The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-01-18
cRY wIILIAM 7. ELLIs.)

definite problems demanding % IL, -
solution, as in TINS ear et -I--,- -
1918 We have analysed, inter "a =
and labelled our problems, fdA5lIi5
them IN long and Iormld4oIe arr! i
There is the cOmprehenslNe SocLe-
probfern the vice problem, tne HquoI
propIern. the housing problem the
I'd by-saving problem, the PIt9oH
problem, the drug problem, OF q nun nun
ured more Eacn mas Its specialists
ana each its own legion OF ser ans
[ybey ys-e. run to the root OF all the
probTaus We find that the greatest
and least Of them are alike spelled eIe-
mentally in three 1etterS-S-l-n- some
times this root sin is black and gross.
sometimes il is in the potter Earp OF
scfffshuess Always and every" hel
the problem of problems is this otraa-
mental one of the moral oOIl4ultS
called sin -
taIk about sin That little word was
oeteuer used in an Older Jay re
modern mode IS 10 SPEAK OF sarI.,r-.
c-ies- and environment ana SiIvl
~ incredibly and deficiency anu
..ahnornaIitv'' We have new HhSo'
h4It the thing itself remains as OF EoIe.
In his heart of hearts every nohe9S
person knows that SIN Is ~
present and basic fact in the ne OF
~ +frne as of all times, and that All
otber rrobIenls wait for their solution
71Don this one underlying proplerh u
sin
The Test in The Garden
\ NTH >, "a fable" cries one con-
corning the story of the first tempta-
ton. Whatever the literary construc-
ton Of the old story, we know II 70
be the history OF great Ied-LtSi
Whether the temptation was enacted
thousands of years ago IN an aSluai
GARDEN with an actual serpent SPEAK
ing. matters little when We reallze
that the same tragedy was enacted
only yesterday within our own cIlcIe'
and that il is the most real anu PEE
ent experience of many person VINO
reads these words
IN the garden of life there needs
must be a tree OF Wnlcn man my ~, No
eat That is the test of his mannood-
The ability to deny himself, and TO
obey a higher law than mere desire Is i
the proof OF mans descent from SOW
ereign God. The animals take what
thew want If they can get IL Man
alone remembers in his hour of power
and liberty Thou shalt not
Without moral law paradLse
would be a garden of death me
highest tribute paid by the Creator u
mortal is that He has implanted with |
in him the divine quality of sovereign
will. Only the silly and the snalIo"
sigh for q sinIess man in tempIa-
+fonIess world such a life would be /
..ss idle as painted ship upon a I
PAINTED ocean It would make OF
man mere automaton. a manlkln, /
such as we buy at holiday season IN !
the tow stores For the image of the
divine in the human is revealed by the /
ability TO choose between good arr
evil. That is the highest truth about /
man He can fall TO lowest depths; |
he can rise to Hottest heights
The Devil in Paradise
The vogue of our day curls its lip I
at the thought of the devil IN the
Garden of Eden. It is distinctly bad
form to believe in Satan-wOrse bad
form. the cyuic might observe, than
10 obey him. A personal devil is /
odious to some of Us, who nevertne-
less find ourselves capable or very
devilish thinking and doing We DO
not realize that we are impaled upon
the other horn of the dilemma, which
is that if there is not a power out
side of ourselves. walking amidst all
life and making for whatsoever
things are evil then we humans must
in our own nature possess a diaboH-
cal capacity OF aspect Given
choice between a devil apart from
humanity. and a humanity that is
potentially devilish, 1 vote for the
oId-fashioned Scripture teaching.
that there is an actual arch-eneny
of man and of God, who has urged
his besetments upon the human race
since the beginning
Social service of the world, TO be
and constructiveIy effec-
tive, must needs strike at breaking
the power of that old serpent, Satan
y few days ago we read in the news
papers that in revival in west
ern PennsyIva MIA city. the mayor had
become converted, and had undertake
en- TO break the power of crime in /
his community. The evidence is I'M
disputed that here. as in hundreds of
other communities, a revival of
Righteousness and a cleansing OF the
hearts of individual men and worn-
he nT he
tween man and Satan. has done more
for the neighborhood than any
amount of social legislation
The preacher. the teacher, the par
ent. the writer and all the other ser
wants of the gospel who would erect
in the hearts of men the sovereign
power of Christ. thus breaking the
sway of Satan, are serving their
world in the most practical manner
possible \ friend who has recently
sin has long held shameless sway.
told me that thousands OF the best
people are moving from the COM
and that real estate and other
values have suffered terrificaIly. sim
ply because the forces of evil control
the town. Goodness is always prof
liable in the long run; sin never is
.@Ye Shall Be as Gods
Caesars slave whispered in his
ear. Remember that thou are a
man. The old Roman ruler was
tempted to believe himself more than
and took this rather ostenta-
rioyls means of keeping himself hum /
be SuboTdination must always &C
company exaItation- Man was made !
sovereign in the garden, ruler of the
world and all that II held; but he
was made subject to God The tempta-
ton suggested to Eve by the serpent
vas that she should become equal
with God, by eating of the fruit of
the tree of knowledge The inter /
esting implication is that the lengths
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