New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-12-05
THE CHURCHES.
Dir. u. IL. Chnpin's Sermon Lend u Not
Into Temptution.o

DR.. f. II. Chapin's church was crowded on
Sunday morning of course and the services were as
interesting as they usually are.
DR.. Chaplin took his text from Matthew vi, l3; And
lead us not into temptation
The power Of evil over us Is so great and ncessant
that we must keep this text In mind The spirit of evil
is indspensnbe TO the highest earthly moral existence
since we are necessarily freddy temptation the dcna
ton OF which is trial Trial Is hted TACT OF our earthly
condition but do not know which trial Is indispcn
sable or not, 40 that we may consistently pray
Lead Us not into temptation" thus obeying
the Injunction Of Christ TO that eject Jesus pro.
nounces a blessing on those who are prosecuted;
and again advises his disciples 10 fee from
persecution; showing that II is both well TO endure and
10 avoid persecution. temptation. God cannot be
tempted with evil, nor will he tempt any man; we
no,yer OF resistance but In doing this he does not
solicit us to do evil II, circumstances may be OF God
but what makes the circumstances a temptation per.
tains TO ourselves. Lead Us not INTO temptation
is the philosophical practical solution OF tho problem
OF mans responsibility. No man say that he IL en-
trely safe from temptation; and those who are the
most advanced In virtue viii be the fret 10 recognize
this. This is therefore, the prayer OF wise humility
man may feel that he Is safe from certain class OF
temptations hut he cannot be Of ALL He may not
steal nor murder, but he may have violent temper:
lie NAV have the opportunity 10 commit evil but no
inclination TO do 80, and rice rrsa when he Is com
paratvely safe; but when the desire aud the oppor
tunty coalcsce. then he must put on the whole Gfm0r
of God to resist H. 1t IL no virtue 10 be- free from
something which he has never been tempted TO do
His ignorance hero IL innocence but not virtue,
which are widely different. Tho infant is innocent;
the saint Is viruous. Thus. there also two kinds
Of happiness the one proceeding from tho innocence
which has never fallen, and tho other from virtue
achieved through temptations the latter OF which the
speaker considered Of the higher order DR.. Chaplin
here alluded in striking terms to the who is sud
denly compelled to drop the mask Of "respecta.
bility" ana reveal a sinful nature beneath; by
which illustration he was generally understood TO
refer TO the Strong Divorce Case. Men In sub.
hitting TO temptation often partially justify
themselves through a vague kind Of sophstry.
which OF the most remarkable proofs OF the exist
ence OF conscience. Ambition is one OF the most
powerful temptations, the general name Of which,
however is leglon--gsin, the desire to accumulate
wealth. and hundred other incentives. Here In the
instance of our City Government the svipaees
of this banefal OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES officials wink ct
public cOIruptions, which, In their private lives they
might not DO guilty Of This Is costing our population
hundreds and hundreds Of lives, from impure and filthy
residences and II 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 accidents In forty years. here there two
hundred killed In forty days; all arising from this
world wide grasping ,nptation OF gain:
Charity Ia another consideration. We should ssk
ourselves whether under similar circumstances. We
should have withstood the temptation wihoh ovess
thsows the men OF women whom society ooadsnps -