Ver. 12.-Glory exclianged for woe. "Boe.at not thyself of to-tnorrow," says the wise man," for thou lmowest not what a day may bring forth." Yesterday Haman was full of exultation and of boasting; his place was by the throne; his enemy was at his feet. Thie morning that enemy ie in favour; his own position is imperilled ; hie vaunting seems vain; his prospects gloomy. As Haman goes to his house, after executing the king's behest, his heart is filled with apprehensions. J. HIS MALICE IS DISAPPOINTED AND DEFEATED. II. HIS JOY IS EXCHANGED FOR MOURNING. III. HIS GLORYING IS SUCCEEDED BY SHAME. He covers his head, as not daring to look any one in the face, as fearing that disgrace and disaster are at hand. Practical lessons :-1. Remember the vicissitudes of human affairs. 2. "Put not your trust in princes," or "in the son of man, in whom is no help." 3. "Humble yourselves before the mighty hand of God." It is better to come before him in low- liness and contrition now than to appear before him in shame hereafter. Ver. 13.-Forebodings of ruin. Bad counsellors are poor comforters. Haman had recourse to his wife, the wise men, and his friends, only yesterday ; and they advised that a gallows should be reared, and tnat the king should be petitioned that Mordecai might there be hanged. To-day Haman comes to the same circle of bis inti- mates, tells what has befallen, and unfolds bis fears. They do but predict bis speedy ruin. He might well have used the language of Job-" Miserable comforters are ye all I " They foretell- I. THE GOOD FORTUNE OF MORDECAI, CONTRASTING WITH HAMAN'S ILL FORTUNE. "Thou shalt not prevail against him, but ehalt surely fall before him." The rise and fall of favourites at court was a familiar spectacle. That Mordecai should displace Haman in royal favour seemed, after the events of the day, probable enough. II. THE FAILURE OF HAMAN'S PROJECT, CONTRASTING WITH THE ADVANCEMENT A..'ID SECURITY OF THE JEWS. The plot and decree against the captive Hebrews were well known ; and it was well known that Haman was the origin of these nefarious designs. Now those who had aided and abetted the unprincipled favourite foresee that he will be disgraced, and that his devices will all be brought to nothing. Application :-1. Let persecutors tremble. All things are not in their power. ·when they rage and imagine a. vain thing, he that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh. The day of their downfall a.nd defeat is near at hand. 2. Let the persecuted take heart. "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation." The enemies of the righteous man shall "surely fall before him." "God on bis saints looks watchful down, His ear attends their cry. The wicked sink beneath his frown, Their very name shall die ; But be, nt length, the just will crown With victory and joy ! "
HOMILIES DY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 1.-The slee_r,less. We aro not surprised to read that "on that night co11ld not the king sleep. ' Not, indeed, that there wus anything in Ahasuerus (Xerxes) to make us expect a restless night; he appears to us here, as elsewhere, us a pa-inful illustration of human heartlessness. That many thous11nds of his subjects were, about to be butchered in order that his coffers might be filled should have canseJ the monarch many a troubled day a.nd muny a sleepless night; but such was the character of the man that no one suggests the impending massacre as the explana- tion of the king's restlessness. He bud reuched that fearful spiritual condition in which human life was of no account to him so that his power might be continued 120 THE BOOR OF lSTltEll. [oh, VI. 1-ld.