Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1902-02-12
cHRIsrrAS ENDsAvoR.
sopie FOR tse week neglnain~ ~.

fso2fc Tor the week BeEinnin~ Feb.
1C-Cu1anaeIll By Rev. 5. Il DosIe-
Torfc-Tesap.e "a and tried.--I Cor. 4 Il;
Heb. Is. II, 8; ~. 10
There are two dangers against which
Christians must guard themselves Ia
reference 20 the temptations and trials
Of life ! They may be treated too
lightly. We may belittle temptation
and magnify our own abilities TO resist
it and may. as consequence, be in
danger OF falling through overconh-
dence. .. When the true character and
power Of sin are realized, we may
grow discouraged and give up without
an effort The phase Of the subject
,presented In the topical references Is
the letter one. Paul. having warned
the Corinthians against falling through
overconfidence. next warns them
against encouragement. To accom-
plish this he points out the encourag-
ing side Of resistance TO temptation.
The references from Hebrews continue
the same phase Of the subject by pre-
senting Christ's relation to temptation
and trial.
The Temptations and the trials of life
are not to be moderated. They are
serious and endanger our well being
for time and eternity. But while so
serious they are not impossible of sue
cessful resistance. Because of the
power of evil we are not TO fold our
arms in discoura cement and drift with
the tide to eternal perdition. The
greater the power against the greater
should be our determination to over
come It. Resistance should inspire re-
sistance rather than acquiescence.
1. Human experience encourages US
10 resist temptation. There hath no
temptation taken you but such as is
common to man." except such as is hui
man OF such as man can bear. Our
temptations are no fiercer than those
which have assaulted others and against
which they have successfully stood.
If others have resisted the temptations
common to us, then we also can resist
them II tempted TO intemperance, to
lust, to anger, TO unbelief, to sin In
any form, let us remember that other
men have resisted these temptations,
which assures US that we can If we
will.
2. The faithfulness Of God encour-
ages us to resist temptation. God is
faithful. who will not suffer you to be
tempted above that We are able, but
win with the temptation also make a
way to escape that ye may be able to
bear it." The power against US is
great, but the power for us is still
greater God permits US to be tempted
for our good. Certain phases of hu-
man character can only be developed
or perfected under temptation and
trial. 1.-THE trial of your faith work
eth patience" But IL when the temp
tations come we trust in God and look
to Him for strength He will provide
way of escape. He tried the faith of
Abraham, but provided a way of es-
cape. He tried the character of Jer-
ONE. but pttided way Of escape.
And IL we trust Him He viii keep US
in temptation and trial if He does not
keep US from them.
3. Christ's relation to temptation
should encourage us to resist 1t. Christ
was tempted. therefore He understands
us in temptation and is able to sympa-
thiZe with us. Christ was tempted.
'.yet without sin" He therefore knows
how to overcome. and He can and will
impart this knowledge aud power to
Us. Let US therefore not be discour-
aged in temptation, but resist it, and 1t
will fee from us.
BIBLE READINGS.
Matt iY, Hi: vi, Is; Mark xiv. 1888;
Luke viii. 0-13; Tim. vi, 9-12; Heb. XII,
3240; Jas. i, 10, 12-15: iv, Z; II Pet. ii.
Q; Rev. ii, 10.