The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1894-10-19

uAtAAus UT the nedFb, may DcCOAAc CcAAP
tations to pride, and arbitrariness, and
foolish assumption. The NEUROLOGICAL
story of a man who. seeing himself
mirrored in a stream, became SO
enamored Of his appearance that he
died of the effects illustrates the fatali-
ties under which thousands of both
sexes have fallen by the view of their
own superiority. Extraordinary ca
pacities cause extraordinary tempta'
tions. Men who have good moral health
down in the valley, on the top of the
mountain are seized of consumption.
Monimia, the wife Of AIithridates, was
strangled with her own diadem. While
the most of as will not have the same
kind of temptation which Hadassah
must have felt from her attractiveneSs
of personal appearance, there may be
some to whom it viii be an advantage
to hold up the character of the beauti-
full captive who sacrificed not her hui
mility and earnestness of disposition
to the worlds admiration and fattery.
The chief secret of the beauty of the
violet is that away down in the grass
from one weeks end to another tneveT
mistrusts that it is a violet.
Again, our subject exhibits what re.
ligion may be under bad domestic in
fuences. Hadassah was snatched from
the cody home into which she had
been adopted, and introduced into the
abominable associations of which
wicked Ahasuerus was the center.
What a whirl of blasphemy, and
drunkenness, and RIGHTEOUSNESS. No
altar, no prayer, no Sabbath, no God!
If this captive girl can be a Christian
there, then it is possible to be Chris
tian anywhere. There are many of
the best people in the world who are
obliged to contend with the most adj
verse domestic influences, children who
have grown mp into the love of God I'M
der the frown of parents and under the
discouragemento of bad example. Some
sister of the family having professed
the faith of Jesus is the subject of un-
bounded satire inflicted by brothers and
sisters. Yea, Hadassah was not the
only Christian who had a queer hus-
band. 1t is no easy matter to maintain
correct Christian principles when there
is companion disposed to scott at them,
and to ascribe every imperfection of
character to hypocrisy. What hard
thing for one IN ember 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 house
IOl1 I'D ha 1;c
day than for any secular day Do l
speak to any laboring under these
blighting disadvantages? My sub
ject is full of encouragement. Vast
responsibilities rest upon you. 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 hus-
bandman and can raise crop any
where. Glassware is nodded over the
fire, and in the same way you are
to be fitted as a vessel of mercy.
The best timber must have on it, saw
and gouge, the beetle. The founda-
tombstone of yours and every other
house came out only under crowbar
and blast. Files, and wrenches, and
hammers belong to the church The
Christian victory will be bright just in
proportion as the battle is hot. Never
despair being 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
position. 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-sacrifce, and religious principle.
AS she goes up you may except 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 mlsjudge this no
bic woman. What she was before, she
is nOw-the myrtle. Applauded for
her beauty and her crown, she forgets
not the cause of her suffering people,
and with all simplicity of heart, still
remains a worshipper of the God of
Heaven.
Noble example, followed only by a |
very few. l address some who, through |
the goodness of God, have risen to po-
sitions of influence in the community |
where you live. In law, in merchan- |
disc, in medicine, in mathematics and |
in other useful occupations and profess
sions you hold an influence for good or |
for evil. Let us see whether, like |
you can stand elevation. |
Have you as much simplicity of char
acter as once you evidenced? Do you
feel as much dependence upon God; /
as much as your own weakness; as
much as your accountability for talents
Or are you proud, and over
and ungrateful, and I'M
sympathetic, and worldly, and sensual,
and devilish? 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
the presence of Christ and the hammered
hosts of the redeemed, you will be poor
indeed. Oh, there are thousands OF
men who can easily endure to be
knocked down of misfortune, who are
utterly destrored if lifted up Of sue
cess. Satan takes them to the top OF
the pinnacle of the temple and shOves
them off. Their head begins to whirI
and they loose their balance and down
they go.
While last autumn all through the