notice here-1. Mordecai's charge. It was that, after reading the royal decree Esther s_hould ~o to the king and m11.ke supplication before him for her people (ver: 8). '.)'his he )~id upon h_er as a solemn duty. , The o~ligations of duty are increased by high. position and mfluence. 2. Esther s strait. However willing to obey M?r~eca1, Esther was awar~ of a twofold obstacle to her following hie guidance in this mstance. It was a umversally known law of the Persian court that no one m1m or woman, should_ approach the king unin~te_d under the penalty of death (ver.' 11). The _life of any ~ntruder, on _whatever miss10n, could o!IIY be saved by the king's holding out to him or her !us golden sceptre. In ordmary circumstances the un- bidden entrance of the queen would be l!lost likely to receive the royal sign of safety and welcome. But Esther had a special fact to commll'Jlicate to Mordecai on this point. For thirty days, or ~ month, th~ king had never sought her company, and sh~ had no hope that he might now give her a1_1 opportunity of speaking to him. This forgetfulness of Esther on the part of the kmg may perhaps have been owing to the ncious influence of Haman. IV. THAT TEST~NG OCCASIONS ARISE IN THE H!STORY OF EVERY LIFE. No position, however exalted, 1s free from them. Many fail to meet them honestly and heroic- ally, and therefore suffer more than they gain by them. Happy are those who under the pow:er ot faith and a sense of duty, withstand and conquer _them to good ends (1 Pet. 1. 6, 1 ).-D. Ver. 5.-The cry of the wretched. "Then called Esther for Hatach, ... and gave him a command to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was." Esther hears of Mordecai's grief from her maids and chamberlains. She sends raiment first. She then sends Hatach to ask Mordecai "what his grief is, and why it is." She ie much troubled when she learns the real state of danger in which he and herself are placed. She does not seem to have thought so much_ about her people ae about her uncle, who had been unto her as a father. l. THOSE LI'VING IN LUXURY AND EASE, AWAY FROM THE SIGHT OF THE TROUBLES OF THE POOR, OFTEN DO NOT FEEL ANXIOUS FOR THEIR WELFARE. This ie the tendency of all luxurious life, that we measure the position of others by our own ; or we think not of others as having such fine feelings. We believe it is one of the great evils of the present day that the struggle to attain and maintain what ie called refined life and position, society, is crushing out the sympathy once felt for those on the lower levels. An indifferentiHm to their claims springs up in proportion to the anxiety to gratify personal selfishness. II. THERE AUE MANY MORDECAIS IN EVERY CITY WEARING THE SACKCLOTH OF POVERTY, A!-:D BEARING THE ASHES OF SORROW, WHO HAVE A STRONG CLAIM ON THE SYMPATHY OF CHRISTIANS. They want something more than mere doled-out crumbs of charity; they need a heartfelt sympathy, and real help. Thie is what Christ gave them on earth. He, the most intellectual, refined, and sinless Being that ever lived, bent to the lowliest, strengthened the weakest, bore with the frailest, came into closest con- tact with disease and sin, so that it seemed that he "himself took our infirmities," and became "sin for us." His whole life was a going out of self and living for othere.-H. Ver. 14.-Discerning opportunities. "Who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time ae this? " We can imagine Esther saying to herself, "Away with all my coward.ice, my weak-heartedness. Why should I fear to go and ! plead for my people ? " She says to herself, " Ca1_1 be so unworthy of m:r descent as an Israelite? Will God forsake me when stnvmg to save and serve lue chosen people? Come, O thou that leddest thy people ae a flock 1 and lead me now to a prosperous ending of my hazardous work I O thou t!1at didst brea~ the power of Pharaoh restrain that of our enemy I O thou that didst go forth with Joshua and help h~ by hailstorms from heaven against the Amalekitee, unsheathe thy Bw?rd against this Agagite, this Haman who seeks our hurt I Causi: me,_ 0 God, l!ke Miriam to praise thee in gladsome song because the enemy and hie designs are alike overth;own. Unworthy am I to ~e an instrument in thine hand~; Jet, if I come to tLe kingdom for such a time as thlB, make me ready to do thy will. OIi, IV, 1-17.) THE BOOK OF ESTHER. 93
I. OPPORTUNITII!:S FOR DOINO GOOD COME TO CHRISTIANR IN EVERY PLACE. They can benefit their family, the nation, or the Church. II. Opportunities of doing good SHOULD BE SEIZED. Gone, they may have pa~sed for ever. Generally the opportunities of doing the greatest good am brief. The time of the death edict is approaching. III. If opportunities are neglected it is well to have REMINDERS. Parents, friends, 'l'lr ministers may be as reminding Mordecais. IV. The thought that an opportunity is SPECIALLY GIVEN BY Goo FOR SERVING HIM has a great effect in leading to the performance of duty.-H.