wilt thou have me to do ? " 2. Follow the leadings of God's providence. Say, 11 Lead Lord, and thy servant shall be found in thy steps I " Ver: 16.-.Afast. Fasting is often mere superstition, e.e when men suppose that there 1s merit in their abstaining on certain days from certain kinds of food thinldng th_at mortifica~ion of '!-ppetite is_ in itself a virtue, a!1d t_hat God _must needs be pleased with what pams or distresses his creatures. Fastmg 1s sometimes a mockery. It is well known that many religionists keep the letter whilst they break the spirit of a fast. It is certainly difficult to sympathise with the asceticism of those who fast on Fridays upon salmon and champagne. Yet this, like other religious observances that are now largely superstitious, or at all events formal, has ite origin in laudable desires, and springs from good tendencies in human nature. I. A COMMON SORROW NATURALLY SEEKS A COMMON EXPRESSION. When a com- munity is smitten by a general calamity, it is unbecoming that any members of that community should indulge in feasting and mirth. When the Jews were threatened with destruction, bow natural that, at Esther's suggestion, the Hebrew population of the city should join in a general fast. II. A COMMON WANT NATURALLY LEADS TO UNITED SUI'PLICATION. Together the people were endangered ; together they sought deliverance from their redeeming God. A fast is not only a time of abstinence from pleasure, it is a time of prayer; and God in heaven is gratified by conjoined and blended supplication and interces- sion. What mercies await the society, the city, the nation which will agree with one heart to seek the Lord. III. IT IS THE SPIRITUAL FABTING WHICH IS ACCEPTABLE TO THE SEARCHER OF HEARTS. Often, in the presence of fasts which are merely outward, has he addressed the indignant question to formal religionists, "ls it such a fast that I have chosen?" Often has the appeal been addressed to such, "Rend your hearts, and not your garments I " The case of the Ninevites is an illustration of the combination of a formal with a real fast, and is a proof that such a fast is not disregarded by God. Let the words of our Saviour be remembered: "When thou fastest, anowt thy head and wash thy face, that thou appear not unto men to fast ; and thy Father who seetb in secret shall reward thee openly." Ver. 16.-" If I perish, I perish!" The bosom of the queen must, when she uttered these affecting words, have been rent with diverse emotions. The entreaty of Mordecai, the danger of her people, the benevolence of her own nature, all urged her to venture intc the presence of the august yet capricious king. Yet her knowledge of the court rules, her fears for herself, must have withheld her from the daring act. She faced the possible consequences, she prepared herself for the worst. Doubtless she commended herself to the care of Heaven, and, forming the resolve, exclaimed, " If I perish, I perish I " Hearers of the gospel ~ave sometimes been convin~ed of their sin and yet have not been able to appropnate to themselves the promises of God's w~rd. They have felt that there is no refuge save in the cross of Christ, and no hope save in the mercy of God. After long, sore conflict, such anguished suf- ferers with a faith which is half despair, have been able to cast themselves before the fe~t of the King, whose displeasure they dread, and in whose mercy they scarcely dare to hope. They have ventured all u~on Divine compassion, and the. earnestness, the distress, the utter helplessness of their hearts have found utterance m the cry of Esther, "If I perish, I perish I " . I. The cry is the utterance of SINCERITY AND EARNESTNESS. The language 1s full of feeling, of pass~o":· It w~s. n_o fee~le e~otion which could_ prompt to such a determination. This 1B the spmt m which a smner should come mto the presence of the King, seeking for pardon. II. It is the utterance of FELT UNWORTHINESS. And none can come aright unto God save he who comes with the cry of the penitent publican, " God be merciful to me a sinner I " III. It is the utterance of CONSCIOUS NEED. Nothing but the keenest sense of the necessity of tl1e case could have impelled Esther to the course of action she took. tlimilar is the motive which brings the siD.Der to the Lord. (Ill. l\', 1-17.] THE BOOK OF ESTHER. 89
"Nothing in my hnncl I bring, Simply to thy cross I cling." IV. It is the utterance of MINGLED FEAR AND HOPE. Uncertainty and dread mingled in the queen's mind with some gleam of hope. It is not unnatural that the poor helpless sinner should shrink from the view of a holy God, should scarcely dare to hope for his favour. V. It is the utterance of A MIND UPON WHICH THE KING WILL HAVE MERCY. As Eether's fears were dispelled by the attitude and language of her consort, so the penitent, lowly, believing, and prayerful suppliant shall never be rejected by a God who delighteth in mercy. The spirit which God will not disdain is that of the lowly suppliant who caste aside every plea save the Divine compassion, "I have tried, ancl tried in vain, Many ways to ease my pain ; Now all other hope is past, Only this is left at last : Here before thy cross I lie, Here I live, or here I die. " If I perish, be it here, With the Friend of sinners near ; Lord, it is enough-I know Never sinner perished so : Here before thv cross I lie, Here I cannot; cannot die ! "