who did not ~o m~ch ns tnrn :ound upon him l!ke,,tho trodden wom1, hut who only could not bring himself "to nee nor move to him -these were the " im,iginationA and the high things" which, because he had not mortified them nor cast th~m down were now going to mortify him to the quick, and to cast him down for ever. He harl schooled himself to "refrain himself "-no, not to refrain himself, but only for a short while, for policy's sake ( eh. v. 10), the manifestations of self. IV. To WHAT THIS "THOUGHT IN THE HEART" LED. It is to be remarked and with the seriousness that belongs to a moral phenomenon and fact in our life '.with what unerring certainty, with what unpitying pace, the moment travels on .;.,.hich shall prove the fatal, because unguarded, moment for those who knowingly and continuously "regard iniquity in their heart." It may linger, but it is on the move. It may not be seen, yet it is only just out of eight. Till that which is snatched at, as the crowning moment of choicest opportunity of all the life, proves that which peremptorily seals the man's fate. Never with surer conviction, never with more intuitive perception, never with more ill-concealed eelf-gratulation, never with glibber tongue, had moment come to Haman than that which sounded for him the knell of death itself, and left him to the company of stricken amazement for ever. And though as yet no one uttered a whisper of this to Haman, and he bowed his neck to the yoke and did the day's dread task to the minutest point, "letting nothing fail," Haman knew it all. Then wife and friends confirmed it. And for the first time this many a day he saw himself and his position when "he hasted to hie house mourning, and having his head covered." How strange the contrast to the Haman who the morning of that day "thought in hie heart,'' &c.-B. Ver. 13.-Conjugal confidences. "And Haman told Zereeh his wife." The first indication of Haman's falling from power was when he was commanded by the king to array Mordecai in the royal robes and lead him through the city. His mortification was great. Directly he could escape from his hateful duty he hastened home and told his wife. I. THERE SHOULD BE NO SECRETS BETWEEN HUSBAND AND WIFE. Where there are secrete there is always a danger of an outbreak of passion or jealousy. Happiness is endangered. Il. HAMAN TOLD OF HIS CHECKS AS WELL AS HIS ADVANCES; HIS DISAPPOINTMENTS AS WELL AS HONOURS. Sometimes men tell their good fortune and hide the bad ; and, on the other hand, some husbands make their wives miserable from fear of approach- ing disaster. Ill. HAMAN HAD A FAITHFUL WARNING, BUT LITTLE CONSOLATION, IN HIS CONJUGAL CONFIDENCE. Zeresh told him that" if Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him," &c. She was a candid friend and a true prophet. Wives should, however, seek to comfort the bread-winner under his trials. IV. HAMAN HAD TO INVOLVE HIS WIFE IN HIS OVERTHROW, AND RIGHTLY LETS HER KNOW ALL THAT BEFALLS HIM. No man can suffer alone. As Achan "perished not alone in his iniquity," so Haman. His bitterest regrets must have been that be had to involve wife and family in ruin.-H.
EXPO::!ITION. § 13. petition, queen Esther 7 and what is thy CHAPTER VII. request 1 It shall be performed, even to AT THE SECOND BANQUET ESTHER DE- the half of the kingdom," she opened all her NOUNO:,ES HAMAN, AND THE KING OON· mind. "If I have found favour in thy DEMNS HIM TO BE IMPALED ON THE onoss sight, 0 king, and if it seem good to tho PREPARED FOR HA.MAN (eh, vii. 1-10). king, let my life be given to me at my peti- Esther had promised to make her true peti- tion, and my people at my request" (ver. 3). tion at the second banquet (eh. v. 12), o.nd My supplication is for my own life o.ncl for now kept her word. When the king for the that of my people-no less a danger than third tillle put the question, "What is thy this has moved me. "We are sold, I a.nd my 128 THE BOOK OF ESTHER. [CH. VIL 1-10,