some modern Historians report did also to cut off all hopes of a Reconciliation between the Father and Son perswade Absolon to go in to his Fathers Concubines and that in the sight of all Israel than which as Sanctius says the Devil himself could not have given a more pernicious Counsel nor if he had been incarnate done a viler act And by this time the Devil was entred into the heart of Achitophel and drove him furiously to destruction and quod facis fac cito his design of rising suddenly that very night with his twelve thousand Brisk Boys and falling on David while he was weak and weary to seize his person and smite him onely knowing that in him who was the breath and life of all his Loyal People they would all be as the King was but dead men 2 Sam. 17.2 and 3. This designe I say when it was brought to the birth though at first it pleased Absolon and all the Elders of Israel v. 4. yet on second thoughts they all abhorred the bloudiness of that execrable designe and God heard the Prayer of David and the Supplications which were incessantly made for him and confounded that devilish device turning the counsel of Achitophel into foolishness who being deserted of all his Confederates deserts himself too and foreseeing that Absolon would be defeated and all his own evil Arts and Impostures laid open his suborning false Witnesses his encouraging seditious Petitions his lying Slanders against the Lords Anointed his obstructing the execution of Justice and acting arbitrarily against the Loyal Party he becomes desperate and thinks of nothing but going with Judas to his own place as the Text says he went home and hanged himself Morbus ob nimiam Animi tristitiam But the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth Suffocatus est he was suffocated and so the Septuagint render it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and R. Elias says he was strangulatus ab Angina he died of a Squinzy in his Throat His own Choler his gross and indigested Lyes and Perjuries were instead of an Halter So that though he escaped the hands of David's Executioners the Vengeance of God pursued him and suffered him not to live Qui ejusmodi ingenii sunt quodvis libentius subeunt quam ignominiam dedecus Yea his own Malice did destroy him quia non aliquâ nocuisset mortuus est the overflowing of his gall and his venomous spirit consumed his Vitals and eat up his Flesh Thus died our Achitophel and thus let all the Kings implacable Enemies perish but upon himself let the Crown flourish Achitophel is dead but his Malice survives he had sown those Serpents teeth that sprung up into armed men but he never shewed more of his Serpentine subtilty than in chusing apt and active Instruments and managing them to the best advantage for the perfecting of his execrable designes His first great Engine was the debauching of Absolon one of the Royal Bloud a person too well qualified for such an unnatural designe who being of a bloudy and ambitious spirit was not satisfied with the death of Amnon his eldest Brother but sought his Fathers life too Achitophel having baited the Hook with the present hopes of the Crown the possession whereof would expiate the greatest Villanies as his Polititian had informed him was easily insnared Him our Achitophel took into his tuition and too great a Proficient he was in all the evil Arts of his Tutor by whose Methods he courted the People so successfully as in a short time he was the Idol of the People for the Vulgar are led by Sense and Raree Shows a flattering Tongue and beautiful Aspect for all which there was none like Absolon 2 Sam. 14.25 As for beauty multum egregio decus enitet ore in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absolon from the soal of whose foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish And as his Beauty was attractive of Love so the symmetry strength and activity of body fitted him for Arms and Action and of his personal Valour and daring Spirit he had given the people sufficient proof his natural Advantages and Abilities were polished and set off with all imaginable arts of Courtship and indefatigable Industry For he rose up early and stood by the way of the gate where Judgment was to be given to meet and encourage such Petitioners as Achitophel sent thither with Complaints And it was so when any came to the King for judgment Absolon called them to him and without more ado said Thy matters are good and right but there is no man deputed of the King to hear thee O that I were made judge in the land that every man that hath any suit or cause might come to me and I would do him justice 2 Sam. 15.2,3,4 But he did not onely verba dare but omnia serviter pro imperio If any did him obeisance he returned the complement threefold he put forth his hand and embraced them in his bosom and kissed them too v. 5. and as if he would breathe his very Soul into theirs he whispers to them his sence of their Grievances and promises Redress He condoles the defects of his Fathers Government who through old Age and new Delights was wholly indisposed for the government of so great a People which was now devolved on corrupt Magistrates and a carnal Priesthood by whom judgment is turned into gall and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock Amos 6.12 yea truth faileth and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey Isai 59.15 Inest omni populo malignum quid querulum adversus Imperatores These were placentia to the People who are never better pleased than when they hear well of themselves and ill of their Governours And now Absolon is more the Peoples Darling than ever he was his Fathers he and his Adherents are the Patriots and Saviours of their Country all the foundations are out of course and they alone bear up the pillars of it His Fame is ecchoed now from Dan to Beersheba He hath his Friends and Confidents in every corner of the Country who proclaim Absolon's Graces and Perfections for which his Soul was more beautiful than his Body and that he was the Hope of Israel that was oppressed and ready to expire through the growth of Tyranny and Idolatry And now look to thy self David the hearts of thy People are stollen from thee and it is no difficult matter to employ their hands to take the Crown from thy head These Alarms awaken David's Spirit and put him into a great streight between his Fatherly affection to Absolon and his own preservation in which that of his People was bound up and this later prevails against the former Absolon is banished for the space of tw years from the presence and Dominions of his Father 2 Sam. 14.28 during which time he saw not his fathers face but by the mediation of Joab David's General
from such sins than a bigotted Separatist One tells the People that they are the Original of Civil Authority and if Magistrates act not by the Laws quas vulgus eligerit they forfeit their Authority Others That it is lawful for them to enter into Leagues and Covenants for defence of themselves and their Religion without and against the Magistrates command That it is not against Scripture or the practice of Primitive Christians violently to resist the Higher Powers when they persecute them for Religion or when the Prince commands against the Laws of the Country That Success justifieth a Cause and to pursue it is to comply with the Will of God and the Conduct of Providence That King Charles the First was lawfully put to death and his Murtherers were the blessed Instruments of Gods Glory in their Generation That he first made War on the Parliament and therefore might not onely be resisted but ceased to be a King and many that died in the War against him are glorious Saints in Heaven That the Presbyterian Government is that Scepter of Christ to which all the Kings of the Earth must bow or he will break them in pieces like a Potters Vessel That the Removal of our Ceremonies was sufficient to countervail for all the Bloud and Treasure spent and spilt in the late Wars In an Epist to the Lord Hallifax Tune inter se concordant quam in perniciem justi conspirant non quia se invicem amant sed quia cum qui amandus erat simul oderant They are told that all the true Protestants are united Presbyterian Independent and Anabaptist sound Protestants all Materials for a new Establishment are prepared there wants onely the perfecting skill of some Master-builder such as his Lordship was and then hands to work That the Wheel was turning and that part which was under would shortly be uppermost And out comes the Celeusma a barbarous Outcry not unknown to Marriners by their Ho-up calling all Hands or One and all to hoist up the Sails for a new Commonwealth Under such Doctrines as these the Presses have sweat the Church hath groaned the Peoples Souls led Captive in Chains of Darkness and under these this Horrid Conspiracy hath been hatched The Devil himself when he appeared in the Mantle of Samuel never did nor could teach Saul more pernicious Doctrines than these Yet these are the Religious Godly Soul-saving Teachers of the Time though by their Fruits we may know them and as well expect Grapes from Thorns and Figs from Thistles as any good Effects from such ill Causes Ferguson Casteers and Lob three Conventicle-Preachers are discovered to have been in the Plot. Philostratus in the life of Apollonius contends that the murder of Domitian was more owing to the Doctrine of Apollonius than to the hands of Stephanus and Parthenius who slew him And as the death of Charles the First was imputable to such Preachers so might the death of Charles the Second had not our gracious God prevented it by the death of these Conspirators to which their false Prophets have betrayed them If you look for a Character of their Godliness you have it in a Character in Text-hand Without natural affection truce-breakers false accusers incontinent fierce despisers of those that are good traytors heady high-minded lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof 2 Tim. 3.3 4. But the Objection says that some of the Conspirators were of the Communion of the Church of England Answ This is as great a truth as that Fiction of Mr. Baxter that the first War was begun by Episcopal men such as sided with Archbishop Laud when it is well known that that learned Loyal Prelate was one of the first that was struck at and in him the whole Church of England Root and Branch And this is the first time since the Reformation that any of the Church of England were accused of Rebellion against their Princes There may be a Judas or two that have partaken of that Tessera of our Communion the body and bloud of Christ but I think that having first resolved to betray their Master the Devil entred into their hearts and filled them with all iniquity and at last brought them to destruction The Church of England was that thorny Hedge of which Mr. Baxter says he made it the most serious action of his life to pull it down and he would still endeavour it though by going on both sides the hedge i. e. I suppose complying with all Parties and though he were well scratched for his pains And he hath been as big as his word not onely endeavouring it himself but encouraging all his Disciples by his Moral Prognostications of which see The second part of the History of Separation where the Piety of such men is made transparent Saepe deprehensi obstinate agunt And now as from the Principles of Popery I do believe that there was is and will be a Popish Plot against the Established Government and Religion so from the like Principles of Dissenters and their correspondent practices I do verily believe that there hath been is and will be several Attempts for the Confusion both of Church and State as now established Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth may Israel now say yet have they not prevailed against me Psal 129.1 If it had not been the Lord who was on our side when men rose up against us they had swallowed us up quick when their wrath was kindled against us But blessed be God who hath not given us up as a prey unto their teeth the snare is broken and we are escaped Our help is in the Name of the Lord Psal 124.1 All men shall see it and fear and declare the work of the Lord saying This hath God done and shall wisely consider of his doing Having seen David's danger in the first part of the Parallel we now proceed to consider his Deliverance in the next part As God is the Saviour of all men but especially of them that believe so among Believers in a most peculiar manner he hath in all ages of the World shewed forth his power and Mercy in the miraculous and gracious Deliverances of his Church and protection of Righteous and Religious States professing his holy and eternal truth This David often experimented God sometime preventing him with his Blessing and when he foresaw to what distress his Enemies had reduced him he heard the cry even before he called The very misery of Gods People often moves him to pity At other times God delivered him from the violent man and covered his head in the day of battle and gave victory to his King over all his Enemies so that when they dealt most proudly God was above them and brought them down When their Plots were laid so secret that they boasted none should see it God tells them all men shall see it while they encouraged one
people Circa personas publicas Specialis habitat providentia Wherefore as God calls them to a more operose and dangerous work so he gives them proportionable helps and assistances for which he covenanted with David when he gave him the Kingdom I have found David my servant with my holy oyl have I anointed him with whom my hand shall be established and my arm shall strengthen him the enemy shall not exact upon him nor the son of wickedness afflict him I will beat down his foes before his face and plague them that hate him Psal 89.20,21,22,23 And these were the sure mercies of David which God that cannot lie did always perform unto him And when he doth the like to other good Kings he fulfils his own Covenant and pleads his own Cause Thus as the Heathen fancied every King of the Nations had a God to be his Guardian Mulciber in Trojam pro Trojâ stabat Apollo so certainly every Prince especially such as defend the true Faith have God for their Protector and as Phidias's portraicture was so engraven in the Statue of Minerva that the Image of the Goddess was violated with that of her Workman so the honour of God is reflected on by any injury offered to the King Therefore God hath enjoyned first of all that prayers supplications and thanksgivings be made for kings and all that are in authority 1 Tim. 2. So in the Old Testament Prayers shall be made for him and daily shall he be praised Psal 72.15 not cursed and reproached Therefore God hath given such strict Rules and Commands concerning them Not to speak evil of dignities for that is a kind of Blasphemy Thou shalt not speak evil of the rulers of the people Acts 23.5 Nor to hearken to any murmurings or discontent for such murmurings are not against them so much as against the Lord who chose them to that Office Not to scatter false reports and create fears and jealousies whereby the affections of the Subjects may be alienated from their Prince Excordem reddidit amentem populum for that were as Absolon to steal the hearts of the people which is not onely to take the Crown from his head but in effect as we have seen his Head from his Shoulders and to leave the Body of the people as a Carkas fit onely to be devoured by Birds and Beasts of prey And as the Laws are strict so the Sanctions to enforce those Laws are so severe that no wit of men though all the Kings of the earth should consult together can either prescribe better Laws or oblige their Subjects to obedience under such penalties for 't is not the King onely that executes Wrath and Vengeance on the Disobedient and as Solomon Prov. 17.11 sends a cruel messenger to them that contrive Rebellion but God hath threatned that they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation Rom. 13. which is certainly to be understood of eternal Damnation as due to this as to any other sin this being one of the first magnitude and the cause of an infinite number of other sins and no less a penalty in the judgment of all Divines would be effectual to affright men from any beloved Lust And therefore I present this as another wise consideration to such as are tempted to this Impiety And now I may infallibly conclude from these premises that as surely as Achitophel's Counsel and Absolon's Rebellion was from Satan so was the contrivance and practice of our Late Conspirators from the same evil Spirit and the Kings Deliverance from God as sure as Davids was Qui facit mirabilia magna solus who onely doth great and marvelous works and doth them in such a manner that they ought to be had in everlasting remembrance A second consideration may be this Gods hand is most evidently seen in those Actions that make most for his Glory and for those ends for which he hath established Rule and Government in the World i. e. that under it we may lead quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness and honesty And as these ends are generally attained under Religious Princes so if they should perish untimely and violently nothing but Disorder and Confusion would follow as it was with Israel of old and with us in later days when There was no king in Israel every one did what seemed right in his own eyes If this prodigious Designe had succeeded God should have been entituled the Author of it and be mock'd with a Thanksgiving-day for the success the Actors had been honoured as Patriots and Saints the Protestant Religion had by these true Protestants received another indelible Blot and the true Protestant been rendred more odious than the most treacherous Papists or those Hungarians that fight under the Great Turk against Christianity Heresie Hypocrisie and Regicide been made the publick Profession and Religion of the Nation But God is not the Author of such Confusions He hath by this Discovery vindicated his own Glory and the established Religion and Government among us and if our sinful Ingratitude do not separate between God and us he will do it to the end of the World These things ought wisely to be laid to heart by every serious Christian therefore thus saith the Lord I do not this for your sakes O house of Israel but for my holy Names sake which ye have prophaned among the heathen and that the heathen may know that I am the Lord when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes Ezek. 36.22 And God grant that what follows in that Prophet may be found among us That God may put his Spirit within us and cause us to walk in his Statutes and keep his Judgments and do them that we may dwell in the Land that he gave unto our Fathers and we may be his people and he our God Ezek. 11.23 And then though as Isay saith our enemies associate themselves they shall be broken in pieces though they gird themselves to battel they shall be broken in pieces though they take counsel together it shall come to nought for God is with us Isai 8.9,10 Thirdly Again let us consider wisely that in this wonderful Deliverance there appeared no other Agent or Instrument but Gods immediate and out-stretched Arm working Deliverance for us not by means but without and against means by contrary means even by the same that would have destroyed us Not by force nor by might but by my Spirit saith the Lord it was not our Sword nor our Bow but it was God that saved us from our Enemies and put them to confusion that hated us By this we may know that it is God alone and beside him there is no Saviour When he commands and creates Deliverances and we are saved so as by fire by the very means that would have destroyed us he must be blind that cannot see it and may he be dumb that will not say This hath God done And Qui solus in Opere sit solus in