New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-20
THE TEMPTER'S WILES.
HOW THE CHRISTIAN SHOULD COMBAT
THEM
SERMON OF THE REV. kRNEY s. BIDDI.E o.
JERSEY CITY-FAITH IN GOD THE ONLY
SHIELD AGAINST THE DARTS OF

JERSEY cIrY-FMrH IN GOD THE ONLY
SHIELD AGAINST THE DARTS OF
THE ENEMY.
Temptations" was the subject Of the Rev.
Arney S. Bidde's sermon last evening at the
Summit Avenue United Presbyterian Church.
Jersey City. His text from Ephes!ans VI
16: "Withal taking up the shield Of faith. where
with we shall be able to quench all the fiery
darts Of the evil one" He said:
The Jews were a warke people. their men
Of renown. in most cases. were such as had
achieved greatness by the sword. Their re-
ligion knew no compromise with the religions
Of the surrounding nations. Jehovah's glory
could not be divided with any Of the false gods.
Their hymns were full Of warlike figures, and.
although they expressed literal physical con-
fict, they also expressed spiritual conflict
more mighty and fraught with greater re-
suits than that Of any earthly battlefield. Tne
expressions Of Paul. in this sixth chapter OF
Fphesians, would be familiar to all wherever
this letter might come.
These darts represent the temptations which
annoy and possibly threaten TO destroy our
souls. The fiery dart among the Romans con-
sisted of a hollow reed. to the lower part OF
which. under the point or barb. was fastened
a round receptacle made OF iron for combustibe
materials. that such an arrow had the form
Of a dstaf This was filled with burning naph-
tina, and when the arrow or dart was shot from
slack bow it struck the enemies ranks and
remained fixed. the flame consuming whatever It
met with Water poured on II increased its
violence and there no other means TO ex-
tinguish 1t, but by throwing earth upon IT,
Like these darts, our temptations are sharp.
They will penetrate mems philosophical armor
and cause the stoutest OF heart to quail. They
are fiery. being themselves set on fire Of hell.
As the fiery darts of the warrior caused
confagration of material which otherwise would
have been most useful. these temptations. II
once yielded TO. will damage and Euin our souls.
These temptations may come to US from unex.
pected sources
We may be tempted to be selfish. We desire
all for our own qualification. With others. II Is
the deceitfulness Of riches-not that wealth Is
itself source Of sin-but the Love Of money Is
the root Of evil"
small. sharp. fiery darts, assail us every side.
What shall we eat? what shall drink? and
wherewthal shall we be clothed? presses upon
men to-day just as hard as it did In the days Of
Christ, eighteen centuries ago.
temptations OF lust, intemperance and all the
lower forms OF sensual enjoyment are assaing
humanity. and wounded souls are writing in
agony and crying for deliverance
There Is defence from these darts--the shield
OF faith. The Roman soldiers used a large
oblong. oval, doorike shield four feet long by
two and half broad-not the small round
buckler-and with this shield they successfully
defended themselves from these burning arrows
Inc Apostle does not say, Fight these arrows
with sword and spear" for such weapons would
be useless So there are temptations which NAV
assail US that we cannot resist by the mere use
OF the sword OF the spirt-the Word Of God As
has been said by a noted divine I'VE must Get
on higher ground" If we continue to dweII I'm
the lower element Of our nature the enemy can
easily hurl his darts upon us. But H. by faith
IN God. we ascend TO the higher realm OF His
love, Satans arrows cannot reach U.S. We must
trust God for many things We do not UNDER
stand.
We must believe in His omnscience His love.
His justice. His power to help. We must have
our confidence In Him as the best friend hu-
manty ever had, and. with sense Of His abid-
ing presence and love, say to the tempter: How
can do this and sin against God?"
We should sympathize with the fallen Never
scornruly condemn them. as though we be-
longed to superior order Of creation but. ready
70 help them In their peril. shall we receive
the approval Of Him who came to seek and save
the lost