The Washington herald., 1908-03-01
A SUNDAY TALK.

And when He had called all the people unto
Him, He said unto them. Hearken unto Me. every
ono Of you. and understand. There is nothing
from without man that entering into him can
denle him; but the things which come out Of him.
those are they that dsfle the man.
st Marx. vii. iils
The doctrine expressed in the above
text. taken from the Gospel according 10
ST. Mark. is a doctrine that has appealed
with more or less force 10 the philosophers
and sages Of all ages and of most reli-
gions, but it is a doctrine that needs TO
be needed. considered, and thoroughly di-
gested by we of to-day. Mark dwelt upon
this-which might be considered largely a
question of ethics-with some emphasis,
because he was appealing through his
gospel TO the nation then most grossly
materialistic IN the world. He was
preaching to the Romans. the leaders Of
the worlds civilization. the eonquerors Of
the earth. who were arrogant in their
pride. and who had created for themselves
gods which they deemed all sufficient. II
was therefore quite necessary that be-
sides the narration OF the life and mira
cles Of Jesus Christ this apostle should
show that the humble Redeemer. the Man
who had come 20 lead the world out Of
darkness into light. was the propagandlst
Of a system of moral philosophy which
would appeal 20 even their material minds
and hearts.
And 1t is hard to conceive OF a saying
that would have a more Instant appeal
to the self-sufncient man than that:
Nothing from without can defle man;
only that which he does himself can defile
him.
1t has been true. this saying. since the
world began and man was made in the
image Of God. There is not one Of US so
ignorant but must see how truly this
has worked out in the worlds history;
how men born Of noble blood and into
fine environments have sunk. by their
own actions and deflement. into the very
gutter how, on the other hand. men born
In the gutter. keeping their minds clear
and their souls clean; pitching their ideals
high and looking always toward the God
that made them. have raised themselves
out OF the pitch that threatened 20 smear
them and have become the leaders OF men.
| That thought is a comfortable one for
every man 10 hug close TO his breast-that
through the infinite mercy OF God. our
salvation Is in or own hands The mat
| ter rests between ourselves and God
alone. Nothing from the outside can az
| feet us in the slightest degree The temp
/ tations which We see on every hand, and
which may be thought 10 assail US through
those external organs the eye. the ear.
or other senses-these have no effect AT
all unless from within the heart. with
the consent OF the soul. with the acqui-
escence Of the conscience the evil that is
dormant is called forth 20 meet tempta-
/ tlon half way
! The sins or those about US cannot de-
file US. That our neighbor Is weak and
sinful and an evil-liver should not be allow
led-cannOt be allowed-to make any differ
| ence 70 Us. Unless indeed. that difference
is for the better. that We. recognizing our
duty. try TO make him better by the force
Of fine example. high thought. and clean
/ endeavOr. and so. through our ueighbor's
weakness find additional sources Of spir-
itual strength for ourselves
Out Of the heart of man come lies and
deceit and lascivlOusness and all things
that deifle a man. Unless these things
come from the heart they are outside OF
n man and may not touch him unless he
is willing. Always the power IS given 70
us 10 say. Get thee behind me, Satan. ="
and II We will bat say it and mean IT, re-
solving to live clean and honest lives we
shall find that God. who never tests our
strength beyond the breaking point. IS
eternally on our side. and that we are
bound 70 conquer evil In the end