The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-09
THE VOICE OF THE PULPIT
THE VICTORIOUS Standard, FORMS
IN WHICH TEMPTATION COMES.
A short. Pointed Sermon by the Rev.
william Robbins Grace, ID. D..
Ii. d., baptist, ST. Paul, Mimi.

fnIU rUE CNAElL VI II LOEA snail AAI I'D a
standard against him."-Isaiah Iix, 70.
Away up on the hills there is a lake or
reservoir damned up. Suddenly the bar
rier breaks and there comes a great rush
a. water down the hillside upon the IN
suspecting valley beneath, sweeping away
before il the mansions OF the great, the
novels OF the poor, the hayricks and
stables OF the cattle, and Overwhelming
AL life in one common watery grave,
leaving a desert where there had bloomed
a garden OF the Lord.
Like a ~fOod'-that is the startling
metaphor with which the writer describes
the thrush OF temptation. Just as the res
ervoir is always threatening and, IL the
barriers be not firm and fawless when
overcharged and swollen ii pours down
and covers the valley; SO is evil always
imminent in our lives. Not to watch
against IT. not 20 constantly assure our
selves that the barriers will hold-aboye
81 not 10 realize that we are in danger
j. insensate folly. We must keep steady
watch, even though for many a long
month the temptation may appear to have
left Us; for It may be only as the house
breaker who causes a rumor that he has
left the neighborhood, only waiting UNI
I'll the people are wrapped in unsuspect-
ing carelessness in order TO do a greater
mischief.
Danger is imminent always; but there
are special crises, as with the temptation
OF doubt and despair. John Bunyan tells
Us that Mansoul was once assaiIed by an
army OF dOubters led on in multitudes
against the old city till they broke through
the gates and poured into the streets, and
everywhere filled the place. So there are
times that our soul is filled with swarns
OF doubts and fears, or we are tempted
L. sudden passion. Are you not aware Of
days in your life when 1t seems as il a
sea OF ink is weltering round the white
marble walls OF your soul, trying TO make
an unSuarGed moment, because you look
at the ink and not at the blue sky above,
you allow it to enter. 1t pours Up the
corridors and courts and of
your heart until you are driven almost
10 despair. The enemy has come in like a
food.
TEMPTATIONS FORMS.
These are but one or two of the multitu-
dinous forms In which we are assailed.
This enemy, temptation, is legion and we
dc well to confess our impotence before IL.
What can one man do with a reservoir
that has burst its barriers? He cannot
resist it; he cannot stay IT with his hands.
What can one poor soul do when all the
powers OF evil pour in upon 1t, seeking to
overwhelm and destroy its desire for a
better life? God help US. You cannot In
your own strength resist that flood either
By your resolutions, pledges or endeavOrS;
you may as well throw up your hands at
once and cry with J"enOshaphat, w nave
no might against this great company that
cOmeth against u.s. but our eyes are upon
Thee" At such times we may always
a.aaa 49, Cd for sEHhnS narff Of tho Il ord
viii lift up a standard" for our defense and
deliveraIce; let the enemy be ever so inn
petuOus, let the heart-walls be lettering
and the soul STANDING b~eleagured and al
most gone-there will be a parapet raised.
behind which il may shelter itself and
against which all the power Of evil will
break in vain. Though the flood threatens
10 submerSe you, there shall echo through
your hearts corridors the words. Here
shall thy proud waves be stayed. Thus far
shalt thou come and no farther
confess can see but little hope for a man
unless he has learned the spiritual power.
There IS a young man. perhaps, who has
long been fighting Intellectually with
OF living a pure and holy life,
but the enemy is too strong for him
and perpetually he is being dragged under,
swept of his feet and almost down 10 de-
s%truction like a fly upon a maeistrom. L
want that young man TO take heart to-day.
The mistake of his life is that he has not
put AuE 0IlLlL . III liz AUAESIOQAlu
OF the battle with the belief that God could
stay the tide.
There may be some maiden who again
and again has resolved TO live an earnest
life. but out among her companions she is
so tempted to frivolity, to a spiTit OF cynic-
ism. that before she is aware she is talk
ing and thinking as she has hitherto done.
I want her TO understand that il only she
would let the Holy Spirit lift the standard
I'D for her-if she would hand over the bat
Tie to Him and live in His power-He
would bring her 10 certain victory.
THE STANDARD OF CHRIST.
As Henry OF Navarro before the battle
OF Ivry besought his soldiers to follow
his crested plume, so 1 say TO you. young
men and women. that the Spirit OF God
IS carrying forward in the great fight the
banner Of Christ. 1 see that standard
reared to-day: it is the standard of the
cross; and 1 want you to gather round
and follow il. for it will never know dam
ger. il viii go forward to certain con-
quest. Those Of you who have followed
n the distance come as close as you can:
and may God help you TO write home to
many an anxious mother or father. Il
nave seen the standard OF the cross lifted
before the toe. and have resolved to no
longer drift with the tide nor risk being
swept down by the Hood. but Will take
the side OF Christ against the evil within
and without me-"
1850" Az q lOAAAGA Il NaAAE ~ ~ WI
slider the august warrior depicted in the
teXt-the Spirit OF the Lord. 1t would
seem almost. in this chapter. as though
he were Ike a warrior resting for a lit
Tie and watching the battle. having lain
aside helmet and bTeastplate. But sud
denly he sees the encroachment OF the
enemy. the ranks thrown into panic and
oorne back. He hears the cry, Help,
Lord, or We perishI" Forward TO the
'front.' He steps. lifts high the standard,
rallies the forces and puts to flight tho
Toe from before His face; for He put on
righteousness as a breastplate and a
aeinet OF salvation upon His head"
How many a time some of us have seen
that- our feet have almost gone. our
strength Is well nigh spent and we nave
seat up one piteous cry for help. Instantly
he has girded himself for the Ugh and
net the brunt of temptation upon His own
breast. while We nave been sheltered. If
our enemy is strong then the captain OF
~ salvation Is stronger IL VIII cover
ny head n the day OF battle"
but why Is II that W. are not always
conquerors2 The answer comes In the
earlier verses Of this chapter. II is be-
eause OF our fatal limitations. Behold
tne LORDS hand is not shortened that IL
ednnof save. but our ~iniqufties nave
htpdfated between you and your God ana
your sins have hid His face from you
~ otaer words. there are some fatal hln-
Gdnces In Your life that sap or thwart
ShFlsts power The electric current is
PASSING, but there is a flaw
" Installations are not perfect. Not that
~ must nrst overcome temptation before