Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1903-10-01

circumstances. The providences of God
have shaped our course, and there is pur-
in our lives. The hand that guides may be
invisible, and the light may not always illu-
mine the meaning. But if we are faithful
In trust and obedience to every passing op-
portunity, we shall some time understand
that we, too, are come to the kingdom for
a specific end.
To seize this supreme opportunity in
volved risk. She dare not wait to weigh
the chances too minutey. Life itself is q
| stewardship. Duty constrains US to pay
out its energies In proportion to obligations
and opportunities. Sometimes the whole
price must be paid down at once. But if
| life be held at the disposal of God it will
| make little difference whether it be paid
in installments or at one payment. Life is
possession that we must surrender any
way, but we may elect whether it shall be
invested in eternal treasure or squandered
in temporal qualification.
| Esther was shut up to two courses, and
both threatened death. Silence and inert :
ness would mean to be overtaken in the
general massacre. Attempt at salvation
could but anticipate death by few days,
| and had the chance of success. There is
not much room for choice. Death. is the
worst that can come, and that will come
either way. Esther said, eff perish.
| expressions made by the martyr spirits of
history. It is the only attitude and expires.
| sion that will fit the supreme crisis and
opportunity. In just such situations Moses
book which thou hast written" Jesus said,
Il hold not My life of any account as dear
unto Myself. i am ready to die" Who
| ever goes upon great mission must, like
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-
nience and progress DO not hesitate to ac-
cept life as price. Our bridges, buildings
and tunnels are built with the cost of life.
Shall we. then, murmur at the missionary
who is willing to risk fever and riot in the
interests of eternal salvation? When ex-
ampies of selfdevotion fall into the per-
spective of history we applaud the martyr
spirit God help us to value and covet it
when near at hand
: Esther went with fear and trembling,
but not cowardice. Herosm is not fool
hardy. To go forward in the face of dan
min ministered tered in Co Corinth i wi with h much weak
ness, fear and trembling, but beneath all
was the splendid heroism Of self-devotion-
, eff I perish"-but such 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 the
: 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 victorious as Daniel who was de-
; livered. The witnesses who burned at
! Smithfeld were as triumphant as the three
men who could not be burned by the seven
y fold heat of Nebuchadnezzar's furnace.
news Day were no less conquerors than
: Joshua's army. Christ did not perish on
the cross. Paul did not perish in Rome.
; Teiemachus did not perish in the Roman
e arena. Such dying is the highway to life
2 2 and power.
e her people. She was related to them and
! a sufferer with them. From their side she
was moved with compassion. From her
= queenly position she obtained deliverance.
I This is the object Of all mediation: Our
e Saviour as the man Jesus is touched with
: the feeling of our infrmities. AS the ex-
n alted Lord He intercedes to supply our
s need according to His riches in glory. The
privilege of prayer is granted to Us, that
e from the human side we may feel the bur
den of human sorrow and woe, and SO be
5 pressed into an lntercssson for divine sue
l. cor. In our weakness we are tempted to
T abuse this great carte Blanche OF our Lord
7 Salome, who received the same overture
e from a.king as did Esther, asked the death
/ of John the Baptist, Many petition OF
I
q no carnal, selfish supplication will receive
y the Endorsement of the Lord Christ, and
= consequently fails.
d Then we come to the banquet scene. II
q is most suggestive. Only the hostess and
two guests, but what issues tremble in the
g death. The dark hour is drawing nigh
e Haman, the prime minister, is in Gee; he
is succeeding most mar,veloas'y. Yet in
e one day all is suddenly reversed. The
Queen becomes the author of lie and Ha
e man is sent to the gal.ows butt for an.
e darkest hour, while failure may be dog
IS ging thes tracks of the most lightsome
e heart. Righteousness seems to be worsted
:: in the conflict with evil Good measures
It seem to, fail, evil ones to triumph. Scru
" trickery and fraud are crowned with sue.
= cess. Virtue is seemingly stransled~ and
y vice is robed with royalty. And we are
1t tempted to be envious at the prosperity Of
C the wicked. But we may not pass judg
l. come day when Righteousness shall fiour.
It ish and evil perish. the plots of the
worlds Hamans, Herods and ,Judases all
o r1a;scarry. Sin and evil rot at tde core
1 Righteousness and truth have the quality
d At the right moment Esther not only
4. stated the pot. but named the adversary
4 and enemy-this wicked Haman. 1t was
/ an awful crisis. It is always crisis when
e contending principles come to the decisive
r. struggle In every soul there is Baman
v who seeks the betrayal and destruction. OF
le the spiritual life. In our conflict with this
L evil self there comes a time when we must
d be specific in naming the foe. No salvation
n cones from generalities. This adversary
II and enemy may wear different names in
It our disposition It may be pride, pride, envy
k Whatever it may be, it has planned our
f. ruin and waits the moment of execution.
e If we would save our lives. families, cities
le and the world we must deal uncompromis-
IS ing,y with the particular HaDaan who is
;e working destruction. Not until Haman
t. goes to the gallows can life stand secure:
Having seized the supreme opportunity
2, at great risk, Esther finds great reward.
1, The clerks write the message of life more
n rapidly than thev wrote the sentence of
!; death. The good work is fastened with
|, more speed than the message of woe. JOY
It s1,ppiants, sorrow and life comes in the
+ Mace of death. The harvest of sacrifice is
life. We SOW in tears, we reap in JOY. In
:. this successful mission of Esther the me
n diatrix we have an adumhration of the sal
T vation wrought out by Jesus Christ. He