Connecticut western news., 1898-06-09

fair emblem of entire worldliness and Mordecai the representative of unfiinch- ing godlinoss. Such were the usages of society in ancient times that had this Israelite bowed to the prime minister 1t would have been an acknowledgment of respect for his character and nation. Mordecai would therefore have sinned against his religion had he made any obeisance or dropped his chin half an inch before Hannah. When therefore proud Haman attempted to compel a homage which was not felt, he only did what the world ever since has tried to do when it would force our holy re- ligion i'll any way to yield to its dictates. Daniel, if he had been man of re- ligious compromises, would never have been thrown into the den of lions. He might have made some arrangements with King Darus whereby he could have retained part of his form of re- ligion without making himself so com- pletely obnoxious to the idolaters. Paul might have retained the favor of his rulers and escaped martyrdom if he had only been willing to mix up his Chris tian faith with few errors. His un- bending Christian character was taken as an insult
 How the World Demands Homage,
 Fagot and rack and halter i'll all ages have been only the different ways ill which the world has demanded obei- sance It was once, away up on the top of the temple, that satan commanded the holy one of Nazareth to kneel be- fore him. But it is not now so much on the top of churches as down in the aisle and the pew and the pulpit that satan tempts the espousers of the Christian faith to kneel before him.. Why was 1t that the Platonic philosophers of early times as we'll as Poland, SpinoZa and Bolingbroke of later days were so mad ly opposed to Christianity Certainly not because it favored immoralities or arrested civilization or dwarfed the in- tellect The genuine reason, whether admitted or not, was because the reli- zion of Christ pad no respect to their intellectual vanities. Blount and Boyle and the host of infidels matched out by the vile reign of Charles II, as reptiles crawl out of a marsh of slime, could not keep their patience, because, as they passed along, there were sitting ill the gate of the church such men as Mat thew and Mark and Luke and John, who would not bend an inch in respect to their philosophies
 Satan told our first parents that they would become as gods if they would only reach up and take taste of tho fruit. They tried it and failed, but their descendants are not yet satisfied with the experiment. We have now many desiring to be- as gocs, reaching up after yet another apple. Reason, scornful of Gods Word, may foam and strut with the proud wrath of Haman, and at tempt to compel the homage of the good, but in the presence of men and angels it shall be confounded. God shall smite thee, thou whited wall. " When science began to make it's bril- liant discoveries, there were great facts brought to light that seemed to over- throw the truth of the Bible. The ar- chaologist with his crowbar, and tho geologist with his hammer, and tho chemist with his batteries, charged upon the Bible. Moses account of the crea- tion seemed denied by the very struc- ture of the earth. The astronomer wheeled around his telescope until tho heavenly bodies seemed to marshal themselves against the Bible as the stars in their courses fought against Sisera. Observatories and universities rejoiced at what they considered the extinction of Christianity. They gathered new courage at what they considered past victory and pressed on their conquest into the kingdom of nature until, alaa for them, they discovered too much. Gods Word had only been lying in am- bush that, in some unguarded moment, with sudden bound, it might tear in- fidelity to pieces.
 It was as when Joshua attacked tho city of Ali. He selected 30, 900 men, and concealed most of them. Then with a few men he assailed the city, which poured out it's numbers and strength upon Joshua's little band. According to previous plan, they fell back in seeming defeat, but, after all the proud inhabit- ants of the city had been brought out of their homes and had joined in the pur- suit of Joshua, suddenly that brave man halted in his flight and with his spear pointing toward the city, 30,000 men bounded from the thickets as partners spring to their prey, and the pursuers were dashed to pieces, while the hosts of Joshua pressed up to the city, and with their lighted torches tossed 1t into flame. Thus it was that the discoveries of science seemed to give temporary vic- tory against God and the Bible, and for awhile the church acted as if she were on 8 retreat, but when all the opposers of God and truth had joined in the pur- suit and were sure of the field Christ gave the signal to his church, and, turn ing, they drove back their foes in shame. There was found to be no antagonism between nature and revelation. The universe and the Bible were found to be the work of the same hand, two strokes of the same pen, their author ship the same God.
 Pride Goeth Before a Fall.
 Again, learn the lesson that pride goeth before a fall. Was any man ever so far up as Haman, who tumbled so far down? Yes, on a smaller scale every day the world sees the same thing. Against their very advantages men trip into de- struction. When God humbles proud men, 1t is usually at the moment of their greatest arrogancy. If there be man in your community greatly puffed up with worldly success, you have but to stand little while and you will see him come down. You say, wonder that God allows that man to go on rid ing over others heads and making great assumptions of power. There is no won der about it. Haman has not yet got to the top. Pride is a commander, we'll plumed and caparisoned, but 1t leads forth dark and frowning host. We have the best of authority for saying that Pride goeth before destruction and naughty spirit before fall" The arrows from the Almighty's quiver are apt to strike man when on the wing. Goliath shakes his great spear in defiance hut the small stones from