John Trapp on Esther 7:4

Verſe 4. For we are ſold] i. e. given up wholly into the power of the enemy, as that which a man hath bought with his money, is his own to diſpoſe of. She referres, doubtleſſe to the ſumme proffered by Haman, chap. 3.9. not fearing the face of ſo potent an enemy, nor going behind his back to ſet him out in his colours; yea, though her diſcourſe could not but ſomewhat reflect upon the King, who had given Haman his conſent.

I, and my people] She makes it a common cauſe, and ſaith to her Countreymen, as once David did to Abiathar, 1 Sam. 22.23. or, as Charles the fifth ſaid to Julius Peſtugius, who complained that he had been much wronged by the Duke of Saxony. Have a little patience, thy cauſe ſhall be my cauſe, neither will I ſit down till I have ſeen you ſome way righted. See verſe 3.

To be deſtroyed, to be ſlain, and to periſh] Theſe were the very words of that bloody decree which ſhe purpoſely maketh uſe of, that he might be ſenſible of what he had conſented to: and might ſee that ſhe complained not without cauſe. But what a caſe was Haman in at the hearing of this? and how did he now repent him, but too late, of ever having a hand in ſo bloody a buſineſſe? His iniquity was now full, and the bottle of his wickedneſſe filled up to the brim with thoſe bitter waters, was even about to ſink to the bottom. His Gallowes was finiſhed laſt night, and now it groaned hard for him, that he might be deſtroyed, ſlain and made to periſh.

— Neque enim lex juſtior ulla eſt, Quàm necis artifices arte perire ſuâ.

But if we had been ſold for bondmen and bondwomen] Though it had been an hard and ſad condition for a Queen, eſpecially (which yet was Hecuba's caſe and Zenobia's) yet it would not be grievous to them to ſacrifice their liberty to the ſervice of their life: the Gibeonites were glad they might live upon any termes, Joſh. 9.16. Maſters might ſlay their bondſervants, but that was counted a cruelty, and when one did it at Rome, he was amerced by the Cenſor: many times they were manumitted for their good ſervice, and came to great eſtates.

I had held my tongue] Silence is in ſome caſes a crying ſinne. Taciturnity, I confeſſe, is ſometimes a vertue, but not at all where it tends to the betraying of a good cauſe, or the detriment of the labouring Church. For Zions ſake I will not hold my peace, and for Jeruſalems ſake I will not reſt, &c. Eſay 62.1. Terentius that noble General told Vatens the Arian Emperour, [illegible: 3 letters]eph l. 11. [illegible: 1 word]. that he had abandoned the victory and ſent it to the enemy, by his perſecuting Gods people, and favouring hereticks. That was an excellent ſaying of Hierome to Vigilantius, Meam injuriam patienter tuli, &c. whiles the wrong thou didſt, reached only to my ſelf, I took it patiently; but thy wickedneſſe againſt God I cannot beare with: ſo was that of Occolampadius to Servetus, (blaming him for his ſharpneſſe to the ſelf-ſame purpoſe. And laſtly, that of Luther in a letter to his friend Staupi[illegible: 1 letter]ius. Inveniar ſanè ſuperbus, &c. Let me be accounted proud, peremptory, paſſionate, or what men pleaſe, ſo that I be not found guilty of a ſinful ſilence, when called to ſpeak for God.

Although the enemy could not countervaile the Kings damage] q.d. It is not his ten thouſand talents, ch. 3.9. nor all that he is worth, and ten more ſuch as he is, that can make up the loſſe, that the King is ſure to ſuſtain by the ſlaughter of the Jewes, a people painful and prayerful, (this, Darius made high account of, Ezra 6.16.) uſeful and profitable, careful to maintain good works in St. Pauls ſenſe, Tit. 3.8. that is, ſuch as were noted to exceed and excel others in witty inventions, to be their Craftſmaſters, and faithful to their truſt. Beſides, if they be taken away, great damage ſhall redound to the Kings revenue, by non-payment of toll, tribute and cuſtome, as thoſe Malignants could alledge, Ezra 4.12. a thing that Princes uſually are very ſenſible of. Or if there ſhould be lucrum in arca, yet there would he damnum in conſcientia, the foule blurre of blood-guiltineſſe would lie heavy, both upon the Kings conſcience, and his name among all Nations. The Vulgar rendreth this text thus, Nunc autem hoſtis noſter eſt, cujus crudelitas redundat in reg[illegible: 1 letter]m. And now he is our enemy, whoſe cruelty reflecteth upon the King. Tremelius thus, S[illegible: 1 letter]d non eſt hoſtis iſte utilis, damnoſus eſt regi; but now this enemy is no way profitable, but to the King diſadvantageous. This the King conſiders not, and the enemy cares not, ſo that he may ſerve his own turne, and ſatisfie his murtherous minde.