Evening journal., 1910-01-08

upon his word and special assistance 10 !
the feet" members of the Body of .hrist
that they may surmount the difficulties
and receive blessing instead OF injury.
It would have been sin for our Lord to
have followed the course indicated be-
cause, although not misusing the Divine
power, he would have been tempting
God to use Divine power for his deliver
ance, whereas this was unnecessary, as he
had not been called upon 20 thus hazard
his life. but rather was required TO sacri-
fee it-laying it down in the service Of the
Truth and Of humanity. our Lords an
swer was directly to the point and was
another quotation from Holy Writ: Thou
shalt not tempt the Lord thy God" in
every case Satan seems to have realized
that he was promptly and fully met by
the quotations and his temptation shown
to be contrary TO the Divine instruction.
Christs followers arc tempted along
this line also-tempted to presume on the
goodness of God and by words or acts to
place themselves in such positions as
would test or tempt God in respect to his
providential care Of them-along lines
which he has never authorized in his
Word. The wonder-working spirit is con-
trary to the spirit of humility anyway and
if gratifed would lead to spiritual pride
and egotism. God wishes his people now 10
walk by faith and not by sight"
Temptation III. Again it is unnecessary
for us to assume that there is any very
high mountain in the wilderness in which
Jesus was being tempted, for there is no
such high mountain there. Nor is there a
mountain in all the earth on whose pin
nacles all the Kingdoms Of the world
could be seen in moment In this case,
also, our Lord was mentally transported
to high mountain, to a great lofty
kingdom overlooking and overtopplng all
earthly empires. For in Bible symbology
mountain represents a Kingdom. In
brief moment Satan pictured himself TO
our Lord as the ruler of all earth's king
doms-as having the ruling empire Of
earth, controlling all empires. This is in
accord with the Scripture which declares
that Satan is the Prince of this world
(this age). and that he ''now ruleth in the
hearts OF the children Of disobedience"-
thus ruling the vast majority.
After thus picturing his own power over
the world-the power OF a usurping prince
imposing upon the ignorance and super
stition of mankind. satan's argument
paraphrsses thus: know well the object
OF your coming. and the promise that your
kingdom shall bless all the world and up
lift the willing and obedient out Of sin
and death conditions. I wish you well in
tho enterprise. deplore present conditions
myself Undertake your work of reform
in harmony with the present order of
things. If you will thus recognize me- I
will cooperate with you. You then will be
their earthly ruler, while 1, Satan. as a
sprit-being, would still control after the
manner OF an over-lord. If you take any
other course, it will bring you disappoint-
ment, scorn, defeat, shame.
Our Lords reply was. "Get thee hence
Satan; for it IS written, Thou shalt wor-
ship the Lord thy God. and him only shalt
thou serve" The temptation passed sue
cessfully, Satan withdrew and holy angels
ministered TO our Lord.
We have similar temptations in one
form or another. The temptation is, VIII
we connive with and recognize unjust
counterfeit institutions. because they have
power and because to oppose them would
imply their opposition shame and scorn
Such temptations of the Adversary may
come through political or social or rcligi-
GUS institutions, saying, serve us and we
will assist you. Those whose hearts are
loyal to the core. as was the Redeemer's.
will repulse the Adversary and dlsdain
his proffer of assistance on any terms
This great Advocate, having been tempt
ed in all these lines, is able to succor us.
Yet he waits for us to realize our needs
and to apply for succor at tho throne Of
grace, as intimated by our text.