The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-06-10

OF the disquiet which men Sutter from
Is from insignificant causes; as lion
attacked by some beast of prey turns
easily around and Stays him, yet runs
roaring through the forests at the
alighting on his brawny neck of few
insects. You meet some great loss in
business with comparative composure;
but you can think of petty trickeries
inflicted upon you, which arouse all
your capacity for wrath, and remain
in your heart an unbearable annoy
ance. II you look back upon your life
you will find that the most OF the veX-
atoms and disturbances o. spirit
which you felt were produced by
circumstances that were not worthy
of notice, If you want to Se happy
you must not care for tribes Do not
be too minute in your inspection of
the treatment you receive from others.
Who cares whether MordecI bows
when you pass, or standsuerect and
stiff as a cedar? That woodmau would
not make much clearing in the forest
who should stop TO bind up every little
bruise and scratch he received in the
thicket; nor will that man accomplish
much for the world or the church who
is too watchful and appreciative of
petty annoyances. There are multi
tudes of people in the world constantly
narrowed because they pass their lives
not in searching out those things
which are attractive and deserving,
but in spying out with all their powers
of vision to see whether they cannot
find a Mordecai.
Again, learn from the life of the
man under our notice that worldly
vanity and sin are very anxious to
have piety bow before them. Haman
was fair emblem of entire worldli-
ness, and Mordecai the representative
of unflinching godliness. Such were
the usages of society in ancient times
that, had this Israelite bowed to the
prime minister it 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
Haman. When, therefore, proud
Haman attempted to compel an
homage which was not felt, he
only did what the world ever
since has tried to do, when 1T
would force our holy religion in any
way to yield to its dictates. Daniel,
If he had been man of religious com
promises, would never have been
thrown into the den of lions. He
might have made some arrangements
with King Darius whereby he could
have retained part of his form of re-
ifrts xxrith la. Il
completely 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
Christian faith with few errors His
unbending Christian character was
taken as an insult.
Satan told our first parents that they
would become as gods if they would
only reach up and take taste of the
fruit They tried it and failed, but
their descendants are not yet satisfied
with the experiment. We have now
many desiring to be as gods, reaching
up after yet another apple. Reason,
scornful of Gods word, may foam and
strut with the proud wrath of a
Haman, and attempt to compel the
homage of the good, but in the pres
ence of men and angels it shall be con-
founded. God shall smite thee, thou
whited wall" When science began to
make its brilliant discoveries there
were great facts brought to light that
seemed to overflow the truth of the
Bible. The archaeologist with his
crowbar, and the geologist with his
hammer, and the chemist with his bat
teries, charged upon the Bible. Moses
account of the creation seemed denied
by the very structure of the earth.
The astronomer wheeled around his
telescope until the 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 ofChristian-
ity. They gathered new courage at
what they considered past victory, and
pressed on their conquest into the
kingdom of nature, until alas for
them, they discovered too much. Gods
word had only been lying in ambush
that, in some unguarded moment, with
a sudden bound, it might tear infidel-
ity to pieces.
1t was as when Joshua attacked the
City of All He selected 80, 900 men.
and concealed most of them; then with
a few men he assaulted the city, which
poured out its numbers and strength
upon Joshua's little band. According
TO previous plan, they fell back in
seeming defeat, but, after all the proud
inhabitants of the city had been
brought out Of their homes, and had
joined in the pursuit of Joshua, sud
denly that brave man halted ia his
flight, aud with his spear pointing to-
ward the city, $4,000 men bounded
from the thickets as pauthers 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 it
in flame Thus it was that the discov-
cries of science seemed to give tempo
rary victory against God and the Bible,
and for awhile the church acted as if