The Savannah morning news., 1903-11-02
CHRlST'S GREAT DUEL
WITH THE DEVIL.

UNIQUE Sermon Preached BY Rev. j.
ID. Jordan at the First Baptist
Church.
But Christ was no high diver. He
was no Dowie to attract the eyes and
attention of the world. He was no Mrs.
Eddy. He was a hero, but His hero
ism was not manifested in the doings
of marvellous things that the curiosity
of a sensational loving crowd might be
gratified.'
During his sermon on "Dueling and
a Royal Duel" to a large congregation
at the First Baptist Church last night.
Rev. John D. Jordan used the above
language.
Rev. DR.. Jordan's sermon was based
upon the temptation of Christ when
taken UP on the mount by Satan. He
chose as his text the sixth verse of
the fourth chapter of st. Matthew:
And sayeth unto him, If thou be the
Son of God cast myself down. for it
is written: He shall give his angels
charge concerning thee: and in their
hands shall gear thee up lest at any
time thy dash thy foot against a
stone" and comparing the struggle be-
tween Christ and the devil for suprem-
acy with a crossing of swords or eX-
changing of pistol shots IN a mortal
combat.
The minister declared in the course
of his remarks that, although he had
no patience with the practice of duel
ing when one man has a grievance
against another and the two resort to
the drawing of blood as a means of
satisfaction. when a man calls an
other liar" declared Rev. DR.. Jor-
dan, "he is either speaking the truth
or a lie. If he speaks lie can an hon
est man afford 60 challenge a liar? If
he speaks truth, who will fight against
the truth?" Duels fought in the name
of God and for God as that of Christ
on the mount with Satan are, however,
expected of Christians, was a point on
which emphasis was laid by the min
lister, inasmuch as temptations beset
every mortal which he is supposed to
resist with all his strength.
That which is a temptation to-day
may not be a temptation Tomorrow. -
said Rev. DR.. Jordan, and we may
rest assured that the devil in all his
shrewdness will present a temptation
| in accordance with ones environments
and his frame of mind. The first temp
tation was aimed at the flesh-man's
weakest point-and the second at the
spiritual but God is to be trusted, to
be relied upon, but not trified with.
Neither is He to be relied upon when
we trifle with Him nor when there are
imaginary troubles; no provision is
made for imaginary troubles in the
scripture"
The mount upon which Christ was
tempted by the devil was described
by the minister as Herod's royal por-
tico, where he would take the people.
and would babe them look down into
the depths Of the valley or pit, the
bottom of which the human eye could
not see, in order that they might thus
be impressed with the grandeur and
magnitude of his temple. 1t was also
that when one glanced down into the
| pit he was seized with an almost ire
sistible desire to cast himself down
therein, and Satan took the advantage
| of Christ, using this natural inclination
| to further his own cause in the duel.
The devil can quote Scripture" de-
clared the minister, "as also can a great
4 many people who are the worst sinners
| and go about the country from place to
| place using the Word of God to further
/ their own private interests and to uD-
hold their Hypocrisy, for it is possible
/ to take portions of disconnected Script
ure and prove anything, but we must
not apply the Scripture except in ref
erence to other Scripture" Jesus was
called upon by the devil to prove him
self the Son Of God by casting himself
down into the pit. having been assured
I by the Scripture quoted by the devil
that the angels of God would bear Him
up and ward off danger OF injury by
contact with the bottom or other OBJ
structtons, were facts cited in the