St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-12-28
RrHaious Reading.
Yictory Over Temptalions.

Just how to live 80 az to be victori-
Gus, is the present question of practl-
cal interest. We may he sure, at the
very outset, that Christ does not help
us by keeping us ont of the conflicts.
All the best things in life lie beyond
the fields of struggle, and we can get
them only by overcoming. Tempta-
ton met and VIGOROUSLY resisted puts
new fibre into our souls. 1t would be
no kindness to us were God to with
draw Us into some sheltered spot
whenever there is danger, or If he
were 50 To fight our battles for us that
we should never ourselves have to
struggle. 81 pray not that thou
shouldest take them out of the world,
was our Lords prayer for his loved
ones, "but that thou shOuldest keep
them from the evil one"
He who hath never a conflict hath never victor
palm.
And only the toers know the sweetness OF rest and
calm.
We must meet temptations, and We
must make up our minds, also, that We
have something to do in getting the
victory over the temptations which We
are called to meet. Men and devils
may tempt us, but men and devils can
not make us yield to sin. We are SOW
,reignS in our choices while the righ
and the wrong stand before us. Other
wills may seek to influence us, may
plead. cntrcat, persuade, but they can
not compel. We cannot avoid being
tempted, but we ought to avoid yield
ing To temptation. An old divine sale
in illustration of this truth, that eve
cannot keep the birds from flying
around our heads, but We can proven
them binding their nests i'll our hair.
We cannot hinder temptations from
buzIing about our ears, but 1t Is on
own fault if they make their nests il
our hearts. We must not expect Coo
to lock the doors, and hold his hand OF
the lock all the time, to keep us, 10y
force of Omuipotcncc, from letting The
tcmptcr in. This shutting and open
ing is our part of the responsibility
Even God himself will never come int
uur heart unless we voluntarily open i
To him We are never forced to d'
wrong. our duty, therefore, is unwa
vcring resistance AN unalterable M
To every solicitation to sin. II we set
tie this point, We have learned one q
the best lessons in spiritual strategy
often, however, drOiddRce OF tempta
ton is the true course of wisdom. BE
cause Christ does not keep us ont of al
struggles. we are not, therefore, T.
rush prcsumptuously into danger a
every opportunity. W" pray daily
lead us not into temptatlOn.' w
must not. therefore. enter into tempta
ton voluntarily. Lord Macauley tell
us that at the siege of Naumur, Will
the conflict was raging, William
Prince of Orange, who was giving hi
orders under Il shower of bullets, saw
with surprise and anger, among hi
staff officers, Michael Godfrey, til
deputy governor of the Bank of Eng
land He had come to the king
headquarters on business, and was Gu
rious to see real war. "Mr. Godfrey,
said King William, you ought not t
run these hazards; you are not Il sol
der; You can he of no use to us here.
Sir answered Godfrey, 81 run n
more hazard than your majesty" "No
So" said William, Il am where it
my duty to he. aud | may without pre-
sumption commit my life to God
keeping; but You" Before the sen
tence was finished IA cannon ball lai
GodfIcy dead ut the kings feet. Tn
kings words were true, and the trut
is Just rs applicable to temptation
and spiritual dangers as to the peril
of war. When duty calls us into an
place we are safe. God will protect II.
Ibil 'llltl W lN' w NfItAllt NiNupuN sll
promise OF claim to protection. 1t
not courage. but foolhardiness, tina
prompts one to rush into temptations
uncallcd. unled. and without necessit
OF duty and it can only lead to ruin
Gus consequences. The true rule il
Never seek "A temptation meet on
only as God leads you up to it in til
path of duty. Most people who fal
fall in places where they ought nevt
to have gone at all.
When we are doing Gods will, W
may confidently count on protection
however sore are the dangers. al
shall give his angels charge over the
to keep thee il all thy ways An,
even more than this; Christ himself
personally interested in each individl
al soul III its earthly struggles, an
watches from heaven, ready, when IL
enemy seems about to gain the adval
tagc, to give instant help. or to pre-
vide some way of escape. When oI
duty leads us through pcrilous paths
but only then we may entrust on
selves with unwavering confidence
the Divine protection. assured
victory. ;. ;. Times.
Things Worth knowing.
Measure 200 feet on each side, al
Won will have Snmare acre. within q