Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-08-29

devil n Is illogical 70 ca. Tim God-etcr-
nal goodness-and yet ascrbe seduction 10
Him.
James holds M the lus,iul human heart
and contends that no external circum-
stances constitute in themselves alone
occasion for wrong doing. They may make
a powerful appeal TO the passions and APP
petites OF men Bot they would be utterly
futile 10 influence conduct and choice but
for the corrupt longing OF the heart The
trouble is this. James explains: "E,ery
man is tempted when he Is drawn away OF
his own lust aud enticed. Then. when lust
hath conceived. il hringcth forth sin. and
rim. when it is finished brin.eth forth
death"
But will YOU make no account OF hered.
ity| Certainly, the children OF the opdm
eater. the user OF ntoXicants, the glutton-
Gus. the lascivious. will bear i'll their en-.
fceb,ed 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 Weld weakly 70 the prorensi-
ties he has inherited and plunge deeper
into the turbd pool OF iniquity? Will it
excuse a mans bloodstained hand that no
received fiery temper from his ancestry,
and in moment OF ungoverned fury MUIR
dered his fellow?
But will You make no account of envir-
onment? Certainly. the generations rising
rom ;he sums of the great cities can
scarcely be expected to come naturally to
he virtues OF YOUR clean-faccd, church
bred boys and girls. What. then-ehall 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 ohtrude themselves upon the
scene OF public worship and private devo.
non; Is there exemption for any ore?
surely not. but in the last analysis the
temptation Is not in the enticements of
one environment. but in a heart that
lusts after evil. and which must he denied
Us desires. il good character is TO be made
Temptation TO evil. then. is matter in
which our personal moral fiber is in.
Vo.ved. Just Is III trial through suffering
our powers OF endurance are tested. What
is Your attitude toward evil: Is it one of
apo'o9y and condonement! How pcrlous,
Is it one easy familiarity? God pity YOUR
wea knees. We have a duty to ourselves
Luther used to say: I'VE cannot keen the
birds from flying around our heads. but we
can 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
10 lock the door and keep His hand upon
Il. We are the doorkeeper OF our own
souls
Nsturalists tell us that the scorpion will
never Use his sting. of which ne is exceed
ing.v careful. unless lie can find a spot on
the body of his desired victim sufficiently
soft to admit its insertion without fear Of
injury. Temptation never assails the soul
except Al vulnerable points Oar own lusts
determine the spots which the enemy
strikes
But fortunately the whole burden of re.
sisting temptation to evil does not rest
with US. Divine help is promised III any
Of you lack wisdom. let him ask Cod
Wisdom is called hv n sound writer "th,
art OF Christian conduct" That art can
he acquired OF Christ Himself. He was
TEMPTED in all roins rs we are. vet Will
o"t sin. He can and will impart the power
nt successful resistance. Moreover. there
IS snecifc promise in the premises There
hath no temptation taken Won hut such as
Is 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 4 way to escape, tina
ye may he able to bear it,"
For him that endnres there is the blessed
recompense OF the crown OF life. What the
sculptor has wrought is not to be shattered
ny the hammer OF judgment. When tie
siHp comes bounding over the stormy sea
she Is not to sink in view OF the harbo-
But after the struggles of this human lie
will come the fclicites and fitness OF tie
perfect life. May the victor's wreath lie
ours.