Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-07-01
WHY Are We TEMPTED


without sin-Hebrews, w., Is.
1t may seem strange thing to say,
but there are very few joys in this world
which equal that which follows victory
over an evil habit. There is something
which approximates to the supernat
ural in the consciousness that YOU are
at last master of yourself.
One of the oldest facts connected
with human nature is that it is so very
easy to fall down and SO very hard to
get up again-so easy to acquire an in
furious habit and so hard to break
away from it.
And yet it is not so very odd, after
all. There is a reason for all things,
and if you look long enough you will
find that it is a good reason. 1t is not
true that the Lord has failed to make
the best possible world for the purpose
He had in view, but it certainly is true
that many times we find fault with
Him when we ought to find fault with
ourselves.
Moreover, the fact that life is full of
obstacles and that temptations lie in
ambush on both sides of the road is one
OF the strongest arguments for immor
tality. If man looks into the inevita
BILE entanglements of this life, and then
AOAAAd1 hS w 1uA1 Odl e ulO CllCCU DIOuuCcO
on the soul by its constant effort to
overcome the obstacles and to rise su
perior to the entanglements, he must
surely convince himself that the soul
only begins it's long career in this pri-
mary school of existence, and that
somewhere there is a university in
which he will enter on the higher ed
ucation for which his experience here
is preparing him.
A great light breaks on this subject
when you remember that Gods purpose
is to develop all the faculties and quail
ties which lie hidden in your nature.
Under the best of circumstances this
cannot be accomplished in our lower
world. IT therefore you declare that |
there is no future In which we shall
have a greater opportunity it is like
asserting that God planted an orchard
OF apple trees, poured the sunshine and
rain upon them until they broke into
blossoms, and then, when the fruit was
turning from green to red, cut the trees
all down with the assertion that He
never intended the apples to ripen.
NO man ever yet built strong char
acter out of selfindulgence. If you
wish to get to the top of hill you must
cilmb. The vessel that drifts in ocean
currents never reaches it's destination.
but when the sails are properly trim
ned, and the right man is at the wheel,
the In steady craft bounds over the waves
like thing of life, and even the head
winds contribute to its progress.
The evils in the world have wonder
..ully beneficent mission, in spite of the
TACT that they cause so many spiritual
disasters. God gives you nail to drive.
and II you do it so clumsily that Won
cruise your finger it is not the fault of
me nail, nor OF the hammer, nor vet Of
him who gave you both hammer ard
la1l. 80 life must be skiIfully handled
y you will surely fall upon great ills
1eople seem to think that to be a good ]
carpenter or architect or physician one
must put himself into long and patient !
and SO learn the secrets of sue
'ess, but in order to become Christian
me need not be thoughtful or observ
mt. In truth, it is harder to build a
'haracter than house, and il you &C
lulre the knowledge how to build the
house from some master of the art Won {
must learn how to build character
y listening to the words of the MASTER
II all masters.
Resistance when tempted, putting !
sloe an evil habit, carefully reckon
. oooo "ASu wrong dllureS You'll
ieeplng your self-respect, your person
honor and, above all, your destiny a
Z view, and refusing to yield just as
GU would refuse to put your hand
1to the fame-these constitute the f
gymnastics of the soul. Gods law SO
,orks that when you begin to win n
lctorles over yourself life becomes | -
rlgnter, the sky seems clearer. the
ars are more brilliant and an indies
'loable something steals into the
lbies. i
NO man can say he is perfect. If he
Tres TO do so it is because he is either b
norant or hypocrite. You can't i,
I'd astronomers and mathematiciaps
a primary school; neither can Won =,
Id perfect soul this side of heaven.
% does not ask that much of anvil
le. But if you are making a brave p
mt, If you have set the wonderful
glnery of will at work, if with your c.
ain you understand what God wou,d II
we you make of yourself. if with
ur heart you see the beautiful ideal re
lich he has given, and then, calling
the nosts OF heaven for help, undis
ayed oy repeated failures, you slow
cleanse your soul of its Impurities Tn
u are truly child of God. and
ouno you are cloud of witnesses
10 Will never leave you until Won no,
ely arrive in the home on high. r.
llglOn is simply another name for Gu
military tactics of the soul, Life Lay
: struggle, glorious struggle, and mo
me right means are EMPLOYED if is wo
e to be a VictOrio,,c ctrrrrIo fro