John Trapp on Esther 6:1

CHAP. VI. Verſe 1. On that night]

THat very night before Mordecai ſhould have been hang'd on the morrow morning, and ſo early that Eſther could not have begged his life, would ſhe never ſo faine. God will appeare for his poor people. [non-Latin text not transcribed], in the nick and opportunity of time, 1 Pet. 5.6. He will be ſeen in the Mount, he will come as out of an Engine.

Could not the King ſleep] Heb. the Kings ſleep fled away, and, like a ſhadow, it fled away ſo much the faſter, as it was more followed. Sleep is beſt ſolicited by neglect, and ſooneſt found, when we have forgotten to ſeek it. They are likelieſt for it, who together with their clothes can put off their cares: and ſay as Lord Burleigh did when he threw off his gown, Lie there Lord Treaſurer. This, great Ahaſhuerus cannot do at preſent, (for Crowns alſo have their cares, thiſtles in their armes, and thornes in their ſides) Lo, he that commanded one hundred and twenty ſeven Provinces cannot command an hours ſleep; how ſhould he when as ſleep is Gods gift, Pſal. 127.2? And it was he that at this time kept him awake for excellent ends; and put ſmall thoughts into his heart for great purpoſe, like as he did into our Henry the eighth, when the Biſhop of Baion (the French Ambaſſadour) coming to conſult with him about a marriage between the Lady Mary and the Duke of Orleans, Life and dea[illegible: 1 letter] of Card. Wo[illegible: 1 letter] ſey, 65. caſt a ſcruple into his mind, which rendred him reſtleſſe. Whether Mary were legitimate, &c. If it were his ſurfetting and drunkenneſſe the day before that hindred Ahaſhuerus from ſleeping, [illegible: 2 letters]lin. (habent enim hoc ebrii, ut neque dormiant, neque vigilent) Gods goodneſſe appeareth the more, in turning his ſinne to the good of the Church. Venenum aliquando pro remedio fuit, ſaith Seneca, He can make of a poiſonful viper an wholeſome treacle: and by an Almighty Alchymy draw good out of evil.

And he commanded to bring the book of records] Perhaps ſome ſpecial Notes or Commentaries, [non-Latin text not transcribed]. written for the Kings own uſe; as M. Aurelius had his [non-Latin text not transcribed]. Julius Caeſar had his Commentaries written with his own hand, and for the help of his own memory.Turk. hiſt. Tamerlane had the like book, wherein he read a great part of the night, before the mortal battel between him and Bajazet.

Of the Chronicles] Perhaps, beſides the former book of remembrances, or elſe the ſame; Librum Commentariorum, Chronica, as Tremelius rendreth it, the book of Commentaries, even the Chronicles; but the Vulgar and Tygurine make them ſeveral books.

And they were read before the King] Perhaps as a Recipe, to bring on ſleep, or at leaſt to deceive the time; and yet it may he too for a better purpoſe, viz. to better his knowledge, and to rub up his memory, that dignity might wait upon deſert: as it did in Tamerlanes time, who kept a catalogue of their names who had beſt deſerved of him,Turk hiſt. 227. which he daily peruſed, oftentimes ſaying, that day to be loſt, wherein he had not done ſomething for them. This Ahaſhuerus had not yet done for Mordecai, who therefore haply held with the Poet. Omnia ſunt ingrata nihil feciſſe benignè eſt. But God was not unrighteous to forget his work and labour of love, Heb. 6.10. though men were unthankful. [illegible: 1 letter]et us gratia [illegible: 1 letter]ormite. Pind. [illegible: 1 letter]er rar ò grati [illegible: 1 letter]periuntur. Cic.