Esther 3

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. III.—The very worst of men are often exalted to the highest honours: and exalted too to render their shame and ruin in the end the more conspicuous and dreadful. Often the cringing complaisance of others lays a snare for the truly godly. And there is need therefore of strong faith and ardent zeal to make us take a singular course at the hazard of all that is dear to us in this world. But no consideration must influence us to that which is evil. Of what intolerable pride, insatiable cruelty, and deep-rooted antipathy, to the people of God, are some men possessed! And often courtiers mark out the worthiest of the subjects as the objects of their resentments. The people of God are ordinarily loaded with the vilest calumnies, in order to encompass their ruin. And pride, malice, and revenge, met together, stick at nothing to obtain their own ends. Some men are very lavish of their money in the service of the devil, who would be absolute churls in the service of God. And crafty courtiers often make princes believe what is for their unspeakable hurt to be for their inexpressible advantage. But miserable is the state of nations when flattering sycophants can sway the sovereign to every thing horrid at their pleasure. And it is absurd for princes or others to riot in mirth and pleasure when the church is in danger, and the public perplexed. But there is no counsel nor device effectual against the Lord.—Even Haman’s appeal to the lot, for marking out a lucky day for the destruction of the Jews, places it at so great a distance as to render their deliverance more glorious, and his own and their enemies’ ruin the more ignominious. 4