~L~IB_._X~X~I·--~~~~o~rd_e~c~ai~h~on~o~u_re~d_,0~~~c-·~~-..--' 1347 ) A became to fue for Mordecaies hanging( Had Ahajimw butlleptthat night; Mordecai had been that morning advanced fif<y cubits higher then the earth, ere the King could ilave remembred to whom he was beholden. What llnll we fay then to reconcile thefe croffe.paflions in Ahajim"' (Before he figned that decree of killing all the )ewes, be could nor but know that a Jew had fa. ved his life ; and now, after that he had enatled the llaughter ofall Jews, as rebels, he is giving order to honora Jew, as his preferver. It were ftrange ifgreat perfons io the multitude oftheir diftratlions ll10uld not let fall fome incongruities. Yet, wbo can but thinke that King dhafutrm meant upon fome fecond thoughts to make amends to Mordtc.i( neither can he choofe but put thefe two wgerher;The Jewes.are appointed to deathat the fuir of Hamu; This Merdrcai is a Jew; how!ben B can I aoe more grace to him, that bath faved my life, then to command him ro be bonored by that manwho wouldfpill his f When Haman heard himfdfcalled up to the bed-chamber ofhis maller,he thinks himfdfe too happy in fo eatly an opportunity of prefenring his fuit; bur yet more · in the pleafing quellion ol Ah.jimm; wherein he could not but imagine that favour forced it fdfe upon himwith llraoge importunity ; For how could he conceive that any intention ofmore then ordinary honour could tall befiMs himfdfe ( Sdfe.Jove like to a good ftomack, drawesto it felfe what nouri!hment it likes, and calls off that which offends it. H •m'n will be fur< to be no niggard in advifing thofe cer<- monies ofhonour, which hethinkes meant to hisowne perfon. Could he have once dreamed that this grace had been purpofed to any under heaven, befides himfelfe, C he bad not been folavi!hin couofdling fo pompous afbewofexceflivemagoifi. cence.Now the Kings own royal! apparrell, and his own Steed is not fufficient, ex. cept the royal! Crowne alf~ make up t~e gl.ory ofhim, who !hall thus triumph in the Kings favour. Yet all thiS were nothmg mbafe hands:Theatlor fuall be the beft part ofthis great Pagcant.Ltl t!.il •pp•reO,••dthi< horft,be tlelivtredto ontofthe Kings ,.,JI mhle Princes,tbAtthqm•J 4rAJ the,.,.,, withAl/, n:hom the Kingdelightth 11ho11or, and hrlnghim"" h~rft·b•ckt thorowthtJlretts ofthe Csty, anti pr~clame before him, thm JhaU it bt done u tht man""'"' the King dellghmh to h'"o•r. Honour is more in him that gives, then him that receives it : To be hgnoured by the unworthy is little better then difgrace 1 No meaner perfon will ferve to atteod this Agagite, in his fup· pofed greatnefle, then one ofthe nobleft Princes. The ambition is too high llowne 0 that feekes glory in the fervility ofequals. The place adds much to the ad; There is fmall heart in a concealed honour; It is nothing,unldfe the ftreets ofthe city ofshufoan be witneffes ofthis pompe, and ring with that gracious acclamation. The vaine hearts of proud men can eafily devife thofe meanes, \Yhereby they may bell fet out themfelves.Oh that we wouldrqually affed the meanes oftrueand immortal! glory. The heart ofman is never fo cold within him, as whea from the heigthof the expetlation,of good,it falls into a fudden fertfe ofevill.Sodid this Ag•· gitt. Thm the Kingfaidto HAmAn,makt h•JI,and t•ke the an•reU,andthe hor(t, .u thou haft f"id,& do"""' [o to M8Tdtc4i the ltw ,thatJitttth •t the Kingsg•tt;Ltt nothing [ailt •f •0 thAt tb111 h•JI f•id.How was H•o.anthunder-llricken with this killing word, D• E thou fo to M~rdrc•i?l dare fay al the honors that Ah•fuerm had heaped upon Ham•n, cannot counrervaile thi5 one vexation: Doubtleffesat firft, he dillrulls his care, and then mufes whctherthe Kiog be inearnell ; at !all, when he heares the charge fo fe· rioully doubled, and findes himfelleforced to bclceve it, he begins to thioke, What meanes this onconceiveable alteration~ Is there no man in all the Courr of Perfia to be picktout for extraordinary honour, but Morder•i ( Is there no man to be pickt out forthe performance ofthis honour to him, but Haman ~ have I but one proud enemyin all the world, and am I fingled out to grace him~ Did it gall me to the heart, and make all my happineffe tedious to mee, to fee that this Jew would not bowtome,and mull I now howtohim ~ That which hewoold rather die, and forfait the life ofall hisnation,then do to me, notwithllaoding the Kings command1 !hall I be forced by the Kings command to do unto him ( Yea, did he refufe to give Xxxxx but
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