Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1903-10-01
A SWEET STORY.
OUR REGULAR SUNDAY SERMON,

The Beautiful Story of EstherI
Dslineated In An Attractive Style
By An Eloquent Preacher.
New York C1TY.-Sunday morning the
Rev. Cornelius Woelfkin, minister Of she
Greene Avenue Baptist Church, had for his
subject a Supreme Opportunity. He
knoweth whether thou art come to the
kingdom for such time as this?" Mr..
Woelfkin said
The history of Esther is a fascinating
romance. Every changing scene in the
panorama is graphic illus .ration, of the
providence of God. It traces the transi-
tion from obscurity to prominence; from
showing Esther. an orphan girl belonging
to a captive and despised RAGE. Naturally,
every door of influence would be closed to
her. Alone in the world, dependent. upon
cousins bounty, the horizon Of ner life
was limited. Her chief endowment was
beauty, and that, as the world goes, is
more likely to become snare of evil than
benediction of good. Yet, behind this
humble, modest life there is working the
might wisdom and love of God. The
Queens throne is empty. The roya, crown
is waiting some one who may please the
blood dream of the Queens place as the
acme of al ambition. But the providence
of Jehovah has reserved the place for
| Esther, the orphaned Jewish girl.
| This same divine power seeks to mold
every life. The circumstances and cOndl-
| tio1s that environ us may not seem prom
ising. But what are these with God! His
strength is made perfect in weakness The
vast majority of men and women who have
made the molds of history were those
whom Gods providence brought from OBJ
scurity and lowi ~ conditions. Your way Is
not hid from the Almighty. There is a
1>place is as honored and dignited as any
royal throne, because it is divineiy ap-
pointed. The steps leading thereto may
seem to be contingencies, accidents, for
tuitous 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 to the place and position most
suited for our eternal profit and glory, No
one else may step into our place, until we,
throug gh unbelief and disobedience, have
forfeited the privilege of its occupancy.
ment Success m ses or failure % depends sI upon the
manner in which we hold these posses
sions. If we hold them selfshly to profit
ourselves withal, they turn into corrup-
ton. But if they be held in trust as a sa
cred stewardship, used for the furtherance
of His purposes and the bringing of His
kingdom, they will turn out eternal treas
ures. Our temptation is to discredit oui
possessions and opportunities. But we may
not despise the day of small things.
i Esther had only personal beauty to com
mend her at first. This is not gift de-
spised by Satan in his attempt to ruin q
soul; then why should it be discredited az
a power for goodg The lad had only five
ioaves and two fishes, but, consecrated to
His service, they fed the multitude ano
more. It all turns upon whether we are
using our endowments in the interest o.
self and by the energy, of self, OF whether
with Him and for His glory. The form o.
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 it was the same
God who worked in EACH
The orphan girl became the bounteou!
queen. She enjoys the honors and emolu
ments of royalty. Banquets are held in hel
honor and retinue of servants minister
to her continually. Can she support th'
dignity thus thrust upon her? Will adu
: lation, hattery and vanity enervate he
souls ability, or will she grow strong ant
potent for good amid opportunities? Onl.
trial can answer such queries, and tha
comes soon enough. From the outer worlt
she hears the lamentation of her kindred
people. Mordecai, her cousin, is in sacl
cloth and mourning and would not b
; with fear. What could it mean? If sh
had only been party to the conference be
tween her royal husband and the prim
minister prince she would have understood
If she could see all the clerks writing tn
sentences of death which were Being hur
| rio ho,,ff fho 81,
known. She seems to be exempt Doe
she not dwell in the palace? But tn
blackness overshadows her even there
No circumstance or condition can shut i
out. The court Of Persia permitted no on
wearing sack cloth, that symbol of sorrov
cincts. They would not be disturbed b.
painful reminders of life's sorrows. Bu
even the royal purple can neither ignor
nor escape them The tragedies Of life ar
not shut out by hiding and ignoring them
We can build no barrier that will preven
their invasion
There came momen, of despair t
Esther. What can she do more than 9th
ers. She had not been called into til
Kings presence for whole month An
to venture unbidden might mean death
She had her limitations. Even her positio
seemed unequal to the need. Her privi
egees fell short. It is always so. gray
crisis ever brings the shadow of despai,
There are problems that confront ever
genera ton that seem insoiuble We becora
bewildered and perplexed; we feel our in
adequacy and despair. This perp]exity an
despair is purely human. It's shadow neve
falls upon the throne of God. He sh,]
not fail nor be discouraged till He hath Sc
judgment in the earth. All that He re
quires is an instrument that will not bal
at the cost, and He brings speedy reiiei
Let us fling the sacrifice of life into tn
situation, and nothing shall be impossibl
to us. It is this desire to keep our skin
whole, and to conserve our personal cas-
and comfort that makes situations difficult
Paul was an optimist, because he threy
his life into the crisis. Comfort. ease
quiet. pleasure, were not aimed at by him
therefore he could confidently write: ri an
pressed on every side yet not straitened
perplexed, yet not unto despair; pursued
yet not forsaken; smitten down, yet no
destroyed" Selfshness brings the mid
night, self-sacriice the dawn.
Then followed Esther's heroic resolve
A crisis always develops the character. Il
a moment she read the meaning of he
\ providentlal experiences. She saw some
things of Gods plan in her life. Why hat
/ she been exalted from the lowly position
of an orphan to the regal dignity of
queen? Why had she been preferred abov,
| all others for this great place? The mean