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Interesting and important nature of Oriental literature-
Persian poets-Persia always coveted, from Alexan-
der's day to the present-His policy and sagacity—
Persian manners but little changed-Persian scribes
-Early legends-Iran and Elam-The Medes-Cyrus
the Great-Daniel's prophecies-Susiana of our day
-Beauty and fertility of the country-Musings....... 25
CHAPTER II.
THE MEGILLOTH ESTHER.
The Megilloth Esther and our Declaration of Indepen-
dence-Ahasuerus and Vashti-The divorce-The
new queen-The conspiracy of the eunuchs-Ha-
man's plot succeeds with the king-Mordecai's dis-
tress-Queen Esther interceding-Mordecai honored
-Haman's fall-The counter-decree-The feast of
Purim........
41
CHAPTER III.
THESE HEBREW RECORDS CREDIBLE.
The Book of Esther important for understanding subse-
quent history of the Jews-Its author, and credi-
bility-The apocryphal books-Our sources are au-
thentic Ancient versions - Septuagint, Vulgate,
Targums, Talmud, Philo and Josephus-Contempo-
rary Greek writers-Inscriptions-Major Rawlinson.
59
CHAPTER IV.
POINTS TO BE PROVEN.
Esther a real historic personage-Whately's "historic
doubts"-Contradictory statements do not disprove
personal history-General Jackson's battle of New
Orleans-Objections not conclusive-Dr. Johnson's
rule-Patriarchal stories-Trust in Providence-
God's agents are everywhere-God's plan is often
contrary to our expectations-The still small voice-
Sow the good seed.....
CHAPTER V.
SUSA AND HER KING.
The period of our history-Xerxes-Artaxerxes Longima-
nus is Ahasuerus-The proofs-Extent of his empire
-Shushan is Susa-The royal city described-Alex-
ander at Susa-The ruins-Tomb of Daniel-Reflec-
tions......
79
CHAPTER VI.
THE FEAST AND THE DIVORCE.
Ancient trade and luxury-The king's gardens-Persian
pomp-Xerxes' table-Dr. Russell's Aleppo-Occa-
sion of Ahasuerus' feast-The feast itself-Its splen-
dor and length-Women in the East-The king's
call for the queen-The queen's disobedience-King's
anger-The royal divorce-Scriptural rule-Law of
domestic happiness, is love-"Stoop to conquer "—
Guard against all excesses-Herod's rash oath-Hu-
man vanity-What our gardens should be...........
CHAPTER VII.
ESTHER CHOSEN QUEEN.
The weakness of the man of "a thousand thrones"-The
more absolute the power, the more need of good
advice-The prime minister, Memucan, and his coun-
sel-The filling of the harem-Oriental seraglios-
Persian kings-Catharine of Russia-Hadassah in-
troduced-Her name changed to Esther-Knoller's
bridal procession-Esther's people not known-The
proper view of the case..
93
113
69
CONTENTS.
xi
CHAPTER VIII.
ESTHER CROWNED QUEEN.
A feast for the crowning as well as for the divorcing-
The Queen's pin-money-Mordecai's pious hopes-
Esther's rivals-The conspiracy against the king-
The eunuchs put to death according to law-The se-
clusion of the Harem-The model maid-Effects of a
good education-Esther's trials as an orphan girl-
The foundation laid for Mordecai's advancement-
Wait hopefully your time-General Havelock-God
makes all his agents fulfill their place-Young women
may all gain a crown-Death is a spice bath for
glory
127
CHAPTER IX.
THE JEW AND THE AMALEKITE.
The Agagite-Mordecai's refusal to worship him-His
firmness justified-His thoughts-The remonstrance
of his fellow servants-Danger of giving advice-
How Mordecai came to have such a character-The
mother moulds the man-The place of our Schools--
Christianity does not destroy civility-General Jack-
son.........
........ 143
CHAPTER X.
HAMAN'S REVENGEFUL PLOT.
Haman's murderous design-His lying but plausible ad-
dress-Excessive degree of his envy and scorn-A
very Nero-Demagogues always dangerous, and the
worst kind are fanatics-The Priests-Ten thousand
talents-Millionaires in olden times-American van-
ity a reproach-Officials should live as well as other
people-The murderous decree issued-Some par-
allels-The king and Haman drinking, but the city
of Shushan perplexed-Danger of despotism-Des-
potism of a mob the worst of all-The Vox Populi is
not always the Vox Dei-The value of our laws and
institutions-Dr. Thomas Scott on Christian obedi-
ence to the laws-Must never despair of the ark-
Persecution a part of a good man's heritage-Long-
fellow's grave.................
157
CHAPTER XI.
MORDECAI IN SACKCLOTH.
What makes history-The Ocean Cable not a failure-
Esther's personal charms a means--The Jews wailing
-Mordecai in the streets and in the Synagogue-
His prayer-Reason why he does not speak to the
queen-Communications with the queen-His ur-
gency upon her majesty-His courage and faith-The
queen's heroic resolve
.............
CHAPTER XII.
THE QUEEN INTERCEDING.
The maid now a heroine-The fasting and praying-The
golden sceptre-The queen's apartments described--
The queen's prayer-Prepares for the interview--The
king, his throne, and the queen's entrance-The queen
faints-The king leaps from his throne-The queen
saved-Piety in high life—and even under disadvan-
tages-The queen's extraordinary modesty and self-
command-Our lives are sometimes called for in the
discharge of duty-Duty is always ours-Efficacy of
prayer-Our advantages over the queen-The design
of affliction-The great resolve for the sinner.......
CHAPTER XIII.
THE BANQUET AND THE SLEEPLESS KING.
The "dejuner sans fourchettes"-Wine banquets-The
Queen's petition-Trusting and working-Examples
-God's restraint over wicked men-Haman's glory
and riches-His wife's advice-Extraordinary hight
of the gallows-The gallows-The King sleepless-
The chronicles-Antiquity of writing-Uses of his-
tory
179
191
211
CHAPTER XIV.
THE ROYAL HONORING.
Haman early this morning at Court-Mordecai's neglect turns out well-Haman's disappointment--Horses in royal processions crowned-Foreshadowings-Ha- man's wife-Pride and envy make us wretched-We