d!ffcr from us in faith and opinion we should gladly co-operate with them. Religious differences should not interfere with civil duties or national obligations. It is laid on ~otb Jews _and Gentiles to be loyal to the throne or g·overnment under which they !rve. A Wise conduct is especially required in the followers of God whose lot is cast 11:1 heathen lands. While true to their faith in all things, they should avoid an incon- ~idera~ 1and irritating obtt:nsiven~ss. Tb~~~ aim should be to win by a holy guile, &. e. by the meekness of Wisdom (James m. 13), rather than to repel by a crude and nnsympat~etic assum~tion of ~uperior light: There are.such things as casting pearls before ~Wlne, and swme ~rmng and rendu~g the foolish spendthrift. 2. A good confess10n. ~lienever a time comes when silence as to our faith would be a sin we ~bou!d sp~ak, and sp~ak plainly. ~here should be no besit~tion in naming God, or m witnessmg for Cbnst, when occas10n demands a clear testimony. When Mordecai saw that his silence was misinterpreted he declared his Jewish origin and faith. He was an Israelite itnd a worshipper of the Jehovah of Israel, and as such he could not gi.e worship to any cre&ture of God, even though it should be a Haman. There is a time to be silent, and there is a time to speak. 3. An enduring steadfastness. It is often e11sier to begin than to continue a faithful witnessing for God. Some who r~adily acknowledge the truth begin to waver and lose steadfastness in presence of difficulty or danger. They cannot endure. But Mordecai, having once taken his stand on religious principle, remained firm against all temptations. He reminds us of the words of Luther in presence of Charles V.: "Here I stand; I cannot do otherwise; God help me. Amen" (Matt. xxiv. 13; James i. 12). 4. A noble courage. It was not without sober calculation that Mordecai refused homage to Haman. He knew how much he risked. He had II the courage of his convictions." He was (1) willing to stand alone amongst his companions in service. He could bear their sneers and threats. A bard thing in any position I He (2) faced the probable anger of the king, to whom he bad proved himself loyal. He (3) braved the malignant wrath of the favourite, from whom he could expect no mercy. He ( 4) put in peril the happiness and future guidance of bis beloved Esther. He (5) laid bis own life on the altar of righteousness. He (6) sacrificed every earthly interest to his allegiance to God. We think of Paul's heroism of faith (Phil. iii. 8). Then we think of the words of Paul's Master (Matt. xix. 29).-D.
Ver. 4. - Profession an,d practice. The favourites of fortune are generally remarkable for their pride. Especially is this the case with those whom despots delight to honour. Forgetting the worthlessness of the preference to which they owe their promotion-being sometimes nothing more than a passing whim-they rashly lay claim to universal homage. Haman is therefore the representative of a numerous class, which is not likely soon to become extinct. Mordecai in this instance resolves upon a manly course. He will not join the multitude in feeding the vanity of an inflated upstart. Neither threatening nor persuasion is able to overcome bis steadfastness. What could have been Mordecai's reason for his present conduct? We may well imagine that he had more reasons than one, and that the combined force of several had influenced his decision. 1. Haman pos- se.ssed a despi-cable character. Mordecai could not have bowed to him ~thol!t doing violence to his own nature. He knew the man-his insolent beanng, his mean spirit, his cruel disposition-and he recoiled from him with unconquerable loathing. And he was right. There are men whom to admire is a degradation, whom to serve involves the ruin of our manhood. They may possess brilliant parts, they may occupy high positions, they may enjoy popular favour ; but in a moral point of view they are the pests of society. 2. Haman claimed Divine honours. The court officials prostrated themselves in the dust at his feet, and he regarded such obeisance as his due. How could Mordecai, a worshipper of the Most High, unite in such an extravagant demonstration of servility, even though the object of it had bee!1 the worthiest instead of the basest of mankind? To him it was a matter of conscience, and he calmly awaited the consequences. We have here a striking exemplification of PROFESSION AND PRACTICE in perfect harmony. Mordecai declared himself to be a Jew and conducted himself as a Jew might be expected to do. Note- L MoRDECAI'B BOLD PROFESSION. "For he had told them that he was i Jew." Thi& OH. III, 1-6.] THE BOOK OF ESTHER. 67