CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

PERSIA PAST AND PRESENT.

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..........

69

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.............

93

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.......

113

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-

143

son ..........

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

179

CHAPTER XII.

THE QUEEN INTERCEDING.

The maid now a heroine-The fasting and praying—The

lden 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......... 191

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

.211

CHAPTER XIV.

THE

reap as we sow-Danger of unwise and unfaithful
counsellors—Bollingbroke's rule— Wives carry the
stars of their husband's fortunes in their bosoms-
Haman's misfortune in not having a Christian HOME
L" The Soldier's Dream”—“Home, sweet home !"-

Woman's influence

223

CHAPTER XV.

HAMAN'S FALL AND DEATH.

The second wine banquet>Orientals superstitious—"The

feast of death”—The Queen's request for her life and

that of her people—The enemy denounced—The

King leaves the feast in anger-Shah Sefi—The Ro-

man custom—The Queen's eloquence—Haman's con-

fusion and doom-Vicissitudes of the world—The

first risings of passion to be restrained—Prosperity

no comfort in trouble--God's favors rightfully dis-

tributed—Providence a long chain-Real and appa-

rent happiness distinguished.......

239

CHAPTER XVI.

THE LAW OF RETRIBUTION.

Harm watch, harm catch—The highth of the gallows-

Retributive Justice seen in the history of Samson-

And in the Jews—Conviction of duty to be regard-

ed — Exceptions only prove the general rule

The fire unquenchable is within the soul—Inventors

of instruments of death destroyed by them—The

great Remedy.........

...255

CHAPTER XVII.

THE COUNTER-DECREE ISSUED.

Changes in the palace — The good man and the bad

man's heritage—The queen’s intercession for her

people—Knox's prayers—The Persian's blasphemy-

India — Ancient m of traveling-Khans-Cou-

riers—Posts—No cruelty practiced by the Jews-

Mordecai's honors--The three robes, black, red and

white.........

268