Genius is everywhere admired. Its mighty works are the most precious inheritances of our race. In literature, in science, in art, in the numberless inventions of oivilised life, it continues to bless the world. 3. Exal,ted posi,ti,on,. This may be due to mere accident. Kings, princes, noblemen are as a rufe born to their high rank. When such is the case they deserve no credit for it. High places are sometimes snatched by the unscrupulous-by men who have no better recommendation than their audacity - in the universal scramble for power which goes on round about us. There ie no meanness that some will not stoop to, for the sake of the· glittering honours of office, or even those petty distinctions which noble minds hold in utter contempt. But distinguished stations are also the rewards of physical endowments and mental powers honourably employed. Then are they to be coveted, to be held in high esteem. The case of Mordecai is a noted example. The text leads us to notice THE TESTS OF MORAL WOBTH. Speak;ing generally, these are numerous; but we shall confine ourselves to _those suggested here-popularity, unsef/isliness, peacM-bleness. Whom shall we consider morally gTBat? J. THE MAN WHO STANDS WELL WITH THE llEST PORTION OF THE COMMUNITY. 11 And accepted of the multitude of bis brethren." Popularity as such has no intrinsic value, and to seek it for its own sake is degrading to the soul. Let any thoughtful man, while contemplating the quality of the exhibition that attracts the largest crowd, ask himself whether the admiration of such a crowd is really worth obtaining, and his inmost soul will answer, No. Crowds have been so often on the wrong side in great controversies that they have actually lost all claim to respect. They have generally ap- plauded unjust wars; they have persecuted the pioneers of knowledge, both secular and religious ; they acquiesced in the death of the Saviour. And yet, though the crowds of one age murder the prophets, the crowds of future ages will always build their sepulchres. History ever does justice to the memory of the martyr, and even he becomes popular when too late. But the Jews in captivity, the "brethren" of Mordecai, were a select community. They possessed a knowledge of things Divine which placed them on an incomparably higher level than the heathen among whom they lived. To be accepted of them, therefore, was a mark of worth. " The multitude of his brethren." A man may be the favourite of a party simply for :party con- siderations. But when the upright among all parties agree to honour him, 1t must be on account of sterling qualities. II. THE MAN WHO DEVOTES HIMSELF TO PROMOTE THE GOOD OF OTHERS. " Seeking the wealth of his people." Self-sacrifice was the Divinest quality in the Divinest Man. " The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." Into the kingdom which he came to establish no man can enter -without denying himself, taking up his cross, and following him. Fallen man is essentially selfish. Look around you for a single moment, and the proofs of this vrill crowd upon your view. Most of the evils with which man afflicts his kind are traeeable to this source. But look at the grand lives of hietory-lives·which light up the gloom of sin and woe in which the world ie enveloped-and what constitutes their glory ? They are grand only in so far as they approach the BUblime ideal which was fully realised only by One. Take the Apostle Paul. Hie memorable utterance to the Corinthians was the key-note of hie entire life : " I will very gladly spend and be spent for you ; though the more abundantly I love you, the Ieee I be loved." III. THE MAN WHO EXEBTS HIS INFLUENCE IN THE INTEBEST OF PEACE. "And speak- ing peace to all his seed." The primary reference in these words is probably to the kindness of Mordecai's disposition, but they are capable of a somewhat wider applica- tion, so as to include the desire of maintaining harmony, order, peace. It has been said of mankind, with too much reason, that their " state of nature ie a state of war." Sin divides men. In private life, in public affairs, in international relations, th~ is seen daily. Envy, rivalry, strife are found everywhere. Such is the state of thmgs even in this enlightened age, that no nation feels itself safe except it be prepared for the most deadly struggle with its neighbour. The advocate of peace 1s conse- quently a benefactor of his kind. The kingdom of God ie "peace." The birth of its Founder was heralded by angels who sang of " peace on earth." The most precious 1 legacy which Christ left hie people was his "peace." And among the grand utter- ances of the grandest sermon is found this: "Blessed are thfl peiwe-malcers, for they shall be called the children of God. "-R. HOMILETICAL INDEX
TO
THE BOOK OF ESTHER.
CHAPTER I. THEHB PJ..GII: 'IRBKB J'AOB Counsel 35 The Book of Esther 3 Example... 37 The Responsibility of Rule ... 3 Penalties :JS A Royal Banquet ... 4 Temperance 6 CHAPTER II. Ambition 6 A Great Feast 7 Evil Counsel Overruled 41 The Sated Sovereign 8 A Captive Hebrew 42 Vanity ... 9 Esther ... 42 The Law of Temperance 11 Adoption 43 The Position of Women 12 Reserve e.nd Reticence 44 The Royal Feast ... 13 Watchful Solicitude 44 The Hospitality of Vainglory 14 Favour with Men ... 45 Queen Vashti 18 Esther made Queen 45 The King's Anger ... 18 Release and Gifts . . . 46 Wise Men 19 Memory's Visitation 46 Counsel ... 20 The Verdict of Pleasure an Untrust- The Influence of Example ... 20 worthy Basis of Action 48 Rule in the House 21 A Relative's Solicitude 49 A Drunken Device 22 Simple Tastes 49 Privileged Persons 23 An Unexpected Coronation... 49 A Noble Womanly Refusal , .. 24 Vain Regrets 50 The Parody of Legislature ... 26 Esther ... 51 The Tyrant-Slave ... 27 Mordecai 52 Court Influence 28 The Pagan Harem and the Christian The Fruit of Excess 29 Home... 53 Justifiable Disobedience 80 Filial Obedience ... 56 Anger 31 A Plot in the Palace 56 Motives of Self-Restraint 33 Worldly Policy 57 Counsellors 34 Conspiracy and Fidelity 5~ i,:erm,:R. Ii INDEX.