The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-03-20
THE LEN7EN SERMON
yesterday Afternoon at the oathe-
dral by Bishop Kahn,
A LARGE CONGREGATION PRESENT,
Tho Bishop Spoke OF satan's Effort to
Allure Christ from His Allegiance
to His Heavenly Fathor-AdvIoo as
20 Earthly Groatpess-The Last OF
the Lenten Sermons Next Sunday.

To the large congregation gathered in
the Cathedral yesterday afternoon,
Bishop Kahn explained another phase
in the savior's temptation, namely,
Satan's effort to allure Christ from His
allegiance to His heavenly father and to
induce him to transfer to tho Tempter
tho worship due to God alone. The
price offered by Satan for this base
apostacy was the promise Of universal
dominion over all the kingdoms Of this
world.
"Many men," said the Bishop, sin
making practical application OF this Sc.
duclive offer OF Satan, are subjected to
q kindred temptation undcr the form
OF ambition, or an inordinate craving
iof tho honors and preferments Of this
world. Too often the ambitious do not
scruple to employ. in tho prosecution
OF their aims, 0 that arc mani
testify unlawful. II such mems possess
any virtue to aid men in attaining their
cnds-any element OF auccess-where
do they secure lt2 Must it not be from
the Evil One2 Is not then the use OF
forbidden means to gain worldly pro-
motion u worship OF SatanP What else
IL every tampering with conscience, eY'
cry departure from truth, every aacri'
flee Of principle, OF which the ambi.
tioas are guilty but q falling down
before and a worshipping OF the un'
clean spirit?
But can a similar indictment be al
legged against the strictly conscientious
Christian, who would spurn every un.
Just or sinful, or even questionable
means OF securing the object OF his am
bitionP We must not be too quick in
giving to this question h negative re-
aponse. II, in the use OF such means
only us are admittedly llcit in them
selves, a man ignores Gods directing
providence and puts his trust and as.
gurance Of success in his own unaided
aud unsatisfed exertions, is this not q
species Of self-worship? And what is
self-worship but the most refined wor-
ship OF Satan2 The sin in that case
docs not attach to the means employed,
but to the unchristiau mauneri in which
they are employed; for the devil Ia sure
TO occupy aud direct the mind and
heart from which God has been ban.
ished."
The bishop then called attention to
another form in which this insidious
temptation to ambition not infre-
auently presents itself, and which no
not inaptly qualified as building-castles.
in-the-air. what strange dream Of
iancied greatness and glory do not some
men indulge in, who have no expecta-
ton whatever Of seeing these entranc-
ing visions realized Could they real
ize them, would they stop at any means
within their reach? Would not the
prince Of this world find them disposed
to accept his proposals On any terms?
Are they not already secret worshippers
Mt his shrine?"
The bishop babe his hearers not to
envy those who have reached the pin
nacle Of earthly greatness, since the
wreath with which the world encircles
their brow is too often earned Mt the
cost Of the blessed crown OF immortati-
ty. Happy are those who live content
in the lot where Gods providence has
placed. They best understand and prac-
tice that first OF all the divine COM
mafdments: THE Lord thy God shalt
thou worship, and him only shalt thou
~serye.'"
Next Sunday afternoon, the bishop
will preach tho last Of these interesting
and instructive Lenten sermons.