God by sacrifice shall be gathered for safety in the great day of accounts. I may not forbear to remind you that some of you have never listened to the warnings God has given you. Divine vengeance against transgressors seems to sleep. But God in justice marks every rebel against his law, and every neglecter of the gospel. He will become weary of forbearance, when men are perverse in evil; and those who have enjoyed his most distinguishing favours may fear the earliest grieving of his grace. "Turn ye to the stronghold, ye prisoners of hope, even to-day." Zech. ix. 12. Haman stood up to make request for his life; but it was too late! The king's wrath was kindled. Have we no express warning of similar danger? "Kiss the Son lest he

be angry and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little." Psa. ii. 12.

LECTURE X.

THE DECREE REVERSED.

THE work of Esther to secure the deliverance of her people is not yet fully accomplished; though she has secured the royal favour, and though the enemy of the Jews has perished. According to a common custom in eastern lands, the wealth of a state criminal is confiscated; and either is seized by the king, or transferred to some zealous subject as the reward of his loyal service. Doubtless such a rule instigated the cupidity of many to desire the fall of the rich, that they might secure the spoils; and so dangerous and unjust is the temptation, that the Constitution of the United States wisely forbids such punishments as shall affect the family of the criminal after his death. The lands, wealth, and honours of Haman, the riches which he had heaped up not knowing who should gather them—are passed over to Esther, and she placed her cousin Mordecai over the house of their foe. Judging from the amount Haman had previously offered to pay into the king's treasury, his wealth was very great; it

had been his pride; he was willing to spend it freely for the destruction of his hereditary foes; but now the wise is taken in his own craftiness, and his enemies use his wealth against his house! We may trace in this the retributions of Providence.

Esther now takes occasion to make known to the king the relationship existing between her and Mordecai. Humanly speaking, she had run a great risk in concealing this so long; especially at a time when Haman was plotting with all his power for his destruction. Now that she informs the monarch of Mordecai, and doubtless recounts his excellencies with all the warm affection of a beloved daughter, her influence secures the high promotion of the worthy Jew. "The king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai." This was the customary mark of exaltation to a place of dignity next to the monarch. So when Joseph was made governor over all the land of Egypt, and only in the throne was the king greater than he, we are told, "Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand." We have no just reason to decide that upon the part of Ahasuerus this was a rash and unconsidered movement. Truly in the realm of Persia there were special reasons for entrusting so great power only to a tried and faithful man. Not only were the interests involved immense; but laws that claimed to be unalterable should be made with great caution. and wisdom. And Ahasuerus has just had experi

ence in his counsels of a reckless and dangerous minister, and should now be doubly careful. But Mordecai was a tried and faithful man. He had

saved the king's life; the queen had long experience of his virtues; and the prudence and modesty and wisdom of his course are now recognized; and the monarch is justified in reposing this high confidence in this excellent man. What may a day bring forth! Yesterday the busy workmen erected a scaffold for Mordecai's execution; to-day the gallows has its victim; but the seed of the Jews has triumphed, and Mordecai is the prime minister of Persia.

But the work of Esther is not yet fully done. Haman is dead; Mordecai is honoured; her kindred is made known; and the Jews receive a new influence from the friends they have in the court. But so far as the Persian law is concerned, that people is yet doomed to destruction. The day is fixed; the decree has been published throughout the empire; and the changes that have taken place in the palace are not enough to secure the Jews. Their hereditary enemies, the Amalekites, are rather enraged the more, than subdued by the fate of Haman; the motives of cupidity and malice and revenge are too strong when they can be indulged under cover of a decree that cannot be repealed; and Esther fears, justly as the sequel shows, that the royal favour is too feeble a protection for her people. Some means must yet be used to make the victory com

plete, and to include the brethren in all the provinces within the great deliverance.

Even Esther and Mordecai are scarcely safe, since the law authorized their slaughter; but, supposing that no one would venture to attack them, their anxieties are enlisted in behalf of their nation. It seems right that the repeal of the decree, or measures amounting to that result, should be the first care of Mordecai, now entrusted with the king's seal; or at least that Esther and Mordecai should jointly petition Ahasuerus to that end. But as Esther has begun the work, let her carry it through. So she must again apply to the king. We are not told that her application was made on that same. memorable day. It is enough to suppose, as we may, from the queen's deep interest in the matter, that no long delay supervened. Esther comes again unbidden before the king; but it is not so trying an approach as at first. Before, she knew not but that the king's apparent coldness for thirty days was proof of estrangement; but that her nation was known and herself proscribed; her coming then was an act of noble daring, but of trembling faith. Now there was the same peril, should the king refuse to hold forth the golden sceptre; but she is more hopeful of gaining her end. She is encouraged by her former experience, by a knowledge of her husband's love, by the favours he has already bestowed, and by her faith in Jehovah's covenant. Yet the approach is not without its fears. Esther