The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1879-04-23
FOR THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
AFTER BRRAKFAsT NOTES.
Matt. iV: Ill.
BY REV H. H. HALVES.
No. 5.

"Thsn was Jesus led up of the Spirit into
the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
He came to "destroy the works of tbe
devil" Therefore He begins with the DEVILS
FIRST works. By temptation man sinned.-
There is then great significance in the fact
that Christ's first official act was the endur
aucs of temptation. By the Spirit, He was
led to this trial, before doing any other act
or work 10 His official character. So He
began to undo our bonds, just where the
devil began to fssssn them upon as. He
intended, and has finished for US, q perfect
w0rk At the end of His course, there was
not one thing upon which He could look
back as unfinished.
See too the circumstances of His tempta.
ton. He was led into the wilderness, +"
some lesOlase locality, apart from all human
hsbitstiOns. Mark says He was there with
the wild beasts" Matthew and Luke say
He was tempted "fOrty days" "snd in those
days He did eat nothing" Lonely, in want,
and tempted Was ever man in worse con
ditiOn2 Was there ever q condition in which
man is more in SstAn's power, and more
likely to fail aud sin In just that condi-
ton Jesus endured for US, that His right
eousness in obedience and fsithfulness to
God might cover our failings and unworthy
service.
DeprsVed IS our natures are, think We
would not sin SO grievOusly but for the power
of the tsmptsr. In temptation is the begin,
ming and ending of our ruin. So here is
our Saviour going back to the far.swsy
origin of our lost condition, and there begin
ming His work of ssOniDg and saving. A.
Adam stood all alone for Us, and fell, 50
Christ, the second Adam, stood all alone for
US, and redeemsd Us from the fall. he took
up our cause where it was first lOst-fougbI
over again the bsstle-snd triumphed!
No sooner had God established Adam in
his mission, than the tempssr came to de.
stroy the works of God. So, no sooner did
God auoint Jesus Christ in His mission, thar
He sent Hin (perfect God, yet perfect man
to begin the conflict with sin-to meet mans
destroyer where he 6rst met man, snd from
that pOint-sroke for stroke, to 6gdt over
again all the warfare until the devils work
was destroyed. He was "tempted in 81
things, like as We are, yet without sin" He
was tempted for US. There is our hope of
being saved in temptation. Because He SC
suffered for Us, He understands how We suf
fer and how to save as. To Him then We
must clesve that We may recover ourselves
out of the snare of the devil. It's too much,
far too much to think of meeting the tempter
in our own strength. Think Of the immense
advantage which Adam and Eve had. They
were created holy. Yet they could not with.
stand the tempter. How then can We dare
try it, being all unholy and already prone to
siu Think what power the devil must have
Ef he could ysnquish Adam and Eve almost
skhOus struggle! Ah, We cannot fear hin
too much We cannot too carefully avoid
temptation! But when we are tempted lei
US think of and call to Jesus. In one pray
srfal look to Jesus is more pOtOsr than IN all
the good resolutions, pledges and devices of a
Whole wOrld
Only He who "Csme to destroy the works
of the devil' can deliver Us. l have no con-
6dence, no hope in any other means of saw
ing tempted souls. But no matter from
what desperate condition any sinner looks
to Jesus, he will be ssVed-snd the most
hopeless can thus learn to say IS confidently
as Paul dill al know whom / have believed,
and am persuaded that He is able to keep
that which I have committed unto him against
that day"