Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-17

pen If the new Prophet of whose glory
John had so recently testified should cast
Himself from off the temple parapet and
float. uninjured, to the court below.
The loud acclaim that would follow such
spectacle. would reach the limits OF the
Jewish world, and men would come to see
this wonder worker. He would have hon.
age and an instant following. He had not
come for this; angels had paid Him hon.
age when He sat beside His Father, at
the court of heaven, now He must win by
way Of truth and sacrifice; three years of
teaching and a cruel cross, these must
be chosen, rather than a spectacular ac-
ceptance by this uninstructed race.
The test is much the same in David 8
case: Saul would equip him with his gilt
tering mail, to impress the enemy with
his look of prowess. But David knows the
folly Of all this: knows that the glittering
mail will make no wounds upon the
enemy, and casts these tools Of folly from
slay with the base weapon Of a shepherd
boy the aImored Philistine.
The lesson TO be learned seems all too
plain for comment; but three simple
thoughts arise to AK the lesson firmly in
our thought.
i. THE LURE OF THE SPECTAC-
CLAR.-Greater than passions cry, or
the appeal OF appetite in all it's varying
forms. is the vain tendency to make dis
play Pride, vanity, ostentation, love of
praise catch men by hundreds who
would scorn to yield to grosser vices har-
bored in the flesh.
Who that has felt temptation in this
form and turned away. can ever doubt
the fascination of its promises or measure
the grace required to overcome?
II. THE WEAKNESS OF VANITY
AND PRIDE.--Who wins the world at
tention or his present ends by means m
volving self-assertion. vanity or pride
must hold that same attention with new
tricks. new mannerisms. new display,
and nothing dullS the edge of sterling
power or renders genius laughable like
love Of petty, trivial vanities.
III THE PATH TO POW ER.-Jesus,
our Master and example. using the honor
81 -~,n of Code --o~@ ""nf-''N~"d tie
evil Offering OF the adversary of our souls
baN.u, IA slm,,ie 1a.- %,o t'h- =
cried "Who is this PhiiiStine. that he
should defy the armies of the living
Godr' went TO his victory shamefully at
tired his weapons faith and poor shep-
herds sling: yet came he back to hear
the praise Of men-greater because OF MS
humility.
The path to power lies in humility and
faith and the remuneration OF that vain
display which seeks for plaudits al the
hands of men and feeds on human praise
We tempt Jehovah when We misuse the
power given for holy uses at our hands.
He will not bless us If we dare obtrude
ourselves or seek for recognition from
the throng.
II Jesus had assumed to cast Himself
at Satan's bidding from that parapet
His usefulness to great Jehovah and to
sinful man would have expired upon the
pavement of that temple court. Had Da-
yid trusted 10 a coat Of mail. Haunted
spear or fiourished SauPs keen blade a
different story would have graced the
page where now his exploits have such
fair renOwn
First to our flesh the tempter comes
Rebuffed, he tries to catch us through
our pride. Failing in this, he has another
shaft Next week we hear Of 1.-THE final
test of mans fidelity. But from this les
son which we have today may We not
hear and heed, az Wesley sings:
Save from pride-the plague expelt
Jesus, thine humble self inpart:
Oh. let Thy mind within dwell;
Oh. give me lowliness OF heart.