ordination of peoplee hae generally been the result of oppressive rule. Nations have been wonderfully patient under a.11 sorts of unjust exactions and crushing burdens ; but there is a point beyond which the most patient submission cannot go. All are free in the kingdom of God. No oppressions there. Citizens are sons (John i. 12; Rom. viii. 14, 16, 21 ). V. R(l;BPONBIVE EMOTION. The pleading of Esther inetantly roused within the king's mind o. turbulence of feeling. " Who or where is the man who durst presume in his heart to do so? " . W o.e he ignoro.nt of the decree against the Jews? Had he sealed it in a careless or drunken moment? Or was he thinking of Haman and his presump- tion when he cried, " Who or where is the man ? 11 We cannot say. All we know is that he yielded himself up to the power of Esther'e words. We learn several things here. 1. That the worst men may retain a certain amount of good which only requires occasion to be in.flamed into indignation against heartless sin. There is a point in every heart which the truth may peradventure reach. Thie should be encouragement to all workers for God. 2. That it is a. good thing to be susceptible to the accents of injured innocence. We should cherish sympathy with the weak sufl'ering, and be ever ready to set our faces age.inst injustice and violence. 3. That false friends are worse than a.vowed enemies. Flatterers like Haman, who use the power they acquire for selfish and pernicious ends, are more to be feared than rebels or conspirators. A smooth tongue may work greater evil than an unsheathed sword. 4. That we should be thankful for awakeninge to unconscious peril, even though they cover us with ehame. It is lees disgraceful to confess our weakness and folly than by persistence in them to allow wickedness to run its course. It may be noble to welcome a light that con- demns us, but it can only be despicable and ruinous to close our eyee against the truth in order to shield our pride. VI. RESISTLESS ACC1USATION. Esther's opportunity had come at last. "Who is the man?" cried the excited king. There is the man, anewered the queen, pointing her finger to her second guest. "The adversary and the enemy is this wicked Haman." The charge fell like a thunderbolt on the culprit; a deadly fear seized his heart. There he stood convicted, speechless and trembling. We think of David before God and his prophet Nathan: "Thou art the man" (2 Sam. xii. 7). The avenger may wait, but his time will come. God is long-suffering,• but even -hie patience may be exhausted.-D. Vere. 7-10.-J~ent. I. A SILENT WRATH. Feeling may be too deep for utterance. The king e silence was ominous. He could not speak for the moment in o.nswer to Esther'e charge, but neither could he sit still; and when he rose and went out Haman felt that the king had abandoned him. Whenever God turns from an evil- doer, and ceases to e_peak to him, the end is not far off. It is a solemn thought that God may thus withdraw his mercy, and leave a sinner to himself. That is fatal. II. A VAIN PRAYER. In the absence of the king Haman besought his life at the hands of Esther. But the queen was now powerless. She could render no help to the intended destroyer of her race. In presence of the Judge prayer will be too late. Vainly shall the impenitent cry to the mountains and rocks to fall on them and hide them from "the wrath of the Lamb 11 (Rev. vi. 15-17). III. A SIGN OF DOOM. On his return from the garden the king so.w Haman at the feet of Esther in an agony of imploration. He uttered a harsh word at the sight, and perhaps gave a signal, whereupon his attendants "covered Haman's face." A sign of death I Judgment had been pronounced, and the great man bad fallen. In a. moment the brilliant fabric which wickedness had reared crumbled into tht> dust. How many are thus startled by the signs of approaching death I How many will be similarly overtaken in " the day of the Son of man I " IV. A PITILESS SUGGESTION. Harbonah's name is memorable and blessed am0ng the Jews ; but his words seem servile and heartless. He and his companions bad prob11blyfawned on the favourite whilst he was in power; but now, in his eagernes~ to please the wrathful king, he suggests the infliction of a special ignominy. No confidence can be placed in the sycophants of the great. 'When the wicked fall their friends tum into enemies. The same motives that make men flatter them in pros- perity make men insult them in o.dvereity. Nor will the impenitent derive any 188 TRE BOOK OF ESTltER. [r.R, Vil. 1-10
edvRnt.age before the trib1mal of God from the things or being,! in which they trusted on earth. All refugee will then fail them. Their holll!ted defences will prove a mockery. V. AN APPROPRIATE END. 'When Rarbonah spoke of the g11llowe in Haman 'e houee, the_ king SRid, "Hang him on it.'' And so Haml\ll Willi hanged on the very gibbet winch he had prepared for Mordecai. A most fit yet terrible retribution I The :would-be mui:derer was "hoist with hie own petard." Evil contrived against the !n?ocent rec01ls ";th deadly force on the contriver. The person who maliciously IDJUres receives more harm than the person on whom he inflicts injury. The wicked themselves fall into the pit which they dig for the righteous (Ps. vii. 15, 16). VI. AN APPEASED WRATB. The execution of Haman gave quiet to the king's mind. Justice had been done, and the way opened up for a great deliverance. The mediation of the queen had been effective. The enemy of Israel had been destroyed. We have little sympathy with the king in connection with the death of Haman; yet his action serres to remind us of the justice and mercy of God. The Bible tells us of a Divine wrath against sin, and of the way in which that wrath satisfied itself. Justice was appeased and sin was punished and slain in the sacrifice of God's Son. On the cross justice and mercy meet in amity. 11 He who knew no sin was made sin ~?r us" (2 Cor. v. 21). "Ch~st suffered for sins, the just for the unjust" (1 Pet. llL 18). And now the salvation of a doomed race is heralded by the gospel through- out the earth (1sa. Iv. 1 ; Matt, xi. 28, 30; John iii. 14-18).-D.