Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1894-10-08

man VINO, seeiGR himself inirr0red In
a stream, became so enamored of his ap.
pearance that he died of the effects il.
lustrates the fatalities under which
thousands of both sexes have fallen by
the view of their own superiority. Ex-
traordinary capacities cause extraordi-
nary temptations Men who have good
moral health down in the valley ON the
top of the mountain are seized of con-
Monimia, the wife of Mithridates,
was strangled with her own diadem.
While the most of us will not have the
tame kind of temptation which Hadas-
sab must have felt from her attractive
ness of personal appearance, there may
be some to whom it will be an advan-
tage to hold up the character of the
beautiful captive who sacrificed not her
humility and earnestness of disposition
to the worlds admiration and fiattery.
The chief secret of the beauty of the
violet is that, away down in the grass,
from one week s end to another, it never
mistrusts that it is violet
Bad Home Influences.
Again, our subject exhibits what re-
iigion may be under bad domestic influ-
snces. Hadassah was snatched from the
5odly home into which she had been
adopted and introduced into the abom-
inable associations of which wicked
Ahasuerus was the center. What a
whirl of blasphemy and drunkenness
and licentiousnessl No altar, no prayer,
no Sabbath, no God If this captive
girl can be Christian there, then it is
possible to be a Christian anywhere.
There are many Of the best people Of
the world who are obliged to contend
with the most adverse domestic influ-
ences, children who have grown up into
the love of God under the frown of par
ents, and under the discouragement of
bad example Some sister of the family
having professed the faith of Jesus is
the subject of unbounded satire inflicted
by brothers and sisters. Yea, Hadnssah
was not the only Christian who had q
queer husbandi 1t is no easy matter to
maintain correct Christian principles
when there is a companion disposed to
scoff at them and to ascribe every i'm.
perfection of character to hypocrisy.
What hard thing for one member Of
the family to- rightly keep the Sabbath
when others are disposed to make it a
day of revelry, or to inculcate propriety
Of speech in the minds of children when
there are others to Offset the instruc-
tions by loose and profane utterances, or
to be regularly in attendance upon
church when there is more household
work demanded for the Lords day than
for any secular day. Do speak to any
laboring under these blighting disadvan'
tages? My subject is full of encourage.
ment Vast responsibilities rest upon
you.
BE the One Good Man.
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
Ahasuerus. There 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-
tion 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-
ton 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
riiice and religious principle. As she
goes up you may expect grace to go
down. It is easier to be humble In the
obscure house of her adopted father than
ON q throne Of dominion. But you mis-
Judge this noble woman. What she was
before she IL 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 a worshiper OF the
God Of heaven.
Dangers In Prosperity.
Noble example followed only by n
very few. | address some who, through
the gDodRess Of l0d, have risen 70 posi-
tions of influence iD tbs community
whore you live Ia law, IN merchandise,
la medicine, la mechanics aud la other
ufeful occupations aud professions You
hold an Influence tor good 0r fW evil
Let us see whether like Hadassah, you
can stand elevation. Have you ~ much
simplicity ~ charaoter ~ ones you eYi'
denoedi Doyou feel AS much dependence
upon God, ~ much your Own weakness,
a. mach youT accountability for talents
inirustsd, ~ aTe g0u proud alia osefds
msndinR and ungTateful aud uDsympa
ilniio and worldly aild sailspal ana aeY
lirbf 1hfu you have hesn spoiled by
y0uI suoooas, and you shall 400 30 oil
ilis throne via fhe heroine ~ uy ieHi
ln iho dsy Wbea iiaaassah slsll ooiae
a. ihe RlanaeT coronation, w uls pee