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next_o place_n to_o our_o examination_n 8_o hitherto_o have_v achitophel_n care_n be_v to_o strengthen_v the_o faction_n both_o to_o secure_v himself_o and_o unite_v the_o heart_n of_o israel_n more_o firm_o to_o absalon_n their_o leader_n his_o second_o direction_n concern_v the_o speed_a of_o the_o execution_n let_v i_o now_o choose_v out_o quoth_v achitophel_n twelve_o thousand_o man_n and_o i_o will_v arise_v and_o pursue_v after_o david_n this_o night_n and_o i_o will_v come_v upon_o he_o while_o he_o be_v weary_a and_o weake-handed_n and_o make_v he_o afraid_a and_o all_o the_o people_n which_o be_v with_o he_o shall_v fly_v and_o i_o will_v smite_v the_o king_n only_o and_o i_o will_v bring_v back_o all_o the_o people_n unto_o thou_o the_o man_n who_o thou_o seek_v be_v as_o if_o all_o return_v so_o all_o the_o people_n shall_v be_v in_o peace_n in_o which_o politic_a advice_n of_o achitophel_n three_o remarkable_a circumstance_n offer_v themselves_o to_o our_o observation_n 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his_o blood_n too_o near_o to_o outface_v the_o frown_n of_o a_o father_n anger_n or_o the_o awe_n of_o filial_a duty_n can_v not_o be_v suppose_v a_o fit_a actor_n in_o david_n tragedy_n the_o hard_a iron_n at_o the_o first_o touch_n of_o the_o load_n stone_n be_v restore_v to_o its_o first_o temper_n and_o conceive_v a_o magnetic_a inclination_n and_o why_o may_v not_o david_n fiery_a assault_n or_o gracious_a countenance_n in_o his_o rebellious_a son_n absalon_n enforce_v nature_n to_o return_v unto_o herself_o and_o kindle_v in_o he_o the_o spark_n of_o filial_a duty_n and_o obedience_n here_o may_v a_o man_n read_v the_o state_n and_o condition_n of_o wicked_a poâ—…icie_n expose_v to_o a_o thousand_o danger_n and_o subject_a to_o a_o thousand_o iâ—…alousies_n well_o may_v such_o man_n as_o damocles_n at_o dionysius_n table_n feed_v their_o hope_n with_o the_o choice_a dainty_n yet_o god_n fearful_a judgement_n as_o a_o sword_n pendulous_a over_o their_o head_n be_v always_o 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quicken_v again_o in_o absalon_n the_o strength_n of_o israel_n be_v shut_v up_o in_o the_o prince_n palace_n and_o the_o same_o power_n which_o conquer_v the_o one_o be_v soon_o master_n of_o the_o other_o this_o counsel_n seem_v to_o partake_v as_o well_o of_o good_a as_o bad_a with_o the_o death_n of_o one_o to_o redeem_v the_o life_n of_o many_o in_o the_o rigorous_a law_n of_o hostility_n seem_v not_o a_o duty_n but_o a_o great_a courtesy_n but_o to_o sell_v a_o king_n to_o buy_v a_o kingdom_n and_o stake_v one_o prince_n for_o many_o subject_n be_v less_o than_o courtesy_n and_o more_o than_o cruelty_n neither_o be_v this_o course_n affect_v by_o achitophel_n to_o spare_v the_o life_n of_o innocent_n or_o avoid_v a_o great_a mischief_n but_o that_o he_o find_v it_o a_o easy_a way_n to_o conquer_v david_n and_o reduce_v the_o people_n under_o the_o yoke_n of_o absalon_n jurisdiction_n the_o good_a which_o politician_n use_v to_o pretend_v common_o swell_v in_o show_n but_o 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take_v the_o best_a advantage_n of_o his_o own_o strength_n and_o david_n weakness_n i_o will_v say_v he_o sudden_o fall_v on_o david_n while_o he_o be_v weary_a and_o weake-handed_n and_o the_o people_n shall_v fly_v to_o join_v with_o man_n misfortune_n and_o add_v to_o misery_n serve_v rather_o baseness_n of_o the_o man_n than_o confidence_n of_o the_o cause_n and_o to_o second_o god_n affliction_n with_o our_o own_o revenge_n be_v a_o mark_n of_o god_n instrument_n but_o the_o devil_n servant_n the_o apprehension_n of_o a_o apt_a opportunity_n be_v of_o itself_o i_o confess_v a_o matter_n indifferent_a as_o well_o to_o good_a as_o wicked_a policy_n yet_o hasty_a and_o unexpected_a action_n common_o carry_v with_o they_o a_o great_a suspicion_n of_o guilt_n than_o discretion_n as_o that_o which_o seek_v to_o prevent_v a_o trial_n and_o fear_n discovery_n time_n the_o father_n of_o truth_n will_v questionless_a have_v betray_v absalon_n cause_n to_o common_a examination_n and_o reduce_v the_o discontent_a commons_o to_o their_o first_o temper_n david_n may_v have_v give_v satisfaction_n &_o allegiance_n have_v reviue_v in_o his_o subject_n heart_n necessity_n which_o perhaps_o beget_v the_o effect_n of_o ill_a government_n may_v have_v urge_v the_o cause_n and_o reason_n which_o at_o the_o first_o seem_v to_o fawn_v on_o their_o discontent_n may_v afterward_o be_v teach_v to_o correct_v her_o error_n and_o suppress_v their_o insolence_n all_o this_o achitophel_n know_v right_a well_o and_o therefore_o choose_v rather_o to_o take_v advantage_n of_o the_o people_n sudden_a passion_n than_o their_o mature_a judgement_n as_o one_o who_o have_v good_a cause_n to_o shun_v a_o legal_a â—…ury_n where_o he_o can_v promise_v himself_o no_o other_o than_o loss_n in_o the_o fatal_a verdict_n hitherto_o belove_v have_v we_o trace_v the_o footstep_n of_o our_o grand_a traitor_n achitophel_n through_o all_o his_o politic_a counsel_n and_o
all_o purpose_n to_o his_o own_o end_n be_v not_o want_v to_o his_o servant_n david_n make_v earnest_a intercession_n chusay_n be_v secret_o suborn_v by_o david_n under_o the_o pretence_n of_o love_n and_o service_n as_o a_o suppose_a friend_n but_o disguise_v enemy_n to_o creep_v into_o absalon_n bosom_n and_o oppose_v achitophel_n that_o transcendent_a politician_n achitophel_n who_o as_o a_o oracle_n of_o god_n have_v for_o his_o deep_a wisdom_n hitherto_o pass_v currant_n be_v now_o shut_v out_o and_o chusay_n this_o new_a counsellor_n admit_v audience_n here_o begin_v the_o dawn_n of_o david_n happy_a deliverance_n and_o achitophel_n deserve_a tragedy_n for_o as_o the_o distemper_n of_o our_o first_o concoction_n as_o naturalist_n observe_v be_v seldom_o or_o never_o correct_v in_o the_o second_o so_o the_o first_o groundwork_n in_o state_n policy_n ill_o lay_v or_o temper_v can_v afterward_o scarce_o promise_v a_o reformation_n but_o prince_n action_n be_v common_o confine_v to_o no_o other_o law_n than_o their_o own_o will_n and_o bootless_a it_o be_v for_o achitophel_n to_o give_v further_a counsel_n where_o he_o want_v persuasion_n despair_n and_o indignation_n be_v at_o hand_n to_o second_v his_o repulse_n and_o nothing_o now_o seem_v leave_v he_o for_o refuge_n so_o far_o as_o the_o eye_n of_o his_o worldly_a policy_n can_v discern_v but_o the_o prevention_n of_o david_n officer_n in_o his_o shameless_a execution_n and_o when_o achitophel_n see_v that_o his_o counsel_n be_v not_o follow_v etc._n etc._n 2_o this_o parcel_n of_o scripture_n contain_v a_o brief_a history_n of_o achitophel_n last_o action_n and_o end_v natural_o shoot_v into_o these_o two_o branch_n first_o his_o provocation_n second_o his_o action_n the_o provocation_n be_v the_o neglect_n of_o his_o counsel_n express_v in_o the_o former_a word_n of_o my_o text_n and_o when_o achitophel_n see_v that_o his_o counsel_n be_v not_o follow_v his_o action_n be_v decipher_v in_o the_o latter_a clause_n he_o saddle_v his_o ass_n and_o arise_v etc._n etc._n in_o the_o provocation_n or_o motive_n we_o may_v observe_v these_o two_o circumstance_n first_o what_o achitophel_n counsel_n be_v and_o wherein_o it_o consist_v second_o how_o and_o which_o way_n it_o be_v defeat_v to_o begin_v with_o the_o first_o we_o may_v reduce_v his_o policy_n into_o two_o head_n for_o it_o consist_v either_o in_o his_o apt_a choice_n or_o wise_a direction_n the_o former_a be_v evident_a in_o that_o he_o take_v advantage_n of_o such_o a_o subject_n to_o countenance_v his_o rebellion_n who_o among_o all_o the_o child_n of_o israel_n be_v the_o likely_a to_o go_v far_a absalon_n birth_n feature_n plausabilitie_n and_o high_a spirit_n seem_v to_o speak_v he_o a_o king_n at_o first_o sight_n as_o though_o â—…ature_n and_o industry_n policy_n and_o valour_n stand_v in_o competition_n which_o shall_v challenge_v most_o in_o his_o advancement_n in_o the_o first_o place_n to_o examine_v his_o birth_n we_o shall_v find_v he_o a_o king_n son_n and_o although_o the_o second_o of_o his_o father_n race_n yet_o the_o first_o in_o the_o people_n hope_n of_o the_o elder_a little_a mention_n be_v leave_v we_o save_o the_o name_n as_o of_o one_o by_o impotence_n of_o nature_n or_o disastrous_a influence_n of_o the_o star_n half_o cancel_v out_o of_o the_o catalogue_n of_o david_n son_n beside_o the_o claim_n and_o title_n to_o his_o father_n kingdom_n but_o new_o begin_v and_o not_o yet_o establish_v on_o succession_n give_v no_o small_a encouragement_n to_o his_o high_a ambition_n where_o birthright_n afford_v no_o certain_a challenge_n to_o kingly_a dignity_n and_o the_o father_n choice_n in_o design_v out_o his_o successor_n be_v scarce_o repute_v warrantable_a what_o other_o obstacle_n can_v stand_v betwixt_o he_o and_o sovereignty_n but_o god_n immediate_a will_n or_o the_o people_n suffrage_n the_o former_a as_o it_o seem_v he_o little_o regard_v as_o one_o who_o either_o doubt_v of_o his_o providence_n or_o show_v himself_o too_o confident_a of_o his_o connivance_n the_o latter_a as_o a_o matter_n out_o of_o question_n seem_v soon_o find_v than_o seek_v as_o though_o opinion_n which_o have_v so_o long_o fawn_v on_o his_o worth_n can_v as_o easy_o persuade_v their_o suffrage_n as_o command_v their_o service_n have_v yet_o any_o sense_n of_o religion_n or_o care_n of_o the_o public_a good_a invade_v the_o mind_n either_o of_o young_a absalon_n the_o prince_n or_o achitophel_n the_o old_a counsellor_n they_o may_v first_o of_o some_o prophet_n or_o other_o have_v inquire_v god_n secret_a purpose_n of_o depress_v david_n and_o exalt_v absalon_n or_o at_o least_o have_v esteem_v hereditary_a succession_n the_o best_a challenge_n well_o may_v god_n almighty_a hand_n disdain_v opposition_n which_o never_o yet_o meet_v resistance_n and_o common_a equity_n have_v stamp_v that_o currant_n which_o customary_a right_n and_o the_o law_n of_o nature_n have_v already_o establish_v among_o most_o nation_n but_o their_o design_n be_v not_o ground_v upon_o god_n law_n or_o nature_n privilege_n but_o their_o own_o seem_a advantage_n as_o though_o the_o divine_a counsel_n ought_v to_o sloop_z to_o humane_a policy_n and_o nature_n forsake_v the_o scene_n where_o worldly_a wisdom_n come_v in_o action_n behold_v here_o the_o first_o and_o chief_a character_n of_o a_o worldly_a wise_a politician_n who_o care_v little_a how_o great_a a_o rupture_n he_o make_v through_o godâ—…_n sacred_a law_n and_o common_a equity_n to_o meet_v with_o his_o own_o advantage_n choose_v rather_o to_o lose_v his_o soul_n than_o his_o wicked_a purpose_n as_o one_o by_o patent_n allow_v to_o dispense_v with_o any_o obligation_n of_o conscience_n and_o religion_n hence_o may_v easy_o be_v discover_v the_o error_n of_o vulgar_a judgment_n who_o measure_v inward_a sufficience_n by_o the_o improvement_n of_o our_o outward_a fortune_n repute_v those_o man_n wise_a which_o rise_v high_a but_o true_a wisdom_n in_o who_o scale_n consist_v the_o choice_n of_o the_o best_a end_n and_o fit_a mean_n have_v teach_v we_o rather_o to_o entertain_v than_o serve_v preferment_n and_o prize_v the_o quiet_a calm_a of_o a_o settle_a conscience_n before_o the_o stormy_a 〈◊〉_d of_o ambitious_a greatness_n it_o be_v not_o the_o want_n of_o wit_n to_o project_n but_o of_o wickedness_n to_o practice_v which_o keep_v virtue_n poor_a and_o desert_n unregarded_a neither_o be_v great_a advancement_n the_o usual_a badge_n of_o great_a worth_n 2_o the_o second_o thing_n whereof_o achitophel_n take_v advantage_n in_o absalon_n persâ—…n_n be_v his_o fair_a and_o comely_a feature_n absalon_n among_o all_o the_o child_n of_o israel_n be_v repute_v the_o fair_a his_o lovely_a visage_n dishevel_a hair_n the_o seemly_a symmetry_n and_o proportion_n of_o all_o his_o part_n be_v as_o so_o many_o silent_a orator_n to_o be_v speak_v applause_n and_o persuade_v affection_n our_o friend_n and_o foe_n we_o seldom_o owe_v to_o choice_n but_o nature_n which_o stamp_v in_o every_o man_n face_n her_o especial_a character_n of_o beauty_n and_o deformity_n of_o love_n and_o hatred_n ordain_v they_o rather_o commander_n of_o our_o fancy_n than_o servant_n to_o our_o discretion_n whence_o aristotle_n have_v good_a cause_n to_o make_v this_o comely_a feature_n of_o the_o body_n one_o of_o the_o compliment_n of_o humane_a happiness_n as_o that_o which_o give_v the_o habit_n of_o our_o virtue_n a_o more_o glorious_a lustre_n and_o open_v a_o more_o speedy_a passage_n to_o heroic_a action_n what_o great_a motive_n can_v have_v happen_v to_o a_o seditious_a multitude_n who_o affection_n lead_v rather_o by_o sense_n than_o reason_n be_v better_o teach_v to_o fawn_v on_o show_n than_o substance_n and_o swallow_v the_o most_o poisonous_a drug_n in_o golden_a pill_n nothing_o more_o dangerous_a than_o paint_a sin_n and_o ugly_a vice_n couch_v under_o the_o protection_n of_o a_o comely_a countenance_n will_v lose_v the_o name_n and_o seem_v a_o virtue_n so_o much_o be_v the_o bewitch_a power_n of_o a_o beauteous_a personage_n to_o inchant_v the_o wise_a judgement_n that_o persuasion_n be_v often_o find_v in_o the_o orator_n than_o the_o argument_n as_o though_o his_o look_n go_v as_o harbinger_n before_o his_o language_n to_o prepare_v a_o room_n and_o entertain_v attention_n of_o these_o eminent_a gift_n of_o nature_n notwithstanding_o not_o grant_v to_o our_o free_a choice_n but_o rather_o trust_v to_o our_o husbandry_n no_o question_n but_o almighty_a god_n the_o lender_n will_v expect_v a_o interest_n he_o that_o either_o hide_v his_o talon_n in_o the_o ground_n or_o mis-spends_a his_o portion_n shall_v find_v the_o reward_n of_o a_o faithless_a servant_n much_o more_o such_o graceless_a tenant_n who_o turn_v their_o endowment_n to_o their_o worst_a use_n and_o make_v god_n munificent_a gift_n the_o mean_n and_o groundwork_n of_o wicked_a and_o irreligious_a action_n where_o god_n sow_n he_o expect_v his_o harvest_n in_o the_o same_o kind_n
to_o common_a sense_n wherein_o every_o common_a observation_n may_v claim_v a_o share_n shall_v we_o search_v with_o more_o subtlety_n either_o as_o sound_v divine_n or_o deep_a philosopher_n into_o the_o mysterious_a manner_n of_o god_n work_v we_o shall_v find_v no_o small_a argument_n to_o be_v draw_v from_o the_o disparity_n betwixt_o divine_a providence_n and_o worldly_a policy_n the_o plot_n and_o counterplot_n of_o man_n be_v usual_o ground_v either_o upon_o open_a resistance_n or_o sly_a diversion_n the_o one_o be_v teach_v we_o in_o the_o book_n of_o nature_n wherein_o we_o may_v read_v the_o interchangeable_a conquest_n of_o the_o element_n in_o their_o mutual_a conflict_n and_o operation_n the_o other_o be_v ground_v on_o civil_a observation_n as_o well_o as_o nature_n which_o in_o the_o short_a and_o easy_a way_n common_o find_v the_o safe_a victory_n but_o god_n almighty_a hand_n which_o never_o know_v resistance_n or_o needs_o diversion_n easy_o know_v how_o to_o work_v 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two_o act_n for_o
silk_n and_o for_o aught_o i_o know_v in_o the_o chief_a place_n of_o learning_n and_o religion_n can_v shroud_v herself_o in_o scarlet_a there_o be_v a_o false_a lucifer_n among_o the_o angel_n a_o wicked_a saul_n among_o the_o prophet_n a_o traitorous_a judas_n among_o the_o apostle_n and_o a_o easy_a inquiry_n may_v heretofore_o have_v discover_v a_o scycophanticke_a shaw_n among_o the_o doctor_n satis_fw-la esse_fw-la vidâ—…sse_fw-la revertor_n if_o adulation_n shall_v be_v now_o find_v to_o sojourn_v in_o our_o cloister_n i_o can_v wish_v by_o chushai_n she_o shall_v be_v teach_v her_o best_a office_n which_o be_v the_o common_a good_a and_o the_o prince_n preservation_n so_o shall_v we_o never_o fear_v that_o censure_n which_o tacitus_n give_v of_o the_o roman_a senator_n live_v under_o tiberius_n that_o they_o ambitious_o stand_v up_o in_o senate_n and_o strive_v to_o outvie_v one_o the_o there_o in_o servile_a baseness_n much_o less_o shall_v we_o deserve_v to_o be_v laugh_v at_o with_o those_o theban_n who_o as_o we_o read_v in_o justine_n fawn_v too_o much_o on_o philip_n greatness_n buy_v their_o new_a protection_n with_o the_o loss_n of_o their_o ancient_a liberty_n but_o i_o have_v too_o long_o entangle_v myself_o in_o this_o discourse_n of_o flattery_n wherein_o i_o fear_v i_o have_v neither_o observe_v the_o time_n nor_o flatter_v your_o patience_n i_o must_v now_o brief_o descend_v to_o the_o instrument_n of_o the_o discovery_n which_o in_o the_o next_o place_n present_v itself_o to_o examination_n 8_o almighty_a god_n in_o bring_v to_o pass_v matter_n of_o the_o great_a moment_n rather_o make_v than_o find_v the_o fit_a instrument_n as_o one_o who_o will_v rather_o have_v the_o subject_n indebt_v to_o his_o choice_n than_o his_o choice_n to_o our_o estimation_n he_o to_o who_o it_o be_v as_o easy_a to_o create_v as_o suborn_v a_o creature_n can_v as_o well_o give_v as_o take_v occasion_n and_o for_o his_o sacred_a purpose_n as_o soon_o fortify_v the_o weak_a as_o single_a out_o the_o strong_a achitophel_n politic_a advice_n suggest_v to_o absalon_n defeat_v by_o chushai_n communicate_v to_o zadocke_n and_o abiathar_n the_o priest_n be_v at_o length_n by_o david_n servant_n discover_v by_o a_o woman_n a_o silly_a maid_n who_o unexperienced_a youth_n unable_a sex_n and_o mean_a estate_n can_v express_v no_o other_o character_n than_o weakness_n be_v notwithstanding_o design_v out_o by_o god_n as_o the_o choice_a instrument_n of_o secure_v the_o state_n of_o israel_n and_o a_o king_n delivery_n the_o rare_a workmanship_n be_v commend_v as_o much_o by_o the_o worst_a as_o the_o best_a instrument_n and_o it_o be_v god_n frequent_a practice_n to_o speak_v with_o the_o apostle_n to_o make_v know_v the_o riches_n of_o his_o glory_n on_o the_o vessel_n of_o his_o mercy_n our_o saviour_n christ_n to_o who_o all_o the_o king_n and_o emperor_n of_o the_o earth_n owe_v observance_n who_o least_o alliance_n can_v have_v royalize_v the_o base_a family_n be_v please_v notwithhand_v as_o a_o inmate_n to_o make_v himself_o a_o passage_n into_o this_o world_n through_o mary_n neglect_a womb_n his_o cradle_n be_v no_o better_a than_o a_o crib_n and_o his_o first_o entertainment_n no_o high_o than_o josephs_n fortune_n neither_o be_v his_o birth_n a_o better_a argument_n than_o his_o life_n and_o action_n he_o may_v have_v breathe_v in_o the_o air_n of_o some_o prince_n court_v a_o kingly_a education_n or_o commit_v the_o tuition_n of_o his_o youth_n to_o the_o institution_n of_o the_o learned_a doctor_n rome_n be_v then_o in_o her_o pride_n and_o set_v the_o foot_n of_o her_o magnificence_n on_o the_o neck_n of_o the_o proud_a nation_n athens_n the_o mother_n of_o the_o grecian_a wisdom_n have_v long_o ere_o this_o triumph_a in_o her_o fruitful_a and_o glorious_a offspring_n and_o the_o scribe_n and_o doctor_n at_o jerusalem_n sit_v in_o moses_n chair_n can_v have_v challenge_v a_o right_a beyond_o the_o delphic_a oracle_n and_o yet_o we_o find_v neither_o his_o knowledge_n father_v by_o the_o most_o famous_a teacher_n nor_o his_o manner_n indebt_v to_o the_o severe_a institution_n the_o shop_n of_o a_o mechanitian_n seem_v his_o first_o academy_n the_o publican_n and_o sinner_n his_o familiar_a host_n and_o friend_n and_o the_o poor_a fisherman_n return_v from_o their_o break_a net_n admit_v into_o the_o number_n of_o his_o choice_a disciple_n by_o which_o we_o christian_n may_v be_v teach_v not_o to_o repose_v so_o much_o confidence_n in_o the_o strength_n of_o our_o mighty_a and_o great_a confederate_n as_o to_o neglect_v the_o industry_n and_o good_a will_n of_o our_o weak_a and_o mean_a associate_n virgil_n silly_a gnat_n can_v awaken_v the_o sluggish_a shepherd_n from_o his_o improvident_a slumber_n to_o decline_v the_o approach_a serpent_n and_o the_o impotent_a pismire_n have_v be_v teach_v to_o rouse_v up_o the_o sleep_a lion_n to_o make_v a_o escape_n from_o the_o hunter_n snare_n thus_o we_o find_v the_o chain_n of_o god_n almighty_n providence_n link_v together_o by_o so_o many_o dependent_a cause_n begin_v in_o god_n counsel_n second_v by_o david_n prayer_n continue_v in_o chushai_n loyalty_n and_o absalon_n weakness_n shut_v up_o at_o length_n in_o the_o action_n of_o a_o silly_a maid_n which_o as_o a_o introduction_n may_v lead_v our_o discourse_n a_o scene_n further_o to_o the_o last_o catastrophe_n and_o achitophel_n bloody_a tragedy_n to_o which_o have_v so_o much_o at_o this_o time_n trespass_v on_o your_o patience_n i_o shall_v god_n will_v engage_v my_o next_o exercise_n he_o must_v needs_o run_v who_o desperation_n lead_v and_o the_o 3_o devil_n drive_v that_o old_a serpent_n that_o first_o set_v mischief_n a_o work_n scorn_v as_o much_o to_o retire_v as_o delight_n to_o persevere_v and_o neither_o slack_v or_o stop_v his_o pace_n till_o he_o find_v the_o place_n of_o execution_n how_o far_o his_o wicked_a industry_n have_v go_v hand_n in_o hand_n with_o achitophel_n treacherous_a design_n your_o present_a memory_n may_v witness_v in_o my_o former_a exercise_n and_o your_o attention_n the_o defeat_n of_o his_o pernicious_a counsel_n with_o the_o cause_n present_v themselves_o to_o the_o horror_n of_o a_o guilty_a conscience_n second_v as_o well_o with_o outward_a disgrace_n as_o inward_a discontent_n turn_v his_o own_o weapon_n against_o himself_o and_o make_v his_o policy_n the_o most_o exquisite_a instrument_n of_o his_o own_o destruction_n this_o great_a politician_n who_o as_o the_o oracle_n of_o god_n the_o people_n of_o israel_n have_v never_o suspect_v of_o inconstancy_n or_o accuse_v of_o indiscretion_n who_o wise_a service_n have_v instruct_v absalon_n in_o all_o his_o part_n and_o so_o judicious_o as_o it_o be_v chalk_v out_o unto_o he_o the_o way_n to_o sovereignty_n may_v seem_v to_o deserve_v more_o in_o the_o eye_n of_o absalon_n than_o misprision_n what_o less_o reward_n can_v our_o best_a industry_n expect_v or_o gratitude_n express_v than_o acknowledgement_n or_o approbation_n what_o great_a evidence_n of_o present_a ability_n can_v our_o understand_n minister_v or_o our_o hope_n promise_v than_o the_o stamp_n and_o seal_v of_o our_o former_a action_n have_v chushai_n ever_o show_v himself_o so_o wise_a or_o achitophel_n so_o weak_a that_o chushai_n in_o the_o scale_n shall_v overpoize_v achitophel_n shall_v the_o fancy_n of_o a_o shallow_a courtier_n conquer_v the_o wit_n and_o experience_n of_o so_o great_a a_o statesman_n and_o the_o smooth_a tongue_n of_o flattery_n overreach_v the_o deep_a ground_n of_o a_o settle_a judgement_n what_o then_o remain_v for_o achitophel_n than_o by_o his_o sudden_a flight_n to_o express_v his_o noble_a indignation_n and_o foreshow_v absalon_n ruin_n in_o his_o own_o he_o will_v hang_v himself_o first_o to_o teach_v absalon_n the_o way_n to_o the_o same_o end_n and_o to_o outstrip_v he_o in_o the_o last_o act_n rather_o politic_o prevent_v than_o base_o fear_v the_o shameful_a stroke_n of_o execution_n and_o achitophel_n see_v that_o his_o counsel_n be_v not_o follow_v etc._n etc._n 2._o the_o scene_n whereon_o we_o now_o enter_v contain_v the_o last_o action_n of_o achitophel_n who_o catastrophe_n shut_v up_o all_o in_o his_o shameful_a end_n and_o honourable_a burial_n the_o action_n precede_v his_o death_n be_v express_v in_o these_o four_o circumstance_n 1._o that_o he_o saddle_v his_o ass_n 2._o that_o he_o go_v home_o 3._o that_o he_o put_v his_o house_n in_o order_n 4._o that_o he_o hang_v himself_o in_o the_o first_o we_o may_v observe_v his_o tyranny_n in_o impose_v on_o his_o silly_a ass_n the_o burden_n of_o his_o transgression_n in_o the_o second_o his_o treachery_n in_o leave_v his_o master_n in_o his_o great_a extremity_n in_o the_o three_o his_o worldly_a providence_n in_o prefer_v the_o preservation_n of_o his_o temporal_a estate_n before_o the_o preservation_n of_o his_o own_o soul_n in_o the_o four_o his_o desperate_a