The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-08-27

ter he Is no less intense in His abhorrence
of the former. The sorrows and mSfor'
tunes of life may come in the order OF a.
vine providence to refine character. Yield,
ing to sin because OF allurements OF evil
must be traced to some other origin. James
boldly declares. that the fault lies III the
corrupt human heart.
He will find objectors to his doctrine.
Some will Law the charge of mans te"pta-
ton to evil upon God Himself, who H;"de
men with 4 disposition TO love sin and TO
pursue il. But that cannot be true, !, E,d
IS good. Every good gilt nd every per-
feet gift is from above and cometh down
from the Father of lights 1t is absurd TO
accuse God of enticing men to wlckedness.
God cannot be tempted OF evil, neitner
tempteth He any man.. lie would not pe
God if He could do this. He would be the
devil 1t is illogical to call Him God-eter'
nal coodoess-and vet ascribe seduction to
Him.
James holds up the lustful human heart
and contends that no external circum-
stances constitute in themselves alone a
seduction to sin They may provide the
occasion for wrong doing. They may make
a powerful appeal to the passions and ap-
pettes OF men. Bat they would be utterly
futile to influence conduct and choice but
for the corrupt longing of the heart: Tie
trouble is this, James explains: Every
man is tempted when he is drawn away OF
his own lust and enticed. Then, when lust
hath conceived. it bringeth forth sin. and
sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth
death.
But will YOU make no account OF hered.
ity? Certainly, the children OF the opium
cater, the user OF !ntoyicantS, the glutton-
Gus. the lascivious, will bear in their en-
feebied wills, impaired nerve. centres and
scrofulous blood the foul taint OF sinful
parents And may God pity the progeny
of the vicious But shall the victim OF
fathers sins yield weakly to the propensi-
into the turbid pool of iniqu!ty? Will 1t
excuse mans bloodstained hand that he
received a fiery temper from his ancestry.
and in a moment OF ungoverned fury muir
dered his fellow?
But will you make no account OF enrir-
onment? Certainly, the generations rising
from the slums of the great cities can
scarcely be expected to come naturally to
the virtues OF your ciean-faced, church
bred boys and girls. What, then-shall the
| soul make no effort to rise superior TO its
surroundings? Is there any environment
| in which allurements to evil will not exist!
| Do they not obtrude themselves upon the
scene of public worship and private devo-
| ton? Is there exemption for any one!
Surely nc., but in the last analysis the
temptation is not in the enticements Of
ones environment. but in a heart that
lusts after evil, and which must be denied
it's desires. if good character is to be made.
Temptation to evil. then. is matter IN
which our personal moral fiber is in
volved. Just as in trial through suffering
our powers of endurance are tested. What
is your attitude toward evil? Is it one OF
apology and condonement? How perilous.
Is it one easy familiarity? God pity your
weakness We have duty to ourselves.
Luther used to say: I've cannot keep the
birds from flying around our heads, but We
can prevent them from building their nests
in our hair" We may not be able to keep
temptation away. but we need not let 1t
in the house We should not expect God
to lock the door and keep His hand upon
it. We are the doorkeeper OF our own
souls.
| Naturalists tell us that the scorpion will
never use his sting, of which he is exceed
| inglv careful. unless he can find a spot on
the body of his desired victim sufficiently
soft to admit its insertion without fear OF
injury. Temptation never assails the soul
except at vulnerable points. Our own lusts
determine the spots which the enemy
strikes.
But fortunately the whole burden of re-
sisting temptation to evil does not rest
with us. Divine help is promised. If any
of YOU lack wisdom, let him ask God"
Wisdom is called by a sound writer "the
art of Christian conduct" That art can
be acquired of Christ Himself. He was
tempted in all points as We are. yet with
out sin. He can and will impart the power
of successful resistance Moreover there
is specific promise in the premises. There
hath no temptation taken you but slch as
is common to men, but God is faithful.
who will not suffer you to be tempted
above that We are able. but will also with
the temptation make way to escape, that
We may be abe to bear it"
For him that endures there is the blessed
recompense OF the crown OF life. What the
sculptor has wrought is not to be shattered
by the hammer OF judgment. When the
ship comes bounding over the stormy sea
she is not to sink in view of the harbor.
But after the struggles OF this human life
viii come the feiicities aud fulness of the
perfect life. May the victor's wreath be
ours.