Esther — Chapter 4

The first & best remedie in distresse is to doe workes of penance for sinnes committed. 1. Cor. 11. v. 31.

929 r1.Althe Kings feruants, and al the Prouinces that are vider iis dom- nion, Know, that whether man , or wamran, noccalled, {hal enter ro to the Kings inner court,he mult immediately be {layne without al delay: voleffe perhaps the King ftretch forth a golden rod vnto him, tor a ligne ot clemencie, andfo he may liue. { therfore how can I enter in ta the King, which now thefe thirtie daies haue not been called ynta him2

lite only, becaufe thou artinthe Kings houfe,aboueal the lewes: 14. for if thog wilt now hold thy peace, ( b) the lewes fhal be deliuered by an other occafion:and thou,and thy fathers houfe thal perilh.And who knoweth » whether thou cameft tothe Kingdom therfore,that in fuch a time thou ' mightit be readie? 15, And agayne Efther fentto Mardocheusinthefe help fayleth: & words:16,Goe,and gather together al the ewes, whom thou thale find , in Sufan,and pray ye for me.Eate yenot, and drinke not inthree dayes, and three nights:and I with my handmayds in like manner wil faft,and then will goe in to the King; doing agaynftthe law , norcalled, and deliuering my {elf to death and to peril.17. Mardocheus thertore went, and did al things that Either had commanded him,* CHAP VW. Efther ftanding in the Kings fight he calleth her , 4. she requefteth that be and Aman val aine with her. 7. Againe she inusteth them.g, Aman ts more sncenn fed again(t Mardochens,preparesh high grallewes to bang him on, ND thethird day Efther put on royal garments, and ’ ftood inthe court of the Kings houfe, which was the Zl inner agaymt the Kings hal : but fie fate vpon ‘his } - throne in the contiltorie of the palace, again{t the doore of the honfe, * 2, And when he had feen Efther Pre Aeeie® the Queen ftanding , fhe pleafed his cies , and he put forth coward her the golden rod, which he held in his hand:who going neer, kiffed the top of hisrod. 3. And the King faidto her : What wilt thou Queen Efther > whatis thy requeit 2 yeaif thou wilt aske the halte part of the Kingdom, itihal be giuen thee, 4, But fhe anfwered : IE it pleafe the King,I befcech thee thatthou cometo me this day,and Aman with thee toa banket,which I haue prepared.s, And the King forthwith, Cal ye Aman,quoth he, quickly that he may obey Efthers wal. The King ‘therfore and Aman came to the banker, which the Queen had preparca ‘forthem. 6. AndtheKing faidto her, afterthat he nad drunke wine aboundantly. What doeft thou defire to be giuen thee ? andfor what thing askeft thou?although thou aske che halt part of my Kingdom,thou b) Great confi-}: dence in Gods help when inas indeed this meancs by mouing the Kings hart to grant Efthers petition was Gods {pecial worke, *G chis.yt. Eceeec 3 thalt } 939 ESTHER. fhale obteyne.7.To whom Efther anfwered: (4) My petition & requetts are thefe:8. It L haue found grace in the Kings tight, and if it pleafe the King to gtue that which I aske , and to fulfil my petition : letthe King and Amancome to the banket which I hauc prepared them , andto morrow Lwil open my wiltotheKing, 9, Amanthertore went forth ‘that: day ioyfuland merie. And when he had feen Mardocheus fitting: before che doores of the palate , and not onlie not to haue rifen vp.to him, but nor fo much as to haue moued from the place where he fate, be was wrath exceedingly: 10, and diflembling his anger,and returning more lithe into hishoufe , hecalled together vnto him his freinds , and Zares his complif® ie, wife: 11. and he declared to them the greatnefle of his riches, and the multitude ofhis children , and wich how great glorie the King had” aduanced him aboue abhis Princes and feruanrs, 12. And after thefe thiags he faid: Queen Efther alfo hath called none other to the banker with the King, but me:with whom to morow alfo I-thal dine with the: King.13.And wheras.I haue al thefe things, thinke I haue nothing,fo { long as I thal fee Mardocheus the lew fitting before the Kings doores,

Great confidence in Gods help when mans help fayleth: & indeed this meanes by mouing the Kings hart to grant Esthers petition was Gods special worke.