recollert~on of former 11ssociates, oarry with them into '.llew positions the ancient symi:i~th1es. even enlarged and refined 1 and, above all, retain the sweet grace of hum1hty. Esther forgot not the friena of her youth, forgot not the people from whom she had received her knowledge of the true God. And she demeaned herself with the exquisite gr11ce of lowliness when exalted to a throne. I~I. ;xa~tation may bring with it _OPPORTUNITIES OF ENLARGED USEFULNESS, Every !!t.at1on m life affords scope for serving our fellow-men. But a station of eminence 11nd authority has pre-eminent advantages of this kind. Noble natures vu.Jue re.nk chiefly for this reason, that it imparts facilities to public services. To Esther there came one great and signe.l opportunity of serving her kindred e.nd ne.tion an oppor- tunity for which she was indebted to her position as consort of the king' of Persie.. And she did not neglect to avail herself of the opportunity thus placed within her reach. IV. Elevation to power may LEAD TO THE ENJOYMENT OF WIDE-SPREAD GRATITUD& AND AFFECTION. Esther used her position in such a way that she has been held by the nation she rescued from ruin in lasting and grateful remembrance. Those who employ power for self-aggrandisement will, by just minds, be contemned ; but all who toil "not for their own, but for their people's good," will have their record in the grateful hearts alike of contemporaries and of posterity. Ver. 18.-.Relea.se and gifts. Esther's marriage was celebrated in a manner intended e.nd fitted to impress the nation with a sense of the favour and honour with which she was regarded by the "great king." There was a great feast at Susa, that the metropolis might have an opportunity of honouring the new queen. And throughout the kingdom there took place, according to the command of A.hasuerus, such celebrations and observances as were in accordance with Oriental customs. Particularly are mentioned the releases or remissions-it may be presumed from taxa- tion or military service ; and the gifts-probably of robes, and in some cases of jewels. We may regard these tokens of kingly favour as emblematic of the blessings pro- vided by Divine mercy in the gospel of Christ for the sinful and needy children of men. I. The heavenly King favours us, sinners and spiritual bondsmen, with RELEASE AND REMISSION. 1. From the service of Satan. 2. From the thraldom and punish- ment of sin. 3. By the redemption of his Son, Jesus Christ. II. The heavenly King bestows upon us, his subjects, NUMEROUS AND PRICELESS GIFTS. 1. As the condition and means of all other benefactions regard him who is "the unspeakable Gift." 2. The gift of the Holy Ghost. 3. The gift of eternal life. 4. Remember that all the bounties of Divine providence come to us as proofs of the Father's love, and through the mediation of Christ. Practical lessons :-1. Spiritual liberty is provided and offered; the prison doors are opened. Go ye free. 2. Spiritual bounty is at your disposal ; " all things are yours." Take and rejoice in the manifold gifts of God.
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS, Ver. 1.-Memory, vi,i,tatwn. The interval here indicated cannot be measured exactly. It is not important, or probably it would have been stated. But so~e things respecting it are worthy of note: that time is measurable by what we do m it, and by how the individual character grows in it. It is measurable in sadder ways -by all the heap and accumulation of the undone lying at our feet. And once more, among many other ways, we are reminded here how it is measurable by ~e duration or the cooling down of temper, of "wrath." Though the fiercest passion and the hottest wrath burn out the quickest and cool down the most rapidly, it is not to be forgotten that their effects are not similarly disposed of or reversed. Far otherwise. The fire burns out rapidly because it has finally CQ11,,umeil, its fuel, and th~ hot wrath .::oole down quickly because it has devoured its prey. These results are irreparable, though the loss they speak, the guilt they fix, the crime they mark, men gladly tum away from-results indeed often incalculabk. This passage calls attention to the ,e. u. 1-18.] 'fHE BOOK OF ESTHER. 47