The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1903-08-28
A SERMON FOR SUNDAY
AN ELOQUENT DISCOURSE ENTITLED
TRIALS AND TEMPTATIONS"
The Rev. George y. Eekmsn pinerentiates
Between Entieement To Evil and Temp.
tation In the Sense OF Providential Trial
taking Account OF Hcredity.

preached SUNDAY morning on lrlals anu
Temptations. He took his text from
james /: II: Blessed is the man that en-
dureth temptation; TOR when be is tried,
he shall receive the crown OF life, which
the Lord hath promised 10 them that love
Him" Mr.. Eekman said;
The beatitude chosen for our text stands
central 10 the discussion OF temptation
which James pIrsues 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 II is per.
mitted by Him IN the process of human
discipline. The one is hailed as an occasion
of rood. The other is denounced as the
source Of injury. Before the one the au.
thor sounds trumpet OF gadness. BE.
fore the other he waves a signal OF danger.
Toward the one We should assume an atti-
tude 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
man that endureth temptation" Let us
turn 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 providental troubles. They are
not self-infiicted The sufferer has fallen
INTO them They are unsoueht, unexpected
and uuwelcome. They constitute what In
worldly parlanee are called calamltIes. Yet
In the very midst of the maelstrom of mis-
fortune the Christian is urged TO rejoice
with exceeding great JOY.
Jubilant in trouble-the thing is utterly
preposter 10 the mind which knows
nhy
Shall the merchant sing cheerily while his
commercial structure is crashing IN ruins
about him. Shall the youth smile serenely
while the fondest ambitions of his life are
being ruthlessly defeated? Shall the just
man be exutant while society condemns
him for his piety aLl goddess men hate him
for his virtueg Yes, If he is Christian
James would reply. Let him count it all
Joy when he falls into these dire straits.
They are deeply significant of good to him,
however difficult II may be TO discover
their value. What madness this seems to
the wording!
A moments reflection will prove even to
the children of this word that joyousness
in affiiction which at the first appears 10 be
an unnatural and superhuman temper un-
der the circumstances, is actually easier
and more phllosophic than mere resigna-
tion and fortitude Is II not better for n
man in the midst Of rushing stream to
race the torrent, breast the waves and
stride up against the current than 10 turn
his back upon the flood and try to stand
erect where he is? Will he not be sure to
fail TO keep ms feet IN the latter instance I?
Will he not have immensely better chances
TO stem the tide in the other fashion, II
is much the same with trouble. lie who
submits his back to the stroke of adversely
and strives TO bear a calm countenance aud
, a brave heart while his head is bowed with
nf xptll ttrtah neil. 90, sh.
rows Of life than he who has a thankful
JOY IN his heart born OF the knowledge that
TO Christian all the miseries for which he
Is not personally responsible are intended
for his advantage. With such a 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 of the bill
lows as they pile upon him, and shouting
for JOY in the very mid.stream Of affection.
There rs something deeper i'm the philoso-
ply OF James, however. than the mere Of
fering OF wise method of confronting
trouble. He sees close relation between
trouble and triumphant life. Count 1t
all JOY when We fall into divers tempta-
tions Tor troubles); knowing this, that the
irving Of your faith worketh patience.
But let patience have her perfect work.
that ye may bc perfect and entire, wanting
nothing" There is the formula for produc-
ing strong and symmetrical character.
1t reminds one Of PauPs statement, I'VE
glory, in tribulations also, knowing that
tribulatlon woTketh patience, and patience
experience, and experience hope, and hope
maketh not ashamed" The person Of
good character has no ,casion for shame,
beng 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
rHa .N l. a F. "A
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 II rs imDossible TO construct
great character? Said a distinguished
teacher, Great imagination may make a
great poet; great logical power great
philosopher; great faculty of observation
a great scientist, but nothing makes a
great man 1t great faith" II is only
small people who insist on walking by
sight. I've great souls dwell in the invisi-
bic. The cheap crowd call such persons
dreamers. But these dreamers alone attain
eminenCs and power
It was the faith Of Columbus which
swung the Western Hemisphere out Of OBJ
liviG.l into light II was the faith of Luth.
or that rent asunder the Dapal domination
and civil and religious liberty TO Europe
and the western nations. IL was the faith
of Lincoln that swept "the sum Of all VII
lalnies from our borders and sent millions
OF ebon-fsced men from chains TO sover-
eighty" IL is the faith OF some valorous
soul that removes every mountain OF diff.
Guilty, straightens every crooked path and
solves every problem that balks the pro-
gress OF truth The list OF faiths cham
pIons lengthens with each decade Brigh.
are the glories Of those who through faith
subdued Kingdoms, wrought righteousness,
obtained promises. stopped the mouths Of
lions. oueDched the violence of FIRE. es-
capped the edge Of the sword, out Of weak
ness were made strong, waxed valiant IN
fight, turned 10 flight the armies Of the
aliens" BY faith the greatest achieve
ments OF the spiritual as well az OF the ma.
terial world are won.
Endurance ~ the test OF character. ls
there any permanence in it's hberS Ms
fortune will answer the question. A great
confiagration sweeps over a city. Struct-
ures OF wood are deyoured with avidIty
Stone edihoes resist the flames with some
success, but they, too, crumbe and dissolve
under the intense heat. The steel safe
drops from the counting house and IL
frightfully bent and blistered. But heaps
OF gold coin. now a mere molten mass, from
which image aud superscription have en-.
tirely faded. still reveal the quality OF the
yellow metal. Society discloses IN its ca
tastrophes a similar test. Adversely sweeps
Ike plague over the land. Fortunes are
lost in the twinklipg Of an eye. Business
is unsettled from the Atlantic 20 the Pa.
oifc. The foundations Of commercial sta.
biltv seem 20 be shattered before the ad.
vanoing tide Of financial ruin. Then only
the strong stand firm. The weak resort TO
dissipation. TO waste Of body and soul, 90
crime. The pure become more pure. The
wicked grow more vicious. And thus the
event which brings blessing 20 one brings
curse TO another. il Is all a matter Of per,