Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-08-29
TRIALS AND TEMPTATIONS
A Brilliant Sunday Sermon By Rev.
CcCr. =. Eckman.
and IeUp OF ia III. Sense o.
I,., .en ia. Trial

SEw YORK CRY The Rev. George T.
Eckmaa. raStcr of =. rm,'s VI. +. Church.
preached SUNDAY noralns on Trials and
IemptatiOns. He took his text from
James i: l.: blessed IS the man that en-
dureth temptation; Tor when he is tried,
he shall receive the crown OF lie, 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 pursue~ 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 III the sense of seduction
10 evil The one may he understood as
proceeding from God. though il Is per-
mtted Ey Him in the process of human
discipline. The one i hailed an occasion
OF good. The other Is denounced as the
source of injury. Before the one the au-
thor sounds a trumpet OF gadness. Be
fore the other he waves a signal OF danger.
Toward the one we should assume an attl-
tudc OF friendlinesS. Toward the other We
must maintain a bearing OF hostility. 10
the test Of both phases OF temptation we
are bound to he subjected. From the con-
test with each we may return triumphant.
Over ihe victorious contestant IN each
combat the author shouts Blessed is the
man that endureth temptation. Let us
turn IL the apostles discussion of this ever
important theme.
Count it all joy when We fall into divers
temptations he cXc'a!ms. Observe that
these are provideatial troubles. They are
not se,f-inilicted The sufferer has fallen
into them. They are unsaught unexpected
and unwe.comc. They constitute what in
worldly par.ancc are called calami;ies. Yet
in the very midst OF the mac,strom OF mis-
fortune the Christian is urged 10 rejoice
with exceeding great joy.
Jubi;ant III trcuh.e-the thing is utterly
preposterous to the mind which knows
nothing higher than earthly philosophy.
Shall the merchant sing checri!y while his
commercial structure Is crashing in ruins
about him: Shall the youth smile sereney
while the fondest ambitions Of his life are
being ruti,eSs.y defeated: Shall the just
man he eXuitant while society condemns
hini Tor his piety and goddess men hate him
Tor his virtue? Yes, if he is Christian.
James would reply. lie; him count it ali
JOY when he falls into these dire straits.
They are deeply significant OF good to him,
however difficult il may he to discover
their value. Wha; madness this seems TO
the woridiingi
\ moments reflection will prove even to
the children OF this word that joyousness
in affection which ut the first appears To be
an unnatural and superhuman temper un-
der the circumstances. is actually easier
and more phiio>oPhic than mere resiGna-
ton and fortitude. Is it not better Ter n
man in the midst of 4 rushing stream To
race the torrent. breast the waves and
stride up against tn" current than 10 turn
his bacl; upon the food and try % stand
erect where he i. VIII he not he sure 10
fail to keep his ie7, in the latter instance:
Will he not have immensely better chances
to stem the tide IN the other fashion: l.
is m:ch the same with trolhle He who
- N no Sfr Dl-a al,
and strives to bear 4 cam countenance and
a brave heart while his head is bowed with
grief. will succsmh more easily to the sor-
rows of life than he who has a thankful
JOY in his heart horn OF the knowledge that
TO Christian all the miseries FOR which he
Is not personally RESPONSIBLE are intended
for his advantage. With such fake the
sufferers face may shine. his heart may
leap and he may assert himself with won
drous aggressiveneSS. so he vii. stalk on
against the current. throwing off the bill
lows as they pile upon him. and shouting
for JOY in the very mi9-strcam Of affection.
There Is something deepcr in the phloso-
ply OF James. however. than the mere Of
fering o: a wise method of confronting
trouble. He sees a close relation between
trouble and triumphant life. Count it
all JOY when we fall into divers tempta-
tons Tor troubles: knowing this, that the
irving OF YOUR faith worseth patience.
n.
tnat We may be perfect anu entire, wanting
nothing There is the formula for produc-
ing a strong and symmetrical character.
II reminds one OF Paufs statement I'VE
glory in tribulations also. knowing that
tribu.ation worketh patience, and patience
experience. and experience hope. and hope
maleth not ashamed The person OF
good character has no occasion for shame,
being 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
tration of God Is not the least of these re-
suits. Who will deny that without faith
IN the unseen it l. impossible to construct
a great character: Said a distinguished
teacher. Great Imagination may make
great poet; great logical power great
philosopher: great faculty OF observation
Z 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-
be. The cheap crowd call such persons
ireamers. Bat these dreamers alone attain
eminencc and mower.
1t was the faith OF Columbus which
swung the Western Hemisphere ont of OBJ
livion into light. Il was the faith of Luth-
CT that rent asunder the uapal domination
and civil and religious liberty To Europe
and the western nations |; was the faith
uf Lincoln that swept the sum OF all VIII
laimies from our borders and sent millions
OF ebon-facod NEE from chains To soyer-
eighty. IL Is the faith of some Valorous
SOM that removes every mountain OF diff
Guilty, Strengthens every crooked path and
solves every problem that halkS the pro-
gre>s OF truth. The list OF faiths cham
pions lengthens with each decade. Brigh-
are the clories OF those who through faith
subdued Kingdoms. wrought righteousness.
obtained promises. stopped the mouths OF
lions. quenched the violence of fire. es-
capped the edge OF the sword. out OF weak
ness were made strong. waxcd valiant in
fight, turned TO flight the armies of the
aliens" BY faith the greatest achieve
ments OF the spiritual as well as OF the ma
teria, world an won.
Endurance is the test OF character. Is
there any permanence IN Its fiber: Mis-
fortune will answer the question. 4 great
coniiagrat;on sweeps over a city. Struct-
ures of wood are devoured with avdity.
Stone ediices resist the flames with some
success, but they. too. crumbie and dissolve
under the intense heat. The steel safe
drops from the counting house and is
frightfuliy bent and blistered. But heaps
OF god coin. now mere molten mass. from
which image and superscription have en-
tireiy faded. still reveal the quality of the
yellow metal. Society discloses in its ca
tastrophes a similar test. Adversely sweeps
Ike a plague over the land Fortunes are
lost in the twink.ing OF an eye. Business
is unsettled from the Atlantic to the Pa
cihc. The foundations OF commercial sta
bility seem to he shattered before the adj
vancins tide OF financial rs:;n. Then only