The philosopher,
confident in his newly discovered principle, waited for the coming of
more intelligent generations, willing that men should laugh at the
lightning-rod and cotton-gin and steam-boat--waiting for long years
through the scoffing of philosophical schools, in grand and
magnificent silence.

Galileo, condemned by mathematicians and monks and cardinals,
caricatured everywhere, yet waiting and watching with his telescope to
see the coming up of stellar reenforcements, when the stars in their
courses would fight for the Copernican system; then sitting down in
complete blindness and deafness to wait for the coming on of the
generations who would build his monument and bow at his grave. The
reformer, execrated by his contemporaries, fastened in a pillory, the
slow fires of public contempt burning under him, ground under the
cylinders of the printing-press, yet calmly waiting for the day when
purity of soul and heroism of character will get the sanction of earth
and the plaudits of heaven.

Affliction enduring without any complaint the sharpness of the pang,
and the violence of the storm, and the heft of the chain, and the
darkness of the night--waiting until a Divine hand shall be put forth
to soothe the pang, and hush the storm, and release the captive. A
wife abused, persecuted, and a perpetual exile from every earthly
comfort--waiting, waiting, until the Lord shall gather up His dear
children in a heavenly home, and no poor Vashti will ever be thrust
out from the palace gate.

Jesus, in silence and answering not a word, drinking the gall, bearing
the cross, in prospect of the rapturous consummation when

"Angels thronged their chariot wheel,
And bore Him to His throne,
Then swept their golden harps and sung,
'The glorious work is done!'"

Oh, woman! does not this story of Vashti the queen, Vashti the veiled,
Vashti the sacrifice, Vashti the silent, move your soul? My sermon
converges into the one absorbing hope that none of you may be shut out
of the palace gate of heaven. You can endure the hardships, and the
privations, and the cruelties, and the misfortunes of this life if you
can only gain admission there. Through the blood of the everlasting
covenant you go through those gates, or never go at all. God forbid
that you should at last be banished from the society of angels, and
banished from the companionship of your glorified kindred, and
banished forever. Through the rich grace