Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1894-10-13

pearance that he sled 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-
sumption.
Monimia. the wife of Mithridatcs,
was strangled with her own diadem.
While the most of us will not have the
same kind of temptation which Hadas-
sab must have felt from her attractive
ness of personal appearance, there may
be some to whom 1t will be an advan-
tagc 10 hold up the character of the
beautiful captive who sacrificed not her
humility and earnestncss of disposition
to the worlds admiration and flattery
The chief secret of the beauty of the
violc: is that, away down III the grass,
from one week 5 end to another, ii never
mistrus,s that it is violet.
Fad Home Influences.
Again, our subject exhibits what re-
ligion may be under bad domestic iuflu-
ences. Hadassah was snatched from the
godly home into which she had been
adopted and introduced into the abom-
Unable associations Of which wicked
Ahasuerus was tho center. What u
whirl of blasphemy and drunkenness
and licentiuusness! No altar no prayer,
no Sabbath, no God! If this captive
girl can be 4 Christian there, then it is
possible to be Christian anywhere.
There aro many of the best people of
tho world who arc 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 discoUragcmcnt 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 the only Christian who had a
queer husband. 1t is no easy matter to
maintain correct Christian principles
when there is a companion disposed to
scott 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 q
day of revelry, or to incu!cate 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 i'll 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: Ny subject is full of encourage
ment. Vast responsibilities rest upon
you.
He 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 i'll which to develop, but
grace is thorough husbandman and
can raise crop anywhere. Glassware
is nodded over tho 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
blact Files and wrenches and hammers
belong to the church. The Christian vic
tory will be bright just i'll proportion rs
the battle is hot. Never despair being a
thorough Christian i'll any household
which is not worse than tine court Of
Ahasuerus.
Finally our subject illustrates what
religion may be i'll 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 q 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 cau.e 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 a
very few / 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, i'll mechanics and i'll 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 rs once you evil
denced: Do you feel as much dependence
upon God, as much your own weakness,
as much your accountability for talents
intrustcd, 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, III the pres
encc of Christ and the hammered hosts
of the redeemed, you will DO poor in
deed Oh, there are thousands of men
who can easily endure to be knocked
down of misfortune who are utterly
destroyed if lifted up of success. Satan
takes them 70 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 go.
While last autumn all through the
forests there Were luxuriant trees, with
moderate oat 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 rs high up as we are:" But
last week blast let loose from the north
came rushing along, and graphing the
boasting oaks hurled them to the ground,
and rs they Went down an old tree that
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