The Pulpit Commentary — Esther — Section 52

king; and he did so.'' Self-pleasure is made the basis of conduct. The thing that pleases is the right. The thing that pleases is to be done. Poor learner, Ahasuerus I He has already forgotten what he was remembering, regretting, only yesterd11y-the hasty thing "which was decreed against Vashti." And that also was at the suggestion of others-ratified at his own pleasure.-B. Ver. 11.-.A. relatives solicitude. "Mordecai walked every day before the court." Esther was cousin-german to Mordecai, being the daughter of bis father's brother. Her relationship was not, therefore, very close, yet we see what great interest Mordecai took in bar. The text teaches us- I. How Goo RAISES UP F!llENDS ll'OR THE APPARENTLY FRIENDLESS. Estber's parents were possibly very troubled, when passing from this world, as to what would become of their daughter. God, however, found her a protector in Mordecai. God ap- pointed her path in life. Her parents little expected that she would become the queen of Persia, and deliverer of her people. II. How ANXIOUS ARE RELATIVES AND PARENTS WHEN THEIR CHILDREN ARE ENTERING ON NEW POSITIONS. Esther's was not only new, but dangerous. She might have become vain and degraded in mind, like many with whom she bad to associate. " Mordecai walked," &c. He wished to know bow Esther succeeded. How our heavenly Father walks " every day" by our side, watching what will become of usl-H. Ver. 15.-Simple tastes. "She required nothing but what Hegai, the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed." Esther's habits and tastes were simple ; she cared not for the various arts supposed to lend attraction ; she was content with a moderate toilet, and.believed more in the charm of purity, modesty, simplicity, and piety than in artificial methods. She was right. I. Simple tastes are LESS COSTLY. II. Simple tastes INDICATE A PURE MIND. Ill. Simple tastes ARE THE MOST ATTRACTIVE. Behold in a queen who now lives and reigns over the British Empire-an empire wider by far than that of Persia-the power of simple tastes and habits. It is this that makes the perusal of the 'Memorial of the Prince Consort,' and 'Leaves from the Highland Diary,' so delightful. It is this that has given her Majesty such a hold on the affections of her subjects, and to monarchical rule a longer lease than it promised to have. Piety and purity have power not only in the palace at Shushan and the castle at Windsor, but in the lowliest cottage of the realm.-H. Ver. 17.-Anunexpected coronation. "He set the royal crown on her head.'' This crown was a crowning event. It was the signal event of a long and hitherto obscurely- connected series; it was the one effect of a series of causes and effects. Up to this point there was no one of all the foregoing to compare with it for significance. It will be well to pause awhile in the presence of this coronation scene. There have indeed been occasions of coronation which have attracted little notice or interest. There have been some supremely sad, although perhaps they have not seemed so to the eye, and at the time. But this coronation scene may be found able to yield much more for thought ~nd profit than most. For undoubtedly it has aspects, some unhappy in their surround- mgs, others most happy in their substance, which strikingly difference it from very many others. 1. It was not a crown won by effort, either noble or ignoble. It was not one of those crowns which had been lifted to the brow, amid the enthusiastic plaudits of multitudes, as the result of athlete's training, poet's inspiration, or the force of genius. The statesman's anxious toil, the pbilo.nthropist's oft'self-sacrificing ministry of mercy, the warrior's sword-these h'ad not carved the way to a throne. It was not an occasion of coronation of this sort. In fact, nothing that bad been specially done, and nothing that had been specially suffered, showed the way to it- no keen strain of effort, no severe tension of patience. Neither these things, nor a~iytbing falling more within feminine rnnge, and answering to them, heralded the gift of this crown. 2. It was not o. crown conferred 11mid surroundings of the most aµgust kind, or o.ssociations "t all elevo.ting. 3. It wa11 not a crown given by handa l!;~TREI\. B  50 THE BOOK OF ESTHER. [cu. u. 1-18.