Norwich bulletin., 1913-12-10
MEET TEMPTATION WITH
 THE ARMoR OF GOD. Rev. J. B. Siocum, D. D., Presents Stirring Message at Shop Talk.


 Rev Joel B. slocun. D. D., of the 1 Central Baptist church was the speak CT at the |. Al C. A. meeting at the 1 cutlery at ThamesVille Tuesday noon, i His subject was Temptation Solos i were rendered by Mrs Charles T. | Bard.
 The speaker began by referring to 1 the universally ot temptation Even l Jesus himself was not excepted. An5 1 the appeal that was made to Him was i a real temptation, because at first rt 1 seemed so reasonable. Why not turn 1 stones to bread? He had the power to 1 do il. and He was hungry. why not l cast Himself down unhurt from the l temple tower and receive the wonder l ing plaudits of the multitude? He l could do it. and it would add to His 1 popularity Why not recognize satan | and DOW down in acknowledgment Cf ] his supremacy? It would be easy thus ] to compromise and So avoid the cross 1 and the long centuries of slow waiting 1 for the coming of the kingdom. But ! this series of temptations was re- i pulsed, and Jesus turned upon the i prince of evil with these unansWerabl3 , i words Man shall not live by breaC ! alone, but by every word that proceed 1 eth out of the mouth of God" In other ] words. mans comfort is not always compatible with Gods plans, and mans selfish desires are not nearly so i'm l portant as the majestic purposes 0 God. It isn't necessary that man should always have things pleasant, { 1 is necessary that lie should always be right with his fellowmen and true tp
 the will of God.
 Temptation Not Irresistible. Though temptation is universal it is not irresistible. Though the enemy may come in like a flood. the Spirit Of hp l nrH will sta da Yd o..1i S.l him. The white gloved policeman standing in the currents of the city $ life lifts up his hand and the great stream of traffic stops. So Jesus, hay 1 ing learned in His own human body what temptation is, knows how to sympathize with every tempted s1le. When the enemy of our soul dashcs against us like an infuriated wild beas seeking our destruction, the uncOn querable Christ lifts His hand and the evil thing covers at the feet of his Master Paul writing to the Corinth- ianS says: There is no temptation talk en you but such as man can bear; but God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, but will with the temptation make als., the way of escape, that ye may be able to endure it. These encouraging words follow a sharp warning: Wherefore, let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.'' No man should allow himself a braggart in respect to his ability to stand against the WileS of the devil. Every person who has gone down before the power of temp tation ought to have less confidence in himself and put more reliance in Christ
 There are people who add to their responsibility by tempting others. Not only do they themselves fall but they straightaWay become enliSSafieS for the downfall of others. It is a well known fact that in the awful white slave trade those who become slaves readily undertake the terrible business of ensiaNing others; and so the sOul- destroying business continues This kind of evil is so akin to the methods of satan that it would be impossible to find @ more dangerous situation for the human soul. There are people Wh1 might thus attempt to lessen the blackness of their own guilt.
 PauPs Defense.
 How are we to successfully with stand temptation? Paul, accustomed to draw many of his illustrations from the frequent opportunities he had O. observing armies and armed men, sug- gests that there is a complete equip ment awaiting every man who will ! avail himself of it: A girdle of truth; a breastplate of righteousness; shoes
 
 of faith, and the helmet of salvation. With such an armor as this he can stand in the evil day
 Dr. Slocum spoke somewhat in de- tail concerning these five defensive parts of the Christians armor and tn sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God, the sixth part, which is thesi only weapon of aggressive, offensive spiritual warfare mentioned by the apostle in this military order. He brought his talk to a conclusion in aG i appeal to the men to put on this ar mor not merely that they themselves 1 may resist temptation, but that they may engage in the glorious campaign of assisting others to overcome theirs. 1 In this appeal Jesus Christ was pre- sented as the only royal way by which l testings and temptations can be met. l