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them in proper order for the instruction of the people.

Notwithstanding the zeal and diligence of Ezra, the city ftill remained in a ruinous and miferable ftate; without gates and without walls; open to the invafion as well as fubject to the reproaches of every enemy. Nehemiah, cup-bearer to Ahasuerus, being informed of this difinal condition of the holy city, was fo affected with it, that he earneftly entreated the king for permiffion to go thither: the king readily granted his requefi, and gave him full commiffion to repair and fortify the city. Upon his arrival at Jerufalem, he undertook the work with great refolution, and perfevered in it unweariedly, till it was finished and completed. He obliged ufurers and oppreffors to reftore to every man his right, and lived in a generous hofpitable manner, giv. ing up the lawful falary due to him as governor, and entertaining a great number every day at his table. He diffolved all unlawful marriages among the Jews; and required them, who had taken wives from other nations, to put them away. He reftored divine worthip to a regular state, and caufed the law alfo to be read and expounded to the people. By these means he brought about fuch a reformation in their minds,

that, on a day appointed for a folemn fast, the princes, priefts, and Levites made a public acknowledgment of the goodness of God and their own wickedness, and entered into a facred covenant with the Almighty, to which they fet their hands and feals, That they would walk in his law and obey him diligently for the future.

Permit me, O Lord, to enter into a folemn engagement with thee, in imitation of the Jews under Nehemiah; that I may confider myself as one of thy covenant chil ́dren, and look up unto thee as my father and my God. I was gracioufly admitted into covenant with thee at my Baptifm; and I defire now to renew it with full understanding and confent of mind. I make a willing furrender of myself to thy fervice; and as it is hearty and fincere, O may it be entire and perpetual! Let every fin be avoided by me; let every with which is inconfiftent with thy will, be fubdued and rooted out, and let me be wholly thine for ever. Amen.

CHAP. XXXV.

THE BOOK OF ESTHER.

AHASUERUS had raised Haman, his

chief favourite, to the highest honours, and commanded the people to reverence and bow the knee to him. But Mordecai, a Jew, and fervant of the king, apprehending, perhaps, that the reverence and homage required was more than ought to be paid to man, difregarded the command, and took no notice of him as he paffed. This neglect and feeming contempt fo irri-. tated the proud Haman, that he determined to deftroy not only Mordecai, but his whole nation too. Haman alfo, very probably, bore fome refentment against the Jezes in general, because he was defcended from the Amalekites, whofe nation had been deftroyed by the Ifraelites. Influenced by thefe motives, he reprefented them to the king, as a wicked and obftinate, a feditious and rebellious people; and prevailed upon him to fign a decree for the deftruction of all the Jews, men, women, and children throughout his empire.

This bloody decree fpread terror and grief among the Jews, who immediately with weeping and fafting prayed for deliver

ance to Him, who had fo often forgiven their fins, and rescued them from imminent danger. The God who heareth prayer had compaffion on them, and turned the wicked defigns of Haman to his own ruin: For the king being one night restless and incapable of fleep, ordered his attendant to read to him the records of his reign: and being thereby reminded of the great merit of Mordecai, who had faved his life from. confpirators, and yet had not been rewarded, he called Haman, and afked him, what' honour fhould be done unto the man whom he greatly loved? Human, prefuming that. he alone was beloved by the king, gave fuch advice as fuited his own ambition." Upon which the king commanded that Mordecai fhould be arrayed with the royal robe, and ride through the city in triumph; and that Haman fhould lead the horse, and proclaim before him, Thus fhall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour.

Afterwards Ether the queen, who was a Jewels, took an opportunity to inform the king of the ambition and cruelty of Haman, and intreated for the lives of her felf and her people; and the king being fully fatisfied of the guilt of his favourite, ordered that he fhould be hanged upon. a high gallows, which Haman hinfelf had a

little before erected, intending to hang Mordecai on it. Mordecai on the contrary was raised to great honour and power; and an edict immediately published through the kingdom in favour of the Jews, who appointed two days to be obferved yearly for ever, as days of rejoicing, in thankful remembrance of this providential escape from deftruction. Thus Haman ate of the fruit of his own way, and was filled with his own devices.-God difappointeth the devices of the crafty; He putteth down the mighty from their feat, and fcattereth the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

CHAP. XXXVI.

THE BOOK OF JOB.

JOB lived in the eaftern land of Uz, and

feems to have been a person of exalted rank: his fubftance and poffeffions were very great: he had alfo feven fons and three daughters; but he was more diftinguifhed and honoured for his piety and benevolence; for he feared God and efchewed evil. Satan is reprefented as fufpecting the fincerity of this good man, and alledging that if he was deprived of his fortune

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