The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-25


VINO mas seen Christ will not he found
eNpiainlhg temptation away FTc will
not deiude himself with vain hopes of
hNihS a smooth, interrupted life. lie
VIII read in the temptation of the Per
iect Life that that is Impossible for
ever Tor any man. When he is dcprcss-
ell and hungry and exhausted, he will
look for the devil as his Lord did (.
ana when lie sees him coming. when
lie hears his words and feels the de
! sire OF sin stirring III his heart. l,r Will
nor say: oh. this is nothin; hut one
stage OF my srowth"--!lc Viii rccor-
ni%e the old enemy Of his Master COM
| ing for the old battle. ana pray for his
Masters strength in the hour of tor
| riblo, inevitable struggle.
iint shall men so ON counting temp
ia'lohs' ending them ont. ana running
into them, SO thu; they may come out
glorious ANA strong? Look at Christs
temptation. There is one phrase tina,
lights up the whole story--Chrlst was
led up of The s;piri, TO he tempted OF
the devil" He had c,rtuin work. to
/
Was Ills Fathers Ills Iather's spirit
guided Him ana told Him how 10 do 1t,
r'or some reason (who but that Spirit
can say wholly what?) ii was necessary
that lie should meet the devil in tho
Wilderness. Therefore. the Spirit led
Him there, and, filed with Inc spirit
ali the time that He was there lie
came down safe and glorious we, too,
nave work. a duty. Our Father gives
1t TO ms rs His Father gave Ills tol
Jesus In doing our duty the SPIRIT,
of the Father may often lead us into
temptation, but, If He really lends US
there He will protect us there. II lie
does not lead us. IL we so OF our own
self-wiil, We have no pledge of His
protection Wo leave at the door the
Guide whose company is safety.
The first temptation is told thus
And when the tempter camc TO Him,
he said, II Thou be the Son of Cod
command that these stones be made
bread. But He answered and said 1t is
written, Man shall not live by bread
alone, but by every word that pro |
ceedeth out of the mouth OF God"
And there was the hunger gnawing ALL
the time and saving Amen TO the de- |
Wis words. :.
10 you not see what the temptation
was, and what it is forever. o, myl
dear friend, God mads these things
ana made you TO live by them. but not
by them alone. Go on: gather the iov
out of the earth and sky, out or the
bread He gives you power to win out
OF the water that lie made TO eush at |
your feet: only, when the time comes
as 1t is sure 10 come some dime, as per
maps it is TO come now-whcn in order
to speak some word out Of Ills mouth |
10 YOU some word OF duty or charity or
holiness He takes these things away. |
and you are tempted TO shut your ears
10 His word in order that Won mav
Keep these pleasant thinrs-then Won
are just where Jesus was-thc devi is .
at your car May God help you to see
Just what Jesus saw--what lie said af-
tcrward, perhaps remembering Ills own
temptation: The life is more than
meat" May lie help you to say, NO!
Nothing-not even His glfts-shall
blind or deafen me to Him. Man SHAH
not live by bread alone. but by every
word out OF the mouth of God the
blessed sacrifice OF sense 10 spirit.
DO we know anything about the sec
ond tcmptation? If ever, in any way,
tho thought OF spiritual privilege has