The New York herald., 1871-11-20
NEW ENGLAND CosGREGaroyAL CHURCH.

He'rlooms OF Temptation aud Their Relation
10 the Great Problem Of Lffc-How Advance
Ing Civilization Brings with It Plumber OF
Cities and Pollution Of PoIitics-Scrmon by
Rev. DR.. Merrill Richardson.
There was the usual large ana attentive congrega-
tion at the morning service yesterday at the New
England Congregational church, corner Madison
avenue ana Forty-seventh street. The subject OF
the sermon. which was preached BY Rev. DR.. Merrill
Richardson the pastor, was
TEMPTATION.
He took for his text James l., 23-"My brethren,
count 1t all Joy when ye fan into divers temptations
Knowing that the trying OF your faith worketh
patience" Every man Is tempted when he is drawn
away by his own lust and enticed No man chooses
evil because 1t Is evil, but because, like the charm
OF the siren, he cannot the evil consequences.
He only sees the present enjoyment. This is all that
is intended; for who would rush on destruction
known Hence James assures that God never
tempts US in this sense 1t is true, Tor God never
decelves man by beautiful exterior. He lets him
know the full punishment for his transyrcssions.
Satan Is called the Tempter because he is the de-
celver. His language Is, "Th0u shalt not die, but
be wiser, happier and have more good" Row could
Satan turn holy Adam and Eve from right but by
promises or good-good forbldden-deceptive goods
Listening to the Temper debating his advice,
they were deceived; and often to hesitate Is
W 1lctus we nave here tue DdluTS Oh all tcnnta-
ton. We like our first parents, have appetite by
creation. Christ mad 1t. 1t Is, like fire. the ser.
want OF man. yet. If not ussi properly, it can
become his worst enemy. God never tempts us
but, on the contrary, uses His power 10 keep us
from sin. Yet what necatombs are offered on the
affairs Of intemperance and gluttony sei-sacrfced
and knowingly Is there one in the whole army Of
inebriates who does not know his sin ana feel his
shame? He has turned his natural desire to an
artificial greed and made himself the meanest OF
slaves TO the meanest OF tylants. All along his
downward path was written The command. "Tnou
shalt noi.n Thus warned he has no excuse. God
has done his best, leaving him the
RIGHT OF voLIrION
the gift to man alone. Having enlarged on this
70 S oo Wronr IN se 70 s
gam more Than bare living is naturally right.
We need wealth for all purposes Of culture and be-
earn more than physical existence. God gives the
desire by creation. He crea.es the resources OF
ACQUIRED comes no Small part Of the virtues or So
ciety. He showed in this connection that in our
uce, equity, economy, integrity. Kindness and
charity. AS rule he enforced the desire Of gad s
and add eSaG o hs y E0 sa nSs
this Idea with great cogency Of argument he next
alluded to tue tempiations following
This desire brought with 1t temptations TO theft,
fraud lying, deception, injustice, oppression PRIDE
crimes innumeraole. Many characters are made
ana many ruined through this desire. Ancient
sages cried out agains' thus
CURSED LOVE OF COLD
Prophets and apostles warned against its deceptive
influence ami its deoasing effects. Why has God
the hoe TOO sronr IS not ndSce or
want Of Tits stimulus to effort as great an eyl as
It's excess, All over Asa and Africa lazIness Ane
may be excessive heat and cold, yet for the world,
taken as whole, the temperature Is bcnenceni.
The same principle applies TO our native passions.
In some tnev rage ike the tempest in Others they
sink to stagnation. Mankind have not too mitch
ambition. Most men need the spur to effort. These
incentives TO effort these spurs TO urge them on,
are designed for this very end. They start the
in themselves tney are not in themselves wees
True love may be abused to lust. desire OF gain 10
devotion to Mamaion, ambition to the baseness Of
using
WICKED MEANS TO GAIN OFFICE
Or wealth. Tie palate has ruined millions. Haste
TO be rich has brought millions 10 shame Luciicr
fell Dy ambition and SO have lesser Luciiers fallen.
But marx Gods benevolent intent IN giving US such
virtue and TO form the Strongest character. We
have TO resist as well as to doto say no to every
had TO struggle with great temptations. Evil re-
sisted, good done enters into habit. Right HABITS
well formed are grounds OF safety as Well as of
strength aud JOY. We cannot solve the
PROBLEM or LIFE
only as righteous character IS made supreme. Not
one in ten thousand can have riches and honors,
but Ill may gain tns prize In characters prize of
character Impossible II we had nothing TO over
come. Finishing this hrancn OF his discourse with
various apt ILLUSTRATIONS he urged, In conclusion,
that God does not mplant In man desires which are
not 10 he graihed. He only foroids their excessive
Indulgence We may eat TO llve but not live to eat
When tempted TO any excess we must resist.
The higher so, iety rises the greater VIII be the
temptations, and OF course the stronger must be the
virtues Among rowing bands OF savages there are
no banks 10 rob, or cities 10 piundcr. or bonds TO
steal, grca. trusts 10 belray. With education
aud wealth temptations are multiplied. Righteous
character must keep pace with material progress,
Freedom imposes great responsibilities. so does
Christianity. God promises all help to resist temp
taions God Is stronger thaR satan