A word in season to this present generation, or, A sober and serious discourse…

Esther 4. 14. For if thou altogether hold thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place, but thou and thy Fathers house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the Kingdom for such a time as this. Their great trouble, their deep distress, and their most deadly danger you have in that 3. Esther 13. And the Letters were sent by the posts into all the Kings provinces, to destroy, to kill ¹and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month (which is the month Adar) and to take the spoil of them for a prey. Haman that grand ⟨p. 16⟩Informer, with his wicked crew, would have spoiled them of their lives and goods, but that they were prevented by a miraculous providence as you know; now in this deep distress and most deadly danger at what a rate doth Mordecai believe. [For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement (Heb. respiration) and deliverance arise. (Heb. Stand up as on its basis or bottom so as none shall be able to withstand it.) This Mordecai speaketh not by a spirit of prophecy, but by the power and force of his faith, grounded upon the precious promises of Gods defending his Church, hearing the cries of his People, arising for their relief and succour, and grounded upon all the glorious attributes of God, viz. his power, love, wisdom, goodness, and all-sufficiency, &c. all which are engaged in the Covenant of grace, to save, protect, and secure his People in their greatest troubles and most deadly dangers. Mordecai's faith in this black, dark, dismal day, was a notable faith indeed, and worthy of highest commendation. Faith can look through the perspective of the promises, and see deliverance at a great distance, salvation at the door; what though sense saith, Deliverance will not come, and what though reason saith, Deliverance cannot come: yet a raised faith gets above all fears, and disputes and says; Deliverance will certainly come, Redemption is at hand.

Esher 4. 14. For if thou altogether hold thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place, but thou and thy Fathers house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the Kingdom for such a time as this. Their great trouble, their deep distress, and their most deadly danger you have in that 3. Esther 13. And the Letters were sent by the posts into all the Kings provinces, to destroy, to kill