The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-08-26
TRIALS And TEMPTATIONS
A Brilliant Sunday Sermon By Rev.
George p. Eckman.
oliisreniiates Between Entleement TO Evil
and Temptation In tn. Sense o.
Providen.lal Trial

nreached Sunday morning on Trials and
Temptations. He took his text from
lanes /: ~: blessed is the man that en-
dureth temptation; for when he is tried
| he shall receive the crown of life, which
the Lord hath promised to them that love
Him" Mr. Eckman said:
The beatitude chosen for our text stands
central to the discussion of temptation
which James pursues in this chapter The
subject is considered under two aspects
The writer begins with temptation in the
sense of providential trial, and concludes
with temptation in the sense of seduction
10 evil. The one may be understood as
proceeding from God, though it is per-
mitted by Him in the process of human
discipline. The one is hailed as an occasion
Of good. The other is denounced as the
source of injury. Before the one the au-
thor sounds a trumpet of gladness. Be-
fore the other he waves signal of danger.
Toward the one we should assume an atti-
,ude of friendliness. Toward the other we
must maintain a bearing Of hostility. To
the test of both phases of temptation we
are bound to be subjected. From the con-
test with each we may return triumphant.
Over the victorious contestant in each
combat the author shouts, blessed is the
nan that endureth temptation Let us
tarn to the apostles discussion OF this ever
important theme.
"Count it all joy when We fall into divers
temptations.' he exclaims. Observe that
these are providential troubles They are
not sef.inflicted The sufferer has fallen
into them. They are unsought unexpected
and unwelcome. They constitute what in
worldly parapce are called calamities Yet
in the very midst of the maelstrom of mis-
fortune the. Christian is urged to rejoice
with exceeding great joy.
Jubiant in trouble-the thing is utterly
preposterous to the mind which knows
nothing higher than. earthly philosophy.
Shall the merchant sing cheerily while his
commercial structure is crashing in ruins
about him? Shall the youth smile sereney
while the fondest ambitions of his life are
being ruthlessly defeated? Shall the Just
man be exultant while society condemns
him for his piety and goddess men hate him
for his virtue? Yes, if he is Christian,
James would reply. Let him count it all
They are deeply significant of good to him,
however difficult it may be to discover
their value. What madness this seems to
the wording!
A moments reflection will prove even to
the children of this world that joyousness
in affection which at the first appears to be
an unnatural and superhuman temper un-
der the circumstances, is actually easier
and moro phlosophic than mere resgna-
ton and fortituGe. Is it not better for a
man in the midst of a rushing stream to
race the torrent, breast the waves and
slllue up dRdilsl lnt current Inun 10 turn
his back upon the flood and try 20 stand
erect where he is? VIII he not be sure to
fail to keep his feet in the latter instance?
VIII he not have immensely better chances
to stem the tide in the other fashion? 1t
Is much the same with trouble He who
submits his back to the stroke OF adversely
and strives to bear calm countenance and
brave heart while his head is bowed with
grief, will succumb more easily to the sor-
rows of life than he who has a thankful
joy in his heart born of the knowledge that
to a Christian all the miseries for which he
is not personally responsible are intended
fol. his advantage. With such fate the
sufferers face may shine, his heart may
leap and he may assert himself with Won
drous aggressiveness. So he will stalk on
against the current, throwing off the bill
lows as they pile upon him, and shouting
Tor Joy in the very mid-stream of afiiiction
There is something deeper in the philoso.
ply of James, however, than the mere Of
ierlng OF wise method of confronting
trouble. He sees close relation between
trouble and a triumphant life. Count it
all JOY when We fall into divers tempta-
tons Tor troub.es) knowing this, that the
irving of your faith worketh patience.
that ye may be perfect anG entire, wanting
nothing There is the formula for produc-
ing strong and symmetrical character.
II reminds one of Paups statement, I'VE
glory. in tribulations also, knowing that
tribuiation worketh patience, and patience
experience, and experience hope and hope
maketh not ashamed" The person of
good character has no occasion for shame,
belng perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
But such fulness of life can only be OBJ
tanned through ministry OF trial.
We can. at least, measure some of the
effects OF this kind of discipline. The try.
ing OF faith, the proving of ones conf
dence in the invisible but eternal admins
tration of God is not the least of these re-
suits. Who will deny that without faith
IN the unseen it is impossible to construct
great character? Said a distinguished
great poet; great logical power great
Philosopher; great faculty of observation
great scientist, but nothing makes a
great man but great faith" 1t is only
small people who insist on walking by
sight. The great souls dwell in the invisi-
bic. The cheap crowd call such persons
areamers. But these dreamers alone attain
emlnence and power.
1t was the faith of Columbus which
swung the Western Hemisphere out of OBJ
livon into light. 1t was the faith of Luth-
er that rent asunder the papal domination
and civil and religious liberty to Europe
and the western nations. 1t was the faith
ei Lincoln that swept ''the sim OF all vii
hnies from our borders and sent millions
OF ebon-faced men from chains to sover-
enty." 1t is the faith OF some va orous
soul that removes every mountain OF diff
Guilty, straightens every crooked patti and
! solves every problem that balks the pro-
eress Of truth. The list of faiths cham
plons lengthens with each decade. Brigh-
are the glories of those who through faith
sabdued Kingdoms, wrought righteousness,
obtained promises, stopped the mouths of
lions, ouenched the violence of fire, es-
capped the edge of the sword, out OF weak
ness were made strong, waxed valiant in
Aliens" BY faith the greatest achieve
ments of the spiritual as well as OF the ma
terial world are won.
=, Endurance is the test OF Character. Is
tnere any permanence in its fiber? Mis-
fortune will answer the question. A great
coniiagration sweeps over city. Struct-
sres of wood are devoured with avidity.
otone edifces resist the flames with some
success, but they, too, crumble and dissolve
under the intense heat. The steel safe
drops from the counting house and is
irightfully bent and blistered. But heaps
oi,gold coin, now mere molten mass, from
winch image and superscription have en-
llrely faded, still reveal the quality of the
yellow metal Society discloses in its ca
,,ssstrophes a similar test Adversely sweeps
IKE plague over the land. Fortunes are
iost In the twinkiing OF an eye. Business
= unsettled from the Atlantic to the Pa
islne The foundations OF commercial sta
vancing tide OF financial ruin. Then only
ne strong stand firm. The weak resort to
usslpation, to waste of body and soul, to
crime.. The pure become more pure. The
wicked grow more vicious. And thus the
event which brinQs blessing to one brings