The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1910-02-07

men was the largest which has been
collected for some time, and the
meeting was in many respects the
most enthusiastic. Dr. w. j. Dawson,
the London evangelist, was i'm charge
OF the service and addressed the men
upon the theme, MEMS Tempta-
| tions.' Rev. B. +. Griffith was in
| charge of the song service.
The subject of temptation was thor
oughly gone over by the evangelist,
and his talk was of such an interest
| ing nature that he was heard with the
keenest attention. He took as his text
Corinthians 1913. "Thcre hath no
temptation taken you but such as is
common to men; but God who will
not suffer you to be tempted above
that which you are able; but with the
temptation also will make q way OF
escape, that you may be able to bear
it,"
The subject is one of which all men
know something and of which many
men know u gread deal. Men are
naturally tempted. even as Jesus
| Christ was tempted. on the noun
tain, the evil spirit came to the Mas
ter and tempted him and asked him
| to turn the stones into bread i'm order
that he might have something to eat.
He tempted the Master to do some-
| thing which would benefit himself
| Christ never did n miracle for him
self: 1t was always for other people.
| Just so the devil today Is tempting
men to work for selfish ends, to work
for their own benefit and to gain ev-
erything for themselves with no eye
toward the welfare of others. Christ
was also tempted by the devil to gain
the world. The devil with n lying
tongue, declared that the world had
been delivered unto him, and that he
would give IL to Jesus if he would fol-
low him. Christ answered, saying
that man could not live by bread
alone. lie cannot live on mere earth
ry things, he must gain something of
the spiritual things. Again, men to-
day are tempted as Christ was TO gain
the world, but they cannot live on
worldly things alone: they must have
some love, some religion and some
hope for the future. Christ was al
ways tempted even on the cross and
not until he had dice was he through
with temptation.
say that they could be better Chris
tians If II were not that they were
tempted so. DR.. Dawson answered
this argument of many men by say
Ing that it lis only the coward who
wishes all of the glory and who does
not wish to see the battle. Men who
would be good Christians must be able
to resist temptations It Is a neces-
sary part of life. Many men would
be better Christians today If they had
learned to overcome temptation. What
temptation has been borne can be
borne again and men can resist evil
Paul told the Corinthians I'm the text
that God would not let men be tempt
ed more than they could bear. He
holds the devil in check. The devil
OF John Milton Is not the one OF the
Bible for his is lighting warrior who
almost wins the fight against God
But the devil of the Bible is sly
creature, who is very modest and goes
about doing evil. He is held in sub
lection, and he dare not come too
far into the presence of God.
There is also a means of escape II
men really want to escape. There are
some men who wilfully do not want
to escape temptation and God can
never save these people. Men who
are subject to drink, evil tempers and
passions may overcome them by com
ing to Christ who is the means of es-
cape.
At the close of the service, n num-
ber of men asked for prayer and
showed their intention of living the
christian life.
DR.. Dawson's theme for the even
ing was "Thc Unavoidable Christ" AND
he told how Jesus comes when He Is |
not expected and although the doors
of the human heart are closed he |
makes his entrance. In business life |
II Is true. Men cannot do wrong
without Christ being near them and
they soon realize IT,. In the pleas. |
ures of life II is again true for when |
the evil pleasures are endulged In,
Christ appears and reproaches them. |
The speaker told of the story of
Peter as told i'm QUO Vadis.' He had |
left Rome for fear that a persecution
was about to break out. AS he made
his way from the city in order to
avoid the persecution he saw the vi
sion of Christ when he thought no one
was looking, and he was told that
Christ was again returning to Rome
10 be recrucihed. lie was compelled
to see Jesus when he did not want
to see him.
All men have asked themselves who
they are, what they are and what
their destination is and when they
have serious thoughts they will think
about Il. When the doors are closed
against God they will think about
Christ, for they cannot think about
without thinking of Christ
He is the unavoidable Christ. The
nan who has acepsed Christ knows
we'll what he is and what his desti-
nation is to be and he Is at peace.
At the service last evening. DR..
DAWSON announced that he would |
peak upon some special themes dur
ng the afternoon meetings this week
Two overflow meetings In the First
and at st. Paul's Eplsco-
nal churches and one great meeting
It Epworth NJ T.. church were held
sunday evening, DR.. w. j. Dawson
vas tho aneakpr of the eyenIna all