When Haman had obtained an inviolable Edict (as were the Decrees of the Medes and Persians, never to be revoked) for the rooting out of the Jews, and to begin with, had prepared a Gallows of fifty Cubits high, to hang up Mordecai a chief and a principal ⟨p. 106⟩man among them; the very night before this mischievous plot should have been executed, God kept the Kings eyes restless, that all sleep departed from him, and calling for the Chronicles, Gods secret Providence directed him to the place where Mordecai's fact was registered. Thereupon willing to do him honour, he commandeth Haman that came at the same instant, with a mind to hang up Mordecai, to be the man to do him service. By that means God abated Hamans pride, disappointed his cruel practices, and finally giving Ester favour in the Kings sight, made her suit more gracious, so as not only Haman took seisin of the Gallows, which Mordecai should have been hanged upon; but her own and her peoples life were given unto her at her request, and that, with liberty to exercise dominion upon their Enemies which would have tyrannized over them. Mordecai, or whosoever was the Writer of that Story, penning it (as we may conjecture) not only for the Church, but as a Monument to be laid up among the Records and Year-books of the Persians, who would never have abidden so religious an observation of the Providence of God, as the course of that action worthily required, doth not in words much insist upon it, (as for the same cause it may be thought that he forbeareth so much as to mention the Name of God in all that Book): But for the thing it self, there is no doubt, he giveth particularly and most notably to be observed the hand of God in every circumstance. But how evident is all this to be seen in the Birth of our Saviour Christ, who, as the Prophet, many an hundred year before, had prophesied, was to be borne at Bethlehem the City of David? This how wonderfully God brought about, it is a marvel to behold Mary his Mother, as it seemeth, forgetting, and not so much as once thinking of it, when the Holy Ghost had over-shadowed her, that she conceived and was with child, she yet dwelt at Nazareth a City of Galilee, far from the Town of ⟨p. 107⟩Bethlehem; there she continued, and there, as by the Story we may gather, she meant to be delivered.
When Haman had obtayned an inuiolable Edict (as were the Decrees of the Medes and Persians, neuer to bee reuoked) for the rooting out of the Iewes, and to beginne with, had prepared a Gallowes of fiftie Cubits high, to hang vp Mordecai a chiefe and a principall ⟨p. 106⟩man among them; the verie night before this mischieuous plot should haue beene executed, God kept the Kings eyes restlesse, that all sleepe departed from him, and calling for the Chronicles, Gods secret Prouidence directed him to the place where Mordecaies fact was registred. Thereupon willing to doe him honour, he commandeth Haman that came at the same instant, with a minde to hang vp Mordecai, to bee the man to doe him seruice. By that meanes God abated Hamans pride, disappointed his cruell practices, and finally giuing Ester fauour in the Kings sight, made her sute more gracious, so as not onely Haman tooke seisin of the Gallowes, which Mordecai should haue beene hanged vpon; but her owne and her peoples life were giuen vnto her at her request, and that, with libertie to exercise dominion vpon their Enemies which would haue tyrannized ouer them. Mordecai, or whosoeuer was the Writer of that Storie, penning it (as wee may coniecture) not onely for the Church, but as a Monument to bee laid vp among the Records and Yeere-bookes of the Persians, who would neuer haue abidden so religious an obseruation of the Prouidence of God, as the course of that action worthily required, doth not in words much insist vpon it, (as for the same cause it may be thought that hee forbeareth so much as to mention the Name of God in all that Booke): But for the thing it selfe, there is no doubt, he giueth particularly and most notably to bee obserued the hand of God in euery circumstance. But how euident is all this to be seene in the Birth of our Sauiour Christ, who, as the Prophet, many an hundred yeere before, had prophesied, was to bee borne at Bethlem the Citie of Dauid? This how wonderfully God brought about, it is a maruell to behold Marie his Mother, as it seemeth, forgetting, and not so much as once thinking of it, when the Holy Ghost had ouer-shaddowed her, that she conceiued and was with child, she yet dwelt at Nazareth a Citie of Galile, farre from the Towne of ⟨p. 107⟩Bethlem; there shee continued, and there, as by the Storie wee may gather, shee meant to bee deliuered.
