What can the fact that the king spent a sleepless night mean but that which is written in the Psalm: “See, the one who guards Israel will not sleep or slumber” (Psalms 121). They read before him the histories and chronicles of earlier times in which are mentioned the loyalty and the good deeds of Mordecai, because the king of the saints and the prince of the kings of the earth—who remains the same within himself—comes to know with a single glance the course of all the ages and the actions of every individual; and nothing ever escapes his notice, rather everything lies open before him in his sight. Jeremiah tells us about this: “For it is he who has strengthened all things, and Israel is the staff of his inheritance; the Lord of hosts is his name” (Jeremiah 10). Hence the apostle also says: “For in Christ Jesus there is no ‘is’ and ‘was’, but in him there is always ‘is’.” And likewise: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and for all time” (Hebrews 13). So Mordecai’s actions are mentioned before this king, because the good deeds of the holy teachers never fade from his memory; rather it is as it is written: “The righteous will be in eternal memory, he will have no fear of bad tidings” (Psalms 112).

Sleep was removed from the eyes of Ahasuerus, whom the Seventy call Artaxerxes, that he might turn over the memoirs of his faithful ministers and come on Mordecai, by whose evidence he was delivered from a conspiracy; and that thus Esther might be more acceptable and the whole people of the Jews escape imminent death. There is no doubt that the mighty sovereign to whom belonged the whole East, from India to the north and to Ethiopia, after feasting sumptuously on delicacies gathered from every part of the world would have desired to sleep, and to take his rest and to gratify his free choice of sleep, had not the Lord, the provider of all good things, hindered the course of nature, so that in defiance of nature the tyrant’s cruelty might be overcome. If I were to attempt to produce all the instance of the holy Scripture, I should be tedious. All that the saints say is a prayer to God; their whole prayer and supplication is a strong wrestling for the pity of God, so that we, who by our own strength and zeal cannot be saved, may be preserved by his mercy. But when we are concerned with grace and mercy, free will is in part void; in part, I say, for so much as this depends on it, that we wish and desire and give assent to the course we choose. But it depends on God whether we have the power in his strength and with his help to perform what we desire and to bring to effect our toil and effort.

What can the fact that the king spent a sleepless night mean but that which is written in the Psalm: “See, the one who guards Israel will not sleep or slumber” (Psalms 121). They read before him the histories and chronicles of earlier times in which are mentioned the loyalty and the good deeds of Mordecai, because the king of the saints and the prince of the kings of the earth—who remains the same within himself—comes to know with a single glance the course of all the ages and the actions of every individual; and nothing ever escapes his notice, rather everything lies open before him in his sight. Jeremiah tells us about this: “For it is he who has strengthened all things, and Israel is the staff of his inheritance; the Lord of hosts is his name” (Jeremiah 10). Hence the apostle also says: “For in Christ Jesus there is no ‘is’ and ‘was’, but in him there is always ‘is’.” And likewise: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and for all time” (Hebrews 13). So Mordecai’s actions are mentioned before this king, because the good deeds of the holy teachers never fade from his memory; rather it is as it is written: “The righteous will be in eternal memory, he will have no fear of bad tidings” (Psalms 112).

Sleep was removed from the eyes of Ahasuerus, whom the Seventy call Artaxerxes, that he might turn over the memoirs of his faithful ministers and come on Mordecai, by whose evidence he was delivered from a conspiracy; and that thus Esther might be more acceptable and the whole people of the Jews escape imminent death. There is no doubt that the mighty sovereign to whom belonged the whole East, from India to the north and to Ethiopia, after feasting sumptuously on delicacies gathered from every part of the world would have desired to sleep, and to take his rest and to gratify his free choice of sleep, had not the Lord, the provider of all good things, hindered the course of nature, so that in defiance of nature the tyrant’s cruelty might be overcome. If I were to attempt to produce all the instance of the holy Scripture, I should be tedious. All that the saints say is a prayer to God; their whole prayer and supplication is a strong wrestling for the pity of God, so that we, who by our own strength and zeal cannot be saved, may be preserved by his mercy. But when we are concerned with grace and mercy, free will is in part void; in part, I say, for so much as this depends on it, that we wish and desire and give assent to the course we choose. But it depends on God whether we have the power in his strength and with his help to perform what we desire and to bring to effect our toil and effort.

What can the fact that the king spent a sleepless night mean but that which is written in the Psalm: “See, the one who guards Israel will not sleep or slumber” (Psalms 121). They read before him the histories and chronicles of earlier times in which are mentioned the loyalty and the good deeds of Mordecai, because the king of the saints and the prince of the kings of the earth—who remains the same within himself—comes to know with a single glance the course of all the ages and the actions of every individual; and nothing ever escapes his notice, rather everything lies open before him in his sight. Jeremiah tells us about this: “For it is he who has strengthened all things, and Israel is the staff of his inheritance; the Lord of hosts is his name” (Jeremiah 10). Hence the apostle also says: “For in Christ Jesus there is no ‘is’ and ‘was’, but in him there is always ‘is’.” And likewise: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and for all time” (Hebrews 13). So Mordecai’s actions are mentioned before this king, because the good deeds of the holy teachers never fade from his memory; rather it is as it is written: “The righteous will be in eternal memory, he will have no fear of bad tidings” (Psalms 112).

No reward at all: He received some presents from the king, chap. 12. 5; but these were so inconsiderable in the opinion of the courtiers, that they esteemed them as nothing at all.

Sleep was removed from the eyes of Ahasuerus, whom the Seventy call Artaxerxes, that he might turn over the memoirs of his faithful ministers and come on Mordecai, by whose evidence he was delivered from a conspiracy; and that thus Esther might be more acceptable and the whole people of the Jews escape imminent death. There is no doubt that the mighty sovereign to whom belonged the whole East, from India to the north and to Ethiopia, after feasting sumptuously on delicacies gathered from every part of the world would have desired to sleep, and to take his rest and to gratify his free choice of sleep, had not the Lord, the provider of all good things, hindered the course of nature, so that in defiance of nature the tyrant’s cruelty might be overcome. If I were to attempt to produce all the instance of the holy Scripture, I should be tedious. All that the saints say is a prayer to God; their whole prayer and supplication is a strong wrestling for the pity of God, so that we, who by our own strength and zeal cannot be saved, may be preserved by his mercy. But when we are concerned with grace and mercy, free will is in part void; in part, I say, for so much as this depends on it, that we wish and desire and give assent to the course we choose. But it depends on God whether we have the power in his strength and with his help to perform what we desire and to bring to effect our toil and effort.

What can the fact that the king spent a sleepless night mean but that which is written in the Psalm: “See, the one who guards Israel will not sleep or slumber” (Psalms 121). They read before him the histories and chronicles of earlier times in which are mentioned the loyalty and the good deeds of Mordecai, because the king of the saints and the prince of the kings of the earth—who remains the same within himself—comes to know with a single glance the course of all the ages and the actions of every individual; and nothing ever escapes his notice, rather everything lies open before him in his sight. Jeremiah tells us about this: “For it is he who has strengthened all things, and Israel is the staff of his inheritance; the Lord of hosts is his name” (Jeremiah 10). Hence the apostle also says: “For in Christ Jesus there is no ‘is’ and ‘was’, but in him there is always ‘is’.” And likewise: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and for all time” (Hebrews 13). So Mordecai’s actions are mentioned before this king, because the good deeds of the holy teachers never fade from his memory; rather it is as it is written: “The righteous will be in eternal memory, he will have no fear of bad tidings” (Psalms 112).

Above all we should at least know that there are three origins of our thoughts, that is, from God, from the devil and from ourselves. They come from God when he deigns to visit us with the illumination of the Holy Spirit, lifting us up to a higher state of progress; or when we have made but little progress or through sloth have been overcome, he chastens us with most salutary compunction; or when he discloses to us heavenly mysteries or turns our purpose and will to better actions. This was the case of king Ahasuerus when, chastened by the Lord, he was prompted to ask for the books of the annals, by which he was reminded of the good deeds of Mordecai and promoted him to a position of the highest honor and at once recalled his most cruel sentence concerning the slaughter of the Jews.

Mordecai was also persecuted as Jesus was persecuted. Mordecai was persecuted by the wicked Haman; and Jesus was persecuted by the rebellious people. Mordecai by his prayer delivered his people from the hands of Haman; and Jesus by his prayer delivered his people from the hands of Satan. Mordecai was delivered from the hands of his persecutor; and Jesus was rescued from the hands of his persecutors. Because Mordecai sat and clothed himself with sackcloth, he saved Esther and his people from the sword; and because Jesus clothed himself with a body and was illuminated, he saved the church and its children from death. Because of Mordecai, Esther was well pleasing to the king and went in and sat instead of Vashti, who did not do his will; and because of Jesus, the church is well pleasing to God and has gone in to the king, instead of the congregation that did not his will. Mordecai admonished Esther that she should fast with her maidens, that she and her people might be delivered from the hands of Haman; and Jesus admonished the church and its children [to fast], that it and its children might be delivered from the wrath. Mordecai received the honor of Haman, his persecutor; and Jesus received great glory from his Father, instead of his persecutors who were of the foolish people. Mordecai trod on the neck of Haman, his persecutor; and as for Jesus, his enemies shall be put under his feet. Before Mordecai, Haman proclaimed, “Thus shall it be done to the man, in honoring whom the king is pleased”; as for Jesus, his preachers came out of the people who persecuted him, and they said, “This is Jesus the Son of God.” The blood of Mordecai was required at the hand of Haman and his sons;4 and “the blood of Jesus,” his persecutors took “on themselves and on their children.”

What can the fact that the king spent a sleepless night mean but that which is written in the Psalm: “See, the one who guards Israel will not sleep or slumber” (Psalms 121). They read before him the histories and chronicles of earlier times in which are mentioned the loyalty and the good deeds of Mordecai, because the king of the saints and the prince of the kings of the earth—who remains the same within himself—comes to know with a single glance the course of all the ages and the actions of every individual; and nothing ever escapes his notice, rather everything lies open before him in his sight. Jeremiah tells us about this: “For it is he who has strengthened all things, and Israel is the staff of his inheritance; the Lord of hosts is his name” (Jeremiah 10). Hence the apostle also says: “For in Christ Jesus there is no ‘is’ and ‘was’, but in him there is always ‘is’.” And likewise: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and for all time” (Hebrews 13). So Mordecai’s actions are mentioned before this king, because the good deeds of the holy teachers never fade from his memory; rather it is as it is written: “The righteous will be in eternal memory, he will have no fear of bad tidings” (Psalms 112).

Above all we should at least know that there are three origins of our thoughts, that is, from God, from the devil and from ourselves. They come from God when he deigns to visit us with the illumination of the Holy Spirit, lifting us up to a higher state of progress; or when we have made but little progress or through sloth have been overcome, he chastens us with most salutary compunction; or when he discloses to us heavenly mysteries or turns our purpose and will to better actions. This was the case of king Ahasuerus when, chastened by the Lord, he was prompted to ask for the books of the annals, by which he was reminded of the good deeds of Mordecai and promoted him to a position of the highest honor and at once recalled his most cruel sentence concerning the slaughter of the Jews.

Mordecai was also persecuted as Jesus was persecuted. Mordecai was persecuted by the wicked Haman; and Jesus was persecuted by the rebellious people. Mordecai by his prayer delivered his people from the hands of Haman; and Jesus by his prayer delivered his people from the hands of Satan. Mordecai was delivered from the hands of his persecutor; and Jesus was rescued from the hands of his persecutors. Because Mordecai sat and clothed himself with sackcloth, he saved Esther and his people from the sword; and because Jesus clothed himself with a body and was illuminated, he saved the church and its children from death. Because of Mordecai, Esther was well pleasing to the king and went in and sat instead of Vashti, who did not do his will; and because of Jesus, the church is well pleasing to God and has gone in to the king, instead of the congregation that did not his will. Mordecai admonished Esther that she should fast with her maidens, that she and her people might be delivered from the hands of Haman; and Jesus admonished the church and its children [to fast], that it and its children might be delivered from the wrath. Mordecai received the honor of Haman, his persecutor; and Jesus received great glory from his Father, instead of his persecutors who were of the foolish people. Mordecai trod on the neck of Haman, his persecutor; and as for Jesus, his enemies shall be put under his feet. Before Mordecai, Haman proclaimed, “Thus shall it be done to the man, in honoring whom the king is pleased”; as for Jesus, his preachers came out of the people who persecuted him, and they said, “This is Jesus the Son of God.” The blood of Mordecai was required at the hand of Haman and his sons;4 and “the blood of Jesus,” his persecutors took “on themselves and on their children.”

What can the fact that the king spent a sleepless night mean but that which is written in the Psalm: “See, the one who guards Israel will not sleep or slumber” (Psalms 121). They read before him the histories and chronicles of earlier times in which are mentioned the loyalty and the good deeds of Mordecai, because the king of the saints and the prince of the kings of the earth—who remains the same within himself—comes to know with a single glance the course of all the ages and the actions of every individual; and nothing ever escapes his notice, rather everything lies open before him in his sight. Jeremiah tells us about this: “For it is he who has strengthened all things, and Israel is the staff of his inheritance; the Lord of hosts is his name” (Jeremiah 10). Hence the apostle also says: “For in Christ Jesus there is no ‘is’ and ‘was’, but in him there is always ‘is’.” And likewise: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and for all time” (Hebrews 13). So Mordecai’s actions are mentioned before this king, because the good deeds of the holy teachers never fade from his memory; rather it is as it is written: “The righteous will be in eternal memory, he will have no fear of bad tidings” (Psalms 112).

Above all we should at least know that there are three origins of our thoughts, that is, from God, from the devil and from ourselves. They come from God when he deigns to visit us with the illumination of the Holy Spirit, lifting us up to a higher state of progress; or when we have made but little progress or through sloth have been overcome, he chastens us with most salutary compunction; or when he discloses to us heavenly mysteries or turns our purpose and will to better actions. This was the case of king Ahasuerus when, chastened by the Lord, he was prompted to ask for the books of the annals, by which he was reminded of the good deeds of Mordecai and promoted him to a position of the highest honor and at once recalled his most cruel sentence concerning the slaughter of the Jews.

Mordecai was also persecuted as Jesus was persecuted. Mordecai was persecuted by the wicked Haman; and Jesus was persecuted by the rebellious people. Mordecai by his prayer delivered his people from the hands of Haman; and Jesus by his prayer delivered his people from the hands of Satan. Mordecai was delivered from the hands of his persecutor; and Jesus was rescued from the hands of his persecutors. Because Mordecai sat and clothed himself with sackcloth, he saved Esther and his people from the sword; and because Jesus clothed himself with a body and was illuminated, he saved the church and its children from death. Because of Mordecai, Esther was well pleasing to the king and went in and sat instead of Vashti, who did not do his will; and because of Jesus, the church is well pleasing to God and has gone in to the king, instead of the congregation that did not his will. Mordecai admonished Esther that she should fast with her maidens, that she and her people might be delivered from the hands of Haman; and Jesus admonished the church and its children [to fast], that it and its children might be delivered from the wrath. Mordecai received the honor of Haman, his persecutor; and Jesus received great glory from his Father, instead of his persecutors who were of the foolish people. Mordecai trod on the neck of Haman, his persecutor; and as for Jesus, his enemies shall be put under his feet. Before Mordecai, Haman proclaimed, “Thus shall it be done to the man, in honoring whom the king is pleased”; as for Jesus, his preachers came out of the people who persecuted him, and they said, “This is Jesus the Son of God.” The blood of Mordecai was required at the hand of Haman and his sons;4 and “the blood of Jesus,” his persecutors took “on themselves and on their children.”

What can the fact that the king spent a sleepless night mean but that which is written in the Psalm: “See, the one who guards Israel will not sleep or slumber” (Psalms 121). They read before him the histories and chronicles of earlier times in which are mentioned the loyalty and the good deeds of Mordecai, because the king of the saints and the prince of the kings of the earth—who remains the same within himself—comes to know with a single glance the course of all the ages and the actions of every individual; and nothing ever escapes his notice, rather everything lies open before him in his sight. Jeremiah tells us about this: “For it is he who has strengthened all things, and Israel is the staff of his inheritance; the Lord of hosts is his name” (Jeremiah 10). Hence the apostle also says: “For in Christ Jesus there is no ‘is’ and ‘was’, but in him there is always ‘is’.” And likewise: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and for all time” (Hebrews 13). So Mordecai’s actions are mentioned before this king, because the good deeds of the holy teachers never fade from his memory; rather it is as it is written: “The righteous will be in eternal memory, he will have no fear of bad tidings” (Psalms 112).

Above all we should at least know that there are three origins of our thoughts, that is, from God, from the devil and from ourselves. They come from God when he deigns to visit us with the illumination of the Holy Spirit, lifting us up to a higher state of progress; or when we have made but little progress or through sloth have been overcome, he chastens us with most salutary compunction; or when he discloses to us heavenly mysteries or turns our purpose and will to better actions. This was the case of king Ahasuerus when, chastened by the Lord, he was prompted to ask for the books of the annals, by which he was reminded of the good deeds of Mordecai and promoted him to a position of the highest honor and at once recalled his most cruel sentence concerning the slaughter of the Jews.

Mordecai was also persecuted as Jesus was persecuted. Mordecai was persecuted by the wicked Haman; and Jesus was persecuted by the rebellious people. Mordecai by his prayer delivered his people from the hands of Haman; and Jesus by his prayer delivered his people from the hands of Satan. Mordecai was delivered from the hands of his persecutor; and Jesus was rescued from the hands of his persecutors. Because Mordecai sat and clothed himself with sackcloth, he saved Esther and his people from the sword; and because Jesus clothed himself with a body and was illuminated, he saved the church and its children from death. Because of Mordecai, Esther was well pleasing to the king and went in and sat instead of Vashti, who did not do his will; and because of Jesus, the church is well pleasing to God and has gone in to the king, instead of the congregation that did not his will. Mordecai admonished Esther that she should fast with her maidens, that she and her people might be delivered from the hands of Haman; and Jesus admonished the church and its children [to fast], that it and its children might be delivered from the wrath. Mordecai received the honor of Haman, his persecutor; and Jesus received great glory from his Father, instead of his persecutors who were of the foolish people. Mordecai trod on the neck of Haman, his persecutor; and as for Jesus, his enemies shall be put under his feet. Before Mordecai, Haman proclaimed, “Thus shall it be done to the man, in honoring whom the king is pleased”; as for Jesus, his preachers came out of the people who persecuted him, and they said, “This is Jesus the Son of God.” The blood of Mordecai was required at the hand of Haman and his sons;4 and “the blood of Jesus,” his persecutors took “on themselves and on their children.”

What can the fact that the king spent a sleepless night mean but that which is written in the Psalm: “See, the one who guards Israel will not sleep or slumber” (Psalms 121). They read before him the histories and chronicles of earlier times in which are mentioned the loyalty and the good deeds of Mordecai, because the king of the saints and the prince of the kings of the earth—who remains the same within himself—comes to know with a single glance the course of all the ages and the actions of every individual; and nothing ever escapes his notice, rather everything lies open before him in his sight. Jeremiah tells us about this: “For it is he who has strengthened all things, and Israel is the staff of his inheritance; the Lord of hosts is his name” (Jeremiah 10). Hence the apostle also says: “For in Christ Jesus there is no ‘is’ and ‘was’, but in him there is always ‘is’.” And likewise: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and for all time” (Hebrews 13). So Mordecai’s actions are mentioned before this king, because the good deeds of the holy teachers never fade from his memory; rather it is as it is written: “The righteous will be in eternal memory, he will have no fear of bad tidings” (Psalms 112).

Above all we should at least know that there are three origins of our thoughts, that is, from God, from the devil and from ourselves. They come from God when he deigns to visit us with the illumination of the Holy Spirit, lifting us up to a higher state of progress; or when we have made but little progress or through sloth have been overcome, he chastens us with most salutary compunction; or when he discloses to us heavenly mysteries or turns our purpose and will to better actions. This was the case of king Ahasuerus when, chastened by the Lord, he was prompted to ask for the books of the annals, by which he was reminded of the good deeds of Mordecai and promoted him to a position of the highest honor and at once recalled his most cruel sentence concerning the slaughter of the Jews.

Mordecai was also persecuted as Jesus was persecuted. Mordecai was persecuted by the wicked Haman; and Jesus was persecuted by the rebellious people. Mordecai by his prayer delivered his people from the hands of Haman; and Jesus by his prayer delivered his people from the hands of Satan. Mordecai was delivered from the hands of his persecutor; and Jesus was rescued from the hands of his persecutors. Because Mordecai sat and clothed himself with sackcloth, he saved Esther and his people from the sword; and because Jesus clothed himself with a body and was illuminated, he saved the church and its children from death. Because of Mordecai, Esther was well pleasing to the king and went in and sat instead of Vashti, who did not do his will; and because of Jesus, the church is well pleasing to God and has gone in to the king, instead of the congregation that did not his will. Mordecai admonished Esther that she should fast with her maidens, that she and her people might be delivered from the hands of Haman; and Jesus admonished the church and its children [to fast], that it and its children might be delivered from the wrath. Mordecai received the honor of Haman, his persecutor; and Jesus received great glory from his Father, instead of his persecutors who were of the foolish people. Mordecai trod on the neck of Haman, his persecutor; and as for Jesus, his enemies shall be put under his feet. Before Mordecai, Haman proclaimed, “Thus shall it be done to the man, in honoring whom the king is pleased”; as for Jesus, his preachers came out of the people who persecuted him, and they said, “This is Jesus the Son of God.” The blood of Mordecai was required at the hand of Haman and his sons;4 and “the blood of Jesus,” his persecutors took “on themselves and on their children.”

What can the fact that the king spent a sleepless night mean but that which is written in the Psalm: “See, the one who guards Israel will not sleep or slumber” (Psalms 121). They read before him the histories and chronicles of earlier times in which are mentioned the loyalty and the good deeds of Mordecai, because the king of the saints and the prince of the kings of the earth—who remains the same within himself—comes to know with a single glance the course of all the ages and the actions of every individual; and nothing ever escapes his notice, rather everything lies open before him in his sight. Jeremiah tells us about this: “For it is he who has strengthened all things, and Israel is the staff of his inheritance; the Lord of hosts is his name” (Jeremiah 10). Hence the apostle also says: “For in Christ Jesus there is no ‘is’ and ‘was’, but in him there is always ‘is’.” And likewise: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and for all time” (Hebrews 13). So Mordecai’s actions are mentioned before this king, because the good deeds of the holy teachers never fade from his memory; rather it is as it is written: “The righteous will be in eternal memory, he will have no fear of bad tidings” (Psalms 112).

Above all we should at least know that there are three origins of our thoughts, that is, from God, from the devil and from ourselves. They come from God when he deigns to visit us with the illumination of the Holy Spirit, lifting us up to a higher state of progress; or when we have made but little progress or through sloth have been overcome, he chastens us with most salutary compunction; or when he discloses to us heavenly mysteries or turns our purpose and will to better actions. This was the case of king Ahasuerus when, chastened by the Lord, he was prompted to ask for the books of the annals, by which he was reminded of the good deeds of Mordecai and promoted him to a position of the highest honor and at once recalled his most cruel sentence concerning the slaughter of the Jews.

Mordecai was also persecuted as Jesus was persecuted. Mordecai was persecuted by the wicked Haman; and Jesus was persecuted by the rebellious people. Mordecai by his prayer delivered his people from the hands of Haman; and Jesus by his prayer delivered his people from the hands of Satan. Mordecai was delivered from the hands of his persecutor; and Jesus was rescued from the hands of his persecutors. Because Mordecai sat and clothed himself with sackcloth, he saved Esther and his people from the sword; and because Jesus clothed himself with a body and was illuminated, he saved the church and its children from death. Because of Mordecai, Esther was well pleasing to the king and went in and sat instead of Vashti, who did not do his will; and because of Jesus, the church is well pleasing to God and has gone in to the king, instead of the congregation that did not his will. Mordecai admonished Esther that she should fast with her maidens, that she and her people might be delivered from the hands of Haman; and Jesus admonished the church and its children [to fast], that it and its children might be delivered from the wrath. Mordecai received the honor of Haman, his persecutor; and Jesus received great glory from his Father, instead of his persecutors who were of the foolish people. Mordecai trod on the neck of Haman, his persecutor; and as for Jesus, his enemies shall be put under his feet. Before Mordecai, Haman proclaimed, “Thus shall it be done to the man, in honoring whom the king is pleased”; as for Jesus, his preachers came out of the people who persecuted him, and they said, “This is Jesus the Son of God.” The blood of Mordecai was required at the hand of Haman and his sons;4 and “the blood of Jesus,” his persecutors took “on themselves and on their children.”

What can the fact that the king spent a sleepless night mean but that which is written in the Psalm: “See, the one who guards Israel will not sleep or slumber” (Psalms 121). They read before him the histories and chronicles of earlier times in which are mentioned the loyalty and the good deeds of Mordecai, because the king of the saints and the prince of the kings of the earth—who remains the same within himself—comes to know with a single glance the course of all the ages and the actions of every individual; and nothing ever escapes his notice, rather everything lies open before him in his sight. Jeremiah tells us about this: “For it is he who has strengthened all things, and Israel is the staff of his inheritance; the Lord of hosts is his name” (Jeremiah 10). Hence the apostle also says: “For in Christ Jesus there is no ‘is’ and ‘was’, but in him there is always ‘is’.” And likewise: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and for all time” (Hebrews 13). So Mordecai’s actions are mentioned before this king, because the good deeds of the holy teachers never fade from his memory; rather it is as it is written: “The righteous will be in eternal memory, he will have no fear of bad tidings” (Psalms 112).

Above all we should at least know that there are three origins of our thoughts, that is, from God, from the devil and from ourselves. They come from God when he deigns to visit us with the illumination of the Holy Spirit, lifting us up to a higher state of progress; or when we have made but little progress or through sloth have been overcome, he chastens us with most salutary compunction; or when he discloses to us heavenly mysteries or turns our purpose and will to better actions. This was the case of king Ahasuerus when, chastened by the Lord, he was prompted to ask for the books of the annals, by which he was reminded of the good deeds of Mordecai and promoted him to a position of the highest honor and at once recalled his most cruel sentence concerning the slaughter of the Jews.

Mordecai was also persecuted as Jesus was persecuted. Mordecai was persecuted by the wicked Haman; and Jesus was persecuted by the rebellious people. Mordecai by his prayer delivered his people from the hands of Haman; and Jesus by his prayer delivered his people from the hands of Satan. Mordecai was delivered from the hands of his persecutor; and Jesus was rescued from the hands of his persecutors. Because Mordecai sat and clothed himself with sackcloth, he saved Esther and his people from the sword; and because Jesus clothed himself with a body and was illuminated, he saved the church and its children from death. Because of Mordecai, Esther was well pleasing to the king and went in and sat instead of Vashti, who did not do his will; and because of Jesus, the church is well pleasing to God and has gone in to the king, instead of the congregation that did not his will. Mordecai admonished Esther that she should fast with her maidens, that she and her people might be delivered from the hands of Haman; and Jesus admonished the church and its children [to fast], that it and its children might be delivered from the wrath. Mordecai received the honor of Haman, his persecutor; and Jesus received great glory from his Father, instead of his persecutors who were of the foolish people. Mordecai trod on the neck of Haman, his persecutor; and as for Jesus, his enemies shall be put under his feet. Before Mordecai, Haman proclaimed, “Thus shall it be done to the man, in honoring whom the king is pleased”; as for Jesus, his preachers came out of the people who persecuted him, and they said, “This is Jesus the Son of God.” The blood of Mordecai was required at the hand of Haman and his sons;4 and “the blood of Jesus,” his persecutors took “on themselves and on their children.”

After all, the preachers of the sacred Gospel and the leaders of the Church, who glisten with their practice of all the virtues and the beauty of wisdom and—because they are the limbs of the supreme king—are nobly honored with the diadem of royal rank, are ordered to mount the king’s horse, i.e. to take charge of and govern the people of the faithful in whose hearts the king of Heaven himself presides continuously. The Lord himself is told about these horses by the prophet Habakkuk: “Going up you shall mount your horses, and your horsemanship is salvation” (Habakkuk 3). It is to Mordecai that Haman, the spiritual enemy of the people of God, offers—if unwillingly—the appropriate obeisance, since the persecutors of the holy Church are often forced with the assent of Heaven to preach with accurate testimony the praises of the Church, even though they do so in a spirit of disdain; because once the truth has been revealed, the guilty cannot conceal what is obvious by hiding it away.

Above all we should at least know that there are three origins of our thoughts, that is, from God, from the devil and from ourselves. They come from God when he deigns to visit us with the illumination of the Holy Spirit, lifting us up to a higher state of progress; or when we have made but little progress or through sloth have been overcome, he chastens us with most salutary compunction; or when he discloses to us heavenly mysteries or turns our purpose and will to better actions. This was the case of king Ahasuerus when, chastened by the Lord, he was prompted to ask for the books of the annals, by which he was reminded of the good deeds of Mordecai and promoted him to a position of the highest honor and at once recalled his most cruel sentence concerning the slaughter of the Jews.

Mordecai was also persecuted as Jesus was persecuted. Mordecai was persecuted by the wicked Haman; and Jesus was persecuted by the rebellious people. Mordecai by his prayer delivered his people from the hands of Haman; and Jesus by his prayer delivered his people from the hands of Satan. Mordecai was delivered from the hands of his persecutor; and Jesus was rescued from the hands of his persecutors. Because Mordecai sat and clothed himself with sackcloth, he saved Esther and his people from the sword; and because Jesus clothed himself with a body and was illuminated, he saved the church and its children from death. Because of Mordecai, Esther was well pleasing to the king and went in and sat instead of Vashti, who did not do his will; and because of Jesus, the church is well pleasing to God and has gone in to the king, instead of the congregation that did not his will. Mordecai admonished Esther that she should fast with her maidens, that she and her people might be delivered from the hands of Haman; and Jesus admonished the church and its children [to fast], that it and its children might be delivered from the wrath. Mordecai received the honor of Haman, his persecutor; and Jesus received great glory from his Father, instead of his persecutors who were of the foolish people. Mordecai trod on the neck of Haman, his persecutor; and as for Jesus, his enemies shall be put under his feet. Before Mordecai, Haman proclaimed, “Thus shall it be done to the man, in honoring whom the king is pleased”; as for Jesus, his preachers came out of the people who persecuted him, and they said, “This is Jesus the Son of God.” The blood of Mordecai was required at the hand of Haman and his sons;4 and “the blood of Jesus,” his persecutors took “on themselves and on their children.”