A most plaine and profitable exposition of the book of Ester deliuered in 26. sermons. By Peter Merlin, one of the ministers of the church of Garnezey: and now translated in English, for the helpe of those who wanting the knowledge of the tongues, are yet desirous of the vnderstanding of the scriptures and true godlinesse. With a table of the principall points of doctrine contained therein.

THE TABLE OF the chiefe points which are contained in these 26. Sermons, vpon the tenne Chapters of the Booke of Ester.

CHAP. 1.

SERMON. I.

• VEr. 1. What fruite is to be gathered out of Histories, and namely out of the holy Histories of the Bible, and especially out of this Historie of Ester. pa. 1. 2. 3.
• The chief points of those doctrines which are contained in the Historie of Ester. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. &c.
• Assuerus though vncircumcised possesseth •• great Kingdome. Gods fauour then is not to be measured by worldly dignities, but is to be sought in Gods free adoption. 15. 16
• God will haue his to be subiect vnto Kings, though Infidels. 17.
• Great Empires are as bands whereby many Nations are ioyned togither. 18.
• Vers. 2. Gods prouidence establisheth, and transferreth them from one people to an other. 19. 20.

SERMON. II.

• 3. Of sumptuous feasts. 27. 25. 26.
• With these two conditions wee may vse those things which God hath created, first, that God be glorified: next, that all intempe∣ratenesse and vnthankfulnesse be auoyded. 26. 27. 28.
• 4. What manner of ones the feastes of Kings and Noble men ought to be. 29.
• What ones the feasts of those that feare God should be. 30. 31.
• Of the patience of God towards the children of this world, vnto whom he giueth so ma∣ny good things. 32.
• 6. 7. 8. Of ryot vsed for the most part by great men. 32. 33. 34.
• 5. Of that humanitie and gentlenesse which best beseemeth great estates. 35. 36. 37.
• 9. Of the manners and customes of diuers Nations. 38.
• Of modestie and temperancie in common con∣uersation: and of the contrary extreame. 39. 40.

SERMON. III.

• 10. The slips of Princes in obseruing of lawes. 46. 47.
• Against drunkennesse: euen that mery drun∣kennesse which men scarcely esteem so. 47.
• 11. The vanitie of the mind of great Princes. 48.
• What inconueniences many times arise by bewtie. 49.
• 12. Against the vnchaste curiositie of women. 50. 51.
• Of the reuerence which wiues owe to their Husbands. 52.
• Wrath and anger is a fruite of drunkennesse. 52.
• How much Princes offend, who are gouerned rather by passions then by reason. 54.
• The daungerous effects of the wrath of Prin∣ces. 53.
• Moderation is especially required in Prin∣ces. 54.
• 13. How great the profit is of wise Coun∣sellors. 55.
• What manner of men the Counsellours of Princes ought to be. 56. 57.
• By what meanes the discretion and felicitie of a Prince is knowne. 57. 58.

SERMON. IIII.

• Ver. 15. What order is to be obserued in de∣liberating of great affaires. 64. 65. 66.
• None, be he neuer so high in calling, ought to be iudge in his owne cause. 67. 68.
• Ver. 16. Of the vertues of a wise Counsel∣lor. 68. 69. 70.
• How we ought to iudge of other mens doings. 71. 72. 73
• The vncertaintie of humane things. 74. 75.
• Of the vse of good lawes, and of rewards and punishments. 75. 76. 77.
• The obedience which wiues owe to their hus∣bands. 78.
• The lawes of Nature, and of Nations, is con∣firmed by the Law of God. 79.
• Ver. 21. Of the number of Counsellours. 79. 80.
• Ver. 22. All hastinesse is daungerous in publike Counsailes, and in Proclamations which cannot be reuoked. 81. 82.

CHAP. II.

SERMON. V.

• Ver. 1. Passions are asswaged in time, and the vse of reason called backe againe. 87. 88.
• Ver. 2. 3. In matters of great weight, the iudgement of young men is to bee suspec∣ted. 90. 91.
• ...

• The miserie of the flatterers in Court. 93
• How great the infelicitie is of Princes, who raigne wickedly, and yet haue seruants rea∣dy to obey and fulfill their willes. 94
• Vers. 4. Flatterie is the bane of Princes. 95
• The goodnesse of God in vsing the disorders of Princes to the commoditie and profit of his Church. 97
• Ver. 5. 6. The estate of certaine of Gods Church in this world. 97
• Ver. 7. How farre forth bewtie doth helpe women that feare God. 98
• Ver. 7. 11. What care Parents ought to haue of their children. 99
• We must haue especiall care of Orphanes af∣ter the example of Mardochaeus. 100

SERMON. VI.

• Ver. 9. 15. The meanes of procuring loue and fauour. 107. 108
• The fruite of the feare of God. 108. 109 110
• Vers. 10. Of wisedome and silence, 110 111
• Ver. 12. Of pleasure lawfull and vnlaw∣full. 116. 117. 118
• ...

• Ver. 17. The speciall prouidence of God. 120
• Of the honour and greatnesse of the faithfull. 121. 122.

SERMON. VII.

• Ver. 18. Of what sort the bankets both of high and lowe ought to be. 128. 129
• Ver. 20. Modestie doth exceedingly become great men. 131. 132. &c.
• Ver. 21. Of conspirators. 136. 137
• The instabilitie of the state of Princes. 138, 139
• 22. The wonderfull deliuerances of Prin∣ces. 140. 141
• Of false accusers. 143
• Ver. 23. How causes are to be ordered in iudgement. Ibid.
• Publike Histories and their vse. 144
• We must alwais performe our duties. 144▪ 145

CHAP. III.

SER. VIII.

• Ver. 1. The vnaduisednesse of Princes i•• chusing their seruants. 149
• Gods patience in suffering the wicked.
• The church oftentimes beholdeth the prospe∣ritie of her enemies. 15••
• Ver. 2. The vanitie of Courtiers. 15••
• ...

• The constancie of the faithfull. 154. 155
• Ver. 3. The inconstancie of Apostataes. 157
• Ver. 4. Against priuie accusors. 158
• Ver. 5. 6. Of the rage and furie of the proud. 159

SERMON. IX.

• Ver. 7. Of Lots. 167
• Against diuinations. 168. 169. &c.
• 8. The accusations of the enemie of the Church. 174. 175
• The hatred and conspiracie of the wicked a∣gainst the Church. 176. 177
• 9. Of the expences of the wicked, to ouer∣throw and destroy the Church. 178. 179
• 10. The carelesnesse of Princes, and the effects of false slaunders. 18••. &c.

SERMON. X.

• 12. The falles of those who serue Princes. 194. 195
• 13. Cruel proclamatiōs against the church. 196 197. &c.
• The furious zeale of persecutors. 199
• 14. The dangers of the faithfull, and Gods care ouer them. 200. &c.
• 15. The wicked will of the vngodly. 206
• Their pleasures and delights in the distresses of the Church. 206. 207.

CHAP. IIII.

SERMON. XI.

• 1. What the godly ought to do when they heare the practises of the wicked. 213. 214
• Of the outward signes of sorrow. 214. 215
• Of repentance and the circumstances there∣of. 216. 217
• 4. In publique calamities priuate men may not giue themselues to mirth. 222. 223
• 5. We must haue a care of those that are af∣flicted. 223. 224. &c.
• 6. 7. We may not blame that which is well done whatsoeuer ensue of it. 227.
• The dutie of all, and namely of those who are of greatest, authoritie in helping the Church. 228. 229

SERMON XII.

• Ver. 9. The feares of great Princes. 233
• The miserie of vnequall mariages. 236
• The greatnesse of Kings. 237.
• 13. The fearefull are to be confirmed, but yet without flatterie, and to be stirred vp to do their dutie. 238. &c.
• 16. Of holy assemblies, fasting and prayer. 244. 245.
• The dutie of all in publike dangers. 246.

CHAP. V.

SER. XIII.

• Ver. 1. Of the ornaments of apparell. 256.
• 2. The fruit of faith, and humbling our selues before God. 258. 259
• 3. The immoderatenesse of Princes. 260
• 4. Of the modestie and wisedome of the faithfull. 263. 264
• 5. Whether the wicked are to be honored, and how farre we may gratifie them. 265 266.

SERMON. XIIII.

• Ver. 9. What ioy is to be commended, what to be blamed. 273. 274
• The constancie of the faithfull. 275. &c.
• What honor we may giue or refuse to giue to the wicked. 278. 279
• The restlesse estate of the ambitious. 280. 281
• 10. Of bridling our passions. 282
• The furious rage of the wicked. 283
• 11. Their vaine glory and foolish anger. 284 285
• 13. What our cōsultations ought to be. 286. 287
• 14. A patterne of wicked Counsellors and of euill counsell. 288. 289
• The furious crueltie of the enemies of the Church. 289. 290. 291.

CHAP. VI.

SER. XV.

• Ver. 1. Of the care that God carrieth of his. 296
• The wonderful meanes of the deliuerie of the Church. 296. 297
• Of the waking and care of Princes. 299
• The vse of Histories. 300. 301
• 2. Good deeds are neuer forgotten before God. 302
• 3. Of their rewards. 304. 305
• Of good Counsellors. 305. 306
• 4. The consideration of the admirable ef∣fects of Gods wil, for the profit of his. 307. 308
• 6. The foolish arrogancie of the wicked when they are neare their fall. 308. 309
• 9. The wonderfull furie of Ambitiō. 310. 311
• 10. The hearts of Kings are in the hands of God. 313
• The miserie and vncertain state of Courtiers. 314
• 11. Their base and abiect minde. 315
• The admirable changes in the estates of the good and of the badde. 316. 317

SERMON. XVI.

• Ver. 12. The confusion of the enemies of the Church. 321. 322
• The modestie of the faithfull. 323. 324
• The effects of sorrow in the wicked. 326. 327
• ...

• 13. Their shame, distresse, and blindnesse in afflictions. 329. 330
• What are the counselles of the worldly wise. 331
• Destruction of the enemies of the Church. 332
• 14. The miserable condition of those who are bidden to mirth, when they had rather la∣ment. 338.
• All things turne to the worst vnto the wicked 338 339

CHAP. VII.

SER. XVII.

• Ver. 3. How men ought to behaue themselues in the gouernment of the Common wealth. 348. 349. 351. &c.
• 5. The greeuous ouersights of vnskilful Prin∣ces. 356. 357
• 6. We may openly name the wicked who are conuict of their wickednesse. 357. 358.
• Of the confusion of the wicked. 359. 360

SERMON XVIII.

• Ver. 7. What dangers the euill counsellors of Princes do incurre. 364. 365
• The feare of the wicked. 366
• Of the seueritie of the godly against the wic∣ked. 368. 369
• 8. Why there are some things some times laid to the charge of the wicked, whereof they are not guiltie. 370. &c.
• ...

• Ver. 9. Their crafts and iniquitie at t•••• last are made manifest. 373. 374
• The wrath of kings is the messenger of death. 374. 375
• Ver. 10. The wonderfull iudgement of God, vpon the wicked, who are the cause one of an others destruction. 377. 378
• Of the order of iustice. 380
• The difference betweene the violent deathes which the wicked and the godly suffer. 381 382.

CHAP. VIII.

SER. XIX.

• Ver. 1. Of the nature of God. 386. 387
• Of confiscations. 388
• The vaine hope of the wicked.
• Of the felicitie of Princes. 338. 389. &c.
• Whether it be lawfull for the faithfull to ex∣ercise any publike function among the In∣fidels. 392. 393. &c.
• Ver. 3. How Kings are to be spoken vnto 398
• Ver. 4. Of Edicts reuocable and irreuoca∣ble. 399. &c.
• Ver. 5. How much clemencie beseemeth Princes, and what need they haue of faith full Counsellors. 404. 40••

SERMON. XX.

• 9. Of the distresses of the Church, and her deliuerances. 408. 409.
• Wisdome is giuen of God according to the necessitie of things in hand. 409. 410.
• The duetie of Princes in making Proclama∣tions. 411. 412. &c.
• 11. How great the authoritie of Ma∣gistrates is. 414. 415.
• The admirable prouidence of God in guiding of mens counsayles. 415. 416. &c.
• 12. Of repelling force. 418. 419.
• 13. Of priuate and publicke reuenge. 419. 420. &c.
• 14. God wanteth not meanes to comfort and lift vp his. 427. 428.

SERMON. XXI.

• 15. The sodaine changes of the state of the Church. 430.
• Of the vse of things indifferent. 434.
• The deliuerance and glorie of the faith∣full. 435.
• 16. Of the ioy of good men. 436. &c.
• 17. Of the fauour of the wicked towards

• the godly. 442. 443. &c.
• How much calamities profite the Church. 446.

CHAP. IX.

SERM. XXII.

• 1. The falshood of those praedictions and foretellings, which are giuen out by the Diuell. 452. &c.
• Of the vengeance of God. 455. 456. &c.
• 2. Of the feare of the wicked. 459.
• 3. The inconstant inclination of the mindes of men. 460.
• 4. The meanes whereby God is wont to de∣fend those that worship him. 461.
• 5. Of reuenge, when it is lawfull, and when not. 461. 462.
• How our enemies are to be loued. 462.
• The iudgements of God vpon the enemies of the Church. 463. 464.
• The destruction of the posteritie of the wic∣ked. 465 466.

SERMON. XXIII.

• 11. Of the author of victories and hap∣pie successe. 471 472.
• 12. The chiefe commendation of a good

• Prince. 475.
• 13. How farre the punishment of Gods ene∣mies may proceede. 478. 479.
• 14. Of the alteration of the fauour of Prin∣ces. 480. 481.
• 15. The boldnesse of a good conscience. 481.
• The efficacie of naturall iustice and equi∣tie. 482. 483. 484.
• 16. Of the excellencie of the deliuerances of the Church. 485. 486.

SERMON. XXIIII.

• Verse. 17. What be the sacrifices of the Church. 491.
• 18. Of the quiet and feasts of the Church. 493. 494. 495.
• Of thanks-giuing. 496. 497.
• 19. Of banquets and gifts. 498. 499.
• 20. Ʋnto whome the care of religion and good order appertaineth. 500. 501.
• The office of a good Magistrate. 505. 506. &c.
• How wee ought to obey good constitutions. 509. 510.

SERMON. XXV.

• V. 25. What the remembrance ought to be

• of the Churches deliuerance. 515. 516.
• 26. The conuenient and fit names of feasts. 516. 517.
• 27. Of Traditions, humane and diuine. 518.
• 28. Against superstitious feasts. 519.
• 29. The true end of feasts, and holydayes. 520.
• The zeale of the faithfull in their voca∣tion. 521. 522.
• 31. Of the institution of holydayes, and what power men haue therein. 522. 523.
• Against the multitude of holydayes. 524.
• Whether there be any holydayes expresly commaunded by God in the Christian Church. 525. 526. &c.
• The prophanation of holydayes. 532. 533.
• among Christians, and the remedies thereof. 533. 534.

CHAP. X.

SERM. XXVI.

• 1. Of tributes, and of the Iewes beeing exempted from them. 537. 538.
• 2. The difference betweene a wise and an vnwise gouernour. 539. 540.
• 3. God lifteth vp, and casteth downe whome

• ... ••t pleaseth him. 541. 542.
• The vertue fit for a wise Gouernour. 542. 543. &c.
• The summe of the chiefe points of the whole treatise. 549. 550. &c.

FINIS.