out of temptation." The faithfulness of a true and unchanging God is the anchor by which the tempted shall ride out the fiercest storm. 2. God effects this by the instru- mentality of his Word. This is" the sword of the Spirit." \\'hen Jesus was beset by; the adversary, he warded off every thrust by the power of the Scripture. 3. God' encourages his people to call upon him in the day of trial. The sentry does not. advance to meet the approaching foe; he falls back, and gives warning to the, garrison and the commander. So, when tempted, should we arise and call upon our God. III. TEMPTATION IS ITSELF TEMPERED BY A~ OVERRULING PROVIDENCE, It shall not exceed our powers of endurance and resistance. It may be subtle; it may be sudden; yet the watchful, prayerful soul shall repel and overcome. The dart which would 1 pierce the unarmed falls broken from the coat of mail; the flaming torch, which would explode the powder did it fall into a powder magazine, drops harmless into a pool of water; and the Ruler of all can both moderate the force of the onset and impart strengt.!1 to stand in the evil day. IV. TEMPTATION IS, IN THE CASE OF Goo's PEOPLE, ACCOMPANIED BY A ME.U,S 01!" ESCAPE. 'l'he same God who delivered Daniel from the lions' den, and Peter from the prison, makes a path of safety for all who trust in him. 'l'he experience of every Christian verifies this assurance. The story of the soul is the same as the story of the, Church; dangers and distresses ever recur, but they ever afford to the Divine Lord an. opportunity for revealing his compassion, and for effocting an interposition and securing a deliverance. It is only when Uhrist's followers have entered the gates of heaven that they will be beyond the reach of the tempter's arm.-T. Ver. 15.-Thejudgment of the wise. 'l'he apostle, being specially and divinely inspired, claimed to have authority in the Church of Christ. Yet it is observable that he did not require an unintelligent and unreasoning assent to his doctrine and counsel. If his words were true and right, he had the reason and the conscience of the rational and the Rpiritual upon his side. Hence the frankness and fearlessness of his appeal. If Paul took such a position, his language may well be adopted by teachers and preachers of Christianity, who, whatever their abilities, piety, and zeal, do not profess to enjoy the special and supernatural guidance vouchsafed to an apostle. J. 'l'HE SPIIlIT AND METHOD PROPER TO THE CHRISTIAN PREACHER AND TEACHER. 1. He should not speak ns to the ignorance of the ignorant, ns if his aim were to tnke advantage of, to impose upon, persons whose slender knowledge, ability, and opportunities incapa- citated and forbade them to receive and appreciate the truth. 2. He should not address himself to the credulity and superstition of men; for there are too many who are con- tent to believe upon the authority of man, when they ought to inqnire with regard to. what comes to them whether it comes with the authority of truth, of God. 3. He should not appeal to the sellisb interests or the sellish fears of men ; for these are methods which are certain to produce an immediate and powerful effect, but are unlikely to work real good. 4. But he should speak as unto wise men, inviting their atteution and inquiries. Christ and his apostles proceeded upon this method; they appealed to the thoughtfulness, the conscience, the right feelings of those whom they addressed. Compare the language of Scripture with that of arrogant priests, of domineering pastors, of superficial revivalists; and what is the result of the comparison? It is to produce the impression-How just, temperate, thoughtful, reasonable, convincing, per- suasive, are the arguments, exposition~, anrl appeals of Scripture! II. TEE SPIRIT AND lllETH0D PROPER TO HEARERS AND READERS OF THE WoRD. 1. Let them cultivate wisdom; for it is to wise meu that the ·word of Goel is addressed. Ju the Old 'l'estnment, especially in the Proverbs, there aro innumernble eulogies of wisdom, nnd the sons of men are entreated to listen to the voice of wisdom, to cherish, seek, and pray for it. And in the New Testament, our Lord's discourses evince the same appreciation of this quality of mind. Christ commends the wise man who built his house upon the rock, the wise virgins who took oil in their vessels, the wise and faithful servant who did his Lord's will, the disciples who are wise as serpents. Not a pretentious and proud spirit, but the wisdom of humility, is the preparation for the kingdom; the wise of this world, the wise in their own conceit, are not in the way for the blessing. 2. Let them judge the religious teaching they receive. 'l'his admouilion 343 THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. [cH. x.1-33.
of St. Pau~'s i~ a cor,y of that of Christ ~i!11self: ." Why even of yourselves judge ye not what 1s nght? It was an admomt10n which the apostle seems often to have repeated: "Prove all ,hings;" "Judge ye if it is not unse"mly," etc.; "'Ne who are spiritual judge all things." There is abundant material for judcrincr, in nature and in revelation; there are ci-nons and counsels of judgment which all ~ay use; and each Christian has a certain ability and opportunity to judge for himself. Happily the most really iIDJ?ortant matters .i.re the least difficult to judge. 3. Let them judge with a view to practical conduct and under a constant sense of responsibility. \Ve are not called upon to judge other men, but to judge of what relates to our duty as followers of Christ Jesus. 'l'he quest.ions for 1;1s_ to decide are questions of pressing moment for ourselves. The respons1b1hty of dec1dmg such questions cannot be shifted from our shoulders to those of others. The messenger and minister of Christ speaks as unto wise men; as wise men let the hearers of the ·word hear, judge, and act.-T.