The Princeton union., 1898-07-14

ones gathered around these firesides
These are the camp-flres where we
warm ourselves at the close OF day, and
talk OF the battles Of life we have
fought and the battles that are yet to
come. God grant that when at last
these hres begin to go out, and con-
tinue to lower until finally they are
extinguished, and the ashes Of con-
sumed hopes strew the hearth of the
old homestead, it may be because we
have
Gone to sleep the last sleep,
From which none ever wake to weep
NOW we are an army on the march
of life. Then we shall be an army
bivouacked in the tent of the grave.
Once, more: I want you to look at
Vashti the silent. You do not hear any
outcry from this woman as she goes
forth from the palace gate. From the
very dignity of her nature, you know
there will be no vociferation. Some
times in life it is necessary to make a
retoTt; sometimes in life it is neces-
sary to resist; but there are crises
when the most triumphant thing to do
is to keep silence. The philosopher,
confident in his newly discovered prin-
ciple, waiting for the coming of the
more Intelligent generations, willing
that men should laugh at the light
ming rod and cotton gin and steamboat
and telegraph waiting for long years
through the scofing of philosophical
schools, in grand and magnificent ST.
lence.
Calico, condemned by mathemati-
clans, and monks, and cardinals, carl
catured everywhere, yet waiting and
watching with his telescope to see the
coming up of stellar reinforcements,
when the stars in their courses would
fight for the Copernican system; then
sitting down in complete blindness and
deafness to wait for the coming on, of
the generations who would build his
monument and bow at his grave. The
reformer, execrated by his contempo-
raries, fastened in a pillory, the slow
fires OF public contempt burning under
him, ground under the cylinders of
the printing press, yet calmly waiting
for the day when purity of soul and
heroism of character will get the sane
ton of earth and the plaudits of heav-
en-. Aff1tction enduring without any
complaint the sharpness of the pang,
and the violence of the storm, and the
heft OF the chain, and the darkness of
the night waiting until divine hand
shall be put forth to soothe the pang,
and hush the storm, and release the
captive. A wife abused, prosecuted,
and perpetual exile from every earth
ly comfort waiting, waiting, until the
Lord shall gather up his dear children
in heavenly home, and no poor Vash-
ii will ever be thrust out from the pal
ace gate. Jesus, in silence and answer
ing not word, drinking the gall, bear
Ing the cross, in prospect of the rap
turous consummation when @
And lore him to his throne: ~
The glorious work is doner'
Oh, woman! does not this story of
Vashti the queen, Vashti the yelled.
Vashti the sacrifice, Vashti the silent,
move. your soul? - My sermon con
verges into one absorbing hope that
none OF you may be shut out of the
palace gate of heaven You can en-
dure the hardships, and the privations,
and the cruelties, and the misfortunes
of this life if you can only gain admis-
sion there. Through the blood of the
everlasting covenant you go through
those gates, or never go through at all.
God forbid that you should at last be
banished from the society of angels.
and banished from the companionsn:p
of your glorified kindred, and banished
forever. Through the rich grace of our
Lord Jesus Christ, may you be enabled
to Initiate the example of Rachel, and
Hannah, and Abigail, and Deborah.
and Mary and Esther and Vashti