Salt Lake Tribune | 1910-02-07 | Page 12 | Strong Sermon by Rev. C. C. M'intire

STRONG SERMON SI REV, C. C. miTIIE Preshyterian Minister Preaches Third of Series of Sermons 1'or Men. "Christ and t ho Temptations of IMen" was the. subjeel. of the third o a series of sermons designed especially for men preached Sunday evening by tho Tfev. Charles Curtis Mijlntirc, pos-for pos-for of Ihc WoHtininsler rresbytcritm church. Tho Tfev. .Mr. iMclntiro took for his text Jsa. .x.ii., 2, "A man shall bo as a hiding place from tho wind and a covert from the Icinpcst." In part Iho speaker said: No inn n Is ever absolutely unexposed to the possibility and seductive power ol ovll. For the door leading to tho escape from temptntlon In either of Its two methods meth-ods In this life Is unalterably closed against us. On the ono hand, a man may be drawn to actual sin by enticements the enticements to gratify his lower nature, nat-ure, the enticement to use divine resources re-sources for personal ends, or the enticement en-ticement to spiritual pride, tho lost In-tlrmity In-tlrmity of noble minds; and on Iho other hand, he may bo turned aside from the path of light bv threatened or Inflicted ill. Against youth as well us ngc beat mighty drifts toward selfishness. Indulgence, Indul-gence, weakness. Impurity, worship ol things and forget fulness of God. Poverty han Its veritable storms amid ribaldry and profanity and obscenity; and prosperity lias its tempests toward worldllness, gaiety and Jove of display, all-consuming-and all-bllghtlng In their terrible effects on the soul. Tn my earlier days L used lo be In great distress of soul. at. the very presence of evil- suggestion, thinking the misconception misconcep-tion that temptation Itsolf Is sin. And I cannot, tell you my relief on discovering discover-ing that only the yielding to temptation Is sin. "It is the devil's part to sug-gesi; sug-gesi; 11 Is ours not. to consent," says Augustine. And It Is necessary for a- man to be tempted. As free moral agents It Is our highest prerogative to chooso and to make a. choice Micro must be at least two alternatives, tho evil and the good. With temptation we are brought up to that high position of Independent, manhood man-hood and are forced to make a moral decision which makes either for our development de-velopment or deterioration. Temptation Is necessary, in victory tor promotion In character, in defeat for discovery of our woaknefs, In either victory or defeat to equip us for tho strengthening of our brethren. How achieve victory? Resist, watch, pray, abldo In the hiding place from the wind, and the covert from the lempest; The mnu who. himself having suffered being tempted, is able to succor them that are tempted.