The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-01
BISHOP CANDLER
 ID THE GRADUATES
Urges Young Men to Resist
 Temptation
HAVE FIRM TRUST IN GOD
Commencement Sermon to the Senior Class of Birmingham College De- llvered at the First Methodist
 Church-Christ's Life.

Bishop ". A. Candler of Atlanta preached the commencement sermon to the graduating class of Birmingham col lege at the First Methodist church yes terday morning. He took his text from chapter of the gospel according to St. Matthew, his subject being, 'Tempta- tion." He used as an illustration the devils temptation of Christ in the will derness after He had lasted 10 days. The sermon In part was as follows:
 Young men, especially when away from home, are confronted by a great many temptations. When at college they are likely to fall in with bad companions who in some cases will lead them away from their accustomed paths and teach them to drink or to gamble or both. How ever, do not mean to say that a young man meets temptation only at college. Wherever there are men there is temp tation. We read in the scriptures how Adam was tempted by the serpent. We read how Christ was sorely tried in the wilderness. The difference between them was that Adam fell and made desert of paradise. Christ said, Get thee be- hind me, Satan, and with these words made paradise out of a desert.
 When Christ was led into the wilder ness to be tempted by the devil, he had already lasted 40 days and nights. This the devil knew, and the first thing that he said unto Him was, If thou be the Son of God. command that these stones be made bread Then Christ replied unto him, Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God The worldly man of today would not only have made bread but would have made many other things to eat out of the stones if he had the power that Christ had. Christ had rather have been hungry and loyal to God than well fed, and a rebel to Gods authority. We know that Christ had the power 10 make bread from the stones, for He turned water into wine and also took three loaves and fishes from poor boy and with them fed a multitude How ever, Jesus knew that His power was not to be used for His personal benefit, but to spread the gospel throughout the land.
 Wanted Sign of Christ.
 What the devil wanted was a sign of Christ. He wished that Jesus would turn the stones into bread and in that way prove that He was the Son of God. There are men today, yes, great num-
 Der of them, that are unwilling to be- 1iara fr,
 miracle performed that will assure them of His existence. What better sign does man wish than the existence of the uni verse? God asserts His presence in everything. When look out at the stars at night and view the vast expanse of darkness. dotted here and there with tiny sparks, each some world like ours, I cannot help feeling the truth in the lines, The heavens declare the glory of God, and the Armament sheweth His handiwork.' Man cannot live without God. No matter what worldly posses sions you have if you do not have the spiritual element within you you are worthless. It Is through God that we are enabled to overcome the obstacles and temptations that confront us in every day life.
 There are men who say that this century Is not suited to obedience to all of Gods laws. They say that If a man insists on making money righteously or not at all he will not be able to live These are the words of a worldly wise man, and I have no sympathy with a man who believes in this way There have been centuries before this twen- teth century, and God-fearing men have prospered, and they will continue to pros per in this century and in the ones yet to come.
 Have Firm Trust In God.
 Young men, I know that you have been subjected to temptations in your l lives and I know that you have overcome l some of them. I myself went to college | In my boyhood, and I know how you 1 think of the world that now lies before l your You are filled with thoughts of | what you are going to do and how well 1 you are going to succeed Thoughts of
 God occupy second place in your mind. 1 o God, open their eyes and let them l Sec! Just years dSo. l | have seen two generations come and eo
 and I want to say to you that never in 1 my life have I ever found the time when firm trust in God would hurt a man. l And now in closing let me say lc l you these words: When you leave your l college walls to go out into the greater 1 world that lies beyond you wilk be con- 1 fronted with a great many temptations Many obstacles will loom up before you
 and sometimes you will feel that you must yield When these thoughts strike 1 you, call up before your eye the picture ] of Christ being tempted in the wilder
 ness, and. like Him, say, Get thee be- | hind me, Satan Put firm trust in God l md at ipaas lf