Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1865-12-17
DIR. r.. IL. ChRpin-"Lead Us Not Into
Termination

Matthew vi, 49, "And lead us not into
temptation"
The power of evil over us is so great
and iDcessant that we must keep this text in
mind. The spirit Of evil is indispensable 10
the highest earthly moral existence, since
we are necessarily tried by temptation, the
definition Of which is trial Trial is fixed
fact OF our earthly condition, but We do not
know which trial is indispensable or not. so
that We may consistently pray, LEAD Us not
into temptation p' thus obeving the iniunc-
ton of Christ to that effect Jesus pro-
nounces blessing on those who are perse-
cuted and again advises his disciples 10 flee
from persecution showing that il is both
well TO endure and 10 avoid persecution, or
temptation. God cannot be tempted with
evil, nor Will he tempt any man we NAV he
tried, however, by God in order 20 test our
power Of resistance but in doing this he does
not solicit us 10 do evil The circumstances
may be of God, but what makes the circum-
stances temptation pertains 10 ourselves.
LEAD us not into temptation" is the philoso-
phical, practical solution of the problem of
mans responsibility. No man can say that
he is entirely safe from temptation; and
those who are the most advanced i'm virtue
will bcths first orccognizethis This is, there
ANIN. AAAN liANNI VI WISE lluilliAllNs
A man may feel that he is safe from
certain class of temptation, but he cannot
be sure Of all. He may not steal, or muir
der. but he may have n violent temper,
which may be n very considerable tempta-
ton. He may have the opportunity TO COM
NIT evil but no inclination % 90 so, and rice
gr-sa when he is comparatively safe but
when the desire and the opportunity coalcscc,
then he must put on the whole armor of
God TO resist IL. Ii is no virtue 10 be free
from something which he has never been
tempted to do. His ignorance here is inno-
ccnce hat not virtue, which are widely differ
ent. The infant Is innocent; the saint is yir-
tuouS Thus, there are also two kinds Of
haupincs,; the one proceeding from the in
noccncc which has never fallen, and the 9th
or from "a virtue achieved through tcmpta-
tio.. tac latter of which the speaker con
sid red y. ia, higher order DIR. Chaplin
her. utyd BOO striking terms 20 the man
whuis suddenly compelled Co drop the masl,
Of ueltahiIity' and reveal a sinful nature
D.. Abb. hv which illustration he was gencr-
e.. Understood o. rc.gr 10 the Strong Di-
v0 Case. A,u lu ADMITTING 10 tcmpta-
a.. often partially justify themselves
tn -h s..Hy iud of sophi~try, which i
ur..I U.r.. r,uarhahIc proofs OF the oN-
is....e .. conscience. Ambition Is one of the
ua-, powerful temptations the general name
oil which, however, is lCgion-lain the de
sire 10 accumulate wealth, and hundred
other incentives. Here, in the instance Of
our City Government, We see the evidences
Of this haneful tCmptation-whcre officials
wink at public corrupuons, which, in their
priyate lives they might not he guilty Of
This Is costing our population hundreds and
hundreds Of lives, from impure and filthy
residences. and il all springs from yielding
to'this temptation. Another illustration is
found in the way Of railroads In Germany
there are two men killed by railroad aoci-
dents in forty years; here there are two
hundred killed in forty days; all arising
from this worldwide grasping temptation
of gain.
Charity is another consideration. We
should ask ourselves whether, under similar
circumstance, we should have withstood
the temptation which oyerthrows the men
and women whom society condemns as " fall
len et the evil ever be characterized as
evil but with prayerful humility As IN
hattie the brayest soldiers are those who
fee and know their danger, and yet dare H.