The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1894-12-01
whether thew be those Of the body, the

whether they be those of the body, the
mind, or the heart, may become temp
tations to pride, and arbitrariness, and
foolish assumption. The NEUROLOGICAL
story of q 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 Mithridates, was
strangled with her own diadem. While
the most of us 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 will 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 flattery.
The chief secret of the beauty of the
violet is that away down in the grass
from one weeks end to another it never
mistrusts that it is violet.
Again, our subject exhibits what re-
ligion may be under bad domestic in
iuences. Hadassah was snatched from
the godly 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 Christian
there, then it is possible to be Chris
tian anywhere. There are many OF
Che best people in the world who are
obliged to contend with the most add
verse domestic influences, children who
have grown mp into the love OF God I'M
der the frown of parents and under the
Encouragement 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 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 a hard
thing for one m ember of the family to
rightly keep the Sabbath when others
are disposed to make it 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
hold work demanded for the Lords
day than for any secular day. Do l
speak to any laboring under these
blighting disadvantages? Ny 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 thorough hus-
bandman and can raise a crop any
| where. 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 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 10
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-sacrificc, and religious principle.
AS she goes up you may except gracs
| to go down. 1T is easier to be
humble in the obscure house of her
adopted father than on throne OF
dominion. But you mlsjudge this no
BILE woman. What she was before, she
is now-the myrtle. Applauded fol
her beauty and her crown, she forgets
not the cause of her suffering people
and with all simplicity of heart, still
remains worshipper of the God Of
Heaven.
Noble example, followed only by q
very few. / address some who, through
the goodness of God, have risen to pc
sitions of influence in the community
where you live. In law, in merchan
disc, in medicine, in mathematics anG
in other useful occupations and profes
sions you hold an influence for good o.
for evil. Let us see whether, Xix,
Hadassah, you can stand elevation
Have You as much simplicity of char
acter as once you evidenced? Do 20,
feel as much dependence upon God
as much as your own weakness; a.
much as your accountability for talent
intrusted? Or are you proud, and over
demanding, and ungrateful, and un
sympathetic, and worldly, and sensual
and devilish? Then you have beef
spoiled by your success, and you shall
not sit on this throne with the heroin
of my text. In the day when Hadassal
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