Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1900-06-23

!. when all the three candles were gone
out then the day had passed. Oh, that
some Of us, instead Of calculating our
days and nights and years by any
earthly timepiece. might calculate them
by the numbers Of opportunities and
mercies which are burning down and
burning out. never to be relighted, lest
at last we be amid the foolish virgins
who cried, "Our lamps have gone out"
Again, commend the behavior of
the disciples to all who are tempted.
have heard men In midlife soy they
had never been led into temptation. II
you have not felt temptation, 1t is be-
cause you have not tried TO do right.
A man hoppled and handcuffed, as long
as he lies quietly, does not test the
power OF the chain. but when he rises
up and with determination resolves to
snap the handcuff or break the hopple
then he finds the power of the iron.
And there are men who have been for
10 and 20 and 30 years bound hand and
foot by evil habits who have never felt
the power Of the chain because they
have never tried to break 1t. 1t Is very
easy to go on down with the stream
and with the wind lying on your oars,
but just turn around and try to go
against the wind and the tide. and you
will find 1t is a different matter. AS
long as we go down the current Of our
evil habit we seem to get along quite
smoothly, but If after awhile we turn
around and head the other way, to-
ward Christ and pardon and heaven,
oh, then how we have to lay to the
oarsl You will have your temptation.
You have one kind, you another, you
another. not one person escaping.
1t Is all folly for you to say to some
one, 81 could not be tempted as you
are" The lion thinks 1t IL so strange
that the fish should be caught with a
hook; the fish thinks 1t is so strange
that the lion should be caught with
trap. You see some man with cold,
phlegmatic temperament, and you say,
II suppose that man has not any temp
tatlon." Yes; as much as you have.
In his phlegmatic nature he has a
temptation to Incidence and censorious-
ness and over eating and drinking, a
temptation to ignore the great work OF
life, temptation to lay down an obsta-
Gle In the way of all good enterprises.
The temperament decides the sty les Of
temptation: but. sanguine or lymphat-
ic. you will have temptation. Satan
has graphing hook just fitted for
your soul. man never lives beyond
the reach OF temptation. You say
when a man gets to be 70 or so years
Of age be Is safe from all satanic as
sault. You are very much mistaken.
A man at S5 years 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. II you think you have conquer
ed the power of temptation, you are
very much mistaken.
The Lord VIII Sustain.
man who wanted throne pretend
ed he was very weak and slckly and,
If he was elected, he would soon be
gone. He crawled upon his crutches
to the throne, and, having attained 1t,
he was strong again. He said, ut was
well for me, while | was looking for
the scepter Of another, that | should
stoop; but, now that | have found II,
why should I stoop any longer?" And
he threw away his crutches and was
well again. How illustrative Of the
power of temptation! You think it is
a weak and crippled influence, but give
It chance, and 1t will be a 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-tell everybody about
them? All, what a silly man you would
be! AS well might commander In a
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 scoff at you. What, then,
must man do? When the wave strikes
him with terrific dash, shall he have
nothing to hold on to? In this contest
with 1.-The world. the flesh and the dev-
IL shall man have no help, no coun-
sci? Our text intimates something diff
ferent. In those eyes that wept 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 in the
arms of rapture-in that voice | hear
the command and the promise, Cast
thy burden on the Lord. and he will !
sustain thee" Why should you carry |
your burdens any longer? Oh. you
weary soul, Christ has been In this con- !
fict He says: "My grace shall be suf- |
ficient for you. You shall nos be tempt
ed above that you are able to BEAR"
Therefore with all your temptations CO. |
as these disciples did. and tell Jesus.
The World Challenged.
Again, | commend the behavior OF
the disciples to all those who are abus- /
ed and to the slandered and persecut- |
ed. When Herod put John to death, |
the disciples knew that their own
heads were not safe. And do you
know that every John has Herod?
There are persons In life who do not ,
wish you very well. Your misfortunes
are honeycombs to them. Through |
their teeth they hiss at you, misinter-
pret your motives and would be glad
to see you upset No man gets through
G'e without having pommeling. Some
.lander comes after you horned and
husked and hoofed to gore and trample
you, and what are you to do? l 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, 81 have not an enemy In the
.yorIdv puoa Ia nronounppd in the /