all at once least they should be drunke thereby and so returning to their vomit Esay 17. make no right vse thereof but by degrees Obs 55. God chastiseth his children in measure and by degees now a little then som-ewhat more the rod being a teacher euen while it lay vpon them and therein teaching vs the singuler wisdome and mercy of our God in the chastising of his children he comes not vpon them sodainly neither sweepes he them away at once but as he giues them warning of the rod that so they may be prepared for it so he orders his iudgements that they may best preuaile And therefore first he shootes forth his more gentle and scattering arrowes of the famine and pestilence which though they hit some yet they flye ouer the heades of many that by these being warned they might be brought to repentance when these milder corrections will not serue then hee smites them yet seauen times more Leuit. 1 here come in ciuill dissentions and forreyne Inuasions to humble abait the pride of the great ones and if as yet they will not returne vnto him then behold hee will smite them seauen times more Amos. The cuppe of Capiuitie shall be ministred vnto them yet shall they drinke thereof at times in measure and by degrees So doth the Lord in iustice remember mercy so doth hee measure out his Iudgements both that wee may beare them and that by them we might be brought to repentance As for the wicked the Lord deales not so with them Affliction shall not rise the second time 1 Nehemia with one stroke will he make an end of them roote and branches head and taile Genes â—9 will he cut off at one blow Vse Which prouidence of God is manifested most infallibly in the course of his chasticements vpon his Church as it namely confoundeth the insolency of the wicked who thinke to make an end when God doth begin so it is also a gratious checke to the preiudice and impatience of Gods children who notwithstanding this apparant difference that God makes between them and the wicked in the seuerall chasticements which he laies vpon them for many times in y t folly doe they both censure God as their enemie Iob. Lament 2. and them-selues to be dealt withall not as friends but enemies And seeing affliction giueth vnderstanding and the Lord especially aimeth hereat in this ordering of his chasticements Therefore lette the man of God feare the rodde and who hath appointed it Lette vs taker notice hereby that God appointeth them in that they are so wisely and mercifully ordered and so let vs patiently vndergoe this burthen and be comforted therein that wee are vnder the hands of a father who knoweth whereof we are made and therefore will lay no more vpon vs then we shall be able to indure And seeing the Lord hereby intends our repentance Amos. 2. â—3 that if we will â—ase him of our sinnes he will ease vs of his rods Let vs here wisely take notice of the cause of the continuance of his iudgements namely impenitencie and increase of sinne And lette this be our marke to looke for seauen times more if we do yet multiplie our sinnes against the Lord of glory And therefore let vs meet the Lord by repentance that he may stay the hand of his iustice Let al States be humbled because y e Lyon hath roared Ierem 13. Amos. 3. And seeing the hand of the Lord is stretched our stil let vs not liue by examples build our happines vpon y â— broken reeds of Egipt Let vs not run to Ashur trust in vain helps but let vs turn to y e Lord for he hath wounded and he wil heale vs he wil render vs the losse that the pestilence and inundations the intollerable frosts and fearefull earth-quakes our cruell oppressors at home and treacherous friendes abroad have made he wil yet devell among vs for his name sake and restore beauty for ashes yea we shall for euer liue in his sight Thus haue we now the condition of Mordecai he is in the state of bondage and slauery to y s â— wicked How doth he now behaue him-selfe in this condition Doth he yeeld to necessitie and imbrace the present world Doth he renounce he God and the care of his country to eat of such things as please the wicked No you haue heard before that he liued vnrebukeably but what instance haue we to giue euidence thereof It followeth therefore He nourished Hadassah that is Hester Verse 7. his vncles daughter What reason had he to moue him thereto Here is first the bond of nature She was his vncles daughter Secondly Here is the bond of necessitie for she had neither father nor mother Thirdly here 's a priuiledge of nature And the Maid was faire and beautifull to looke on rather to allure and perswade him thereto Fourthly here is the bond of conscience likely it is she was committed vnto him after her fathers and mothers decease and therefore it is said And after the death of her father and mother Mordecai tooke her for his owne daughter First he not only tooke vpon him her education and maintenance but adopted her also as his owne daughter and so to conferre vppon her the priuiledges of a Child Wherein first we may behold the great mercie of God vnto his children that in their greatest afflictions they shall be prouided for Mordecai shall be able to nourish Hester and Hester shall haue her Vncle Mordecai not only to preserue her from the extremitie of misery which Orphanes are subiect to but to traine vp this tender Maiden in the feare of God and to defend her chastitie froÌ„ the rage of lust Two notable priuiledges of Gods children vnder the crosse that either they shall be able to succor others or they shall find reliefe with the safety of their credit and peace of conscience And surely that Gods children in their troubles Obser 56. Gods children are to comfot releeue each other in their troubles as they are able so they should comfort others this serues to the magnifying of GODS power and faithfulnesse towards them and also to the great tryall of their most holy faith The power of God is seene herein that the wicked are brideled who out of question would not haue the righteous liue by them vnlesse they will hang vppon them if they might haue their wills they would keepe them bare ynough from doing good to others and so the children of God are planted in the midst of their enemies and herein also doth appeare the great faithfulnes of our god who inables his children to lend where they should borrow and by this to be assured of a good successe in al occasions seeing in y e land of their captiuity they can minister to others and is not our faith very gratiously tried herein when hauing our liues continually in our hands and therfore no certainty of
the affliction reioycing greatly at the Churches fall And with all their strength and pollicie cry it downe to the grounde But of this wee shall haue fitter occasion to speake heereafter when wee consider of Hamans and Mordecaies contrary affection heerein Thus you see the care of Mordecai for the Church of God and to this end you haue heard of his charge to his Nephew Now let vs see how Hester obeyes this iniunction It is said that Shee did not shew her people nor her kinred i. shee was obedient to the Councell of her Father Mordecai and doth not discouer her country nor her Fathers house A notable marke of the true childe of God Obs 86. Obedience to lawful authority a true marke of the Child of god 4. Sam. 15. Namely in lawful things to bee obedient to superiors commaunds 1. So hath God commanded 2. so shal we prolong our daies 3. so is corruption humbled and patience tryed 4. so is faith excercised and order maintained 5. so is God honoured better then with sacrifice 6. and man also by obeying more honored then if he could commaund obedience In a word where obedience is there is safety and all prosperity but confusiō followeth disorder and disobedience What may we then iudge of those y ◠iustifie treason and rebellion in inferiors that allow the subiect to rebel against the Prince yea to take his life from him that warrant the childe to forsake their parents and iustifie disobedience in al sorts shall we think y t this proceeds from an heroical spirit Shal we esteem it as greater obedience and honour vnto God who because hee is obeyed aboue man therfore wee must not obey man in him vnder him So the Papists aduance their traitors iustifie their treasōs Surely how necessarily must these erre not knowing the Scriptures how fearefully do these reiect God in not obeying his ordinance shall wee looke that God will honour them that doe thus dishonour him Blessed bee our GOD who hath maintained his own cause and hath iustified his ordinance in the confusion of his enemies So lette all thine enemies perish oh Lord so bee thou exalted in the protection of thine Annoynted But wherin doth this obedience of Hester shew it selfe Obs 87. Sincere obedience rather respects the power of the Commander then the worth of the thing commanded Surely in concealing a secret not fitte to be known No doubt her father had giuen her many other good lessons happily among so many she might haue forgottē this or happily she might haue dispensed with it as a matter of no great consequence and seeing it was a thing would not be long hid why might she not preuent the discouery thereof by others and so make her own peace by the benefit of such fauors w t were cast vpon hir by y e Eunuch and such like neglecting the estate of the rest of her country Surely I take it herein we may obserue the conscionablenesse of her obedience that though shee might haue thus strayned in the poynt yet the reuerent authority of the commander keepes her from these demurres and so not so much shee considers the waight of the thing commaunded as that she is simply led by the authority of her superiors A notable euidence of the sincerity of our obedience that it depend not so much vppon the thing commanded as vppon the iust authority of the commander him-selfe because as our seruice is then most acceptable to GOD when it hath least respect to our selues and most to his glory so it is most free from mercenary basenesse when we stand not so much vpon the thing commanded which doth concerne our owne good as vpon the power of the commander for whose sake we do it Thus did the Lord trye the obedience of our first parents the thinges he commandes might seeme to bee of no great waight but that the Authoritie and commander gaue power thereto which they not wayghing duely as in conscience they should but principally respecting what a smal matter was only imposed not to cutte of an Apple were therefore easily drawne to very fearefull disobedyence and so haue sette their childrens teeth on edge by eating that forbidden fruit Vse 1. Whereby wee may learne how to certifie our obedience Namely to haue an especiall respect to y e iust power of the superior and so in reuerence of that power to yeeld obedience to his righteous commaund not making difference thereof in regard of the things cōmanded but performing indifferent obedience to al alike as they proceed from a like power of those whome God hath set ouer vs making conscience as well of the least as y e greatest commaunds because the Commaunder is the same and his power as great in the least as in the greatest And our faith and humilitie beeing more tryed in obeying the least will be a good meanes to further to preferment that so not obeying man for hope of reward we may not yet be disapointed of our hope in the reward aboue Obs 88. True obedience performed as wel in absence as in presence Thus doth the Lord approue the sincerity of Hesters obedience Vnto which if wee shall adde that which further in is remembred in the 20. verse that Hester did euen as conscionably after the wordes of Mordecai beeing now from vnder his gouernment as when she was nourished by him We haue herein a further testimony of the vprightnesse thereof The holy Ghost as I take it signifying herein vnto vs the maine ground of her obedience Namely that though shee was now exempted from the sight and gouernment of her earthly father Mordecai yet shee remayned vnder the obeysance of her heauenly Father For whose sake shee performes as conscionably obedience to Mordecai being absent as if he had hir vnder neuer so much subiection So doth she approue her obedience to bee in the sight of God Col 3. 22. and so is cleared from eye-seruice and such like so doth she witnesse it also to be for the Lords sake and so purgeth it vtterly of all carnall respects And in this her bodily absence performing as true seruice vnto Mordecai as if he were present shee retaines her right in the holy family and so is partaker of the prayers and blessings thereof Yea shee keeps hereby within the couenant of God and so prepares a way for further blessings Behold here a patterne of sincere obedience And doth not the Lord requite it accordingly Yea surely as Hester obeyes Mordecai when he is out of her sight so doth Mordecai care for Hester though now she be from vnder his gouernment For so it followeth And Mordecai walked euery day before the Court of the womens house Vers 11. to know if Hester did well and what should be done with her Thus carefull is he of his Nephew euen when shee is of yeares to gouerne her selfe So ought parents not to reiect the care of their children Obs 89. Parents
ground of that grosse opynion that we may be so perfit as not to erre in our iudgements It casteth to ground all pleas for sinne whereof few can hold but from this assumpsit that wee may and must be iudges in our owne cases whatsoeuer you say I know it is otherwise you know not my case and if you were in my steed you would thinke otherwise All which proceed from this only ground that their is no competent iudge of my estate but my selfe A notable fallacy whereby Satan deceiues sinners that because others many times iudge wrongfully of them therefore they conclude that they best know themselues and best may be their owne Iudges concerning their sinnes A priueledge which how-soeuer they stand vpon principally for this end that their iniquity may be hidden from the eye of the world seeing this is an especiall meanes not onely to ripen the sinne but further also to harden the heart of the sinner Therefore behold the admirable iustice of GOD in taking the wicked in their owne snares that hardnesse of heart continuing impenitency and so in the end working despaire hereby it comes to passe that they which would haue the iudgment deuolued to themselues that so they may not discerne the true iudgment of sinne it shal be vnto them as they do desire they shall haue iudging enough euen to sinke them to hell they shall truely iudge of their damnable estate and many times pronounce sentence against themselues and therein mis-iudge of the mercies of GOD. And this is a third point condemned herein If therefore Obser 51. Wherein a man may be Iudge in his owne case we wil be safely Iudges in our cause let vs iudge our selues for sinne that wee bee not iudged of the LORD And that we may thus iudge our selues let vs bee iudged by others submit we our selues wisely to the iudgement of the word and let vs not neglect the Iudgement of the world if it iudge wrongfully we haue wherein to reioyce If it iudge aright be we the more confounded that our righteousnesse is cracked in the worlds opynion only beware we here of desperat iudgement whereby we may exclude our selues from hope of mercy so iudging ourselues by the law that we also seeke pardon in the Gospell that so wee may be eased of our heauy burthen Math. 11 Thus being iudged we shall come to true repentance and recouering againe the fauour of God we shall also recouer the vprightnesse of our conscience and so we shal be able to iustifie our owne innocency 1 Cor. 4. 4. And theÌ„ we may safely not esteeme to be iudged of mans iudgment and yet not esteeme our selues iustified thereby seeing as what the law condemnes for is in our selues so that for which we are acquitted is ours onely in Iesus Christ 2 Cor. 1. 12. and though our reioycing bee the testimony of our good conscience which we may lawfully cleaue to and thereby acquite yet seeing that GOD is greater then the conscience Iob. 9. and wee know not our owne soules and also that vprightnesse which wee know proceedes from the righteousnesse of our Sauiour therefore as by the imputacion of his righteousnesse we are onely happy so to the same only we must ascribe euen the power of that iustification before men that not withstanding proceeds from inherent righteousnesse Obser 52. Princes are to refer themselues to the iudgment of their lawes that so Christ may be all in all Vers 22. Well the King will not be his owne iudge whom then will hee bee iudged by The holy Ghost answereth by the lawes of his Kingdome which generally no doubt did determine of the dutie of Mariage though perticulerly for this case the Law was made afterward Now seeing this was practized among the heathen how much more righteous wise a course is it that euen yet Christian Princes though in cases concerning themselues should refer themselues to the iudgment of their owne lawes Because as they are of their owne making and therefore it stands with their honor to iustifie the same so it is in their power to expound their owne lawes and therefore may lawfully make fauorable constructions for themselues according to the equity of the law Yea beeing also Iudges of the law themselues and therefore may in discretion mitigate the same Vse 1. Which as it condemneth the grosse flattery and iggnorance of those that exempt the Prince from y e gouernement of his owne lawes making him thereby not onely a grosse hipocrite but a very Tyrant so it iustifieth that lawfull prerogatiue of Princes which is to bee makers and interpreters yea Iudges of their owne lawes Againe this also reprooueth the abuse of lawes which great ones breake thorough and onely small flies are caught in As also that man of sinne is here condemned who hath reiected the law of GOD and wil be gouerned onely by his owne filthy lusts Lastly whosoeuer measure their righteousnesse by example or opinion stand vpon custome or any such like reiecting the law of God for the rule of their life they are also condemned in this place Sixtly we are here taught to blesse GOD for good lawes and to pray vnto him for the executing thereof that great ones may lead and the rest may follow and that euery man may do as he lift may not bee heard of in our streetes Well thus hath the King referred the matter to the Iudgment of the law and surely herein he did not amisse onely in this may he be iustly charged of folly that he kept not the sword of expounding and approouing the law in his owne hand but vnwisely puts it ouer to the determining of his Councellors The reason whereof although we may partlie gesse because he would not be rid of his wife but with some colour and other must do that which he would not be seene in Obser 53. Wicked Princes imâ—loy their seruants in base purposes A matter vsuall in wicked Princes to deuolue the enuie 2 Samu. 12. of their vile courses vpon their Ministers of state by putting for a time the sword in their hands as Dauid did into the hands of Ioab yet that this was not done without great inconuenience may appeare liuely by their handling thereof See what it is to put a sword into a mad-mans hand harke how Memucan the Eunuch laies about him And Memucan said before the King and the Princes Vers 16. 17. 18. The Queene Vashty hath not onely sinned against the King but against al the Princes and people which are in all the Prouinces of the King Ahashuerosh c. Thus insteed of a Iudge he becomes an accuser and the Summe of his exaggeration or rather indeed accusation contained in these three verses is this that Queene Vashties sinne is herein exemplary such as shall prouoke like contempt throughout the Land among all sortes as pleading herein the example of the Queene and thereby taking occasion to disobey
Behold how the Lord is no respecter of persons but in euery nation they that feare him shall be accepted of him here 's tribulation vpoÌ„ the Iew in general because they had forsakeÌ„ their god Acts. 10. 35. yet Mordecai the Iew is exempted because he is faithfull with his God yea here 's Mordecai of the house of Saul y â— rebellious and reprobate and yet gratiously deliuered from the common corruption that so hee might bee gratious in the eyes of GOD. So iust is the Lord to recompence euery man according to his work so little need hath hee of the sinnes of men to aduance his glory so wise is hee to distinguish the cause from the person so absolutely perfect to do all thinges by him and for him-selfe Vse Where we may learn as to be like vnto God in not respecting persons where there is equallitie in the cause so we must take heed that with the Anabaptist wee abuse not this liberty as a cloake of disobedience against such persons as the Lord hath aduanced neither lette vs robbe Gods free election with the Papist Math 23. as if because he is no respecter of persons therfore he chooseth men for their foreseen righteousnesse neither let vs preiudice the sincerity of our brethren because they want the outward complement to their persons but seeing the Lord regards not y e outside but indeed requireth the hart so principally accepts it therfore let vs not content our selues with the out-side of the platter but let vs labour to make al clean within if we be aduanced let vs take heed of oppression for God will iudge the greatest as wel as the least Obs 38. The continuance of the Church and the condition if we be oppressed let vs not dispaire for the cry of y e fatherlesse is in the eares of the Lord only let vs resigne vp our selues wholy into the hands of y t gratious God who loued vs before wee were for his own sake not for ours so let our loue be proportioÌ„able not for our sakes but for his glory y t being purged daily of this drossy corruption we may be fitted to y t glory immortal vnspeakable w c shal inuest our persons according to that measure of grace which God hath filled them withal Mordecai the Iew preserued in Susis is a Iew of the Tribe of Beniamin of the posteritie of Saul reserued among the Heathen to praise the Lord and deliuer his Church Oh y e liberty of the rich mercies of God how faithfull is he in his promises Psal 80. how mighty to the preseruation of his Church Who would haue lookt for good of Sauls posteritie y t was forsaking of God and had the Kingdome rent from him Who would haue thought that there could haue bin a remnant in Susis to call vpon the name of God and to be zealous for his glory Psal 80 Wil God plaÌ„t a vine in Canaan remoue it into Aegipt shal it be remoued out of Aegipt into the wildernes so into Canaan againe shal it be remoued out of Canaan into Babilon from Babilon to Susis shal his Church bee tossed and tumbled to all these places Reuel 2. shall all sortes of nations giue harbour thereto shall the Turke harbour it yea Antichrist himself shal not be able to roote it out but euen there shal be a Church where satan hath his throne and the diuell his Synagogue Christ shall raigne in the midest of his enemies 1. Behold here the condition of the Church in this miserable world Reasons It must be a Pilgrime vpon earth scattered it shal be ouer the face thereof that Gods power may be more magnified in the preseruation thereof Obs 39. Condition of the Church to be scattered vpon the face of the earth and his worke the better accomplished both in and by the same while it being thus posted and tossed to and fro they rather looke and long for that Citty which is aboue and by being thus changed from vessell to vessell it may both leaue sauour of it good behind it to the conuersion and reuocation of others may haue it owne drosse also purged out thereby to be prepared to her eternall rest Vse 1. By which we may learne to discerne the true Church of God Esay 47 not by her sitting as a Queene of the nations and flattering her selfe that she shall not be changed but by this we may disecrne the true Church of God namely that as she must be tossed and scattered ouer the face of the earth Ephes 6. so she hath her loines guirt vp her feet ready shod thereto not setting vp her rest because it is good to be here but wayting the Lords leisure to call her forth where it please him A notable warning to carnall Ghospellers that if they abuse the Ghospel it shal be taken away from them Iere. 7. the Temple of the Lord will be no bond Ezech. 10. 11. to hold him among them And withall a most excellent comfort to the Children of God that Sushan shall receiue them when Iudah casts them out and which may yet make for our greater comfort this remouing of the Church as it tends to the continuance therof in this life fo it also fitteth it to eternall rest in heauen And therefore let vs not thinke it strange if we find not a biding Citty but are tossed vp and downe and scattred among the nations It is the portion that our God hath allotted vs if we wil be true members of his Church and it is good for vs thus to be changed Psal 55. 15 that we may feate and trust in God who as by remouing our habitations he doth pluck vs out of those common desolations which lie vpon places that despise his word so in that he hath giuen vs the heathen for our inheritance and the vttermost bounds of the earth for our possession hereby doth he also inuest vs with the possession of each Nation and the blessings thereof which indeed properly do belong to vs and all this that his Church may be continued on the face of the earth Obs 40. The faithfulnesse of God in that the Church of God shâ—ll abide for euer yea may still preuaile and get ground in the world till all her enemies be troad vnder her feet And is it possible that this poore afflicted Church should still hold our being so scattercd and weakened shall she continue for euer and shall no power preuaile against her 1 Esay 9. shal there yet be a remnant and a little seed shal there be a truth â—say 65. and a cluster that hath a blessing in it Rom. 11 shall Mordecai and Hester both Iewes remaine to reuiue the Church of God when God had seemed vtterly to haue forsaken his people yea surely the Lord is faithfull and in indgement remembreth mercy Exod. I. The afflictions of the Church shal
if wee consider that as the people generally pay for this excesse and so were requited but with a feather for a goose as we say in the prouerb so only the people of Susis were feasted by the King whereas those of the Prouinces had their teeth cleane ynough wherto if we shal adde that to Cittizens feasting is not dainty w t is rare among y e country people because neither their leisure nor meanes will afford the same we shall find y e this feasting of the Susians was rather a iustifying of that wherin they were too much faultie alreadie then any true reliefe of their wants or gratification of their paines Whence we may obserue .i how to determine of their actions Obs 12 Virtues of the Heathen who are without God in Christ Iesus Namely that they as them-selues acknowledge are but shadowes of vertues and deceiptfull sinnes Splendida peccaâ—a simâ—lachra virtutii vnder pretence of libertie satisfying our inordinate lusts Whereby wee become slaues vnto Gods blessings when wee would shew our power ouer them 1 Vse Wherby wee are taught as to condemne nature and the glorious shewes therof because it greatest liberty is the most dangerous snare So to seeke for our most glorious libertie in Christ 1 Cor 3. who beeing once ours all is ours also wherby hauing a right in these blessings we shal haue also grace to vse them well that so we may lay vp a good foundation against the day of account 1 Tim 6. We haue heere a liuely Image of the prophane courtly life 13 Obs State of the court vvorld and so consequently of the world it selfe All for the lust of the eye the lust of the flesh and the pride of life nothing for the soule or for the happinesse of the same I Vse 1 Iohn 2. 16. Wherein we may see the notable pollicy of Satists that as they are in place aboue other Obs 14 Pollicy of worldly greatnes confounded so wanting indeed true vertue wherby they may be manifested to the harts of their people and to procure and hold them in loue and obedience Yet in these outward thinges at least they will be singuler and exceed which being that which most do hunt after and admire therefore by these they rather desire to obtaine an outward admiration and fayre reuerence of the most then by true vertue to be loued of the best Which as it is a deepe mistery of their highest wisdome to coulor their inward villanies so may we herein obserue the admirable iustice of God in taking these wisemen in their craftinesse and thereby making way for their destruction that their cxcessiue pompe breeding secret enuy while it is flattered with outward applause and fayned deuotions doth therby nourish discontent and so dislike of their persons and this discontent being inraged by imposing new burthens which are vsually the effects of princes vaine expences breake out often into treasons and subuersions of their greatnesse Which though it bee no iust cause for such outrage in subiects Rom 12. because vengeance is mine saith the Lord and they are not their owne 15 Princes are not vnnecessarily to burthen their subiects Vse yet may great Potentates heere learne not vnprofitably this lesson Not vnnecessarily to oppresse their subiects by such superfluous pompe and vanitie Because howsoeuer the subiect may and must beare yea till his backe cracke againe Yet his patient bearing shall moue the Lord to iealousie prouer 22 who being a helper of the oppressed and abaser of the mightiest will heare the cry of the poore that are thus wilfully oppressed and vnloose euen the choller of Kinges to the deliuerance of his seruants And seeing that earthly greatnesse is an image of the heauenly 16 Princes to labour specially for inward glory as proceeding from thence and a gratious meanes therto therfore are earthly Princes taught heerâ— another lesson Namely to labour especially for inward glory Whereby as they shall sanctifie and so quallefie all their outward greatnesse to secure it from danger and make it lesse burthensome so for the sauor of their good oyntments shall their subiects truly loue them By which coniunction of spirits all things shall be easie suspitions shall cease from superior and greeuances from beneath and both Prince and people shall happily goe vp together to builde the house of GOD when the Magistrate by example shall lead them the way Thus by this sweete harmony shall heauen bee vppon earth in an heauenly conuersation that earth may rest in heauen for euermore The contrary whereof is most apparant in this president 17 Like prince like people Here is a prophane and luxurious King and here are like subiects .i. because we are both apt rather to liue by examples then by lawes and indeed it is not safe to crosse euen bad examples As beeing the maine streame of the worlde to maintaine sinne and who shall without danger striue against the streame 1 Vse By how much ought Princes to be more carefull of an holy conuersation as beeing not onely vnder God vnto whome they fall and it is a fearefull thing to fall into the handes of the liuing God how-soeuer they may stand and beare it out before men but in this also that they are sette ouer men beeing examples of their vices they thereby are markes of their mallice so that brethren in euil shall be brethren in punishment Yea the greater sinner the greater torments And seeing God sends wicked Princes for the sinnes of a people Let men be angry with their sinnes Wicked Princes sent for the sins of the people and not with God or his ordinance by their cheereful obedience witnessing their true repentance so shal they either be able to beare the yoake though it be as heauy as Rehobohams scorpions or according to their abilitie the yoake shall be bridled or in due time taken of their shoulders As for those that inioy the blessing of good gouernment Let them be thankefull vnto God in acknowledging their owne vnworthynesse and let them vse this great blessing in feare and reuerence Nehemi 2. 4. taking this oportunitie to build vp Gods house and mourning with those that are making of brickes and toyling in the mines not setting vp their rest as if this were all their happynesse nor flattering such golden times as that there may not be better but still forgetting that which is behinde in steed of that which is before Yea esteeming all as dung in comparison of Christ Iefus refusing with Moses to bee counted the sonne of Pharoes daughter Heb. 11. v 25. as hauing respect to the recompence of the reward Thus may we truly iudge of feasting And hereby also iudge this feast of Ahashuerus Verse 5. to bee prophane and superstitious Some-what may here be pretended iustifiable in ciuilitie as fit for the state and magnificence of so mighty a Monarch in that it is said Verse 7.
him-selfe to iustifie the equity of this his extreame sentence doth he plead as Diuines do that sinne was committed against the greatest person and the thing commaunded being very indifferent therefore by these circumstances the offence was more haynous and so did deserue so haynous a punishment or doth hee rather like a Polititian heereby iustifie the Kinges anger by inflicting so extreame a punishment for the prouoking thereof Doth hee as a bawde heereby make way for change as happily smelling the Kinges purpurpose heerein Surely though happily in pollicy hee intended both the one and the other because rather then Princes must erre the subiect shal deeply smart for it and Courtiers many times are glad to be such cooks that they may also licke their owne fingers Yet in pollicie he hides all these and makes a faire glose vpon it he implies that one must be made an example for the procuring of peace to many better one perish then that vnitie bee destroyed For saith hee When the decree of the King which shall bee made shall bee published throughout all his Kingdome though it bee great all the women shall giue their husbands honour both great and small Vers 20. Heere wee may see the height of his wisdome Worldlinge prefer the priuate before the publike good hee prouides for him-selfe and his like that they may haue honour of their wiues But for his Lord and maister hee must haue no honour from his but rather he must be dishonoured In putting her off vppon so slight a cause and the miserable Queene must bee dishonoured also and that with apparant wrong and eternall contumely So cunning are Polliticians to secure them-selues with the dishonour of their princes So foolish are such Princes thus to bee ledde by the nose by them so righteous is the Lord to make the one here by a rodde vnto the other that Polititians hereby growing insolent and great are catcht in their month and so emptied in their Princes as beeing spunges to fill them-selues with the spoyles of others that they may afterwards wring them out at their pleasure Thus you see the depth of his councell Wicked haue glorious clokes for e-euill purposes and yet behold what a goodly vaile he hath to cast ouer it The woman shall giue honour As if hee had said that they being made wise by the Queenes punishment would hereafter not dare but honour their husbandes least they also bee subiect to the like censure Doe you not see what a maske heere is to couer his crueltie It is good saith hee that some should bee made examples to keepe other in awe and therefore let Vashty smart soundly for it that all wee may liue more peaceably A most righteous thing Exemplary Iustice when to be vsed that some should bee made examples and yet the Queene might well haue beene spared out of the number of those some if her fault would not yet her state at least should haue priuiledged her euery small fault must not make an example though exemplarie Iustice bee profitable for others But shall it bee graunted that this example would bee profitable Terror to breeder of true loue will terror breed true loue and can their be honour without loue Well therefore might this Persian hereby dominere ouer his wife bouldly well might shee crouch for feare and play the hipocrite with him well might she flatter him in his sinne and further him to hell as being all the honour that carnall men looke for of their wiues but true honour will neuer bee yeelded by terror flattery is not loue nor soothing true submission So that howsoeuer in other cases this course might haue had successe yet in this case betweene man and wife a farre better might haue beene taken Namely to haue laboured with the King to bee reconciled to his wife Oh this example of mercy had beene more vndoubtedly profitable Vse 1. So let vs make vp the breach and not set it more open Let our censures ayme at the sinne for the recouery of the partie and let charity couer especially small offences build we not vpon surmizes to cast away life least we exalt our selues by the fall of others Aboue all things keepe we holy and inuiolable the marriage bed and let onely the defiling thereof be the cause of perpetuall seperation as for such ordinary breaches as are betwixt man and wife Math. 19. let vs compose them wisely among our selues Is their none wiser then other that we must beray our owne nests and discouer our weaknesse abroad that wee may be snared with our owne infermities Had Ahashuerosh beene wise the matter needed not to haue gone any further and then his Princes had spared that labour and he had escaped this dishonor yea the miserable Queene had not thus wickedly beene diuorsed But as it seemed the King was set vpon it and therefore no sooner had Menucan pronounced the sentence without demurre on the matter or delay of the execution Verse 21. Wicked Princes easily yeelde to bad councell but the holie Ghost addeth that The saying pleased the King and the Princes So hard are wicked Princes to be pleased with good Councell and so easily doe they embrace euen that which is pernicious But how shall it appeare the Kinge was pleased here-with It followeth because hee ratifies the sentence pronounced Hee did sayth the spirit According to the word of Menuchan and to shew his willingnesse therein Vers 22. least after-witte might crosse it hee sendes his lawes throughout all the Prouinces to this effect That euery man should beare rule in his owne house And that the law concerning all each might take notice of it It must bee published in the Language of that same people That so the lawe beeing published might not afterward euen for his credite be abrogated But what might bee the cause of all this haste Surely lette vs heere looke vp to GOD and the matter will bee cleared The Church of GOD was like to bee in extremitie and delaie was dangerous Hester was to bee aduanced that shee might be meanes of deliuerance and therefore Vashty must bee depriued of her Regall dignitie that so according to the sentence Wicked instruments of fulfilling of gods righteous wil in their punishments for his glory and the good of the Church her royall estate might be giuen to her companion that was better then shee So doe the wicked therein fulfill the will of GOD wherein they doe agaynst his will and in their wickednesse are his righteous instruments that hee may haue the glorie in bringing light out of darkenesse and they might confounded in their owne mallitiousnesse Whereby wee may learne in all such Accidentes as principally to looke vp to GOD in the vse of such instruments so not to iustefie the instrument though well vsed of the LORD nor to condemne the LORD for the obliquitie of the instrument but wisely here to discerne betweene thinges that differ giuing God
what we haue yet depeÌ„ding on Gods prouidence we do comfort others that had more need of comfort and remedy our selues Would not some carnall wise virgins haue here replyed wee haue little ynough for our selues we cannot spare it least wee want in the time of need we must keepe somwhat to appease our taskmaisters somewhat to buy our liberty we shall be thought to be rich if we be harbourers of others and so shall bee markes to the mallice of the spoylers We shal hereby discouer our selues to be patrones of such out-casts as being enuied where they deserue to be pittied may breed no good blood for our quiet setling Thus would blind reason haue schooled a carnal man but the man of God hath another rule hee sees his life is in his hands and therefore he will do good while hee may he knowes now there is more need and therfore he wil cast his bread vpon y e waters and where shal he haue such comfor portion in wel-doing as in releeuing the houshold of faith he sees his brethren like to go to the wal Moyses 1 Exod. and therfore hee wil rescue him though it cost him the setting on he knowes y â— to feare well doing in regard of the wicked is to giue strength to the wicked and so depriue himselfe of the oportunity of doing good He beleeues y t God wil then come to deliuer when he casteeh vp a Moses to take the cause in his hands he sees it will daunt the enemie when Gods children make much one of another and hold together and therefore hee becomes a meanes to strengthen the weakest and vnite them in families and so bind them in holy leagues and assentations togither he feares no euill tidings no not the spoile of his estate Psal 112. because his heart is stablished and beleeues in God and hee disiributes thereof to the poore wherby he wins the hearts of the enemie yea hee will not feare vntil he see his desire vpon his enemies And why the Lord is his sheepheard and he liues by faith in the son of God and though he passe through fire and water yet the Lord shall bring him into a wealthier place This is y e merciful man that sowes in teares the Lord wil recompence him aboundantly he shal reap in ioy so was Mordecai and so hee did finde 1. Vse A notable president of trâ—e bounty and therein also a liuely marke of the true child of God And therefore lette not inabilitie hinder vs from comforting others least the widdowes mite be a witnesse against vs Let not pollicie discourage vs from releeuing the Saints of God least while we please men wee make God our enemie Lette vs not feare want when God is the borrower let vs not doubt of requital where his children are ingaged let vs not be newters in such cases where not to be with is against God but let vs maintaine Gods side that he may maintaine vs. Obediah wil nourish the Prophets of God though Iezabel intend the contrary and Ionathan will succor Dauid though his father seeke his life and did they want their reward Mordecai nourisheth Hester who happily for her sake beeing beutyful might haue indangered his estate Oh let vs not consult with flesh where God coÌ„mandeth But how I pray you is Hester nourished What doth she pay for hir outward maintenance Is her conscieÌ„ce set to sale for y e belly Is her beauty made the broker to maintaine this miserable life Vers 12. 10. Doth she offer the sin of her soule for the fruit of her body Vers 23. Surely no vpoÌ„ these tearmes she might haue found fauour in the eies of a Persian Psa 69. 22 such mercies of the wicked had bin extreme cruelties Obs 57. The bounty of Gods children is no Snare but especially labours the good of the soule Behold here then the true bounty of Gods children their table is no snare their riches are no bait to corrupt y e souls of men they intend not to make Dauid their slaue by their kind intertainment they giue him not Michel to bereaue him of his life They blind not the eyes of the wise by their bosome liberality nor hunt after the pretious life of men with their sacrifices and peace offerings Deut 16. they kill not when they kisse but giue that it may bee giuen Vers 7. their principall marke is to winne the soule Ioh 2. So did our Sauiour trune water into wine that nature might bee turned to grace so did he giue a great draught of fish to make fishers of men so doth GOD bestow these outward blessings that beleeuing in him we may see greater things theÌ„ these And so are his children like their heauenly Father so they do find their bread after many daies againe when it is thus distrstâ—buted in conscience and wisdome Vse 1. A notable rule for true liberality that the streame thereof turne good to the soule Not that we should be exempted hereby from doing good to the wicked vpon pretence to harden them in their sinne Neither that we should content our selues with that liuelesse bounty of many who will seeme to comfort the soule with a little lip-labour God helpe c. neither yet to neglect our ordinary callings in an honest care of this life as if all were lost labour which is not immediately imploied vpon the soule But so to supply the bodie as that it may serue the soule So to seeke the Kiâ—gdome of Heauen as not to neglect the care of our families So to shew our true loue to the soule by releeuing the body for it sake And so to humble the sinne as that we haue compassion in the person Making difference therein where wee see likely-hood of most inward good And shortning our bounty where it may be an occasion to the flesh Thus he that scattereth shall haue plenty So did Mordecai distribute and so the Lord gaue a blessing And was it not a wonderfull blessing of GOD that a beautifull Maiden left fatherlesse and motherlesse should meete with such a gardian who did not set her beauty to sale Obs 58. God prouides for his children in trouble with the safety of a good conscience and her conscience on the racke how many destressed soules are there that in the land of their captiuity thinke it an high blessing if the ship-rack of their conscience may procure their quiet and the prostituting of their beauty may winne them fauour Behold here then an excellent priuiledge of Gods children in their extremities that they shall finde releife with the safety of a good conscience not one haire of their head much lesse the peace of the minde shall miscary thereby and why are they not the beloued of God and in their chastizements most beloued and how shall this loue appeare if they bee not kept fit for it hath not God promised that all shall turne to their good If they be not
they may bee compelled to send y e Arke home Genes 15. 14. Thus will the Lord Iudge the Nations before he deliuer his people that their hearts hereby being hardned more indurate against God and his people the deliuerance of the Church may be more free and glorious and y e confusion of the wicked more iust and fearefull Thus doth the Lord awake and returne when he will deliuer his children giuing them herein these apparant markes Namely First The clearing of his children by the mouthes of their enemies Second The raizing some vp among them to spend their liues in his cause Third inflicting many secret and open iudgements vpon their mallicious enemies Fox So before he deliuered his Church from the tyrants of Antichrist among vs were not some of the persecutors made fearefull spectators of Gods wrath to bridle or harden the rest And to iustifie the Church of God And surely if we do consider the state of the Church of God 2 In regard of the church when the Lord prepares it to a gratious deliuerance we shall find many euident tokens therein to giue good hope of the hastening of the work by which we may be confirmed in the expectation thereof To this purpose we may obserue a different estate of y e Church of God vnder troubles First she standes vpon her priuiledge as if she had wrong herein shee looks to former times and meruailes why she is thus she growes impatient vnder the burthen and complaines of her louers that they haue deceiued her she dissembles with God and seekes to humaine helpers she yeelds to the present necessity and so she bowes her neck to the yoakes and her conscience to the lust of the oppressor she giues her most pretious things for meat and obiecting her selfe to the iniquitie of the time she giues ouer hope euer to rise againe Thus you shall find to haue beene the state of the Church of God vppon it entrance into captiuity and so along toward the time of her appoynted deliuerance As the Prophets do most liuely decipher the same Vid. Ierem 41. 42. who liued with them in the captiuity and obserued their vse therof And surely if we obserue the prouidence of God herein Lament 2. 3. 1 Lamen 11. Ezech. doth it not exceedingly iustifie this righteous haÌ„d of god against his church Doth not the church of God hereby sink deeper in the myre and so set her selfe more strongly in the bondes of Gods iustice that so the time appointed of her trouble may be accomplished ouer her And doth not the Lord admirably by this meanes bring light out of darkenesse and so prepare his Church to her appointed deliuerance Yea surely the more Gods children wrestle with the rod the more they are beaten and at length tired therewith and so in the end being throughly weary y e poore church of God would gladly find some rest And seeing the hope of the Hils is but in vaine and she findes it too true that her louers haue deceiued her Ierem 3. Therefore shee resolues to go and returne to her first husband 1 Lamen 19. to looke vp vnto the Lord and wait for God her Sauiour Osea 2. Mich 7. Assuring her selfe that her God will heare Psal 66. And being fully resolued that if there be iniquity in her hand the Lord will not heare her prayers therefore she purposeth to forsake her Louers and renounce her sinnes Heere is it Lament 1. that shee weepes continually and giues no rest to her eyes because the Lord hath forsaken his rest And that her sorrow may be more kindly Psal 137. and take deeper impression Shee remembers Syon Lamen 5. 18. while she sits in Babilon shee remembers all her pleasant things that she had in times past And withall remembers her rebellion which was the cause of that great losse 1 Lamen 7. And so apprehends her affliction from the cause and greatnesse thereof Thus is shee brought to iustifie the Lord 1 Lamen 18. because shee hath rebelled against him Psal 6. And beeing sent out of her selfe by an holy dispaire Ezec 28. 45. acknowledging that she is worthy to bee cutte off Shee recouers strength in God from her owne weakenesse the more vile shee findes her selfe the more shee striues with her God to restore her beautie vnto her 1 Lamen 21. 22. shee layes hold on GODS promises for the confusion of her enemies and in their confusion sees a farre off her deliuerance here she staies not but drawes neerer vnto God Lament 2. and so yet further abaseth her selfe in the fury of her misery Lament 3. and so farre she wades in the apprehension thereof as that she dispaires of Gods mercy Lament 5 â—1 shee concludes in her weakenesse Lam 3. that her strength and hope is perished from the Lord. Lamen 3. 54. 23. 24. 56. 57. 58. 59. 31. 40. 41. 44. 45. Being thus past hope and so euen her spirituall weapons fayling her now she is recouered by the Lord hopes aboue hope she confirmes her faith from former experience and comforts her selfe in hir true humiliation and so gathers assurance that the Lord wil not forsake for euer She is perswaded he will returne she sees him comming a farre off Here-vpon she prepares her selfe to meete her God by examining of her selfe and trying her waies she incounters her God by earnest and hearty prayer though shee haue the repulse yet she will haue no nay Her eye droppeth without stay till the Lord looke downe and behold from heauen And considering the promises of God for the reseruing of the Church she presseth the Lord to arise and haue mercy vpon Syon and by the power of faith gathers y â— the appointed time is come Psal 102. 14. 15. That his seruaÌ„ts might delight in the stones thereof and shew compassion vnto the dust of the same Thus is the Church changed and purged inwardly that so shee may bee fitter for outward glory And so being fitted shee applaudes the time thereof not so much for her owne good as for the glory of God which shall be magnified in the restoring thereof And from hir own estate may the Church of God gather apparant notes of her deliuerance Now if wee shall looke into the practises of Gods enemies 3 In regard of our enemies they will also teach vs to gesse at the time of the Churches deliuerance Psal 119. VVhen they make no spare of destroying and will roote out GODS word then it is time for the Lord to put to his hand for they haue destroied thy law wheÌ„ by their pollicy cruelty they haue made such hauock that there is none to offer him-selfe in the cause of God Esay 59. 16. then shall the Lords arme saue it his righteousnesse it selfe shall sustaine his cause when they shall open their mouthes against heauen and blaspheme the power and mercy of God
to a place of rest and honour Doth not this commend vnto vs the exceeding faithfulnesse of God that will not suffer his children alwayes to lye vnder the burthen and continually to passe through fire and water Psal 66. but at the length wil bring them to a wealthyer place Did not Ioseph at length see an end of his troubles Was not Mordecai quiet at length Did hee not finde rest and honour Yea surely the Lord is mercifull and will not alwayes bee chiding because mercy pleaseth him Mich 7. he will returne and haue mercy that his people may gloryfie him The rod of the vngodly shall not alwaies rest vppon the lot of the righteous Psal 50. 15. least the righteous put forth his hand to wickednesse The Lord will heare the prayers of his children Psal 125. Psal 21. 2. and he will make them hidings for others that are in trouble they shall haue gratious experience of his mercyfull deliuerance that they may bee more willing to committe them-selues to him in well-doing and so be better fitted to their eternall rest Loe thus shall the man bee blessed that feareth the Lord. Vse 1. Mich 7. 8. 9. Reioyce not therefore against me oh myne enemies for though I fall yet I shall rise againe Oh that wee could wait the Lords leysure and hee would establish our hearts marke well the iust man and the end of that man is peace Faint not therefore vnder the burthen neither repine thereat for thy Sauiour Christ doth beare the waight thereof and at length he will case thy shoulders of all sorrow may be in the euening but ioy is in the morning Ionas 2. Esay 54. 7 8. I sayd I mas cast out of thy sight yet will I looke backe towards thy holy Temple For a little while did I forsake thee but in euerlasting compassion will I gather thee againe though I vtterly destroy al the nations where I haue scattered thee yet wil I not destroy thee but I wil correct thee by Iudgement and not vtterly cut thee off Ierem. 30. Psal 73. But I will guide thee by my counsel and after bring thee to glory Thus is Hester now receiued into the house-royall of the King Psal 30. Psal 21. The Lord hath sette her vp and not suffered her foes to triumph ouer her and because the heart of his seruant trusted in the Lord and in the mercies of the most high therefore shee shall not slide Psal 112 her heart is established in the Lord her God and therefore shee will not feare vntill she see her desire vpon her enemies And is not so great a blessing worthy remembrance yea surely the holy Ghost precisely sets downe the day and yeare thereof that so we might be prouoked to remember the same And might learne that such blessings ought so long to be remembred of vs as the daies and times continue in our vse So hath the Lord tendered great blessings to his Church at especiall times The returne of the captiuity in the first yeare of Darius the passion at the feast of the passe-ouer Dan. 1. Math. 26. Act. 2. The gift of tongues at the feast of the pentecost c. 1. That the extraordinarinesse of the time might put vs in minde of the extraordinary blessing and be a continuall remembrance of the â—ame for the praises of God So hath the Church of God appointed and set solemne times for the perpetuall remembrance of great blessings and commended therein the celebration of Gods blessings for euer Hest 9. so was the 14. day of Ader set apart to this purpose by ster and Mordecai so is the 5â— of Nouember consecrated to the remembrance of the most admirable deliuerance of the â—ritaine State and people from the gunpowder treason Obser 110. Great mercies of God are to be had in remembrance by special time appointed thereto And surely as these great fauours of God are liuelie testimonies of his power and goodnesse so are they worthy to be had in remembrance yea very profitable is the remembrance thereof to vs both to stirre vp our thankfulnesse and encrease our faith that so they may be sanctified continued and encreased vpon vs yea be vndoubted pleadges of eternall happinesse And therefore seeing the Lord hereby prouides that his blessings may not be forgotten and so passe without their true vse this may serue for the great condemnation of the world who on the contrarie vseth all occasions to put out the remembrance of Gods mercies from the earth either ascribing Gods mercies to their wit or desart or putting them off to second causes as if not the LORD but some ordinarie meanes had compassed the same or which is worst of all imputing them to blind chance c.. And are not they also as faultie herein that diminish and obscure the great workes of GOD either not regarding them at all or speaking basely of them What shall we thinke of these that gnash their teeth hereat that repine that the Lord should bee gracious vnto his people And are there not some that thinke such great deliuerances are discredits vnto a people as signifying what they had deserued and what some of their owne bowells would haue executed on their Fathers and brethren May nor pollicie aduize that so great mercies of God should be suppressed lest the reioycing thereof vpbrading the wicked should prouoke them to renue their malice and multiplie their mischiefes Surely if there were no other euidence to condemne vs of vnthankefulnesse yet the generall security of a people and encrease of sinne is a fearefull witnesse of their forgetfulnesse of a blessing and so may bee a meanes to turne it vnto a curse Well let vs looke our faces wisely in this glasse and as the Lord hath offered vs time to remember so great mercies so let vs daylie meditate on the wonders of our GOD. Let vs keepe a regester of Gods blessings that we may keepe our selues in the possessions of them And let vs withall keepe an account of our sinnes that so we may see what need we haue of Gods mercie and so the rather meditate thereon And for our comfort let vs further learne this that as God neuer bestowes great blessings but they shal be truelie sanctified vnto some so if that by this holie remembrance we shall keepe our right in them we shall not onely be deliuered in the euill day when the LORD shall take vengeance on the vnthankefulnesse of the world but we shall see some greater things then these the LORD will deale wonderfully betweene Israel and Aegipt when the obstinate shal be confounded then shall the righteous flowrish yea the Lord will prouide meanes for the constancy of their happinesse for so it followeth And the King loued Hester aboue all the women Vers 17. and shee found grace and fauour in his sight more then all the Virgins so that hee set the crowne of the Kingdome vpon her head and made
either Those which are common to both are either simply common to both or respectiuely and comparatiuely Those which are simply and generally common to both callings are 1. Reuerence 2. Loue and 3. Naturall affection c. generally such as simply respect their persons as they beare the Image of God and resemble his authoritie ouer vs. Those which are common to both with respect prolation are Obedience Maintenance c. which though we owe to both yet are wee to performe them in their order Obedience first to the husband before the Father maintenance to the wife before the parents yet herein also being lead by the chiefest bond Galat. 6. 10 Namely to doe good especially to the houshold of faith and wisely discering the inuinciblenesse of necessitie not standing on what want may bee neither what superfluousb â—e wee thinke fitte but so depending on the prouidence of God as not to neglect present reliefe and therein to bee led by the neerer bond As for such duties as are proper to either such as are due beneuolence cohabitation in the state of marriage these not concerning parents may well be performed without impeachment to their honour As likewise such dueties as are not proper betweene the Father and the Sonne may very well stand with the performance of such as concerne the State of marriage so that they all tend to the glorie of God and principally intend the saluation of the soule Vse 1. Which as it condemneth those Parents that hauing aduanced their Children to this honorable Estate of marriage do either basely crouch vnto or by too much indulgence loose the right in their Childrens subiection So doth it conuince their extreame folly which is the cause thereof Namely their parting with too great portions or putting ouer their estates vnto them By which it comes to passe that their Children being puft vp and hauing the sword put into their hands in steed of obedience to Parentes do many times beate them with their owne rodde And so by Gods iudgement prouoking hereby their Parents in the bitternesse of their soules to cursing and complayning the Lord heares their crie and punisheth such rebellious plants by rooting them out and laying wast their habitations And therefore also such children may here learne their lesson As not so much to stand vpon portion or such outward complement for their preferment so to performe conscionable obedience while they are at home so shall they not forget it when they are abroad And married folkes also may here take out their lesson not to despise their aged Parents but rather now to performe them double honour because they were not onely the cause of their beeing but in placing them thus comfortably a good meanes of their well being Yea they that are left of their Parents to take their chance as we say and to get it out of the fire these haue most cause to honour their Parents because as they can more sufficiently requite them in that they were meanes of their being So being now put to a more iust triall of the sincerity of their obedience and being certainely perswaded that as what was wanting in Parents hath beene supplied by the Lord so his hand shall not be shortned if they enlarge theirs euen where they haue no other cause but only for Gods sake when they can hope for no better pay-maister then God himselfe And thus farre câ—ncerning Hesters obedience But what are all of Hesters minde to performe obedience to their superiors doth Ahashuerosh finde as faithfull subiects as Mordecai found faithfulnesse in his aduanced Nephew Surely no Behold Hester so highly preferred yet performes dutie to her Father and yet ahashuerosh being chiefe Commander cannot finde loyaltie in his subiects but while he is wallowing in the fulnesse of his pleasures and blessing his soule in his security and false content his life is sought for by two of his attendants euen those that he appointed keepers of the doore or of the entry for his greater safety so it followeth In those daies when Mordecai sate in the Kings gate two of the Kings Eunuches Bigthan Vers 21. 22. and Teresh which kept the doore were wroth and sought to lay hands on the King Ahashuerosh c. In which words the spirit of Gods sets downe a very seareful and yet vsual accident vnto Tyrants befalling this voluptious Prince in the glut of his pleasures to sauce the same so to make him more without excuse namely a desperate treason entended by two of his seruants whom he put in some trust tending to no lesse then the taking away of his life Wherein we may obserue these circumstances 1. The time when this Treason was committed In those dales i. in those daies of pleasure and security of rauishing and deflowring of Virgins of enioying delight with the wronging and oppression of others then is this luxurious Prince summoned to his account then is his life sought for then is he most in danger 2. The person is described by whom the Treason is discouered and the daunger preuented who is Mordecai the seruant of GOD he prooues the faithfull seruant to his Prince he that is most despised yet does most good Now Mordecai is here described 1 by his faithfull attending on his office he sate in the Kings gate 2. by his intelligence of the Treason The thing was knowne to Mordecai 3. by his wisdome in the discouery of it He told it vnto the Queene Hester and Hester certefied the King thereof in Mordecaies name 3. The parties are set downe by whom this treason is committed and that 1. by their number they were two Secondly by their quality they were Eunuches 3. by their names they were called Bigthan Teresh 4. by their office they kept the doore 5. by the occasion mouing them thereto they were wroth 4. The Treason it selfe is layd open Namely to laie hands on the King Ahashuerosh to take away his life 5. The person is described against whom the Treason is committed namely King ahashuerosh 6. Here is set downe the discouery of the Treason and that both by the Author as before and manner of the discouery namely inquisition was made and it was found to bee so 7. Here is commended vnto vs the execution of these Traitors They were both hanged on a tree 8. The holy Ghost concludes this history with a notable relation of wisdome euen of those Godlesse men namely it was written in the booke of Chronicles before the King that so memorable a deliuetance might neuer be forgotten and the seruice of Mordecai might hereafter be remembred These are the particulars in this memorable accident And 1. conceruing the Time when it fell out In those daies That is when the King is drowning himselfe in pleasure and saith soule take thy ease Then doth the Lord raise some of his owne house to call him to an account Psâ— 73 Obs 133. The prosperiâ— of the wicked slippery and subiect to great
daungers and to strippe him in a moment of all his vaine confidence So slippery places are great ones placed in so doth the Lord sauce their prosperity with suddaine and vnexpected dangers to confound their carnall confidence therein and thereby to make their dotage much more inexcusable that will build their house vpon the sands which euery blast will ouerturne Math. 7 1. Whence we may learne not to giue the bridle to prosperity neither to set our hearts vpon it neither to enuie it in others nor to be greedy of it ourselues but to feare in our selues and seeke to esiablesh it in our superiors by praier to God for them and watchfulnesse in our callings So doth Mâ—rdecai he sate in the Kings gate he was watchfull in his calling and so the Lord honoreth him to be a meanes of the preseruation of his Prince Obser 134. God recompenceth the diligence and honest care of his children with good successe and liberty of his Church So acceptable are the labours of Gods Children in his eyes so doth he win them in this life to encourage vs in well doing and to seale vp vnto vs our eternall reward in the life to come 1. Shall we then say it is in vaine to serue God Malach 3. what profit shall we haue if we pray vnto him No let vs resolue that the Lord is faithfull that he will not forget our labour be it neuer so meane and if we wll trie God further we shall see greater things then these Concerning faithfulnesse in walking in our callings we haue spoken heretofore One thing we may here further obserue from the end of Mordecaies sitting at the Kings gate Obs 135. God recompenceth out loue to others aboundantly in our selues which was to hearken how it fared with Hester now it went with those that feared God That he which was carefull for the good of others especially of such as were of the house-hold of faith hath this fruit of this his loue redounding plentifully vpon himeselfe Pro. 11. 17 hee is mercifull to his owne soule the LORD by this meanes offering this occasion for his owne good and aduancement so gracious is the Lord to recompence the loue of his seruants so thankefull is loue to come but of our debt so doth the Lord prouoke vs hereby to mutuall loue so doth he fit vs to perfection and glory 3 Col. 14 Vse 1. And therefore as he which will not be his brothers keeper shall not keepe himselfe so let vs in the name of God shew mercy to our selues in being mercifull to others there is that scattereth and hath plenty Pro. 11 Eccle 11. I. and though we cast our bread vpon the waters yet after many dates wee shall finde it againe Obs 136. Surely Gods children in seeking the best blessings obtaine all the rest But wherein is it that the Lord blesseth Mordecai he is better vnto him then he did desire his desire only was that Hester might be safe and loe the Lord vseth him as a meanes for the safety of the King too yea this is turned about by the Lord as a meanes of his owne further good Soâ—bâ—untifull is the Lord to giue vs more then we desire so when we seeke the principall Math. 6. 33. doth he cast vpon vs other blessings also Vse 1. Let not then the wicked bragge that they haue more then their heartes desire Psa 73 Psal 106 15 Psal 145. surely though they haue their desire yet God sends leanenesse into their soules but the Lord will fulfill the desires of them that feare him yea if they aske wisdome he will giue them both wisdome 1 Reg. 3. and ritches Oh that we were wise to choose aright that we would first seeke the best that so we may haue all Luk. 10. 42 and no meruayle if the wicked loose all that loose the best Well thus you see Mordecai is the happie man that deliuers the Kingdome Obs 137. Gods children the onely â—aithfull subiects the righteous onely are they that safegard Princes they are the only faithful subiects they onely stand in the gappe to keepe out Gods wrath they onely hold GOD and his blessings to a sinfull nation none can be truly loyall but onely such Eccle. 22 Eccle. 9 Moyses Exod. 32 For they obey for conscience and not by constraint they are led by loue and not by feare they onelie haue hope of the reward and therefore can beare the burthen with patience they omely feare GOD and therefore can truely reuerence men Vse 1. Behold here then the cause of the desolation of Kingdomes Namely the want of those that feare the Lord See the policie of Satan in setting the world most against these that so the wicked may be the contriuers of there owne destruction How vaine are Papists to boast of obedience seeing as their profession bewrayeth that they feare not GOD so their practizes do daylie discouer that they will not obey men How foolish is policie to suggest Religion to bee an enemie to States and that these which best serue GOD are least seruiceable to men Surely let Princes secure themselues in the safety of Gods Children And let Ezechiel be a signe vnto those that haue their eyes in their heads As for Gods Children let them comfort themselues Eecle 12 though Amos must not come at Bethel when all is peace 7. Amos. 2. Reg 3. 13 yet Iehorem shall seeke to Elisha When the Lord beginnes to roote And happy is that Kingdome where such Elishaes are Yea more happie Sunamite that will stay the Prophet with her Housoeuer it is wisdome is iustified of her Children nay as you heard before she shal be iustified of her enemies But how comes Mordicai to vnderstand the treason Surely the Lord will not hide from his Children what may concerne their good Obs 138. Gods children skilfull in discouering of secrets their apprehensions are deepe and obseruations to purpose their knowledge is extraordinary to boult out mischiefes their experience leads them to gesse shrewedly at mens purposes by their gestures and countenance their wisdome enableth them by questions and conference to found the mindes of men Howsoeuer it is The thing was knowne to Mordecai So happie are Gods Children by this meanes to secure others so doth God trie the wisdome of his Children by the iustice of such dangerous secrets for the better approuing and securing of themselues So did our gracious King admirably finde out the treason wrappeÌ„d vp very closely in a most vnlikely frame of words and from a foolish sence gathered a desperate practize Vse 1. Which though it doth not warrant preemption of extraordinary reuelations nor such superstitious conceipts in Popery for the intelligence of hidden matters muchlesse doth approue those deuilish acts which make so many deceiuers and false Prophets in the world Yet it doth iustifie that priueledge that doth onely belong vnto the Saints Namely that the spirituall
of writing and printing but herein especially to magnifie his prouidence that by this meanes the word of truth hath bene preserued and purely conueied vnto vs. Surely though the soule be the register of the blessings of God yet must the flesh vse such meanes to stir vp the heart as humbling the same in that it needs these outward helpes may therby sanctifie and continue the right vse of God mercies in the holy remembrance and y e meditation thereof let those boast of the spirit which are not clad with the flesh and let such despise these helpes as haue not a body of â—inne to hinder spirituall duties And seeing though the letter of the word be not the power of it yet y e power cannot bee conceiued but by meanes of the letter let such despise the word writteÌ„ Anabaptist that desire not the power of it and in the pride of their harts wil not be confined within the bounds thereof And doth not the spirit of God herein further teach vs to record the blessings of GOD to posterity Obs 159. The blessings of God are to be recorded to posterity and to commend to the generations to come the wonderfull thinges that the Lord hath done for vs yea certainly this shal be written for the generations to coâ—â— and the people that are created shall praise the Lord. The Lord hath commanded great mercies to be commended to posterity Psal 102. and hath appointed the monuments therof to be preserued to all generations 〈◊〉 18. so were the rod of Aaron and the potte of Manna kept to this end Exod. 14. so were Alters erected Heb. 9. 4. and new names imposed Exod 16. to put Gods children in mind of his mercies towards them Genes 17. Genes 32. so did Samuel write the office of the King in a book 1 Sam. 10. 25. and laid it vp before the Lord y â— it might be a perpetual glasse Num 2â— 14. for the Prince to look his duty in so are the memorable Acts of God which hee did at the red Sea and at the riuer of Arnon written in a booke So doth Iob wish that his words were written in a booke that so y â— equity of the cause might remaine for euer Iob 19. 13. So when the Lord will publish his wil and haue it commended to the vse of posterity for our better assurance of the accoÌ„plishment therof he commands it to be written in a booke yea in a great volume Esay 8. Yea not only to a book hath the Lord committed his blessings Ierem. 36. 2. but he hath called also the times to witnesse the same Exod 14 he hath appointed special daies for y e perpetuall memory of his mercies to be kept sollemnly throughout al generations this care hath y e Lord taken for the remeÌ„brance of his blessings as being worthy to be had in remembrance and profitable for vs to preuent forgetfulnesse the maine cause of prophanesse Psal 78. and whereby the blessings of God are taken away from vs we exposed to the burthen of his Iudgements And shall not this care of the Lord for the remembrance of his blessings bee an heauy conuiction of our vnthankefulnesse for the same Shal God thus striue to put vs in minde of his mercies Shal he cause vs to record them in bookes to posterity Shal he moue vs to set a part a day for the memoriall thereof for euer And shall we not bee stirred vp by this meanes to cleaue vnto our God and to root out the name of Amelecke from vnder heauen Who so is wise lette him vnderstand these things to whom the arme of the Lord hath reueald them FINISH
Psal 6. 12. Psal 9. 16. Then I wil vp saith the Lord to auenge the poore then shall the Lord be knowne by exempting of iudgements the wicked shall be turned into hell and all the Nations that forget God Isay 28. 15. Yea when the wicked haue made a couenant with hell and so in their security do blesse their soules as if they had Gods children so sure that none could deliuer them as if their happinesse were so sure 1 Thess 5. 3. that none could remoue them Then shall a sodaine destruction come vpon them and they shal not be able to auoid it Then shall the destruction of the wicked bee the deliuerance of the Church Thus euen from our enemyes wee may heare good newes of deliuerance their owne mouthes will tell vs their practises cannot hid eit A second probabilitie of Hesters aduancement is that shee is of the seed of the righteous Psal 111. which shall be mighty on the earth Obs 103. Gods children in this life aduanced to highest dignity she is say they The daughter of Abihail the Vncle of Mordecai i. She is a Iew to whom belongeth the birth-right whose priuiledge it was to rule the Nations to whom Esau and all his posterity should bow and do homage So faithfull is the LORD in keeping couenant for euer So truly is Godlinesse profitable for this life so all are ours both by right and possession so are Gods children best able to vse prosperity so is eternall happines hereby sealed vp vnto them So would the Lord hereby teach vs that these temporal blessings are not euil because he bestowes them in greatest measure vppon them The vses hereof see Obs 79. Onely wee may not here forget what the holy Ghost vouchsafes vs againe to remember Namely that Hester was taken by Mordecai for his daughter Thus the Lord thinks it fit againe to make honourable mention of this charitable worke of Mordecai The good deeds of Gods children are not forgotten of the Lord. As wherin he was glorified and did delight therin to confounde the practize of the wicked that seeke to obliterat the same and to approue to his children the acceptaunce of the same as also to assure them hereby of the reward to come and withall to prouoke the Saints to the imitation thereof Oh how vainely then doth the wicked hope to put out their names from vnder Heauen whose names as they are written in the booke of life so their workes also are registred in the eternall word of God how wickedly do they depraue and obscure those gratious deeds which the Lord of glory makes glorious by his remembrance how weake are the Saints to doubt of their well doing seeing the God of truth giues euidence thereto What comfort may we haue in the acceptance of our labours seeing the righteous Lord takes such delight in them how may we be established against the reproches of the world how little need we esteeme to be iudged of men 1. Cor. 44. seeing it is God that approueth who can condemne with what confidence may we prepare our selues to stand before that righteous Iudge Reue. 3. who allready presents our prayers in the golden censor of his righteousnesse and doth not onely make mention of vs but mediation for vs at the throne of glory that wee might not bee confounded in the day of refreshing A third likelyhood here set downe of Hesters aduancement is her confidence in God and relying on his immediate prouidence specified in this that it is said She desired nothing but what Hege the Kings Eunuch the keeper of the women said Wherein the spirit of God would giue vs to vnderstand that though the other maydens standing vpon there preferment vsed all art to set out there beauty as the meanes thereof and therefore spared not to demaund of the Eunuch such meanes of painting c. as might further the same yet this gratious virgin contenting her selfe with y â— image which God had set on her and resting on the diuine prouidence that had enclinde the heart of the Eunuch towards her she doth not impudently presse him further then God should moue his heart but humbly takes what Hege directs her to who no doubt being enclined of the LORD to shew her extraordinary fauour was also restrained of the LORD that hee should not offer her otherwise then was fit for her profession The LORD as it is likely giuing her a like fauour in the eyes of this Eunuch as he gaue vnto Daniel with the other that she was not defiled with this vaine and superfluous preparation but as she was willing to leaue the Eunuch to his liberty so the Eunuch also might leaue her to hers how-so-euer though in other things she might happily submit her selfe to the present necessity as to take that which the Eunuch offers her Obse 105. Gods childrens preferment is in faith and so might discouer her weakenesse and want of courage yet in this doth her faith appeare not obscurely that she doth not ambitiously seeke by corrupt meanes to aduance her selfe but soberlie entertaines the meanes that are cast vpon her resting on GODS prouidence for the good successe thereof Sect. 1. 3 Notes of faith And surely as I take it wee may here obserue diuers notes of liuelie faith One is that she presseth not impudently to insinuate into the fauour of this wicked Eunuch though by the Kings avthority shee might haue occasion thereto lest shee should seeme to depend vpon him and giue him some aduantage ouer her pretious liberty To receiue what is offered by him especially moued thereto by the LORD herein shee shewes her faith which knowing all was hers doth herein take her right and shewes her power therein in that shee refuseth not her owne though tendred by the wicked Shee knew the prophanesse of the Eunuch could not make GODS blessing ineffectuall to his children And therefore shee receiues them aright though from an vniust possessor And lastly in that she vseth such ordinary meanes as were offered not seeking to aduance her-selfe by adulterating or prophaning of nature herein also in the third place she sheweth her faith which as it refuseth not meanes so it is not curious of meanes but takes what are offered reiects such as are not warrantable Whereby we may learne that the aduancement to Gods children is warrantable and for their good seeing it is in faith and hereby to try our selues whether we be in the faith or no. A fourth token of her aduancement is this which followeth Note of Hesters aduancement And Hester found fauor in the sight of all them that looked vpon her Thus did the Lord make her gratious in the eyes of all men that her aduancement might be with more power and lesse enuy both for her owne and the good of others that shee both to the wicked might be a great terror as being conuinced with the brightnesse of maiesty appearing gloriously in her