Commentary on Ezra Nehemiah Ester Job and Psalms, Commentary 3 · Chapter 3

Commentary on Ezra Nehemiah Ester Job and Psalms · Commentary 3 · Chapter 3

p. 126CHAP. III. Verſe 3. After theſe things did King Ahaſhuerus promote Haman.]

FOure yeares after his marriage with Eſther, (or near upon) did Ahaſhuerus magnifie and exalt Haman, Hominem profanum & ſceleratum, as one ſaith, a profane wicked perſon: meerly for his minde ſake,Alexander the Great made Abdolominus a poor Gardiner King of Siden. to ſhew his Soveraignity, and that he would, like ſome petty god upon earth, ſet up whom he would, and whom he would, put down, Dan. 4.19. Whether it were alſo by flattery or ſycophancy, or ſome new projects for eſtabliſhing his tyranny, and increaſing his tributes, that Haman had inſinuated himſelf into this Kings favour, it is uncertain. Sure it is, that Mordecai, a better man, lay yet unlook't upon; like good corne he lay in the bottome of the heap, when this vileſt of men was exalted, Pſal. 12.8. Thus oft empty veſſels ſwim aloft, rotten poſts are gilt with adulterate gold, the worſt weeds ſpring up braveſt; and when the twins ſtrive in Rebecca's womb, profane Eſau comes forth firſt, and hath the primogeniture, Gen. 25.25. But whiles they ſeek the greateſt dignities, they moſtly meet with the greateſt ſhame, like Apes, while they be climing, they the more ſhew their deformities. They are lifted up alſo, ut lapſu graviore ruant that they may come down again with the greater poiſe. It was therefore well and wiſely ſpoken by Alvarez de Luna, when he told them who admired his fortune and favour with the King of Caſtile. You do wrong to commend the building before it be finiſhed, and until you ſee how it will ſtand.

The ſonne of Amedatha the Agagite] i.e. The Amalekite, of the Stock-royal: ſo that Haman was the natural enemy of the Jewes, like as Annibal was of the Romanes. An old grudge there was, an inveterate hatred: Amalek was Eſau's grand-childe, and the enmity betwixt theſe two peoples was, as we ſay of runnet, the older the ſtronger.

And advanced him] Set him aloft upon the pinacle of higheſt preferment, as Tiberius did Sejanus, as Lewis the eleventh of France did his Barber, as our Henry the eighth did Wolſey; and our late Kings, Buckingham. But Princes Favourites ſhould conſider with themſelves, that honour is but a blaſt, a magnum nihil, a glorious fancie, a rattle to ſtill mens ambition, and that as the Paſſenger looketh no longer upon the dial, then the Sun ſhineth upon it: So it is here.

And ſet his ſeat above all the Princes] This cup of honour his weak head could not beare: this blaſt ſo blew up the bubble, that it burſt again. Sejanus-like, he now began to ſacrifice to himſelfe, little thinking of that utter ruine to the which he was ha…ting. Phyſicians uſe to ſay, that ultimus ſanitatis gradus eſt morbo vicinus. Sure it is, that when the wicked are near unto miſery, they have greateſt preferment and proſperity. When Tiberius was deſirous to rid his hands of Sejanus, he made him his Colleague in the Conſulſhip, and ſet him above all his Courtiers. Ahaſhuerus intended not any hurt to Haman, when he raiſed him to this pitch of preferment; but it puffed him up, and proved his bane. None are in ſo great danger, as thoſe that walk upon pinacles: even height it ſelfe makes mens braines to ſwim. Every man is not a Joſeph, or a Daniel. They were ſet above all the Princes, and could not only beare it, but emprove it for the glory of God, and the good of his people. Sed ô quàm hoc non eſt omnium! High ſeats are not only uneaſie, but dangerous, and how few are there that do not (as Iſ…s her aſſe) think themſelves worſhipful for the burthen they bear?Hones onus.

Verſe 2. And all the Kings ſervants] His Courtiers and others; not his menial ſervants only.

That were in the Kings gate] Where the Courtiers uſed to walk, that they night p. 127be at a call: and where others attended, that had buſineſſe at the Court.

Bowed and reverenced Haman] Not with ſo much readineſſe and diligence, as impudence and baſeneſſe: for ſhould men bow to a molten calfe, becauſe made up of golden eare-rings? Many of theſe cringing Courtiers could not but hate Haman in their hearts, and were as ready to wiſh him hang'd, and to tell the King ſhortly after where he might have a fit gallowes for him. So Sejanus his greateſt friends, who had deified him before, when once he fell out of the Emperours favour, ſhewed themſelves moſt paſſionate againſt him, ſaying, that if Caeſar had clemency, he ought to reſerve it for men, not uſe it toward monſters.

For the King had ſo commanded concerning him] And if the King had commanded theſe ſervile foules to worſhip a dog or a cat, as the Egyptians did a golden image, as Nebuchadnezzars ſubjects did; to turne the glory of the incorruptible God into the ſimilitude of a corruptible man, of foure-footed beaſts or creeping things, as Rom. 1.23. they would have done it. Moſt people are of King Harry's religion, as the proverb is, reſolving to do as the moſt do, though thereby they be undone for ever. This is to be worſe then ſome Heathens. See the note on Acts 4.10. But why ſhould Ahaſhuerus be ſo haſty to heap ſuch honours upon ſo worthleſſe and wicked a perſon, but that he had a minde to proclaime his own folly to all his Kingdome?

But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence] He did not, he durſt not, though preſſed and urged to it with greateſt importunity. And why? not becauſe Haman wore a picture openly in his boſome, as the Chaldee Paraphraſt and Aben Ezra give the reaſon, Nor meerly (if at all, which ſome doubt of) becauſe he was a curſed Amalekite; But becauſe the Perſian Kings required, that themſelves and their chief Favourites (ſuch as proud Haman was,) ſhould be reverenced with a kinde of divine honour,Herod. l 1. Valer. l. 7 c. 3. Curt. l 3. & 5. more then was due to any man. This the Jewes were flatly forbidden by their Law to do. The Lacedemonians alſo were reſolute againſt it, as Herodotus in his ſeventh book relateth. Pelopidas the Thebane would not be drawn to worſhip the Perſian Monarch in this ſort.Plut. in Artax. Juſtin. l 6. Val. l. 6. c. 33. No more would Conon the Athenian General. And when Timagoras did, the Athenians condemned him to die for it. It was not therefore pride or ſelf-willedneſſe that made Mordecai ſo ſtiffe in the hams that he would not bend to Haman; but feare of ſinne,Nihil praeter peccatum timeo. Baſil. and conſcience of duty. He knew, that he had better offend all the world, then God and his own conſcience.

Verſe 3. Then the Kings ſervants, &c.] See verſe 2.

Said unto Mordecai] Tempting his piety and conſtancy not once, but often, alledging the Kings commandment, together with his aloneneſſe in refuſing to obey it, Hamans power, diſpleaſure, &c. Thus they preſented to Mordecai both Irritamenta and Terriculamenta, i.e. Allurements and Affrightments, according to that of the Apoſtle, Heb. 11.37. they were tempted on both hands, but all in vaine. Sapientis virtus, perea quibus petitur, illuſtratur. This conſtancy wicked men call obſtinacy, but they ſpeak evil of that they know not, viz. the power of the Spirit, and the privy armour of proof, that the Saints have about their hearts.

Why tranſgreſſeſt thou the Kings Commandment] Right or wrong, it matters not with many; if the King or State have commanded a thing, done it muſt be. But what ſaid that Martyr to the Popiſh Biſhop, preſſing him with this Argument, and affirming, that the Kings Lawes muſt be obeyed, whether they agree with the Word of God or not, yea, though the King were an infidel? If Shedrach, Meſhech and Abednego had been of your minde, my Lord,Act & M…n. 1550. (ſaid Roger Coo, Martyr) Nebuchadnezzar had not confeſſed the living God. True it is, that we muſt give unto Caeſar the things that are Caeſars. But withal, we muſt ſee to it, that we give unto God the things that are Gods, Matth. 22.21. where the three articles uſed in the Original are very emphatical.foreign. And it is a ſaying of Chryſoſtome, If Caeſar will take to himſelf Gods part, by commanding that which is ſinful, to pay him ſuch a tribute is not tributum Caeſaris, but ſervitium diaboli, an obſerving of Caeſar, but a ſerving of the devil.

Verſe 4. Now it came to paſſe, when they ſpake daily unto him] This if they did of good-will, (as at firſt perhaps they did) it was a friendly office, and may ſhame many of us who are ſo backward to Chriſtian admonition, (See my common places) that ſpiritual Almes, that we are bound freely to diſtribute. Jude 22.23. But if (as is likely, at length at leaſt) they did it to ingratiate with Haman, and out of envy to Mordecai, becauſe he did not comply and comport with them, what did they elſe but act the devils p. 128part; and the rather, becauſe they were importunate and impudent as not to take an anſwer?

And he hearkened not unto them] They did but ſurdo fabulam (as they ſay) beat upon cold iron;Act. & Mon. John Ardley. this matter was not malleable, this man not to be prevailed with, to do ought againſt his conſcience. The Heavens ſhall ſooner fall, then I will alter mine opinion, ſaid that Martyr. This the Perſecutours called obſtinacy: ſed pro hac obſtinatione fi…ei mor…mar, ſaith Tertullian, but for this obſtinacy of faith we gladly die: and the ſtronger any are in faith, the more reſolute in warrantable purpoſes. The ſtrength of Iſrael repenteth not, 1 Sam. 10.29. Unconſtancy comes from weakneſſe.

That they told Haman] Purpoſely to pick a thank and curry favour. Go not about as a tale-bearer, Levit. 19.16. The word ſignifieth as a pedler, that firſt filleth his pack with tales and ſlanders, and then venteth them to the hurt of others. Such are fitly joyned with flatterers. Prov. 20.19. and with murtherers, Ezek. 22.9. Such a wretched Pedler was Doeg, and ſuch were theſe evil inſtruments in the text, whoſe tongues were as ſharp as the quills of a Porcupine, the poiſon of aſpes was under their lips. And although it was truth they told Haman, yet becauſe they did it not for any love to the truth, nor for reſpect to juſtice, nor for the bettering of either party, but only to undo the one, and to incenſe the other, they were no better then flanderers.

To ſee whether Mordecai's matters would ſtand] Whether he would ſtick to his principles, and not ſtart aſide for any terrour, Phil. 1.28.

For he had told them that he was a Jew] That is, by Interpretation, a Confeſſour: yea more, he was a ſtout Profeſſour of the truth: and though he had hitherto concealed himſelf, yet now (ſith they will needs have it ſo) he plainly tells them, his countrey and his conſcience, the true cauſe of his peremptorineſſe, which they held and call'd pr…de and ſtubbornneſſe.

Verſe 5. And when Haman ſaw] Stirred up by theſe peſtilent pick-thanks, qui crabronem furioſum magìs irritaverant (as one ſaith) he took ſpecial notice of Hamans irreverence, which with more diſcretion he might have diſſembled. When an inconſiderate fellow had ſtricken Cato in the Bath, and afterwards cried him mercy, he replied, I remember not that thou didſt ſtrike me; Tis a ſigne of weakneſſe to be too ſoft and ſenſible of an indignity;Sen. de it. l. 1. I was as a deafe man that heard not, and as one dumbe, in whoſe mouth is no reproof, Pſal. 38.13, 14. The beſt apology to words and carriages of ſcorne and petulancy, is that of Iſaac to Iſhmael, viz. patience and ſilence.

That Mordecai bowed not, &c.] A great buſineſſe to mad him ſo much, but that he was ſet on by that old man-ſlayer.

Sic leve, ſic parvum eſt animum quod laudis avarum

Subruit, aut reficit—

A ſmall winde raiſeth a bubble, ambition rideth without reines, and hath inhabitatorem Draconem Apoſtatam, the devil at inne with it.

Then was Haman full of wrath] He ſwell'd like a toad, glow'd like a devil; being transform'd as it were, into a breathing devil, he ſeeks the utter extirpation of that people, of whom,foreign. as corcerning the fleſh; Chriſt was to come, Rom. 9.5. wiſhing the ſame to them which Caligula in a rage did to the people of Rome, I would ye had all but one neck, that I might cut you all off at one blow. Joſephus tells us, that he brake out into this bluſtering ſpeech, Liberi Perſae me adorant. Hic autem, ſervus cùm ſit, tamen hoc fa…ere dedignatur. The Perſians, though free-men, reverence me, and yet this ſlave thinks himſelfe too good to do it. This he uttered no doubt with a very harſh and hateful intention of the voice, ſuch as was that of the two brethren in evil, (whoſe anger was fierce; and their wrath cruel) when Gen. 34.31. they anſwered their aggrieved father. Should he deal with our ſiſter as an harlot? where the word Z…nab (Harlot) hath a great letter,Gen. 49.5, 7.Gen 49:5Gen 49:7 to note their vehemency, rage and rudeneſſe.

Verſe 6.foreign. And he thought ſcorne to lay hands on Mordecai alone] He thought it a ſmall matter, ſaith Joſephus, a thing below him, too little for his revenge, which like fire burneth all it can lay hold upon, eſpecially when as here it ariſeth from ambition, which like choler a duſt, if obſtructed and ſtopped in its courſe, is a dangerous paſſion▪ and p. 129endeth in burning fevers and madneſſe. Haman thought ſcorne, (contempſit in oculis ſuis, ſo the Hebrew) to foule his fingers with Mordecai alone, the whole Nation muſt periſh, and all the children of God that were ſcattered abroad, as he once ſaid, John 11.50, 52. Semblably, noſtri temporis Hamanus (ſaith Merlin upon this text,) the Haman of our time, (meaning the Duke of Guiſe, as I ſuppoſe) when as by the Kings favour he was promoted, and promiſed himſelf the Crown, there being but one family only that ſtood in his way, he deſired together with it to overturn all the Reformed Religion, and to root out all the remembrance of the Churches in France. Hence the Pariſian Maſſacre, (wherein Merlin had his part, being houſhold-Chaplaine to the Admiral, and by a miracle of Gods mercy eſcaping thoſe helliſh cut-throates.) The firſt occaſion of that bloody Maſſacre, I have ſomewhere read, was this. (Other things I know were pretended, as if the Proteſtants had, plotted and practiced againſt the King, Queen-mother, and the Princes of the blood,Camd. Eliz. and coine ſtamped with this Inſcription, Virtus in rebelles, &c.) The Pope ſent to the Cardinal of Lorraine, (brother to the Duke of Guiſe) a Table, wherein was painted our Lady with a little childe in her armes, by the moſt excellent Painter in Chriſtendome, and conſecrated with his own hands, and encloſed it in a caſe of ſilk, and a letter withal giving him high commendation and thanks for his zeal againſt the Huguenots. The meſſenger that carried the Preſent fell ſick by the way, and finding one going into France, entreated him to deliver the Preſent to the Cardinal. The Cardinall read the letter, and laid the Table on his bed, for he would not open it, till he might do it with greater ſolemnity. For this purpoſe he invited the Duke of Guiſe to dinner with many other great Perſonages. In the mean while, one that liked not the Cardinal, found meanes to change the Table, &c. At dinner the letter was read, and the Table taken out of the caſe in the ſight of the Cardinal, and all his gueſts, wherein was painted in place of our Lady and her childe, the Cardinal of Lorraine ſtark naked, the Queen-Mother, the young Queen of Scots, and the old Dutcheſſe of Guiſe naked alſo, hanging about the Cardinals neck, and their legges wrapped between his legges. I cannot ſay much for the man that did this prank: but that the Cardinal and his Complices ſhould thereupon deſign all the French Proteſtants to deſtruction, ſhould butcher thirty thouſand of them in a monethmonth, one hundred thouſand of them in one year, ſome ſay three hundred thouſand: that upon the newes of it the Pope ſhould proclaim a Jubilee for joy,Act. & Mon. and the Cardinal of Lorraine give the meſſenger a thouſand Crownes, &c. This was matchleſſe immanity, this was Haman-like hatred, this was cruelty beyond that of Simeon and Levi, which made good Jacob in a deep deteſtation of that dirity, cry out, O my ſoul, come not thou into their ſecret, &c. Gen. 49.6.

For they had ſhewed him the people of Mordecai] Viz. That he was a Jew. Joſephus his note upon this text is. Haman naturally hated the Jewes, as thoſe that had anciently deſtroyed the Amalekites his Countreymen. He might eaſily call to minde what Saul had done to them, and David, and laſtly the tribe of Simeon. God had ſentenced them long ſince to utter deſtruction; and yet deferred the firſt execution for about foure hundred yeares ſpace: and now again, after more then five hundred yeares, Haman the Agagite is thus exalted, but for a miſchief, as the Eagle carrieth the Tortoiſe on high in her talons, that ſhe may break it in the fall, and feed upon it.

Patientia laeſa fit furor.

Wherefore Haman ſought to deſtroy all the Jewes] Ʋt ſanguineam famem expleret, as a wolfe breaking into the folde kills all the flock: as fowlers take away the young and the dammes together putting both into the bag (which God forbade, Deut. 22.6.) as Eſau, that rough man, came with foure hundred cut-throats at his heels, to deſtroy the mother with the children, Gen. 32.11.Turk. hiſt. 369. as Ʋladus, Prince of Valachia, was wont, together with the offendor, to execute the whole family, yea, ſometimes the whole kindred as Selimus the great Turk in revenge of the loſs he received at the battel of Lepanto, reſolv'd to put to death all the Chriſtians in his dominions,Ibid. 885. in p. 130number infinite: As Philip of Spaine ſailed out of the Low-countreyes homewards, vowing to root out all the Lutherans there.Hiſt. of Counc. of Tr…us. 417. and proteſting that he had rather have no ſubjects then ſuch; As cruel Doctor Story a great Perſecutor in Queen Maries reign,Anno 1571. Camd. Eliz. and hang'd for a Traitour in Queen Elizabeths, whoſe death he had conſpired, curſing her daily in his Grace at board, and greatly repenting that he and others had laboured only about the young ſprigs and twigs (as he phraſed it) while they ſhould have ſtriken at the root,Act. & Mon. 1925. and clean rooted it out. Laſtly, as the Gun-powder Papiſts, who had prepared by Proclamations to father that horrid plot (if it had taken effect) upon the Puritanes, and under that name to have murthered all thoſe that had but look't toward Religion.

That were throughout the whole Kingdome] Herein he ſhewed himſelf a right Amalekite,foreign. De Tib. Theodor. Gadareus. Mali corvi malum …um, dirt kneaded with blood, as one ſaid of Tiberius, He preſumed he might have what he pleaſed of the King, and therefore made account to make but a Breakfaſt of his enemies the Jewes, to whom he ſaid in his heart, as once Caligula did to the Romane Conſuls, Rideo, quòd uno nutu meo jugulare vos omnes poſſim. I cannot but laugh to think, that I can nod you all to death.

Even the people of Mordecai,] Who were more renowned by him then Co was by Hippocrates, Thebes by Epaminondas, Stagira by Ariſtotle, Hyppo by Auguſtine. &c.

Verſe 7. In the firſt monethmonth] The time is thus noted, ad majorem hiſtoriae fidem & lucem, to give more credit to the Hiſtory, and to lend ſome light to it.

That is the monethmonth Niſan] The Chaldees call it Abib, from the new fruits or eares of corne then firſt appearing. It was the firſt monethmonth unto Iſrael, (in reſpect of ſacred, not civil affaires) becauſe of their coming out of Egypt therein. It anſwereth to part of March with us, and part of April.

In the twelfth yeare of King Ahaſhuerus] When Eſther had now been Queen above foure yeares, and being greatly beloved, was in a capacity to do her people good. This was a ſweet Providence, the remedy was ready before the diſeaſe brake out. No Countrey hath more venemous creatures then Egypt, none more Antidotes. So godlineſſe hath many troubles, and as many helpes againſt trouble.

They caſt Pur, that is, the Lot] The old Interpreter addeth in urnam, into the pitcher. And the new Annotations tell us, that about caſting lots, there was a pitcher into which papers, with names of the ſeveral moneths written on them, and rolled up were caſt, yea, alſo papers with the names of every day, and of every monethmonth were caſt in: then one blind-folded put in his hand and pulled out a paper, and according to the marks which they had ſet down, ſuch a monethmonth proved lucky, and ſuch a day in the monethmonth; and by Gods Providence it ſo fell out, that their ſuppoſed luckie day was on the twelfth monethmonth, whereby it came to paſſe, that their plot was defeated, before the time of accompliſhing thereof, chap. 9.1, &c.

From day to day, &c.] This is not to be taken as if they had continued twelve moneths about in caſting of theſe lots: but as in the Note next above.

That is the monethmonth Adar] In all which time that wicked Haman might have bethought himſelf (as one noteth) and returned to a better minde toward Gods people. But he, after the hardneſſe of his heart, that could not repent, treaſured up unto himſelf wrath againſt the day of wrath, &c. Rom. 2.5.

Verſe 8. And Haman ſaid unto King Ahaſhuerus] After that by ſortilegy, (or ſorcery, for it is no better, as the very name ſheweth, and Varro affirmeth,) he had light upon a luckie day, wherein to ſpeak to the King, and a black day, wherein to do execution, he taketh the boldneſſe to move the King in it. Now Mr. Perkins affirmeth, that as men do put confidence in lot-ſorcery, or the like diabolical divinations, or elſe they cannot attaine to any foreknowledge by them; ſo therein, explicitely or implicitely, they have confederacy with the devil, Oh, that this were well conſidered!

There is a certain people] Not worth the naming.

p. 131Scattered abroad] But was that their fault? was it not their miſery rather, according to that God had threatened them, Deut. 3 2. and were they not therefore to be pitied, and not preyed upon? It is ſaid of Queen Elizabeth, Camd Eliz. 531.that ſhe hated, no leſſe then did Mithridates, ſuch as maliciouſly perſecuted vertue forſaken of fortune.

And diſperſed among the people] And therefore the more dangerous, ſith every ſect ſtrives to ſpread their opinions, and theſe, being Antimagiſtratical, may do much hurt, and draw many from their obedience, prove ſeedſmen of ſedition. It may very well be that the ſect of the Eſſenes were now beginning among the Jewes, who taught,Joſeph. l. 18. c. 2. that God alone, and no mortal man was to be acknowledged for Lord and Prince. Hence they were called Eſſeni or Haſhoni, that is, Rebels, Weems.and for their ſakes the whole Nation might be the worſe thought of (as if they were all ſuch) like as the Proteſtants were in France for the Anabaptiſts ſake, in the reigne of King Francis.Scultet. An. 454.

In all the Provinces of thy Kingdome] Quarum proventu gaudet, alitur, inſoleſcit. Where they do no good, but devoure graine as vermine, as excrements in humane ſociety, and deſerve to be knockt on the head, which may eaſily be done, becauſe they are disjected, and not able to make head againſt an adverſary.

And their Lawes are diverſe from all people] So they were, and better, their enemies themſelves being Judges, Deut. 4.6, 7, 8. Proſpers conceit was, that they were called Judaei, becauſe they received Jus Dei, their Lawes from God, who might ſay to them, as once Joſeph did to his brethren, Gen. 45.12. Behold, your eyes ſee, that it is my mouth that ſpeaketh unto you. foreign.And therefore if Demoſthenes could ſay of Lawes in general, that they were the invention of Almighty God; And if Cicero could ſay of the Lawes of the twelve Tables in Rome, that they farre exceeded and excelled all the Libraries of all the Philoſophers, how much more true was all this of the Lawes of the Jews given by God, and ordained by Angels in the hand of a Mediatour, Moſes? Seneca (though he jeared the Jewes for their weekly Sabbath, as thoſe that loſt the ſeventh part of their time, yet) he could not but ſay, that being the baſeſt people, they had the beſt Lawes, and gave Lawes unto all the world. Thoſe holy Levites, Nehem. 9.13. acknowledge with all thankfulneſſe, that God had given them right judgements, true Lawes, good Statutes and Commandments, whereby he ſevered them from all other people, as his own peculiar, and this was their glory whereever they came; though the Sycophant in the text turneth their glory into ſhame, as one that loved vanity, and ſought after leaſing, Pſal. 4.2.

Neither keep they the Kings Lawes] Mordecai indeed would not do him reverence, becauſe it went againſt his conſcience: no more would others of them keep the Kings Lawes in like caſe, but obey God rather then man, where they could not do both. Otherwiſe they were charged, Jer. 29.7. to ſeek the peace of the cities where they abode, and to ſubmit to their civil and municipal Lawes: and ſo they did doubtleſſe, for the generality of them. But this impudent liar repreſents them to the King as Refractaries and Rebels, &c. The devil began his Kingdome by a lie, and by lies he upholdeth it. He was a liar and a murtherer from the beginning; but firſt a liar, and thereby a murtherer. He cannot handſomely murther, except he ſlander firſt, Cant. 5.6. the credit of the Church muſt firſt be taken away, and then ſhe is wounded; traduced ſhe muſt be, and then perſecuted. Thus David is believed to ſeek Sauls life: Elias is the Troubler of Iſrael: Jeremy, the Trumpet of Rebellion: the Baptiſt, a Stirrer up of ſedition: Chriſt, an enemy to Caeſar: Paul, a peſtilent Incendiary; the primitive Chriſtians, a publike miſchief: the Reformed Churches, Antimagiſtratical: this colour of right, yea, of Piety was laid upon the French Maſſacre, and by Edicts a faire cloke ſought to cover that impious fraud,Camd. Eliz. as if there had been ſome horrid treaſon hatch't by the Huguenots. The primitive Perſecutours uſed to put Chriſtians into beares and dogges skins, or other ugly creatures; and then bait them; ſo wicked men put religion and its Profeſſours, into ugly conceits and reports, and then ſpeak and act againſt them.

Therefore it is not for the Kings profit] Heb. It is not meet, equal, or profitable to the King to ſuffer them, ut inſoleſcat per licentiam, ſo the Vulgar Latine rendreth it, but without warrant from the Orig. See here how this Sycophant fils his mouth with arguments, the better to p. 132atchieve his deſire. An elaborate ſet ſpeech he maketh, neither is there a word in it, but what might ſeem to have weight. He pretends the Kings profit and the publike good, concealing and diſſembling his ambition, avarice, envy, malignity, that ſet him a work. Politicians when they ſoare higheſt, are like the Eagle, which whiles aloft, hath her eye ſtill upon the prey, which by this meanes ſhe ſpies ſooner, and ſeizes upon better. In parabolâ ovis caprùs ſuas quaerunt, as the Proverb hath it, Haman holds it not fit there ſhould be more religions then one in a Kingdome, for preventing of troubles. Nebuchadnezzar was of the ſame minde, when he commanded all men to worſhip his golden image. But muſt all therefore die that will not do it? and is it for the Kings profit that the righteous be rooted out? Is not ſemen ſanctum ſtatumen terrae? the holy ſeed,Iſa. 6.13.Isa 6:13 the ſtay of the State? the beauty and bulwark of the Nation? See Jer. 5.1. Ezek. 2.2.30, 31. Abſque ſtationibus non ſtaret mundus.

Verſe 9. If it pleaſe the King] Here he ſheweth himſelf a right Courtier, and ſpeaketh ſilken words, the ſooner to inſinuate. But if Solomon had been by, he would have ſaid,Prov. 26.25.Prov 26:25 When he ſpeaketh faire, beleeve him not, for there are ſeven abominations in his heart.

Let it be written that they may be deſtroyed] As Mithridates King of Pontus, by writing one bloody letter only,Val Max. deſtroyed foureſcore thouſand Citizens of Rome, diſperſed up and down Aſia for traffick ſake. That was bad, but this was worſe that Haman motioned, and well-near effected.Rup. l. 8. de virt. verb. c. 7. And ſurely never did the old red dragon (ſaith Rupertus) lift up his head ſo fiercely and furiouſly againſt the woman, that is, againſt the Church of God, as in this place. Therefore is Haman to be reckoned among thoſe cruel enemies, who ſaid,Pſal. 83.Ps 83 Come and let us deſtroy them from being a Nation, that the name of Iſrael may be no more remembred. But let them rage and kill up the Saints as much as they can, the ſheep will ſtill be more in number then the wolves, the doves then the hawkes. Plures efficimur quoties metimur, Tertull. Apoll.ſaith Tertullian, the more you crop us, the faſter we grow.

And I ſhall pay ten thouſand talents of ſilver] A vaſt ſumme, three thouſand ſeven hundred fifty thouſand pound ſterling. At ſo great charge would this butcher be, to ſatisfie his luſt, and to have his penmworths upon Gods poor people. So in the Gun-powder treaſon, (beſides their paines, digging like moles in their vault of villany) Digby offered to bring in fifteen hundred pounds, Treſſam two thouſand, Piercy foure thouſand out of the Earle of Northumberlands rents: beſides ten ſwift horſes to ſtead them when the blow was paſt. But where ſhould Haman have all this money, may ſome ſay? I anſwer, Firſt if he were of the ſeed-royal of Amalek (as tis thought) he might have much left him by his Anceſtours. Secondly, being ſo great a Favourite to the King of Perſia, he had doubtleſſe many profitable offices, and ſo might lay up gold as duſt,Job 22.24.Job 22:24 and ſilver as the ſtones of the brooks. Did not Wolſey ſo here in Henry the eighth's time? Thirdly, he had already devoured in his hopes, the goods and ſpoiles of all the ſlain Jewes, which he doubted not but the King would beſtow upon him, for his good ſervice. Like as Henry the ſecond of France, gave his Miſtreſſe Diana Valentina, all the confiſcations of goods made in the Kingdome for cauſe of hereſie. Hereupon many good men were burned for religion,Hiſt. of Counc. of Trent. 387. as it was ſaid, but indeed it was to ſatiate her covetouſneſſe.

To the hands of thoſe, &c.] Vulg. Arcarsis gazae tuae.

To bring it into the Kings treaſuries] That he might not be damnified in the tributes formerly paid by the Jewes for their liberty of conſcience. Kings uſe to take care, that their incomes and revenues be not empaired or diminiſhed. It is ſaid of Solyman the great Turk, that ſeeing a company of many thouſands of his Chriſtian ſubjects fall down before him, and hold up the forefinger (as their manner of Converſion to the Turkiſh religion is) he asked what moved them to turn? they replied, it was to be eaſed of their heavy taxations.S. H. Bl. Voyage p. 181. He not willing to loſe in tribute for an unſound acceſſion in religion, rejected their Converſion, and doubled their taxations.

Verſe 10. And the King took his ring from his hand] And thereby gave him power to do what he pleaſed, Gen. 41.42. 1 Kings 21.8. En regis bujus inertiam & imperitiam. How weak (weak as water, Gen. 49.4.) was the heart of this brutiſh Barbarian, skilful to deſtroy? Ezek. 21.31. ſeeing he did all theſe things, the work of an imperious whoriſh woman, Ezek. 16.30. rather then of an able man, (ſuch as every Magiſtrate ſhould be, Exod. 18.21.) juſt, and ruling in p. 133the feare of God, 2 Sam. 23.3. In the caſe of Vaſhti, he could referre the matter to the conſideration of a Council. In the caſe of the two Eunuches that had conſpired aganſt his life, he made inquiſition of the matter, and did all things deliberately. In this caſe of Haman after this, though deeply diſpleaſed, yet he did nothing raſhly, till he had gone into the Palace-garden, and conſidered with himſelf what was beſt to be done. But here upon the very firſt motion (without hearing them ſpeak for themſelves, or admoniſhing them to do their duty better, &c.) he gives order for the ſlaying of ſo many thouſand innocents never conſidering that every drop of their blood had a voice in it, to cry for vengeance againſt him and his, Gen. 4.10. Matth. 22.7. And when the King heard it for blood cries aloud to God, 1 Kings 9.26. Surely I have ſeen yeſterday the blood of Naboth. Murther ever bleeds freſh in the eye of Almighty God. To him many yeares, yea, that eternity that is paſt, is but yeſterday. He will give ſuch, blood again to drink, for they are worthy, Rev. 16.6. Dealt he not ſo by Herod, Julian, Attilas, Felix of Wartemburg, Farneſius, Minerius, Charles the ninth King of France, who died by exceeding bleeding at ſundry parts of his body, ſoon after the Pariſian Maſſacre, whereof he was the Authour, giving as large and as bloody a commiſſion to the Duke of Guiſe, to deſtroy, to kill, and to cauſe to periſh all the French Proteſtants, as Ahaſhuerus did here to Haman? Neither was he ſlack to execute it with greateſt inhumanity, crying out to thoſe of his party (after that he had ſlaine the Admiral) Courage, my fellowes, fall on, the King commands it, it is his expreſſe pleaſure, he commands it. But what followed ſhortly after?The Hiſte of French Maſſ. by Mr. Clark.

Quem ſitiit vivens ſceleratâ mente cruorem,

Perfidus hunc moriens Carolus ore vomit.

Ergo Dei tandem verbo ſubſcribite, Reges;

Ne rapiant Stygiae vos Acherontis aquae.

And gave it unto Haman] Who now being his Favourite, might have any thing of him, like as it is ſtoried of Sejanus, that in all his deſignes he found in Tiberius the Emperour ſo great facility and affection to his deſire,Life of Sejan. by P.M. p. 5. that he needed only to ask and give thanks. He never denied him any thing, and oft-times prevented his requeſt, and avowed that he deſerved much more. It was not therefore without cauſe,Tertull. Apol. that the primitive Chriſtians prayed ſo hard for the Emperour, that God would ſend him good Counſellours, and deliver him from flatterers and ſlanderers, thoſe peſts of the Court.

The Jewes enemy] That was his ſtile, or rather his brand and mark of ignominy, worſe then that of Cain, Gen. 4.15. that of Dathan, Numb. 26.9. of Ahaz, 2 Chron. 28.22. It may be he affected this title, and gloried in it: as we read of John Oneale, father to the Earle of Tyrone, that rebel 1598.Camd. that he inſcribed himſelf in all places. I great John Oneale, Couſin to Chriſt, friend to the Queen of England, and foe to all the world beſides.

Verſe 11. And the King ſaid unto Haman] Whom he looked upon, as an honeſt, prudent, publike-ſpirited man, and therefore ſo eaſily impowered him to do what he would.

O vanas hominum mentes! O pectora caeca!

The ſilver is given unto thee] i. e. the ten thouſand talents that thou haſt proffered, and which Haman likely purpoſed to raiſe out of the ſpoile of the Jewes; all this is remitted, and returned to Haman as a gift again. Sic ex alieno corio gigantes iſti latiſſ…mas corrigias ſecant, ſaith an Interpreter here, Such large thongs cut theſe Gyants out of other mens Hides. But what meant they thus to ſell the Hide, before they had taken the beaſt? He that ſate in heaven (and had otherwiſe determined it) laughed at them, the Lord had them in deriſion. With him (alone) is ſtrength and wiſdom, the deceived and the deceiver are his. He leadeth Counſellours away ſpoiled, and maketh the Judges fooles. He leadeth Princes away ſpoiled, and overthroweth the mighty, Job 12.16, 17, 19.Pſal. 2.Ps 2

The people alſo, to do with them] Here Haman was made, here he had more then heart could wiſh, as Pſal. 73.7. and holdeth himſelf therefore, no doubt, the happieſt man under heaven. But Nihil ſanè infelicius eſt felicitate peccantium, ſaith Hierom, p. 134there cannot befall a man a greater miſery then to proſper in ſinne: for ſuch a one is ripening for ruine, as fatting cattel are fitting for the ſhambles, They proſper and live at eaſe, ſaith God, yet I am extremely diſpleaſed with them, Zech. 1.15. As they ſay of the metal they make glaſſe of, it is neareſt melting when it ſhineth brighteſt; ſo are the wicked neareſt deſtruction when at greateſt luſtre. Meane-while ſee here what, many times, is the condition of Gods deareſt children, viz. to fall into the power and pawes of Lions, Leopards, Boares, Beares, Tygers; of men more ſavage then any of theſe, whoſe tender mercies are meer cruelties. Poor blinde men they are, that offer violence to the Saints, as Sampſon laid hands upon the pillars, to pluck the houſe upon their owne heads.

To do with them as it ſeemeth good to thee] O bloody ſentence! Such words as theſe Lenitèr volant, ſed non lenitèr violant. So Diocleſian gave leave to people to kill up Chriſtians, without more ado, whereever they met them; the like was done by authority in the French Maſſacre; but though Tyrants reſtraine not their Agents, yet God will, Pſal. 76.10. And though they bandy together, and bend all their forces to root out true Religion; yet are they bounded by him, and ſhall not do what themſelves pleaſe, but what he hath appointed. My times are in thine hand, ſaith David, and Pilate had no more power to crucifie Chriſt, then what was given him from above, John 19.11.

Verſe 12. Then were the Kings Scribes called] Then, preſently upon't, ſo ſoon as the word was out of the Kings mouth, licet quod libet: the Scribes were called, and all things diſpatched with all poſſible haſte, art and induſtry. So Judas, what he did, did quickly; he was up and at it, when Peter and the reſt of the Apoſtles were ſound aſleep. The children of this world are wiſer in their generation then the children of light; for why? they have the devil to help them, and to prick them on; and hence their reſtleſneſſe.

On the thirteenth day of the firſt monethmonth] Soon after they had begun to caſt lots, verſe 7.

and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded] Right or wrong, that was never once queſtioned by theſe over-officious Officers. If the King command it, and Haman will have it ſo, the Secretaries and Rulers, (thoſe ſervile ſoules) are ready to ſay, as Tiberius once did to Juſtinus. Si tu volueris, ego ſum; ſi tu non vis, ego non ſum. Or as he in Lucan did to Caeſar. Juſſa ſequi, tam velle mihi, quàm poſſe, neceſſe. We are wholly at your devotion and diſpoſe. We are only your clay and wax, &c. It is not for us to take upon us as Counſellours, but only to write what is dictated unto us, &c. But this was no ſufficient excuſe for them before God: as neither was it for Doeg, that he was commanded to ſlay all the Lords Prieſts, which Abner and other of Sauls ſervants rightly and ſtoutly refuſed to do, 1 Sam. 22. A warrant once came down under ſeal for Lady Elizabeths execution, whileſt ſhe was priſoner at Woodſtock; Steven Gardiner, like another Haman, being the chief Engineer. But Mr. Bridges her Keeper, miſtruſting falſe play, preſently made haſte to the Queen, who renounced and reverſed it. So might Ahaſhuerus haply have done this bloody Edict, had his officers ſhewed him the iniquity of it. But they took not this to be any part of their buſineſſe: Or if any one of them ſhould be more conſcientious, yet he might be ſurprized by a ſudden onſet, as the Lord Cromwell, when by the inſtigation of Gardiner, he was commanded by King Henry the eighth, to reade the ſentence of death againſt Lambert the Martyr, whereof he repented afterwards, ſending for Lambert, and asking him forgiveneſſe, as Mr. Fox relateth.

And to every people after their language] See chap. 1.22.

In the name of the King Ahaſhuerus] For more authority ſake, and that Hamans malice and cruelty might lie hid under the Kings cloak. So Jezabel wrote letters in Ahabs name againſt Naboth; ſo the Egyptians oppreſſed the Iſraelites in the name of their King; the Jewes pretended to be all for Caeſar, when they ſought and ſuck't our Saviours blood. The Popiſh Perſecutours here did all in Queen Maries name, when as it might be ſaid of her, as Joſephus doth of Queen Alexandra among the Jewes, Ipſa ſolùm nomen regium ferebat, &c. She had the name only of Queen, but the Phariſees p. 135ruled the Kingdome, ſo did the Biſhops in thoſe dayes: and ſome of them would have done the like in ours, and that was their downfal; after that, as rotten teeth, they had put the King and Kingdome to a great deal of miſery.

And ſealed it with the Kings ring] Leſt it ſhould by any meanes be reverſed, Dan. 6.8, 12, 15. Of the right antiquity, uſe and matter of rings, let them that will, read Plin. lib: 33. cap. 1. & 37.1. Macrob. lib. 1. Saturn. cap. 13. Alexand. ab Alex. lib. 2. genial. dier. Rhodig. lib. 6. cap. 12.

Verſe 13. And the letters were ſent by Poſtes] Theſe, the Perſians called Angari, or (as Ruffin writeth it) Aggari. But why was this done in ſuch poſt-haſte, ſo long before the day of execution? was it not to hold them all that while on the rack, and ſo to kill them peece-meale, (as Tiberius uſed to do by his enemies,) whileſt through feare of death, and expectation of that doleful day,Heb 2.15.Heb 2:15 they were all their life-time ſubject to bondage?

To deſtroy, to kill, and to cauſe to periſh] Words written not with black, but with blood; and therefore multiplied in this ſort, to ſhew, that it mattered not how, ſo they were made away by any meanes, and the world well rid of them. Reade the Hiſtory of the French Maſſacre: and heare Reverend Merlin, (who narrowly, and indeed miraculouſly eſcaped thoſe bloody Villaines, as being Chaplaine to the Admiral, and praying with him in his Chamber a little before he was murthered,) heare him, I ſay, commenting upon this text; Sic noſtro ſaeculo, ſi ſcribenda fuerint edicta adverſus Religionem, non potuerunt ſibi Scribae ſatisfacere in excogitandis verbis ſignificantibus, quibus atrociora & magis ſanguinaria redderentur, &c. that is, in our age alſo, if any edicts are to be written againſt Religion, the Secretaries cannot ſatisfie themſelves in deviſing ſignificant words, whereby thoſe edicts may be rendred the more cruel and ſanguinary.

All Jewes, both young and old, little children and women] All ages, ſizes, and ſexes. What could the devil himſelf have added to this abhorred cruelty, if it had gone on? ſuch a ſlaughter made Doeg at Nob; the Sicilians at their bloody veſpers; the King of France with the Templars throughout his Kingdom; Minerius the Popes Champion, with the Proteſtants of Merindol and Chabriers, (beſides that of the Pariſian Maſſacre before-mentioned, and by Merlin upon this verſe graphically deſcribed, like as that of Babylon is by Jeremy, chap. 51.34.) what a woful ſlaughter had here been made, had Faux but fired the powder? What an Acheldama had this whole Land been turned into in a few dayes ſpace? Necdum interiit ſaevus Hamani animus. Neither yet is Haman dead, but reviveth daily in his bloody and blaſphemous ſucceſſors. That like as one ſaith of Cain, the devils Patriarch, there are not a few that ſtill carry about, adore and worſhip as a ſacred thing, Cains club,Bucholc. red with the blood of Abel: ſo it is here.

Even upon the thirteenth day] that it was to be no ſooner done, was by a ſpecial Providence of God, that ere that time came, it might be happily prevented, as was afore noted. See verſe 7. Hamans folly alſo was not a little ſeen in deferring the execution ſo long: for how knew he what a day might bring forth? it was indeed mirabile ſimulque miſerabile dictu, as one ſaith, a wonderful, and withal a miſerable thing, that none ſhould be found among the Perſians, Medes and Chaldees, to pity this poore people, and to intercede for them. To have ſpoken to Haman for them, might likely have been as bootleſſe, as once it was to Minerius in the behalf of the Merindolians. Of whom when a few had eſcaped his all-devouring ſword, and he was intreated to give them quarter for their lives, he ſternely anſwered, I know what J have to do,Act. & Mon. 869. not one of them ſhall eſcape my hands; I will ſend them to dwell in hell among the devils, But if Haman reſolved no better, yet what knew he, but that in time the King might relent and repent of that raſh and wretched edict, as he did?

Nam faciles motus mens generoſa capit.Ovid.

We reade in our Chronicles, that when King Henry the third had given commandment, for the apprehending of Hubert de Burgo Earle of Kent, he fled into a Church in Eſſex. They to whom the buſineſſe was committed, finding him upon his knees before the High-Altar, with the Sacrament in one hand, and a Croſſe in the other, carried him away nevertheleſſe unto the Tower of London. The Biſhop taking this to be a p. 136great violence and wrong to the Church, would never leave the King, until he had ca… ſed the Earle to be carried to the place whence he was fetch't. This was done: and although order was taken he ſhould not 'ſcape thence; yet it gave the Kings wrath a time to coole, and himſelf leiſure to make proof of his innocency. By reaſon whereof he was afterwards reſtored to the Kings favour and former places of honour. And the like befel theſe Jewes, are the thirteenth of Adar: but Haman, blinded with pride and ſuperſtition, could not foreſee it.

And to take the ſpoile of them for a prey] To be ſure that none ſhould 'ſcape, the goods of the ſlain are propoſed for a reward to them that ſhould ſlay them, and how far that would prevaile with many covetous wretches,foreign. who knoweth not? Covetouſneſſe is daring and deſperate: how much more when it is encouraged, as here, by a Permiſſion, nay, a Precept from the King, and his chief Favourite? where we may be ſure, the wealthier any man was, the ſooner he ſhould have been ſent out of the world, as a tree with thick and large boughes is moſt likely to be lopped. Trithemius telleth us, that the Templars above-mentioned were maſſacred by Philip the Faire, King of France, upon pretext of hereſie: but indeed, becauſe they were rich, and Philip ſore longed after their poſſeſſions. The Cyprians for their great wealth became a ſpoile to the Romanes.

— Quid non mortalia pectora cogis,

Auri ſacra fames?

Verſe 14. The copy of the writing — was publiſhed] Phathſegin, a Syriack word, ſaith R. David, and not found, but in the books about the captivity. The vulgar rendreth it Summa, R. Nathan foreign, to the ſame ſenſe. Tranſcripts of the Original were ſent to all places, that none might be ignorant or negligent in doing execution: But why did not the Jewes upon ſuch notice ſave themſelves by flight, may ſome ſay? Alas, whither ſhould the poor ſoules flie with their families? being compaſſed about with ſo many deadly enemies, and having none that durſt own them in that diſtreſſe? It was a juſt wonder, and a ſpecial work of God, that their enemies forbear to fall upon them before the black-day came, if but for the ſpoile-ſake. We reade chap. 9. that notwithſtanding the known favour of the King, the patronage of Mordecai, and the hanging up of Haman, &c. the thirteenth of Adar is ſtill meant to be a bloody day. Hamans Abettours joyne together to performe that ſentence, whereof the Authour repented, &c. But God was ſeen in the Mount: he loveth to help thoſe that are forſaken of their hopes, as he did theſe poor Priſoners then, when it might ſeem that there was neither left unto them hope of better, or place of worſe Who would not therefore truſt in God? Deo confiſi nunquam confuſi? Truſt in God will ſurely triumph.

That they ſhould be ready againſt that day] That long-look't-for day by Haman and his Party, wherein they meant to roll themſelves, and wallow in the blood of thoſe Jewes, and to ſay as Hannibal did, when he ſaw a ditch filled with mans blood, O jucundum ſpectaculum! O pleaſant ſight! Or as Valeſus, when he had ſlain three hundred, O rem regiam! O Kingly act! Or as that Queen, who when ſhe ſaw ſome of her Proteſtant ſubjects lying dead and ſtripped upon the earth, cried out, the goodlieſt tapeſtry that ever ſhe beheld! Are not ſuch blood-ſuckers of the vulturine kinde, ſpoken of in Job, whoſe young ones glut-glut blood, (the Original word ſeemeth made from the ſound) and where the ſlain are, there is ſhe? Job 39.30.

Verſe 15. The Poſtes went out, being haſtened by the Kings commandment] As if the enemy had been at the gates, and his crown had hang'd on the one ſide of his head: he could not have been more earneſt and diligent in ſuch a caſe, then now he is. So much ſet upon't are Gods enemies, to bring their evil purpoſes to paſſe; that till then, neither themſelves nor others, can be ſuffered to reſt for them. Quicquid volunt, valdè volunt, bearing down with creſt and breaſt whatſoever ſtands in the way of their ſinful luſts. What a ſhame is it then for Saints, not to be zealous of good works, valiant for the truth, and violent for the Kingdom?

And the decree was given in Shuſhan the Palace] Pependit, ſaith the Vulgar, it hung up upon the poſts to be read of all, the King not ſhaming to have his privities ſeen, (as the phraſe is, Ezra 4.14) to traduce himſelf (as it were) in a publike theatre, for a fooliſh and oppreſſive Prince… neither caring what might be the evil conſequents p. 137thereof, ſo that he may ſatisfie his own luſt, and gratifie his minion.

And the King and Haman ſate down to drink] So to drown the noiſe of conſcience, (if not altogether dead and dedolent) and ſo to nouriſh their hearts as in a day of ſlaughter. Thus Joſephs brethren, when they had caſt him into the pit, ſate down to eat bread, Gen. 37.25. (when it had been fitter for them to have wept for their wickedneſſe.) So did the Iſraelites when they had made them a golden calfe, Exod. 32.6.Mat. 14.Matt 14 Herod feaſteth, when he had caſt the Baptiſt into priſon. The Antichriſtian rout, revel and riot, when they had ſlain the two witneſſes. Rev. 11. The Pope proclaimed a Jubilee upon the Pariſian Maſſacre. The King of France ſwore, that he never ſmelled any thing more ſweet then the Admirals carcaſſe, when it ſtank with long lying. As for his head,Epit. Hiſt. Gallic. speed. he ſent it for a preſent to the Queen-mother. And ſhe balming it, ſent it to her holy Father the Pope for an aſſurance of the death of his moſt capital enemy. Thua…us writeth that the Pope cauſed that Maſſacre to be painted in his Palace: Had the Powder-plot ſucceeded, it ſhould have been pourtrayed (ſurely) in his Chappel or Oratory. Faux was to get into the fields to ſee the ſport; for they made no other reckoning, but that all was their own. No more did the King and Haman here, and hence their jollity, but it proved ſomewhat otherwiſe. God oft ſuffereth his enemies to have the ball on the foot, till they come to the very goale, and yet then to make them to miſſe the game: He loveth to make fooles of them, to let them go to the utmoſt of their tedder, and then to pull them back with ſhame to their task.

But the City Shuſhan was perplexed] That is, the Jewes that dwelt there: together with the reſt that loved them, and wiſhed well to them. Theſe wept, ſaith the Vulgar Latine, were in heavineſſe, ſay others, they were intricated, inſnarled, at their wits end, ſo that they knew not what to do, (as the word here g…i…eth) only their eyes were toward the hills, from whence ſhould come their help. Their comfort was to conſider, that melior eſt triſtitia iniqua patiemis, quàm laetitia iniqua faelentes. Auguſt.Better is the perplexity of him that ſuffereth evil, then the jollity of him that doth evil. Deliverance would come they believed, chap. 4.14. but whence they knew not. Hard things may be mollified, crooked things ſtreightened, Non omnium dierum ſol occidit: Whiles there is a Sun to ſet, I will not deſpaire of a good iſſue, as Queen Elizabeth ſaid when ſhe was moſt perplexed, as being to be ſent Priſoner to the Tower,Engl. Eliz… then the which never went any thing nearer to her heart.