our conscience, enlightened by his Word and Spirit. The Gospel, also, teaches us, both by precepts and examples, to be steadfast, unyielding, even unto death, in the profession and maintenance of truth.

As we shall hear of this old Hebrew again, let us take a good look at him, as we pass by the gate this evening. I could wish you would closely observe him, so that you may know him when you meet him again. He is not only a man of principle, but in his vindication of himself, he shows that he is not criminally indifferent to the good opinions of others-that he is not influenced by a mere fancy or whim, but is governed by a strong sense of duty. Will you observe him sitting at the king's gate, thinking of the past, and wondering how the great future, of which he had some undefined, almost unconscious prophesyings within, was to be developed. His piety and faith were of a simple, earnest kind. Though he did not see how, yet he was perfectly sure, salvation was for the Jews. And then his mind wanders to the palace, and he wonders how the new sultana wears her honors, and then he sternly questions his own heart, "Did I take sufficient pains, and use all the means to establish her youthful heart in the principles of our holy religion? Did I do all my duty to her, and will she be faithful to the God of Jacob, amid the splendor of this great heathen court? Does she ever think of me, and remember that, under God, she owes her education and crown to me? My post is now an humble one, but I am content with it. It is best; but, oh, that salvation were come for Zion, that Judah's horn were again exalted." His pious meditations would, doubtless, have continued much lon

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ger, but here comes the newly raised favorite of the king, ruffling past in great pomp, "and," as bishop Hall says, "when the sun shines upon the dial, every passenger will be looking at it; there needed no command of reverence, where Ahasuerus was pleased to countenance. All his subjects are willingly prostrate before this great minion of their sovereign, only Mordecai stands stiff, as if he saw nothing more than a man in that Agagite."

And

But yonder come his fellow servants of the palace; what have they to say? Why they say to him, why transgressest thou the king's commandment? verily, aged man, why? Is it that all eyes may be turned upon you? It is true, indeed, that he is the observed of all observers, who does not go with the multitude, even though they go to do evil. Any one that dares to think and speak for himself is sure to be condemned by the many that he differs from; for his position and principles are a running commentary of condemnation upon them. It has ever been so, and perhaps it will always continue to be so; for it is not for the man that lives in the cellar to say what he sees who dwells on the house-top. Some men are before their times, and some men never catch up with the age in which they live; and some men have not moral courage enough to hear themselves breathe honestly and freely. We see this daily as to the press and the pulpit. Is not the daily bread of the printer put in jeopardy if his journal does not meet the popular taste? And have we not seen large bodies of business men combine to starve newspapers to death by withholding their patronage, unless the said papers would defend

their conduct? And is it not true that if one pulpit has the courage to utter an honest opinion that does not happen to coincide with the rest of the pulpits, that then all the pulpits and papers that have neither capacity to understand nor the moral honesty to comprehend the poor dissenter, open their batteries upon him? Such proscription is tyranny, and it is a species of tyranny from which we are not yet emancipated. The tyranny of fanaticism and the cruelty of a vicious public sentiment are evils prevailing in our day, which every patriot must see and deplore.

will

I

And again his fellow-servants say: Friend Mordecai, consider well what you are going to do. Remember, it is not Haman merely, but his master, also, that you offend. Is it wise, then, for you to peril the forfeiture of your place and your life, upon a question of mere etiquette or courtesy? It is extremely impolitic and dangerous for you not to do homage to so great a prince. And besides, if you will not bow with us, then you have to suffer alone. "Yes, friends," says he, "I have considered all this; and I am content to meet the consequences. It is not a mere question of courtesy. am a Jew. My religion is, with me, a glorious reality. It forbids me to render divine honors to any human being, or to any creature. I must abide by my principles." And now, secing they cannot change his purpose, his disobedience is construed into a malicious obstinacy; and his monitors fancy that they have been treated with contempt. It is usual for those who do not succeed in reforming or changing the opinions of others, to become their enemies. Even in giving a reproof, a friend is gained or lost. If the reproof is re

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ceived, a friend is saved, but if it is spurned, a terrible enemy is made. As John the Baptist did not succeed in reforming Herod, his head was the price of his fidelity. So here, Mordecai's monitors feel slighted, and begin to hate the man whose courage they could not make quail-they, therefore, pick a quarrel with him, and as a revenge for his refusing to pronounce their shibboleth, they turn informers against him, and tell Haman how proud and stubborn the old Jew in the gate sat as he passed by. And so, the next time he comes along, he watches the Jew, and so do they, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand-that is, whether he had courage to remain steadfast, and if he did, whether Haman would not strike off his head. Possibly, also, it was the habit of the Persian kings to excuse their Hebrew subjects from such acts of obeisance as they could not conscientiously render, and they wished to see now who was to prevail, the prime minister or the Jew. From the history before us, and also from that of Daniel, it seems probable that it was only when some special decrees were made for the benefit of some malicious or revengeful courtier, that the Jews were molested in their religion.

Mordecai's fellow-servants were not capable of understanding his principles. Cowards never apprehend the true character of a brave man. Little minds cannot see up into the magnanimity of a great and noble soul.

But it was not long till this proud Amalekite, with more pomp than usual, snuffing up the air as he walked, comes along by the gate, saying: "I'll see, myself, the man that refuses homage to the greatest prince of Per

sia." Aye, and so you shall, proud son of Hammedatha. You shall see him, and you will find him as inflexible as the marble statues and granite sphinxes that guard the city gate. Your eyes shall sparkle with fury as you see him sit quietly, without paying you the slightest homage. Nor will he even open his lips to you. He utters no threats, nor does he even show a frown; but his joints are not supple enough to bow. You may possibly break them, but you cannot make them bow to the dust before you. Death on the rack, or in any form your rage may inflict, is more easy to him than the bending of his old knees, that have never learned to bow, except to JEHOVAH alone.

1. But how does it come that we find a man of such integrity and strength of character, and loftiness of principle, here in Persia, a captive far from the home. of his fathers? It comes in a very philosophic way. Mordecai is what his education has made him-Mordecai is the concrete word for all the influences that have been operating on him from his birth to this moment. And among these we are, doubtless, to find the teachings and example of his parents in the home of his youth, amid the hills of Judea. Parents-especially the mother, moulds the man. Mothers are more constantly with their children when they are young. They have their attention when their affections are first developing, and their intellects are beginning to expand. They have it then in their power to sow the precious seed, which it is almost impossible wholly to eradicate in after life. The whole world is an illustration of the influence of parental example, and yet the