Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1900-06-22


* Is al folly for you to say to some
one. Il could not be tempted as you
are" The lion thinks IL is so strange
that the fish should be caught with a
hook; the fish thinks Il is so strange
that the lion should be caught with q
trap You see some man with cold
phiegmGtic temperament, and you say
II suppose that man has not any temp
totion." Yes: as much as you have
In his phlcgmatic nature he has =
temptation 60 Incidence aud censorious
ness and over eating and drinking. =
temptation TO ignore the great work OF
life. temptation 10 lay down an obsta-
Gle in the way OF all good enterprises
The temperament decides the styles OF
temptation; but. sanguine or lymphat.
&c. YOU VIII have temptation. Satan
has a graphing hook just fitted for
your scGl man never lives beyond
the reach OF temptation. You say
when man gets TO be 40 or 50 years
Of age he is safe from all satanic as
sault. You are very much mistaken.
\ man az 50 ycars OF age has as many
temptations as a man at -. They are
only different styles OF temptation.
ASK the aged Christian whether he is
never assaulted of the powers of dark
ness. IT You think you have conquer
cd the power Of temptation, you are
very much mistaken.
The Lord VIII Sustain.
\ man who wanted throne pretend
cd he was very weak and sicllly and.
IL he was elected. he would soon be
gone. lie crawled upon his crutches
TO the throne. and, having attained ii,
he was strong again. He said. 1T was
well for me. while | was looking for
the Sccpter OF another. that | should
stoop; but, now that | have found il.
why should | stoop any longerT" And
he threw away his crutches and was
well again. How illustrative of the
power of temptation. You think it Is
weak and crippled influence, but give
it chance. and II will be tyrant in
your soul: it will grind you to atoms.
No man has finally and forever over
come temptation until he has left the
world. But what are you to do with
these temptatiOns-tel everybody about
them? All. what n silly man you would
be! AS well might n commander in n
fort send word TO the enemy which
gate Of the castle is least barred as for
you TO 20 and tell what all your frail-
ties are and what your temptations
are. The world will only caricature
YOU. will only scofr ut you What. then.
must man do? When the wave strikes
him with terrific dash, shall be have
nothing TO hold on TO? In this contest
with the world. the flesh and the dew
IL shall man have no help. no coun-
SELF Our text intimates something diff
tereut. In those eyes that went with
the Bethany sisters see shining hope.
In that voice which spake until the
grave broke and the widow Of Main
had back her lost son and the sea slept
and sorrow stupendous woke up i'm the
arms OF rapturc-in that voice | hear
the command ard the promise. Cast
thy burden on the Lord, and he will
sustain thee" Why should you carry
your burdens any longer? oh. Won
weary soul. Christ has been in this con.
hict He says: My grace shall be suf-
hcient for you. You shall not be tempt-
cd above that you are able 10 bear"
Therefore with all your temptations 90.
rs these disciples did. and tell Jesus.
The World Challenged.
Again. commend the behavior OF
the disciples TO all those who are aims
cd and 10 the slandered and persecut-
cd. When HeroG put John 10 death.
the disciples knew that their own
heads were not safe. And do vou
Know that every John has n Herod ?
There are persons in life who do not
wish you very well. Your misrortunes
are honeycombs TO them. Through
their teeth they hiss at you. misinter.
pref your motives and would be glad
70 sec You upset. No man gets through
Efe'without having n pommeling. Some
SANDER comes after you horned and
husked and hoofed 10 gore and trample
you, and what are you 20 do? tell
you plainly that all who serve Christ
must suffer persecution. 1t is the worst
sign In the world for you to be able to
say. Il have not an enemy In the
world" A woe is pronounced In the
Bible against the one OF whom every
body speaks wen. If you are ut peace
with all the world and everybody likes
you and approves your work, Il Is be-
cause you are an idler In the Lords
vineyard and are nk doing your duty.
All those>who have served Christ, how
ever eminent, all have been maltreated
nj some stage OF their experience You
know At was so In the time of George
Whiteheld when he stood and invited
men into the kingdom of God. What
did the learned DR.. johnson say of
him? He pronounced him miserable
mountebank. How was Il when Robert
HAN stood and spoke as scarcely any
uninSpired man ever did speak OF the
Glories of heaven? And as he stood Sab
bath after Sabbath preaching on these
themes his face kindied with the glory.
John Foster. Christian man, said Of
this man. Robert Hall Is only acting.
and the smile on his face Is reflection
or his own vanity" John Wesley turn
ed all England upside down with Chris
tan reform, and yet the punsters were
after him, and the meanest Jokes in
England were perpetrated about John
wesley. What is true OF the pulpit Is
true OF the pew; ii Is true OF the street;
1t Is true Of the shop and the store. All
who will live godly in Christ Jesus
must suffer persecution. And / set it
down as the very worst sign in all
your Christian experience il you are
any OF you ut peace with all the world.
The religion OF Christ is war. II is a
challenge 10 1.-The world, the flesh and
the devil" and If you will buckle on
the whole armor of God you will find q
great host disputing your path between
this and heaven.
Peace For tie Troubled.
But what are you 10 do when you are
assaulted and slandered and abused. as
l suppose nearly all OF you have been
IN your life? Go out and hunt up the
slanderer? oh, no, silly man! While
you are explaining away falsehood in
one place 80 people will just have heard
OF 1t in other places. / counsel YOU TO
another course. While you are not to
omit any opportunity OF setting vour.