Contemplations. Lza.XXI. Perfi•n Court, as oneof the fdetled virglhs, but obferved with more then ordinary A. refpea, oil nccdfaties for her fpeedy purification are brought to her 1 Sevenmaides are allowed for her attendance,and the beft and moft honourable place in that s,,4 • gli• is allotted to her 1 As ifthis great officer had ddigned her for aQ!_eone before thechoife ofhis maller. ' What ftrange preparation was here for the impure bed of 2n l1<athen ~ Every Virgin muft be fixe moneths purified with oyle ofmyrrhe, and fixe other moneths purfumed with fweet odors, befides thofe fpcciall reccits that were allowed to each upon their owne elctlion: 0 God, what care, what coft is requifite to that foulc which lhould beaddreffed a fit Bride for thine owne holy and glorious Majellie? When we have fcoured our feJyes with the moft cleaneft oyle of our rep<ntance,and have perfumed our fdveswith thy beft graces, and our perfetleft obedi· B ence, it is the onely praife <;>f thy mercy, that we may be accepted. The other Virgins patfed their probation, unregarded 1 when Ejlhtrs turne came though !he required nothing, but rooke what was given her 1 though lhe affeded no~ thing, but brought that face, that demeanure, which nature had caft upon her no eye fees ~er without admiration 1 the King tak~s ~uch pleafure in her beauty, 'that conremntng all the other vulgar formes,hts ch01fe ts fully fixed upon her; All things muft prolper, where God hath intended thefuccelfe: the moll wife providence of theAlmighty fetches his projeds from f.lr; The preparation and advantage of his owne people is in nand; for the contriving of this, r .ji11i /hall be abandoned; the Virgins thall be chofeft; Ejlher onely!hall pleafe t.Ahajimm; Morduai fl~all difpleafe HanMn;Hama~s ruine !hall r"ife c.Mordecai; The purpofes ofGod cannot be judoed C by his remote atlions; onelythe accomplilhment lhowes his de/ignes; In the me~ne time, it pleafcth himto looke another way, thenhe moves J and to worke his owne ends, by arbitrary and unkindly accid<nts. None but Ej/hlr !hall fuccecd Jl-.jhti; !he oodycaries the heart of ..Ah.jim~~& from all her fexe; The royall Crown is fer upon her head;And,as raf!>tiwas caft off at a feaft, fo with a folemne feafi lhall Ejlhtr be efpoufed; Here wantednotriunaph, to exprelfe the joy ofthis great Bridegroome; and that the world might witnelfe he could be no l<ffe loving, then fevere, all his Provinces !hall fcele the pleafure ofthis happy match, in their immuni!ks, in their rich gifts. / Withwhat envious eyes doe we think Yafoti lookr upon herglorious rivall ~ How doth !he now (thoughtoo late) fecretly chide her peevilh will, that had thus llript D her ofher royall crowne,and made way for a more happy fuccelfor ~ Littledid !he thioke herrefufall could have had fo hainous ac.onllrutlion: Little did !he feare, that one word (parhaps not ill meant) lhould have forfeited her husband,her crown, and all that !he was.Who fo is not wife enough to forecaft the dangerofon offence, or indifcretion, moy have leifure enough ofan uofeafonable repentance. That mind istrulygreat >nd noble, that is not changed with the highell profperity 1 Q!e<ne Ejlher cannot forget her cozen c.Morduai; No pompe can make her Oeightthe chorge off0 deare a kinfman: In all her royalty, OJC calls hereye upon him, amongfr the throng ofbeholders, but !he mull not know him; her obedience keepes her in awe, and will not fuffer herro draw him up with her, to the participo. tion ofher honor; ittroubles her noc a li~;tle, ro forbeare this duty ; but ll1e mull: It E is enough for her, that c.MDdtc.i bath commanded her not to be acknowne, who,or whofe lhe was. Perhaps the wife Iew foared, thatwhiles her honor was yet green, and unfetled, the norice ofhernation, and the name ofa defpiled captive might be fome blemilh to her in that proud Court 1 when as aftenvards, QpOn·the merit ofher cariage, and the full poffdlion of all beam, her name might dignifie her nation, md countermand all reproches. v11mlec,U was an officerin the Courtof AhAjotrm; his fervicecalled him daily to attend inthe Kingsgate; Much better might he,b<ing a Iew, ferve a PaganMafter, then hisfofter-daughtcr might afcend I~ a Pagans bed. . . . If the neceffity or convenience of hu occafions called htm fo ferve; hts ptety and
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=