Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1921-12-07

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oL Chrt>,.,.. ",."s which comes into
view In this Scrlpture-"Count 1t all
JOY when ye fall into manifold temptu-
| tions."
The word temptation" means trial
or testing. 1t Is Il test OF character
not an incitement to wrongdoing
sometimes these tcStings are unlocked
lof, so that we are said ito fall" into
them. They are "mnnifld." This
| refers TO their variety rather than
the1r number. They are many sided.
many colorcd; some severe, others
mild, some prolonged, others brief.
| Thcy give occasion for every sort Of
JOY. This is the literal meaning of
the words "all joy" We arc to count
1t every sort of JOY when we "fnil into
these manifold temptations"
But how can we do this? Only by
knowing that the test patiently ell.
durcd will lead to n great triumph the
triumph of faith and Of strong en-.
during character which Is the result
of faith.
Faith Is the most precious and pow.
| erful thing In the world. It's educa.
tion is Of untold Importance. A re-
turned missionary from Tibet recently
said in public address, "God is look.
| Ing everywhere for men and women
who will trust Him." Trust Is devel-
| oped through trial. Under divine di.
rectiOn, Moses led the Israelltes to
| the Red sea that they might learn In
experience the power of God to save,
and that their trust In Him might be
strengthened. Jesus took His disciples
! into storm that through the test
| they might learn to trust, because OF
| the experimental knowledge Of His
| power to deliver.
Every trial Is trial Of faith We
never fail till we fail inside. Every
outward yielding Is the expression
and result Of surrender within. The
trial Of faith Is declared to lie much
more precious than gold that perish.
eth. Gold Is the standard Of value in
| the world Of men and affairs, hut in
! the higher realm Of spirit and char.
acter. faith is the standard, the faith
| that endures. From This springs every
noble and Christlikc quality.
All the New Testament writer's push
into prominence this point of view.
awe glory in tribulations," says Paul,
because they produce in us patience,
steadfastness and hope. These are
| Christlike qualities, the flower of
Christian character. the possession Of
which constitutes the triumph which
makes all the tests worth while. When
| we become Christians, new life from
above is Impaired to us. Every Christ.
| like and gracious quality Is enfolded
| In this new life, even as the oak tree
| Is wrapped up in the acorn. The un-
folding and development Of this life
Is the one big outstanding problem
confronting lis. Without the manifold
temptations, the new life would be
| dwarfed and stunted. Because OF
their operation and result, the life is
perfected, SO that where patience has
her perfect work the life stands "per.
feet and entire, wanting nothing"
Somehow the Christian life develops
best under adversely. All sunshine
makes the desert. Life needs clouds
In order to have glorious sunset.
Another factor entering into the
triumph emanating from the manifold
| tCluplu(lOIlo ID luC u cnJOy
which those have who patiently en-.
dure the sufferings Of this present
time. They will best be able to enjoy
the glOrics that shall be revealed In u.s.
SO then, there IS reason to count 1t
all JOY when ye fall into manifold
temptations, knowing that the trial Of
your faith worketh patience" This is
not mere passive submission, but rath-
| er endurance. It Is the faith that does
not shrink, the perseverance that does
| not fnlter under burdens. When this
sort Of patience Is permitted to have
perfect work, perfection Of life and
character is reached, and this is the
triumph that makes all endurance
worth while and enables us to count II
every sSrt Of Joy when we "fall into
manifold temptations" 1t Is possible
to hinder this triumph unless the hui
man will co-operates with the divine
purpose. There Is grace enough for
this also, so that sufferings may be
borne joyously as well as submissively.