Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-10

a way Of escape. There has never temp
tation come into our lives but was a way
yielded. We can look back afterward If
we are discerning and see where we might
have resisted. Why did we not do It?
But we are apt to belittle In our thoughts.
at least IL not In our words. the strength
that lies for us in prayer. 1t seems to us
strange that few words spoken to One
who is invisible can affect our ability TO
resist the devil. or can save US from temp
tation. Many who do not known God, who
have never tested His power to save, feel
that way. Perhaps 1t Is because so many
of His professed followers seem to trust so
little TO the power of prayer. Here is an
other step in the link of help for weak
souls. For In that He himself suffered
He is able" There is the proof. Our High
Priest Is able to help US, for He has been
through every form of temptation which
can possibly touch US, and moreover He has
promised that there shall no kind of temp
tation ever be allowed to test us but such
as we shall be able to resist If we choose
with His help.
Let US set those two solemn words over
against our hearts door and keep them
constantly In mind-"watch'' and pray
Applied Truth.
It was an old Hebrew law that every man
should build battlement about his house
top, because the house top was the place
upon which people sat, where friends con-
gregated, and was more used than any
room in the house. Even though the man
felt there was no need for battlement for
his own sake, because he felt he never
would go near enough to the edge to fail
off, yet for the sake of his friends or any
visitors or children who might come in he
was obliged to build a battlement for the
general safety. So 1t is the duty of every
Christian citizen to build battlement
around his own house and his own princ1-
pies If not for his own sake; If he thinks
himself safe from temptation, at least for
the sake of his neghbors. A man might
think 1t would do him no harm to take
glass of wine occasionally, but most men
know that some of their friends at least
cannot do that safely, and so for the sake
/, of their weak brothers they should compel
themselves to put the battlement of safety
about their example
In the terrible destruction that overlook
Galveston several years ago the sisters in
convent found that the only safety for the
little orphans of their charge was In flight,
so they each one bound several children by
heavy cords to their wrists and fought their
way through the danger bravely. Some were
drowned and suffered terrible deaths, but
some were got safely away. Just SO in the
flood of intemperance which has overtaken
our land, it is necessary that we should I'M
derstand that the safety of many who are
under our Influence is to be found only in
flight. We must bind them to US by every
cord of influence we can find, and struggle
with them to a place of safety. Pledges
and votes, and total abstinence, and the
rousing of public opinion and the teaching
of the children, all these are our imple-
mentS of warfare.
How to Help the Leader.
Tell some incident that has come under
your own observation or within your ex-
perience that proves that prayer will help
in time of temptation, or that total absti-
nence is tbs ealy safe rule to live by.
Parallel passages-II Peter, i:5, 6; IL
Peter, ii:9: Proverbs, ITO; Proverbs,
xxiii:20, 81; Revelation, iii:1O; Corinthians,
ix:25; Galatians, v:21-24; Isaiah. VIZ;
Ephesians, Wis; Luke xxi:34
Hints to the leader-The Endeavor Hymn
nal-32, so, 1877. 1853, 24S.
Let your main talk be about the true free
dom from sin to those who submit wholly
to God. Emphasize prayer at the close or
your talk as the main stronghold for all in
temptation. You cannot have too many
meetings on the subject of prayer and its
power. Call for Incidents of remarkable an
swer to prayer for help in temptation and
deliverance from temptation.
20 watch and pray, for thou hast foes to fight,
Foes which alone thou canst not overcome;
Watching and prayer will keep thine armor bright,
Soon will thy tolls be Ger, thy victory won''