The Garden of Zion, Part 10 – Title page 2

The Garden of Zion · Part 10 – Title page 2

p. 419THE GARDEN OF ZION. The Booke of Esther.

A Prayer.

… Now must ſpeak of Ahaſuerus King,

And of Haman, who on a tree did hing,

And likewiſe of the godly Mordecai,

Who for the well of Gods church did apply

His heart, for to her happineſſe procure,

That ſhe from danger might abide moſt ſure;

Of this good Esther with goody intent

Was by God made a bleſſed inſtrument.

Now come, good God and with thy breath divine

…nſpire mine heart, my droſſie ſprits refine,

p. 420Powre in my breaſt thy ſacred divine powrs,

And teach me how to ſpend my painfull hours.

ESTHER. Hid.

Chap. 1.

IT came to paſſe that Ahaſuerus King,

When he was in the third yeere of his reign

Did make a feaſt unto all his Princes,

And his ſervants, Rulers of Provinces;

There he in pompe and royall dignitie

Did ſhew the honour of his Majeſtie:

This feaſt to ſhew of his glory the rayes,

Did laſt an hundred, and als foureſcore dayes:

After this feaſt, he to the people all

A banket made, both unto great and ſmall,

In Shuſhan faire, which was the Kings palace

There many ſubjects did themſelves ſolace,

With eating, drinking, merrineſſe and playes,

This feaſt did laſt the whole ſpace of ſeven daye…

Both white and greene, and blue hangings we then

Faſtned moſt ſure, with cordes of fine linnen,

And coſtly purple to the ſilver rings,

Pillars of marble, and ſuch other things;

The beds were of fine ſilver and of gold,

p. 421Which were moſt pleaſant alwayes to behold;

…ichly upon a pavement they ſtood

…f red, blue white, and als black marble good:

… gold veſſels they drink unto them gave

… abundance, as much as they could crave.

…he law of drinking was none did compell;

…or ſo the King had well appointed all

…is Officers, who did no more require

…ut that each man dranke after his deſire.

Alſo Vaſhti the Queen, women did bring

…o feaſt with her, in the houſe of the King:

… the ſeventh day as Ahaſuerus was

…errie with wine, even as it came to paſſe

…hat he ordained (without leſſe or more)

…hat Eunuchs ſhould bring Vaſhti him before,

…ith the crowne royall, full of dignitie,

…o ſhew unto the Princes her beautie;

…or ſhe was faire; But Vaſhti did refuſe,

…o come unto the King who wroth did uſe

…reat rigour for her diſobedience,

…ecauſe they thought it drew in conſequence:

…heſe of the Princes who were the moſt wiſe

…hought by this deed that women would deſpiſe

…heir husbands, when of it once they ſhould heare,

…nd that the baſeſt would no more forbeare,

…herefore of this let there be a decree

…gainſt the great pride of the Queen Vaſhti,

p. 422Seeing ſhe hath contemn'd the royall ſtate

Of Ahaſuerus, let her whole eſtate

Be given unto ſome other ſpeedily,

Who ſhall by all be eſteem'd more worthy;

That all women by her may ſtand in aw,

Let this decree be written for a law,

Which publiſh…d through out the Empire all,

Shall make wives honour huſbands great an… ſmall:

After the Princes had heard this ſaying,

They it approv'd, ſo likewiſe did the King,

So letters were ſent that all men might heare,

That each man in his owne houſe rule ſhould be…

Chap. 2.

After theſe things when Vaſhti was away,

The Kings ſervants at laſt began to ſay,

Let fair young virgins be ſought for the King,

And be committed to …ega…s keeping,

And let the maid which pl…aſeth the kings eye,

Be placed Queene in ſtead of proud Vaſhti:

When this was ſaid, anone with the ſaying,

In every point well pleaſed was the King.

Now in Shuſhan there was a certaine Jew,

The ſon of Ja…r, as the Scriptures ſhew,

A Benjamite, his name was Mo…decai,

p. 423He from Salem had been carri'd away

…o Babylon, in the captivitie,

With Jechoniah there captive to be:

…his man Hadaſſa which was good Eſter,

His Uncles daughter brought up, and als bare

…he whole charges; he for her daughter took,

When ſhe was orphan he her not forſook.

It came to paſſe at laſt when the decree

Was heard, that Eſter was brought to Hegai

Who keept the women, he anone Eſther

Moſt fair in face to others did prefer:

Eſter as yet moſt wiſely did not ſhew,

That ſhe by nation was a virgin Jew,

As ſhe directed was by Mordecai,

She ſtrave in all things humbly to obey.

The cuſtome was theſe maids to purifie,

The ſpace of twelve months, that they thus might bee

Well for the King prepar'd, as was thought meet,

With oyle of myrre, and other odours ſweet;

But above all the reſt Eſther got place,

For in the Kings ſight ſhe obtained grace,

So that he ſet the Crowne upon her head,

For Vaſhti he did make her Queene indeed.

Then the King made a feaſt to his Princes,

And a releaſe als to the Provinces:

p. 424And royally gave gifts of every thing,

According to the great State of the King.

In this meane time the worthy Mordecai

Sate in the Kings gate, waiting every day:

Eſther had not yet ſhewed her kinred,

Nor her people, as Mordecai indeed

Had charg'd, for ſhe reſpected Mordecai,

As a daughter ſhe him ſtill did obey.

While Mordecai thus ſate in the Kings gate,

Two chamberlens men given unto debate,

Bigthan, Tereſh, of theſe that kept the door,

Who did intend to take the King; therefore

Mordecai knowing what by them had beene

Plotted againſt the King, ſoon told the Queen,

And Eſther wiſe did then declare the ſame

Unto the King in good Mordecais name.

When inquiſition was made ſpeedily,

It was ſo, and they hang'd were on a tree;

And in the book of Chronicles this thing

All this was written even before the King.

Chap. 3.

AFter theſe things the King of Perſia

Did raiſe Haman, ſon of Amedatha

The Agagite, and him advanced high

Above all the Princes that were him with:

p. 425…ll the Kings ſervants not to give offencé,

…id bow to him, and give him reverence:

…ut Mordecai (who did him not allow)

…efuſed alwayes unto him to bow.

…or this Haman (incenſde with great fury)

…tended to deſtroy moſt ſpeedily

…oth Mordecai and all his nation,

…ecauſe he made not due ſubmiſſion.

In the firſt monethmonth, the monethmonth Niſan,

… the Kings twelfth year, before proud Haman,

…hey caſt Pur, that is, lot from day to day,

…ow that they might the Jews all ſweep away.

Then Haman ſaid to Ahaſuerus King;

…ake heed, and hearken unto my ſaying;

…eer is a people that ſtands not in aw,

…roud, and perverſe, who keepe not the Kings law:

…herefore it hurts the profite of the King,

…hat they within thy bounds have abiding:

… it ſhall pleaſe the King them to deſtroy,

… will ten thouſand talents ſurely pay

…f good ſilver, and give it ſpeedily,

…o theſe that have charge of the treaſury.

Then thus perſwaded Ahaſuerus King,

… continent took from his hand his ring,

…nd ſaid to him, Take theſe folk ſpeedily,

…nd do with them, as ſeemeth good to thee.

p. 426Then letters from the King anone were ſent,

To all Provinces for the ſame intent,

That all the Jews without faile in one day

Should from the earth like doung be ſweept aw…

The poſts went out, and runnig made great haſt

To execut what Haman had purchaſt:

The King and Haman then drank merrilie,

But poor Shuſhan was in perplexitie,

Chap. 4.

WHen what was done, was ſeene by Mordec…

He rent his cloaths and bitterly did cry,

He put on ſack-loth with aſhes, and went,

And to the Kings gate came incontinent:

In every province then was great mourning

Among the Jews, with wailing and faſting:

Yea thus perplexed, many night and day

In vileſt ſack-cloth and in aſhes lay.

When Eſthers maids thus Mordecai had ſeen▪

Clothed with ſack, they told it to the Queene,

Who greeved much, unto Mordecai ſent,

To change his ſackcloth with coſtly raiment:

But he the ſame from their hands would no… take.

Then Eſther wondring why he thus did make

So ſtrange with her, ſhe for Hatah did call,

p. 427…hat he ſhould know what was it great or ſmall,

…hat greeved had the heart of Mordecai,

… that he did weare ſackcloath day by day.

So Hatah went to him unto the ſtreet

…f the citie, even before the Kings gate;

…nd Mordecai him told with great annoy,

…hat Haman minded the Jews to deſtroy;

…e gave him als the copie of writing,

…f the decree ſeal'd by the Kings owne ring,

…hat he unto Eſther might ſhew the ſame,

…hat ſhe might know what evil her foes did frame,

…nd that ſhe ſhould go quickly to the King,

…o make requeſt for to prevent this thing,

… Hatah came with diligence that day,

…nd told Eſther the words of Mordecai.

Then Eſther ſent Hatach to him againe,

…o ſpeake theſe words, ſhe wiſe, did him ordaine;

…he Kings ſervants and people all doe know,

…hat the Kings Lawes moſt ſtrict doe not allow,

…hat to the inner court come great or ſmall,

…t ſuch as thoſe for whom the King ſhall call;

…othing but death for him who is ſo bold,

As to approach except the King out hold

p. 428His golden ſcepter, thereby to give leave

To come to him; none but ſuch after live.

But I have not beene call'd unto the King

Theſe thirty dayes; tell Mordecai this thing

And they againe did tell to Mordecai,

The words which Eſther unto them did ſay.

Then Mordecai commanded this anſwere

Quickly for to be given to Queene Eſther,

Think not with thy ſelf I tell thee for new…

That thou eſcape ſhalt more then other Je…

For if at this time thou doſt hold thy peace,

Enlargement ſhall come from another pl…

Ʋnto the Jewes, but thou moſt certainly

With thy fathers houſe ſhalt deſtroyed be:

Who knowes but thou by providence divine,

Art to the Kingdome come for ſuch time?

When this was told, then bade the g… Esther

To Mordecai ſoone returne this anſwere,

Goe quickly, and well gather every man,

Among the Jewes preſent within Shuſhan,

And faſt yee for me the ſpace of three day

I alſo and my maids will faſt likewiſe,

p. 429And ſo to goe I will not ſtand in aw

Ʋnto the King, though not after the Law:

To get good ſpeed now from my heart I wiſh,

But if I periſh, then let me periſh.

So what Eſther commanded, Mordecai

Reſolved well to do it by and by.

Chap. 5.

IT came to paſſe after on the third day,

That Eſther richly cloath'd without delay,

In th'inner court of the Kings houſe then ſtood,

When Ahaſuerus King this underſtood,

To ſhew both his favour and her ſurety,

His golden Scepter he held out quickly;

So Eſther drew neere, and with diligence

Touch'd the top of the Scepter of the Prince,

What wilt thou Queene Eſther, then ſaid the King

What is thy requeſt now in any thing?

It ſhall be given, to ask now boldly come,

I will it give, though halfe of the Kingdome.

Then Eſther ſaid, If it ſhall pleaſe the King,

I onelyonly ſeeke, ye grant me this ſaying,

Let the King and Haman together come

To the banket I have prepar'd for him.

p. 430Then the King ſaid, at the banket of wine

Unto Eſter, what is that ſute of thine,

And thy requeſt? unto me boldly come

I will it give, though half of the Kingdome.

Then ſaid Eſther, This onelyonly ſute I bring,

If I have found in the ſight of the King

Favour, let the King and Haman quickly,

Come to my feast which ſhall prepared be;

Then the morrow as the King ſhall thinke beſt,

I ſhall plainely ſhew what is my request.

Then went Haman foorth from the King th… day

Joyfull and glad, but when he Mordecai

Saw in the Kings gate, that he up not ſtood,

With indignation kindled was his blood.

Nevertheleſſe proud Haman did refraine

Himſelf, untill he returned againe

Unto his houſe, where he incontinent

For his wife Zereſh and for his friends ſent,

And Haman told them of the great glory

Of his riches, and children, which many

In number were, he told als every thing,

Wherein he had been honour'd by the King,

Who had (in ſigne and token of his love)

Promoted him the Princes all above.

Yea moreover ſaid he the Queene Eſther,

Made a great feaſt, whereat none at all were,

p. 431Except the King and I, and to be plaine,

To morrow invited I am againe,

Yet all this glory availes me nothing,

As long as I ſee Mordecai ſitting

At the Kings gate; Then ſaid Zereſh his wife

And all his friends, we ſhall ſoone end this ſtrife;

Let a gallous of fifty cubits hie,

For Mordecai right ſoone prepared be:

Speake to the King to morrow, and anone

Let Mordecai be hanged thereupon,

Then merrily go to the feaſt; this ſaid,

Well pleaſd Haman, and he a gallous made.

Chap. 6.

ON that ſame night Ahaſuerus the King

Could not get ſleep, he cauſed to him bring

The Chronicles, that they the ſame might read,

Before the King; thereto he took good heed;

There it was found written that Mordecai,

Had told how two vile traitours did betray

The King, Bigthana and Tereſh they were

Two Chamberlens the keepers of the doore,

Who ſought on Ahaſuerus for to lay

Their hands; this was reveal'd by Mordecay,

What honours for this got he? ſaid the King,

…he ſervants ſaid, For him is done nothing.

p. 432In this meane time, Haman without delay,

Was come to Court to cauſe hang Mordecai:

Then ſaid the Kings ſervants unto the King

That Haman ſtood in the court; in him bring

Said Ahaſuerus, who to Haman ſaid,

What gifts ſhall be given, or what honours laid

Upon the man on whom the Kings delight

Is to beſtow honour with all his might?

Now proud Haman thought in his lofty heart

That to him the King would this all impart,

Thus he anſw'red, let the apparell deare,

Which Ahaſuerus uſeth for to weare

Be brought, with horſe on which he King doth ride,

Let als the Crowne be ſet upon his head,

And thus in pompe let him even by the hand

Of ſome great Prince be cloath'd, then let command

Be given, that he moſt humbly with all ſpeed

Bring him on horſeback, and through the ſtreet lead,

And then proclame the rider there before,

Thus ſhall it be done without leſſe or more,

Unto the man whom the Kings Majeſtie

Delights to honour with great dignitie,

Then ſaid the King unto Haman, Make haſte,

Now take my horſe, and my apparell beſt,

p. 433…s thou haſt ſaid, And do to Mordecai,

…et nothing faile, do all without delay.

Then Haman took th' apparell and the horſe,

…aving within his heart greef and remorſe,

…s the King had ordain'd, without delay,

Haman did each thing unto Mordecay,

…efore whoſe face he did proclaime this thing

This is the man in whom our Prince, and King

Hath his delight, and bids tell at this houre,

That his delight is this man to honour.

Then Mordecai to the Kings gate return'd,

But Haman haſted to his houſe and mourn'd,

Having his head cov'red in ſigne of greefe,

…nd told Zereſh his wife, and theſe who cheefe

Were of his friends, what did to him befall,

Then ſaid to him, his wife and als friends all,

…f Mordecai be of the Jews a man

…efore whom thou haſt fall'n, doe what thou can,

Againſt him ſurely thou ſhalt not prevaile,

…ut ſhalt before him ſtill fall without faile:

While they did ſpeake, the chamberlens in haſte

Came to bring Haman unto Eſthers feaſt,

Chap. 7.

SO King and Haman came with Eſther Queene,

The ſecond day at me banquet of wine,

p. 434And the King unto Eſther ſaid againe,

What is thy requeſt? Now with me be plaine,

Conceale nothing, to ask now boldly come,

I will it give though half of my kingdome.

Then Eſther Queene anſw'red, and ſaid th… thing,

If in thy ſight I have favour, O King

Found, let my life now be given unto me

And my peoples, for we ordain'd ſurelie

To be deſtroy'd are, and als to be ſlaine,

So that none of us alive ſhould remaine,

If they us for bondmen and bond women

Had ſold, we all had keeped ſilence then,

Although in ſo doing the enemie,

The Kings domage could not repaire rightly.

Then ſaid the King unto Queene Eſther ſoone

Who? Where is he who durſt ſuch thing preſume

For to atchieve? Then ſaid Eſther quickly,

This is Haman our wicked enemie

Then Haman when he had the matter ſeene

Was ſore afraide before the King and Queene,

Then from the banket wroth when this was done

The King aroſe, into his garden ſoone

He went; then Haman ſtood to make requeſt

To Eſther for his life; for fear oppreſt

His heart, becauſe he ſaw that an evill thing,

Againſt him was determin'd by the King.

p. 435The King return'd found Haman on the bed,

Of Eſther fall'n, then to him the King ſaid,

Will this Haman now alſo force my Queene,

Even in the houſe as heere now may be ſeene?

As the King this word had ſaid, With diſgrace,

The men aroſe, and cov'red Hamans face.

Then Harbonah a ſervant to the King

To Ahaſuerus ſaid, Think on this thing:

Behold this Haman made for Mordecai

A gallowes high, even of cubits fifty,

Whereon he minded to hang him anone,

Then ſaid the King, ſoone hang him thereupon,

So was Haman hang'd on a gallowes hie,

This did the Kings wrath fully pacifie.

Chap. 8.

ON that day the great King Ahaſuerus

Unto Eſther the Queene gave Hamans houſe,

Then Mordecai was brought unto the King,

And Ahaſuerus gave to him his Ring,

Which he to Haman had giv'n, in that day,

Ov'r Hamans houſe Eſther ſet Mordecai.

Then Eſther after Haman moſt perverſe

Was hang'd, did ſute his letters to reverſe,

Which could not be, but to Eſther this thing,

p. 436Was granted by Ahaſuerus the King,

Ev'n that the Jewes themſelves might well defend

'Gainſt the malice which their foes did intend:

So the poſts rode, and publiſh'd the decrees,

Permitting Jewes to kill their enemies.

Then Mordecai, ſoone went out from the King,

Who unto him had given his royall Ring

With apparell of blew, and white, and Crowne

Of pureſt gold, with garments hanging downe

Of fine linnen, and als of purple made,

Then the Citie of Shuſhan was moſt glade.

Then had the Jewes both light and great gladneſſe,

With great honour, and joyfull merrineſſe,

In all places whether the Kings decree

Did come, the Jewes there had proſperitie,

With joy, gladneſſe, a feaſt, and a good day.

Then many people did without delay

Even become Jews, who then did much excell,

For of the Jews the fear upon them fell.

Chap. 9.

IN the ſame day which Haman did ordaine,

That all the Jewes in each place ſhould bee ſlaine,

p. 437The Jewes ſtrengthned, great forces did command,

So that none of their foes could them withſtand,

Yea more the Rulers helped them right well,

Becauſe the fear of Mordecai then fell

Upon them all, thus the Jews, in a word,

Their enemies ſmot with ſtroke of the ſword,

In the palace of Shuſhan the Jewes then,

Slew and deſtroyed there five hundred men

With ten ſons of Haman, Parſhandatha,

Dalphon, Aſpatha, and als Poratha,

Aridatha, Parſmaſhta, Ariſai,

Adalia, Vaiezatha, Aridai,

All theſe the Jews did ſlay, they gave command,

That on the ſpoile they ſhould not lay their hand.

Unto Eſther the King he ſaid againe,

The Jews in Shuſhan have deſtroy'd and ſlaine

Five hundred men, and Hamans ſons, ten Princes,

What have they done in the other Provinces?

But yet tell me what's thy petition,

What would thou further, and it ſhall be done?

Then ſaid Eſther, If it ſhall pleaſe the King,

Unto the Jews in Shuſhan grant this thing,

To do the morrow alſo ſpeedilie,

Even according unto this dayes decree,

And let Hamans ten ſons now for his ſake,

p. 438Be hang'd on the gallowes which he did make:

When this the King did heare, he did anone

Command right quickly it ſo to be done:

Then according unto the Kings decree,

Hamans tens Sons were hanged on a tree,

Thus all the Jewes that were then in Shuſhan,

Gath'red themſelves together every man,

On the fourteenth day of Adar, they then

At Shuſhan quickly ſlew thee hundred men,

All theſe the Jewes did kill, but gave command

That on the ſpoile no man ſhould lay his hand:

While other Jewes this matter underſtood,

Themſelves they gath'red and right ſtoutly ſtood

For their lives, and had reſt in all the land,

And of their foes ſlew ſeventie five thouſand;

But as did others ſo likewiſe did they,

None of them all laide hands upon the prey.

The Jewes then the thirteenth and fourteenth day

Did conſecrate to feaſting and to play:

But theſe at Shuſhan with theſe other two,

Did conſecrate the fifteenth day alſo,

As a day of both feaſting and gladneſſe,

To praiſe the LORD, who ſav'd them from diſtreſſe.

The Jewes who in villages did remaine,

The fourteenth onelyonly for this did ordaine,

p. 439To be a day of feaſting and gladneſſe,

Even a good day of ſhewing great kindneſſe

One to a…other, this did Mordecai,

Write to the Jewes who gladly did obey;

To ſtabliſh this among them neere and far,

That the fourteenth and fifteenth of Adar

Should yeerely keepe well in their memorie,

Becauſe that they them from their enemie

Did reſt, ſo that from ſorrow that blacke day,

Was turned unto feaſting and to play,

And ſending portions one to other, and

Gifts to the poor who had nothing in hand.

Then with courage the Jewes did undertake,

As they had then begun, there was no lake;

As Mordecai had written they did all,

Becauſe Haman to put the Jewes in thrall

Deviſed had to caſt Pur, or the lot,

That he them might deſtroy in anger hote:

But when Eſther came to the King with ſpeed,

Hamans device he ordain'd on his head

For to returne, and that he ſhould quickly,

With his ten ſons be hanged on a tree.

For this the Jewes after did not forbear,

Two dayes of Purim to keepe every yeer,

Yea that thereafter theſe two dayes indeed,

Should never periſh from them and their ſeed.

p. 440Then Eſther the Queene and als Mordecay

D…d write aga…ne for keeping of that day,

For to confirme all that they did ordaine;

And that none of them ſhould theſe dayes p… fane,

But ſhould remember how GOD by and by

Did ſee their faſtings and als heard their cry:

Theſe matters of Purim were by decree

Confirm'd, and written in a book clearelie.

Chap. 10.

THen Ahaſuerus the King did command,

To lay a tribut upon all the land,

And als upon the Iſles of all the ſea,

The like tribut he ordain'd for to be:

The noble acts of his …reat power and might,

And Mordecais greatneſſe in all mens ſight,

Are they not written well with other things,

In Chronicles of all the Perſian Kings?

Thus Mordecai exalted moſt highlie

Unto the King was then next in degree,

…e ſought the wealth of his people indeed,

He likewiſe did ſpeake peace to all his ſeed,

p. 441THE USE.

Heere learne how that the LORD in great merciemercy,

Reſcues his Church in great adverſitie;

When all things ſeeme to be deſtroy'd and gone,

Then doth the Lord for help riſe up anone:

Though troubles great the Church greeve day by day,

GOD at the last can raiſe a Mordecai;

And though Haman, who GODS folks death doth ſeal,

Be high the day, on the top of the wheele,

And in his fury like a Boare doth range

For to devore, GOD can ſoone make a change

In Princes hearts ſo that from high degree

They ſhall ſuch bring, and hang them on a tree:

See here how GOD his Church can well defend,

And brings his foes unto a tragick end.

ADVOCATES' LIBRARY EDINBURGH

THE SECOND VOLUME OF THE GARDEN OF ZION: Containing the Bookes of Job, Proverbs, Eccleſiastes, and Song of Songs, all in Engliſh Verſe.

By M. ZACHARY BOYD.

GLASGOW, Printed by George Anderſon, 1644.