SERMON VII. On the DISORDERS of the PASSIONS. ESTHER Vv. 13. Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I fee Mordecai the Jew fitting at the King's gate. THESE VII. HESE are the words of one, who, SERM. though high in ftation and power, confeffed himself to be miferable. They relate to a memorable occurrence in the Persian history, under the reign of Ahafuerus, who is supposed to be the Prince known among the Greek hiftorians by the name of Artaxerxes. Ahasuerus had advanced to the chief dignity in his kingdom Haman an Amalekite, who inherited all the ancient enmity of his race to the VII. SERM. the Jewish nation. He appears, from what is recorded of him, to have been a very wicked minifter. Raised to greatnefs without merit, he employed his power folely for the gratification of his paffions. As the honours which he poffeffed were next to royal, his pride was every day fed with that fervile homage which is peculiar to Afiatic courts; and all the fervants of the King proftrated themselves before him. In the midst of this general adulation, one perfon only stooped not to Haman. This was Mordecai the Jew; who, knowing this Amalekite to be an enemy to the people of God, and, with virtuous indignation, defpifing that infolence of profperity with which he faw him lifted up, bowed not, nor did him reverence. On this appearance of difrespect from Mordecai, Haman was full of wrath: But he thought fcorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone. Perfonal revenge was not sufficient to fatisfy him. So violent and black were his paffions, that he refolved to exterminate the whole nation to which which Mordecai belonged. Abufing, for SERM this cruel purpose, the favour of his credulous fovereign, he obtained a decree to be fent forth, that against a certain day; all the Jews throughout the Persian dominions fhould be put to the fword. Mean while, confident of fuccefs, and blind to approaching ruin, he continued exulting in his profperity. Invited by Ahafuerus to a royal banquet, which Efther the Queen had prepared, he went forth that day joyful, and with a glad heart. But behold how flight an incident was fufficient to poison his joy! As he went forth, he faw Mordecai in the King's gate; and obferved, that ftill he refused to do him homage: He food not up, nor was moved for him; although he well knew the formidable defigns which Haman was preparing to execute. One pri vate man, who defpifed his greatnefs, and disdained fubmiffion, while a whole kingdom trembled before him: one fpirit, which the utmost stretch of his power could neither fubdue nor humble, blafted his SERM. his triumphs. His whole foul was VII. shaken with a storm of paffion. Wrath, pride, and defire of revenge, rofe into fury. With difficulty he reftrained himfelf in public; but as foon as he came to his own houfe, he was forced to dif close the agony of his mind. He gathered together his friends and family, with Zerifh his wife. He told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the King had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and fervants of the King. He said, moreover, Yea, Esther the Queen did let no man come in with the King, unto the banquet, that she had prepared, but myself, and to-morrow also am I invited unto her with the King. After all this preamble, what is the conclufion ?Yet all this availeth me nothing, fo long as I fee Mordecai the Jew fitting at the King's gate. The fequel of Haman's history I shall not now pursue. It might afford matter for much inftruction, by the confpicu ous VII. ous justice of God in his fall and punish- SERM. ment. But contemplating only the fingular situation in which the Text presents him, and the violent agitation of his mind which it difplays, the following reflections naturally arife, which, together with fome practical improvements, shall make the fubject of this discourse. I. How miferable is vice, when one guilty paffion creates fo much torment! II. How unavailing is profperity, when, in the height of it, a fingle difappointment can destroy the relish of all its pleasures! III. How weak is human nature, which, in the abfence of real, is thus prone to form to itself imaginary woes! I. How miferable is vice, when one guilty paffion is capable of creating fo much torment! When we difcourse to you of the internal mifery of finners; when we represent the pangs which they fuffer, from violent paffions, and a corrupted heart; we are fometimes fufpected of chufing a theme for declamation, and VOL I. N of |