecies to convince
the Jews that Jesus was the long
promised Messiah. New Testament
prophecies have also been fulfilled,
The prophecies of Christ concerning
the growth of His kingdom, the worlds
persecution of His disciples and the
power of the gospel to save men from
sin have been literally fulfilled Who
can doubt the truthfulness of a re-
ligion that is substantiated by the full
fillment of such predictions?
Second. Christianity is substantial
ed by history. The progress of Chris
tianity Is proof of its claim TO divine
origin II has transformed the great
est nations of the world and Is still
continuing to do so. Without power.
without the use Of the sword. without
high position and without great educa-
ton, the disciples of Christ went forth
TO evangelize the world. and their sue
cess can only be accounted for by the
truthfulness of the gospel which they
preached Their doctrines and not
oil IN
reward believers were the secret Of
their success. Could great. intelligent
nations like England, Germany and the
United States be held for centuries in
the grasp of religious truth that Is
false-and that, too, in the face of all
the opposition that Christianity has re-
ceived?
Third is substantiated
by testimony. Truth is established by
personal testimony. Men are acquit-
ted or convicted in courts of justice
simply upon personal testimony. And
what is the testimony of those who
have had the best opportunity to judge
Christianity concerning it? II is all in
its favor The miracles OF Christ are
testified, too. by those who saw them
performed The greatest events in His
life are fully corroborated by those
who were personally associated with
Him. Concerning the resurrection of
Christ, the supreme factor in the truth
fulness Of Christianity. whose testi-
mony should be beIieved-that of John
and Peter. who saw Him crucified.
lead and buried and then saw Him
afteFward alive. or men who began
fourteen centuries afterward to doubt
and deny His resurrection? The for
mer based their testimony not upon hui
man conception of what should be, but.
as John says, upon that (which we
have heard, which we have seen with
our own eyes, which we have looked
upon and our hands have handled"
There can surely be no question as TO
which testimony should be accepted by
those who really want 10 know the
truth.
Fourth Christianity is substantiated
by human experience. This is perhaps
the greatest proof of all. Millions from
heart and life experience know that
Christianity is true. Their hearts and
lives have been changed. their prayers
have been answered and their faith
eorroborated by ''infallible proofs"
Who can best testify to a physicians
ability-one whom he has saved or one
who does not even know him? Doubt
not, but believe. Gods in His heaven
Christ lived. died and arose from the
dead. He has saved and can save.
Christianity is true.