bene:volent, and deserving girl wtts raised from an obscure position to one of eminence and influence. 2. And this policy wa11 indirectly overruled for the deliverance of a nation. Vashti wae deposed ; Esther was raised to power; Mordecai was enabled to ?ommunicate with the throne ; Haman ~as ~efea!ed a~d disgraced ; Israel was delivered from the enemy. Such were the !mks m tins cham of Providence . . Lessons =:-1. We hav~ no right to give evil ~ounsel in the hope that good may issue from 1t, to "do eVll that good may come. 2. We must not be discouraged when tyrants and fl&tterers seem to have their own way. The Lord reigneth. He has a thousand ways of fulfilling his own purposes. He bringeth the counsel of men to nought. 3. We must at all times trust and hope in the Lord. He bringeth forth their righteousness as the light, and their judgment as the noon-day. Our extremity is his opportunity. They that trust in him shall never be moved. 4. For. we cannot forget t~a.t the e,·il counsel of Caiapha.s, the greed or ambition of Judas, the weakness of P1la.te, the fury of the Jews, were a.II overruled for the salvation of mankind I Vers. 5, 6.-.A. captive Hebrew. Among "the children of the captivity" were some remarkable instances of high character, beautiful patriotism, sincere and con- spicuous piety. Ezra, Nehemiah, and Daniel come before the mind of the student of the later books of the Old Testament as persons who would have been an honour to any nation, any age, any condition of life. Mordecai may claim to rank with, or only just below, these noble men. Hie career furnishes us with ee_veral striking illustra- tions of the wisdom and efficiency of the plans of Divine providence. I. W.e see, in Mordeca.i's life, HOW PROVIDENCE PBEPABEB BEFOREHAND FOR THE EVENTS OF AFTER YEARS. Both in his rearing and nurturing his young cousin Esther, and in his preserving the king's life by discovering the plot of the eunuchs, Mordecai was unconsciously preparing himself for the great service which was his chief claim to be held in remembrance and honour. How often do we observe the same fact- the unconscious education of his people by the Lord for the future work to which he destines them I II. We see, in Mordeca.i's life, HOW PROVIDENCE CAN BAISE THE LOWLIEST TO THE LOFTIEST POSITION. He was a Jew, a captive exile, a eunuch probably, a servant in some lowly capacity in the palace. Yet he came to be acknowledged as " the man whom the king delighted to honour.'' He came to be in the king's favour, "was great in the king's house, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces : for this man Mordecai waxed greater and greater," and became "next unto king Ahasu- erus." God, in his wisdom, often" exalteth them of low degree." III. We see, in Mordeca.i's life, HOW PROVIDENCE CAN USE THE UNLIKELIEST INSTRU- MENT TO DO GREAT SER TICE. Everything we know about this man leads us to the belief, that in selecting him for the work God chose to do by human means, Divine wisdom evinced independence of and superiority to the standards and the expectations of men. Our confidence should be shaken in the plans of men, should be strengthened in the wisdom of God. And we should beware of scorning any child of God, and of counting the lowly as unworthy of confidence· and esteem. " Promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the Judge; be putteth down one, and setteth up another."
Ver. 7.-Esther. The Jewess after whom this sacred book is called has been always regarded by her nation with affectionate gratitude, on account of the service she rendered to Israel during the captivity. And there are some features of her cha- racter which claim our notice and admiration, and which explain the position she holds in the heart of the Hebrew people. We recognise in Esther- I. FILIAL AFFECTION AND IlEVEBENCE. An orphan, she was adopted by her cousin and senior, Mordecai, who" took her for his own daughter," and" brought her up." Accordingly, she treated Mordecai as her father, His will was law to her. She sought and obeyed his advice. Even when upon the throue she did not lose her reverence for the guardian of her youth. n. A PRUDENT AND AlUAllLE DEMEANOUR. When in a strange place, and ira un-, familiar society, and in a difficult position, Esther commended herself to the favour err. II. l-1A.] THE BOOK OF ESTHER. 43