The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1903-09-25
A SERMON FOR SUNDAY
AN ELOQUENT DISCOURSE ENTITLED
"a SUPREME OPPORTUNITY"
The Rev. Cornelius woelrlin Presehes
Intertainingiy on the Fascinating Rib
heal Romance OF Esther-seire Your
Opportunities Re-oiutely.

NEw YORK CITy.-sunday morning the
Rev. Cornelius Woelikin, minister OF Nle
Greene Avenue Baptist Church, had for his
subject "A Supreme Opportunity He
chose as his text Esther ". u. WHO
knoweth whether thou art some 10 the
kingdom for such a time as thisS Mr.
Woelfkln said:
TIE history Of Esther is iascina ing
romance. Every changing scene IN the
panorama is graphic illu, ration of the
providence oi God. liz traces the transl-
weakness 10 power. The scene opens
showing Esther an orphan glrl belonging
10 a captive and despsed race. Naturally,
every door OF influence would be closed tu
her. Alone IN the world, dopenden, upon
a cousins bounty, the horizon OF ner lie
was limited. Her chief endowment was
beauty, and that, as the world goes. is
more likely to become a snare of evil than
a benedlction OF good. Yet, behind ;hs
humble, modest lie there Is working the
might, wisdom and love ot God, The
Queens throne is empty. The royal crown
Is waiting some one who may please the
mood OF the King. Thousands OF gentle
blood dream OF the Queens place as the
acme OF all ambition. hut the providence
Of Jehovah has reserved the place tor
Esther, the orphaned Jewish girl.
This same divine power seeks 20 mold
every life. The circumstances and condl'
tons that environ us may not seem prom
islng. But what are these with Sod His
strength Is made perfect IN weakness. The
vast majority of men and women who have
made the n'olds Of history were those
whom Gods providence brought from OBJ
scurity and lowly conditions. Your way rs
not hid from the Almighty. There is n
place held vacant for your filling. That
place is as honored and dignfed as any
royal throne, because IT is dlvinely APP
pointed. The steps leading thereto may
seem to be contingencies, accidents, for.
tultous chances, and through the moods OF
other persons. But If there be the spirit;
of faith to trust Him, diligence TO discover
His Will and readiness TO obey. He will
bring us 10 The place and position most
suited for our eternal profit and glory. No
one else may step into our place, until we,
through unbelef and dsobedience. have
forfeited the privilege OF Its occupancy.
Every life has lts own unique endow-
ment. Success OF failure depends upon the
manner IN which we hold these posses
flons. IL we hold them selfshly to profit
ourselves withal. they turn into corrup-
tion. But If they be held in trust as a si-
cred stewardship, used for the fuTtherance
of His purposes and the bringing of His
kingdom, they will turn out eternal treas.
ures. Our temptation Is TO dscredlt our
possessions and opportunities. But we may
not despise the day OF small things.
Esther had only personal beauty to com.
mend her at first. This rs not gift de.
spised by Satan in his attempt 10 ruin n
soul; then why should 1t be discreditod as
power for good? The lad had only five
loaves and two fishes, but, consecratcd TO
His service. they fed the multitude and
more. 1t all turns upon whether we are
using our endowments in the interest OF
self and by the energy of self, or whether
we are living and working ia cooperation
with Him and for His glory. The form OF
life will vary. God does not duplicate
and make all lives TO conform TO a like pat.
tern. There was vast difference between
the captive maid that served in Naaman' =
home and the orphan captive who mounted
the Persian throne, but lt was the same
God who worked IN each.
The orphan girl became the bounteous
queen. She enjoys the honors and emolu-
ments of royalty. Banquets are held in her
honor and n retinue of servants minister
to her continually. Can she support the
dignity thus thrust upon her? Will adu-
Iation, fattery and vanity encrvate her
souls ability, or viii she grow strong and
potent for good amid opportunities? Only
trial can answer such queries and that
comes soon enough. From the outer world
she hears the lamentation Of her kindred
people. Mordecai, her cousin, is in sack
comiorted. All the captives are waiing
with, fear. What could it mean? II she
had only been party 60 the conference be-
tween her royal husband and the prime
minister prince she would have understood.
|. she could see all the clerks writing the
sentences of death which were beng hur.
rled throughout the empire she would have
known. She seems TO be exempt Does
she not dwell in the palace But the
blackness oyershadows her even there.
No circumstance or condition can shut II
out. The court of Persia permitted no one
wearing sack cloth, that symbol of sorrow
and mourning, TO enter the royal pre-.
clncts They would not be disturbed by
painful reminders OF life's sorrows. But
even the royal purple can neither ignore
nor escape them. The tragedies OF life are
not shut out by hiding and ignoring them
We can build no barrier that will prevent
their invasion.
The Redeemer OF the world did not ig-
more them. He did not Isolate Himself
from human woe, but through mffering
became Saviour, forgiving sin. bringing
glory out OF the crucible OF suffering and
planting the light OF hope amid the
shadows of death. n Esther seeks to save
her life alono sire viii lose it. But II in
seeking TO save others she lose il. she shal,
save 1t. We cannot IN a time OF epidemic
think Of ourselves alone. Individual care.
tulness will prove fatal.
There came moment OF desnair 10
Esther. What can she do more than 9th
srs. She had not been called INTO IN.
Kings presence for whole month. And
TO venture unbdden might mean death
She had her limitations. Even her position
seemed unequal TO the need. Her priyii.
eges fell short. j. ~ ALWAYS so. A grave
crisis ever brings the shadow Of despair.
There are problems that confront every
generation that seem insoiuble. We become
bewi!dered and perD,exed; We feel our in
adequacy and DESPAIR. This pcrplexity and
despair n purely human. tie shadow never
falls upon the throne Of God. lie shall
not fail nor be discouraged tall lie beth . I
judgment IN the earth. All that He re.
quires ~ an instrument that will not balk
at the cost, and He brings sDeedy relief
Let US fling the sacrifice Of life into the
situation. and nothing shall be impossible
TO ne. 1t - tins desire 10 keep our skins
whole, and To conserve our personal ease
and comfort that makes situations difficult
Paul was an optimIst. because he threw
his life INTO the crisis. Comfort. ease
quiet. pleasure. were not aimed at By him
therefore he could confidently write: ~ an,
pressed on every side yet not straitened
perplexed. yet not unto desuar; pursued
destroyed" S.'.hshness briiAs the MD.
night, selfsacriice the dawn.
Then followed Estber's heroic resolve
A crisis always develops the character. In
a moment she read the meaning Of her
providentlal experiences. She cav sone.
things OF Gods plan in her life Why had
she been exalted from the !owly position
Of an orphan 10 the regal dignity II =
queen; Why had size been preferred above
al Others for this great place, The mean.
ing begins 30 crystsiize. God foresaw thus
crisis, anticipated the need, and FOR such a
time as this was Esther come 20 the king
dom. IN the veD ttart of that grayesl