The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-10-26

way.
From the Messianic standpoint l can
not afford to teach my people that the
pomp and splendor OF q theocratic gov
ernment are as acceptable to my Father
us the worship of spirit and truth.
car never teach them that temple forms
and religious ceremony fulfill the law as
does love. ! can never teach them that
christening a nation with the Nigh
sounding name government Of God IL
equal to the sacrifice and Offering of sell
for service.
The suggestion that / make myself
a world ruler in order to crafty my
own ambition l spurn. There is some
thing that is above price and that IS
mora! Wilderness, or the sense or honor.
II / should accommodate myself TO
conception that is less than the best,
thereby making league with evil, should
at once lose that which a universe could
not buy back
The severest trial In the third tempta-
ton was in making the determination 10
be true 10 the hest interests of His
brethren when to do so meant to seem
TO be Indifferent to their miseries. But
lie saw that the proud place among the
nations of earth for which they clamor-
ed, would be only a temporary external
benefit While the truth which He had
come to teach and the principles of life
which He had come to implaint would
work slowly like leaven, but IN time
would leaven the whole lump.
He was tempted as a lover of His
breathren to give them. not what He
knew was best for them, but what they
wanted
He was tempted TO impotence. lie
heard their cries. lie saw their tears, He
knew their prayers by heart. How could
He wait through the long dragging years
and centuries for His seed OF the kingdom
10 grow into a tree for the healing of the
nations, when He could temporarily al
leviate their suffering in single gener-
alton?
But" said He, Gods plan is the wise
plan On the one hand, 1 see myself
temporal king. reisning over My people
ruling as beneficenty as possible over
subjects that have not yet the principles
OF government in their hearts. | see
honor and splendor and luxury, and for
Myself at last death Ia a palace while
millions mourn Further down the cen
turtles see the government wrecked and
all my ideas buried forever beneath the
debris.
on the other hand, see Myself mis-
understood by those whose influence
most desire | see Myself prosecuted by
intolcrant leaders OF My people. ] see
Myself dcspised by the proud l see
Myself winning to the eternal kingdom OF
truth ami love and service a little hand
FIJI OF the poorer and humber classes.
I see a steep and rugged path before Me
and at the end Of the journey / see,
standing upon the summit OF a hill, a
coarse upright beam, I little higher than
NV head with Il crOsshar near the top
as long as q mans outstretchcd arms. /
see Myself nailed to the instrument Of
torture, while about Me stands a little
group Of weeping women.
But l see also the divine life that fills
Me til that hour I see moral whole
ness maintained till that hour and be-
yond that ordeal | sec the Ageless Life
Tor Myself and all My followers.
Can ! wait can l suffer. can I die in
seeming failure and disgrace? ! can
viii. Hence satan! Ny Father has
spoken in my soul I shall hear Him.
shall give my brethren not the gewgaw
for which. as spoiled children. they cry
7 shall give them the bread Of life, even
though they mistake Ne for an enemy
and cruelty Ne"
Viewed from Q vantage ground Of two
thousand years VIC can see today that Ie-
sus was right in the decision to which
He promptly came when the temptation
IN the wilderness was strongest Where
Is Tberius, who then sat upon the
throne At Rome. ana ruled the world wide
empire? Even before he died pliny calls
him "cOnfesselly the most gloomy OF
mankind" From his summer home on