Parable he spake to them Luke 19. concerning a Noble Man v. 12. where in v. 14. 't is said That the Citizens hated him and sent forth a Messenger after him saying We will not have this Man to reign over us The unbelieving Jews would have none of his Government 't was too strict for them they hate him and from thence 't was that they could not endure such who either preached him up as Lord or his Laws as that by which they ought to be ruled or did submit themselves to him or it and they persecuted them as intollerable used all means to hindier the publication of his Laws or him as Lord and Saviour and to hinder others submission to him and it for which Christ pronounced against them Mat. 23.13 in these words Wo to you Scribes and Pharisees Hypocrites for ye shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against Men for ye neither go in your selves neither suffer ye them who are entring to go in They from their hatred to Christ would not be subject to him and his Laws themselves nor would they suffer others to be subject but did oppose and persecute them and contradict and blaspheme the Doctrin persuading People to subjection to him and because the Light which shone in his Life and Doctrin and in his Followers did discover and reprove their wicked Natures and Deeds of Darkness it could not be born with as Christ told his unbelieving Brethren John 7. The world cannot hate you but me it hateth v. 7. Why Because said he I testifie of it that their works are evil Again John 3.19 20. Light is come into the world but men love darkness rather than light Why Because their deeds are evil for every one who doth evil hateth the light lest his deeds should be reproved or discovered Thus hath the Scripture assigned this to be the Original or one main Cause of the wicked Ones Enmity against and persecuting of the Saints and their high opposition against the Light of the Gospel and true Holiness it self 2dly It did arise from this That the Saints the called of God did evidence themselves to have been changed from what they were by Nature and by Practice too they owned and loved what formerly they had hated they had declared themselves not to be of the World could not run with the same excess of Riot with others as they had done do as formerly they did but their Lives and Works did contradict and reprove the Lives of their Persecutors Now this they could not bear therefore did they hate them and brake out against them in those various Methods and Ways before noted as the Scripture saith He who doth evil hateth the light John 3.20 No sooner did Saul whom they had so much loved formerly leave his persecuting of the Saints and being changed did evidence the same by joyning with them and in preaching up what his Heart had been against but the Jews hated him and studied to kill him Act. 9.19 20 and so on and that it would be so Christ had told his before John 15. If saith he there v. 19. ye were of the world the world would love his own but because ye are not of the world but I have chosen you out of the world therefore doth the world hate you Here did he intimate to them that no sooner should they evidence by their good Life that they are called out of the World and off from the evil Courses thereof but the World hated them upon that very account and thereupon persecuted them as 't is written Habak 1.13 in those days That the wicked devoured the man who was more righteous than he And 't is expresly said Gen. 4.5 That Cain was angry with his Brother Abel because the Sacrifice Abel offered was accepted and not his and he in v. 8. slew him altho the reason given of his Non-acceptance was because he did not well v. 7. and his Brother did as the Holy Ghost doth affirm in these words 1 John 3.12 Not as Cain was of that wicked one and slew his Brother and wherefore slew he him because his own Works were evil and his Brothers righteous upon which account the Saints are exhorted in the next verse not to marvail tho the World do hate them When Elijah had but evidenced his Change by reproving King Ahaziah for his sending to the God of Eckron to enquire if he should recover 2 Kings 1. v. 2 3 4. the King was so enraged against him that he v. 9. sent a Captain with his fifty to fetch him and the Captain and his men were destroyed by fire from Heaven yet he sent another and tho he was destroyed sent a third in the next verses such was his bitterness against Elijah for this cause only So said the Psalmist also Psal 38.19 and so on They who hate me are multiplyed c. They also who render evil for good are mine Adversaries because I follow the thing which good is there is the cause why wicked Men are adversaries to good Men only because they are good now and not such as formerly they were So again Psal 37.12 The wicked saith the Psalmist plotteth against the just and v. 14. They have drawn out the sword to slay such as be of an upright Conversation So said Amos too Chap. 5.10 They hate him who reproveth in the gate they abhor him who speaketh uprightly and v. 12. They afflict the just Here the Scripture assigned no other cause why these Men did envy hate and persecute them but this that those hated and persecuted Ones were just righteous and good and reproved their Persecutors for the contrary this was sufficient to render them obnoxious to the wickedst hatred and scorn Herod in those days committed John to Prison and would have put him to death because John had told him it was not lawful to marry his Brother Philips Wife Mat. 14.3 4 5. The Apostle Peter declares this too in his time 1. Epist. Chap. 4. speaking of the unconverted Gentiles thoughts of the converted Ones because they could not do as they had done and as the wicked still did v. 3 4. in these words Wherefore they think it strange that ye run not with them into the same access of Ryot speaking evil of you Here they speak evilly of the Saints because they could not be so wicked as they they wondred at their change could no longer think or speak well of them So that the Scripture doth make it evident that the wicked unbelieving Ones did in those days hate and persecute the Saints as Saints and only because they were new Creatures called out of the World Men of a good Life could not be and do as others did or do as they themselves sometimes had done by which they did reprove the Spirits and Doing of those wicked Persecutors 3dly A third cause or ground which the Holy Ghost in Scripture hath assigned from whence the Envy and persecuting Spirits of wicked Men did arise that was
and persecuted such as offered the true they took Paul here and carryed him before the highest Court where they put these questions to him After the same manner did the Jews with Paul upon this ground too Act. 18.11 He having before preached Jesus Christ to them at Corinth They here with one accord made an insurrection against him and brought him to the Judgment Seat saying This Fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the Law Here now was the great ground of their Enmity and Violence against him they could not bear to have Men worship God in any other way than in that which they had usually worshiped according to the Law and their Traditions nor bear with any Persuasions thereunto such was their blind zeal for that wherein they had been educated and used to Their old received Customs were more valued by them than the Laws of God tho God was then to be worshiped otherwise as Christ had hinted to them and as the Apostle Paul Acts 24. there confessed before the Governor that he did v. 14. in these words After the way they call Heresie so worship I the God of my Fathers believing all things written in the Law and the Prophets But because he did dissent from their Traditions and Customs and worshiped not as they did therefore called they his Way Heresie and they persecuted him as in the beginning of the Chapter and before altho it was according to what was written in the Law and the Prophets So again Act. 21. The Jews there v. 27. stirred up the People and laid hands on Paul and v. 28. cryed out this is the man who teacheth all men every where against the People and the Law and this Place This was the great thing which moved them here Paul had taught the People to worship God otherwise than according to the Ceremonies of the Law the Customs and Traditions of the Jews wherein they had been so long conversant and this they could not bear with The Admirers of Diana did so too Act. 19. when the Silversmith there had tho upon another account insinuated that the Apostles did design by their Preaching to disgrace and render their Goddess Diana contemptible v. 24 25. and so on These Adorers of Diana were very wroth upon the hearing on 't and the whole City was filled with confusion crying up Diana O they could not bear with any thing which they had apprehended to have any tendency to the lessening of their so much admired Diana which quickly put them into an unanswerable uprore and violence against Pauls Companions whom they had caught v. 28. and so on as the Town Clerk himself had told them v. 37 38. and so on Thus the Scpipture hath taken notice of this Cause also of the Enmity in the Breasts of wicked Men and of their persecuting Spirit against the Saints in those days 7thly There was yet a seventh cause or rise of the Enmity and persecuting Practices of these against the Saints which those divine Records hath set down in it that was the privat Profit and Gain that some Men had by some Religion then professed or some other Way then in esteem amongst the People which Gain being by Christ or the Apostles preaching of the truth abated or in danger of being gone they were set in a rage against the Truth and against all those who preached it or believed and embraced it they could not bear with the thoughts of their Gain being taken away therefore did persecute and endeavor to destroy the Apostles and others and used all means to prevent the spreading of their Doctrins This very thing put the Silversmiths upon stirring up the People who were the great Adorers of Diana Act. 19. Not their zeal for Diana so much as for their Profit When Paul there had preached in Asia and turning People from the worshiping of false gods the Silversmiths presently apprehending that this would bring Diana their Goddess into disesteem that People would not worship her any more and then farwell their Gain which matter so troubled them that 't is said thus there v. 23. That there was no small stir about this way and in the next verses That Demetrius who made the Silver Shrines to Diana brought no small gain to the Craftsmen whom he called together and said unto them Ye know that by this craft we have our wealth and Paul hath said They be no gods which are made with hands so that not only our craft is in danger but Diana would be despised which Saying proved sufficient to beget an Enmity in the Breasts of the Craftsmen against the Apostles and that Doctrin and to set them upon persecuting of them as in the following verses they did for they very well knew that if once the People did believe that the Religion and Worship they were found in were not right Diana no Goddess and that all their Zeal in and for that way was no better than Vanity Superstition and Idolatry then no body would imploy them to make Silver Shrines for Diana any more and consequently they must take leave of their old Gain this now set them into such a flame of Envy and Violence against the Apostles and their Preaching From the very same cause were the Masters of the Damsel who was possessed with the Spirit of Divination stirred up against Paul and Sylas and did persecute them Act. 16.16 't is there said That a certain Damsel possessed with a Spirit of Divination met us who brought her master much gain by southsaying whom Paul in v. 18. cast out upon which her masters in the next verses caught Paul and Sylas and drew them unto the Rulers unto the Magistrates saying These being Jews do exceedingly trouble our City and teach Customs c. Upon which the multitude rose up against them and the Magistrates commanded them to be beaten which they did and put them into Prison The main cause of all these Accusations and Complaints against them and of their Imprisonment and Beating was only the loss of that Gain the Damsel had brought her Masters as 't is expresly said v. 19. in these words And when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone they caught Paul c. Thus hath the Scripture also taken notice of this cause too why some in those Ages of the World did hate and persecute the Saints 8thly Yet further these divine Records hath taken notice of an eighth cause or spring from whence ill Mens Spirits were moved against the good or from whence many were engaged in persecuting and destroying of them that was from a fear of or desire to please and gratifie others some great Men or Men of Power who were themselves full of Envy and Malice against the Saints and did persecute them and thereby to secure to themselves the good opinion of those still tho otherwise against their own judgments and inclinations and it may be against convictions too that in so doing they did not well
not my Anointed and do my Prophets no harm Isaiah records these words Chap. 63.8 9. He was their Saviour in all their afflictions he was afflicted and the Angel of his presence saved them in his love and in his pity he redeemed them c. Here were great Expressions of his care and concernedness for them God himself by the Prophet Zachariah spake thus concerning them Chap. 2. v. 8. He who toucheth you toucheth the Apple of mine eye and in v. 9. he saith of their Enemies Behold I will shake mine hand upon them c. So did Christ himself declare his concernedness for the Church when Saul had persecuted them Act. 9.1 2 3. Christ met him in the way and in the next verses uttered these words Saul Saul why persecutest thou me Who art thou said Saul I am Jesus whom thou persecutest it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks Here Christ evidenced himself to be neerly concerned for his Saints and also he hinted to Saul the danger of persecuting too It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks Then Secondly The Scripture Records the many direful Threatnings against such Persecutors in those days and declared the many sad Effects and Consequents of such doing in those Ages of the World In the general God said Deut. 32. v. 43. That he will revenge the blood of his servants and will render vengeance to the adversaries And again Psal 7.13 He hath ordained his arrows against the Persecutors Yea thus spake he to his People Israel in particular by the Prophet Isaiah Chap. 10. O my people c. be not afraid of the Assyrians he shall smite thee with a rod v. 24. and in v. 25 26. For yet a little while and the indignation shall cease and mine anger in their destruction and the Lord of hosts shall stir up a scourge for him according to the slaughter of Midian Yea and tho their stout Hearts would not take notice of Gods Hand lifted up against them Isa 26. yet God said there That they should see and be ashamed for their envy at the people or towards my people yea said he there the fire of thine enemies shall devour them v. 11. Again Isa 51. I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling the dregs of the cup of my fury thou shalt no more drink it again but I will put it into the hands of them who afflict thee who said to thy soul bow down that we may go over c. v. 22 23. Here God tho he did permit his Peoples Enemies sometimes to lay the Rod on his yet the Dregs of the Cup the Enemies Persecuters themselves are threatned to drink with which God threatned several Nations who had been his Peopls Israels great Enemies and Oppressors for their insolent insulting over them and for all their cruel and severe Dealings with them Ezek. 25. The Amonites for their saying Aha Aha against Gods Sanctuary when it was profaned and against the land of Israel when it was desolate and against the house of Judah when they went into captivity v. 3. and in the next verses there are Threatnings denounced against them for this further and for that That they had claped their hands and rejoyced in heart with all their despight against the Land of Israel v. 6. and in the following verses Threatnings are denounced against them and against Moab too in the 8 9 and following verses and v. 12. 't is said from the Lord That because Edom hath dealt against the house of Judah by taking vengeance and hath greatly offended and revenged himself upon them therefore did God threaten them sorely in the next verses and again in v. 15. 't is said of the Philistines thus Because they dealt by revenge and have taken vengeance with a despightful heart to destroy for the old hatred therefore thus saith the Lord I will stretch forth my hand c. in the next verses God also threatens Titus for the lifting up her self against Israel see it at large Ezek. 26. and in Chap. 35. God by the Prophet there saith to Mount Seir thus I am against thee and I will stretch out mine hand against thee and I will make thee most desolate c. v. 1 2 3 4. and in v. 5. he declares the cause in these words Because thou hast a perpetual hatred and hast shed the blood of the Children of Israel by the force of the sword and in the time of their calamity c. and in the next verses he saith I will prepare thee to blood and blood shall pursue thee c. So did God threaten the Heathen in general for the same cause in Chap. 36. at the beginning and in Zephan Chap. 2. did he threaten Moab and Ammon upon this account v. 8. I have heard the reproach of Moab said he and the revilings of the Children of Ammon whereby they have reproached my people and magnified themselves against their borders therefore as I live saith the Lord there v. 9. and so on Moab shall as Sodom c. Nay God threatned the Heads of Jacob and Princes of the house of Israel for their hating of the good and loving of the evil and as the natural consequent thereof their hurting and persecuting of his People Micah 3.1 2 3 4. And again he threatens Edom in Obadiah v. 9 10. for this cause too in these words And thy mighty men O Teman shall be dismayed to the end that every one of the mount of Esau may be cut off by slaughter for thy violence against thy Brother Jacob shame shall cover thee and thou shalt be cut off for ever Thus did God in those days take notice of the abuses done to his and did threaten their Persecutors Yea further in the days of the New Testament too doth the Holy Ghost take special notice of these things Christ himself pronounced a woe in general to such who should offend his Mat. 18. said he there Whosoever shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck and that he were drowned in the depth of the Sea v. 6. and in v. 7. he adds a woe to the world because of offences c. and woe to the man by whom they come this he spake in general but more particular to the Jews He in Mat. 23.29 30. pronounced Woes against them upon this account and spake dreadfully to them v. 34 37. in these words I send you Prophets c. and some of them ye shall kill and crucifie and some of them shall you scourge in your Synagogues and persecute them from City to City That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the Earth from righteous Abel c. According to which the Apostle spake 1 Thess 2. of the Jews he having said to the Thessalonians v. 14. That they also had suffered like things of their Countrymen as they have of the
the Pride height of Spirit and revengeful Nature which was in them Such was their Pride that they would not seek God themselves nor bear with those who did as the Psalmist said Psal 10.4 That the wicked through the pride of his countenance will not seek God and in v. 8. 't is said of him That in the secret places doth he murther the innocent his eyes are privily set against the poor as their Pride here would not permit them to seek God so it set them against the Saints innocent Ones who did seek God The Psalmist again Psal 119.69 said The proud have forged a lie against me And again Psal 123.4 he saith Our Soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of them who are at ease and with the contempt of the proud Here the Holy Ghost takes notice that the Pride of their Hearts did render the Saints the objects of their Scorn and put them upon forging of lies against them This very thing set Haman into so great hatred against Mordicai and made him so resolute on revenge against him and all the Jews Hester 3. his proud Heart could not bear with Mordicai because he did not arise and do him Reverence as is expressed v. 5. in these words When Haman saw that Mordicai bowed not nor did him reverence then was Haman full of wrath and in the next verse He thought scorn to lay hands on Mordicai alone but sought to destroy all the Jews with him such were his revengeful Purposes from the dreadful Pride of his Heart Hence it came to pass that the Presidents and Princes in Daniels time so much hated him studied to revenge and took those courses to execute it upon him Dan. 6. He being now advanced by King Darius over all the Presidents and Princes v. 1 2. their proud hearts could not bear it and this put them upon seeking occasion against him concerning the Kingdom v. 4. and finding none so good a Subject and innocent Man was he they in the next verses resolves to take him in the matters of his God procured a Law and pursued him in the ways they had devised till they had gotten him into the Lions Den tho the King himself would have saved him From the like pride of Heart the Libertines and others who were disputing with Stephen Act. 6. and not able v. 9. to resist the spirit and wisdom by which he spake nor able to bear to be silenced by Stephen they in the next verses evidenced their Pride and revengeful Spirits they confute him by suborning Witnesses stirring up the People Elders and Scribes against him caught him and carryed him before the Council The like Spirit did the Jews evidence in those days in their Behaviour towards the Man who was born blind John 9. when he had by such convincing Arguments which they could not resist proved Christ to be of God v. 30. and so on The Pride of the Pharisees being such that they could not bear to be put to silence by such a poor unlearned Man as he was therefore they v. 34. took this course they first say to him Thou wast altogether born in sin and dost thou teach us And they Excommunicated him Having no better Argument they confuted him this way and revenged upon him after this sort Thus hath the Scripture noted that the wicked Ones envy against good Men often did arise from the Pride of their Hearts and revengeful Nature 4thly A fourth cause or ground from whence they so maligned and persecuted the Saints Christ himself and his Followers in those days did arise from their great ignorance of God himself of Christ and of the Saints in persecuting of whom they persecuted Christ as he told Saul Act. 9.4 As 't is said of Pharaoh Exod. 5.2 Who is the Lord that I should let Israel go I know not the Lord said he therefore I will not let Israel go his ignorance of God here made him oppress and grieve Gods People still and pursue them afterwards So it was with Saul Act. 9. when Christ had said Why persecutest thou me Saul answered Who art thou Lord v. 4 5. Here his ignorance of Jesus was the cause why he persecuted him and his Saints Christ intimates this also to be the cause why the Jews hated him and persecuted him to the death Luke 23. when they were Crucified of him he there prays for them in these words v. 34 Father forgive them for they know not what they do Had they known him saith the Scripture they would not have crucified the Lord of glory 1 Cor. 2.8 Their ignorance here was the cause of their persecuting Acts and of their malignant Mind against him and his The Psalmist took it for granted that in those days it did proceed from hence Psal 14.4 thus he said Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge who eat up my people as they eat bread Which Saying strongly implies that had they had knowledge they would not they could not have done so The Apostles also in their time did intimate the like and assigned the Ignorance of the Jews to be the cause of their malignity against Christ and his Act. 3. they tell them v. 15. That they had killed the Prince of life but v. 17. saith to them thus Now Brethren I wot that through ignorance ye did it as did also your Rulers And again Act. 13. said the Apostle to them in v. 27. That they who dwell at Jerusalem and their Rulers because they knew him not nor yet the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath-day they have fulfilled them in condemning him and in v. 28. Tho they found not cause of death in him yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain Upon the same Foundation of Ignorance Paul acknowledgeth that he went Act. 26. I verily thought with my self v. 9. that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus The Jews themselves John 9. did own their ignorance of Christ v. 29. said they As for this Fellow we know not from whence he is all the undeniable Evidences they had had that he was of God did not enlighten them nor convince them therefore they persisted to envy and persecute him and as to such who professed to own him many denied him Titus 1.16 being unto every good work reprobate or void of Judgment In like manner the Scripture declared that afterwards they persecuted and hated good Men upon this account or from hence that they knew not God Christ or them 1 Jo. 3.1 Therefore the world knoweth us not because it knew not him and as Christ had told his Disciples John 15.20 If they persecuted me they will also persecute you and in the next verses gives the reason of it in these words All these things will they do unto you for my name sake because they know not him who sent me So again John 16. The time cometh said Christ there v. 2. that whosoever killeth you shall think he doth God
good service the reason of which he gives in the next verse in these words These things will they do because they have not known the Father nor me From this Root also doubtless it came to pass that the Christians in that Age were called a Sect Act. 28. and were so much spoken against every where as Pauls Countrymen said v. 2. We desire said they to him to hear of thee what thou thinkest for as concerning this Sect we know that every where 't is spoken against right or wrong they speak against them and their way because they understood them not nor it Peter in general assigns this as the cause of Mens speaking evil of many things 2 Pet. 2.12 Those saith he speaking there of wicked Men as natural brute Beasts c. spake evil of the things which they understood not nay 't is marvellous that the malice of the Jews against Christ did so blind them that when Judas came to them and acknowledged to them that he had betrayed innocent Blood Mat. 27.3 4. They say What is that to us look thou to that when they had been the chief Instruments in the betraying of him and putting him to death Thus doth the Scripture Records note this Cause among others of which Mens envy against Christ himself and his Followers in those days against the Saints of old before his time and why they persecuted them 5thly A fifth cause or ground yet which the same Scripture doth assign or declare of these their Spirits and Doings was from a causeless and carnal Fear which they had conceived that if the Saints of old Jesus Christ and his Followers in those days were suffered amongst them or if their Doctrin should have prevailed then these would grow to big for them and would withdraw their subjection from their Rulers Rebel usurp Authority and would be had in greatest Esteem and Repute by the People and so derogate from the Honor Esteem Authority and Rule of those who did thus envy and persecute them they were ready to think that all Men would believe on Christ and that all the World would go after him if they should have let Him and his Followers alone and should not have stopped their course as they did declare John 11.48 If we let him thus alone said they there all men will believe on him and the Romans shall come and take away both our Place and Nation And again John 12.19 they said Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing behold the world is gone after him thus did their causeless Jealousie work to Envy and Hatred and Persecution This made the Chief Priests and Scribes so highly displeased Mat. 21. when they had seen Christ to have such Esteem among the People and the same so evidenced by the multitudes spreading of their Garments decking the Ways where he did ride with Branches and crying out Hosanna to the Son of David blessed is he who cometh in the name of the Lord Hosanna in the Highest v. 8 9 15. and upon this they v. 23. demanded of Christ by what authority he did those things as if he were about to usurp Authority or at least that he did it against or without Authority Particular instances of this cause or ground too not a few the Scripture takes notice of as in Exod. 1. The King there was without cause jealous that the Jews there would grow too great and numerous and Rebel therefore consulted to prevent their increase by dealing hardly with them his Jealousie is expressed v. 9 10. in these words The Children of Israel are more and mightier than we Come let us deal wisely with them lest they multiply and it come to pass that when there falleth out any War they join also to our Enemies and fight against us This causeless Fear put him upon dealing cruelly with them in order to prevent their growth as in the following verses upon which account also Josephs Brethren went Gen 37. they suspecting by his Dreams and his Fathers shew of love to him that Joseph would be greater than they v. 4. and the 8 11. they thereupon are said there to hate him and envy him and v. 19 20. of the same Chap. they consulted to slay him They could not bear with the thoughts of this that he should be greater than they in his Fathers Heart nor superior unto them in after-times which they had guessed his Dreams did intimate that he should be therefore they hate him and resolve to prevent the coming thereof to pass by taking away of his Life tho God purposed to advance Joseph to save them alive as Joseph afterwards told them Gen. 45.5 This Spirit is taken notice of also in Joshua from the same ground in Moses time Numb 11.26 When Eldad and Medad had prophesied in the Camp the young man presently thinking Moses was clouded somewhat by this told Moses on 't v. 27. and v. 28. said My Lord Moses forbid them which Spirit of Envy in Joshua and the cause on 't too Moses perceived and blamed him for it in these words in the next verses Enviest thou for my sake would God that all the Lords people were Prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them all doubtless Joshua here thought that none should have the honor of a Spirit of Prophesie but Moses or if they had they should not shew it as being eclipsing to Moses Glory and this stirred up this Envy in him For this cause also did Saul eye and envy David in that day and sought his Life David had gotten far into the opinion of his Fellow Subjects through his prudent Behavior in the Kings business and Saul feared that he would usurp the Kingdom too doubtless which he intimated in these words 1 Sam. 18. When the Women came after the overthrow of the Philistines singing in v. 6 7. that Saul had slain his thousands and David his ten thousands he v. 8. was very wroth and the saying displeased him and he said they have ascribed to David his ten thousand and to me thousand and can he have more but the Kingdom The Effect followeth in the next verses Saul from that day following eyed David and resolved and endeavored to kill him and Chap. 19.1 He gave order to his Son and Servants to kill him Yea he was also wroth with his Son Jonathan upon the same grounds for Jonathans sake 1 Sam. 19. when Jonathan had been excusing Davids absence v. 28 29. Sauls anger was kindled against Jonathan v. 30. and he said unto him Do not I know that thou hast chosen the Son of Jesse to thine own confusion c. and in the next verse he said As long as the Son of Jesse liveth upon the ground thou shalt not be established nor thy Kingdom wherefore send and fetch him to me for he shall surely die Here Sauls apprehension that David did eclipse his Glory and that the People had too much esteem for David and that he might prove disloyal and usurp