Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1894-10-13

hgton may be under bad domestic 1ndu-
ences. Hadass,h was snatched from the
uodly home into which she had been
adopted and introduced into the abom-
Unable associations Of which wicked
Ahasuerus was the center. What u
whirl Of blasphemy and drunkenness
and RIGHTEOUSNESS No altar, no prayer,
no Sabbath, 10 Godl II this captive
girl can BIO Christian there, then 1t Is
possible to be Christian anywhere.
There arc many Of the best people OF
tho world who are Obliged to contend
with the most adverse domestic inf1u-
ences, children who have grown up into
the love Of God under the frown Of par
ents, and under tho Encouragement OF
bad example. Some sister Of the family
having prof~ssed the faith OF jesus Is
the subject Of unbounded satire inflicted
by brothers and sisters Yea, Hadassah
was not tho only Christian who had a
queer husband! IL is no easy matter 70
maintain correct Christian principles
when there is companion disposed to
sooff at them and to ascribe every I'M
perfection of character to hypocrisy
What hard thing for one member OF
tho family to rightly keep the Sabbath
when others arc disposed to make it
day Of revelry, or to inculcate proprioty
of speech in the minds Of children when
there are others to offset the instruc-
lions by loose and profane utterances, OF
to be regularly III attendance upon
church when there is moro household
work demanded for the Lords day than
for any secular day Do l speak to any
laboring under these blighting disadyan-
tages? Ny subject is full Of encourage
nent Vast responsibilities rest upon
you.
Be the One Good Man.
Be faithful, though you stand as
much alone as did Lot III Sodom, or
jeremiah in Jerusalem, or Jonah in
Ninevoh, 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 husbandman and
can raise 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 OH 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 wrenohes and hammers
belong to the church. The Christian VIC
tory will be bright just in proportion as
the battle IL 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 posi-
ton. The lost 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
rifoe 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 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 a worshiper Of the
God Of heaven.
Dangers In Prosperity.
Noble example followed only by
very few. 1 address some who, through
the goodness of God, have risen to posi-
lions OF influence in the community
where you 1.-Two in law, in merchandise,
In medicine, in mechanics and In other
useful occupations and professions You
hold Ill 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? Do you feel as much dependence
upon God as much your own weakness,
as much your accountability for talents
intrusted, or are you proud and overdo-
manding and ungrateful and unsyinpa-
thetic and worldly and sensual and dew
ilish? Then you have been spoiled by
your success ana 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 pres
ence of Christ and the hammered hosts
of the redeemed, you will he poor IN
deed. Oh, there arc thousands OF men
who can easily endure to be knocked
down CT misfortune who are utterly
destroyed if lifted up Of success. Satan
takes them TO tie top Of the pinnacle Of
the temple and shoves them of. Their
head begins TO wEirl, and they lose
their balance and down they 60
While last autumn oil through the
forests there were luxuriant trees, with
moderate out branch and moderate
height pretending but little, there We're
foliage shafts that shot far up, looking
down with co.'.elnpt Oh the whole for
est, olapping their hands in the breeze
and shouting. AHA, do you not wish
you were as high up as we areT But
last week blast let loose from the north
came rushing along, and graphing the
Boosting oaks hurled them to the ground,
and as they went down an old tree that
had boon singing psalms with the thun-
der a hundred summers cried out, Pride
goeth before distinction and q naughty
spirit before fall" And humble hick-
Org and pine and chestnut that had never
said their prayers before bowed their
heads as much as to say, "Amenn'
My friends, -"God resisteth the proud,
but giyoth- grace to humble. Take from
my subject encouragement Attempt
the service Ct God whatever your dis
advantages, and whatever our lot let US
seek that grace which outshone oil the
splendors Of the palaces Of Shushan.
20, Ants Wearing the Green
II once witnessed an interesting but
o. hy,k