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it is possible that they did not. It may have been that they did not venture to draw together to attack the Jews, but that the Jews, knowing the parties who had been loudest in their threatening against them, when Haman's decree was published, fell upon them and inflicted the punishment which Mordecai's decree gave them liberty to inflict. Or it may have been, on the contrary, that the most daring of their enemies, imagining that the Jews would not have courage to defend themselves, although they were permitted to do so, did assemble together and proceeded to execute their purpose. If it were so, then they were met and destroyed as we read in the text. The procedure, indeed, may have been different in different parts of the empire; but the general result is stated, that in Shushan, the royal city, five hundred men, and throughout the provinces seventy-five thousand were slain on that day. The Jews did not take the spoil of their enemies, and probably neither women nor children were put to death, yet it was a fearful massacre.

At the same time, we can read all this part of the narrative with the feeling that those who fell were visited with a just retribution, and that if it had not been so ordered, the whole Jewish community-men, women, and children, would have been cut off by their relentless adversaries. The difficulty lies chiefly in that which follows. When the account of the number that had been slain in Shushan was brought to the king, he stated it to Esther, adding, "what have they done in the rest of the king's provinces? now what is thy petition and it

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shall be granted? or what is thy request further and it shall be done?" Esther's reply we read with sorrow. She will have the dead bodies of Haman's ten sons exposed upon the gallows on which their father had suffered, and liberty given to the Jews in Shushan to have another day's vengeance upon their enemies. To the king, this request, savouring so truly of eastern vindictiveness, did not appear strange. He commanded that it should so be done. But we have been accustomed now to associate with the character of Esther so much of what is soft, and gentle, and lovely, that we almost feel as if the charm were dissipated, and as if her memory were less entitled to affectionate regard than we had formerly supposed. It may have been that she had the means of knowing, through Mordecai, that some of the most determined enemies of the Jews, those who best merited death, had escaped. They may have fled from the city in the morning, to return at night, when they supposed the slaughter would be ended. And not anticipating a renewal of it on the day following, they may have only after all received the punishment they deserved. But still, when the thirteenth day of the month Adar was past, the deliverance of the Jews was complete; and it displayed too much of the spirit of dire vengeance, and too little of the softness of the heart that should have animated so fair a form, when Esther sought a repetition of the bloody work during another day. The only apology that can be offered for her is her intense love of her own people, and her unmitigated dislike of all who sought to injure them. The provocation

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which she had received, was unquestionably great and the law of loving enemies, and doing good to them that use us despitefully and persecute us, was not so fully known to her as it is to us. Yet we could have even wished that the revengeful request, if it was to be made at all, had been made rather by Mordecai than by Esther. It is mentioned as a natural consequence of the triumph which the Jews thus obtained over their enemies,-that they celebrated the event with feasting and gladness. To both these points, however, Esther's conduct and the rejoicing of the Jews, we shall take occasion to refer more particularly in the next lecture.

In the meantime, let us make some improvement of the narrative we have just considered.

1. In the first place, we learn from this passage the comfortable truth, that God's people obtain the victory over their enemies. We are not informed whether any of the Jews perished in this conflict. It is not improbable that some did. Yet, upon the whole, their cause was victorious. Even so, whatever hardships and troubles Christ's people have to endure in the world, and however dark and lowering the cloud may be which sometimes hangs over them, yet, "at evening time it will be light" to them, and death's temporary triumph over them will only lead to their eternal triumph over it and all their foes. Be not discouraged, ye that fear and serve. the Lord. Greater is He that is for you, than all that can be against you. Fight the good fight of faith, the crown of life is sure to all who are in Christ.

2. In the second place, Esther's feeling towards the

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enemies of the Jews, although it is not to be praised, yet suggests a lesson. The people of God cannot look with complacency upon His enemies. Yet they dare not hate them, they cannot wish their destruction, yea, they cannot think without the deepest sorrow of the destiny upon which they are rushing. What a Christian desires is, that their enmity to God and to godliness may be destroyed, and that they may be made monuments of saving mercy. Yet the time is coming, and a solemn thing it is to think of it, when God's children shall contemplate with satisfaction the out-pouring of His just vengeance upon His enemies. Mere natural affection will be swallowed up in that supreme love of God, and reverence for His will, which prevail in Heaven. And when the wicked are condemned, the righteous will add their amen to the fearful sentence: "Depart from me ye cursed." Oh, brethren, strive to save those who are dear to you on earth, that this terrible separation may not be made between you and them when the Lord cometh to the judgment.

3. In conclusion, let me leave with you the lesson before alluded to, that the proclamation of God's purpose of mercy to sinners contains in it a call to His people to be joyful. See to it, that your faith is built upon Christ the sure foundation. Seek to have your interest in Him cleared up and made sure. Seek to have the witness of His spirit in your hearts; follow Him bearing the cross, and then, whatever difficulties may befall you in your Christian course, you will still be able to rejoice in the Lord, and to joy in the God of your salvation. Amen.

LECTURE XV.

CHAPTER IX. 20-32-X. 1-3.

N the last lecture, the subject which chiefly occupied

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our attention was the effect of the edict which was issued in favour of the Jews. As might well be supposed, it caused great joy and gladness among that people, and it also exalted them so highly in the estimation of their heathen neighbours, that many of these publicly professed submission to the law of Moses. And when the day came which had been fixed for their extermination, they obtained the mastery over their enemies, and crushed them with little resistance. Then, after this, we had to look to the conduct of Esther in connection with this work of vengeance. The king having again expressed his willingness to grant her whatever she should ask, she entreated that the dead bodies of Haman's ten sons might be hung upon a gallows, and that the Jews in Shushan might be permitted on the following day to complete the destruction of their adversaries. The request was granted, but we were with reluctance constrained to acknowledge that in proposing it, Esther displayed a spirit of vindictiveness which it is somewhat painful to contemplate. Large allowance must be made for the provocation she had