Esther 4:17

REFLECTIONS

READER! here is a large fund of rich things in this chapter, to call up thy most awakened contemplation. Mordecai, in the prospect of the destruction of his countrymen the Jews, covered himself with sackcloth, ran into the midst of the city, and uttered a loud and bitter cry, in token of the threatened miseries of the people. But if you and I had but a deep sense of the threatened punishment of everlasting miseries, which are hanging over the heads of all that hold the truth in unrighteousness; could we but properly ascertain the sorrows of that tribulation, and wrath, which must assuredly one day light upon all the workers of iniquity; what bitter dolorous cries would issue from the heart, in the sad prospect of such dreadful, everlasting misery? But how little do the most awakened consider, as they ought these solemn things! GOD speaks once, yea twice, and man regards it not. Oh! LORD! take to thyself thy great power, and turn back the hearts of the people to seek thy face, before the great and terrible day of the LORD shall come.

Reader! think, if it be possible, of the vast difference between the court of Persia, and the court of heaven. See in the case of Esther the queen, how wretched that one so high in rank should yet be in danger of her life, if presuming to come into the king's presence uncalled. Whereas thou hast not only a court of heaven, and a throne of grace at all times to fly to; but one there who commands thee to come boldly, to find mercy and grace to help in all times of need. One, who makes thy cause his own. One, who is more interested for thy welfare than thou art for thyself. One, who hath loved thee and given himself for thee. Oh! precious, precious JESUS! to thee, LORD, would I come; not according to the law of my obedience, for I have nothing to plead of this kind; but in the law-fulfilling, and all-perfect righteousness of thy finished salvation. And oh! how sure and certain is my reception of grace and mercy from thee; since thou hast said.; All that the FATHER hath given me, shall come to me, and him that cometh I will in no wise cast out. My sheep shall never perish; neither shall any pluck them out of my hand. Be thou everlastingly blessed, O my GOD and Saviour; and let a throne of grace witness for me, that in thee and thy salvation do I put my trust; so shall I never be ashamed nor confounded world without end.