the air with their groans, and pour upon the earth their blood like water?

Surprised at her strange request, "King Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he that durst presume in his heart to do so?"

It would appear that the king had been blinded by the influence upon and around him, and therefore had not considered what had been done nor computed the cost, nor considered the consequences of the death-warrant he had sent forth throughout the land. So fascinating and blinding to the sense was the charmer's power that in reality he knew not the character nor measure of his deed. Even so in this day, not one man alone, but multitudes, spell-bound, act scarcely knowing what they do. Deprived of their native thought, and their own determination paralyzed, they proceed impelled by a power they know not, and undertake measures so adverse to their better sense, that should they be aroused they would abruptly ejaculate, even as did Ahasuerus, "Who? "Who? He? This one, and where? What? Who hath filled his heart to do this?" (Original.)

And Esther said, "The main adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman.'

What a cloud must have rolled from the king's mind when the charm was broken. The infa

mous plot arose in all its diabolical form before him.

"And the king arising from the banquet in his wrath, went into the palace garden: and Haman stood to make request for his life to Esther the queen: for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king."

The scale was changed. The power that had urged him on, having failed, forsook the vile agent in his hour of trial. Against God Haman had been designing, and therefore he was left to the consequences of his course. Each movement sank him still deeper in the quicksands of his ruin. Even his prayer for mercy was the most fatal of all his deeds, and was converted in the king's mind to a most heinous crime. He fell! and was hanged upon the gallows he had erected for Mordecai. Strange reversion! But the Purpose with which his designs contended was the Purpose of God, and Omnipotent, therefore unfailing. Hence Haman's fall was inevitable.

THE COUNTER DECREE.

"And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet and besought him, with tears, to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews. Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose

and stood before the king, and said, If it please the king, and I have found favor in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman the son of Hammadetha, the Agagite which he wrote to destroy the Jews which are in all the king's provinces: for how can I endure to see the evil that shall came upon my people? and how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?"

The final plea of Esther availed. But as the former writing might not be revoked, by order of the king, it was written and sent in haste throughout the king's provinces, from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred and twenty-seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing and according to their language. It was written in Ahasuerus' name, and sealed with the king's ring. Wherein the king granted to the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together and to stand for their life upon the day previously set apart for their slaughter. In this manner, the former decree was countermanded.

The Jews gathered upon that day and became a terror to all the people, so that no man laid Thus thy were preserved, and

hand upon them.

Esther and Mordecai were exalted to power. No unprejudiced mind can fail to discover in this event, the hand of divine Providence in the salvation of the Jews and the defeat of the opposing power. And that the same characteristics which had hitherto been manifested by the two principles were there most prominently disclosed. Nor is it needful further to exemplify to reveal the great truth of God's purpose in the Jews; and the determination of evil to overthrow them in order to contravene the end designed in their election.

CHAPTER VII.

THE DREAM AND ITS INTERPRETATION.

"AND the king" (Nebuchadnezzar) "spake unto Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes; children in whom there was no blemish, but well favored, and skilled in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. Now among them were of the children of Judea, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah: unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abed-Nego."

These are the elect, and they are as men qualified, naturally, for the king's purpose. And hence no native defect can expose them to trial with their king or his princes. Moreover, God had brought Daniel into favor and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. But Daniel had purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor