The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1908-11-05
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A SERMON %]sa aAs
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Subject: Temptation.
Subject: Temptation.


the prayer Christ taught His disci-
pies. II reveals the philosophical in
sight and the intensified acumen of
the Master. IL casts a white light
upon the thoughtfulness of our Saw
four. and not only illuminates our
understanding of the subject In hand
but also glorifies the moral genius
and the perspicacity Of Jesus. It
stamps Jesus as 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. II shows
us the hand and the artifce of the
seducer, and HIS seductions. Ponder
the text. You will find it central 1t
is suggestive, superlatively inAuen-
tial.
Temptation is subject that is
much misunderstood. Few grasp its
significance, comprehend its power.
or apprehend its fundamental rela-
tionship to 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 conversant with the general un-
intelligence concerning the place of
temptation in the life of man. Then
as now the multitude was more con-
cefned with overt wickedness than
with precedent thought. Then as
now men were more careful to keep
out of the handouts of the police
than TO keep their thoughts pure and
their hearts radiant with righteous
ness. We are no better in many ways
than the men to whom Jesus inti-
mately and Immediately spoke. They
didn't understand the viciousness Of
temptation or think about It any more
than do we.
Temptation is subtle. Sometimes
1t appears to be superficial. Now it
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.
But whether temptation be subtle
or superficial, subjective or objective,
whether it be a thought or a poison.
q wish or a woman, temptation is
dangerous. For it holds the seeds of
sin. And sin Is godlessness. And
godlessness leadeth by the steep,
sharp way that goes down to that
place whose paving stones are reputed
to be the good intentions OF careless
men.
How few of us pay any attention to
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 empta-
ton at a glance. But we coddle and
cuddle the temptation that we love 10
fondle We hug 1t to our hearts. We
stroke it and caress 1t. We wouldn't
for the world commit the crime that
IS the offspring of the thought. What
fools we are! Would you rub rat
tier?
Temptation is dangerous Most dan
gerous when it Is subtle. IL prepares
the road for sin. 1t makes ready the
heart of man to plan and the hand
of man to execute the will OF Satan.
1t lays a snare and net. Il is full
of pretentious promises. 1t comes
in fair array. 1t looks good. Its
pretensions are pretences. Its prom
Uses are aerial. It IS well dressed
But 1t is all clothes. The colors will
not stand sunlight, nor the weave in
spection 1t looks good. But its
heart Is bad. 1t is as dangerous as
it was in Eden. as subtle, as cautious,
as mealy-mouthed, as disastrous.
In the fourth ehaper of the Gospel
according to st. Matthew yoI may
read how Jesus dealt with tempta-
tion. And reading you will under
stand, with a little thought, wha5 was
Jesus conception of the relation OF
HnHf -fHa Ia Hr
that He taught His disciples that
temptation was the subtle antecedent
Of Wickedness that haunts itself, as II
is. The tempter came TO Hin, he
said. If Thou be the Son Of God COM
mand that these stones be mads
bread" "The devil set.
teth Him on the pinnacle Of the TEN,
pie, and saith unto Him
Cast Thyself down" Again. the
devil showeth Him all the
kingdoms Of the world" What did
Jesus do? What would We do under
like circumstances?
Jesus neither parleyed nor fooled
with temptation. He dismissed the
tsm7ter instanter. He wasted no
words in discussion. He attempted
no compromise. He didn'r asS fur
ther light or discuss the terms Of.
Tered He quickly. brusquely, ener-
Cetically spurned the tempter and
the temptation. I have an idea that
if the devil hadn't gone the Christ
would have moved on. And. be-
hold. angels came and ministered un-
10 Him"
The answers OF Jesus were as In.
candescent as they we're unequlyocal.
They we're hot, surcharged with en-
orgy In full play. They were afame
with a heat that shot light into the
nature and danger and the method
10 be free OF temptations snare. And
they we're straight They were not
The sort of answers we return when
the devil makes proposals to us.
Jesus didn't toy with Satans propo-
sitlons He didn't ask him to sub
NIT a brief He delayed neither re-
sponse nor judgment. He gave him
cool hearing, urtical reply, no oppor-
tunity or occasion for rebuttal.
How otherwise we do. Tempta-
tlon finds US willing, yoluble, inyit-
ing. What sin cannot do tempta-
lion does. For the sin we do the
temptation TO which we have YIELD
I'd is responsible. What wind is to
The moving boat and sails, coal to
the locomotive, and heat. gasoline and
associated planes to the aeronaut,
similarly temptation is to sin. Know-
ing this II Is not wise to parley with
tempters or temptation. Jesus didn't
discuss Satan's propositions, for dis
~ussion would have implied the right
" Satan to be heard. II would have