Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1908-11-05
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A SERMON [2&aH4
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Subject: Temptation.

the prayer Christ taught His disci-
pies. 1t reveals the philosophical In
sight and the intensified acumen of
the Master. 1t casts white light
upon the thoughtfulness of our Saw
Jour, and not only Eliminates 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 artiflce of the
seducer, and his seductions. Ponder
the text. You will find 1t central. 1t
is suggestive, superlatively 1nfuen-
tial.
Temptation is a subject that Is
much misunderstood. Few grasp Its
significance, comprehend its power,
or apprehend it's 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-
cerned 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 init
mately and Immediately spoke. They
didn't understand the viciousness OF
temptation or think about 1t 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, wrong desire or an evil
wish leading us, as 1t were, from
within.
But whether temptation be subtle
or superficial, subjective or objective,
whether it be thought or a poison,
a wish or 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
10 foy ~ OF Mnct nf
1t when the jail doors draw ajar or
the loss of social or religious position
Is threatened. We cast Satan cut
when we can see the end OF tempta-
ton at a glance. But we coddle and
cuddle the temptation that we love to
fondle We hug it to our hearts. We
stroke it and caress it. We wouldn't
for the world commit the crime that
is the offspring of the thought. What
fools we are! Would you rub a rat
tier?
Temptation is dangerous. Most dan
gerous when it is subtle. 1t 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 snare and net. 1t is full
of pretentious promises. 1t comes
in fair array. 1t looks good. Its
preteDsions are pretences. It's prom
ises are aerial 1t is well dressed.
But it 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- as disastrous.
In the fourth chaper of the Gospel
according to st. Matthew you may
read how Jesus dealt with tempta
ton. And reading you will under
stand, with little thought, what was
Jesus conception of the relation OF
temptation to sin and why it was
that He taught His disciples that
temptation was the subtle antecedent
of wickedness that faunts itself, as it
is. The tempter came to Him, he
said. If Thou be the Son of God, COM
mand that these stones be made
bread" THE devil set.
teth Him on the pinnacle of the Tenn.
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 parleycd nor fooled
with temptation. He dismissed the
tempter instanter. He wasted no
words in discussion. He attempted
no compromise. He didn't ask fur.
Their light or discuss the terms Of
fered He quickly, brusquely. ener.
getically spurned the teriptcr and
the temptation. have an idea that
If the devil hadn't gone the Christ
would have moved on. And, be-
hold, angels came and miEistered un.
to Him."
The answers of Jesus were as in
candescent as they were unequivocal.
They were hot, surcharged with en-
ergy in full play. They were afame
with heat that SHOT light into the
nature and danger and the method
to be free of temptations snare. And
they were straight. They were not
the sort of answers we return VIII 2n
the devil makes proposals to lis.
Jesus didn't toy with Satan's propo.
sitions. He didn't ask him to sub
nit a brief. He delayed neither re-
Spouse nor Judgment. He gave him
cool hearing, urtical reply. no oppOr-
tunity or occasion for rebuttal.
How otherwise we do. Temrta-
ton finds Us willing, voluble, invit-
ing. What sin cannot do tempta-
ton does. For the sin we do the
temptation to which we have yield
cd 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 it is not wise to parley with
tempters or temptation. Jesus didn't
discuss Satan's propositiG's, for dis
cussion would have implied The right
If Satan to be heard. 1t would have
given him privilege in court. Jesus
saw that discussion would be dis
obedience, argument confession,
lebate damaging.