I think it may be safely affirmed, that while the grand
design of the gospel of Christ is to restore sinners to the
enjoyment of God's favour and to the divine likeness,
the two chief obstacles which it has to encounter in the
human heart, are unbelief and selfishness. Under the
power of these evU principles, men reject God's testi-
mony in His word, respecting their guilt and sinfulness,
and the means of salvation, and live on in self-indul-
gence and self-will, regardless of the calls addressed to
them to turn to God, and to live for the advancement of
His glory. And not only do those who despise the
gospel exhibit the spirit of unbelief and selfishness, but
even Christ's own people, of whom better things might
be expected, afford many melancholy proofs that they
are not whoUy emancipated from the influence of the
same spirit. " Oh ye of little faith," is language which
requires often to be addressed now, as it was by the



164 BIGHT tTSE

Lord Himself, to His followers. And the great maxim
enforced by the apostle needs to be equally enforced in
our own time : ** Christ died for all, that they who live
should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto
Him that died for them^ and that rose again.''

It was practically to prevent Esther from sinking
under the influence of unbelief and selfishness, that Mor-
decai urged upon her attention the two truths, that
deliverance would be wrought out for the Jews as
Grod's covenant people, and that the very reason of
her being advanced to the kingdom was, not that she
might live in luxurious ease, but that she might exert
her power for God's glory, and the benefit of her coun-
trymen. And it is for a similar end that we inculcate
upon you the lesson which this part of the history sug-
gests. You may be disposed to imagine, that when, in the
providence of God, you are put in possession of wealth
and other advantages, which at one period you could
have scarcely looked for, you are at liberty to employ
them as you think fit yourselves, for your own gratifica-
tion, and without any reference to the interests of Christ's
kingdom. 