Bnd cunning. The restoration of Vashti would have been dangerous to those who counselled her disgrace. The possibility of a change in the king's mind was antici- pated in the decree that could not be altered. Yet such a king, under the prompting of passion, might break through any legal fiction, and therefore it was resolved to wean him from thoughts of Vashti by the prospect of an unlimited variety of sensual indulgence. 3._ That it wa~ heartlessly wicked. No thought or pity was expended on the many fair young maidens who were to be brought from theu homes and sacri- ficed to the lust of the king. The king and his courtiers would probably regard the transaction as bestowing a special honour on its victims. "The tender mercies of the wicked are cruel." 4. That it was, nevertheless, not out of harmony with preva- lent ideas and customs. Few would be shocked by it in all the vast empire. Whilst we hold the truth to be one in all circumstances, our judgment of conduct (like Christ's-Matt. xi. 21) should allow for differences of time and place. 5. That it marks o. distinction between heathenism and Christianity. Under Christian rule such a device would be impossible. The mere idea of it excites a shuddering horror in the Christian heart. .All heathenisms are hopelessly corrupt. They contain the seeds of their own decay. It is at once a blessed and a responsible thing to live in a country whose institutions, laws, and general life are governed by the Christian truth and spirit. IV. AN INCURABLE FOLLY. "And the thing pleased the king ; and he did so." The novelty of it arrested him; the pleasure which it promised charmed him ; all memories and regrets were speedily swallowed up in the anticipated delights of a new self-indulgence. There is a folly which no lessons will teach wisdom, which no ex- periences will long influence for good. Sin hardens the heart. .A yielding to carnal lusts destroys the power of the soul to follow the lights and monitions that would deliver it. Occasional fears and perplexities may arise, but " the dog returns to its vomit." V. .A SUGGESTION OF BETTER THINGS. The pleasures of sin may be fascinatingly great to the ungodly who have not tested their fruits. But however alluring, experi- ence proves them to be short-lived, degrading to our nature, and laden with an ever- growmg and corroding bitterness. They are not to be compared with the higher delights that spring from a virtuous and self-denying life, a conscious fellowship with Jesus Christ, a trustful obedience to the heavenly Father's will, a possession of the hope that is full of immortality (see Gal. v. 19-26).-D.
Vera. 5-20.-Esther. The strange plan adopted forth~ providing of a new queen in the room of Vashti resulted in a good choice. We need 1.JOt assume that Esther was a willing candidate for royal honours. The account we have favours the belief that she passively yielded to a power which she could not resist. .Among the attractive qualities she possessed, we may notice- I. BEAUTY. She had a fair form and a good countenance. Physical beauty is not to be despised. It is one of God's gifts, and has much power in the world. Yet it exposes the soul to special danger. When not sanctified and guarded by the grace of God, it becomes a ready minister to vanity and varied sin. Moreover, it is frail a_nd precarious. .A temporary illness will destroy the brightest beauty. .A few years will wrinkle the face of youth, and give a tottering gait to the most graceful form. II. MODESTY. Esther's beauty did not make her vain and foolish. She avoided all arts to adorn it and increase its effects on others. Modesty is a lovely grace which adds a new charm to the highest physical beauty. It conciliates and wins by its own gentle force. An immodest assertion of one's self in any circumstances indicates either a want of moral sensitiveness, or a want of intellectual sight. A pure heart, a true self-knowledge, and the fear of God, are all and always modest. III. DISCRETION. In her new and trying position Esther never failed in prudence. This was the result not of skilful planning, but of a good training, and of a modesty which quickly saw what was becoming. She made no effort to please (ver. 15). The very simplicity and artlessness of her conduct won her the favour of the king's Hervants, and finally drew to her the preference of the king himself. Truth nnd wisdom are one. There is no brighter jewel in womanly character than the discretion which reflects a simple and true heart (Prov. xi. 22). IV. DUTil!'ULNESS. Ono of the most attractive qualities of Esther was her daug liter- E 2 52 THE BOOK OF ESTHER. [CH. II, 1-1