"The soul that rises in us, our life's star, And cometh from afar. Heaven lies about us in our infancy." 3. In the discovery of the conspiracy and the entering on the records of the empire an account of Mordecai's distinguished services in saving the king's life, a good foundation is laid for Mordecai's advancement. Esther at least, is able now to prove that he whom she has appointed into the king's service is a man to be trusted. But there is no impatience-no over hastening in his case. There is no complaint that his remuneration is delayed. O that we could always feel that God's time is the best time-that patient waiting on the Lord is no delay. God's leisure is always most opportune. Mordecai's hour is set on the eternal dial. It is sure to come, and the intervening dangers and apparent drawbacks shall only make his honors the greater, and his experience of the loving kindness of the God of Jacob all the more precious. Young man from home-in a strange land—often have you been disappointed-often thought the golden prize within your grasp, but it escaped you-amid your long deferred hopes, remember Mordecai. He was for the moment apparently overlooked. But his reward came. Impatient young man—you think you rise to fame too slow. Your steps upward in your profession do not satisfy you, and yet you may be rising faster than you think, and much more surely than you could do in any other way. Think not of how you shall become great, but only of how you may do your duty in your place, whatever it is, in the most thorough and perfect manner. WAIT YOUR TIME. 139 Wellington in his campaigns did not stop to write letters proclaiming his heroism, nor of his becoming great; but only of giving the French a sound drubbing, and his greatness came of itself. Impatient, are you of doing your work and to make your mark in the world? Remember Havelock-young soldier-remember Havelock-"every inch," as Lord Hardinge said, "every inch a soldier, and every inch a christian." Toiling on fifty years, almost all of them spent under India's burning sun, panting for his work to do, and blanched and weary; yet the work Providence had assigned him came at last. He did it and died-nobly did it, and his soul sped its way to his God, and in every English home there is sorrow as for a father dead. when and in ways Several steps, im 4. God often cares for his people, and means that they know not of. portant steps, are here taken for the deliverance of the Hebrews in Persia from a danger that was near at hand and most imminent, but, as yet, not developed. The way is prepared to raise them up a friend, when they shall most need one, though, as yet, they know nothing of the danger, and such a friend as they should most need-the only one, speaking after the manner of men, that could really serve them effectively. Speaking with reverence, history shows that God's plan is often out of our sight, but never out of his mind. An irreversible decree has gone forth, from the palace of Shushan, throughout the vast empire, that Vashti is no longer queen, and that every man must rule his own house, and may divorce his wife for disobedience, without regard to his tyranny or foolishness in giving his commandments. But whether this decree serves the king's passion, or Memucan's deeper policy, it is God's plan for bringing to the Persian throne a queen after his own heart, for the deliverance of the seed of Jacob. Haman, in his rage against the children of God's friend, Abraham, has not yet appeared on the stage; but in the tableau already exhibited, the sequel will show we have the means of his overthrow, and means, also, for the complete defeat of his murderous plot. The great king has peace and plenty, and considers himself established on his throne, and, for this reason, he prepares a most extraordinary feast. This feast gratifies his vanity and whets the appetite of his court and army for new conquests-but especially would he show his greatest gem, his beautiful queen; but she is disobedient, and, in his rage, she is divorced, and no law of the Medes and Persians can be repealed. The king, therefore, must have another queen, and the plan to obtain one is suggested by his ministry, who have their own schemes to advance, but, nevertheless, the plan introduces Hadassah, and the conspiracy against the king's life, that took place about the same time, serves to make a valuable record of her cousin's great services to the king. Here is a wonderfully numerous band working together, and every one-the conspirators shall I call them ?-fulfilling his part, exactly at the right time. The great king, Ahasuerus, and the ravishingly beautiful queen Vashti; Memucan and his ghostly council of astrologers-the traitorous eunuchs and privy council-Mordecai and his lovely cousin : Her marriage and coronation, followed by Mordecai's fidelity in saving the king from death, and the queen the agent of communicating this to the king, and of GOD'S COUNSEL STANDETH. 141 having his name duly entered on the court journals as the deliverer of the king; but, as yet, though contrary to custom, no reward is bestowed, but that, however, is because Providence has a greater one in reserve than would now be given. What an array have we here of lust and passion, of cross purposes-a variety of selfish views and schemes and passions; and yet God is working over and through, and by all, with a steady and fixed purpose to save his people, His Church. Promotion cometh neither from the east nor from the west; but from the Lord. He raiseth up one and casteth down another. There are indeed many devices in man's heart, but the counsel of the Lord, it shall stand. 5. Remember, my fair young readers, of this history of the model Hebrew maid and peerless queen, that you may all wear a crown more precious than ever adorned a Persian throne. Though each of the fair virgins gathered into the king's seraglio, hoped to become a queen, only one could succeed to that honor. But you may all gain the heavenly prize. O that you were all as ambitious of your espousals to the king of glory. What time! what quantity of myrrhs and sweet odors were consumed in preparing Esther for the king! How much more diligent and pains-taking should we be to secure a preparation for the presence of the glorious Majesty of heaven! But how can this be done? "Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?" Micah vi: 6, 8. How can man be just in the sight of God? If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean, yet shall thou plunge me in the ditch, and my own clothes shall abhor me: For He is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment. Neither is there any days-man betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both. Job ix: 30, 33. After all the cleansing oils of our own tears and repentance, and the sweet odors of our own good works, we are altogether unholy and vile in the sight of God. It is only by free grace that we are saved. It is from Jesus Christ alone we can obtain the wedding garment. He is mighty to save. And why, brethren, should we be afraid to die? Why should we live so much in dread of the grave? It is like Esther's baths of sweet perfumes, in which she lay for a time purifying herself with spices, that she might be reckoned fit to come before her lord the king. So in the grave our body is prepared to be rebuilt for our heavenly home. Earth and worms do but refine and purify our flesh, since our Lord himself past through the same way to glory, and left an enduring perfume there to animate the bodies of all his saints. "He is the resurrection and the life, whosoever believeth in Him though he were dead, yet shall he live." |