Commentary on Ezra Nehemiah Ester Job and Psalms, Commentary 3 · Chapter 2

Commentary on Ezra Nehemiah Ester Job and Psalms · Commentary 3 · Chapter 2

p. 113CHAP. II Verſe 1. After theſe things.]

AFter the wine was out, the fuell of his anger ſpent, and the luſt thereof ſatisfied. When the wrath of King Ahaſhuerus was appeaſed] There is nothing that a man is more ready to keep then his wrath: therefore the Hebrews put ſervare for ſervare iram, to keep, for, to keep his anger, as Jer. 3.5. Pſal. 103.9. Levit. 19.18. Ahaſhuerus, by invading Greece, had ſo incenſed them, that their wrath foreign, unappeaſable, for they thenceforth hated all Barbarians for the Perſians ſake, and forbade them their ſacrifices, as they uſed to do murtheres. But Ahaſhuerus his wrath againſt Vaſthi was, after a time, aſſwaged.

He remembred Vaſthi] Not without ſome remorſe, but without all true repentance. He forſook not his raſh anger as a ſinne; but regrated it for a time, and laid it aſleep, to be raked up again upon as ſlight an occaſion. In graceleſſe perſo ns vitia raduntur, non eradicantur: abſconduntur ſaepius, non exſcinduntur, vices may be barbed or benumbed, not maſtered and mortified. A Merchant may part with his goods, and yet not hate p. 114them. A man may part with his ſinnes for ſelf-reſpects, and yet retaine his affection to them as Phaltiel did to Michal, when he went weeping after her afarre off. He may remember his Vaſthi, his boſome-ſinnes from which he ſeemeth divorced; and by ſuch a ſinful remembring of them, recommit them. See Ezek. 23.21. compared with verſe 8.

And what was decreed againſt her] But whoſe fault was that? Wine and anger are the worſt of all counſellours, ſay the Ancients? and Ahaſuerus found it ſo: as did alſo Alexander the great,Plutarch. and many others, but all too late. Hence they came in afterwards with their Non putâram, Had I wiſt; which Scipio ſaid ſhould never be heard out of a great mans mouth. Auguſtus alſo was wont to ſay, that nothing doth ſo ill become a Commander,Sueton. as haſtineſſe and raſhneſſe. Tully taxeth him for a foole, qui cundem & laedit & laudat, who firſt wrongeth a man, and then commendeth him.

Verſe 2. Then ſaid the Kings ſerva…s] His friends, ſaith Joſephus, to whom he had opened his mind: the young Courtiers, ſay others (green wood is ever ſhrinking and warping) but moſt probably thoſe ſeven chief Counſellours, chap. 1.14. who had perſwaded him to caſt off Vaſthi, and now feared, left if not ſome way diverted, he ſhould fall as foul upon them, as his predeceſſour Darius did upon thoſe claw-backs, Dan. 6.24. or as the Athenians did upon Timagoras, Densagoras, and Euagoras, whom they condemned to die, for flattering Darius Hyſtaſpes, the father of this Ahaſuerus.

Let there be fair young Virgins ſought for the King] They knew him to be a ſenſualiſt and effeminate: they therefore agree to feed his humour, to drown him againe in pleaſure, ſo to drive away his melancholy. Such miſerable comforts are carnal Phyſicians: ſo wretched is our nature, to endure no other Phyſick: ſo juſtly doth God fit the Phyſitian to the Patient, the helve to the hatchet: ſo do the wicked help each other forward to their deſerved deſtruction. Ahaſuorus his Courtiers and Counſellours become Brokers to his luſts: neither is this any thing unuſual with ſuch. Lenocinantur, produnt, blaſphemant, pejerant, toxica miſcent, &c. ſaith an Expoſitor here. What is it that ſuch Paraſites and Sycophants will not do to ingratiate with great ones? It was not therefore without good cauſe, that the Primitive Chriſtians prayed hard for the Emperour (as Tertullian teſtineth) that God would ſend him Senatum fid…lem, a faithful Councel, and free him from flatterers.

Verſe 3. And let the King appoint officers] Praeficiat praefectos. Coſtly counſel: this could not be done without much trouble and charge to the King. Two or three years are ſpent in gathering, purifying, and preparing theſe choice Virgins for the impure bed of this Heathen Prince, while he is following the chace of his ambition, in the warres of Greece.

In all the Provinces of his Kingdome] A large Commiſſion they muſt have, the whole Kingdome is their circuit: and note that they went not to forreiners: which thoſe Princes that do, while thereby they ſeek for greatneſſe, they many times miſſe of goodneſſe: while they labour to be ſtrong abroad (and ſo to have a ſtake in ſtore, as they ſay, however the dice chance to turne) they weaken themſelves at home; and while by forraine matcher they intend unity, it proves an occaſion both of inteſtine and forraine diſſentions. We of this Nation have had ſad experience of theſe miſchiefs.

That they may gather together] This could not be done without the great grief and general diſcontent of the Kings beſt ſubjects (nimiùm ſerviliter huic hirco ſubjectorum, as one hath it) thus bereft and deſpoyled of their deareſt daughters, the ſtaves of their age.

All the fair young Virgins] Beauty (the beſt pearle in a carnal eye) is all that's here looked after, que plerunqut virtute & pudicitiâ caret, which is oft without vertue, and common honeſty; as, where they meet, it is a rare mixture. The Heathen man ſaith, Non eſt formoſa mulier cujus crus laudatur aut brachium, ſed illa cujus univerſa facies admir ationem ſing ulis partibus abſtulit. Now if this be true, long enough might theſe commiſſionated officers look for fair young Virgins, truly ſo called; there being very few that are not peccant in ſome minnum, ſome tittle of beauty, or other. It is a praiſe peculiar to the Vingin daughter of Zion to be all fair, Cant. 4.7. to be foreign Epheſ. 5.26. ſuch as in whom even Momus himſelfe could ſinde no errour.

Ʋtno Shuſhan the palace] In which one place there might have been found choice enough, without ſpeaking further: but that luſt is unſatisfiable. The eye is not ſatisfied with ſeeing; and in ſuch a multitude, how could it be but that the Kings minde muſt needs be diſtracted, which one to make choice of?

p. 115To the houſe of the women] Such as is now the Turks Serag…. See the deſcription of the Grand Signiors Seraglio by Maſter John Grennes, chap 4.

Ʋnto the cuſtody of Hege] Who was their keeper, or rather their Gaoler. For what was this houſe of women, but a perpetual priſon to them, clapt under hatches, as it were, and, haply, held in as great ſervitude, as thoſe in Barbary are at this day;Heyl. Geog. where it is death for any man to ſee one of the Xeriffes concubines; and for them too, if when they ſee a man, though but through a caſement, they do not ſuddenly ſcreek out.

And let their things for purification] foreign, Their Abſterſories, to dry up the filth of the fleſh, and to cleanſe natures infirmities, that they might be ſix moneths purified with oile of myrre, and ſix other moneths perfumed with ſweet odours, as verſe 12. Here the maids were firſt purified before the King choſe one. But Chriſt firſt chuſeth his Spouſe, and then purifieth her, Eph. 5.26.

Verſe 4. And let the maiden] Herein unhappy that the got her honour with the loſſe of her honeſty: and that ſo many maids are made miſerable for her ſake.

That pleaſeth the King] Heb. That is good in his eyes. The eye is the lamp and ornament of the whole body: and yet that moſt lightſome part doth oft-times draw the ſoul into utter darkneſſe; whileſt by thoſe windows of wickedneſſe, and loop-holes of luſt, Satan windeth himſelf into the heart, and maketh it impudicitiae cloacam (as Venus's temple on the top of Lebanon is called by Euſebius) a very ſink, and jakes of all leudneſſe and abomination.

Be Queen inſtead of Vaſthi] This was held a great buſineſſe, and a ſufficient recompence. The bramble held it a goodly thing to reigne over the trees;Judg. 9.Judg 9 not ſo the vine and fig-tree.

And the thing pleaſed the King] Becauſe it added more fuel to the fire of his luſt, and that he may lengthen out his dayes in dalliance and wantonneſſe: ut libidine libidinem provocante, nihil niſi muliebris fiat, ſaith an Expoſitour here,Feuardent. that he might be the right ſucceſſour of Sardanapalus, who buried himſelf in the boſomes of his harlots, and left behinde him this infamous Epitaph.

foreign

foreign.

An Epitaph ſit for an oxe, ſaith Ariſtotle. The Kings of Perſia are noted for effeminate, fitter for a Canopy then a Camp; and affecting ſuch ſights, …bi Imperator Apparator, lanx phalanx, acies facies, bella labella, ſpicula pocula, ſcutum ſcortum, &c.

And he did ſo] According to the counſel of thoſe Court-paraſites (whoſe word is that of Stratocles, Mihi placet quicquid Regi placet) he walked in the wayes of his heart, and in the ſight of his eyes,Plut. in vit. Demetr. little thinking that for all theſe things God would bring him into judgement. But ſuch Governours the wicked world deſerveth,Eccleſ. 11.9.Eccl 11:9 as being it ſelf totus in maligno poſitus, 1 John 5. When Phoc…s, that filthy traytour, reigned at Conſtantinople, Cedrinus ſaith, that a certaine honeſt poor man was very earneſt with God to know why ſuch a man (or rather monſter) was ſet up; he was anſwered againe by a voice, that there could not be a worſe man found; and that the ſins of Chriſtians did require it.

Verſe 5. Now in Shuſhan the palace] Not in Babylon, as Joſephus doateth.

There was a certaine Jew] That had not returned to Jeruſalem, as he ought to have done; and as another of his name did, Ezra. 2.2.

Whoſe name was Merdccai] That is, Pure Myrre, ſay ſome; bitter contrition, ſay others; he is the ſon of contrition, that muſt be the ſon of conſolation. This Mordecai was one of thoſe few that both lived and died with glory; being not taxed for any groſſe ſinne.

The ſonne of Jair] Happy father in ſuch a ſonne: much more joy might he well be to his parents, then Epamiuondas was to his: and of him it might be ſung, foreign.Homer.

The ſonne of Shimei, the ſonne of Kiſh a Benjamite] He deſcended then either from ſome other ſonne of Kiſh the father of Saul; or eſſe from Jonathan Sauls ſonne: for he only, of all the ſonnes of Saul, left iſſue behind him. But the Kiſh here mentioned, though of his line, lived many years after Sauls father.

Verſe 6. Who had been carried away from Jeruſalem] Kiſh …ad, not Mordeca…: unleſſe p. 116it were in the loines of his great grandfather. Kiſh and his poſterity were of thoſe goods figs mentioned in Jeremy: but goodneſſe is no target againſt affliction.

— nec te tua plurima Penthen

Labentem texit pietas.Virg.

With the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah] The good figs were carried away at the ſame time with the bad; but in ſeveral baskets, Jer. 34.1. Kiſh and others like him, as Daniel, Ezekiel, Shadrach, Meſhack and Abednego, &c. were not only good men, but very good, like the figs that are firſt ripe, Jer. 24.2. ſuch as Gods ſoul deſireth, Mic. 7.1. and yet they were carried away with Jeconiah and the reſt that were naught, ſtark naught, Jer. 24.2. The beſt may have their ſhare in a common calamity: but God will not faile even then to ſet his eyes upon them for good, Jer. 24.6. The husbandman cutteth down his corne and weeds together, but for different purpoſe. Excellently Auſtin, Ʋna eademque vis irruens bonos probat, purificat, eliquat; malos damnat, vaſtat, exterminat: One and the ſame common calamity proveth,De Civit. Dei. lib, 1. cap. 8. melteth, purifieth the good; damneth, waſteth, deſtroyeth the evil: theſe have an evil, an onelyonly evil, Ezek. 7.5. without mixture of mercy; and that becauſe they are naught, very naught, figs that cannot be eaten, they are ſo naught, Jer. 24.2.

Whom Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon had carried away] Loe here the rod in Gods hand for the chaſtiſement of his children; that being chaſtened of the Lord, they may not be condemned with the world, 1 Cor. 11.32. This rod when he had worne to the ſtumps, he caſt into the fire.

Verſe 7. And he brought up] He both nouriſhed and nurtured her in the true Religion and admonition of the Lord, Epheſ. 6.4. he was her foſter-father, and her Inſtructor.

Hadaſſah] Not the ſame with Atoſſa, as Tremellius would have it. Hadaſſah was the name given her by her parents, and it ſignifieth a Myrtle-tree, which loveth to grow in a bottome; whence the Church is compared to it for her lowly-mindedneſſe, Zech. 1.8.Herod. lib. 7 Scalig. See the Note there.

That is Eſther] This was her Perſian name, ſay ſome; In Heathen hiſtories, ſhe is called Ameſtris.

His uncles daughter] Not his brothers daughter, as the Vulgar rendereth it, after Joſephus, and Aben-Ezra. She was his couſin-german, and this was one reaſon that moved him to adopt her, viz. the bond of nature.

For ſhe had neither father nor mother] A poor Orphan ſhe was: but Chriſt left her not comfortleſſe, John 14.18. He had provided and inabled Mordecai to feed her and breed her: to traine her up in the fear of God, and to defend her chaſtity from the rage of luſt; beſides that her head was by him deſtined to a Diadem: Eſther the captive ſhall be Eſther the Queen: Eſther the fatherleſſe and motherleſſe, ſhall be a nurſing mother to the Church; and meane while meet with a merciful Guardian Mordecai. Why then ſhould we not truſt God with our ſelves and our children?

And the maid was faire and beautiful] See the Note on verſe 3. Gratior eſt pulchro, &c. For her beauty ſhe was brought to the King; and not without ſome reſpect to this it was, that ſhe was bred up by Mordecai. This beauty was a priviledge of nature: and becauſe of the forcible battery that would be laid to it, God gives her a Guardian. Eſther was now in the flower of her age, and her beauty was the flower of her vertue, as Chryſippus called it.

Whom Mordecai when her father and mother were dead] And ſo the might have been put to ſeek her bread in deſolate places, being left to the wide world, as they ſay; but the Lord was her rereward, Eſay 58.8. he took her up, Pſal. 27.10. as the gathering army, or rear-guard did the lame feeble and ſick Iſraelites, Joſh. 6.9. In the Civil Law, proviſion is made for Orphans, and ſuch as were caſt out; ſome Hoſpitals to entertaine them, ſome liberties to comfort and compenſate their troubles. Amongſt us alſo (beſides harbours and Hoſpitals for ſuch, to the great commendation of the Founders) very good proviſion is made by the Lawes, and many lives thereby preſerved. God oft profeſſeth himſelf the pupill's Patron: gives great charge to all, not to hurt them; and menaceth the Jewes for their hardheartedneſſe toward them. Let therefore the dying parents of ſuch (though they have as little to leave them p. 117as Eſthers had) caſt them by faith into Gods everlaſting armes, who hath charged his Angels with them, and hath promiſed heaven to them; commanding his beſt creatures to cater for them, Hoſ. 2.21, 22.

Took for his own daughter] He hid not his eyes from his own fleſh, Eſ…y 58.as ſome unnatural Oſtrich, or Sea-monſter: he made not, as many do, tuition a broker for private gaine; he made not inſtead of a daughter a ſlave, or ſpunge of his pupil: he devoured her not under pretence of devotion; but freely took her for his child, and bred her in the beſt manner. Now the Jews at this very day account a childs Tutour or Monitour worthy of more reſpect then his father; for he, ſay they, hath given him only his being,Leo. Mod. but the other his well-being.

Verſe 8. When the Kings commandment and decree was heard] Percrebuiſſet: his officers (herein over-officious) had ſoone ſet it abroad, and put it in execution: the Perſians alſo (homines ad ſervitut ens paxati, as Tiberius ſaid of the Romanes) thoſe ſervile ſouls, deny not to proſtitute their daughters, but proffer them rather, and hold them happy if they may be admitted. Not ſo Mordecai and his Eſther Vis major eam abſtulit. She was carried away by force, 'tis like or if otherwiſe, it might be a fault in her and her Guardian; unleſſe we ſhall ſay they did it by an extraordinary inſtinct. Probably there was a ſad parting and many prayers put up by them both for divine direction and protection; and they were heard accordingly.

And when many maidens were gathered together] Four hundred,Lib. 11. cap. 6. ſaith Joſephus. Sed quid attinebat tot puellas huic cani conſtuprandas offerre? ſaith Feuardentius, Plin. lib.why ſhould this dog deflour ſo many maidens? Proculus Caeſar boaſted that in fifteene dayes ſpace he got with child twenty Virgins: a fair commendation.

Ʋnto Shuſhan the palace] Anſwerable to the Seraglio, where thoſe that are kept up for their beauties, are all young Virgins taken and ſtollen from forraine Nations; where after they have been inſtructed in good behaviour, and can play upon inſtruments, ſing, dance, and ſew curiouſly, they are given to the Grand Signior as preſents of great value. They live juſt as Nunnes do in great Nunneries, &c.

That Eſther was brought alſo] In the general ſurvey, ſhe was taken among the reſt and brought to the Court; an ill aire for Piety to breath in.—exeat aulâ Qui vult eſſe pius. Fraus ſublimi regnat in aulz. Sen. But neceſſity is an hard weapon. As the Turks at this day, ſo the Perſian Kings then, took all their ſubjects to be their ſlaves, holding not only their eſtates, but their lives and all they have, at their diſpoſe, without reſpect either to the cauſe or manner.

To the cuſtody of Hegai keeper of the women] Clapt up as it were, in a glorious priſon, being not to come abroad but when the King calls, nor to frequent any ſociety, but ſuch as is appointed her for her neceſſary attendance and comfort. See the like in the deſcription of the Grand Signiors Seraglio, chap. 4.

Verſe 9. And the maiden pleaſed him] Hegai caſt his favour upon her; not becauſe ſhe was the faireſt, nobleſt, moſt induſtrious, moſt courtly, &c. but becauſe God wrought his heart to it; as he did Potiphars and Pharaohs to Joſeph, Jonathans to David, Darius's to Daniel, &c. It is the Lord that gives favour, and faſhioneth mens opinions of us. He gave Solomon honour: and Paul prayes to him, that his ſervice may be accepted of the Saints, Row. 15.31.

And ſhe obtained kindneſſe of him] His favour was not empty favour, profeſſional only, as that of Courtiers.

And he ſpeedily gave her, &c.] As reſolving ſhortly to recommend her to the King, who, he knew, would be much ruled by him in his choyce. Here were ſhadows of many excellent vertues in a blind Ethnik; who may in ſome ſort teach true kindneſſe, and doth condemne thoſe that boaſt of falſe liberality. He dealt not baſely, but bountifully with Eſther.

Her things for purification] See ver. 3.12.

With ſuch things as belonged to her] Heb. Her portions or allowances of food, raiment, &c. which this faithful officer interverted not for his own private gaine, but rather inlarged himſelf in the true beſtowing thereof.

And ſeven maidens] When he might have put her off with one: he enlargeth himſelf, and even ſtretcheth his authority, that he might by theſe maide of honour attending her, ſet her forth as a Queen aforehand.

Which were meet to he given her] Or, which were very comely, ſpecioſa, vel ſpectatae.

p. 118And he preferred] Heb. He changed her? ſc. for the better, as God doth his people, when he taketh them to heaven, where they change place, but not company (as that good man ſaid upon his death-bed) and are brought from the jawes of death, to the joyes of eternal life; from ſhadows to ſubſtances,D. Preſton. from miſery to majeſty, &c. a greater change then that of Queen Elizabeth, from a Priſoner to a Princeſſe; or that of our Henry the fourth,Dan. hiſt. 48. who was crowned the very ſame day that the year before he had been baniſhed the Realme. The Latines call proſperous things Res ſecundas, becauſe they are to be had hereafter; they are not the firſt things.

Ʋnto the beſt place of the houſe of the women] Or, Ʋnto the beſt condition. Gods beſt children ſhall have the beſt of the beſt, fat things full of marrow, wines on the lees well refined, Eſay 25.6, Jacob and his family had the beſt of the Land of Egypt, that Granary of the world, as one calleth it. His poſterity had a land that flowed with milke and honey. What Countreys comparable to thoſe that profeſſe the Goſpel? Godlineſſe is profitable to all things, having the promiſes of both lives, &c.

Verſe 10. Eſther had not ſhewed her people] Becauſe the Jewes were ſlighted as captives, and forlorn (how dear to the gods that Nation is, faith Cicero, it appeareth, quòd eſt victa, quòd elocata, O at. pro L. Hac.quòd ſervata, in that they are conquered, captivated, and not utterly deſtroyed by us) they were alſo generally hated, as different in Religion, and would not ſo much as drink with Heathens, leſt they ſhould drink things ſacrificed to Idols. They held it meritorious (in after-times) to kill an idolater, as Tacitus teſtifieth: and at this day they ſay, Optimus inter gentes, &c. The very beſt among the Gentiles is worthy to have his head bruiſed as a Serpent. A naſty people they are ſtill, and bloodthirſty, odious and ſordid. An hiſtorian telleth us of an Emperour travelling into Egypt, and there meeting with certaine Jews, he was ſo annoyed with the ſtench of them, that he cryed out, O Marcomanut, ô Quadi, ô Surmaetae, tandem alios vobis deteriores inveni. Ammian. lib. 2.This is the baſeſt and moſt contemptible people that ever I light upon.Aug. in Pſal. 58Ps 58 The Romanes would not own them (when they had conquered them) as they did other Nations, though they complied never ſo much, and were their ſervants. The Turks ſo hate them for crucifying Chriſt, that they uſe to ſay in deteſtation of a thing,Heyl. Geog. I would I might die a Jew then: as when they would aſſure any thing, in execrationibus dicunt Judeus ſim, ſi fallo, they curſe themſelves,Sanctrus in Zech 8.13.Zech 8:13 and ſay, Let me be held a Jew, if I deceive thee. This lyeth upon them as a puniſhment for their unexpiable guilt in putting to death the Lord of life. But in Eſthers time they were hated chiefly for their Religion. In prudence therefore ſhe concealeth her kindred, as being not called to give an account of her faith; and living private, might well performe her devotions, and yet not thruſt her ſelf into obſervation.

For Mordecai had charged be… that ſhe ſhould not ſhew it] Leſt ſhe ſhould be caſhiered the Court for a Jewe…ſe, which was then held crime enough, as afterwards it was in Nore's dayes, to be a Chriſtian; and this hand perinde in crimine, quàm odio humani generis, as Tavitus hath it, not for any great fault ſo much, as by the hatred of mankind, incenſed and ſet on work by the Devil (doubtleſſe) to root out the true Religion, and to ſet up himſelf in the hearts of men as god of this preſent world. Hence thoſe complaints of Tertullian and Juſtin Martyr in their Apologies for Chriſtians, that their name (and not their crimes) was hated and hiſſed out of all companies.Tert. Apo…. c 1. 2.3. Juſt. Apol. 2. Odio publico eſt confeſſio nòminis, non examinatio criminis. — Solius hominis crimen eſt, &c. Wiſely therefore did Mordecai charge Eſther to conceal her ſelf for preſent; ſo long as it might be done without prejudice to the truth, and ſcandal to her profeſſion. Worthily alſo did holy Eſther in obeying Mord…cai her faithful foſter-father, in ruling her tongue that unruly member: and in that although ſhe had changed her keeper, yet ſhe had not let go her integrity, but held with that good woman in Hierome, who cryed out, Non ideò fateri volo, ne peream: ſed ideò me…riri nelo, ne peccem.

Verſe 11. And Mordecai walked every day] What marvel that Eſther was ſo morigerous to Mordecai, when he was ſo ſolicitous of her welfare? Theſe mutual reſpects draw … one another. The Centurion in the Goſpel had dutiful ſervants (Do this, ſaid he, and they did it) for he was a moſt hinde Maſter, and minded their good.

Before the court of the womens houſe] The Turks wonder to ſee a man walk to and fro,Biddulph. lib. 3. cap. 5. and uſe to ask ſuch an one what he meaneth? and whether he be out of his way, or out of his wi…s? But the Perſians and Greeks were great walkers. Jeſus alſo walked in Solomons porch, John 10.23. &c.

To know how Eſther di… ] Heb. The peace of Eſther. Omnis in Aſcanio, &c. Virg.He had p. 119taken her for his child, and was curious of her welfare, though ſhe were now grown up, and preferred at Court. The Court he knew, was an ill aire for godlineſſe to breath in. His care was therefore that ſhe might have Gaius's proſperity, even mentem ſ…am in corpore ſano, a ſound mind in a ſound body. And although he truſted God with his Neece, yet he knew that an honeſt care of her might well ſtand with faith in Gods providence. God muſt be truſted, but not tempted, by the neglect of lawful means, Matth. 4.7.

Verſe 12. Now when every maids turne was come] Their turnes then they took, and held it their happineſſe to loſe that which was their honour. See 1 Theſſ. 4.4. with the Note: their bodies were firſt adulterated, and then vitiated. This was abominable.

After that ſhe had beene twelve moneths] Time ſpent without ſpare, and wofully waſted in making proviſion for the fleſh to fulfil the luſts thereof: which the Prophet Amos rightly calleth a thing of nought, Chap. 6.13. with 4, 5, 6. Is time no better worth then to be thus rioted out in vanity? doth not eternity depend upon it, even the heavieſt weights upon the weakeſt wires? It is therefore a good rule that one giveth, Corrige praeteritum, rege praeſens, cerne futurum.

According to the manner of the women] Who of themſelves are apt enough (without an order to do ſo, as here) to caſt away too much time and coſt in tricking and trimming their bodies (thoſe painted ſheaths) as the Comedians have tartly taxed them; Negotu quantum in muliere unâ eſt! ſaith Plautus. What a deale of do is there with one woman in this kind! And Nôſti mores mulierum, ſaith Terence; du… moliuntur, dum comuntur, annus eſt. And as for the Perſian women,Lib. 12. cap. 1. Aelian ſaith that they were above all others moſt addicted to this vanity: and yet the haughty daughters of Zion are deeply cenſured, and heavily threatned, Eſay 3.18. where the Prophet gives us an Inventory of thoſe Ladies gallantry, and tells them that their fineneſſe ſhall be turned into filthineſſe, their neatneſſe become naſtineſſe.

For ſo were the dayes of their purification accompliſhed] What ſtrange preparation was here for the impure bed of an Heathen? Every Virgin muſt be ſix moneths purified, and ſix moneths perfumed. O God, ſaith one, what care and coſt is requiſite to that ſoul which ſhould be addreſſed a fit bride for thy holy and glorious Majeſty?

To wit, ſix moneths with oyle of myrrhe] To cleanſe them, and to clear up their countenances.Plin. 1.13 c. 1. & l.12. c. 15, 16

And ſix moneths with ſweet odours] Of theſe there is a lawful uſe, (why elſe were they created?) to pleaſe the ſenſe, refreſh the ſpirits, comfort the braine, &c. But the exceſſe and abuſe of them is utterly unlawful, and was juſtly puniſhed in Darius the laſt Perſian Monarch, and Muleaſſes King of Tunes, who ſo far affected ſweet odours, that he could not be without them whiles he was in the field againſt his enemy. Hereby it came to paſſe, that being overcome in battel by his own ſonne Amidas (another Abſolom) and purſued among the reſt that fled,Ba…th Exner. pag. 245. he was diſcovered and known who he was by the perfumes that he had about him, though to prevent it he had beſmeared himſelf with blood and duſt. Martial writing to his ſweet friend, ſaith, Poſthume, non benè olet, qui benè ſemper olet.

And another ſaith, That woman ſmelleth beſt which ſmelleth of nothing. Spiret autem foemina Chriſtum, ſaith Clemen Alexandrinus, Let women learn and labour to ſmell of Chriſt who is the royal Unction, and let them ever he anoynted with chaſtity,Padag. lib 2. cap. 8. that chiefeſt ointment.

And with other things for the purifying of women] Here was no end of exceſſe, and of expenſe: and all to ſatisfie the luſt of this impure Prince. Silver is laviſhed out of the bag, and much wealth caſt away upon theſe Minions, who had nothing elſe to do but to exerciſe their wits in deviſing ornaments and artifices,Hac in collum, hac in crines. Oras. 5. in Vertſ whereby they might get the Kings favour, and artaine to the Queendome. Tully telleth us that it was ordinary with the Kings of Perſia to beſtow upon their women ſuch a City to buy them bracelets, and ſuch a City for head-tires, &c. This was luxus planè monſtróſiſſi…us & prodigaliſſi…, as one ſaith, moſt prodigious and prodigal luxury. So eagerly are the wicked bent upon p. 120the ſatisfying of their luſts, that they care not what coſt they caſt away upon them. Aske me never ſo much dowry, ſaith that Amouretto, Gen. 34.11, 12. Judah let go his ſignet, bracelets, and ſtaffe, to the Harlot. Joſephus reporteth of one Decius Mundus (Immundus rather) a Nobleman that to one Paulina, Lib. 18. cap. 4.a Lady in Rome, he offered as much as came to ſix thouſand pounds to ſatisfie his luſts but one night, and yet he could not bring her to his lure by ſuch a large offer: though afterwards (under the mask of Anubis, to which dogs-head ſhe was devoted) he found means to abuſe her: which was the deſtruction both of thoſe bawdy Prieſts, and their Temple.

Verſe 13. Then thus came every maiden to the King] Tirus prepared, annointed, appointed, &c. rejoycing in that whereof they had reaſon rather to repent; as too many do now adayes, whileſt they go dancing to hell in their bolts.

Whatſoever ſhe deſired was given her] Omne quod dicebat, was but ask and have: ſo laviſh is luſt; and ſo fooliſh are men to beſtow coſt upon ſo hard a reckoning.

Ʋnto the Kings houſe] Ad regis cubiculum, ſaith the old Interpreter to the Kings bed-chamber.

Verſe 14. In the evening ſhe went] As the fitteſt time for a work of darkneſſe.

And on the morrow ſhe returned] So ſhort is the pleaſure of ſinne. Laeta venire Venus, triſtis abire ſolet.

Into the ſecond houſe of the women] That having made ſale of her honeſty, ſhe might converſe with ſuch as had likewiſe left their honeſties behind them; companions in evil, and miſerable comforters, with whom they might make up their meaſure, and God power on his.

She came in unto the King no more] But muſt burn in luſt, without means of allayment; being ſcalded, as it were, in her own greaſe, frying within, and freezing without. Sed foreign, as Cyril ſaith in a like caſe, We do but rake a dughill in a diſcourſe of this nature.Merlin. Let us therefore ſtay here no longer (as an Interpreter hath it) in ſetting forth the filthineſſe of this Heathen Prince, who yet hath too many amongſt us that imitate his uncleanneſſe, and intemperance.

Verſe 15. Now when the turne of Eſther, &c.] Then, and not till then. So when Joſeph was ſufficiently humbled,Pſal. 105.20.Ps 105:20 the King ſent and looſed him; the Ruler of the people let him go free. When David was become weaned from the world, as a child from the breaſts; when his heart was not haughty, nor his eyes lofty, &c. then was he advanced to the Kingdome, Pſal. 131.1, He that beleeveth maketh not haſte. Gods time is beſt: and as he ſeldome cometh at our time, ſo he never faileth at his own.

The daughter of Abihail] The ſeed of the righteous, and ſo an heireſſe of that precious promiſe, His ſeed ſhall be mighty upon earth, Pſal. 111. She was alſo a daughter of Iſrael, and therefore Gods firſt-born, higher then the Kings of the earth, Pſalme 84.27.

Who had taken her for his daughter] This good work was ſo well pleaſing to God, that it is once again recited, and honourably mentioned. What ſhall the Lord Chriſt then do at the laſt day for his people who are full of mercy and good fruits? If now he doth not onelyonly make mention of us, but mediation for us at the throne of glory; ſurely then he will much more make our faith which worketh by love, to be found unto praiſe, and honour, and glory, 1 Pet. 1.7.

She required nothing] As other maids had done to ſet out their beauty; but contenting her ſelf with her native comelineſſe, and that wiſdome that made her face to ſhine: ſhe humbly taketh what Hegai directed her to, and wholly reſteth upon the Divine providence.

And Eſther obtained favour in the ſight of all] By her comely countenance and gracious deportment. Plutarch ſpeaks of a Spartan woman, that when her neighbours were ſhewing their apparel and jewels, ſhe brought out her children vertuous and well taught, ſaying, Theſe are my ornaments and accouſtrements. Eſther did the like by her vertues, which drew all hearts unto her; like as fair flowers in the ſpring do the paſſengers eyes. She had decked her ſelf with the white of ſimplicity, with the red of modeſty, with the ſilke of piety, with the ſattin of ſanctity, with the purple of chaſtity, as Tertullian expreſſeth it: taliter pigmentatae Deum habebitis amatorem, ſaith he, and being thus adorned and beautified,Tert…de cult. ſcem. women ſhall have God himſelf to be their ſuitor, and all godly men their admirers. Whereas on the otherſide,

p. 121Nequaquam ornata eſt benè, quae morata eſt malè.

Pulchrum ornatum turpes mores pejùs coeno collinunt.Plaut. M ſtell. Act. 1. Scen. 3.Acts 1

Verſe 16. So Eſther was taken unto King Ahaſhuerus] And ſo that ſweet Promiſe was fulfilled and exemplified in her, Though ye have lien among the pots, yet ſhall ye be as the wings of a Dove covered with ſilver, and her feathers with yellow gold, Pſal. 68.13. God raiſed up this poor Orphane, this deſpicable exile out of the duſt, and lifted this needy one out of the dunghil, that he may ſet her with Princes, even with the Princes of the people, Pſal. 113.7, 8. Thus he raiſed Moſes and Joſeph, David and Daniel, &c.

Into his Houſe-royal] A place of reſt and honour. Thus Flebile principium melior fort…na ſecuta eſt.

In the tenth monethmonth] Not in the twelfth monethmonth, as Joſephus hath it falſely: and yet the Papiſts tell us, that the common people may well want the hiſtorical part of the Bible, and for it read Joſephus his Jewiſh Antiquities.Barclai.

In the ſeventh yeare of his reigne] Foure or five yeares before Hamans advancement: this was a ſweet Providence, that God ſhould ſet up one to be a deliverer to his Church, ſo long before the danger grew on. So Joſeph was ſent down to Egypt before: Moſes was skilled in all the learning of the Egyptians, and afterwards ſent to Midian that he might be fitted to be King in Jeſhurun, &c. Oh how unſearchable are Gods judgements, and his ways paſt finding out! Oh the depth, &c! Latimers three laſt Petitions were granted.

Verſe 17. And the King loved Eſther] This was the Lords own work, who regarded the low eſtate of his Handmaid, and framed the Kings heart to affect her.Luke 1.48.Luke 1:48 Let all ſuch maids as deſire loving husbands, and all ſuch wives as would have their husbands loyal and loving to them, get Gods favour, and adorne themſelves with humility and modeſty, as Eſther did. Let Chriſtian husbands alſo learn (for ſhame) of this barbarian, to love their wives above all women, with a conjugal, chaſte and faſt affection; not luſting and hankering after ſtrange fleſh. 'Tis remarkable, that after Solomon had ſaid, Rejoyce in the wife of thy youth, — be thou raviſht always with her love; he ſubjoyneth, And why wilt thou my ſonne be raviſht with a ſtrange woman, and embrace the boſome of a ſtranger? Prov. 5.19, 20.

She obtained grace and favour in his ſight] Surely as meat pleaſeth better in a clean diſh, ſo vertue in comely perſons in more amiable, ſaith Hugo. Beauty of it ſelf is a greater commendation, ſaith Ariſtotle, then all letters teſtimonial.

So that he ſet the royal Crown upon her head] For Queens alſo had their Crownes, and did ſhine with the beams of their husbands; ſaying, as once thoſe Romane Ladies, Ʋbi tu Caius, ibi ego Caia, whereſoever thou art King, I alſo am Queen. Severus here ſaith, that the King clothed Eſther with a purple robe, to ſhew, that he ſhared the Kingdome with her, but the text holdeth forth no ſuch matter: Indeed he made her Queen in ſtead of Vaſthi, he made alſo a great wedding feaſt, and gave a releaſe to the Provinces, and gifts to his Grandees, as it followeth.

Verſe 18. Then the King made a great feaſt] Feaſts are never more in ſeaſon, then at the recovery of the loſt rib. See the note on Gen. 29.22.

Ʋnto all his Princes and his ſervants] So did Mauritius the Emperour of Greece, Niceph. l. 18. c. 8.when he married Conſtantina; and Henry the third Emperour of Germany, when he married Agnes, daughter to the Prince of Pictavia, at Ingelheim. Whither when a great ſort of Players, Fidlers, Jeſters and Juglers reſorted,Funcc. …d annum 1044. he not only ſent them away without reward, but alſo without meat and drink, which he liberally beſtowed upon the poor.

Even Eſthers feaſt] So he called it, to teſtifie his great affection and reſpect toward his Spouſe. This is no warrant for that Popiſh cuſtome, of dedicating feaſts to the honour of Saints; or for that heatheniſh practice, in ſome places amongſt us, of keeping Wakes.

And he made a releaſe to the Provinces] That is, he cauſed it to be kept Holiday, as Joſephus hath it. Or rather he granted to his ſubjects a relaxation, on feeed me from p. 122their taxes, tributes and publike payments, for a time at leaſt, that thereby the New Queen might get favour and authority amongſt them, and all men might wiſh them much joy and happineſſe, that the loines of the people might bleſſe their Prince and his marriage for this breathing and intermiſſion; when as formerly his Exactours received from his ſubjects no leſſe ſummes of curſes then of coine, to maintaine his luxury.

And gave gifts] Such as Xenophon reckoneth up, bracelets, chaines of gold, garments, horſes with rich trappings,Cyr…ſal. l. 8. diſhes from his own table, &c. This was Kingly, this was god-like,foreign. James 1.5. His ſonne Artaxerxes Longimanus was wont to ſay, that he had therefore one hand longer then another, that he might be readier to give then to receive. Of Cyrus it is ſaid,foreign. Xenoph. Bonſin. that he took more content in giving then receiving. Of Steven King of Hungary, and of Oſwald King of England, that their right hands rotted not off, a long while after they were dead, becauſe oft ſtretched out in giving gifts, and dealing almes. Chriſt received that he might give, Pſal. 68.18. Eph. 4.8. And held it more bleſſed to give then to receive, Acts 20.35. Be wiſe now therefore, O ye Kings, &c. by your bounty and liberality the people ſhall be obliged, the State fenced, vertue encouraged, miſery relieved, that you have ſecured. For,

Extra for tunam eſt quicquid donatur amicisMar…ial.

Q…as dederis ſolas, ſemper habebis opes.

According to the ſtate of the King] Not pinchingly and ſparingly, but bountifully, and as became a King: as Alexander the Great, when he ſent his Tutour a ſhip full of frankincenſe: and when a poor man asked him for an almes, he gave him a City, which when the poor man ſtarted at and made ſtrange of, Alexander ſaid unto him, Non quaero quid te accipere deceat, ſed quid me dare, Sen. de benef. l. 2. c 16.The queſtion is not what thou ſhouldeſt receive, but what it beſeemeth me to give. And thus is the marriage of Eſther ſolemnized with ſtate and pomp ſuitable: thus is Gods Promiſe made by Jeremy fulfilled, that if Jechoniah would not ſtand out againſt Nebuchadnezzar, but yield up the City, and go into captivity, it ſhould be well with him and the people in the land of their captivity. It was ſo with him,Pſal. 89 33.Ps 89:33 Jer. 52.31. it was ſo likewiſe with Eſther, Daniel, and many others by their meanes. And why? God will not ſuffer his faithfulneſſe to faile, nor alter the word that is gone out of his month.

Ver. 19. And when the Virgins were gathered together, &c.] For a new ſupply of the Kings inſatiable luſt, ſay ſome, this affection ſoon growing cold to Eſther. So unreaſonable is luſt, ſo inconſtant carnal affection, ſo lawleſſe are the wicked, ſo ſhort is any happineſſe of perfection in this life. The Septuagint leave out this word [the ſecond time] but the Hebrew verity hath it. Others ſay, the ſecond time, ſignifieth into the ſecond houſe of the women. For they went not each to their own homes, becauſe the King was now fully ſatisfied in his choice, as Tremellius and Junius conceive, but they remained in the cuſtody of Shaazgar Keeper of the Kings Concubines, not ſuffered to converſe with any man ever after, as Aben-Ezra obſerveth. Therefore they were twice gathered together. Once, when they were brought to Hegai the Eunuch, and again, when from the Kings houſe, they met all together in the ſecond houſe of the women, under the Government of Shaazgar.

Then Morde…ai ſate in the Kings gate.] As Porter or other Officer, ſaith Severus: and he attended ſtill upon his office, not fawning on Eſther, nor prolling for preferment. His ambition was to be quiet and to do his own buſineſſe, intra pelliculam ſuam ſe continere: high feates he knew were never but uneaſie, and long robes cannot but contract much ſoile.Negotiorum familiarium curator. 1 Theſ. 4.11. foreign.1 Thess 4:11 In the place he now holdeth, he can heare how it goeth with his Eſther, and do the King good ſervice, as verſe 21.

Verſe 20. Eſther had not yet ſhewed her kinred] Taciturnity is ſometimes a vertue, and Tacitus the beſt Hiſtorian. Queen Elizabeths Motto was, Video, taceo, I ſee, and ſay nothing. Sophocles ſaith, Nothing better becometh a woman then ſilence. Euripides alſo ſaith, that ſilence, and modeſty, and keeping at home, are the greateſt commendation to a woman that can be.Cui tacere grave ſit. Curt. l. 4. Curtius telleth us, that the Perſians never truſt one whom hey finde to be talkative. Why Eſther concealed her kindred, ſee the note on v. 11. and know that this is no warrant for popiſh equivocation; a device of the Jeſuites, for the comfort of afflicted Catholikes (as Blackwell and Garnet profeſſe) and for the inſtruction of all the godly.

p. 123For Eſther di… the commandment of Mordeoai] Her honours had not altered her manners. She was ſemper endem, as obſequious and obſervant of Mordec… ſtill as ever. So was Joſeph, David, Solomon, Epaminondas, and others, of their old and poorer Parents. Pope Benedict a Lombard, Ani… Dom. 1303. A ſhepherds ſon would not acknowledge his poore mother, when ſhe came to him Lady-like, but cauſed her to put on her ſhepherdeſſe apparel, and then did her all the honour that might be. Sir Thomas Moore, would in Weſtminſter Hall beg his fathers bleſſing on his knees. Mordecas was Eſthers foſter-father, and had given her (though not her being, yet) her well-being; and hence ſhe ſo reſpects him, and is ſo ruled by him. She had gotten from him that nurture and admonition in the Lord, that was better to her then the Crown of the Kingdome: for what is unſanctified greatneſſe but eminent diſhonour? and what is dignitas in indigno, but ornamentum in lute? Salvian.If any Parents finde diſobedient children; let them conſider whether Eli like, they have not honoured (I mean cockered) their ſons too much, 1 Sam. 2.29. which is the reaſon they honour then now ſo little. Will they keep meat well ſavoured, yet never ſalt it? will they have ſprigs ſprout right, yet never lop them? Our Henry the ſecond ſo cockered his eldeſt ſon Henry, that he crowned him whileſt himſelf was yet alive, which made his ambition quite turne off his obedience, to his fathers great heart-break.

Verſe 21. In thoſe dayes] Whiles the King is drowning himſelf in pleaſure, and dreadeth no danger: whiles he was raviſhing and deflowring of Virgins, and bragging (perhaps) as Proculus the Emperour did, that when he made warre upon the S…matians; in fifteen dayes he got with childe an hundred Virgins of that Countrey, there taken priſoners. Whiles this voluptuous Prince was in the glut of his carnal delights, in the flagrancy of his ſinful luſts his life is ſought for, and hell gapes for him; ſo ſlippery places are great ones ſet in: ſo doth the Lord ſauce their greateſt proſperity with ſudden and unexpected dangers. Thus Artilas King of Hunnes was hang'd up in gibbets, as it were, by Gods own hand, in the … of his Nuptials. Thus King Henry of France, upon the marriage of his ſiſter to … King of Spaine, was ſo over joyed, that he called himſelfe by a new title, Tres heureuſe Roy, the thrice happy King, But (to confute him) in ſolemnizing that marriage, he was ſlain at Tilt by Mongomery, Captain of his guard, though againſt his Will, &c.

Ad …enerum Cereris ſine caede & ſanguine panciJuvenal.

Deſcendunt reges, & ſiccâ merce …yranni.

While Mor decai ſate in the Kings gate] See ver. 19.

Two of the Kings Chamberlaines] In truſt I have found treaſon, ſaid Queen Elizabeth. So before her, did David, Solomon, Rehoboam, Joaſh, Amaziah, Alexander the great, Julius Caeſar, and who not, almoſt? Hence ſome great Princes have wiſhed never to have meddled with Government as Auguſtus, Adrian, (foelix ſi non imperitâſſet) Pertinax, who uſed to ſay, that he never in all his life committed the like fault, as when he accepted the Empire: and many times he motioned to leave the ſame, and to return unto his houſe. Diocleſian and Maximian did ſo; for they found, that quot ſervi, tot hoſtes; quot cuſtodes, tot curnifices: they could not be ſafe from their own ſervants; but Damocles-like, they ſat at meat with a drawn ſword hanging by a twined thread over their necks. Hence Dionyſius durſt not truſt his owne daughter to barbe him. And Maſſiniſſa, King of Numidia, committed his ſafe-keeping to a guard of dogs; for men he durſt not truſt.

Of thoſe which kept the door] ſc. Of the Kings bed-chamber. Some render it, which kept the houſbold-ſtuffe…. Men, they were much intruſted, and therefore the more to be abhorred. Metuendum eſt eſſe ſine cuſtode, ſed multò magis à cuſtode metuendum eſt, Dio Caſſ.ſaid Auguſtus concerning his guard, whom he ſuſpected of treachery: All, or muſt of his ſucceſſours, till Conſtantine, died unnatural deaths. Let great ones therefore com… themſelves to God in well-doing, as unto a faithful Creatour.

Were wroth] What the occaſion of their diſcontent was, is uncertain. The Greek and Chaldee ſay it was, becauſe Mordecai was ſo promoted. Others, becauſe Vaſ…ti was depoſed, and Eſther advanced to her Royal ſtate. Others ſay that they affected the Kingdom, as the Magi had done not long before. Some again, that they were not well p. 144paid their arrears. Sure it is, that ambition, envy, covetouſneſſe, all or ſome of theſe ſtirred them up to this treaſonable attempt. Whatſoever the Sire was, the baſtard is anger: and rage likely is the mother of treaſon, becauſe as it baniſheth reaſon, and ſo gives way to all unrulineſſe, ſo it ends in malice; and malice will have blood.

And ſought to lay hands on the King Ahaſhuerus] Kings are fair marks for Traitours to ſhoot at. In which regard

—Miſeratque infelix eſt etiam Rex

Nec quenquam (mihi crede) facit diadema boatum.

Moſt of the Ceſars got nothing by their adoption or deſignation to the Empire, Niſi ut citiùs interficerentur, but to be ſlain ſo much the ſooner. Treaſons there were ſo many plotted and practiſed againſt that incomparable Queen Elizabeth, that ſhe ſaid in Parliament,Camd. Eliz. Pref. She rather marvelled that ſhe was then muſed that ſhe ſhould not be, were in not that Gods holy hand had protected her beyond expectation. Henry the fourth of France, Ibid.was firſt ſtabbed in the mouth, and after that in the heart, by thoſe falſe Jeſuites, whom he had admitted into his very boſome, and uſed with marvellous reſpect. But in would not ſerve his turne to ſave his life. His Countreyman Cominaeus telleth us, that if he ſhould write of all the Princes which he knew in his time, that in the judgement of men ſeemed to live in great felicity, and yet to thoſe that knew them familiarly, lived in a miſerable eſtate, that matter alone would require a reaſoriable Volume.

Verſe 22. And the thing was known to Mordecai] How he came to know it, is uncertain. Joſephas ſaith, that it was revealed to him by one Barnabazus a Jew, who was ſervant to one of the Conſpiratours. R. Solomon ſaith, that the Eunuches talked of the plot before Mordecai in the language of Tarſus, …ing that he had not underſtood them; and ſo it came forth. Others conceive, that … ſollicited him, being one of the Keepers of the Kings door alſo to joyne with them. Howſoever it was that he got inkling and intelligence of their bloody purpoſe; God was in it, and good men are of his privy counſel; The ſecret of the Lord is with them that feare him, Pſal. 25.11. Their apprehenſions of things are deep, and their obſervations right, their knowledge rare to boult out miſchiefes, their experience lead them o… to gueſſe ſhrewdly at mens purpoſes by their looks and geſtures. I wiſdome dwell with prudence (or ſubtilty) and finde out knowledge of witty inventions. Prov. 8.12.

Who told it unto Eſther the Queen] Haply, as holding himſelf (a mean man) unworthy and unfit to ſpeak to the King. Or, as fearing leſt he ſhould not be believed, or ſhould be out-faced by the Traitour, or as conceiving that it would be better taken from Eſther, whom the King ſo dearly loved; and might prove a good meanes to infeoffe her farther into his favour. Yea M…rdec…i himſelfe (ſaith an Interpreter) might ſafely have alſo a further reach herein namely, to try the ſincere affection of Eſther towards him, whether ſhe would make this an occaſion to his good and preferment, or rather take the glory thereof unto her ſelfe.

And Eſther certified the King thereof in Mordecais name] She doth not conceal the treaſon, or further it, as ſome ambitious Semiramis would have done, or adulterous Livia. For although ſhe was wont to boaſt that ſhe ruled her husband Auguſtus by obeying him, yet Pliny and Tacitus tell us, that ſhe was over-familiar with Eudemus her Phyſician. And whereas Auguſtus his laſt words to her were, O Livia, remember our marriage, and Adieu. She did ſo, and 'tis thought had … finger in ſetting him going. And the like i… reported of Clytemneſtra, Olympia…, Queen Iſabel, wife to our Edward the ſecond. But holy Eſther was none ſuch; She, as a loyal and faithful wife, diſcovereth to the King the danger he was in, and ſo ſaveth his life, ſo did Michal Davids wife, though ſhe hall no great goodneſſe in her. The like is reported of Cleopatra, daughter to Antiochus the great, who gave her in marriage to Ptolem… Epiphant…, thinking by her to deſtroy him, but he was deceived, according to Dan. 11.17. Valerius Maximus and Fulgeſius ſpeak much in the commendation of Thuria, Sulpitia, Chilonia, Antonia, Egnatia, &c. for loving and faithful wives Val… Maximus Chriſtianus alſo for like cauſe, celebrateth …, wife to Philip the Emperour and Mary, wife to Sigiſm…d, King of Bohemia and Hungary, &c.lib 2. cap 16.

p. 145Verùm hac (Eſther) tantùm alias inter capat extulit omnes,

Quantum lenta ſolent inter viburna cupreſſi.

Verſe 23. And when Inquiſition was made of the matter] The King neither ſleighted this accuſation, not over-haſtily believed it. Not this, leſt he ſhould diſcover a needleſſe feare, or precipitate a wrong ſentence. Not that, leſt he ſhould betray his own life, and put all into a confuſion, as Gedaliah did, Jer. 40. and 41. and as he in the hiſtory did, who being forewarned by a letter, of a dangerous plot laid for his life, laid aſide the letter with theſe words, foreign, Tomorrow we will minde theſe ſerious buſineſſes, but ere the morrow he was diſpatched. The matter was here enquired into, ſaith the text, leſt haply it might be miſ-reported, and ſo the innocent be puniſhed. Or, if not innocent, yet Doth our Law condemn any before his cauſe be heard? Surely Pilate and Feſtus were farre better Juſticers then Caiaphas and Lyſias, for they would execute a man in the morning, and then ſit upon him in the afternoon. Aeneas Sylvius, in his twentieth chapter of Europe, tells of ſome places, wherein if any one be ſuſpected of theft, he is forthwith taken and truſſed up. Three dayes after, they judge of the ſuſpicion: and if they finde the man guilty, they let his carcaſſe hang till it rot: as if otherwiſe, they take it down and bury it honourably at the publike charge. This is prepoſterous juſtice, judgement turned into gall, and righteouſneſſe into hemlock.

It was found out] As treaſon uſually is, and ſtrangely: witneſſe thoſe in Queen Elizabeths reign, and the powder-plotters. Creighton the Jeſuite, a Scot, ſailing into Scotland, and being taken by certain Netherland-Pirates, had torne certain papers in pieces. But the torne pieces being throwen out of the ſhip, were blowen back again by the wind and caſt by a Providence into the ſhip, not without a miracle as Creighton ſaid himſelfe.Camd. Eliz. 266. Which being ſet together by Wade, with much labour and ſingular cunning, diſcovered new deſignes of the Pope and his Agents here againſt England. Anno 1585. Detexit facinus fatnus & non implevit, ſaith Tacitus of one about his time. Either the Traitours own tongue ſhall betray him (as it befel thoſe two ſent by Mahomet to kill Scanderbeg) or the foules of heaven ſhall reveal the miſchief,Turk. Hiſt. fol. 60. and that which hath wing ſhall tell the matter, Eccleſ. 10.20. (It was a piece of a wing, a quill that diſcovered that helliſh powder-plot) Or ſome other way it ſhall be found out, as here, and the Conſpiratours brought to condigne puniſhment.

Therefore they were both hanged on a tree] Traitours, like bells, will be never well tuned till well hanged, till they have worne a Tyburne-tippet, as father Latimer phraſed it. Campian that ſpider was ſwept down by the hand of juſtice, and drew his laſt thread in the Triangle of Tyburne. His words in his Epiſtle to the Honourable Counſellours of Queen Elizabeth were theſe, Quamdiu vel unus quiſpiam è nobis ſupererit qui Tyburno veſtro fruatur, &c. As long as there is any one of us left to enjoy your Tyburne, &c. Much joy may they have of it, ſith it is their ambition, and may their quarters be ſet as high, as that falſe Edricks head once was by King Knute, viz. Dan. Hiſt. 19.upon the higheſt part of the tower of London, therein performing his Promiſe to a Traitour, of advancing him above any Lord of the Land.

And it was written in the book of the Chronicles] Heb. in the book of the words of dayes, in the Diary of the Kings, or in the book of remembrance. As the Jewes, ſo the Perſians had their Chronicles or publike Commentaries, wherein all memorable acts were recorded, and Scribes or Hiſtoriographers for that purpoſe appointed and maintained; Plutarch writeth that at that great ſea-…ight between Themiſtocles and the Perſians, Xerxes ſate in a throne of gold, and ſaw the conflict, having many Scribes about him, whoſe office was to ſet down all that was done that day. This was a commendable cuſtome, and might be a motive to their Kings and great ones to take heed of doing ought that they would not have regiſtred and read by ſucceeding ages Suetonius telleth us,Suet. in Auguſt. that Auguſtus upon this account, forbade his Daughter and Neeces to ſay or do any thing that they would not have to be chronicled.

Before the King] Perhaps in his preſence, and for his ſpecial uſe though Mordecai's good ſervice was ſoon forgotten, God forget not to recompence Ahaſhuerus his love to Fiſther, and courteſie to her people, by detecting and defeating thoſe Conſpiratours that …ought his life. But he ſoon forgets Mordecai, Gods inſtrument for his deliverance, though the matter were written in a book before him; hence he goes noted with a black p. 126coale for his ingratitude. Tamerlane had a catalogue of the names of ſuch as had beſt deſerved of him,Turk. Hiſt. 227. which he daily peruſed, oftentimes ſaying, that day to be loſt wherein he had not given them ſomething. There was a Providence in it, that nothing was yet done for Mordecai. Gods time is the beſt, and we ſhall one day ſay ſo: neither is there any thing loſt by waiting his leiſure. He bottles up our tears, he books up our ſighes, he writes down all we ſay or do in his roll of remembrance, Mal. 3.6, 10. See the Note there, and the Reference.