Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-09-26

could but anticipate death by few Gays,
and had the chance of success. There IS
not much room for choice. Death is the
worst that can come, and that will come
stAss way EhsT sad M Wiz PSsr Chose
expressions made by the martyr spirits OF
history. 1t is the only attitude and expires.
sion that will fit the supreme crisis and
opportunity. In Just such situations Moses
said, "Blot me, [ pray thee. out of the
book which thou hast written" Jesus said,
II hold not My life of any account as dear
ever goes upon a great mission must, like
the early Christians, take his life in his
hands. 1t is only along that pathway shat
salvation lies. 1t is 4 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-
cept life az 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-
amples Of se,f-devotion fall into the per-
spirit. God hep lis to value and covet it
when near at hand.
Esther went with fear and trembling,
but not cowardice. Heroism is not foo,-
hardy. To go forward in the face of dam
ger, despite fear, is true courage. Paul
ministered in Corinth with much weak
ness, fear and trembling, but beneath all
was the splendid heroism of se,f-devotion.
IF ! perish'-but such a spirit cannot
perish. 1t may seem to fall in self-sacri-
fice. 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 as victorious as Daniel who was de-
livered. The witnesses who burned at
Smithfield were as triumphant as the three
men who could not be burned by the seven
fold heat of Nebuchadnezzar's furnace.
The Huguenots who fell on st. Bartholo-
Ioshua's army. Christ did not perish OH
the cross. Paul did not perish in Rome.
Te.emachus 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
sufferer with them. From their side she
was moved with compassion. From her
rmeenly position she obtained deliverance.
This is the object of all mediation. Our
Saviour as the man Jesus is touched with
the feeling CT orr infrmities. AS the ex-
alted Lord He interccdos to supply our
need according to His riches in glory. The
privilege OF prayer is granted to us, that
from tfo 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
{, nm king as did Esther. asked the death
Of John the Bantist.. Many a petition of
no carnal selfish supr!ication will receive
the Endorsement OF the Lord Christ, and
consequently fails.
Then we como to tie banquet scene. It
is most suggestive. On'y the hostess and
two guests, hut what issues tremble in the
balances Esther is under sentence of
1eath. The dark hour is drawing nigh.
S succeeding most marvelous.y. Yet in
one day all is suddenly reversed. The
Queen becomes the author of life and Ha-
nan is sent to the gallows built for an
,,ther. Success may be upon lis in the very
darkest hour, While failure may be dog
ying the tracks O.: the most lightsome
leart Righteousness seems to he worsted
n the conflict with evil. Good measures
seem to fail. evi! ones to triumph. Scru-
orious honesty goes to the wall, while
;rickery and fraud are crowned with sue
cess. Virtue is seemingly strangied and
vice is .robsd with royalty. And we are
tempted to be envous at the prosperity OF
the wicked. But we may not pass jrdg-
ment until the issue is seen. There will
rome day when Righteousness shall -four
ish and evil perish. The plots of the
worlds Hamans. Hcrods and ,Judases all
r'is"arry. Sin and evil rot at the core.
Righteousness and truth have the quality
Of Immortality.
At tie right moment Esther not only
stated the plot. but named the adversary
and enemythis wicked Hannah. 1t was
IN awful crisis. It is always a crisis when
conten@lng principles come to the decisive
struggle. In every soul there is Hannah
who seeks the betrayal and destruction of
the spiritual life. In our conflict with this
be speciic in namin" the foe. No salvation
comes from genera!ities. This adversary
and enemy may wear different names in
our disposition. 1t may be pride, envy.
jealousy, bitterness. worldiiness. etc
Whatever it may be. it has planned our
ruin and waits the moment Of execution.
If We, would save our lives, families. cities
inglv. with the particular Haman who is
working destruction. Not until Haman
goes to the gallows can life stand secure.
Having seized the supreme opportunity
ut great risk. Esther finds great reward.
The clerks write the message of life more
rapidly than thev wrote the sentence of
death The good work is FASTENED with
more speed than the message of woe. Joy
snpp.ants 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 SOL
vation wrought ont by Jesus Christ. He
took His life in His hands. He died and
:ose AGAR. from the dead. He secured
reversal. Of the sentence of death written
against us. and proc.aims forgiveness of
:ins ard the gift of eternal life. Ours is
The privilege first to receive ard rejoice in
this truth. and then to speed the glad It'd
ngs to every creature in all the world.
These are our supreme opportunities. They
may be Swallowed with sclf-sacrifice. bat if
they are resolnte.y seized they will issue in
the morning of joy.
Victories Won.
EFT ls not by resrettinS what is irrepar-