The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-02-19
Rev. II. w. Orabbs.


United Presbyterian congregation
preached in the morning in the Y. M.
@. A. auditorium. His subject was
taken from the fourth chapter of Luke,
18th verse: .'And when the devil had
ended all the temptation he departed
from him for season."
Temptation in this instance, as else
where, signifies to tempt or to try; as
when Abraham was tried, and Job and
other men of like character.
The purpose or motive for which one
is tried may not always be the same.
IL depends upon the character of the
person to very large extent. We are
informed that God tempted Abraham,
but not to Gin, for God does not tempt
any man to sin.. The object of Abraham's
trial was to test HE faith in God, and
suppose Abrahsm's whole life, from tn 9
time he WAS called out from his own
country until the time that he offered
his son Isaac in sacrifice, was a test of
his Christian faith, and | presume we
all believe that the offering of his son
was a special test OF his Christian char
acter.
Again we find, as we read in the word
of God, that Satan also tempts men /;
but he tempts them for very different
purpose. His object is to destroy the
person who is tempted and to defeat the
purpose of God in the salvation OF man.
This appears to be true when we con-
slider tine record which ia given us con-
corning Satan's work: The successful
effort that he made Tor the purpose of
leading our first parents astray, and his
effort to cause Job to bring into reproach
and shame the grace that God had given
to him; and then again we find the
same thing true in the effort which
Satan made to tempt our Savior. Satan
is not satisfied with a single trial of this
kind, but be applies his temptations
lavi6hly TO every SOUL not even except
ing the Lord Jesus Christ. In Him
Satan found nothing to respond to his
temptations. But God permitted Christ
to be tempted that he might be in full
sympathy with all His people. For, ae
Paul said, He might be perfect Savior
in every respect, and being a perfect
Savior not only meant suffering on the
part of Christ, but it implied full
knowledge of mans trials and perfect
sympathy with all men in their suffer
ings.
Blessed is the man that endureth
temptation, for if we suffer with Him
we shall also reign with Him; and in
Revelations, John, In that wonderful
vision which he gives us OF the re-
deemed, ga those who had been tried
like unto Christ. The fact that Christ's
trial followed his baptism suggests to us
that special trials follow special seasons
of grace, special SEASONS OF prosperity OF
any kind, especially spiritual prosperity,
when we have been greatly blest in our
communion with God.
Now, this is not to cay that Satan
does not take advantage of other cir
cumstances in which Gods people are
placed. He takes advantage of mans
poverty and of mans prosperity. He
takes advantage of all his affections in
life. He loves to give the saints of God,
who have reached a high pinnacle of
spiritual glory, great fall. We need
to be therefore on our guard, lest we be
tempted in some manner to dishonor
the privileges which we enjoy.
Men are preBuming upon the mercy
and grace of God in regard to their SAL
walton. They are preauming that God
will save them; and 30 put off the day
OF salvation until tomorrow, thinking
that God will. when the time OF their
departure arrives, save them somehow,
or by some means. Satan would have
us put off until tomorrow what should
be done today.
Weare told to take to ourselves the
whole armor Of God. and we find that
a portion of that armor is the word OF
God, which ia the only weapon with
which we can defend ourselves against
the temptations OF Satan. Paul tells us
we are made more than conquerers