warneth That hee that refraineth not his anger giueth place to the Diuell Now the wrath of Princes is so much the more dangerous by howe much they are of greater might and there are none which dare reprehende them or oppose themselues against them no more then against a Lion or any other wilde beast For which cause they shoulde be like vnto the lawes wherof they are the executours and giue their iudgement of euerie cause without passion So should Assuerus haue thought that the queene Vashti wanted not sufficient excuse whereby shee might approue her dooing vnto him if he would not haue let loose the reines to his anger Such a moderation is required in all Iudges and in all them who haue anie kind of power ouer others For vnlesse the minde be quiet and calme and setled in the feare of reason it can not but erre from the truth and trouble both it selfe and others In this rage the King asketh the opinion of his Councellours what they thinke may bee done to Vashti by the lawe It is prayse worthie to aske the aduise of wise men and for an angrie man to bee willing to heare their opinion but it is to bee feared least hee kindle his Councellours with his ouer-great heate because oftentimes wee see it happen how euerie one dooth frame his affections to the kings humour and giues him counsaile according to his passion The king therefore asketh those seuen Councellors whose names here are recited who sate the chiefest in the Kingdome of Persia and Media and sawe alwayes the Kings face that is were alwayes present with him to giue him aduice in all hard and doubtfull cases according to the manner and custome of the Countrey by which it seemeth that the Kings were subiect to this counsaile And surely that was an excellent order euen as in all Empires which are not tyrannicall there are appoynted vnto Kinges a certaine number of Councellours without whose aduice they doo not any great matter But in processe of time many kings giue themselues such libertie that they abuse the name of their counsellors to get the greater authoritie to their owne wilfull decrees For so it commeth to passe that great power cannot long abide any peere Those seauen who heere are named are adorned with excellent titles Of wise men which knew the times and were skilfull in iustice and iudgement And truely these gifts are verie requisite in Kings counsellors For by their wisedome and discreete counsaile profitable lawes and statutes are made as wel in peace as in warre by them the whole kingdome is gouerned they dispose of all matters both publique and priuate They create Magistrates and publique officers they vnfolde difficulties arising they preuent confusions or appease them when they are sprung vppe finally they repayre all losses and preserue the estate of the Common-wealth In all which there is required great wisedome long experience exquisite knowledge of the lawes True wisedome containeth the knowledge of things both diuine and humane and of their causes also Now because these men had not attayned the knowledge of the true God they were furnished onely with worldly wisedome which yet is also the gift of God and a light which is bestowed by him vppon some for the gonernment of great Empires whereby they may bee profitable to mankind who otherwise would become the instruments of great confusion in the same Next the knowledge of the times is attributed vnto them which containeth the skill in Histories out of which may bee drawne the examples of memorable acts in all ages to which must be adioyned experience a surer instructor a great deale then Histories which affoordeth sounde counsaile according to the varietie and necessitie of occurrents The knowledge also of Lawes is required for out of them is to be gathered the deciding and defining of doubts proposed Now that which is spoken of iudgements is referred to the knowledge of equitie whereby in many things the rigour of law is moderated and euerie â—ction with great wisedome is weighed by the circumstances that iudgement may be giuen in euerie case with equitie moderation VVherefore there is none other to be looked for but the ouerthrow of those states whose gouernment is managed by rash councellors and without knowledge by yong heads and without experience of which let those young Councellors of Rehoboam be a memorable example vnto 1. King 12. 10. vs by those that are vnskilfull in the lawes and not carefull of equitie but only wittie in subtile inuentions whereby they frame themselues to the will of their Prince Furthermore these vertues are not sufficient neither vnlesse they be grouÌ„ded on a good and vpright conscience which in euerie matter shall loue the truth right For otherwise wisedome is turned into subtilty experience into deceit the knowledge of the law into craftie cauils and equitie into a maliciouâ— interpretation of the statutes So that great authoritie dignitie knowledge of the Law in a wicked man is as a sword in the hand of a mad maÌ„ The lawes are holy and pure therefore they require a pure holy mind IudgemeÌ„ts are of God and in his feare ought they to bee administred as Iehosaphat warned his Iudges whoÌ„ he had appointed ouer the people That 2. Chro. 1â— 6. they should remember that they executed not the iudgements of man but of the lord Wherfore in the choyse of councellors iudges there is not greater care to be had of their industrie knowledge which yet are required in them then of their honestie and good conscieÌ„ce Neither do wise skilful councellors any whit profit a king vnlesse they be also iust seuere executors of the lawes And finally the wisedom of a good and discreet prince is not more known in any thing theÌ„ in the choise of good councellors in the approuing of right lawfull counsels For to no purpose are good couÌ„cellors vnlesse their couÌ„sels be obeied Behold here then at the last the ende of laughter to be anger behold in steed of a banquetting house a iudgement hall behold a feast turned into a consultation of a matter most intricate of great moment seeing on the one side is proposed the question of the Queens person her whole estate dignity on the other side how the kings mind though he were ful of wine wrath may be satisfied how his magnificeÌ„ce maiestie may be preserued whole and sound which he himself could not sufficiently defend So many times kings and princes stir vp troubles confusioÌ„ which afterwards their councellors must remedy But we will defer this consultatioÌ„ of theirs vnto the next Sermon in the mean while let vs be warie by others mens examples let vs retaine temperance and sobrietie in our feasts let vs auoyd all vanitie and vnseemly ostentation let vs bridle our wrath and the rage of our mindes let vs seeke counsaile of wise men but without passion seeking rather right and
the King going about to allaie the want he found of Qu. Vashti when by the counsel of his Courtiers hee had gathered many virgins out of his whole Empire that out of them he might chuse one whome he might take to succeed Vashti Ester was preserred to the Crowne Afterwarde how Mardochaeus by reuealing the conspiracie of certaine Courtiers prepared himselfe a way to highest honours And this is the summe of this Chapter There are at this present two things to be weighed by vs First the counsell which was giuen to the King to gather togither so many Virgines out of his whole Kingdome out of which hee might chuse one for his Qu. which beeing approued by the king is straightwaies executed which thinges are conteined in the foure first verses Next who and of what estate Ester was who among the rest was brought into the kings house where the maidens were gathered together for the King which is described from the fifth to the ninth verse The reason of entrance into this counsell is declared in the I. verse to witte After these things when the wrath of King Assuerus was appeased he remeÌ„bred Vashti and what she had dose and what was decreed against her The Author maketh not mention what time passed from the reiecting of Vashti but it is likely that it was some two yeares space for she was diuorced about the latter ende of the third yeare of the raigne of Assuerus and Ester succeeded in her place in the 7. yeare so there are 4. yeares that passed betweene those thinges of which if one be allowed to the gathering together of the Virgines the other in preparing them according to that which is desctibed in the 12. verse there remine two yeares in which the wrath of king Assuerus lasted Now when his wrath was appeased hee remembred the fact of the Queene Vashti and the decree that was made against her Although it bee not expresly said that he did repent it yet may it easily be gathered because it is not without cause said That his wrath was appeased For hee might call to minde her beautie and her noble race descending from Cyrus hee might acknowledge hee had done her wrong in that he reiected her for so light a fault So then the decree made against her was in the heate of his rage of which the king beginneth now to repent This for the most part commeth to passe in those thinges which are done in a rage For wheÌ„ they are done without aduise they leaue nought behind them but repentance But what is now to be done there remaineth no remedie the law is made yea it cannot bee recalled and so both the custome of the Countrie and his owne estimation will not permit him to alter any thing in the decree Wherefore Princes and men of high estate who are subiect to anger which is so much the more daÌ„gerous by how much the greater their power is must learne from hence that they must bridle and restraine their fury vnlesse they will do many things vntustly whereby they shall incurre great infamie which yet notwithstanding they cannot by any meanes remedie By this also we may marke that euery passioÌ„ is asswaged and mitigated by time and reason who was as it were throwne downe from her throne receiueth againe her authoritie but often times too late when things are brought into so bad a case that there remaineth no remedie Wherefore those who contend withperpetuall hatred and deadly feende do sufficientlie testifie that reason is banished out of their mindes and are more hard against the Lords reproofes theÌ„ any stone against the drops wherwith by often falâ—ing they are pearced Besides it had not been hard to haue found out a medicine for that mischiefe vnlesse by euill counsell the way had beene stopped which is â—euident in this action For the counsell that was giuen to Assuerus did more and more alienate his mind from Vashti Now although God did turne this counsell to the good of Ester and the Church that letteth not but that it may bee many wayes faultie as by the carefull sifting of it we shall easilie perceiue The counsell that is giuen by the yong men the Kings seruants is this Let there bee sought for the King beautiful young Virgines and let the King appoint Officers for this purpose in all the Prouinces of hiskingdome which shall gather all the young Virgines vnto Susa the Cittie royall into the â—house of women vnder the hand of Hegai who shall giue them their ornamints and the Virgin that pleaseth the Kings eye let her be Queene in steede of Vashti This counsell is giuen to the King by young Counsellours neither are the seuen Princes the ordinarie Counsellours of whome was spokeÌ„ in this former Chapter here called vnto counsell The counsell of young meÌ„ in weighty affaires is worthily suspected for when as they haue neither wisedome nor experience they do most times rather giue that counsell which lust and passion do suggest then that which reason 1. Kins 12. 16. should affoorde Of which thing the young Counsellours of Rehoboam doo make proofe These also doo frame their sentence according to the lust of an ambitious and riotous King neither haue they any regard of right or honestie For what neede was there I pray to gather togither so many Virgins out of all the Provinces of the kingdome when in the cittie of Susa onely there were ynough and ynough to be found To what end serued so many Officers which should take the daughters out of their Parents armes eueÌ„ against their wil was it iustice so by force to take them in despite of their Parents But these men will haue all thinges to be â—awfull for Kings Nay they say it is an â—onour for those parents whose daughâ—ers they vouchsafe to take for the kings Concubines or rather Bondslaues Howâ—eit let it bee that all men doo consent with willing mindes vnto the Princes â—â—sts it is notwithstanding a matter of veâ—â— bad example out of which there canâ—ot chuse but growe great confusion in 〈◊〉 states For O good God! how great 〈◊〉 the licentiousnesse how great the insoâ—â—ncie of those who are set about such â—atters How many thinges doo they â—uite besides al honestie and seemlinesse â—â—at they may bee thought to bee good â—â—rocurers of the lustes and pleasures of â—â—eir Lordes What then doo ye thinke â—as done in this case perhaps more then thousand Virgins thus taken For kings 〈◊〉 neuer more ready and willing Officers then when they commaunde those â—â—inges which make for their pleasures or the setting foorth of their pride though sometimes they bee scarce honest nay sometimes cruell What other â—â—ing then maye you thinke came to â—asse by this counsell but the opening of wide doore to all dissolutenesse and intemperancie and the preparing of matter to make a man effeminate wanton And in chusing of a wife for a King forsooth they onely haue regarde 〈◊〉 beautie which many times is voide 〈◊〉
gainsay that by search there may be found what shall be most honest and profitable Wherefore they are wide from the truth and erre most greeuously who asking counsell of their friends desire to haue their passions approued by them for in stead of counsel they finde confusion which here wee see to haue happened vnto Haman For see I pray what good counsellours these friends and Zeresh his wife were Let there say they be made ready a gallows of fiftie Cubits high and in the morning speake vnto the King that they may hang Mardochaeus vpon it and then go in ioyfull with the King to the banquet which thing when it seemed good vnto Haman he prepared the gallowes By this counsell it is plaine that Haman being fierce and cruell had his wife Zeresh and his friends as cruel as himselfe and therefore by Gods iust iudgement they were at last wrapped togither in the same destruction God rightfully reuenging so bloudie an aduise They aduise that which they thinke the king will easily graunt seeing Haman so greatly in fauour with the King and the Kings readinesse alwaies so great in granting his requests Wherby it commeth to passe that men waxe more bold in demaunding things vnhonest when as before they haue very easily obtained the like besides that that men are allured with fauour and good will to hope for greater things They do not weigh that the king receiued a great benefite by the care and faithfulnesse of Mardochaeus before Chap. 2. of which fact they could not be ignorant when as there was open execution done vpon the traytors they thinke not therefore that such a benefite might come into the kings minde but they perswade themselues that Mardochaeus is nothing else but a miserable and vile Iewe without fauour and already condemned to death wherehence it commeth that they counsel no moderate matter to Haman but runne headlong into al inhumanitie But surely any wise counsellour might thus haue dealt with Haman What stand you vpon Mardochaeus this Iewe a man of no account he is not worthy that you should once thinke of him do you thinke that your fauour and estimation dependeth vpon him turne away your mind cogitation from thinking of him be carelesse secure is hee not already adiudged to death But wicked mē delight in cruel barbarous coūsels for what needed a gallowes offiftie cubites high vnlesse it were that not onely they would satisfie their thirst with the bloud of an innocent but also they longed to expose him to all mens sight with laughter and reproach So the enemies of our Lord Christ Iesus were not content we see to haue nayled him to the Crosse but they would haue him hang in the middest betweene two theeues as a notorious and famous theefe They adde that when this is done he may go in merry vnto the banquet For the enemies of the Church of God doo feigne theyr onely ioy in the death of innocents and doo onely relish with delight those meates which are sawced with the bloud of the faithfull So Herodias doth little Mare 6. 24. care for all the dainties at Herodes table vnlesse Iohn Baptists head be brought her in a platter so furious is the hatred wherwith euery one of the wicked doth persecute gods seruants him whom he thinketh to be his enemie This counsell liked Haman well for it agreed with his passion and he thought he should easily obtain it So is it often done to ouer-loose and fearfull Kings who dare denie nothing to those that are about them There is nothing so wicked or inhonest which is not craued at their hands euen with hope of obtaining He thought besides that it would be a pleasant and a faire shew if he might see him who would not bow himselfe before him to hang with shame and infamie on so high a galows Therefore he setteth vp the gibbet in his owne house as after we shall see Chap. 7. vers 9. Neither was it a hard matter for him to get a tree of such a height when as in the East the trees are of such a length that almost it passeth all credit or else many might be grafted togither and so make the gallows of such height Neither ought it to seeme strange vnto any that hee erected such a gibbet when he was in so great fauour and authoritie and had the kings Ring was next in dignitie vnto the king So by the iust iudgement ef God it commeth to passe that the worst and most dangerous counsels please the wicked as the coūsel of the false Prophets did to Achab by whose perswasion hee went to Ramoth Gilead where he receiued his deathes wound and his armie was ouerthrowne And as the wicked are delighted with lies so are they easily allured by thē as by a bait that they may be ensnared in their owne deceirs And indeed it is iust that those who will haue their wicked counsels praised and allowed and do please themselues in them should at the last bee taken in their owne nets But let vs embrace truth and integritie let vs vse moderately our ioy and gladnesse least we abuse our prosperitie neither let vs suffer our selues to be carried away headlong with our passions let vs not worke treacherie against any let vs seeke for counsell at God who wil be our guide in all our wayes defending vs by his power and deliuering vs from all violence and reproach and whatsoeuer fall vpon vs heere at the last hee will saue vs in his kingdome with Christ Iesus our Lord to whom alone be glory strength and dominion for euermore Amen THE FIFTEENTH Sermon Of the honor which was giuen by Haman to Mardochaeus at the Kings commandement euen by Hamans own appointment in the 11. first verses of the 6. Chapter CHAP. VI. 1. The same night the King slept not and he commaunded to bring the booke of the records and Chronicles which were read before the King 2. Then was it found written that Mordecai had told of Bigtana and Teresh two of the kings Eunuches keepers of the doore who sought to lay hands on the king Assuerus 3. Then the King said what honor and dignitie hath bene giuen to Mordecai for this And the kings seruants that ministred vnto him said There is nothing done for him 4. And the King said who is in the Court Now Haman was come into the inner Court of the Kings house that hee might speake vnto the King to hang Mordecai on the tree that hee had prepared for him 5. And the Kings seruants said vnto him Behold Haman standeth in the Court. And the King sayde Let him come in 6. And when Haman came in the King said vnto him What shall be done vnto the man whom the King will honour Then Haman thought in his heart to whom would the king do honor more then to me 7. And Haman answered the King the man whom the King would honor 8. Let them bring for him royall
the rest this Historie of Ester which by Gods fauor we take in hand doth propose vnto vs euen as in a glasse the wonderful prouidence of God in preseruing cherishing and defending his Church then againe the treacheries and cruell mindes of her most deadly enemies and last of all the carefulnesse and dutie of the godly as well at all other times as then principally when dangers hang ouer their heads and threaten vnto them all extremitie The name of the authour is vnknowne neither doth it much auaile vs to know who wrote it as in such like Histories of the Iudges Ruth Samuel Kings and Iob so that we know that it is sacred and diuine and hath been so taken and receiued alwaies in the Church of God sith the holy ghost hath engrauen it in the hearts of the faithfull by sufficient testimonies This Historie therefore bearing for title the name of Ester because Ester was as a principall instrument which God did vse for the deliuerance of his Church when it was like vtterly to haue bin destroyed in her time throughout all the prouinces of Assuerus is adorned with this note of diuine maiestie and vndoubted truth and layde vp in writing amongst the holy monuments for the instruction and consolation of the Church throughout all ages For as the Apostle Paul saith VVhatsoeuer things are written afore time are written for our learning Rom. 15. 4. that wee through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might haue hope For so notable and extraordinarie deliuerances of the Church of God at sundrie times and in diuers manners were not gathered togither and committed to writing without the ordinance and direction of Gods diuine prouidence but that diligently beholding howe great a care the Lord hath alwayes had of his people and with how vnwearied endeuour hee hath brought vnto them present helpe in greatest distresse we may learne to place our hope in him alone and to rest our selues onely on him whose goodnesse and truth endureth for euer The time when these things happened was in the raigne of Assuerus but who this Assuerus was or at what time he raigned it is not agreed vppon by all writers yet notwithstanding by comparing of other places of holy Scripture in which mention is made of Assuerus as Esra 4. 6. it appeareth that this Assuerus is hee whom the prophane Hystorians call Darius the sonne of Hystaspis which after the death of Cambyses the son of Cyrus had obtained the Kingdome Wherefore whereas this Historie setteth down a rehearsall from the third yeare of the raigne of Assuerus and the conspiracie of Haman falles out the twelfth yeare those things which are here recited seeme to haue happened in the two and thirtieth yeare after that the people by the decree of Cyrus â—ad leaue to returne out of the captiuitie into they rowne Countrey For Cyrus and Cambyses raigned nine yeare the two Magi surprised Babilon a yeare about the ende whereof Assuerus obtained the Kingdome So that there were but only tenne yeares past from the establishment of the Monarch of the Persians and Medes when Assuerus got the Kingdome in whose twelfth yeare this conspiracie happened But then it must needes bee that Mardochaeus must bee verie olde because as wee shall heare in the seconde Chapter hee was carried into Captiuitie with Iechoniah from which time vnto this there passed more then foure score yeares But the Lorde as often as the necessitie of his Church hath so required hath preserued certaine men strong and sounde for that purpose And let these things suffice to haue beene spoken of the time For their opinion hath not sufficient grounde which place these things vnder the time of the Captiuitie because that during the time of that fast Monarchie of the Babylonians none of the Persians had so large an Empire â—s this Assuerus râ—igning from India vnto Aethiopâ—â— The drift of this Historie is to make manifest howe the poore Church of those who remaine dispearsed in diuers â—egions into which they were led away â—aptiues when as a most certain and preâ—ent destruction hanged ouer their heads was by the peculiar care and sauour of God deliuered from the slaughter and â—s it were plucked out of the iawes of â—heir enemies the death which they â—â—reâ—tned and the detâ— and traps which â—hey prâ—pared for others beeing turâ—ed ouer vppon the aduersaries owne â—eades So that this Historie consisteth â—f two partes of the which the first conâ—â—ineth the mischieâ—s prepared against the â—ewes in the fiue first Chapters the â—ther contayneth the happie issue and â—iraculous deliueraunce from them in â—â—e rest of the Booke As concerning â—e former parte in the first two Chapâ—ers is recited the reiecting of Vashti and â—he exalting of Ester succeeding in her place In the third Chapter is recorded howe greatly Haman is had in fauour and authoritre with Assuerus his courtiers and with howe great and deadly hatred hee prosecuted Mardochaeus and all the rest of the Iewes The fourth containeth the praiers and supplications of the Iewes vnto God when they sawe so certaine a destruction to be readie to light on them The fift sheweth the preparation to the deliuerance the wrath and furie of Haâ—man notwithstanding increasing still against Mardochaeus and this is the first part of the booke In the other part wherin the deliuerance is contained in the sixt Chapter is declared the honour which Mardochaeus receiueth from the King by the ministrie of Haman and heereuppon the beginning of the euils that followed and an extreame dispaire of bringing his purpose to passe is foretolde him by his wife In the seuenth it is noted howe he was hanged on the gallowes which he had prepared In the two next Chapters is recited the slaughter of the enemies killed by the Iewes as well in Susa as in allother prouinces to the number of three score and fifteene thousand men amongst whom were the tenne sonnes of Haman 〈◊〉 and after hanged vpon gallowes Herehence ariseth great ioy and gladnes â—o the Iewes and that day is appoynted â—earely to celebrate so great a benefit â—eceiued at Gods hand The last Chapter 〈◊〉 teacheth that Mardochaeus beeing â—n great fauour and authoritie with the King and succeeding in Hamans place â—mployeth al his force to the good of the â—hurch And thus this Historie containeth â—he space of fifteene yeares though some â—ount more some lesse The vse and profit of this Historie is great For first out of it wee learne what â—or the most part is the state and conditiâ—n of the Church in this world to wit to â—e dispearsed heere and there vnder the â—ower and dominion of infidell Kings to â—e basely accounted of and hated of amâ—itious Courtiers to bee subiect to manie â—launders and to be appoynted euen vnâ—o death so that it shall be free for euerie â—ne without controlment to exercise tyâ—annie against it Contrariwise that the children of this worlde whiles others 〈◊〉 are despised and subiect to the crosse follow
proude ostenâ—â—ion of theyr riches to wit that by 〈◊〉 honest liberalitie they witnesse 〈◊〉 charitie that they nourish concord 〈◊〉 societie betweene many that by 〈◊〉 kindes of benefits they purchase 〈◊〉 friendshippe and good will of many 〈◊〉 when necessitie shall require they 〈◊〉 vse to honest and lawfull purposes 〈◊〉 that by their liberalitie they â—ay stirre vp others to sing prayses vnto â—od the giuer of so many and so great good things whereby our feasts may be cousecrated to him with prayer and thanksgiuing But what a miserable and lamentable thing is it that a most mightie King could not otherwise make 〈◊〉 magnificence and greatnesse to be knowne then by excessiue charge in feasting For howe many other things and there whereby he might declare it a great deale better and with much more profit to ensue both to himselfe and to his subiects that is if in euerie place he see that all things be gouerned in lawfull order if the laws retaine their due authority if right be administred to euery one if 〈◊〉 people be eased of tributes taxes subsidies if souldiers be contained within militarie discipline if rewards be giuen with kingly liberalitie to those that deserue them And heere wee are especially to 〈◊〉 to remembraunce that which the Lordâ— warneth vs that those who will makeâ—â— feast which should bee allowed by God should call vnto it not the rich but the Luc. 14. 13. poore in which thing there is liberalitie indeede But in this parte wee must also take heede of the leauen of the Pharises boasting and affectation of vaine glorie before men Bsides this is also here to be noted that Kings for the most part do bestow that money which they haue gathered with great labor from their subiects vpon vaine and vnprofitable expenses so that they seeme to labour more on the dispersing and loosing then was labour bestowed in the gathering of them together And thus farre of the end of the â—easts made by Assuerus There were many other perhaps who haue done the 〈◊〉 but this sufficed the holy Scriptures to note him as a cheese man and so 〈◊〉 these things thus bee spoken as well of the furniture of those feasts as of theyr 〈◊〉 Let vs come now to the speciall consideration of the particulars First the feast was celebrated an hundred and foure 〈◊〉 dayes that is full halfe a yeare together For all the Princes and seruants of the King that is the rulers of the kingâ—ome that hee might haue in his view the power of Persia and Media that is the princes and gouernors of the prouinces Which things declare great peace in the whole Empire of Assuerus for hee would not haue called vnto him the gouernours of the prouinces to feasting and banquetting if there had beene warre in any parte of his dominion or any light suspition of rebellion They are not called then to counsaile concerning the weighty affaires of the Common-wealth but to banquetting and mirth And thereby it may seeme likely that they wanted not in that great quiet all manner of sports that might serue their delight as musicke gaming tilt and other shewes as at this day noble men are wonderfully delighted with iesters enterludes wilde-fires daunces and such like toyes Beholde heere then a kingdome full of mirth and pastime and as it were drowned in delights and pleasures beholde with what ioyes the Lorde doth fill euen with sacietie the children of this world whiles the Church is oppressed with captiuitie and miseries beholde the endeâ— of victories obtained by great pollicieâ— and labour of mightie Kings and Counsellors and with much slaughter of they 〈◊〉 people euen pleasures and delights Although they were not come to so great 〈◊〉 madnesse as Balsazar the last Monarch◠〈◊〉 Babilonians euen when Babylon was 〈◊〉 gaue himselfe to feasting and 〈◊〉 or as manie princes in this 〈◊〉 age whom you shall see euen when 〈◊〉 estate of their Kingdomes shake and 〈◊〉 a fall are yet little mooued but 〈◊〉 drowned in pleasures take their fill 〈◊〉 This was also an euill 〈◊〉 for his subiects when they shoulde see 〈◊〉 King with all his Princes and 〈◊〉 giue themselues to banquetting 〈◊〉 and delights For what became 〈◊〉 meane while of the Prouinces 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so long of their gouernours 〈◊〉 were to administer iustice vnto them 〈◊〉 the wise man saith not in vain VV. 〈◊〉 O land whose Princes rise early to play Eccles. 10 9. 〈◊〉 in vaine dooth Esay threaten the like 〈◊〉 Princes of his 〈◊〉 which rose up ears 〈◊〉 follow drunkennes So 〈◊〉 inueigheth Esay 5. 11. Amos 6 4. 〈◊〉 against the 〈◊〉 of the Iewes 〈◊〉 they made with great ryot in beds 〈◊〉 Vnlesse the courts of Princes go 〈◊〉 in example of sobrietie and 〈◊〉 the whole kingdome will easilie let 〈◊〉 the reines vnto surfetting 〈◊〉 and lasciuiousnesse For the whole 〈◊〉 labors to conforme itselfe vnto the patterne of the King Besides these gouernours being returned into their prouinces after so long time of absence employed in ryot studie to imitate the example of their king and being bold vpoÌ„ the fauors which they haue receiued of their Prince are more ready to deale vniustly and oppresse the people VVho here also may not worthily maruell that noble men are so soone wearied with consulting of the estate and coÌ„mon profit of the subiects but neuer satisfied with banquetting and following their delights For you shall see many who not only feast certain daies but speÌ„d the whole time of their life in such excesse And are not many priuate men also wont to do the like who haue none other care whiles they liue then to fill their paunch and prouide for their belly euen as they are said in this life to reioyce themselues and to bee praised by their flatterers wheÌ„ they make much of themselues To them appertaineth the example of the wicked rich man as though Psal 49. 18. Luc. 15. they did liue to eate and drinke whereas we must eate and drinke to liue and to be able to imploy our selues in our vocation Especially Kings and their officers who ought to be examples vnto their subiects of all vertues But what can be aright in so great wantonnesse and ryot But so they liue for the most part by the iust iudgment of God the reuenger because the people make themselues vnworthy of good kings and wise councellors The other feast vnto which all the people that were in Susa were inuited lasted only seuen dayes yet was it long inough for it is a great matter for a whole citie to giue themselues to eating and drinking to pastimes seueÌ„ daies togither So when great men begin once to giue themselues vnto ryot they are drowned in it more and more desiring to gratifie all others in the like This bidding of the whole people doth testifie not onely the kings liberalitie bountie but his humanitie kindnesse a vertue most beseeming kings And surely this gentlenes curtesie
who punished from heauen by the hand of an Angell by whom in â—ne night the hoste of this blasphemer was slaine before Libna might be so much â—he more renoumed among Gods peoâ—le and more feared among all other So 〈◊〉 our dayes we haue seene not a fewe of â—hese deliuerances though not by the like â—iracle or so apparantly Hence we learn 〈◊〉 hope for an issue out of so many euilles â—herewith we are oppressed by those who â—aue conspired against vs who now rage â—ore furiously then at any time before And thus farre of the contents of the Eâ—ict Furthermore this Edict thus composed according to Hamans pleasure is carried by the swiftest postes into all Prouinces by the Kings commaundement the decree is first published in Susa the chiefe Citie The king vrgeth this matter as though it concerned his Crowne or the defence of the State of the whole Empire as though the enemies were at the gates So it commeth to passe that the mischiese begun by the wicked against the Church encreaseth as it goeth and the wicked wil of vngodly men alwaies runneth into the woorst so that they neuer giue rest neyther to themselues nor others vntill they haue brought their vngracious purpose to an end This vnwise King is not ashamed to publish euery where his iniustice more then barbarous crueltie and to solicite his subiects to accomplish it he little regardeth the iudgement of posteritie against him neither careth what may followeamong his subiects of so inhumane a fact so much can the words of those preuaile who daily perswade Kings to new slaughters Finally the King and Haman are said to sit drinking when the inhabitants of Susa were in perplexitie that is they gaue themselues to banqueting and quaffing after the proclayming of this bloudie decree when in the meane while those in whom there was any sparke of humanitie were troubled at it and the poore Iewes mourned with teares and lamentation These things are added to depaint vnto vs in fewe words the nature and disposition of the enemies of the Church who are neuer more merrie neither at any time giue theÌ„selues more vnto banquets and drinking then when they see her destruction to be confirmed And this is a horrible sencelesnesse wherewith Satan hath blinded them in the middest of their malice that they should not feele it or be displeased with themselues for it which were a beginning of health and conuersion Especially consider the peruerse and wicked craft of Haman who imployeth the King with delights banquets least perhaps at leisure he might considerin his minde that euill whereunto he had beene solicited by Haman and repent of the doing thereof This wicked man also drownes himselfe in delights because he knewe the decree was irreuocable and thinketh that there was an ende of the Iewes and there remained no hope of helpe for them In like sort that Haman of ours did onely talk of feasting did onely thirst after mens bloud wherein he hoped that he and his shuld wade euen vnto the girdles after he had obtained that Edict of the States confirmed by an oath set down as a fundamentall lawe of the Kingdome for the killing of all that professed the Christian religion So we see that to haue beene true in all ages which our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ said to his Apostles The world Io. 16. 20. 2. shall laugh but you shall weepe yea those who kill you will thinke they doo God seruice So our Lord Iesus Christ hanging on the Mat. 27. 39. Marc. 6. 27. Crosse all his enemies reioyced and with mockes and scoffes derided him Whiles Herode with his Courtiers banquet them selues Iohn Baptist is beheaded in the prison The Papists were neuer merrier then when they knewe that the decree was confirmed to roote out and to destroy all those that professed the reformed religion But let vs learne that it is an haynous sin and crueltie to reioyce at the euilles of the Church for which cause God by his Prophet Ezekiel doth denounce destruction Ezek. 20. vnto Chap. 34. and ouerthrow not onely to the nations who spoyled Iudea and Ierusalem but vnto all those who were glad at their desolation For which cause also Obadiah Obad. v. 12. the Prophet threatned horrible iudgements to the Edomites Nay let vs know moreouer that we offeÌ„d greatly by inhumanitie if when the people of God suffer we be not moued but follow delights and banquet as though al things were wel For we are warned to weep with them that Rom. 12. 15. Amos. 6. 6. Heb. 13. 3. weepe that we must sorrow for the affliction of Ioseph that wee must suffer with those that are in bonds euen as if we our selues were bound Wherefore a curse is denounced vnto those among the Iewes who gaue themselues to drinking and wantonnesse whiles the tenne Tribes which are meant by the name of Ioseph in the place which before I alleadged of the Prophet Amos were ledde away Captiues and destroyed Therfore the Leuites being captiues in Babylon Psal 137. 6. 2. Sa. 11. 11 do testifie that they wil not reioyce â—nd be merrie vntil they heare of the restitution of Ierusalem Also Vrias would not go downe to his house to sleepe because the Arke of God and the hoste remained in tents and were in danger of war Wherfore the blockishnesse and senslesnesse of many is wonderfull in these dayes who are not moued with common calamities wherewith the Churches of France and Flanders are oppressed and it is greatly to be feared least those who thus delight themselues whiles others weepe beeing deafe to the complaints of their brethre shall haue their own turn come at last and haue their crosse so much the more greeuous by how much the more they haue bin hardned at others calamities Go too then let vs beare pitifull minds and let vs helpe one an other with mutuall benefits duties of charitie whereby in the day of visitation our stroke may be the lighter or else we may be altogither deliuered from the euil dayes and reuenge of Gods wrath that continually dooing good we may reioyce in his saluation through Iesus Christ our Lord to whom be glory foâ— euer Amen THE ELEVENTH Sermon Mardochaeus first fleeth vnto God after to the intercession of Ester to king Assuerus in the eight first verses of the fourth Chapter CHAP. IIII. 1. Now when Mordecai knew all that was done Mordecai rent his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes and went out into the middest of the Citie and cryed with a great crie and a bitter 2. And he came euen before the Kings gate bnt he might not enter into the Kings gate being clothed with sackcloth 3. And in euery Prouince and place whither the Kings charge and his commission came there was great sorrow among the Iewes and fasting and weeping and mourning and many lay in sackcloth and ashes 4. Then Esters maides and her Eunuches came and told
that those who desired to seevs ouerwhelmed with shame and slaunders shall be compelled to approue the righteousnesse of our cause and to honour our right yea euen the very enemies of the truth shall be compelled to acknowledge the innocencie of the Martyrs and of those whom they haue persecuted The full accomplishment and effect whereof if wee see not in this world at the last when the time of refreshing shall come wee shall behold it Wherefore take courage my brethren let vs follow righteousnesse and innocencie let vs constantly suffer the crosse of Christ Iesus let vs not enuie at the prosperitie of the wicked let vs repose our hope in the grace of our GOD let vs waite for the euent of his promises and we shall see at length the confusion and vtter destruction of his and our enemies and shall bee Crowned at the last with glorie and felicitie in the life euerlasting with Christ Iesus our Lord to whom onely be power glory and dominion for euermore Amen THE SIXTEENTH Sermon Haman being beaten downe with sorrow hides himselfe at home and asketh counsell of his friends who denounce vnto him a wofull euent thence hee is called with haste vnto the banquet which is turned into a snare and deadly net vnto him From v. 12. of this 6. Chapter vnto the third verse of the next 12. And Mordecai came againe to the Kings gate but Haman hasted home mourning and his head couered 13. And Haman tolde Zeresh his wife and all his friends al that had be fallen him Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife vnto him Seeing Mordecai is of the seed of the Iewes before whom thou hast begun to fall thou shalt not preuaile against him but shalt surely fall before him 14. And while they were yet talking with him the Kings Eunuches came and hasted to bring Haman to the banket that Ester had prepared CHAP. VII 1. So when the King and Haman came to the banquet with the Queene Ester 2. The King said againe vnto Ester on the second day at the banquet of Wine what is thy petition Queene Ester and it shall be giuen thee and what is thy request 〈◊〉 shall be euen performed vnto the halfe of the Kingdome WHen as the Lord once beginneth to draw the most cruell enemies of his church into iudgement to execute vengeance vpon theâ— according to the desert of their pridâ— and crueltie suddenly are they seene tâ— be intangled in the bands of their iniquitie amazed with sorrow and mourning ouerwhelmed with shame to seeke to hide themselues to be condemned by their owne friends and sentence to be pronounced against them in the middest of their delights wherin they looked for comfort in their distresse Which heere we see to happen vnto Haman who when on the sudden he was fallen froÌ„ his hope hieth him home with his head couered by reasoÌ„ of his exceeding sorrow there he heareth sentence to bee pronounced against him that most assuredly he shall fall seeing he hath to doo with the Iewes Thence is he brought vnto the banquet with the King and the Queene but that table was vnto him a iudgement seate of condemnation at which as anon after we shall heare iudgement is giuen against him that here may be an example of the fearefull vengeance of God vpon his enemies when once he hath turned his angry countenance against them And â—his is that which is spoken Psal 39. 11. When thou with rebukes doest chastice man for iniquitie thou as a moath makest his â—ewtie to consume And in an other place Psal 68. 1. 2. Let God arise and his enemies shall be scattered they also that hate him shall flee before him As the smoake vanisheth so shalt thou driue them away and as waxe melteth before the fire so shall the wicked perish at the presence of God Heere also we see that fulfilled which is spoken by Eliphaz Iob. 5. 13. God taketh the wise in their craftinesse and the counsell of the wicked is made foolishnesse and that which the wise man speaketh in the Prouerbes Chap. 11. 6. 8. The transgressors shal be taken in their owne wickednesse when the righteousnesse of the iust shall deliuer the. And The righteous escapeth out of trouble and the wicked commeth in his stead But yet notwithstanding this is not to be drawne into a generall rule as though God dealt withall the wicked after this maner in this world or as though they were all to be accounted wicked and vnrighteous as many as are oppressed with great and sudden calamities For many good men are oftentimes shaken with the greatest miseries and sorrowes in this life and on the contrary part many wicked vngodly men liue in prosperitie die quietly as though they had escaped gods hand Howbeit god doth oftetimes shew forth in this world notable signes of his wrath against the enemies of his truth Which although he execute after diuers sorts yet this in generall is most euident that they are ouerwhelmed with sudden mischiefe as a woman with childe and to heare their condemnation before their death euen by their dearest and nearest friends and that oftentimes the place where they imagined to find rest and quiet is turned vnto a deadly baite And these things in generall are most worthy the noting in this Historie but let vs also discusse euery part thereof First heere is offered the modestie of Mardochaeus who hauing receiued that honor which we haue spoken of before returneth to his ordinarie office as it seemeth to wit to the Kings gate testifying thereby that his minde did not swell with any pride but to thinke of his dutie with feare carefulnesse and to remember that he is not yet deliuered from all danger that Edict remaining yet written against the Iewes Besides that honour bestowed vpon him although it were very great and almost immeasurable in regard of his state passed away in one morning that rightly it may bee sayd if he receiued none other reward that it was honour without gaine yea honor full of vain ostentation and pride onely and of no firme and stable dignitie But these were but an entrance a shew before of greater and more continual honor to follow when Hamans malice was detected and worthily punished Heerehence therefore wee learne not to bee puffed vp and waxe insolent with any courtly grace fauour or any other honor For the fauour of men is momentanie and all honor slideth away and vanisheth as smoake into the ayre It remaineth that wee vse it well to the defence and commoditie of the Church and depend altogither vpon Gods goodnesse not placing our trust in any earthly Prince seeing that the greatest and most mightie Princes are nothing else but vanitie nay altogither lighter then vanitie as it is said Psal 62. 9. Let vs beware therefore that we be not turned away the least iot from our dutie by any blast of courtly grace or fauour or from any honest thought which
other against traytours and those who haue taken armes against the state then against those who are the breakers of any priuate lawe Moreouer what neede we to be carefull to cleare the actions of an heathen and infidell king when it chanceth many times that christian Princes do slip and erre in their iudgements It is sufficient if heere we acknowledge Gods iustice vsing what instruments pleaseth him and euen by the hand of his enimies furdering and effecting his worke and alwayes dealing most iustly in that thing which oftentimes the instruments do not but with passion and iniustice It is enough for vs to know that they are most worthy of death which vse fraud and deceit and abuse their fauour and authoritie to the ouerthrowing of good faithfull subiects and the name authoritie â—eale and armes of Princes onely to serue their owne reuenge couetousnes and â—mbition By this example also let vs learne that God doth not long leaue the open enimies of his Church vnpunished put that he taketh vengeance on them by some notable horrible destruction We haue the examples in the holy scriptures of three that were hanged Achitoâ—hel and Iudas with their owne hands and Haman by others vpon that gallowes which himself had prepared Pharao was Exod. 14. Iud. 4. 2. King 19. Act. 12. â—rowned in the middest of the red sea with his whole hoste Sisera fell by the and of a woman Sennacherib was slaine â—y his owne sonnes Herode who slewe â— lames was striken by an Angell and â—aten with wormes The Ecclesiasticall â—istorie is full of such examples of the â—udgements of God against the enimies â—f the truth of God as it noteth Nero amongst the rest who reysed vp the first â—ersecution and who flew himselfe was â—ondemned by the Romanes and drawen â—hrough the streetes of the citie Our age boundeth with examples against those â—ho haue persecuted the Church as well in France and Germanie as in England which it needeth not to follow in man words seeing they are yet fresh in mâ—morie If any man except that thosâ— who haue vndertaken the defence of the Church haue also dyed of violent death I do indeede confesse it which is also obserued in the historie of the Maccabeeâ— that many holy men were slaine in the warre or killed by the treason of the wicked enemies but the diuersitie of the who set vpon the in hostile manner as those who defended the Church doth make the death of both different for pretious before God is the death 〈◊〉 those who spend their liues for the dâ—fence of the Church as of Abel and al thâ— Martyrs since though vnto the wicked world it seeme shamefull but the death of the persecutors is abominalbe thougâ— to the world it seeme pretious and to be lamented In short when as all men dyâ— the death of one and other is not distinguished by any other meanes then â—â— faith and a good conscience which trâ—steth only to the fauour of God and defence of a good cause Finally it is to bâ— obserued that these examples of Gods â—engeance against the enimies of his gloâ—ie and our saluation are proposed vnto â—s that we should more and more be enâ—ouraged vnto goodnes be confirmed in â—ue patience and in expectation looking for help at Gods hand that we deâ—end on his prouidence that we restraine â—he murmurings and reasonings of flesh â—nd bloud that we learne more and more â—o despise the felicitie and pride of the â—icked confirme our minds against their â—hreats and be stirred so much the more â—chemently vnto prayer For if the prayers of his wife did so moue a mortal king â—hen she made supplication for her life and the life of her people much more will that great King of glorie heare the â—roanes of his Church who is his wife â—nd arise vp in his wrath to deliuer her and punish her enemies Let vs therefore â—atiently coÌ„mend our life into his hands â—lace our whole trust in him and conâ—tantly looke for his help For whatsoeuer â—hall happen vnto vs he will saue vs in â—is heauenly kingdome through Iesus Christ his Sonne our Lord to whome be â—lorie for euer Amen THE NINTEENTH Sermon Hamans goods are giuen vnto Ester and his honours vnto Mardochaeus Ester obtaineth letters from Assuerus in fauour of the Iewes the eight first verses of the eight Chapter CHAP. VIII 1. The same day did King Assuerus giue the house of Haman the aduersarie of the Iewes vnto Ester and Mordecai came before the King for Ester told what he was vnto her 2. And the King tooke off his ring which he had taken from Haman and gaue it vnto Mordecai and Ester set Mordecai ouer the house of Haman 3. And Ester spake againe before the King and fell downe at his feete weeping and besought him that he would put away the wickednes of Haman the Agagite and the deuise which he had imagined against the Iewes 4. And the King held out the golden scepter toward Ester Then arose Ester and stood before the King 5. And sayd If it please the King and if I haue fonnd fauour in his sight and the thing be acceptable before the King and I please him let it be written that the letters of the deuice of Haman the sonne of Hammedatha the Agagite may be called againe which wrote to destroy the Iewes that are in all the kings prouinces 6. For how can I suffer and see the euill that shall come vnto my people Or how can I suffer and see the destruction of my kindred 7. And the King Assuerus sayd vnto the Queene Ester and to Mordecai the Iewe Behold I haue giuen Ester the house of Haman whome they haue hanged vpon the tree because he would haue layd hand vpon the Iewes 8. Write yee also for the Iewes as it liketh you in the Kings name and seale it with the Kings ring but the writings which were written in the Kings name and sealed with the Kings ring may not be reuoked THe holy Scriptures doo represent God vnto vs after two manners on the one side gentle and easie to be intreated full of grace fauour and mercie towards those that feare him on the other side terrible and fearefull as a consuming fire to the wicked as it is said A fire shall Psal 50. 3. 97. deuoure before him and that there shall go a fire before him and burne vp his enemies round about him that we may know that God though for a time he shew an angrie countenance toward the faithfull yet his wrath is but for a short time and contrariwise his good will endureth to life and if hâ— Psal 30. 6. suffer the wicked to flourish enioy prosperitie it is but for a time but his wratâ— followeth them to destroy them for eueâ— as the wicked are said to growe vp as thâ— Psal 92. 7. grasse and all the workers of iniquitie do floâ—rish that they may perish for euer Wherefore the estate
celebrated obserued and solemniâ—d 2. according to the apointed time yerely by all themselues and their seede and all that should ioyne themselues vnto them 4. in whatsoeuer prouince of the kingdome of Assuerus they were dispersed in euery age familie prouince and citie for euer That the dayes of Purim should not fayle from the Iewes and their memorie should not perish from their seede By which it appeareth that as they lacked the Temple or a publike place where they might all meete so this feast was kept by them euery yeare in euery citie village and familie Besides it seemeth that the Ieweâ— which were alreadie returned into theâ— country were not bound to this feast neither is there in any historian mentioâ— made of these dayes of Purim kept in Iudaea Neither is there any punishment appointed for those that neglect it seeinâ— they knew well that the constitutions oâ— men neither ought nor could bindâ— the conscience or haue the nature of thâ— worship of God for nothing properlâ— is to be accounted the worship of Goâ— but that which he himselfe hath expresâ—â— in his word prescribed I grant in deed that those things which ought to be donâ— in those dayes were of themselues acceâ—table and pleasing vnto God as to meeâ— to heare his word to call vppon him to giue him thankes and magnifie his workes and namely this so notable a deliuerance to make confession of their faith to relieue the necessitie of the poore to stirre vp one another with mutuall exhortations to loue feare serue and worship God with a trust in his goodnesse but that all these things were no better on these dayes then on other it is certayne It is moreouer to be noted that this feast is not dedicated vnto Mardochaeus or vnto Ester but vnto the liuing God onely who onely is to be called vpon in the Church For as he speaketh in the 42. chap. of Isai vers 8. I will not giue my glorie vnto other nor my prayse vnto images From hence therefore we must gather vnto whose honor and for what causes feasts and holydayes may be ordayned and what is the right meanes of celebrating them to weete all intemperancie wantonnes and riot which at all times displease God are to be banished farre from them besides wee must abstaine froÌ„ these works though otherwise good and of their owne nature lawfull by which those holy and diuine actions which are to be done vpon the day of rest mighâ— be hindred moreouer al manner of worship and seruice which is vsed vpon them ought to be holy vnto God and finally there must be reuerend mention made of the faith constancie and pietie of them whom it pleased God to vse to the preseruation and commoditie of his Church So most willingly shall wee make mention of the faith of Abraham the holinesse of the Prophets the constancie of the Martyrs the puritie of Virgins and especially of holy Marie the blessed Virgin that elect vessell by the singular grace of God to beare in her wombe the fruite of life but to dedicate holidayes vnto them to appoint them any seruice or worship to call vpon them or pray vnto them we say is prophane and ioyned with manifest abuse of Gods worship And thus farre of Mardochaeus letters It followeth after that Ester also wrote letters to confirme and by her authoritie to establish these things and that they were sent to all the Iewes through the hundred and seuen and twenty prouinces of the king Assuerus with words of prosperitie and assurance and that therby those dayes of Purim were yet farther confirmed and established This iterating done by Ester was not without cause or that she might bee talked of but it is likely that both she and Mardochaeus did feare least the Iewes which were dispersed through so many Prouinces would by little and little waxe forgetfull of so great a benefit And namely because those daies of Purim could not be celebrated without the indignation and griefe of the rest of the inhabitants of that regioÌ„ for that the memorie of those that were slaine to the number of seuentie and fiue thousand besides that eight hundred which were slain in Susa and the tenne sonnes of Haman would by this means againe be refreshed besides seeing they had no publike place to meet in as they were wont in the TeÌ„ple at Ierusalem it would be the harder to obserue this feast Vnto al which you may adde that it was to be feared least after that Assuerus Ester and Mardochaeus were dead the fauor of the Iewes should decay and in stead of that fauour which they had receiued there might rise vp some new conspiracie against them as for the most part it commeth to passe that old brawles hatreds are eftsoones renewed and that the remmembrance of hurt sustained with disgrace can hardly or almost neuer be put out of meÌ„s minds Therefore so much the more diligently did they renew this commandement vnto them the end whereof is principally to be noted which is expressed in the end of the 31. verse that it should be a monument of their fasting and of their prayer that is by these feasts they would erect a monument for euer by which it might be testified that God had regard of their humilitie heard their prayers and was the author and furtherer of so great and so admirable a deliuerance The ende then of those feasts was an open testifying before all men that God aboue doth help those who cast downe themselues before him and call vpoÌ„ his name Which is the principall fruite to be reaped by this whole Historie least that we be discouraged in persecutions but rather that wee should be the more stirred vp to seeke God in time conuenient being assuredly perswaded that he is neare vnto them that call vpon him in truth and seek him with an vpright heart and that it shall come to passe that those that put their trust in him shall neuer be confounded By this example of Ester all women whom God hath lifted vp vnto any dignitie and authoritie are taught so to vse that fauour and authoritie which they haue that they may procure good order to be stablished in the Church and to labour that the memorie of Gods benefites towards her be neuer blotted out being assuredly perswaded that if they be carried with a right zeale of the glorie of God their names be written in the booke of life and that the acts performed by them are registred most faithfully in the Lords moâ—â—ments and recordes neuer to be put out or abolished by any tract of time And thus faire let this suffice concerning the institution of the dayes of Purim There remaine yet in this matter certaine questions to bee dissolued The first whether it were lawfull for Mardochaeus and Ester to ordaine festiuall dayes to continue for euer when as the Law expresly warneth that Deut. 12. 32 nothing is to be added nothing to be taken away in those things which God