Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1894-10-12

Be faithful, though you stand as
much alone as did Lot in Sodom, or
jeremiah in Jerusalem, or Jonah in
Nineveh, or Hadassah in the court OF
Ahasuorus. Thorc are trees which grow
the best when their roots clutch among
the Jagged rocks, and you verify have
but poor soil in which to develop, but
grace is a thorough husbandman. and
can raise a crop anywhere. Glassware
is nodded over the fire. and in the same
way you are to be fitted as vessel OF
mercy. The best timber must have ON 1t
saw and gouge and beetle. The founda-
ton stone of yours and every other
house came out only under crowbar and
blast. Files and wrenches and hammers
belong to the church. The Christian VIC
tory will be bright just in proportion as
the battle is hot. Never despair being a
thorough Christian in any household
which is not worse than the court OF
Ahasuerus.
Finally our subject illustrates what
religion may be in high worldly posi-
tion. The last we see in the Bible Of
Hadassah is that she has become the
queen Of Persia Prepare now to see the
departure Of her humility and self sac
rifice and religious principle. AS she
goes up you may expect grace to go
down. 1t is easier to be humble in the
obscure house of her adopted father than
ON a throne Of dominion. But you mis-
Judge this noble woman. What she was
before she is now-the myrtle. Ap-
plauded for her beauty and her crown,
she forgets not the cause Of her suffer
ing people, and with all simplicity Of
heart still remains worshiper Of the
God of heaven.
Dangers In Prosperity.
Noble example followed only by
very few. l address some who, through
the goodness of God, have risen to posi-
tions Of influence in the community
where you live in law, in merchandise,
in medicine, in mechanics and in other
useful occupations and professions. You
hold an influence for good or for evil.
Let us see whether, like Hadassah, you
can stand elevation Have you as much
simplicity Of character as once you evil
denced? Doyou feel as much dependence
upon God, as much your own weakness,
as much your accountability for talents
intrusted, or are you proud and override
manding and ungrateful and unsympa-
thetic and worldly and sensual and dew
ilish? Then You have been spoiled by
your success, and YOU shall not sit on
this throne with the heroine Of my text
In the day when Hadassah shall come
to the grander coronation, in tho pres
ence Of Christ and the hammered hosts
Of the redeemed, you will be poor in
deed. Oh, there are thousands Of men
who can easily endure to be knocked
down Of misfortune who are utterly
destroyed il lifted up Of success. Satan
takes them to the top Of the pinnacle Of
the temple and shoves them off. Their
head begins to whirl, and they lose
their balance and down they 60.
While last autumn all through the
forests there were luxuriant trees, with
moderate out branch and moderate
height pretending but little, there were
foliage shafts that shot far up, looking
down with contempt on the whole for
est, clapping their hands in the breeze
and shouting, Aha, do you not wish
you were as high up as we are?" But
last week blass let loose from the north
came rushing along, and graphing the
boasting oaks hurled them to the ground,
and as they went down an old tree that
had been singing psalms with the thun-
der a hundred summers cried ont " Pride
goeth before distinction and naughty
spirit before fall. And humble hick'
ory and pine and chestnut that had never
said their prayers before bowed their
heads as much as to say, "AmenP'
My friends, "God resisteth the proud,
but giveth grace to humble. Take from
nv subject encouragement Attempt
the service Of God whatever your dis;
advantages, and whatever our lot let US
seek that grace which outshono all the
splendors Of the palaces Of Shushan.