The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1895-06-14


maze at the mysteries aud The inscruta-
bic. But, il we only get into our minds
the Christian idea OF Gods government
of the world. and view all history as the
history OF God on earth. doubt aud DIFF
hculty disappear, andall things become
rational and possible. With Gods
heip then, let us study the Significance
OF this question OF patriotic appeal put
by Mordecai to his fair cousin Queen
Who knoweth whether thou art come
to the kingdom for such time as this
In the first place this question suggests
to us the thought of Proyidential De-
slgnation. In this Neutrality-suspicious.
drama presented in the Book OF Esther
religious life and thought and feelings
are never made the subjects OF prolong.
ed discussion, but are embodied in the
conduct ana character OF its actors: the
events are so narrated, and tile actors
so perform their parts, that every event
and every action are made TO speak ex-
pressly of an overriding Providence
The complete personnel and the entire
technique of the drama are snch as to
convince those who read aud witness it
upon the page and the stage of sacred
history, OF an unseen hand, moving in
every event, controlling every action
and conducting the whole play or per-
tarmance, through all its schemiug i'm
trigue and critical iunctures. its plots
and counter.plots, until it attains its
climax and its capital crisis in the ap.
pearance upon the stage OF n modest
aud loving ,Iewess, who is to close the
last scene, and teach most touchinrly
fhn GY1INlIFnn taucnN FNf ~
and care by successfully interceding for
her people, and securing the repeal of
the cruel edict for their determination.
Who can observe it all, and still main
tain mo God in history, no over rul-
ing Providence in the Individuals or
tie nations life. Who, / say, can look
upon such scenes, and study the iusig-
niticahce of such events, and yet not
feel and realize the presence and the
power of au unseen hand, using all
these forces and factors aud figures as
tulcrum or lever or instrument of any
kind, for the uplifting Of the world to
its redemption; for the working out OF
some divine eternal purpose; for the
teaching OF men by plain and visible
object lessons, to see in the worlds
heroes, in its intercessors and deliverers
from oppression, cruelty and wrong.
sonnet ling Of its infinite intercessor aud
Saviour from sin. Look at your life in
this light OF Providential designation.
Yon here to-day, If YOU will but accept
it, are US diyinely appointed to your
time and place as was Esther or David
or solomon, or any OF the holy men aud
women whom Cod has eS pressiy declar-
"a that he bad chosen. 70 teach one
Of you, whether nigh or lows rich or
poor, there comes anew this morning
from the burning buNh OF your LIES
every experience the heavenly sum
mons, the very voice OF God, calling to
ham, to Isaac, to jacob; as to Solomon
aud David, and as to Dayid's greater
son, the very Christ himself "You have
chosen; you have chosen" Oh think
OF it, your life my brother or sister,
your life, my young friends who have
completed the course OF instruction i'll
the schools OF this place, whether great
or small, whether long or short, that
life may be; whether US the great noun
tain, used for ballast to keep the world
stt ady and even i'll motion as it courses
i'll It's orb t, or, whether, us the minute
dust particle, used to transmit the ether
waves of light, it has divine v appoint
ed place, aud its eternal order in the
great Gods universal system of things,
and, whether mountain or atom, the
one is all essential and rs all important
to Him us the other 1t is your own
real, true life, appointed to you of God,
and il is the only life you can ever hon
eStly and conscientiously live. Learn
to look upon life now i'll its diyiue and
proyidential import, aud You will have
forever at hand the key for the success
fnl solution Of lite's hardest problems
and deepest experiences; you will have
gained possession ut once OF that mys.
FERROUS alchemy, of which the ancieuts
dreamed, which turns the baser metals
into gold, which transiigures and glori-
ties tire poorest aud cOmmonest of life,
and changes the black coal OF hard com
monplare deeds into diamonds, shining
with the light of heaven.
A second thought suggested to MS by
this question is tllnt of Unlimited OPP.
portunity for Service. AS a woman of
royal state, and wife of kingly conncc.
ton. in the Orient, we would natural
Nv suppose that the life OF QueenEsther
would be the usual uneVenltnl routine
OF secluded existence III the private
apartments of the King; but she is there
OF God fora great purpose, and her
older cousin in this question OF stirring
appeal Who knoweth whether thou
art come to the kingdom for such u time
ms this summons and inspires her to
he true and loyal to that purpose. Tue
walls Of the "llarem fall away from be.
fore her eyes. and she is given 10 view
',kingdom, with door OF opportuni-
~ opening into it. through which she
herself has been .ppoiuted to enter and
perform service 10y 'dndoing what
kings und courts Ind combined to nc.
complish. Without permission, she
makes straight for the throne, aud the
net and plaything OF the tyrant who sits
there becomes his muster, ana so man.
ages affairs of state rs to rescue IRON
determination Il holy nation aud pc.
cnIiar people. This Thought of unllm.
tied opportunity is Just as real and
vital and pertinent to MS OF the present,
"a II was 10 the Esther of the past
There are duties and opportnnitie'
presenting themselves to us every day,
which call for the same daring, the
same high courage, the same fire and
enthusiasm. the same selI.sacritice, the
same pure patriotism, the same lofty
Laroism and the same entire cousecra-
ton, Tho poorest IN the meanest life
has its divine appointment and its OPP;
portnnity for eternal goodness and
greatness. The chief business with us
sllis to find out onr place aud our mis-
sion. ascertain our own special oppor.
tmnity for service, and then bend our
hacks to The work, taking to ourselves
the command Of the Most High to Solo
mon BE strong aud do it. " My friends,
nnou the threshold of what glorious
sL1- L. ,.n,, rknnl fn.1nN In