Wichita daily eagle., 1884-07-22
CHURCH B Ellis.
Brief synopsis of Rev. ]. d. Hewitt's Sun.
day Sermon.


The pleasant change in the atmesphere
Sunday morning from the swslterisg heat
that had prevailed the previous week, tend
ed in large measure to augment the num-
ber OF people who wended their ways to the
sanctuaries Of the Lord on this cool. beauti
full day when all nature seemed to rejoice
and unite in offering praise 70 Him who
has given US health and strength, and made
it possible .or us to assemble together on
the holy Sabbath day in beautiful temples
OF worship, and in songs and happy con-
gratulations do homage to the Giver Of ev-
cry great and perfect gift. What q comfort
what consolation must come to the
wearied soul rs it sits beneath the sanctu-
airy Of God, listening to the Divine promis-
es OF everlasting peace and glory to those
who faint not by the way. One looking
through the half closed doors out upon the
beauties and grandeur of nature, realizing
that lie who accomplished all this Is capable
Of redeeming his every promise and caring
for the weak and lame who but trust In Him
must experience new hopes and feel like
joining heartily into the beautiful services
of this. the Lords holy day.
A very large congregation assembled on
Sunday morning at the Presbyterian
church, and were favored with an able and
interesting discourse by the pastor, Rev. j.
ID. Hewitt. He selected as the foundation
of his remarks, Matthew 4th chapter and
lst verse-"Then was Jesus led into the
wilderness to be tempted by the deviI.'
The object Of the speaker in selecting this
text was at once apparent. He wished to
impress his listeners with the fact that TO
successfully meet and withstand the machi-
nations OF the evil one, required more
careful preparation than il does to success
fully encounter and overcome the yexa-
tions ofevery day life. Even the Savior
spent thirty years in CAREFUL preparation
before entering upon the great trial Of his
life He took ample time in which to be-
come strong in resisting temptation-and
whatever nature. The SO styled 'hot
house, or superficial education oftentimes
acquired at our schools and colleges, is al
most sure to result In failure even in prac
teal life. With long and carefully gained
knowledge comes a consciousness Of pow
er, which of itself is an essential element to
successful work OF any kind. Jesus, after
years OF preparation was brought TO trial
in the wilderness, which, according to tra-
dtion is the habitation of evil spirits. IL
Christ had to prepare until he was thirty
years OF age, to meet ths devil, how ought
we now to prepare to encounter and sue
cessfully overcome evil. The Lord was
tempted just the same rs we are. The
purpose Of Iii trial OF Christ
was the same AS it Is with us to-day. There
are two grand principles Of nature-the
one to serve self, and the other to serve
God outside Of self. 1t wus the purpose Of the
assault upon Christ to make the service OF
God subordinate to self-self interests and
incinations. The devil always attacks one
at the most Vulnerable point. The axiom
he wishes to govern people is 'Look out
for number one, or no one else will" As
Christian men and women we ought to
give up all those tbings-thOse appetites
which tend directly or indirectly TO influ
ence Others m the wrong direction or one
that may be injurious 10 them. Therefore
We should all abstain from drinking intoXi
cants lest the example set work an injury
TO others. Mr.. Hewitt here denounced in
the most scathing terms that person who
preached temperance and did not practice
it. The man who talks In favor of proh-
b,tion and then takes drink on the sly is
not only a traitor TO himself but to the en-
tire community. and is not worthy the re-
spect accorded TO dog. There are three
weak points in our natures, continued the
speaker, of which the evil one
taxes advantage-appetite, AVERAGE
and ambition, and the devil
now makes his suttle attacks as cunningly |
as he did years and years ago. The youth |
is led most easily from the path of right by
appeals to the appetite for drink, physical
lust, etc. In middle age AVERAGE becomes
the vulnerable point of attack, and in later
years these give place to Above for acclama-
ton, or an ambition TO become famous and |
renowned, and thus the temptations OF the |
devil follow one from the cradle to the |
grave We must fight if we would win the |
victory. We are not to be ''carried to the |
skies on flowry beds OF ease" But no man |
can successfully encounter an I overcome |
these temptations by himself, though he |
may resist them for short time. We need |
and must have strength from on high to |
battle effectualy with the powers of evil |
and God is willing aud ready to give such
TO all who will ask for il to the end that |
fhny laaI t,fa Of Ia
man or woman.