Written in the book.
Tradition is the simplest mode of transmitting what is memorable from generation to generation. Ordinances, festivals, celebrations, are a kind of acted tradition, and have always been in use among nations and religious communities. But there are certain respects in which literature is preferable to either oral tradition or commemorative festival, and certainly these receive force and point and power from what is written in their explanation. The origin of the feast of Purim was committed to the form and keeping of literature. Whether the reference is to the Book of Esther, or to the chronicles of the Persian kingdom, or to some other document, is matter of dispute. In any case, the story was "written in a book"—in a scroll of manuscript, from which copies were made for use and information of those interested in the events recorded. This literary document—
I. SECURED AN ACCURATE RECORD. Tradition is proverbially untrustworthy. The only thoroughly trustworthy evidence for the historian is that furnished by contemporary documents.
II. DIFFUSED GOOD TIDINGS. Copies were multiplied, and wherever people of Hebrew race were found, there this delightful story pursued them.
III. PERPETUATED LASTING MEMORY, AND INSURED UNIVERSAL CELEBRATION. As a matter of fact, the record has assisted towards these ends. The roll of Esther is unfolded, and the story read, even to this day, in the Jewish synagogues throughout the world.
IV. AWAKENED UNFAILING GRATITUDE. The book does not contain the name of God, but God himself is apparent on every page, and its reading cannot fail to stimulate thanksgiving and praise. How grateful should we be that the great facts of the gospel have been committed to writing, and that we possess in the Scriptures the means of verifying our most sacred beliefs!
HOMILIES BY F. HASTINGS