The Tupelo journal., 1903-06-19
fCopvright 1908. by ]. M. Edson.)

three directions. By way of the flesh
or the lower animal nature, by way of
the higher human nature or temporal
ambition, and by way of the religious
instincts or spiritual pride. Every
temptation which comes to mar may
be classified under one of these three
divisions. 1t is illustrated by the three
fold temptation of Jesus in the wilder
ness. 1t is with a conception of the
full scope of temptation which leads
John to write: "All that is in the world,
the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the
eyes and the pride of life, is not of
the Father. but is of the world"
The devil is a great general, even if
he is a coward and poltroon, and he has
long since learned that the weakest
point is the place where victory is most
i%willfully or carelessly refuse to recog-
nize that they have a weakest point.
Many failures and transgressions in a
certain direction should teach n that
that is the most vulnerable point, but
instead the transgression is explained
away and excused by qualifying cir
cu~mstances, which, enlarged and per-
sistently considered, obscure the main
point at issue. the failure itself. and
blind one to a true understanding of
self or the devil either. Where this
condition prevails in the life the devil
is afforded his greatest opportunity.
and he generally improves it. The
secret of successful resistance is in
understanding the weak point and
strengthening the power of resistance
at that point.
NUR text is suggestive of the bat
v tlefeld. When the devil is around
it either means fight or surrender.
The devil never fights unless he has
to-. His favorite method is to suggest
a truce at the very start. If the soul
consents, he encamps on the spot and
Immediately sets his snares which en-
trap the sou and bring it under his
power. James, who tells us to resist
the devil. in the opening portion of
his letter shows us how the devil
operates. He takes the matter up at
the point where the soul has entered
into a truce with the devil and the
latter has camped on the spot. Then.
says James. imam is drawn away of
his dust, and enticed. Then,
when lust hath conceived, it bringeth
forth sin: and sin. when it is finished,
bringeth forth DEATH" These words
describe accurately the way in which
the devil wins his conquest over the
soul. The devil has come in the guise
of some temptation. Instead of i'm
mediate resistance and no parleying
the voice of the devil is listened to
as he pleads for a hearing. 1t is at
this point that temptation begins to
be sin. The devil, given his oppor-
tunity, is not slow to hold up the
temptation in it's most attractive
light. He covers up the sting. He
makes it appear to be a thing great
ly to be desired. He works his spell
as he did in the garden with Eve and
makes the thing desired look good
and wholesome and delightful. Here
is where IMAM is drawn away of his
own lust and ~enticed," and it is only
a step farther to the full commission
of the deed and the complete victory
of the devil over the soul.
"Vice is a monster of so frightful mien,
AS to be hated needs but to be seen;
Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face,
We first endure. then pity, then embrace"
THE above lines of Poe is the
thought of James expressed
POLITICALLY, and shows the process by
which the soul is brought to final and
unconditional surrender. But if it Is
a case of fight, let us go out to the
battlefield and witness the conflict.
In B%unyan's Holy War, wherein the
author graphically describes the sub
jugation of the town of Mansoul by
the devil and it's subsequent deliv-
erance by Emmanuel, the son of the
good and great King Shaddai. Capt.
Resistance is represented as standing
on the walls of the town to defend it
against the attack of the devil, and,
it is not until this brave defender
has been killed that the devil is able
to win his conquest over the town of
Mansoul. And how often this scene
is being reenacted to-day. The town
of Mansoul attacked, Capt. Resist
ance, the only fighting man in the
place, goes out to give him battle.
If he be killed the town is absolutely
at the mercy Of the enemy. Capt.
Resistance may be brave, he may
fight hard. yea even desperately, but
if he is not properly equipped for the
"fery darts of the Wicked One" Re-
sistance must be intelligent to be eff
fectual. One must understand the
degree and quality of resistance
which turns an attacking devil into a
fleeing devil. There is a resistance
which repels the devil, but does not
cause him to flee. He never shows
his back in such a case, but just
backs off face front and knows he
has been delayed but not defeated.
The devil isn't made to tremble a bit
in the face of the resistance which
some people offer, for he is quick to
discover that it lacks the true stay
ing qualities. Man fails to equip his
Capt. Resistance with the armor that
can protect and the sword which can
wound the devil and make him flee.
FAITH is the only armor which will
turn the poison darts of the devil.
Without this shield in the hand, Capt.
Resistance is sure to be killed sooner
or later. This is a bit of armor which