New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-11
THr LESSON or TODAY.

The respectable Ncw-YOrkcr seated in his
pew this first Sunday morning of Lent will
probably hear q discourse based on the tempta-
tions of Christ in the wilderness. He knows,
too. that his daughters intend to give up all
gayety Except o'clock teas) for the next
forty days in COMMUNICATION of this same
event. IL is natural for women, he knows, to
seek some excuse for devotion, but the observ-
ance is apt to strike him as sham and super
stitons lie has vague secret awe and rcver-
ence for Christ, it is true but Christ and the
wilderness into which lie went and the power
that met Him there are all rs hay and unreal
to him as the heaven and the angels in it be-
yond death in which he has been taught to say
he believes. Now, he can understand the
things about him well enough he believes in
them; the rain or wind, tbs investment he
made Yesterday, the music of the choir and his
Alnre Of the subscription to pay for it, his
wife's temper, the dinner waiting for him
these are real, and have their value which he
knows TO q title. But this devil that pro-
posed to the Saviour to make bread out of
stones-it reads like the Arabian Nights In
deed. il would be a curious question now many
pcople in this city actually believe in the devil
this morning at all. Our forefathers, who en-
dowed him with snakes body or horns and
hoof, had "A much frmer faith in him.
Our well-to do friend this morning is touched
Nv some earnest word of the good man in the
pulpit. or the word In the hymn OF some good
man dead perhaps for centuries. For lie"
moments he is lifted out of himself. IL Is pos
sible. he frels, here in NowYor to live high,
simple, heroic lite. lie will live It, lie will
leave an example TO hs children, not OF sue
ccssful money -getter, but of gentleman, noble,
hororable and true lie will set about conquer
ing that vulgar and degrading passion which
ne knows Is dragging his whole nature down,
down. little further every day. For few mo-
ments he is resolute the idea and purpose are
onite clear and practicable to HIM; then rs he
rises TO 90 out and strOls hOmcward, gossip
plng on business with ueighbor, something,
he knows not what, whispers to him how fam
tastic his thoughts are, and drags him down
apain To the level of the dinner, the invest
ment the weather. THIS something has no
horns nor boot, but 1t is in his heart, as real
and alive as the intelligence with which he
makes money, or the affection which he gives
to his children.
His son, perhaps mechanically going through
the service, has been dreaming higher dreams
than no (he sly of youth is loitier than ours).
He is going to do something in the world lie
will make great name. His influence shall DO
felt. Who is it that makes the lad ashamed OF
his fancies as he falls into the crowd outside
with the gait and mncng strut of some howl
ing swellr that he wishes to apeY Who is it
that makes his sister, naturally gentle, con-
siderate girl pass her seamstress with a
bouvhty stare. and overwhclm her fashionable
neighbor with eager greetings Who is it that
tennis his mother to cut down her servants
wages to starvation limits, to refuse oil aims to
unpublished charities, in order that she may
have more 20 spend on dress or entertainments
or whatever will make n showR Who is it that
wbjsners to the man of God In the pulpit to soften
that hard saying lest 1t offend wealthy parish
Toner. and to preach to the ears of the reporter
who Is making an abstract of the sermon for to-
morrow's paper, ratheb than to the souls of his
hearers7 Who Is 1t, In short, that stands each
minute Of the day ut the ear Of every man and
woman, urging them to DO false, selfish, cruel
snobbish and malicious, when the good God
that made them IL striving to keep their lives
true and self-respeoting and unselfshf
1t is presence In the Yyrld more Universal,