The Penn's Grove record., 1903-09-25

ge neral massacre. Attempt at salvation
could but anticipate death by a few days,
and had the chance of success. There is
not much room for choice. Death is the
either way. Esther said, "If / perish, I
perish" This is synonymous with those
expressions made by the martyr spirits of
history. 1t IS the only attitude and express
sion that will fit the supreme crisis and
opportunity. In Just such situations Moses
said, Bot me, | pray thee, out Of the
book which thou hast written" Jesus said,
Il hold not My life of any account as dear
unto Myself. 1 an ready to die" Who
ever goes upon a great mission must, like
the early Christians, take his life in his
hands. 1t 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-
nlence and progress do not hesitate to ac-
cept life as a price. Oar bridges, buildings
and tunnels are built with the cost of life.
Shall we, then, muTmBr at the missionary
who is willing to risk fever and riot in the
interests of eternal salvation? When ex-
amples of self-devotion fall INTO the per-
spective of history we applaud the martyr
spirit. God help US to value and covet 10
when near at hand.
Esther went with fear and trembling,
but not cowardice. Heroism is not fool
hardy. To go forward in the face Of dam
ger, despite fear, is true courage. Pau
ministered il Corinth with much weak
ness, fear and trembling, but beneath all
was the splendid heroisin of self-devotion.
If | perish"-but such a spirit cannot
perish. 1t may seem to fall in self-sacri-
fee, 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
lire. 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-
llvered. The witnesses who burned at
Smithield were as triumphant as the three
men who could not be burned by the seven
fold heat of Nebuchadnezzar's furnace.
The H~uguenots who fell on st. Bartholo-
new Day were no less conquerors than
Joshua's army. Christ did not perish on
the cross. Paul did not perish in Rome.
Ielemachus did not perish in the Roman
arena. Such dying is the highway TO life
and power.
The Queen asked the forfeited lives OF
her people. She was related to them and
a sufferer with them. From their side she
was moved with compassion. From her
queen!y position she obtained deliverance.
This is the object Of all mediation. Our
cdNAOuT do Tie L1du Jesus Is LOUc0e0 WIFI
the feeling OF our infirmities. As the ex-
allied Lord He 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 intercession for divine sue
cor. In our weakness we are tempted to
abuse this great carte blanche of our Lord.
Salome, who received the same overture
from a king as did Esther, asked the death
of John the Baptist. Many a petition of
prayer would end in death il granted. But
no @earnal, selfish supplication viii receive
the Endorsement of the Lord Christ, and
consequently fails.
Then we come to the banquet scene. It
is most suggestive. Only the hostess and
two guests, but what issues tremble in the
balances. Esther is under sentence of
death. The dark hour is drawing nigh.
Haman, the prime minister, is in glee; he
Is succeeding most marveious,y. Yet IN
one day all is suddenly reversed. The
Queen becomes the author of life and Ha-
man is sent to the gallows built for an
other. Success may be upon US in the very
darkest hour, while failure may be dog
ging the tracks Of the most lightsome
heart. Righteousness seems to be worsted
in the conflict with evil. Good measures
seem to fail, evil ones to triumph. Seru-
| pulous honesty goes to the wall, while
| trickery and fraud are crowned with sue
| cess. Virtue IS seemingly strangled and
vice is robed with royalty. And we are
| tempted to be envious at the prosperity of
the wicked But we may not pass judg-
ment until the issue is seen. There will
come a day when righteousness shall -four
ish and evil perish. The plots of the
worlds Humans, Herods and Judases all
miscarry. Sin and 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 Haman. 1t was
an awful crisis. 1t is always a crisis when
contending principles come to the decisive
struggle. In every soul there is a Haman
who seeks the betrayal and destruction Of
| the spiritual life. In our conflict with this
evil self there comes a tire when we must
be specific in naming the foe. No salvation
comes from generalities. This adversary
and enemy may wear different names in
our disposition. 1t may be pride, envy,
jealousy, bitterness, w~orldiness, etc.
Whatever it NAV be, 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-
ingiy with the particular Hannah who Is
working destruction. Not until Haman
goes to the gallows can life stand secure.
41af LIZ b4C oaRASA1S RRO
at great risk, Esther finds a great reward.
The clerks write the message of life more
rapidly than thew wrote the sentence of
death. The good work is fastened with
more speed than the message OF woe. Joy
supplants sorrow and life comes in the
place of death. The harvest of sacrifice is
life. We sow in tears, we reap in joy. In
this successful mission of Esther the me
diatrix we have an admiration Of the sal
walton wrought out by Jesus Christ. He
took His life in His hands. He died and
rose again from the dead. He secured a
reversal of the sentence of death written
against us and proclaims forgiveness of
sins and the gift of eternal life. Ours is
the privilege first to receive and rejoice in
this truth, and then to speed the glad It'd
iugs to every creature in all the world.
These are our supreme opportunities. They
may be Swallowed with self-sacrifice, but If
they are r~esolutely seized they will issue ID
the morning of JOY.