The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-05-29


ter and Guard the Approaches~
That IL Is right 70 pray "Lcad
US not into temptation" was taught by
Christ Himself. Not that the Father
would lead us into temptation; but that
He may so lead ms that we shall avoid
temptation such as we may not be able
To bear It cannot be Gods design To-
tempt us. We are told that He tempts
no man and is tempted OF no one. New
ertheless, we are all in a world in which,
evil exists. and we cannot escape con-
tact with IL. Even II n man shut HIM
self up in cave, there IRE causes OF
temptation within himself. Christ did
not escape temptation by going solitary
into the wilderness We cannot hee
from II entirely. but we can avoid much
of II. and particularly such as may have
a strong influence upon us.
A wise man measures his powers and
weaknesses, and learns what he can do
and what he cannot do. III he has little
power to acquire and none TO impart he
will not try 10 be teacher; IL he has no
| imagination he will not attempt TO be
! a painter. He viii recognize his limita-
tionE and choose his vocation accord
ingly. Some are conscious of a tend
ency to observe certain virtues and to
contract certain vices. They do not
need 70 fortify the virtues, but to de-
fend themselves against the vices.
| There are various besetting sins; but
they do not appeal TO all. Nothing is
more certain than that the natural
weakness OF one man differs from that
of another. A plan of defense must
therefore vary. A man may keep HIM
self unspotted from the world without
rolng out of the world. That Is the Of
flee of religion. There Is no ground
for the fatalistic argument that n man
must sin In one direction or another.
This Is base appeal to cowardice. NO
man is born with am overmasterng pas
sion for evil. He may by constant sur
render TO temptation reduce the power
OF resistance; Guiteau had original
mower of resistance. but he allowed IL
TO be broken down. The commander OF
a beleaguered fortress will bring all
his resources TO bear in strengthening
and defending the weak places in the
walls. 1t Is only the coward and traitor
who stands by the impregnable posi-
tons and allows the weak ones to be
forced.
III the weak points In character are
stormed by the enemy, of what avail
are the strong points? II one point is
. captured the soul Is prisoner. That
one point Is the strategic point, the
key to the situation. When Miluna was
stormed and Tyrnavo taken, Larissa
, was untenable and all Thessaiy was at
, the mercy of the enemy. The taste for
. alcoholics may be one mans weakness,
= a predisposition TO dishonesty anoth-
er's; a tendency to doubt may be strong
. in one case, q love for the superstitious
= IN another. At these points the de
: lenses need 10 be strengthened in every
possible way. Avoidance of persons
places and things which stimulate thess
. desires is the first duty of defense. i
!. you pray LEAD us not into tempta
! ton" be wutchful lest you be led O
= your own lusts. Lusts are bad leaders
), they must be held in captivity. So held
- the mnn is free; not 50 held, the man i
bound.
= A man who knew his own weak
!. nesses was asked by friend to rea'
:, certain pamphlet what is it?' h
- asked. "oh," said the other, "some
thing which - Ca notorious infidel
y has written. 1 want you to read IT.
\ az would rather not" "Why not? Ar
you afraid to? j believe you are. 70
~ don't dare to- mo, sir, l don't dar
g TO. have enough doubts of my OWL
'N I don't want anybody to suggest more
81 There are several things ] don't dar
e 10 do. That is one; TO taste wine
another. / am afraid OF these thing
but I'm not afraid Of you. aim oni
afraid OF wrong-doing."
In That man is strong because he know
his weaknesses thoroughly, will not IA
Q. dulge in them and will not suffer hin
NO self to be tempted by others. Hewill |
80 stronger, too; for the practice OF r
ny sistance increases the power OF r
az sistance, just ns concession weakens
'S Az a teacher said TO a scholar who WI
~. breaking an important rule; 1T Is
vi temptation, know; but you don't ha'
Oy 20 yield."-N. Y. Independent.