do any good euen vnto the rudest and simplest for whose cause I vndertooke it I haue my desire the learned haue the Fountaines out of which they may draw in abundance this is vndertaken to help the vnlearned and vnskilfull in the tongues Touching the Authour of this booke and the occasion why he vndertooke it I am shortly to admonish thee He was a French man and sometimes Preacher vnto the King of France that now is then King of Nauarre and therefore he bendeth himselfe principally to touch the state of that Countrey and being by those broyles which then were raised by the League against the professours of the Gospell driuen to forsake his Countrey hee came into the Isle of Gernezey within her most excellent Maiesties dominions where he was accepted for one of the Ministers of that Church and there he deliuered first in French vnto his Auditorie and afterward committed to writing in latin these Sermons which here now good Reader thou hast now in English The occasion why he tooke this booke in hand was vpoÌ„ the death of the Duke of Guise who as an Haman had set himselfe against the Church of God and was by the same Assuerus whose power and authoritie he had before abused he meaneth the French King Henry the third suddenly slaine at an assembly of the states at Bloys wheÌ„ he thoght himselfe most sure of obtaining his purpose against all the godly and was most secure of his owne state The obseruing of this serueth to open the Authours meaning in diuers places which otherwise might seem somewhat dark therfore thus briefly I set it down to thee The profit that shall come by the reading of this Treatise and the principall points contained therein I had rather euery man should finde by proofe in reading the booke theÌ„ spend time in blazing it before hand And therfore I commit it to thine owne care and diligence praying God to open thine hart to vnderstand and blesse thy diligence to profit heereby both in knowledge practise euen for Christ Iesus sake to whose grace I commend thee Farewell Gods Ship Gods Church with many a tempest tost With waues of woe and furious billowes beaten Oft seemes to man to be euen fully lost Quight swallowed vp and of those surges eaten When straight at hand Gods succour doth appeare Who staies the stormes and doth all troubles cleare The worldlings proud fierce foemen to this barke Do swim in wealth and flote in honors hie So that they seeme deuoyd of any carke And beare their topsailes flanting in the skie When sodainly Gods vengeance doth appeare Which makes them buy their passed pleasure deare By those same stormes God tries his chosen pheere His Church his spouse how constant she wil stand Corrects his children whom he holds most deare Lest that they perish with that wicked band Whom when they haue those perils stoutly past He doth conduct to happie hauen at last By those faire calmes which wicked men enioy Without excuse Gods bountie doth them make And as the Oxe is fatted on with ioy Is brought at last vnto the dolefull stake The worldlings so doth time in pleasure spend But goes to paine when Death his life doth end These changes rife are each where to be seene â—pon this stage whereon we play our parts Examples strange in euery age hath beene If men had grace to laie them to their harts But specially this storie sweet and true Will laie these things apparant to thy vieu Then reade with heed what in this booke is pend And these examples to thy selfe applie Both text and Comment driue vnto this end And as it were with ioynt consent do crie First follow Vertue in thine actions all Then flee from vice for feare of endles fall Errata Page 6. l. 11 for Monarch read Monarchie Pag. 7. l. 8. foâ— remaine remained l. 16 for dets nets l. 20. of the which put our the. Pa. 18 l. 2. for waste wasting Pa 19. marg foâ— Dan. 1. 32. Dan. 2. 32 Pa. 21. l. 1. for his this Pa. 26. l. 1. foâ— Siiuer siluer l. 21. read receiued with thansgiuing l. vlâ— for these the P. 31. l. 2 for Bsides Besides P. 33. l. 1 read who euen when Bab. Marg. for Eccle. 10. 9 read 10. 16 P. 47 l. 2 read make a small l. 11. a periode put for a coâ—lon l. 13. for and are P. 64. in the title for the second Seâ— the fourth Ser. THE FIRST SERMON VPON the Booke of Ester The first Sermon containing the argument of the Booke and the exposition of the two first verses that is of the time when these things were done and of the greatnesse of the dominion of Assuerus CHAP. I. In the dayes of Assuerus this is that Assuerus that raigned from India euen vnto Aethiopia ouer an hundred and seuen and twentie Prouinces 2. In those dayes when the King Assuerus sate on his throne which was in the Pallace of Susa HIstories which contain the declaration of things true and profitable for the life of man haue alwayes beene greatly esteemed of all men who were not altogether Barbarous as well for the great pleasure as for the exceeding profitte which is receiued by them and because besides it is a most commendable matter for vs to knowe and a shamefull matter to be ignorant of those uâ—ble and vâ—liant acts which haue beene atchieued by those that liued in former ages before vs. So then Cicero the cheefe Father of the Romane eloqence did not without cause say that Histories are the witnesses of times the light of truth the life of memorie the schoole-mâ—stresse of life and the messenger of antiquitie For without Histories what certaintie can we haue of things past what truth of things spoken and done in former ages howe voyde shoulde our memorie bee of the knowledge of so many notable things which hapned before our dayes and then what skill or vse could there bee of things altogether vnknowne We should as children passe ouer our life ignorant of all reuerend antiquitie Now then if euery Historie faithfully committed to writing deserueth this prayse and glorieth worthily in these titles howe much more may wee truely say that the sacred Histories onely are free from all suspition which were endited by the Spirite of God written by the Prophets and carefully preserued in the Church which sette before our eyes the true originall of all things teach the beginning and order of times lay downe the truth of all things past stirre vp in vs and refresh the memorie of works both humane and diuine and propose vnto vs sound examples by which we may frame our whole life to the true knowledge and sincere worship of God Adde hereunto that the state of the Church is represented vnto vs by the same Histories and that the enemies of the same her fights and sufferings Gods manifold succours and at the last the full deliuerances thereof are in them plainely set downe to her view Amongst all
friends and despile good counsell so deserue they to be deprined of them and to be suffered to sink vnder the burthen of their honour And these things are thus farre spoken of the modestie and wisedome of Ester who would to God shee had many followers that would be desirous of her vertues both publikely and priuately It remaineth that wee heare a singular dutie performed by Mardochaeus to the King whereby hee made himselse a way to great honour and authoritie with Assuerus though not so soone as hee deserued which was that hee declared vnto the king by Ester the treason of two courtiers who conspired the death of king Assuerus and so he deliuered the king from death and when as the whole trueth being examined was found out and they were executed by iust punishment the matter was written before the king in the booke of Chronicles In this Historie first these two Bigtan and Teresh offer themselues to our consideration who in their wrath conspire the kings death What occasion they had of this wicked counsell is not expressed and there fore we ought not to be ouer curious in searching of it but this is to be obserued that Courtiers as they are drawne with desires and passions do many times very quickly take any occasion of sedition and treasons For they oftentimes conspire against their Prince either vpon the deniall of their petition or for indignation and hatred and enuie which they conceaue at other mens honour whom they cannot abide should be preferred before them or mooued with ambition and desire of alteration as Absolom did against 2. Sam. 15 Dauid And what Prince is there who may iustly boast that he hath no such traitors in his Court Princes also themselues oftentimes by their own insolencie pride and crueltie diuers times by their sloth and negligence doo yeelde occasion to their Courtiers to rebell Neuerthelesse they are wicked and vngodly men who cōspire wilfully the death of their Prince and especially those whom hee hath so trusted that they are admitted to the keeping and guard of their persons as these were by Assuerus whom hee preferred to the custodie of his gate For vnto such men the way is easie to execute their conspiracie as it is reported that diuers of the Nobles his most familiars did conspire the death of Alexander the great But kings are enforced to commit themselues their life to such men And look how much the greater the trust is that is reposed in them so much the more vgly is their treason and detestable in the sight of all men But vnto such wickednesse are we growne in this age that euen the Phisitians from whom Princes looke for the meanes of their preseruation commit their bodies to their direction haue bene found to haue cōspired the death of those who haue bene the causes of their wealth and honor Wherefore those Princes are blessed who put their trust wholly in God and not in mans ayd those are happie whom God doth shield and protect Besides in the person of Assuerus wee see how greatly the life of kings great men is many times endangered though their guard do seem to defend them against all daunger But often doth it happen that they are more in daunger then meaner men especially if they turn their iust gouernment into tyrannie Wherefore the auncients haue vsed it for a prouerb that fewe Tyrants descend to Pluto by drie death that is die without bloud So Alexander the great was made away by poyson so Iulius Caesar was murthered in the Senate so very many Romaine Emperors were slaine by their souldiers so Bennadab was choked Isboth slaine by two wicked men on his bed Ioas the king of Iuda by two of his seruants Amasias was slaine at Lachis finally of twentie kings which raigned in Israel tenne of them died by violent death that he seemeth not to haue spoken vnwittily who said that a Tyrant was like to him who sate at a table furnished with all daintie dishes accompanied with all kinde of musicke and a great many of wayting-men readie at all commaunds but seeing a naked sword hanging ouer his head by a small thread and euery minute readie to fall vpon him Therefore many wise men amongst thē haue wished that they might resigne those great honours which they had attained if safely they might to leade a quiet and sure life without daunger as it is written of Augustus Caesar Yea very many haue quite giuen ouer their Empires as Diocletian and Maximian those capitals enemies and persecutors of Christiaris Antigonus King of Macedonia when he was to set the Diademe on his head said very fitly truly O crown if men knew how great cares thou bringest with thee none would so much as stoupe to take thee vp though thou layest in his way So that state of life which wee account so happie is oftentimes condemned as most vnhappie euen by those who are esteemed most happy as being most opē to so many entrappings partly of opē enemies partly of faithlesse friendes from which indeed none could be safe were it not that the eyes of the Lord do watch for the safetie of kings though euen vnworthie of his fauour good wil. Which heere wee see done for this Assuerus vnto whom God raised vp Mardochaeus by whom hee is in time admonished of the conspiratours that no good turne bestowed on God should bee bestowed in vaine That benefite which Assuerus did for Ester and the whole people of God was very late and fresh in memorie and god by and by doth requite it deliuering him from the handes of those who had conspired his death that Dauid doth not without cause say That it is God which giueth deliuerance vnto kings and rescueth Psa 144. 10. them from the hurtfull sword as he himselfe had often by experience found It is also to he noted that Assuerus was warned of the treason that was practised against him by the relation of a mean man that kings may learne to contemne none though they be but of base and low degree If any demaund how Mardochaeus could detect that conspiracie it may be aunswered that he was one of the porters of the kings gate which is apparant out of this and other places especially the fift and sixt chapter and therfore he might heare and see somewhat wherby he might perceiue the matter and peraduenture hee might be sollicited by the traitors to see of what good will he was in the case and to drawe him to their partiallitie Whatsoeuer it was it pleased God to vse this instrument as well to preserue the Kings life as also to make knowne Mardochaeus fidelitie so much the better We are here then to obserue that nothing is done by fortune but all things are gouerned by Gods prouidence who by this prepared in time another helper against the imminent daunger of his Church Here let all naturall subiects and inhabitants in any Realme learn what is their dutie
without any ones hatred or enuie by reason of that dignitie and state which shee held with the King but with the same feruentnesse of mind doth she make her supplication to the king as well for her people as for her ownelife which it seemeth she shuld haue liued prolonged very sorrowfully vnlesse the same at her request had bene granted to her people Such ought our charitie to be that we should loue our neighbors as our selues so that they who are carefull for their owne securitie and quiet onely little caring what becomes of others are voyde of charitie and worse then Infidels Her modestie and humilitie appeareth in this that she saith She would haue held her tongue if they had onely gone about to bring them into bondage and slauerie although shee and her people had bin sold for the Kings profit and aduantage which maketh much to procure the Kings good will and to moue his minde to mercie For who is so stonie hearted who would not be moued to heare so Noble a Lady so farre to abase her selfe that shee would suffer her selfe to be solde if it seemed good vnto the King and might turne to his profit Besides it made to shew with how great a terror of death shee was affected refusing no condition though it were of most hard slauerie so that shee might escape death It serued also very much to stirre vp more vehemeÌ„tly the kings pitie towards her whom he had vouchsafed so great fauour and bestowed the crowne royall vpon her afore all other if hee should see her to stand in danger of her life and so vehemently carefull for her safetie that she was ready to vndergo any slauerie to redeeme her life Furthermore her modestie is manifest by this that shee doth not make her complaint more hainous by great outcries and exclamatioÌ„s or importune desire of reuenge but she committeth the whole matter to the kings wil good pleasure esteeming of it as of a great gaine benefite to redeeme her life and the life of her people from the crueltie of that Edict which was published against them Her integritie and vprightnesse appeareth in this that shee faineth or deuiseth nothing neither addeth any thing besides the matter to the commendation thereof or hatred of the enemie of the people neither doth she fawne vpon the king with any flattering words to excuse his rashnesse to wit that the goodnesse of his nature and his vprightnesse in iustice would neuer haue suffered so great crueltie that it could not bee but that those Letters were obtained by deceit or were forged for his goodnesse and clemencie would neuer haue consented to so barbarous a fact to conclude shee inuenteth no flatterie for the Saints of God know not how to lie or flatter Last of all her courage and constancie is wonderously to be praised that she dare complaine on so mightie an enemie so deare and in fauour with the King to accuse him of such a crime to his face and that vnto the King without whose disgrace and reproach it could not be done when as rashly he had consented vnto that mischiefe which Haman wickedly had deuised Such is the boldnesse and strength of the Saints who to the defence of the Church are more bold then Lyons as Salomon speaketh Heere hence wee learne that all our affaires must bee managed by reason which must be accompanied with true faith in which charitie must rule vnto which must be adioyned modestie integritie vprightnesse courage in defending a good cause that neither for feare or shame we start from doing our dutie if we desire to haue the issue of them happie For where these vertues are wanting either the truth is betraied or not wel defended and a good cause is ouerthrowne by impudencie or pride and rashnesse But who doth at this day so gouerne his actions with reason that he could be content to haue iudgement giuen of them with like integritie and modestie Who is now of such constancie that in the presence of Princes hee will manfully defend the cause of the distressed Who is enflamed with so great an heate of charitie that he will take care of the life of an other man no lesse then of his owne Who is of such courage that he will constantly professe himselfe a member of the Church when he shall see it on euery side to be oppressed with slanders and condemned to death Truely you shall see few Esters at this day who so faithfully and wisely and with such successe will take vpon them the defence of the Church but there want not on the contrarie many like in disposition to Iezabel and Athalia by whome the furie of Kings shall be kindled to the hatred and destruction of the Church Furthermore if Ester did with so great reuerence feare and humilitie speake vnto a mortall King what shall wee thinke is our duetie to doo when wee come into the presence of the infinite and immeasurable maiestie of the King of Kings Shall wee bring our owne Luc. 18. merits as did that proude Pharisee Or shall wee speake with hatred and contempt of our neighbours as hee did Or shall wee proudly lift vp our heads vnto the skyes Or shall it not rather become vs following that Publicane to cast downe our countenance to the earth and to throwe downe and prostrate our selues before God with â— true feeling of our sinnes and sorrow for the same praying most humbly vnto him for our selues and the liues of our brethren And thus farre of Ester Let vs now hearken vnto the Kings answere Who sayeth he is he or where is he that presumeth to do thus By these words hee sheweth that hee was moued not onely to graunt Esters petition but also to take vengeance of him who had conspired against the life of her and of her people saying that he must needes be a presumptious and bolde man who dare attempt so great a wickednes For who can practise any thing against the life of the Queene and not touch and violate the maiestie of the King He asketh therefore who he may be and where hee is that hee may punish him as it is the duetie of Kings to pull downe those who extoll themselues contrarie to their duetie as Dauid protesteth concerning himselfe That hee would not suffer him that had Psal 101. 5. a proude looke and an high heart But who could tell better then the King who it was who had inuented so hainous a fact when hee himselfe not full â—wo moneths before had graunted vnto Haman whatsoeuer hee desired for the destruction of the Iewes had commaunded the Scribes to write the proclamation after Hamans direction had giuen him his Ring to seale it had sent his posts to carrie it with speed into euery Prouince as before in the third Chapter hath bene declared Had he forgotten so great a matter of weight so suddenly Or if he did remember it why doth hee dissemble it It may bee said that the
both are an abhomination vnto the Lord. And without all doubt they who are hardned in their mischiefe can be tamed made gentle by no good turnes Heerehence sprang the Prouerbe Deliuer a thiefe from the gallowes and he will hang thee thereon if he can Yea it is an vnmercifull mercy to let a wolfe escape with his life who can do nothing but hurt the sheepe Wherefore by very good right he who had wrought the death and destruction of the poore faithfull ones who had appointed a shamefull death for Mardochaeus that same day he himself is couered with shame and hath no man to take pitie of him as Dauid prayeth and wisheth against the enemies of the Church Let there be none to extend mercy Psal 109. 12. vnto him when he is in miserie The king in the meane while returning out of the garden and perceiuing Haman to be fallen downe vpō the bed whereon Ester sate is reported to haue kindled with greater furie and to say Wil he force the Queene also before mee in the house The wretched man was fallen downe vpon the bed whereon the Queene after the maner of that countrie sate at the beginning of the feast being astonished with griefe the king perswadeth himself or faineth himselfe to beleeue that hee would offer violence vnto the Queene that might haue the better shew of occasion to condemne him to death although that those who are angrie do faine any thing against those whome they hate though they be neuer so vnlikely or contrary to the truth Haman then is accused by the king as one that would haue violated the Queenes chastitie And the word is to be noted which he vseth Will he also force as though he should say Is it not enough for him that by his wiles he hath layd snares for the Queenes life but that also he wil force her in the house before my face And these things do make his fault the more hainous So hee who with his false accusations did ouerwhelme euery man and troubled the whole world and filled all things with violence he is himselfe oppressed with a false surmise and is accused as a violater of chastitie So wee see that fulfilled which the Sonne of God speaketh With what measure ye meate it shall be measured Mat. 7. 2. vnto you againe So likewise that hapned vnto him which Dauid wished vnto his enimies That their prayer should be turned Psal 109. 7 into sinne and that the wicked should be condemned without either hearing or enquirie of his cause and that which is spoken in the 69. Psalme vers 27. Lay iniquitie vpon their iniquitie and heape vp sinne vpon their sinne And yet not withstanding in this respect Assuerus doth him iniurie and anger hindereth him that he cannot in this case see the truth so that he iudgeth otherwise of Hamans fact then he ought for there was not any the least suspition of this fact in respect of his present estate neither was the Queene left alone without companie But as our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ said that the bloud of all the iust euen frō Abel should Mat. 23. 35 come vpon the murderers of Ierusalem as though they had shead it in as much as they hated the iust and all righteousnes So in respect of Gods iustice it was right that this wicked man who would by ouerthrowing the Church abolish all remembrance of God should be accounted guiltie of any crime For being as it were made of nought but sinne they are readie for any mischiese if occasion only Psal 36. 4 be offered vnto them as the wicked is said to abhorre nothing that is euill As soone as the word came out of the kings mouth they couered Hamās face as one that was vnworthy the kings sight or to enioy the vse of the light being cōuicted of such crimes This was vnto him a messenger of death being aliue he begā to feele the darkenesse of death euen as Zophar in Iob sayeth chap. 20. vers 26. All darkenesse shall be hid in the secret places of the wicked that his light shall be put out and the sparkle of their fire shall no more giue light Finally that they shall be driuen out of the light into darkenesse and be rooted out of the land of the liuing as is sayd chap. 18. vers 18. And surely it is right that his face should be couered that he may looke for nothing but for the darknesse of death who would haue taken away the light of life from others The Kings of the West are not wont to couer their faces whome they wil see no more but command them presently to be caryed out of their presence Now heere steps forth one of the Eunuches Harbona who furdereth the sentence against Haman Behold sayth he the tree which Haman prepared for Mardochaeus who spake good for the king standeth in Hamans house fiftie cubits high Haman is heere accused of foolish arrogancie who of his owne priuate authoritie did set vp so high a gallowes then of extreme crueltie for that he would haue Mardochaeus to be hanged thereon an innocent man and the Kings seruant lastly of vnthankfulnes and rash boldnes desiring to lay on him a shamefull death who had done a singular benefit for the king Harbona may seeme heere to folow the maner of courtiers who bend themselues with euery blast as the king seemeth to fauour or dislike and are friends in prosperitie and in aduersitie enimies But it may also be that Harbonah had before noted and disliked the pride insolēcie of Haman and had also obserued the innocencie of Mardochaeus and therefore to shewe his affection towards his cause doth accuse the pride and crueltie of Haman Howsoeuer it were it appeareth sufficiētly that Hamā did not couer his mind and purpose and God by this meanes would haue his arrogācie disclosed This is that which is spoken by Zophar in Iob Iob. 20. 27. Iob. 15. 25. The heauen shal declare the wickednes of the vngodly the earth shal rise vp against him and euen as he hath lift vp his hand against God and made himself strong against the Almightie so the hand of all should rise vp against him It is not therefore simply to be condemned that those who stand in the presence of kings should hauing occasion offered admonish thē and help to furder their cause whome they see to be oppressed by iniurie and on the other side detect their malice arrogancie who oppresse them so that it be not done to flatter the Princes and please their passions but with a loue of truth equitie which very seldome do possesse a place in the minds of Kings or of the greater part of courtiers But why touch I here this fault Psal 12. 2 in courtiers whē as Dauid saith Euery mā speaketh falshood vnto his neighbour flattering with their lips speaking with a double heart We haue then Hamans cause furnished on euery side partly
towards Princes to wit that there is not only honour and obedience due vnto them but also a care and watchfulnesse and defence of their life and dignitie Moreouer that it is a thing praise-worthie to bewray the guiltie though so oftentimes those who detect them incurre great danger the hatred of many especially if vpon examination the matter prooue not so Therefore Mardochaeus dealt indeed faithfully and wisely but not without daunger being a straunger and a captine but his oath and office did so require He openeth the matter by Ester either because he thought for his basenesse that hee was not worthie to speake vnto the king or because hee thought the matter would haue the more authoritie if it proceeded from a person in fauour besides by this meanes the loue of the king towards Ester his wife might bee encreased and confirmed when he should see her so carefull of his preseruation The king also handleth the matter wisely For hee maketh inquisition and doth not rashly vpon a bare report cause them to be condemned By which thing Princes are warned not to admit vnaduisedly euery accusation for if accusation onely should suffice who should bee innocent who should be safe from the tongues of slaunderers When the matter was found out the offendors were punished and hanged on a tree that is eyther fastened to a crosse as in those times they accustomed or hanged on a galous as is vsed at this day Further in the matter of treason especially where it concerneth the life of the Prince the will beeing proued is holden for the fact as also in other offences as if any prepare poyson for anothers death which yet was not drunke but giuen to be drunken seeing that hee sought his life though hee killed him not he should die for it Worthely then are these two punished by death though they did but onely conspire the kings death which matter by the kings commaundement is written in the Chronicles of the Persians Heereby it apppeareth that after a laudable custome Kings were wont to haue their Chronicles and yearely Acts recorded in all ages in which all memorable matters through the whole kingdome should be enrolled and so preserued for posteritie And this is very commendable for those manifold coÌ„modities which wee receiue by Histories as in the beginning of the booke was declared But the king remembreth not to requite Mardochaeus in which he cannot escape the note of an vnthankfull minde For as iustice hath place in the punishing of the wicked for their offences so is it also a part of iustice to reward the good according to their deserts But these things came not thus to passe without Gods prouidence which yet excuseth not Assuerus fault that in a more fit time Mardochaeus might receiue that honour which was prepared for him by God as in the sixt Chapter wee shall see Therefore let vs not be wearie of well doing though the enuie of men encrease and arise at it for the reward though it be deferred yet shall it not be lost And if men be vnmindfull of benefits receiued God who is rich towards all that call vpon him and worship him in purenesse and sinceritie of mind will restore abundantly that which notwithstanding hee oweth not and farther giuing vs the power of wel-willing and wel-working will crowne his workes in vs with immortall glorie through Iesus Christ our Lord to whom with the Father and the holy Ghost be all power and dominion for euer Amen THE EIGHT Sermon Haman is extolled and worshipped by al the Courtiers except Mardochaeus wher at Haman waxing angrie deliberateth to make away the whole nation of the Iewes In the sixt first verses of the third Chapter CHAP. III. 1. After these things did king Assuerus promote Haman the sonne of Ammedatha the Agagite exalted him so that he 〈◊〉 his seat aboue the sour of al the Princes that were about him 2. And all the kings seruants that entred in at the kings gate bowed their knees and reuerenced Haman but Mordecai bowed not the knee neither did reuerence 3. Wherefore the kings seruants that entered in at the kings gate said vnto Mordecai why transgressest thou the K. coÌ„mandemetic 4. Therefore when they had spoken vnto him daily and he would not heare them they tolde Haman that they might see whether Mordecaies words would stand for he had told them that he was a Iewe. 5. And when Haman saw that Mordecaies bowed not the knee unto him nor did reuerence unto him then was Haman full of wrath 6. Now he thought it too litle to lay his hands on Mordecai onely and because they had shewed him the people of Mordecai Haman sought to destroy all the Iewes that were throughout all the kingdome of Assuerus euen the people of Mordecai The wise man saith Pro. 29. 2. Wheâ— the righteous are encreased the peoplâ— reioyce but when the wicked beare rule then the people sigh vnto which also that which is Psa 12. 9. is to be referred The wicked walke too and fro when euil men are exalted to high dignitie The vse of which sentences this Historie doth plainly set before our eyes For when as Ester was exalted vnto the dignitie royall as before we saâ—e there was great ioy brought vnto all nations but now wheÌ„ Haman is promoted a fierce and cruell man there is prepared for all the godly weeping and teares and at the last by his wicked counsels threescore tenne thousande men were brought to death as in the progresse of this Historie we shall see In this Chapter is declared how HamaÌ„s indignation was so great against Mardochaeus because hee reuerenced him not as others did that hee procured acommaundement from the king to destroy in one certaine day appointed all the nation of the Iewes which was subiect to his Empire At this present wee are to consider how he was lift vp by the king into so high an estate of honour verse 1. How he was reuerenced uereÌ„ced of al meÌ„ except Mardochaeus vet 1. 2. 3 4. how throgh indignation impotencie of minde hee tooke counsell howe to destroy the Iewes togither with Mardochaeus at one massacre verse 5. 6. so cruell is Ambition so fierce and sauage is desire of reuenge in those who affect diuine honours See therefore first the Authors words When these things were done the king Assuerus did magnifie Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite and exalted him so that he set his seate aboue the seate of all his Prinoes that were about him This stranger the kings fauor did thus exalt foure years after the celebration of Esters marriage for Ester was brought in vnto the King about the end of the 7. year of the raigne of Assuerus Chap. 2 verse 6. and it appeareth by those things which are spoken after that Hamans dignitie and fauour happened about the ende of the eleuenth yeare because assoone as hee petceiued that Mardochaeus would not honour him hee conspired the death of him
necessarie a time who knoweth saith hee whether for such a time thou art come to the Kingdome as though he should say God who ruleth and gouerneth all things by his prouidence euen the very moments of time hath not without cause exalted thee to so great a dignitie by so wonderfull a meanes but that weighing with thy selfe so great a fauour of God bestowed on thee thou shouldest serue his purpose for the profit and deliuerance of his people For what vnthankfulnes shal it be not to acknowledge so great a liberalitie of Gods toward thee not to consecrate thy dignitie to his glory and thy fauour and authoritie to the safetie of his Church So it be houeth euery one wisely to consider vnto what God doth call him by his prouidence by his benefits in euery estate and vocation wherein God by his grace hath placed vs. Kings and Queenes must remember that Isai 49. 23. they are called and appointed by God to be nurcing fathers and nurces of his Church Ministers must remember that they giue themselues to prayer and the administration of the word finally by how much euery one hath receiued greater gifts at the hand of God and abilitie to helpe the Church by so much the more carefully ought he to employ himself vnto it Here also we may perceiue that whereas Mardochaeus at the beginning commanded Ester not to declare her nation and her people it was not done to teach her to dissemble her religion and not to care for her brethren but to helpe the Church more conueniently when necessitie should require So then must we vse discretion that we may shew forth our faith when time shall require by all good effects and what our zeale is towards the house of God Lo then with what reasons God would haue Ester to bee instructed by him who had brought her vp that she might be an instrument of his grace and mercie Let vs now then proceed to see her holy purpose being compelled by the force and weight of so necessary reasons Shee commandeth to call all the Iewes which dwelt at Susa togither to a fast of three dayes and three nights and promiseth that she also and her maides will fast likewise to crie vnto God for helpe and aide to whose will committing her selfe and her life shee determineth with a setled mind to go to the King and make supplication for the safetie of her people The assembling of the faithfull hath bene at all times very necessarie when any necessitie hath bene offred to pray more earnestly vnto God and to make profession of publique repentance which is most euident in the first and second Chapters of the Prophet Ioel and by the examples of the Kings of Iuda in their greatest dangers and distresse as we see that Hezechiah did when he was besieged by Sennacherib and Iehosaphat 2. Kni. 19. 2. Ch. 20. 3. when the Ammonites and Idumeans did set against him I confesse that the miserable captiues had no Temple at Susa where they might assemble themselues but they had Gods promises who is present with all that call vpon him and perhaps they had before obtained some place for the exercise of their religion So exact and rigorous a fast of three dayes and three nights without meate or drinke in colder regions should exceed measure because men in those countries could not endure it but yet in those hot countries it was not altogither intollerable thogh indeed it were very strict rigorous This fast also is not commaunded as a worship acceptable to God of it selfe but as an incitemēt to more vehemēt and feruent prayer to greater humilitie and liuely repentance Fasting therefore of it selfe is not acceptable but because of the sacrifice of a contrite and humble heart because of praiers proceeding from faith because of the confession of sinnes and expectation of helpe from Gods mercie as before hath bene said Ester wil haue Serm. 11. them fast for her not as though she alone were in danger but because shee was to make intercession for al and by her good or euill successe others were to bee dealt with so that in her life or death the life or death of others did consist The Church therefore doth not without cause pray so earnestly for her that shee might find fauour with Assuerus and obtaine that which she did demand for the safetie of the people The pietie and godlinesse of this holy Queene sheweth it selfe in this that shee desireth not more of others then she wold fulfill her selfe giuing her selfe to fasting and prayer with her maides three dayes and three nights By which also we learne what care Ester had vsed in instructing her maides in true religion and the knowledge of God and our negligence is so much the more blame-worthy vnlesse we follow the example of this noble Lady as well in prayer as in the right education of her familie But what a shame is it I beseech you in these dangerous times wherin we are fallen that the zeale of many is so cold in fasting in praying in calling vpon GOD with humble petitions and in stirring vp of one an other to the true exercises of religion Can any man marueile then that wee are ouerwhelmed with so many euilles and that our calamities encrease daily more and more That she saith she will go to the king against the law she speaketh it not in contempt of the lawe but that shee might shew that shee more esteemed of Gods commandement then of the Kings law and of the peoples safetie then of her own danger therfore shee committeth her life into Gods hand in these words If I perish I perish Thinke not that these words are rashly and vnaduisedly cast out by her as thogh she did wilfully and by despaire cast her selfe into danger for they are holy words proceeding from her who offered vp her selfe and her life for a sacrifice with obedience of faith whatsoeuer did betide being ready and reposing the euent on the good pleasure of God esteeming her selfe happie if it happened that she should die in so iust a cause So did that good Patriarch Iacob speake when he sent his sonne Beniamin into Aegypt Ge. 49. 14. with his other brethren If I be robbed of my child let me be robbed Hence it appeareth that faith which is guided by the holy Ghost is not rash and yet when necessitie shall so require and dutie binde it refuseth not any daungers bee they neuer so greate with a trust and hope to glorifie GOD in his bodie both in life and death because the faithfull are perswaded that Christ is Phi. 1. 20. 21 vnto them both in life and death aduantage Heereby also we may learne how profitable the mutuall admonitions and the holy exhortations of the faithfull among themselues are for loe Ester who before was fearefull by Mardochaeus exhortation is made more bold and that with an holy boldnesse shewing in deede that to be true which was sayd
it had beene ioyned with exceeding great contempt But among the Medes Persians ouer whom their kings challenge an absolute power this fault was the greater though not therfore to bee chaunged into so hainous a crime nor so farre to be vrged that the inconuenience should so hardly be scanned which therof might follow among others By this speech also of Memuchan we gather that in Persia the husbands had obtained great authoritie ouer their wiues were willing to retaine it and also that the women would gladly shake off this yoke of hard bondage which mischiefe Memuchan here seeketh in time to preuent VVee learne also out of his wordes that to pronounce right iudgement of any matter it is requisite that all things bee weighed what may followe vppon any thing that the euils which may ensue bee preuented but yet by such conuenient remedies as shall not be more dangerous theÌ„ the euils which be feared By the way also this is to be noted that there is nothing that so easily stirreth vp strife between the married as when the wife despiseth and conteÌ„neth her husband And these things touching the sentence of Memuchan concerning the fact of the Queene Vashti There followeth now what punishment is fit for such a fact to wit Let it please the king that a royal decree proceed from him and â—â—â— it be written among the statutes of Persia and Media that it be not transgressed That the queene Vashti come no more into the kings presence and let the King giue her kingdome vnto her neighbor which shall be better then shee This is a most greeuous punishment whether it be considered in it selfe or in the manner of the publishing For he will haue her to be diuorced with shame reproach and her princely dignitie to be taken from her as being rebellious against her king and husband another to be appoynted in her place whereby her greefe might be increased with greater indignation As touching the maner there must a decree go forth from the king which shal be published through all prouinces and layde vppe in record among the statutes and not to bee called backe againe In which poynt Memuchan seemes to prouide for his owne safetie for hee might chance to heare of it afterward if the decree might be recalled This sentence seemeth iust vnto many such as the pride and stubburnnes of the queene Vashti did well deserue But to him that shall weigh the matter in equall ballance it may well appear that the punishment was far greater then the offence and so more seuere then right For simple disobedience is not a sufficient cause to dissolue the band of matrimonie especially it beeing grounded on a seasonable shew if any list to bee the queenes patrone in the cause Asa the King of Iuda did indeede depose his mother Maacha from gouerning the people but it was for her horrible idolatrie I confesse that the people of the East partes did neuer greatly esteeme of marriage hauing ioyned vnto themselues many wiues at once yea euen of those who were neere of bloud vnto them and vsing also for verie light occasions to diuorce them againe Neither ought this to seeme straunge when euen among the people of GOD these vices founde place But these things are not to bee measured by theyr abuse but by the truth and the auncient lawe of nature Besides the deposing of a personage of so great Maiestie especially ioyned with so great reproach and perpetuall note of infamie is most commonly more bitter then death it selfe But far be it from me that I shuld go about to search out the iudgments of God which seeing they are alwayes holy and iust we must confesse that the Queene Vashti was for iust cause throwne downe by him which thing the blessed virgin doth in her song confesse that God hath put downe the Luâ— 1. 52. mightie from their seates and exalted them of low degree But those things which God by his secret decree doth bring to passe and those which men decree do many degrees differ the one from the other wherein men may easily passe their boundes and deale vniustly though God alwayes deale iustlie This is plaine vnto vs in the example Gen. 37. of Ioseph when God iustly humbleth and tryeth when his brethren traiterously and with more then barbarous trecherie do sell him Wherefore the punishment of Vashti if they had obserued the proportion between the fault and the punishment might haue beene gentler neither needed they to haue dealt with her by extreame lawe which often times is extreame iniurie By this let the mightie learne not to trust in their dignitie which is so brittle for those fals are most dangerous which are from high places And any man may easily coniecture how great the sorrow of this great Ladie was being â—ast downe so sodainly from so high degree of honour That custome of the Persians to make lawes that shoulde not bee repealed is most commendable so that care be taken that fewe lawes be made and that those bee iust and diligently weighed with deliberate counsell before they be confirmed and published For it auaileth little or nothing to haue good lawes made vnlesse they be kept in force and diligently obserued and to set forth statutes which in short time shall be repealed is to lay them open to contempt and cause them to bee despised and it taketh much away from the authoritie of lawes when men see that they must either be taken away againe or at the â—east somewhat chaunged in them Yet notwithstanding there bee some things which may ought to be altered with the â—ime seeing as men are variable changeble so also are their lawes and affayres and some thing may bee fit and necessarie for one time which is not so conuenient at an other It is further to be noted that then common-weales are best gouerned and their â—state preserued when punishments are â—rdained for those that offend and contraâ—â—wise those that deserue well of the common-wealth are by the authoritie of the lawes sufficiently rewarded which two if they be wanting all things will be full of troubles and confusion And thus much hitherto of the punishment to be inflicted vpon the queene Vashti He confirms his sentence afterward with the profite that will follow to wit that all women afterwardes yeelde the greater honour to their husbands Hee seemeth indeed to iudge aright but hee seeth not on the otherside that many husbands beeing by this meanes made more insolent will abuse their authoritie and chaunge it into tyrannie and that many women may easily bee compelled vnto many things scarce honest as oft as their husbandes shall require and that by this meanes manie marriages by diuorce shall bee broken so that this wise councellor seemeth but with one eie to haue looked into this fact But when as he dealeth about a decree which should be irreuocable he was to haue had a more diligent care of all things that
the poore wil come in a most conuenient time to deliuer and saue them that in the middest of the church there may be sufficient matter of praise and thanksgiuing through Iesus Christ to whom alone be glory for euer Amen THE TWELFTH Sermon The feare and excuse of Ester the faith and constancie of Mardochaeus and the holy deliberation and purpose of Ester after three dayes fast from v. 9. to the end 9. So Hatach returning told Ester the words of Mordecai 10. Then Ester said vnto Hatach and commanded him to say vnto Mordecai 11. All the Kings seruants and the people of the Kings Prouinces do know that whosoeuer man or woman that commeth to the King into the inner court which is not called there is a law of his that he shall die except him to whō the king holdeth out the golden rod that he may liue Now I haue not bene called to come vnto the king these thirtie dayes 12. And they certified Mordecai of Ester words 13. And Mordecai said that they should aunswere Ester thus Thinke not with thy selfe that thou shalt escape in the Kings house more then all the Iewes 14. For if thou heldest thy peace at this time comfort and deliuerance shall appeare vnto the Iewes out of an other place but thou and thy fathers house shall perish and who knoweth whether thou art come to the Kingdome for such a time 15. Then Ester commanded to answer Mordecai 16. Go and assemble all the Iewes that are found in Susa and fast yee for me and eate not nor drinke in three dayes I also and my maydes will fast likewise and so will I go in to the King which is not according to the law and if I perish I perish 17. So Mordecai went his way and did according vnto ali that Ester had commaunded him A Ffliction is the tryal of our faith and the fornance in which there is made manifest both the weakenes and infirmitie of our flesh as also the strength of the spirit which remaineth in the hearts of the faithfull it is also the whetstone whereby wee are sharpened in earnest and vehement prayer vnto GOD and which maketh vs wise to seeke the ayd and help of men in a lawfull manner All which things are most euident in this historie For in that extreme affliction which hanged ouer the heads of the Iewes Ester strooken with feare refuseth to go in vnto the king to intreate for thē Contrariwise Mardochaeus with an inuincible faith and constancie exhorteth her to do her dutie which she afterward purposeth to do fleeing to most feruent and extraordinarie prayer ioyned with three dayes fast after which she is fully determined to speake vnto the King for the safetie of the Church So that there are three chiefe points heere to be discussed the first the excuse of Ester for feare of certaine danger ver 11. the second the faith and courage of Mardochaeus in exhorting Ester to the deliuerance of the Church ver 12 13 14. the third the holie purpose and pietie of this holy woman being readie against all euents and danger for the succour of her people ver 15. 16. These examples are proposed vnto vs that we may know what we should do in aduersitie what meanes we may vse to be deliuered from them with what zeale what faith what constancie and courage the Church is to be defended and our brethren deliuered Touching the first point Ester being certified by Hatach of the decree made against the Iewes and of the helpe that Mardochaeus did desire in this necessitie doth excuse her selfe by the great rigour of the lawe made against those who came vnto the King not beeing called and doth adde that that was the thirtieth day since she had been called to come in vnto the King This seemeth a faire excuse for there is lykely to fall on her a most euident danger seeing the lawe is manifest and so much the more seuerely obserued by how much it was more commodious for preseruation of the Kings Maiestie It increased her feare because in thirtie dayes shee was not called in vnto the King and therefore seemeth to be out of fauour and she distrusteth that she should obtaine her suite offending against the lawe and so it was to be feared least shee should cast her selfe headlong into certayne perill of death and do no good neither to her selfe nor her people And so Ester desireth Mardochaeus to consider of it and holde her excused But the feare of priuate danger ought not to affright her but that neuerthelesse shee should with Gods fauour trie the Kings minde and seeke to turne it to hinder that horrible slaughter Heereby we see that those who are come to great dignities and possesse much which they may lose are also more fearefull then others though for the most part men rather care for their owne hinderance then the common danger And you shall scarcely finde any who will not seeke some excuse when he should helpe the Church and hath not more regard of redressing his owne discommodities then of relieuing the brethren Moreouer it is no great maruayle to see a woman affrayde of imminent danger when it often tymes happeneth that men euen of a good courage bee so daunted with dangers that they leaue their dueties vndone This is apparant in the Apostles and namely in Peter when they sawe theyr Lorde whose myracles were yet fresh in memorie and euen as it were before their eyes to be in the hands of his enemies therefore the weake and fearefull men are not to be reiected but rather to be stirred vp and encouraged Hence also it is to be noted how inconuenient the condition is of vnequall mariage when one part is greater and more worthie then the other and how the most mightie do most easily breake the lawes of holy matrimonie which are these That the man hath not power ouer his 1. Cor. 7. bodie but the woman nor the woman power of her bodie but the man and that they ought not to be separated but for a time with the consent of both parties Wee may obserue besides how kings vnder pretence of their securitie and defense of their princely maiestie do very often make tyrannicall and vniust lawes and quite contrarie and repugnāt to the end for which they are appointed by God For what I pray is more contrarie to the office of a good king then vnder paine of death to forbid any man to enter into his court What more inhumane then to shut the doore against those to whom Iustice is due How great a barbarousnes is it that the wife dares not come into the presence of her husband but that she shall stand in danger of death Thus it commeth to passe that Princes whiles they go about to maintaine their dignitie do degenerate into beasts so that none dares safely come neere vnto them and their throne which ought to be the refuge and sanctuarie of the poore and distressed is become a
before had erected a gallous a foretoken of his destruction being throwen downe before by the iudgement both of his owne conscience and of his friends should haue lesse courage and force to resist and so fall at last into the pit which he had digged for others Loe how God directeth the goings heart and tongue of them who put their trust in him and by his most admirable prouidence causeth that all things turne to their commoditie and profit and to the disaduantage and destruction of the aduersaries Now this speach of Ester is full of sweetnesse and humilitie not fayned permitting all to the Kings pleasure and arrogating nothing to herselfe What then had wee neede to do when we addresse our selues to call vpon God Is it not most rightfull that we acknowledge all things to come vnto vs by his fauour and submit our selues to his good pleasure In the meane while Ester sufficiently sheweth that shee purposed to demaund some great thing that the King might be the readyer to graunt that which she had so long pondered in her minde and would not rashly vtter vntill time and opportunitie serued Beholde how the wisedome of the faithfull doth farre passe all the wiles and subtilties of the children of this world Wherefore let vs imitate this example and the notable vertues that shine in it if wee desire to wade out of our miseries and calamities and let vs place all our confidence in him who onely can open an happie issue to all euils wherewith wee are oppressed and giueth life in the very gulfe of death through Iesus Christ who hath saued vs from death and destruction to whome be glorie honor and dominion for euer Amen THE FOVRTEENTH Sermon Haman againe being grieuously offended that he is contemned by Mardochaeus alone by the aduise of his friends erecteth a gallowes where on Mardochaeus should be hanged froÌ„ the 9. verse vnto the end of the fift Chapter 9. Then went Haman forth the same day ioyfull and with a glad heart But when Haman sawe Mordecai in the Kings gate that he stoode not vp nor moued for him then was Haman full of indignation at Mordecai 10. Neuerthelesse Haman refrained himself vntill he came home then he sent and called for his friends and Zeresh his wife 11. And Haman told them of the glorie of his riches and the multitude of his children and all the things wherein the King had promoted him and how he had set him aboue the Princes and seruants of the King 12. Haman said moreouer yea Ester the Queene did let no man come in with the King to the banket that she had prepared saue me and to morow am I bidden vnto her also with the King 13. But all this doth nothing auayle me as long as I see Mordecai that Iew sitting at the Kings gate 14. Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends vnto him Let them make a tree of fiftie cubits high and to morrow speake thou vnto the King that Mordecai may be hanged thereon then shalt thou goe ioyfully with the King into the banket And the thing pleased Haman and hee caused to make the tree WHen the wicked enemies of the Church are in prosperitie they promise vnto theÌ„selues an happie and durable estate which shall not be troubled by any chance as in the 10. Psal ver 6. it is said The wicked saith in his hart I shall neuer be remoued nor be in danger and if he haue any enimies he thinketh only with a breath to beate theÌ„ downe as in the 5. vers he snuffeth at or defieth all his enemies or if they deliberat of any thing â—e supposeth he shal haue an happy euent of his counsailes as in the third verse The wicked is sayd to glorie or to make his boast of his owne hearts desire Yet notwithstanding many times by the iust iudgement of God they finde a more contrarie euent then they supposed as in the 7. Psalme vers 14. The wicked traueileth with wickednes for he hath conceiued mischiefe but he shall bring forth a lye that is a vaine thing that shall deceiue him so that their ioy shall be turned into sorrow and they made subiect vnto their enimies yea their counsels shall be turned into snares and ruine for themselues that when as they suppose to haue attained the end of their designements and to hold the Church ensnared in their ginnes so that no hope of escape remayneth then are themselues neerest to ruine vtter destruction And all these things doth this historie perspicuously set before our eyes For hitherto all things haue happened most prosperously vnto this Haman the most deadly enemie of the Church euen as his heart could wish hauing subtilly obtained of the king authoritie and power to kill all the Iewes for which he altogether euen leapeth foâ— ioy but he himselfe seeing the constancie of Mardochaeus doth trouble himselfe with his extreme ambition and rage He taketh aduise of his friends and by their counsaile erecteth a gallowes vpon which himselfe the next day is hanged by the most iust and most admirable prouidence of God Now these things are proposed vnto vs that we should not be troubled aboue measuâ—e seeing the prosperous and ioyfull successe and triumphs of the enimies of the Church and hearing their threats wherewith as though they had alreadie conquered all they threaten shamefull death to the poore faithfull ones For God doth suffer them patiently vntill they fall into Psal 7. 15. to the pit which themselues had digged and be taken in the snares which they layed for others Heere then first let vs see Hamans ioy then his sorrowe arising vpon the constancie of Mardochaeus and at last the conclusion of his deliberation That same day Haman went forth ioyfull and with a â—lad heart No marueile though he were â—oyfull who was exalted vnto most high â—onor endued with great prosperitie beloued of the King accepted with the Queene and whome all men honoured and who also had obtained whatsoeuer he could wish against the poore Church of God Ioy and gladnes of it selfe is not to be condemned sith that by nature it is planted in all men to reioyce in their owne good and prosperitie but ioy is either good or bad according to the minde of him that doth reioyce His ioy is holy and good who reioyceth for the good things which he hath receiued of God without iniurie done vnto his neighbour and giueth him thankes therefore but he who puffed vp with his prosperitie delighteth himselfe with the contempt and reproch of his neighbors and with stubbornnesse vnthankfulnesse against God his ioy is prophane accursed and those are they of whom Christ speaketh Wo vnto you that laugh Luc. 6. 25. for you shall weepe and lament So laughter and ioy which are the gifts of God as it appeateth in that which Paule speaketh Act. 14. v. 17. that God filleth the hearts of the faithfull with foode and gladnesse to them by their
So they hanged Haman on the tree that hee had prepared for Mordecai then was the Kings wrath pacified DAuid purposing to shew how short brittle the felicitie of the wicked is and how sodaine their destructiō which they can neuer recouer doth thus Ps 37. 36. 37. speake I haue seene the wicked strong and spreading himselfe like a greene bay tree yet he passed away and lo he could not be found so that the very signes of his place did not appeare which thing Zophar in Iob doth Iob. 20. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. more plainely declare when he sayeth Knowest thou not this of old and since God placed man vpon the earth that the praise of the wicked is short and that the ioy of the hypocrites is but a moment Though his pride mount vp to the heauens and his head touch the cloudes yet shall he perish for euer like dung and they which haue seene him shall say Where is hee Hee shall flee away as a dreame and they shall not finde him and shall passe away as a vision of the night So that the eye which had seene him shall see him no more neither shall his place beholde him any more These thinges doo therefore thus happen because as Psal 58. 11. 6. 7. 8. Dauid sayth There is a God which iudgeth the earth who breaketh the teeth of these Lyons and maketh that they passe away as water and melt as a snayle and are as the vntimely fruit of a woman which hath not seene the Sunne All these thinges wee see to bee most liuelye represented vnto vs in this historie of the fall of Haman who in a moment doth fall downe headlong into extreme confusion and destruction from that most high degree of honor which in the Persian court he had obtained We haue alreadie heard how Ester had begun her accusation against him and he held his peace hauing nothing to except against it It remaineth to see how the King proceeded in this cause what faults he was farder charged withall first by the King himselfe vers 8. next by Harbonah one of the Eunuches verse 9. then his short sentence and the sodaine execution thereof that by all these we may learne to reuerence the Lord in his iudgements to containe our selues in feare and trembling not to be puffed vp with prosperitie and patiently to expect vntill God bring forth his vengeance and deliuer his Church from the force and tyrannie of those that oppresse it The setting downe of this historie is simple but the things that are contained therein are of great moment which shall particularly be discussed First there is mention made of the Kings wrath wherewith being chafed he riseth from the banket and goeth into the palace garden This anger was vnto Haman a messenger of death who maketh supplication vnto the Queene Ester for his life perceiuing that euill was decreed by the king against him His wrath was kindled with shame and indignation as well because he had been deceiued by Haman in that he had obtained of him so bloudie an edict against the Iewes as also by the indignitie of the fact that he had so abused his name and authoritie to trouble the Queene and to bring her within the danger of her life Therefore enflamed with anger he ariseth and goeth into the palace garden with exceeding great indignation not any longer abiding the sight of him by whome he had been deceiued to the granting of so vnhonest a fact Neither doth he seeme to haue gone out into the garden to asswage but rather to sharpen his rage as by the euent of his returne appeareth But if he had well considered the matter he should rather haue been angrie with himselfe and accused his owne rashnes then with Haman For although his malice and crueltie was great yet it had been of no force vnlesse it had been strengthened by the Kings name and authoritie But when Kings offend by euil counsaile they lay all the blame vpon the wicked counsellours And surely it is a iust vengeance against such naughtie counsellours which ought to be an example vnto others whereby they may learne not to be the authors of euil counsayle Yet are not Kings therefore without blame for that ouer-rashly they gaue credite vnto them when as they might if they list take sufficient deliberation of euery particular The Kings wrath then was enflamed more and more against Haman God so preparing for him his deserued punishment If Kings be worthily angrie with those who leade them into error by deceite and shewe of reason how much more iust is their wrath against those who by practises and conspiracies by armes and threatnings by open force against their maiestie and persons go about to compell them and as it were to make them the ministers of their priuate reuenge and the seruants or rather bondslaues of their ambition In the meane while Haman maketh supplication to the Queene for his life and for griefe and sorrow falleth on the bed Loe he who would needes be adored by Mardochaeus is compelled to lye downe humbly at the feete of his cousin he that lately caryed his head aloft vnto the skies altogether swelling with arrogancie breathing out nothing els but threats and death against the Church of God maketh petition for his owne life being astonied with the gripes and sorrows of death and as it were hedged in on euery side with feares trembling And that deseruedly he that lately had filled the whole world with threatnings terrors and teares is now astonished and feareth standing as it were at the iudgement seate of the King of feare to be deuoured by the first borne of death as it is said Iob. 18. v. 13. 14. I confesse indeede that the faithfull also are griped with great sorrowes and feares as Dauid speaketh of himselfe that Psal 18. 4. 55. 4. 5. The sorrowes of death compassed him that feare and trembling came vpon him and an horrible feare couered him but in time they receiue comfort are deliuered frō their feares For as the causes of griefe wherewith the godly are affected are far other then of the infidels so likewise the issues of both are very different for only despaire followeth the one and consolation as well in life as in death accompanieth the other Haman hoped that Ester would be more easily intreated to grant him his life then the King whose wrath he knew to be violent and not to be appeased howbeit he found her as well as him not to be intreated God so restraining the Queenes affectiō that he might exercise iudgement without mercie on him who neuer vsed mercie Adde hereunto that Ester could not with a good conscience make intercession for him vnto the king and deliuer him from death who with so great a crueltie had threatned the vtter destruction of the Church For as Salomon excellently teacheth in the Prouerbs He that iustifieth the wicked Pro. 17. 15. and condemneth the innocent they
with true accusatiōs partly with false The king without stay without counsaile pronounceth sentēce Hang him thereon A short iudgement as the whole handling of the cause was short so the sentence was shorter pronoūced in one word without farther aduise For he who had wrested out so bloudie a decree admitting none into counsaile is worthy to be condemned to death without any counsaile The sentēce is iust For it was conuenient that he who had lifted vp himself against God in seeking the destructiō of his Church should be lifted vp vpō an high gallows that his infamie might be manifest vnto all men Besides it is iust that the wicked perish by their owne crafts that wicked counsayle bring destruction vnto those that giue it that they be taken in the nets that themselues laid that they be entangled in their owne coards fall into the pit which they digged be consumed with the fire which they kindled to haue the mischiefe fall on their own heds which they had prepared for others that God may be acknowledged to be iust when the wicked is snared Psal 9. 16. in the worke of his own hands The king by this sentence sheweth his absolute power rule without law measure such as the Turke exerciseth at this day ouer his subiects by his word beck appointing to death whomsoeuer they please euen his owne children without any iudgement Which kinde of gouernment almost all the kings of the world do now challenge vnto them The lawes of this realme and sentence of death are executed and determined by Iudges thereunto appointed and by ordinarie course and not immediatly by the Prince And this is iust and most seemely least that Princes in their rage abuse their authority hasten iudgement wherein the life is called in question which being once lost can not be restored for nothing is so sacred and inuiolable which the lust and affection of wicked Princes doth not sometime prophane and violate The courtiers vnto whom that charge was committed do speedily execute the sentence Marke heere a wonderfull change they who very lately adored Haman draw him now to the gallowes he who consented with him vnto the death of the Iewes in fauour of the Iewes condemneth him to death Such is the iustice of God who putteth enimitie betweene the sworne enemies of truth and equitie that one of them destroyeth another Nay you shall not lightly see any who haue conspired together in wickednes to remaine long at accord but at the length one of them riseth against another as it is sayd that a fire went out of the Iud. 9. 15. bramble and consumed the cedars of Lebanon So Assuerus who had consented vnto Haman for the death of the Iewes and destruction of the Church now bringeth him to a shamefull death then which thing what could be more strange and vnheard of He who caused that Haman of our time to be slaine had consented with him to the butcherie of the french Churches and by warre sought the ruine and destruction of the professors of the Gospell Who will not heere wonder at the profound wisedome of the secrets of God Who can choose but acknowledge his iustice Who can but declare his wonderful works and praise them exceedingly Who would not cry out with Dauid Psal 92. 5. O Lord how glorious are thy workes how very deepe are thy thoughts And Psal 36. 6. Thy righteousnes is like the mightie mountaines thy iudgements are like the great deepe thou Lord doest saue man and beast What talke shall we thinke was then in Susa what words of the faithful but euen those which Dauid setteth forth in this Psal 118. 15. 16. manner The voyce of ioy and deliuerance shall be in the tabernacles of the righteous saying The right hand of the Lord hath done valiantly The right hand of the Lord is exalted the right hand of the Lord hath done valiantly Worthily might they say when they sawe that wicked man punished as he had deserued that which is in the Psal 52. vers 7. Behold the man that tooke not God for his strength but trusted in the multitude of his riches and put his strēgth in his malice For as it is sayd Psal 58. 10. The righteous shal reioyce when he seeth the vengeance he shall wash his feete in the bloud of the wicked Yea they might also say that which Debora sometimes sang in her song So let all thine enemies perish ô Lord Iud. 5. 31. And that which is Psal 129. 5. They that hate Sion shall be ashamed and turned backward Yea and Mardochaeus himselfe might rightly say with Dauid I will be glad and reioyce in thee I will sing prayse to Psal 9. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. thy name ô thou most high For that mine enemies are turned backe fallen and perished at thy presence For thou hast maintayned my right my cause Thou art set in thy throne iudgest right Thou hast rebuked the Heathen thou hast destroyed the wicked thou hast put out their name euē for euer and euer O thou enemie are destructiōs come to a perpetuall end Also Psalm 54. 6. 7. I will sacrifice willingly vnto thee I will prayse thy Name ô Lord because it is good For God hath deliuered me out of al trouble and mine eye hath seene that which is right vpon mine enemies And what on the contrarie part might they thinke who were ignorant of the wonderfull works of God but euen that which is spoken Psal 64. 9. All men shal see it and declare the works of God and they shall vnderstand what he hath wrought For as Isai saith According as thy iudgemēts Isai 26. 9. are in the earth so the inhabitāts of the world shall learne righteousnes So is that also fulfilled which is Psal 73. 19. How suddenly are they destroyed perished and horribly consumed Therefore they which enioy prosperitie in this world and those who are in fauour in the court let them learne not to trust in those things nothing is sooner defaced and decayeth then fauour and dignitie in court nothing is sooner blotted out then the deceitfull shew of this world But it may not without cause be demanded whether the king did not offend and do amisse herein seeing he was chafed both with wine wrath and pronounced iudgement so hastily without appeale neither hearing the partie accused neither giuing him space to answere or to repent finally no forme of iudgement being obserued It may be answered to this question that there are diuers formes of iudgement according to the varietie of time and place and that which at this time and vpon this occasion and circumstance is right and iustice is not so at others Besides that euen in the same countries there are obserued diuers formes of iudgements according to the diuers circumstāces of time fact and persons In warre there is an other forme of iudgement then in peace an other when things are quiet then in sedition an
glad with the prosperous successe of her former petition proceedeth to speak vnto the King and falling downe at his feete weeping besought him that he would turne away the wickednes of Haman the Agagite and the deuice which he had imagined against the Iewes Althogh then she had gained much the chiefe enemie of her people beeing dead his goodes beeing confiscate and shee enioying them as Mardochaeus also his honors yet she thinketh shee hath done nothing vnlesse shee deliuer her people from the present daunger Now because shee perceiued that it was a hard matter to desire the calling backe of the decree which by the law of the Persians was irreuocable she entreateth him with greater affection and humilitie falling down weeping at the kings feete that so shee might the more easily mooue his minde For how I pray could he be more moued to pittie and commiseration on so many innocent soules then by the teares carefulnesse and sorrow of his most dearely beloued wife Now Ester casteth al the blame vpon Haman because he was the mouer perswader promoter of this mischief against the Iewes whome by false slaunders hee had oppressed and wisely shee omitteth the mention of the King though by his authoritie hee had confirmed the deuice For the King had sufficiently witnessed how greatly the matter displeased him Besides when shee desireth that the deuice of Haman shuld be reuoked she couertly meaneth that as by his authoritie the proclamation was approued so also by his commandement the euill effect thereof ought to be turned away from the necks of those miserable wretches on whome it was like to light The King beeing moued with the presence of Ester holdeth out vnto her the golden scepter the signe of his fauour and good wil whereby the Queene being the more confirmed standing vp doth speake the more boldly vnto the King Her speech is like vnto that which we sawe in the former chapter full of humilitie wisdome faith and zeale towards God and feruent charitie towards her people It is most seemely to speake vnto Kings with greatest humilitie because of the dignitie and maiestie whereunto they are exalted as those who are also adorned with the title of Gods euen by Psal 82. 6. the Spirit of God from whome they receiue so excellent an office Ester therefore doth rightly debase and cast downe her selfe before the King when she speaketh vnto him not remembring her own dignitie nor desiring any thing but that which is right and beseeming the dignitie of the king And this indeede ought to be the end of all petitions so that all flatterie be away which is most hurtfull vnto kings as was that of the Tyrians to Herode Agrippa when they cryed The Act. 12. 22. 23. voyce of a God and not of a man which wheÌ„ he did not represse it was the cause of his death The summe of her petition is Let it be written that the letters of Haman be reuoked which he wrote to destroy the Iewes which are in all the kings prouinces It is most rightfull to giue life vnto them whome we know to be wrongfully condemned But if any shall except that her petition was vnlawfull and vnciuill seeing that by the lawes of the Persians all Proclamations were not to be called back againe the answer is easie that there is no place for any law of man against equitie and the lawes of God and nature For is it iust that because an euill lawe is receiued and in vse therefore no man may make any petition vnto Princes for equitie for truth for the life and innocencie of good men Heereby appeareth Esters holy boldnes what then shall become of â—heir sluggishnes cowardise who liue in those kingdomes wherein edicts do waxe olde of themselues and may euery houre be called back by contrary edicts and yet though they haue authorities dare not once open their mouths in the defence of Gods Church If Ester had sought excuses meanes to hide her selfe she would haue said that she had done as much as lay in her Haman being hanged Mardochaeus promoted into his place and dignities that it were a foolish rash and inconsiderate part to talke again to the king in his furie and that it was against the custome lawes of the couÌ„trie to go about to compell him to reuoke his coÌ„mandement but she because the matter coÌ„cerneth the safetie of the Church the glorie of God the honor estimation of the king is no whit afraid to craue that which otherwise might seeme to be vnciuill She sheweth also her zeale and charitie in the reason which she bringeth in these words How can I behold the euill which should come vpoÌ„ my people and how can I see the destructioÌ„ of my kindred for it is as much as if she should say that she had rather lose her life then with her eyes to behold the destruction of her people kindred and that nothing should be afterward more bitter vnto her then her life And so very openly she witnesseth that she desireth nothing more esteemeth nothing more then to be accounted amongst the people of God neither is she ashamed to ioyne her selfe to that people whom condeÌ„ned vnto death euery one contemned this also made much to moue the king to seeke a remedie for this almost incurable mischiefe The faith and charitie of this Queene is so much the more coÌ„mendable how much the rarer it is seeing we shall find but a few at this day to be so inflamed with the zeale of the house of God Let vs then at the least by her example with humble prayers call vpoÌ„ the King of heauen that he will turne away from our brethren the wicked counsailes and craftie practises of our enemies For although the head of this League conspiratours the oppressor of the Church of God be destroyed yet many remaine infected with this venime and the furie of his crafts and practises euen at this day euery where moueth warres and filleth al places with seditions most detestable apostasies Of Esters petition thus farre The answere of Assuerus is full of humanitie and gentlenes and in granting the protection of the Iewes easie courteous but yet it sheweth a troubled mind when he sayeth That he had done what he might hauing condemned Haman to the gallowes who would haue layd his hand vpoÌ„ the Iewes and hauing giueÌ„ his goods vnto Ester and that he doth now moreouer permit that they write for the Iewes as it shall seeme good vnto them but yet he addeth that the writing which was written in the Kings name and sealed with the Kings seale could not be called backe Notwithstanding what could be done in fauour of the Iewes but it would be contrarie to the former proclamation Lo into what straights Princes are often brought by the fraude and malice of wicked counsellours behold also how seeing the weaknes of mens wit is so great it is not expedient that all the constitutions
thirteenth day of the first moneth Besides from the publishing of this Edict vnto the execution therof there was eight months and about twentie dayes For as in the next Chapter we shall see it was fulfilled on the thirteenth day of the twelfth moneth The time is thus precisely noted not onely for the certaintie and truth of the Historie but also that the state of the Church may be set before our eyes what it was at that time first for the space of those two monethes and ten dayes wherein it was halfe buried as it were being condemned to death and destruction which seemed impossible to be auoyded After how in the space of other eight moneths beginning as it were to breathe againe she prepared her self to her iust lawful defēce yet not without many difficulties whereby she might be feared vntil God gaue her a full victorie ouer her enemies God therefore will haue the estate of his Church to be such in this world that she shal seem somtimes to be oppressed without hope of restoring sometimes armed with some iust defence sometimes also to haue the vpper hand of her enemies that so being tryed by all meanes she may the better know her infirmitie and the hatred wherewith shee is troubled by the world and yet not withstanding that she hath her whole defence resting in God alone by whom she is stayed vp and who as oft as it seemeth good vnto him turneth all things to her profit and commoditie We see then that the people of God was accounted as miserable and past hope as well in the opinion of the wicked as in their owne judgement hauing the sentence of death pronounced against them And this was not a little profitable vnto them that they might the better be stirred vp vnto repentance which in prosperitie is neglected and that she might be made like vnto the sonne of God who was consecrated by afflictions and that the wonderfull power of God in deliuering his might be the more knowne For if there were no oppression where were deliuerance vnlesse we were plunged in the darknesse of death how shuld that light of life whereby God quickneth vs be knowne God therefore being about to shew forth any notable deliuerance and great worke of his glorie first suffereth his to be drowned as it were shut vp in the graue that in their safetie his glorie may by some more excellent means shine most cleare and the hand of god may be acknowledged in it and that it may be said The Lord hath done it But he exerciseth his Church sometime more greeuously sometimes but lightly and either lengtheneth or shortneth the time of calamitie as hee seeth it expedient yeelding them strength and patience according to the measure of the time which hee hath prescribed vnto the affliction Afterward there is expressed by whom the decree is written to wit by Mardochaeus who did endite the substance therof vnto the Scribes who brought it into forme as he prescribed Heere then the king affoordeth the same fauour vnto Mardochaeus which before he did vnto Haman permitting to his pleasure whatsoeuer was needfull to be done so that he were not compelled to recall in expresse tearmes the former proclamation In which thing the King may worthily bee said to haue dealt inconsiderately to permit that whole matter vnto one mans will and pleasure which ought to haue beene done with great deliberation and stayed counsell For although in plaine words the former decree was not reuoked yet of necessitie this must be made contrarie vnto it But yet not without the exceeding great wisedome of God do these things thus come to passe for if the counsellors had bene called togither perhaps they would not haue consented to a decree so fauourable for the Iewes so contrarie to the former and so hurtfull vnto the Kings naturall subiects But so much the greater was the care and trouble of Mardochaeus because he alone must sustaine the whole hatred and enuie of that proclamation And it is not to bee doubted but that hee was greatly troubled when hee should endite that Edict vnto the scribes seeing that he was a mālate raised to that so great dignitie in a place so slipperie and in the guiding of matters of so great weight euen which concerned the whole state of so great a Monarchie hauing also to do with a King so vnconstant himselfe besides hauing in so fewe yeares bin the beholder of so many changes Howbeit God gaue him sufficient wisedome as hee is wont to bestowe gifts necessarie vpon all whom he calleth to any lawfull vocation The Scribes are called not to set downe their opinion but to write as they were commanded Wherefore they doo not admonish the King neither of the repugnance of this Edict with the former neither of the consequence which might fall out by it neither of the dammage which should come to all the Kings subiects who should destroy themselues by ciuill murther whereby appeareth that the kings authoritie was on all sides absolute and that none durst gainesay him or except any thing against his Decree Such at this day is the authoritie of the Turk but the better and more moderate Princes are wont for the most part to heare the opinion of their counsell and seruants Now these Scribes it seemeth cared not what they wrought so that they were assured that it was the Kings will The proclamation is appointed to be sent to the Iewes because it concerned their securitie then vnto the Princes Captaines and chiefe Gouernours of the Prouinces that they should publish it and least that they should hinder the Iewes in their iust defence that those who had receiued the former cōmādemēt frō the king shuld now be certified of his contrarie pleasure So we see that the king doth little esteeme what his Lieftenant and gouernors would iudge of so sudden a change and so contrarie opinions and decrees Whereby it appeareth what fearefull and absolute or rather immoderate dominion he exercised ouer his subiects These think themselues to be gods that may not be reprehended nor reproued so that no man may so much as looke into their actions much lesse gainsay them The manner of the writing of the Proclamation is diuers according to the stile and language of euery prouince that no man might pretend ignorance But if the commandements of earthly kings ought to be written in all the tongues of their subiects how much more the lawe of the eternall Iehouah which none can be ignorant of without certaine losse of their saluation Of those to whome the letters are committed to be caryed into the seuen and twentie prouinces we shall speake more commodiously afterward vers 14. So that heere we are to weigh that which is sayd That they were written in the Kings name and sealed with the Kings seale For so they were made authenticall without cotradiction For as in these dayes Kings and Princes are wont to seale their Patents with great seales that they
may adde force and authoritie to their graunts and commandements that same were the kings of Persia wont to do with sealing with their ring The King then sawe and allowed what soeuer the Scribes had written at the commandement of Mardochaeus So we see that it is most â—ight that Kings heare and see those things which are published in their name vnto their subiects especially in things of great moment for otherwise neither can they auoide the note of caâ—elesnesse and negligence nor their counsellors of deceit and treason if letters shall be sent out in the Kings name concerning the estate of the kingdome which the King neither sawe nor with sufficieÌ„t deliberation did weigh and consider Let vs now then view their substance and argument in these words That the King graunted vnto the Iewes in what citie soeuer they were to gather together and to stand for their liues and to roote out and to slay and to destroy all the power of the people and of the prouince which should inuade them their children and wiues and to spoile their goods In these later words there is some ambiguitie and doubtfulnes for it is vncertaine whether the Iewes are permitted to kill not only their enemies but also their wiues and children or onely to kill those who would oppresse them their wiues and children But this later sence doth better agree with the humanitie of the faithfull neither is it likely that Mardochaeus without Gods exprese commandement would haue women and children to be slaine But some man will except that the enemies of God and his Church are worthy to feele that punishment which without cause they threatned vnto others But there appeareth no such thing in the execution which shortly after did follow So that to auoide all ambiguitie and doubtfulnes of speech the Hebrue may be thus translated That it was graunted vnto the Iewes by the king that they should slay all those that went about to lay violent hands on them their wiues or children and that the spoiles of the enemies slayne was giuen by the King to the Iewes So that the summe of this Proclamation was that it was graunted by the King vnto the Iewes that they shoulde be gathered together to defend their liues and to destroy all those that would offer them or theirs any force or violence and besides to spoile their goods So that they were not to set vpon any but vsing their lawfull defence to kill those that did lye in waite for their liues And this is most rightfull that being armed with the authoritie of the chiefe Magistrate they might fight for their life for their libertie and religion for the defence of their wiues and children and as the Prouerbe is for their Temples houses For this cause warres are lawfull whereby the inrodes and inuasions of enemies are repressed in so much that they who take away from the faithfull the sword of lawfull defence as the Anabaptists do do make a way for the wicked and let loose the bridle to all maner of robberies and do as it were lay open the innocent bound hand and foote to their furie and besides condemne all the Saincts the faithfull seruants of God Abraham Moses Iosua the Iudges David and almost all the other good kings who did leade the Lords hostes and fought his battailes In the meane while the former edict not being reuoked doth still retaine his force and so there arise heere great difficulties so that it seemeth that there is small prouision made for the safetie of the Iewes For who would hope that the naturall subiects of the king being more in number and first strengthened with the Kings authoritie could be ouercome and defeated by the Iewes being onely seely captiues dispearsed here and there without armour without authoritie Besides is it not likely that the gouernours of the prouinces would either secretly or openly rather encline to their owne mens side then to the Iewes Finally it beeing graunted that the Gouernours would encline to neither part are not the naturall subiects rather stirred vp by this meanes against the Iewes euen to thirst their bloud when as they were first armed by the Kings authoritie against them and had moe wayes to set vpon them then the other had to defend Without doubt Mardochaeus did sufficiently perceiue these inconuemences But what could hee do Only this procure that it may be lawfull for the Iewes to vse their iust defence and hope that God would helpe their iust cause as hee had alreadie begun to fauour and blesse his people and that hee would send a feare vpon their enemies which thing the issue did confirme Hee did also suppose that when they shoulde knowe the cause wherefore Haman was hanged and vnderstande whereupon this newe decree was graunted and heare of the fauour which the Iewes had with the King as well in regard of Ester the Queene as also for Mardochaeus sake they would all slake that anger they bare vnto the Iewes and abstaine from inuading them seeing by that meanes also themselues might be quiet For as the fauours and graces of Princes doo leane either to this part or to the other so are the wills and affections of subiects changed Heerehence also is to be obserued that Kings howsoeuer they woulde seeme to keepe their lawes holie and inuiolate yet by subtile and by-wayes they oftentimes ouerthrow them The King would by no meanes seeme willing to depart from his former commandement which notwithstanding by this contrarie decree hee ouerturneth and in deede taketh away Had he not dealt better with his subiects expressely to haue reuoked that former decree then by this to set them thus together by the eares For this inuading on the one part and defence on the other could not be done without bloudshed on the one side or the other or both But Gods prouidence ruled and guided all these things that the enemies of the Church might receiue the punishment they had deserued Heere is also farther to be noted that the wicked counsailes of the enemies of the Church are made deadly both to themselues and their confederates And although also after their death they leaue behinde them the effects of their treacheries and conspiracies yet at the last they are all ouerturned to the great confusion of those who shall follow their most wicked counsailes Moreouer Mardochaeus retaineth the very termes of the former edict to terrifie the enemies of the Church when hee sayeth that it is graunted to the Iewes to kill slay and destroy whereby they might perceiue that the mischiefe which they had prepared for others should fall vpon their owne heads And euen in this age beyond all expectation do we see the experience of all these things For after the death of that Haman the head of the League wee haue seene the force of former edicts repealed and other proclamations sent out from the King against his companions and confederates vnto whome notwithstanding licence was before graunted to destroy
in the middest of our dangers and greatest distresse And thus farre of Mardochaeus glorie The ioy and gladnesse of the Iewes is next to be considered and first of those who dwelt in Susa and then of those who were dispersed in other Cities and Prouinces ver 17. Of the Iewes which were abiding in Susa it is said in the end of the 15. verse that the naturall inhabitants reioyced for their sakes vnlesse we will follow a more simple sense of the place and say that there was light and ioy in the Citie of Susa that is among the Iewes But it may also be that many of the Citizens of Susa perceiuing the kings fauour to the Iewes the authoritie of Ester and loue which the King bare to her and the hoâ—our of Mardochaeus did giue forth some â—â—gnes of reioycing for this felicitie of the Iewes as for the most part wee see it to â—appen that vnto what part the Kings â—â—uour and affection doth bend to the 〈◊〉 also the good wil of the people doth â—â—cline Many therefore being moued â—ith so sudden and wonderfull changes and seeing them reuiued whom before â—â—ey thought dead might well say with 〈◊〉 Prophet Psal 126. 2. The Lord hath â—ne great things for them And so 〈◊〉 vnto them that deliuerance which the Lord had wrought for his Church Wherefore it is rightly said concerning the Iewes whose this happinesse properly was that there appeared vnto them a light and gladnesse and ioy and glorie Light is set against the darknesse of affliction gladnes against sorrow ioy against tears glorie against shame and abasing The fountaine of this gladnesse was the light of the countenance of the Lord which did shine ouer them for their safetie The matter was that happie changâ— of their estate their chiefe and most hate full enemie being dead and destroyed the king greatly fauouring them the coÌ„mandement sent forth in their behalfe Ester and Mardochaeus being exalted intâ— the highest dignitie and grace with thâ— king the ende of this ioy was the testifying of a mind not vnthankfull for so many benefites bestowed vpon them bâ— God It is lawfull then nay it is expresâ— commanded that the faithfull reioyceâ— be glad when as they receiue the testimonies of Gods fauour Therefore is Dâ—uid wont most often when he would she the greatnesse of his ioy and his thanâ—full minde for the benefits which he 〈◊〉 receiued from God to inuite and stirre Ps 103. vp all the workes of God to praise God with him Let vs not therefore suppose that this was a prophane ioy or the laughter of the children of this world who delight themselues with all intemperancie and ryot but a true spirituall ioy proceeding from God which had taken so deep roote in their minds that they did shewe forth the effects thereof in all the parts of their body and namely with their mouth in so much that they brast foorth into Psalmes and praises of god togither with the faithfull in these words Praised be the Ps 68. 10. 20. Lord eueÌ„ the God which ladeth vs daily with benefits This is our God euen the God that saueth vs and to the Lord God belong the issues of death Likewise also the rest of the Iewes which dwelt in euery Prouince are said to haue ioy and gladnesse feastes and mirth for they did not keep any festiuall day vntil after the executioÌ„ of the decree and destructioÌ„ of their enemies as afterwards we shall see Feastes agree with prosperitie fasts with aduersities and calamities but the â—easts of those which reioyce in the Lord â—re seasoned with teÌ„perance with thaÌ„ks giuing and adorned with the remembrance of the exceeding glorious workes of the Lord. For if the very Ethnickes in whom there was any sparkes of honestie left were wont in their feasts to treate of graue and honest matters and to tell of the false miracles of their Gods what is seemely for Christians to do vnto whom so abundant an argument of praising god is offered as wel in the former deliuerances of his church as in these latter which daily we see to be performed but some man will say there is not yet so great an occasion offered vnto the Iewes of gladnesse but that by reason of the dangers to ensue there remaineth yet much more cause of feare and carefulnesse For the former Edict as yet being in force and the Iewes hauing many enemies who are as well armed with publike authoritie to inuade them as they are for their owne defence dooth there not seeme to be greater occasion of feare and dread then of ioy and gladnesse especially seeing the successe of warres is so diuers and when as no part ouercommeth without greate losse It is not to be thought that the Iewes did so giue themselues to ioy that they were not carefull for their affaires or did not prouide themselues against the day of executioÌ„ and no doubt to this end did they often call vpon God in their prayers The ioy then that was bred in their hearts for this new benefit which they had receiued from God did likewise encourage them to hope the more boldly for that which was to come because God being so excellent a workeman is not wont to leaue his worke imperfect as Psal 138. 8. it is said The goodnesse of the Lord endureth for euer and that he neuer for saketh the worke of his hands The Lord therefore doth so make glad those that are his that not withstanding he leaueth them sufficient occasion to pray vnto him and to looke carefully vnto their affaires And yet not with standing leauing vnto them a certaine pledge and earnest of full deliuerance he giueth them hope of happie successe which yet dependeth wholy vpon him as also the Prophet Isai speaketh chap. 26. 12. Thou ô Lord wilt giue vs peace for thou also hast wrought all our works for vs. That which is added in the end of this verse might auaile much to raise vp the Iewes into a good hope to weete that many of the people of the land became Iewes because the feare of the Iewes fell vpon them So that it came to passe that on the one side many for desire tooke part with the Iewes on the other side they were striken with feare whosoeuer went about to procure their death That it is sayd that many of the people of the land were made Iewes may thus be vnderstoode that either they tooke part with them or that they did embrace their Religion acknowledging the God of the Iewes for the true God who alone can saue and deliuer out of danger those that put their whole trust and confidence in him And this is one of the fruites which is gathered out of danger those that put their whole trust and confidence in him And this one of the fruites which is gathered wonderfull deliuerances of his church that many who before were ignorant and despised or euen hated and persecuted the Church and her doctrine when as they
waxed greater and greater 5. Thus the Iewes smote all their enemies with strokes of the sword and slaughter and destruction and did what they would vnto those that hated them 6. And at Susa the citie royall slewe the Iewes and destroyed fiue hundred men 7. And Parshandatha and Dalphon and Aspatha 8. And Poratha and Adalia and Aridatha 9. And Parmashta and Arisai and Aridai and Vajezatha 10. The tenne sonnes of Haman the sonne of Amedatha the aduersarie of the Iewes slewe they but they layed not theâ—â— hands vpon the spoyle WE haue hiterto heard many notable and excellent effects of prayers which proceede from true faith and repentance For those prayers piercing the heauens found fauour with God made open a safe entrance for Ester vnto the King obtayned his good will got a place for her petition yea and obtained that which at the first she would not hope for to weete the shamefull death of Haman the most cruell enemie of the Church the great honours of Mardochaeus succeeding in his place a Proclamation in fauour of the Iewes froÌ„ which there arose a publick ioy vnto al the people whereof we spake in the last Sermon Such and so great were the fruites which the prayer of faith brought vnto the Iewes who fled vnto God by their prayers as vnto their only helper and defender in their greatest troubles and distresse There remaineth the greatest and most excellent effect proceeding froÌ„ the same cause to weete the victorie which they had ouer all their enemies whome being armed with the authoritie of the chiefe Magistrate they vtterly destroyed to execute the iust vengeance of God against the enemies of his Church Lâ—â— then the execution of the decree thâ—â— very same day wherein the enemies 〈◊〉 the Iewes hoped to haue dominion ouer them they could not resist them because the Lord had cast a feare into them and because Mardochaeus had gotten so great fauour and authoritie with all men that euen the greatest and noblest peeres did reuerence him So that it was no marueile if the Iewes euen at their pleasure did turne backe againe vpon their enemies heads the mischiefe which they practised against them This whole matter is generally proposed in the fiue first verses and then particularly explicated vntil the 17. verse We shall deale at this present concerning those fiue hundred meÌ„ which were slaine in Susa with the tenne sonnes of Haman where there is set forth vnto vs very notable and most necessary doctrines to weet that by feruent and faithfull prayer all things are obtained from God euen victorie against allsorts of enemies as Dauid sheweth Psal 56. 9. When I cry vnto thee mine enemies shall be turned vnto flight Also that God giueth strength vnto the weake weakeneth the minds of the strong when it seemeth good vnâ—o him And farther that the end of the â—nemies of the Church is at the last shamefull and full of sorrow and their wicked counsailes turne at the last to their destruction and are made a ruine and coÌ„fusion vnto them But these things will better be learned in the explication of the particulars First therefore the day of this execution is noted the thirteenth day of the xij moneth Adar which answereth to part of our February and the beginning of March. In that day the counsailes of the enemies are reported to fall out contrary to their opinions for wheÌ„ they hoped to exercise dominion ouer the Iewes they were ouerthrowen and subdued by the Iewes So the lots which Haman cast that he might find out a fit day to roote out the people of God were found to be deceitfull and lying and those who 〈◊〉 their trust in them receiued a iust reward of their impietie Although therefore sometimes it fall out that Satan the author of all sorceries inchantments and diuinations do speake truth God by his 〈◊〉 iudgement vengeaÌ„ce giuing force 〈◊〉 to his errors yet this is his only end 〈◊〉 delude and draw into perdition all those curious folke which employ themseluâ—â— to such artes full of sacriledge and impietie that those who were not louers of the truth may perish as they haue deserued for as much as they haue left God in whome is the fountaine of life and truth to turne themselues vnto the author of death and father of lyes By this meanes were our idolatrous Leaguers deceiued who by force of the Bulles and Pardons they had from the Pope of their Iubilees Pilgrimages and Processions of their madnesse in the worshipping of images and foolish deuotions and by the foretellings of certaine Almanacks and deceits of other like leger-du-maines did promise vnto themselues the wished and happie end of their purposes which was the abolishing of the Reformed Churches and doctrine of the Gospell but the time and day which seemed vnto them most fit for their designements was turned vnto them into a day of sorrow shame and eternall confusion Hearken now what way the Iewes tooke by the Kings permission to destroy their enemies They gathered themselues together in their cities through all the proâ—inces of the King Assuerus to lay hand vpoÌ„ those that sought their hurt They did then wisely prouide for their affaires so that they did not giue theÌ„selues so to ioy and gladnes but that they did diligeÌ„tly stand vpon their guard prouided them of armour gathered theÌ„selues together at certaine times places and principally did flee vnto God by prayer desiring that he who hitherto had shewed theÌ„ so great fauour would make perfect the worke of their deliuerance And surely then had they most neede of Gods help wheÌ„ they were to fight with their enemies for vnlesse God had daunted their courage and weakened their force prowesse there was no hope that the Iewes could be vanquishers of their enemies Furthermore they contained themselues within the bounds of the Proclamation that they would only vse force against those that sought their hurt that is those that were in armes to hurt them their wiues and children for this was the forme of the first edict chap. 8. vers 11. So that wee must needes say that the same day the enemies of the Iewes assembled to destroy and slay them for else how could they know who were their enemies or by what lawe could they haue vsed violence against those who kept themselues quiet and peaceable in their houses But by what lawe did the enemies of the Iewes take armour against them Euen bearing themselues bolde vpon the Kings Decree which was not called backe although one contrarie were published Besides vpon the confidence of their lot-casters and moued with the hatred of God and true religion being then principally driuen by Godssecret prouidence to gather themselues together that he might deliuer them into the hands of his people and that they should receiue a iust vengeance of their vngodlinesse and crueltie as God is sayd to harden the hearts of the Canaanites Iosh 11. 20. to goe out to meete the Israelites in
aunswere is easie that 〈◊〉 long as this doctrine of Christian libertâ—â— remaineth that all dayes are equall anâ— that there is no greater holinesse in 〈◊〉 then in an other but that any day mighâ— alike be consecrated to Gods worship hath beene lawfull vnto Christians fâ—â— good orders sake and for great conuenencie to instruct the simple to ordain certaine dayes for the better calling 〈◊〉 remembrance and more plaine expouâ—ding yearely vnto the people of the chiâ—fest benefits of our redemption of whiâ—â— sort are the Natiuitie Death Resurrection and Ascension of our Lord Iesus Christ and the sending of the holy Ghost And also those daies which thogh in some churches they beare the names of Saints yet are ordained to put vs in minde of some notable thing belonging vnto Christ wherein the ministerie of the Saints did concurre as the Annunciation of the blessed Virgin is proper vnto Christ conceiued by the holy Luc. 1. 31 Luc. 2. 22 Luc. 1. 76. 77. Mat. 16. 16 Act. 9. 20. 22. 21. Ghost in the wombe of the Virgin and the Purification to Christ presented in the Temple the day of the Natiuitie of 8. Iohn the Baptist putteth vs in remembrance of the preparation of Christes comming in the flesh for the saluation of mankinde the day of Peter of Christ professed to be the sonne of God the day of Paule of Christ preached euen vnto the Gentiles the day of S. Iohn Ioh. 21. 24. of Christ published by the writing of the Gospell c as it is cleare by the prayers which those churchesmake the parts of scripture which they read on those daies But yet behold what errors by litle litle haue crept in as wel in the celebrating of these feasts as in the instituting of others 1. EueÌ„ at the very beginning there by by arose an opinioÌ„ of necessitie euen with feare of sinne for the breaking of them which is coÌ„trarie vnto Christian libertie 2. Next the holines of one day was accouÌ„ted greater then of an other as thogh Gods grace were more easily found and more largely granted on the festiual daies then on others and in this feast rather then in that 3. Then also was there adioyned an opinion of merit euen by the worke it selfe wrought as though by the visiting of the temples and ceasing on these daies from work remission of sinnes were purchased and safegard or deliuerance from certaine diseases yea and as though eternall life were due vnto them for it 4. There followed a negligence and contempt to heare the word of God and giue themselues vnto holy exercises vpon other dayes 5. Lastly there ensued a carefull and scrupulous ceasing from all handiworke after the manner of the Iewes and the obseruation of the time of the feast from one twilight vnto the other But the fulâ— heap of prophanation was in the multipliing of the feasts almost without number in euery place after euery mans fancie and in dedicating of them to the honour of Saints yea euen of them of whose holinesse and sanctitie there was no certaine testimonie vnto whom also there was their peculiar worship prescribed that by this means their help intercessioÌ„ might more easily be obtained whereof it came to passe that all kinde of Idolatrie did grow into an exceeding greatnesse pride and wantonnesse as a riuer ouerflowed all and did eueÌ„ almost choke and quench all godlinesse That therefore the state of the Church so miserably fallen might be restored not without cause first were all those feasts abolished which were tainted with superstition after the right vse of godly feastes was renued in the reformed Churches which feastes notwithstanding for the olde abuses from which the people could not be reclaimed were â—n many places altogither left off which â—hing was lawful to be done because they were but the constitutions of men and men could not otherwise be taught what was Christian libertie Howbeit those Churches which in stead of all other â—eastes doo onely retaine the Lords day â—or order and publike assemblies must diligently take heed that they condemne not other Churches in which many such feasts are still retained so that mens consciences be not inthralled with the yoake of mens constitutions as thogh they were Gods and that all abuse al opinion of the holinesse of one day more then an other of merit and the like errors which before we haue spoken of be taken away and earnestly reprehended and all insolencie and excesse be driuen farre away Finally Christians are bounde all the dayes of their life to follow true holinesse preferring no day as more holy then an other continually mindfull of Gods benefites as euery day there is mention made of them in the articles of faith submitting themselues otherwise to order and Ecclesiasticall discipline that with one consent they may be partakers of doctrine Sacraments prayer praise and thanks-giuing and exhorting one an other to the worship and honor of God and to mutualâ— loue and charitie to holinesse and righteousnesse and to retain that libertie which Christ Iesus our Lord hath purchaseâ— with his bloud to whom be all honor anâ— glorie for euer Amen THE SIXE AND twentieth Sermon The honour of Mardochaeus is confirmed and augmented and peace granted to the Church CHAP. X. 1. After this the king Assuerus laid a tribute vpon the land and vpon the Iles of the sea 2. And all the acts of his power and of his might and the declaration of the dignitie of Mordecai wherewith the King magnified him are they not written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Media and Persia 3. For Mordecai the Iew was the next vnto King Assuerus and great among the Iewes and accepted among the multitude of his brethren who procured the wealth of his people and spake peace to all his seede AMongst other reasons wherewith Dauid stirreth vp both himselfe and others to praise God hee also bringeth this That his anger endureth but a while but in his fauour is life so that if weeping lodge with vs at euening yet ioy cometh in the morning This is confirmed by many examples and ordinarie experience especially in the Church which is the house of God in which hee dooth shewe forth the riches of his bountie mercie That one booke of the ludges doth affoord vs many the like examples if the times wherein God chastised his people be compared with those in which sending them deliuerers he graunted them peace and quietnesse But this Historie which wee haue in hand â—oth clearely inough shew the same vnto vs for as we haue seene when as the Iewes beeing for two moneths space afflicted did humble themselues before God and cried vppon the Lorde they obtained at Gods hand that deliuerance which wee haue heard wherby their name became fearefull vnto the Gentiles and they obtained rest from their enemies Now this booke is concluded and shut vp with the recitall of their tranquillitie which was confirmed and increased by that
of the sonnes of Heli was most vnhappie The same kingdome being almost spoyled and wasted vnder Saul was restored 2. Sam. all by the wisdome and pietie of Dauid Finally all affayres either publicke or priuate do speede well if good meÌ„ and carefull in their office do manage them on the contrarie when wicked or negligent men haue them in hand they come to nothing and therefore Iethro the father in lawe of Moses when he gaue him aduise for the choosing of Iudges by whom he might be holpen in deciding of controuersies warneth him that he choose men of courage fearing God dealing truly Exo. 18. 21. hating couetousnes So Dauid promiseth that he will not suffer either in his house Psal 101. or in his kingdome wicked and vitious men but that with great care and diligence hee would seeke out godly men that they might dwell with him and serue him So that there is no certayner prognostication whereby either hurt and infelicitie is threatned vnto any State then when the wicked raigne and beare rule therein or whereby happinesse and good successe is promised then when godly men sit chiefe in the gouernment thereof Wherefore we are with most feruent prayers to craue at Gods hand that the commonwealth may be gouerned by men that truly feare God and that are carefull of publique peace and tranquillitie respecting the common good and not their owne profit In fewe words are the dignitie and vertues of Mardochaeus set forth in the third verse his dignitie that he was next vnto the King Assuerus and great among the Iewes his vertue that he was accepted of all his brethren procured the good of his people and spake peaceablie to all his seede It was no small honor to possesse the second place of dignitie to the king in so mightie and flourishing a Monarchie so that he had neede to be furnished with rare exquisite and heroicall vertues to be able to guide the affaires of so great an estate with prayse and honor But it was a farre greater honor and dignitie vnto him to be a member of the Church and to retaine true godlinesse and religion among the delicacies and riot of so great a court then to be the Viceroy of so high a Monarch Of this mind was Ioseph wheÌ„ Gen. 48. 1. he more esteemed to haue his children partakers of Iacobs blessing then of all the riches of Aegypt The like also Moses did who had rather suffer with the Heb. 11. 24. 25. Daniel 6. people of God then to be accounted the sonne of Pharaos daughter Daniel also in Babylon had rather endanger his life in the Lyons iawes then neglect his duetie in praying vnto God It is not sayd how long this dignitie of Mardochaeus lasted but it is likely that it endured vnto his death to the profit and commoditie of the Church of God wherefore God also blessed the Monarchie of the Persians because his Church therein had a peaceable seate So God is wont to blesse Nations Kingdomes in which his Church is harboured with quiet and tranquillitie and he doth diuers times choose out some of his Church to be rulers that thereby the peace of the Church may the better be confirmed and established And who can hinder the purpose of God but that he may promote whome pleaseth him to the highest top of honor So the kingdome of Dauid was established maugre Saul and all his practises and in spite of all the borderers who laboured to hinder the setling thereof Of the vertues of Mardochaeus the first is gentlenesse and curtesie whereby hee was accepted of all his brethren For iâ— vnmindfull of his former estate hee had despised his brethren or had behaued himselfe towards them proudly by reason of his dignitie he should not haue benâ— esteemed or beloued by them but on the contrarie he loued them and did abase himselfe to their estate whatsoeuer dignitie he obtained shewing that he esteemed nothing more pretious then that he might be accounted among the seede of Abraham a member of the Church and a brother of all the faithfull This thing Dauid did set forth in himselfe saying All my delight is in the Saincts that are on Psal 16. 3 the earth and in those that excell in vertue Another of his vertues is his studie and carefulnesse for the wealth and commoditie of the Church and his diligeÌ„t search of all those things which made any whit to the preseruation of the doctrine of the law the seruice of God a most worthy care certainely for all those whome God hath exalted to any dignitie or authoriâ—ie For what greater thing I pray can they performe then to preserue that people which God hath chosen vnto himself for his inheritaÌ„ce as a most pretious iewel by what meanes can their memories be more highly commended Truely those great meÌ„ David Ezechias Iosias Constantine the great are not so much coÌ„mended for their great exploits which they did although euery one were most renowmed in them as for their zeale towards God and carefull preseruation of his Church and the establishing in it of Gods worship and the safe defending it against all heresies by the bright shining of the heauenly doctrine Finally Mardochaeus spake peace or prosperitie to all the seede of the Iewes that is he prouided for them against the time to come and tooke care that after his death the state of the Church should prosper remaine flourishing which care assuredly doth especially beseeme those whom God hath called to such publike places So we see with how great care Dauid did prouide 1. Chr. 22. 6 for his Salomon giuing him precepts and exhorting him vnto his duetie together Verse 17. with all the Princes of his people that the Temple might be built Gods seruice maintayned pure and the state gouerned with religion and iustice If then the fathers of families and priuate housholds are wont not without cause to prouide for their posteritie how much more ought they to do it who beare the name and charge of the fathers of the people and nourses of the Church By these vertues was Mardochaeus great among the Iewes and left behinde him an happie and blessed memorie for euer It remayneth that wee gather into a briefe summe those things which particularly haue bene hitherto expounded The principall scope and drift of this booke is that God might set before our eyes the care which he bare towards his Church in the time of Assuerus and deliuered it from the conspiracie of Haman and gaue it a notable victorie ouer all her enemies The end of this deliuerance as also of all other which God at sundrie times bestowed on his people is this that we may learne in the time of affliction and persecution to hope and looke for help succour and deliuerance from God alone who sendeth it vnto his when it is most conuenient time euen as we haue seene it to come to passe in al the regions