Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-08-27

devil, re is Illogical to cali Him G0dG.eter.
nal goodness-and yet aserlbe seduction "
Him. ,.
James holds up the lustful human heart
and contends that no. external circum'
stances constitute in themselves alone
seduction to sin They may provide the
occasion for wrong doing. They may MAKE
a powerful appeal to the passions anu aP.
petites of men But they would be utterly
futile to influence conduct and choice but
for the corrupt longing OF the heart: Inc
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 SIM. ana
sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth
death"
But will you make no account of hered
ity? Certainly, the children of the opium
eater. the user of intoXicants, the glntton'
Gus. the lascvious,. will bear in their en-;
feebed wills. impaired nerve centres and
scrofulous blood the foul faint of sinful
parents. And may God pity the progeny
of the vicious! But shall the victim of
fathers sins yield weakly to the propensi-
ties he has inherited, and plunge deeper
into the turbd pool of iniquity?, viii 1T
excuse a mans bloodstained hand that he
received fiery temper from his ancestry,
and in a moment Of ungoverned fury MUIR
dered his fellow!
But will you make no account of envir'
onment? Certainly: the generations rising
from the slums of the great cities can
scarcely be expected to come naturally to
the virtues of your cleanfaced, 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:.
tion? Is there exemption for any one!
Surely not, but in the last analysis the
temptation is not in the enticements OF
ones environment; but in a heart that
usts after evil and which must be denied
its desires if good character is to be made.
Temptation to evil, then, is a matter in
which our personal moral fiber is in
vowed, just as in trial through suffering
our powers of endurance are tested. What
is your attitude toward evil? Is it one OF
apology and confinement? How perlous!
Is it one easy familiarity? God pity your
weakness! We have a duty to ourselves.
Luther used to say: 1--WE cannot keep the
birds from flying around our heads, but we
ran prevent them from building their nests
in our hair" We may not be able to keep
temptation away. but we need not let it
in the house. We should not expect God
to Jock the door and keep His hand upon
it. We are the doorkeeper of our ows
sous.
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 asSaiIs the soul
except at vulnerable points. Our own lusts
determine the spots which the enemy
strikes.
BIT fortunately the whole burden of re.
siStng temptation to evil does not rest
With us. Divine help is promised. IF any
of YOU lack wisdom, let him ask Cod
Wisdom i, called by sound writer "the
art of Christian conduct That art can
be acquired of Christ Himself. He was
tempted in all points as we are. vet with
,ut sin. lie can and will impart the power
nf successful resistance. Moreover, there
Is specitic promise in the premises. There
hath no temptation taken YOU but such az
i common to men. but God is faithful.
who will not suffer you to he tempted
above that We are able, but will also with
the temptation make way to escape, that
yc may he abe to bear it.
For him that endurcs there is the blessed
"c"omrcEse OF the crown OF life. What the
,cu!ptnr has wrought is not to be shattered
bv the hammer of judgment. When the
Snip comes bounding over the stormy sea
she j. not TO sink IN view of the harhor.
But after the struggles OF this human life
will com" the fecitieS and fulncSs OF the
perfect life. May the victor's wreath be
ours.