Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-09-24

history. 1t is the only attitude and express
sion that will fit the supreme crisis aud
opportunity. In Just such situations Moses
said, "B!ot me, | pray thee, out OF the
book which thou hast written Jesus said,
81 hold not My life of any account, as dear
unto Myself. 1 am ready to die Who
ever goes upon a great mission must, IKE
the early Christians, take his life in his
hands. It is only along that pathway that
salvation lies. 1t is a great price. but Of
ten paid for an inferior purpose. Heroism
asks for life as the price of patriotism,
home and freedom. Ambition demands
life for reputation and honor Conve-
nence and progress do not hesitate to ac-
cent life as a price. Our bridges, buildings
Shall We then, murmur at the missionary
who is willing to risk fever and riot IN the
interests of eternal salvation? When ex-
amplcs OF self-devotion fall into the per-
spcctive of history we applaud the martyr
spirit. God help us to value and covet 1t
when near at hand.
Esther went with fear and trembling,
but not cowardce. Heroism is not fool
hardy. To go forward in the face OF dan,
m;nistered in Corinth with much weak
ness, fear and trembling, but beneath all
was the splendid heroism of sef.devotlon.
"If | perish"-but such a spirit cannot
perish. It may seem to fall in self-sacri-
flee, but it does not perish. Some heroes
of faith come out unscathed from conflict,
they are delivered from the edge of tho
sword the force of violence and power OF
FIRE. Others are stoned, sawn aSunder and
killed. But they do not perish The mar
tyrs torn by lions on the Roman arena
were as victorious as Daniel who was de-
livered. The witnesses who burned at
Smthfeld were as triumphant az the three
mon who could not be burned by the seven
fold heat of Nebuchadnezzar's furnace.
The Huguenots who fell on st. Bartholo-
news Day were no less conQuerors than
Joshua's army. Christ did not perish on
the cross. Paul did not perish in Rome.
Tcemachus did not perish in the Roman
arena. Such dying is the highway to life
and power.
The Queen asked the forfeited lives OF
her neople. She was related to them and
sufferer with them. From their side she
was moved with compassion. From her
uuecnly position she obtained deliverance.
This is the object of all mediation. Our
Saviour as the man Jesus is touched with
the feeling of our iniirmites. As the cx-
allied Lord lie intercedes to supply our
need according to His riches in glory. The
privilege of prayer is granted to us, that
from the human side we may feel the bur
den of human sorrow and woe, and so be
pressed into an nterccssion for divine sue
cor. In our Weakness we are tempted to
abuse this great carte blanche of our Lord.
SaIome, who received the same overture
rom king as did Esther, asked the death
Of John the Baptist. Many petition OF
prayer would end in death if granted But
no carnal, selfish supplicaton will receive
the Endorsement of the Lord Christ and
consequently fails.
Then we come to the banquet scene. 1t
Is most suggestive. Only the hostess and
two guests. but what issues tremble in the
balances Esther ia under sentence of
Heath The dark hour is drawing nigh.
lIaman, the prime minister, is in glee; he
= succeeding most marvclousiy. Yet in
orc dav all is suddenly reversed. The
queen becomes the author of life and lla-
nan is sent to the gallows built for an
)thcr Success may be upon lis in the very
darkest hour. while failure may be dog
ing the tracks OF the most lightsome
lrart Righteousness seems to be worsted
u the conflict with evil Good measures
'ccm to fail evil ones to triumph. Scru-
oulou5 honesty goes to the wall, while
iirkcrr and fraud are crowned with sue
2c;e. Virtue j. seemingly str9g.ed and
yice is ROBBED with royalty. And We are
.omptcd to br envions at the prosperity OF
he wicked. But We may not pass Judg-
ment until the Issue is seen. There will
rome a day when righteousness shall flour
ish and owl perish The plots of the
worlds lIamana. Herods and .Iudases all
miScarry. Sin ard evil rot at. the core.
Righteousness and truth have the quality
Of immortality.
At the right moment Esther not only
stated the plot, but named the adversary
and enemy this wicked IIaman. 1t was
IN awful crisis. It is always n crisis when
Iin,, irl. "a thn Jpp
struggle. In every soul there is a Hannah
who seeks the betrayal and destruction of
the spiritual HE. In our conflict with this
evil self there comes n time when we must
be- specific in naminr the foe No salvation
romcs from gencrahtics This adversary
and enemy may wear different names in
oar disposition, 1t may be pride, envy,
jealousy, bitterness, world!iucss. etc.
Whatever it may he. it has planned our
ruin and waits the moment Of execution.
If we would save our lives, families, cities
and the world we must deal unCompromis-
ingN with the particular llaman who Is
working destruction. Not until Hannah
goes to the galows can life stand secure
Having seized The supreme opportunity
at great risk Esther finds great reward.
The clerks write the message of life more
rapidly than they wrote the sentence of
death The good work is fastened with
more speed than the message of woe. Joy
supp'ants sorrow and life comes in tho
place or death. The harvest OF sacrifice is
life We SOW in tears, we reap in JOY. In
This successful mission Of Esther the me,
iiatrix we have an adumbraton of the sal
cation wrought ont by Jesus Christ. He
.ook His life in His hands. He died and
'ose again from til" dead, He secured
reversal of the scntcEcr OF death written
,gainst us and proclaims forgiveness of
ns and the gift of eternal life. Ours is
he privilege first to receive and rejoice in
his truth, and then to speed the glad It'd
mgs 10 every creature in all the world,
These are or supreme opportunities. They
may be shadowcd with ,rlfaacrifcc. but if
hey arc rcsolntcv seized they will issue in
Ihp morning of iOy