The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1908-11-13
I Tie RUZNf
-NTeSSOSI-,-yeN\
A SERMON G>SNa ca
pY TIE REV N@sH
IAMHENDEHsNVWsaN
Subject: Temptation.


the prayer Christ taught His disci-
piles. II reveals the philosophical in
sight and the intensified acumen of
the Master. IL casts white light
upon the thoughtfulness of our Saw
iour, and not only illuminates our
understanding of the subject in hand,
but also glorifies the moral genius
and the perspicacity Of Jesus. 1t
stamps Jesus as a sage. Few things
that He ever said have differentiated
truths more finely. This declaration
and petition is sagacious, penetra-
tive. profound. 1t cuts through sin
to that which is antecedent. 1t shows
us the hand and the artifice of the
seducer, and his seductions. Ponder
the text. You will find ic central. Ii
is suggestive, superlatively iatiuen-
tial
Temptation is a subject that is
much misunderstood. Few grasp its
significance, comprehend its power,
or apprehend its fundamental rela-
tionship 10 sin. You will note that
Jesus says, Lead us not into tempta-
ton; deliver us from evil" He does
not say, Deliver us from evil, and
lead us not into temptation" The
ordering of the language is cOnsonant
with the sequence and logic OF the
thoughts the words express. Jesus
was conyersant with the general un-
intelligence concerning the place OF
temptation in the life Of man. Then
as now the multitude was more con-
cerned with overt wickedness than
with precedent thought. Then as
now men were more careful 10 keep
out OF the handouts Of the police
than TO keep their thoughts pure ana
their hearts radiant with righteous
ness. We are no better in many ways
than the men TO whom Jesus init
mately and Immediately spoke. They
didn't understand the viciousness of
temptation or think about it any more
than do we.
Temptation is subtle. ometimes
II appears to be superficial. Now ii
is an objective force. an influence
moving us from without. Again it is
subjective. a wrong desire or an evil
wish leading us, as it were, from
within.
Rut whether temptation he subtle
or superficial, subjective or objective.
whether il be a thought or a noison.
wish or a woman, temptation is
dangerous. For it holds the seeds Of
sin. And sin is godlessness. And
godlessness leadeth by the steep,
sharn wav that goes down to that
place whose paving s.ones are reputed
20 he the good intentions of careless
men
How few Of us pay any atten ion 10
subtle temptation. Most of us spurn
it when the Jail doors draw ajar or
the loss of social or religious position
is threatened. We cast Satan out
when we can see the end of tempta
tion at a glance. BIT we coddle and
cuddle the temptation mat we love 10
fonfle. We hug it to our hearts. We
stroke il and caress il. We wouldn
for the world commit the crime that
j. the offspring OF the thought. What
fools We are! Would you rub a rat
tier?
temptation is dangerous. Most dan
cerous when il is subtle. lt prepares
the road for sin. II makes ready the
heart OF man to plan and the hand
Of man to execute the will OF Satan.
It LAYS "A snare and a net. Ii is full
Of pretentious promises. IL comes
in fair array. 1t looks good. Its
'"etensions are pretences. Its prom
ises are aerial. II is we'll dressed.
But it rs all c'othes. The colors will
not stand sunlight, nor the weave in
spection. 1t looks good. But its
cart is bad. II, is as dangerous as
il was in Eden. as subtle. as cautious,
as meal} -mouthed, as disastrous.
IN the fourth cnappr Of the Gospel
according 10 St. Matthew you may
road how Jesus dealt with tempta-
ton. And reading YOU will under
and. with little thought. what was
-esus' conception OF the relation of
temptation 10 sin and why IT was
that he Taught His disciples that
temptation was the subtle antecedent
of Wickedness that faunts itself. as 1t
Is. The tempter came to Him, he
sa'd. II Thou be the Son OF God, COM
mand that tHese stones be made
bread" The devil set
--th Hin on the pinnacle Of the Tenn
lie. and saith unto Him
"ast Thyself down" Again. the
d dsviI showeth Him all the
inglows OF the world" What did
-osds do? What would we do under
III circumstances?
,osus neither parleyed nor fooled
with temptation. He dismissed the
amrter instantcr. He wasted no
words in discussion. He attempted
, compromise He didn't ask fur
-aer light or discuss the terms Of
fered. He quickly. brusquely. ener-
seticallv spurned the tempter and
the temutation. I have an idea that
II the devil hadn't gone the Christ
would have moved on. And. be-
tord. angels came and ministered un-
to Him
''rp answers OF Jesus were as In
candesctnt as they were unequivocal.
T1av wee hot. surcharged with en-
ergy in full play They were afame
with heat f1at shot light into the
nature and danger and the method
- he free of temptation's snare. And
Trey were straight. They were not
tie sort of answers we return when
the devil makes proposals 10 MS.
Tcg1s didn't toy with Satan's propo-
siticns Re didn't ask him 20 sub
wir a brief he delayed neither re-
sporss nor Judgment. he gave him
cool hearing. uTtical reply. no oppOr-
trr'ty Or occasion for rsbuttal.