for your own ways O House of Israel Ezek. 36.22 32. When we have least to say and have no Reasons to plead taken from our selves we have most to say and the most prevailing Argument to urge by Faith taken from the free Mercy of God and the Glory of his great Name O let us take Courage and come boldly to the Throne of Grace and say Psal 6.4 Jer. 14.7 Save us for thy Mercies sake O Lord though our Iniquities testify against us do thou it for thy Name 's sake for our back-slidings are many we have sinned against thee O Lord hear O Lord forgive O Lord hearken and do defer not Dan. 9.19 for thine own sake O my God for the City and People that are called by thy Name Not unto us O Lord not unto us but unto thy Name give Glory for thy Mercy Psal 115.1 2. and for thy Truth 's sake Wherefore should the Heathen say the French and Irish the Philistines the Enemies of the Lord that have so reproached him that have destroyed all his Tabernacles in the Land say Where is now their God Such an Encouragement as this may quicken us to a lively Attention to the Word of God and put Life into our Prayers when most dejected under the sense of our Sins And so now I come to the Words 1. In this part of sacred Story we read of another War between a proud Zech. 9.6 unquiet idolatrous superstitious People and David ver 5. The Philistines had been often destroyed and conquered by the Sword of David and yet they begin another War with David as the Phrase doth intimate And the Philistines had yet War again with Israel as if they began it and provoked Israel unto it We read not what the particular Cause of the War was it might be from inveterate Hatred from Contrariety of Religion for the Philistines like our Papists had their Images in the Battel of Baal Perazim and as their Images could not help them so neither could they save their Images 2 Sam. 5.21 or it might be Impatience of Revenge that might stir them up and they thought themselves strong enough to overcome and over-run Israel or they might promise to themselves the Life of David having a self-confident vain-glorious Giant Ishbi-benob who might brag as well as think of killing David It is a righteous Judgment of God upon the inveterate Enemies of his People which they see not that they will not be quiet in their Possessions but after many Overthrows they will be making Wars against them 2. And David went down and his Servants with him and fought against the Philistines it seems to be a defensive as well as a lawful War to go down against the Philistines and not to stay for their coming into the Land of Israel they were the beginners of the War and David doth wisely choose the Seat of the War which might be most convenient the further off from home and the nearer the Enemies Country the better An experienced valiant King will neither refuse nor delay to fight against the Enemies of God's People and his Kingdom when there is just Cause and Provocation given 3. And David waxed faint he grow in Years and was much decayed in Strength or tired and weakned with the Wars This Circumstance affords us many Observations 1. The Wars and Troubles in a King's Reign are no Sign or Indication of and should create no Suspitions in any Men of the Weakness or Badness of his Title to the Kingdom Never had King a better or a clearer Title to a Kingdom than David had appointed and designed of God elected and made by the People and anointed Nay the Malice of the Philistines boil'd and swell'd and broke out into an open Attempt and War against David when they heard he was anointed 2 Sam. 5.17 But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David King over Israel all the Philistines came to seek David And spread themselves in the Valley of Rephaim v. 18. Is David anointed has he taken the Kingdom upon him then before he is settled in his Throne we will seek him This Policy was equal to the Malice while the Government was young and tender as some here said of ours and the Factions of the Kingdom not inwardly healed but the Providence of God turned this to David's Glory by giving him the Victory they and their Images fell into his Hands ver 20 21. When God designs a King and gives him a Throne they who rise against him rise and war against God himself and let that King acknowledg God and seek him as David did and all his Enemies shall not prevail against him but fall and perish David had a good Title but a troublesome Reign 2. A good King when he takes a Kingdom takes it not for the Glory and Ease of it but for the Glory of God and Good of his Kingdom with all the Labours and Dangers of a War 3. The true Interest Peace and Happiness of a Kingdom is the Concernment of a good King The Philistines had a great spight against David's Person in the former Design and War but now they hated Israel which were the People of God and professed the true Religion and now David is as much engaged to go out in Person against the Philistines 4. A faithful and a valiant King will endure the great Toil and Weariness of a War even to Faintness 5. That even a David a Servant of God will find it a hard and hazardous Work to fight his Enemies 6. A good and valiant King will expose his own Person and tire himself in Battel and yet not fly nor leave the Field David waxed faint but yet stands his ground 7. The best and stoutest King must feel his own Infirmities that he may know that he conquereth not by his own Strength 8. That though a good King shall prevail yet first he may be brought very low and faint The greatest Champion will faint in time and often-times a Cause and People may be brought very low before a Conquest The Power of God will be seen in humane Weakness and give him hot and fainting work that his glorious Power may bring forth Victory and Peace 4. Ver. 16. And Ishbi-benob c. How exact an account have we here given us of this great Enemy of David By his Name a very notorious and noted Man his Descent and Family which was of the Sons of the Giant his great Strength his dangerous Weapon The Weight of whose Spear weighed three hundred Shekels of Brass in Weight About nine Pound six Ounces Haver depoise Clark's Annot About half as big as Goliah's 1 Sam. 17.7 but according to others a great deal more and by his particular Preparation for Mischief to David's Person being girded with a new â—word Sword is not in the Original Text but supplied for Explication as contained in the word girded Girded with a new somewhat extraordinary and fitted for his
Bottles How many of those who seem well affected to the Government are grosly ignorant sensual and profane unreformed unrefined from their Lees What can these do What ill-favoured irreverent what cold and dead what broken Work do many make so that we have cause to fear the Divine abhorrence of our Fasting How far may a Man ride before he can see one Sinner whose Heart and Life is reformed according to the Word of God after our many monthly Days of Fasting If a Poll could be taken of them that are for or against or are wary Neuters whether ever God and Christ or their Enemies should be found in the best side All must be excluded from voting right who do not lift up holy Hands to God in Prayer so that from the Land's End even to the Town of Berwick we can make no more than a Gideon's Army But yet I hope there are enow to make an Army too strong for all the Enemies of our Faith Religion Peace and Government Be therefore of good Courage wait on the Lord and he shall strengthen your Heart all ye that hope in the Lord. Encourage our selves in the Lord our God were our Extremities greater and more than they are And consider 1. Is not God on our Side O let us humbly wrestle with his Majesty to rise for his own Glory for David's sake for Jerusalem's sake what will our Enemies the Heathen say 2. Hath not God prevented us with his loving-Kindness Did we by our Prayers call in our Deliverer Did not God put it into his Heart before we knew of it Have we not seen when we fasted and prayed it went well with us for the Honour of God for the Honour of his Ordinance for Prayer's-sake despised blasphemed Prayers-sake I was glad to hear it was the poor praying People of Ireland that saved London-derry that made the Men of Inniskillin more than Men and not our Gallant Dammees and Hectors Pray on to the last Breath pray to the last drop of Tears Give not up so great and so good a Cause for lost it is all in the Hand of God our God trust him 3. Pray on there are more for us than there be against us Is not God for us Are not Angels for us Do not the Souls under the Altar solicite God and cry How long Lord Holy and True Rev. 6.10 dost thou not avenge our Blood on them that dwell on the Earth I beseech you observe this that they who are our Enemies now are they who have shed the Blood of the Saints We are sure that God will avenge the Blood of his Servants and hear the Prayers of his Saints in Heaven and on Earth The Lord never denied to hear their Prayers he hath only delayed Andit was said unto them that they should rest yet for a little season until their fellow-Servants also and their Brethren that should be killed as they were should be fulfilled Some have written and others believe this late is the last Persecution of the Churches in France at least and if so that the Number of them that should be Killed is fulfilled then we shall shortly sing as Jehosaphat and the People did For his Mercy endureth for ever 2 Chron. 20.21 4. Pray believing in him to whom you pray and knowing against whom you pray Is he not a bloody merciless Persecutor who can set him out in his Garments dy'd in Blood and hath not God said He hath ordained his Arrows against the Persecutors plead that with God Psal 7.13 5. Who do we pray for Are they not God's own People the Apple of his Eye or hath God not one small Râ—â—nant left Remember the Prayer of Nehemiah Now these are thy Servants and thy People whom thou hast redeemed with thy great Power and by thy strong Hand Nehem. 1.4 to 10. 6. Argue from the very Strength and Greatness of our Enemy O say our Men of Reason and Thoughts Men like the cowardly Spies of the Land of Canaan who discouraged the People How powerful is France How Great that King How wise his Counsel How mighty are his Armies How strong at Sea How well disciplined what an Advantage hath he who is one in united Councils before-hand with his Enemies in the time of Year whereas the Confederates are slow in Resolutions and Preparations He 'll hold them in play he 'll tire them out And what will not this Great Man do Yea Are these things true is this the sense of Men wise Men most Men Be it so Yet for all this hâ—â—l he the Army of Zera the Ethiopian Let us cry to the Lord as Asa did 2 Chron. 14.9 Lord it is nothing with thee to help whether with many or with them that have no Power Help us O Lord our God for we rest on thee and in thy Name we go against this multitude thou art the Lord our God let not Men prevail against Thee Let us wait upon God and take an Argument from the strength of our Enemies Psal 59.9 Because of his Strength let us wait on thee for God is my Defence We have a God hearing Prayer to pray unto we have a good Cause all is in Danger we have great Encouragements O let us say He hath delivered and we trust be will not only deliver but prosper O then let us pray for a praying Heart And pray every Day without ceasing And that first for our King and Queen that they may have the whole Armour of God to put on the Testimony of a good Conscience that in the Vprightness of their Hearts they do all they do that they may never fall into the slippery and pernitious Steps of evil Kings Let us pray for them that they may inherit an Everlasting Kingdom that endeavour to make ours so happy Many do labour to fright us more with the King's Successes than with the return of their idolized Image as if he would be as absolute as high for Prerogatives as any of his Predecessors What Confusions he will make say others in the best Church in the World and much more Whereas the great fear is that he will do more for God than most of his Predecessors Men are mightily afraid of losing their Pluralities their Ceremonies their Sins Let us pray for the preservation of our Lamps the free Progress of the Gospel the Advancement of Religion and Godliness into High Places for a painful Preaching exemplary Ministry for the saving and sanctifying Protestant Churches for healing of Breaches in a word for Grace Mercy Peace And when we have pray'd to the pouring out of our Hearts let us not trust to our Prayers beyond God's Promises but stay our selves upon the Rock of our Salvation To whom be Might and Dominion for ever Salvation to our God Hallelujah The Great Concern and Zeal of a Loyal People for a Good Warlike KING c. 2 Sam. 21.15 16 17. Moreover the Philistines had yet War again with Israel and David went down and his Servants
put out and the Spark of his Fire shall not shine The Light shall be dark in his Tabernacle and his Candle shall be put out with him Job 18.5 6. i. e. his Honour and Glory shall be put out his Prosperity shall fade away and die 2. A good King is a good sign that God will not destroy the Kingdom 2 Kings 8.19 Yet the Lord would not destroy Judah for David his Servant's sake as he promised him to give him always a Light and to his Children therefore God would not destroy Judah because he had promised David to give him a Light that is a Successor in his Throne to give Light to his People therefore the giving of that Light was a Preservation to Judah from Destruction When God was provoked by Solomon who threatned him for his Idolatry and Breach of Covenant to rend the Kingdom from him and give it unto his Servant he was pleased to add Howbeit I will not do it in thy Days for David thy Father's sake but I will rend it out of the Hand of thy Son He would not for David's sake to whom God promised a Lampalways 1 Kings 15.4 Nevertheless for David 's sake did the Lord his God give him a Lamp in Jerusalem to set up his Son and to establish Jerusalem 3. A good King is Light to a Kingdom as he is a cause of Joy and Gladness to a Kingdom A bad King may cause carnal and profane Joy to the Wicked but then he is the Cause and Grief and Trouble to them that fear God We are not to call that Light which makes the Wicked to rejoice in their Wickedness and to glory in their Shame but then we have a Light when the Righteous rejoice Whon the Righteous are in Authority the People rejoice but when the Wicked beareth Rule the People mourn Prov. 29.2 Light is borrowed to express Joy and Gladness Light is sown for the Righteous and Gladness for the upright in Heart Psal 97.11 Then had the Jews Light and Gladness and Joy and Honour Esther 8.16 What a Constellation of Blessings what Clusters of Mercies and all in the Flower arise and spring up in a Land when such a Light is set up in the Firmament of a Kingdom in the Orb of Soveraignty 4. A good King is the Light and Glory of a Kingdom the Light of a People when he doth restore set up resorm and maintain Religion in his Kingdom such a King was David such a Blessing was he to Israel When the Ark of God was taken the miserable sorrowful Wife of Phineas called her Child's Name Ichabod because the Glory was departed from Israel and she said The Glory is departed from Israel for the Ark of God is taken 1 Sam. 4.21 22. Surely Salvation is nigh them that fear him that Glory may dwell in our Land Psal 85.9 Christ is called A Light to the Gentiles and the Glory of his People Israel Luke 2.32 Therefore then it is that Glory dwells in the Land when the Glory of Christ shines in his Worship Ordinances and People The Glory and Liberty of the Gospel in its Ministry Ordinances and Profession of its Truth and Beauty of Holiness doth exalt a Nation advanceth it in great Honour and then Glory doth not come as a Traveller to see a Country or a wayfaring Man that tarrieth for a Night but dwelleth in a Land when Religion pure and undesiled is entertained with Reverence and Honour in the King's Court in the Houses of Nobles and hath a free Passage throughout a Nation and is delivered from unreasonable Men A religious King is then the Light of Israel when the Lights of the World are set up kept burning brought from under Bushels and set upon the Table when good Men may be as good as they will and the wicked may not be as vile and bad as they would be 5. A good King is a Light to a Kingdom when he reigns in Righteousness David's Prayer for Solomon was Psal 72.2 Give the King thy Judgments and thy Righteousness to the King's Son This was his Prayer for him who was a Lamp which God promised to raise up in his place and when a King doth reign in Righteousness then he imitates and represents the Sun of Righteousnes Christ Jesus the King the Scepter of whose Kingdom is a Scepter of Righteousness Mal. 4.2 2 Sam. 23.3 4. who ariseth with healing in his Wings The God of Israel said the Rock of Israel spake to me He that ruleth over Men must be just ruling in the fear of God Now mark what a just King a religious King that ruleth in the Fear of the Lord shall be And he shall be as the Light of the Morning when the Sun riseth even a Morning without Clouds as the tender Grass springeth out of the Earth by clear shining after Rain i. e. he shall be a great Blessing a great Comfort and Cause of rejoicing to the People of God A King that reigns in Righteousness may yet further be compared to the Light as he doth by himself by his righteous Laws declare and enact what is just and right that by the Light of his Laws People may see the Light of the Rule and the Path of Righteousness that by his wise learned and upright Judges not to serve the Designs Will and sinful Pleasure of the King with a Commission during Pleasure to take away the Lives of innocent Men to countenance false Witnesses perplex or threaten the True disannul Charters and the like Righteousness may run down like a mighty stream When these do distribute Justice between the King and his People and Subject and Subject when the Righteous will not be sold for a pair of Shoes when Righteousness is administred without Partiality then the King will find the Benefit and Comfort of his own Light for Righteousness and Judgment will be the Stability or Establishment of his Throne For by Righteousness the Throne is established Prov. 16.12 6. The King is a Light to Israel as David was for the Security and Protection received from him The Sun and Shield are well joined for the Comfort and Protection of God's People Psal 84.11 The Shields of the Earth belong unto the Lord Psal 47.7 Kings and Magistrates are those Shields and they are Nursing-Fathers and Nursing-Mothers they are like a Pillar of Fire for the Direction and Protection of Israel Hezekiah in the Type of Jesus Christ was foretold that he should be a King to reign in Righteousness and the Princes under him should rule in Judgment when it was so it followeth that he should be a hiding-place from the Wind and a Covert from the Tempest a hiding-place and Covert from the Wind and Tempest raised by the Devil and his Angels to trouble and unsettle the Nation 's Peace and Order and to keep off the Wind and Tempest Persecution and Tribulation which blow and beat upon the Church of God such a Light was David to Israel A Man
King 1 Sam. 16.1 as he told Samuel and he whom God provided in Mercy was a Light to Israel God's Favour did shine upon Israel through David their King God hath as full a right to reject a King in our days as ever he had and to provide a King and that King whom God provides a wise People will highly esteem and God may justly be displeased at those who are not pleased with what God provides Do not they forget God's unlimited Soveraignty over all the Kingdoms of the World who assert the absolute Power of Kings in their own Dominions to set up and cast down without respect to Justice or Mercy But the God of the whole Earth hath in Justice driven away one and brought in another Greatest Mercy and shall we murmur at our Mercy 2. That as a good King is an eminent shining publick Blessing like the Light of the Sun so it is the duty and wisdom of a People to esteem and honour him as the great Gift of God So the Men of Israel did behold David as the Light of Israel they knew what a publick Benefit they received from him they remembred the evil Days of Saul 2 Sam. 1.19 c. out of which David in his Lamentation for him pick'd the best in comparison of which the Days of David were like Light compared to Darkness and Tempest But when a People shall be weary of Light or murmur against it or be dissatisfied with it and shall wish for Darkness Hail and Thunder Blasting and Mildew they sin against their Temporal State as they do against their Spiritual by loving Darkness rather than Light and without any fanciful Allusion but in real Truth they hate the Light because their Deeds are evil and lest they should be reproved and be obliged to be reformed 3. The Happiness of a Kingdom doth much depend upon the Life and Preservation of a good King Lest thou quench the Light of Israel not only the Light and Glory of his own Family and the House of David but the Light of Israel that the Light of Israel and not of Judah or Bethlehem only or any part of Israel but all Israel Their Light of Prosperity Peace and Glory was bound up in the Bundle of his Life 4. A People that are sensible of their Happiness and the Benefit of the Preservation of a good King will do all they can to preserve it The Men of Israel were sensible of the Advantage and Blessing of a good King and foresaw the loss that would befal them by his Death They valued him highly and yet really below his worth when they said 2 Sam. 18.3 4. He was worth ten thousand of them it had been a greater loss to have lost David than ten thousand of the People They value him according to his Worth when they admire and honour him as the very Light of Israel and therefore they do with all humility and earnestness oblige him to keep out of the reach of the Enemies Sword they will fight if he will keep himself safe at Home we will go out to Battel but thou shalt not go with us 5. Yet observe the reach of the Argument and Reason That thou quench not the Light of Israel A good King being a great and publick Blessing to his Kingdom should not expose himself to unnecessary Dangers but take care to preserve himself for the Kingdom 's sake and Benefit A clear Evidence that good Kings are not their own but their Kingdom 's The Argument is drawn from his own Safety and Danger and from their loyal Affection to him but the Argument reacheth further to the common and publick Danger if he hazard himself and the common and publick Benefit of Israel of the whole Kingdom that thou quench not thine own Light but ours also The Light of a King is for the Kingdom 's Good 6. A King is and a good King will reckon himself to be as much for his People the Publick and Universal Good as the People can be for him Here they intimate that they will go to Battel when there is cause and more they cannot venture more they cannot do than serve the King with their Estates and Lives but then if he be as the Light of Israel he should take care of himself with respect to them and their Benefit His Light is their Light and he should be as careful of theirs as of his own When it is well with the one it is well with the other 7. Yet again mark the words they do not say That the Light of Israel be not quenched but That thou quench not the Light of Israel This Reason grows out of the Sides of the former that a King receiving his Authority and Gifts from God under God for his Peoples Profit and Welfare should imploy all his Abilities for their Prosperity he should communicate and send forth all his Abilities and Powers as the Sun diffuseth his Influences upon inferior Bodies to make his People happy in him So on the contrary he should be exceeding tender of doing any thing that should be to their detriment and especially that he by going to Battel should die that he quench not their Light it would be his own Act that would be fatal to himself and them 4thly The last Particular in the Verse is the King's Acquiescence and tacit Concession and Permission of their Oath taken out of sincere Loyalty and Affection to the King's Preservation and their own in him In God's Kingdom and in a godly King's Reign the People might lawfully and without rebuke loyally admonish the King of the common Danger and more than petition even swear that he should not go forth to Battel that the Light of Israel be not quenched David was a Wise Holy Religious and Heroick Prince a King of long Experience and great Valour it was hard for him to refrain from a Battel altho he fainted But doth the Publick Happiness Glory and Prosperity depend upon it Doth it so much concern the Publick Do the Men of Israel remonstrate intreat and swear also then he takes himself to be obliged to condescend and acquiesce I am perswaded this Doctrine was true in those ancient and purest Times This was not a Surprize upon David or a Thing inconsiderately condescended to but what he yielded to once before in Absalom's Rebellion After that David had commanded and ordered his Army into three Bodies under three Generals and given them Orders he declared he would go forth with them 2 Sam. 18.3 4. And the King said unto the People I will surely go forth with you my self also But the People answered Thou shalt not go forth for if we flee away they will not care for us neither if half of us die will they care for us but thou art worth ten thousand of us therefore it is better that thou succour us out of the City And the King said unto them What seemeth you best I will do Here was
secret Policy and sound Reason on both Sides David had still a tender Affection if not a secret Fondness for Absalom O how did his Affections open towards him He gave Charge to his three Generals in the hearing of all the People Deal gently for my sake with the young Man even with Absalom Every Word hath an Argument to oblige them to deal gently with Absalom O how bitterly did he take on for his Death O Absalom my Son my Son would God I had died for thee He loved him better than his Life but in being ruled by his Peoples plain Advice he shewed he loved Israel better than Absalom And the Reason which lay concealed was that he might take care to save Absalom alive He said he would go but gave no Reason for his Resolution it was sufficient for him to declare his Resolution I will surely go forth with you my self also as he was wont to do On the Peoples part there was great Reason and Policy not pleasing to the King for they had an Eye upon Absalom and to put an End to the Rebellion by putting an End to his Life if he fell into their Hands The apparent Reasons were built upon good Principles And if David did smell their secret Reasons against Absalom his self-denial for the Peoples Content was exceeding exemplary If any say that it was weakly done of David to grant so much to the People against his own Will take notice that this did not proceed from David's weakness and oversight it was not from Error in Government for David was under no eclipse of Understanding for he was able to dispose and order his Affairs he took a Muster of his Army and set Captains of Thousands C. 18.1 2. and Captains of Hundreds over them and David sent forth a third part of his Army under Joab and a third part of his Army under the hand of Abishai the Son of Zeruiah Joab 's Brother and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite As he could Marshal an Army so it seems he could hearken to Reason and according to Reason comply with the Desires of his People in the fullest terms of Respect to their Counsel What seemeth you best I will do The Will of both Parties was pleasing to God Tam enim David quà m populus istâ in re non sua quaerebat c. Vnde apparet non esse indecorum ut Reges aliquando bonestis subditorum Consiliis pareant In 1 Sam. 18. saith the Judicious Peter Martyr for it proceeded from Love the King and the People sought not their own private Things or factious Designs the Souldiers did not resist their King out of Impudence but Reverence and Love Happy is the Kingdom when King and People aim at the same Publick Good and jointly move upon Principles of mutual Affection and Safety And when both are sincerely One in their Designs and Aims and have a mutual Confidence in one another When Kings can do all themselves in War and Peace then let them be absolute but till then the Reasons of a People for the King's Honour and Safety and Peace of the Kingdom by putting an End to Wars and quietting Insurrections are not to be despised but approved of by the wisest and the greatest Kings and People should be so wise and dutiful as to offer nothing but what should carry Weight and Conviction that they do really wish well to their King and it becomes the Wisdom and Goodness of a King to be overcome by the Reasons of their People Publick Reason should prevail against private Affection in publick Persons As David was over-ruled without usurpation of the People upon his Soveraignty at that time so now though the People swore to him that he should not go forth to Battel for fear of being kill'd to the Nation 's loss so he did not reject them nor shew himself displeased with them He did not misunderstand them nor check and threaten them he did not send forth his Proclamation or Declaration against them or confine and imprison the Heads of them They spake their Love and he saw it though they swear he should not go out and endanger Himself and the State he did not make them an Example by Punishment or Revenge for medling with his Prerogative His Inclinations were towards the Wars and his Valour was not extinct though his Strength abated and yet he would not insist upon his own Soveraign Power nor take a high Action to restrain it to be an encroachment upon it Sincere Loyalty will make a People bold for their Prince's safety Wise Kings love to see the Love and Loyalty of their People and will rather unhend their own Inclinations than break with their honest well-meaning Subjects I will conclude with this one Observation He was a wise and holy King worthy the Imitation of the greatest who was for the Kingdom 's Good ruled against his own Inclination It was then when Salus publica the publick Safety was the supream Law It was when People thought the King to be themselves and when the King thought the People to be himself The People thought save the King and we save our selves and when he thought I will save my self to save the People It was when a People understood their own Good and sought it with one Consent and when the King consented to it when one Light was the Light of both I have gone over the Words and made too many Observations to be discoursed on I desire now further that you would more particularly observe two Points I. A good King is the Light of a Kingdom II. A People should be sensible of the great Blessing of a good King and should be much concerned and very zealous for his and their own Preservation I. A good King is the Light of a Kingdom 1. A Light that is the Glory and Cause of Prosperity to a Kingdom so is the Light of Heaven to the World Light is the Glory of the Creation and the first-born the Excellency and Dignity of the Creatures How do the benign Influences of the Light make the Earth to flourish How prosperous was Israel under the Light of David The Dread and Horror of the Night is driven away at the Appearance of the Light the Beasts of Prey run to their Dens the Terror and Devourers of the People of God are forced to hide their Heads Persecutors are afraid to devour or molest the little Flock the Works of Darkness and of the Night dare not with an impudent Faoe be published Chambring and Wantonness Rom. 13.13 1 Thess 5.4 6. Rioting and Drunkenness nor Strife and Envy The Light of a holy Magistrate gives no Countenance to shameful Practices The Majesty and Glory of God shines in the Light of a blessed King and as God is Light so he who is the Image of that Light shines for the Glory of God and God shines for the Glory of his People The Light of the Wicked shall be
may follow his Trade travel and be commonly very safe if he walk by Day for Day-light is a Defence unto him In these Instances you have heard the Benefit of a good King as he is the Light of a Kingdom Now hearken a little further and you shall see what cause a People have to honour and study the Happiness of such a King and their own in him 1. As the Light is immediately from God so is a holy religious wise and valiant King as David was a peculiar Creature of that glorious Maker and not a meer humane Creature as all that are constituted by Men and a peculiar Blessing and Treasure to a People that Fitness for Government which is in him the placing of him in his Throne the removing of him from one part of his Sphere to another is a Remove made by the special Providence of God God alone doth make the Light prepares and qualifies a King for Government and the more of Providence appears the greater is the Mercy to a People 2. As the Light is above the Earth for the benefit of things below him so is a King placed in a Degree of Sublimity above his Israel but altogether for Israel's Good A King is above but for his Subjects And as the Light of Heaven is placed in Heaven for the good of Creatures underneath so are Kings placed by God in high Places that their Vertues may descend upon their Inferiors 3. As the Light shines from above and sends and spreads forth its Powers and Influences afar off to all the Corners of the Earth so a good King doth not restrain but takes Pleasure in communicating his Goodness to all the parts of his Dominions He hath his Vehicles Means and Instruments to convey the Stores of Gifts and Abilities for Good which God hath enriched him with All People that do not forfeit should be the better for him and so all his Subjects should know how much the better they are for him the Riches of a King's Abilities are beyond all the Riches we entrust him with for our Peace and Safety 4. But notwithstanding these great Advantages the King had of doing Good and the People received from his diffusive Goodness yet he is liable to Mortality the Light of Israel may be quench'd he is a Light but such a Light as may be put out and quenched As Israel was so all People should be sensible of the publick Blessing and Good received from a King who is as the Light of Israel and should be much concerned and zealous for his Preservation as their own 1. You cannot but feel by reading the Words the true sense which the Men of Israel had of their Happiness in David he was a great Light to them communicating and streaming down the Effects of his Light upon them They remembred the Night out of which they came the Trouble and Confusion the Dangers and Injuries the Dishonours and Confusions which kept them in fears so long they considered the happy change in Affairs what a new Face the Light had given and not a Face of Affairs only but a strong Constitution of the Body of Israel and they foresaw what a Night would follow upon his Fall 2. They were much concerned and zealous for his Preservation he had escaped the Dangers of many Battels and so might do again his Strength failed but he was able for Conduct he was near to be slain by a resolute masty desperate Giant who thought to kill him but he was succoured seasonably and with Success and if ever hâ— should come out to Battel again they would all be ready to defend his Person Why might not he as long as he was able to endure the Fatigue with any Spirit go out to Battel Would not his Conduct and his Presence direct and animate them and so further the War towards a prosperous Issue None of these Suggestions nor many more could abate their Care nothing but this to keep himself safe in Jerusalem the City of the Lord of Hosts 3. They were so much concerned and so zealous for his Preservation as if all Israel should fall with him if he should fall in Battel That thou quench not the Light of Israel as if all the Light of Israel did shine from him and were all of it comprehended in him as the Lamp that gave Light to all the Branches As if the Sun should be put out the Moon and Stars would be extinguished If the Pillars of a State or Kingdom fall the Kingdom must needs come down and fall to Ruin and Confusion but if the Supporter of these Pillars fall the Pillars must fall and all that stand upon them and are supported by them Now said David The Earth and all the Inhabitants thereof are dissolved I bear up the Pillars of it Psal 75.3 The Earth that is Judea and all the Inhabitants thereof are dissolved are unlinked the Land lieth waste and like a Wilderness and the Inhabitants thereof are unbound and untied they are jealous and afraid of one another being dissolved into Factions and Parties some Pillars there are Psal 11.3 and I bear them up If the Foundations be destroyed if Towns Magistrates and Government and Order be destroyed what shall the Righteous do they shall be made a Prey What can we that are but few in Number and weak in Power do What can we do if the Foundations be destroyed till the Foundations of Religion Righteousness and Peace are laid Blessed David was like the Light in Heaven on high and like the Foundation beneath that bears up the Pillars which bear the House If the Light be quenched there follows Darkness and all the Confusions and Miseries of Darkness if the Foundations be dissolved what but Ruine Wo then to the Land if its Light and Glory pass away as of Necessity it will if thou put out the Light of Israel All stands and all falls together for if David be the Foundation and Israel the House if the Foundation fall the House will tumble and of a well-ordered Fabrick it will tumble into Heaps David and Israel the Glory of all Lands are but one united Light and he is the Sun in the Firmament if he be quenched our Glory will depart Thus were they concerned for themselves in David their King And how could any People in the World express more care and zeal towards him than they did in so few words 1. They unanimously consent to prevail with him to keep himself as choicely as might be as you would keep in a Lamp or Light growing low in the Socket of expiring Age. 2. They swear to him that he shall not go out to Battel 3. They tell him there will be no need of his going for they will go to Battel as willingly as if he were with them 4. Surely David who had been their Light would not be accessary to or guilty of so great a Mischief as to put out their Light they presume upon it that he would
Office She is made for the Rule of a Palace for the Retirement of a Closet for exemplary Reverence in the Worship and House of God She is a glorious Beam of Majesty in her Person she shines as she moves she is made for a Throne and long may she sit upon it She is a diffusive Light as she is a joint Cause of the true Light of the Gospel and the Laws of Holiness and Righteousness All People may be as holy and as righteous as they can desire and if they are not it is their own fault they have no Discouragement but Encouragement from above She is a great Light See her gracious Answ to the Address of the Dissenting Ministers even to a Zeal in her own Way and is to be an Example of Moderation towards others Her Light shines before Men that others seeing her good Works may glorify God Thus each one is a singular Light But yet further what is the greater Mercy 2. They both make one Light Through God's infinite Mercy to themselves and us that they are so much one they are one Blood one Flesh and what is more of one Heart and one Soul What a Light are both in one to their whole Dominion to all their Subjects It is a vulgar but a great Observation When had we a King and Queen of one Religion and both of ours We have known the lamentable effects and issues of contrary Religions and of one and the same Religion in our former Kings and Queens The Light of the one never did convince or convert the other of Darkness The Articles of Marriage between Pr. Charles the Infanta and the Queen the Daughter of France nay the Light was so bound sometimes as not to endeavour to work upon the Darkness but the Night had power to tempt the Light and then was one Hour and Power of Darkness and from that time to this most blessed Conjunction of both our Lights in one the Darkness overcame the true Light O the Calamities and Confusions Convulsions and Breaches which followed after the prevailing Power of Darkness The Darkness brought forth Thunder and Lightning and rained Blood it brought forth Wars and Fires it cooled the zeal of many and made the Nation too hot for others O what Matter is this for a Fast to make Prayers and Supplications to deprecate those great Evils And the noisom Vapours of that Darkness make us a sickly diseased People to this time O that the diseased distempered People of these Nations would come to our Light O that God would prosper our Light to bring us to a better Constitution and State of a Body united and compacted together Do not we see the excellency of our Light in respect of Union Do not both walk in the same Spirit O what a Mercy is that to us and to other Nations confederate with us By this we have a Concord in Counsels we are delivered from the Plague of Jesuitical Agitators and Satanical Dividers Court-Faction have no countenance nor Whisperers secret Audience and innumerable other Mischiefs are prevented for now the Devil hath less to do in Court and hath fewer Pupils to instruct in mischievous Arts and Practices between King and Queen Court and Court The dividing of the King and Queen in Interests in Affection according to that Interest the dividing of Counsels to promote those different Interests and these to be managed by contrary Factions and Parties and for these to love the one and hate the other should be as dreadful as if the Stars divided the Heavens into two Fields and sought one against another This is one of the Mercies of this great Revolution that our Lights are so intirely one and that the Constitution of the Government is made so strong that our Dividers cannot divide but they must break and dissolve many would have it otherwise but God wrought such a Temper in the Spirit of the Queen as to submit the Precedence given her by Nature for the publick Benefit And that the Memories of both be blessed for ever and whatever Breaches remain unhealed among a sinful People many of whom know not the things of their own Peace O Lord shine into the Hearts of these two great Lights that they may reign as one 3. And yet the Matter grows higher still These two illustrious Lamps made one Light are both the Light of Israel The Light of David's Life as I noted before was the Light of Israel David was to Israel as Israel was to himself and Israel was to David as David was to himself The Light of David was their Light That thou quench not the Light of Israel So is our David ours And without flattery which I abhor especially on a solemn Day of Confession and Humiliation but to convince you of your Mercy and Duty I speak to you these Words of Truth and Soberness What clearer Evidence can any People have whose Reasons are not perverted against Sense to be in the untoward Party of Murmurers and Complainers than our David hath given us of his appearance coming forth and goings on but for Israel for our Israel and for the scattered Tribes of Israel scattered by Persecutors into many Nations What hath he done in all he hath done for himself What hath he not done that could be done for us Obj. O but Murmurers and Papists and their old dear Friends say He sought the Throne and is come unto it by Vsurpation Ans This is such an Imagination as could never enter into the Heart of Man that believes a Providence and that all the Actions of Princes as well as other Men are subject to it and that Kings and Princes cannot do and have what they will How many apparent Hazards by Sea and Land did he necessarily foresee and every step might present him with Death which was enough to quench the Spark of Ambition and deter him from an Usurpation It would have been the most irrational Project that could ever come into a wise Man's Head and visibly improbable if not impossible as I would undertake to demonstrate if time would give leave God sent him in as a Deliverer of Israel in England Scotland Ireland and so he was acknowledged even by them who will not swear Fidelity to him now their only King by Law and Right But if I might ask those Men these few Questions what could they say 1. What hath he asked for himself what hath he employed for or spent upon himself since his happy Arrival Hath he got half what one half Year's Revenue by Hearths would have brought him in Was there ever a Free-holder in the Kingdom before he restored them Nay to silence some of these Male-contents Do not they some of them to discourage the Nation and encourage Enemies give out that he will not be able to manage the War for want of Money and for the vast Debt that is upon the Nation So then this was a hopeful Project to invade the Throne to want
have always opposed the great and only Redeemer Christ and his Interest in the Nation that care no more for the real Prosperity of the Kingdom than for the turning up of a Dye high or low when they throw for nothing so that they may have but enough to maintain their ungodly fleshly and worldly Lusts These are not for the Pope but yet they are for Antichrist and the Devil for the Kingdom of Darkness and Irreligion These are they whose God is their Belly whose Glory is in their Shame Enemies to the Cross of Christ And to these we must add another Party though in other things far different from them and better Men who plead an Obligation of Conscience for Disloyalty and these do animate and propagate the other though perhaps not directly who are disaffected to Godliness and the Government Nay the worst of Men do not only harden themselves in their Disloyalty and proceed on to trouble Israel or hinder our Settlement by having the Consciences of some upon their side but they have set up a new Title against our Government and that is the Church of England The Church of England against England the Church of England against the Kingdom of England Is Christ divided Is the Church divided The Church of England we know but who are ye And yet let me shew you one other cause of the Slowness of our Motions towards Settlement and Peace and raising up of the Tabernacle of God and the shining forth of the Beauty of Holiness There are loyal Persons to the Government who are not refined from the Impurities of the former Reigns Thousands in the Land that run into Profaneness and Licentiousness out of Cowardice and to avoid some Nick-names given out to disgrace real Godliness and being accustomed to Licentiousness out of Fear And in compliance with most ungodly Rulers have brought such a Custom upon themselves that either they are Temporizers with the worst of Men or sin out of choice and love Some of these would if they could overthrow the Chariot others lay Impediments in its way and these last are like Scotches in our Wheels But our Hope is in God he ruleth in Jacob and hath given out such Manifestations of his Goodness that be it known to us he doth not do what he doth for our sakes but what is more effectual for his own Name sake O then not unto us not unto us but to thy Name give Glory for thy Mercy and thy Truth 's sake Psal 115.1 When God sets his Wheel a going it shall go against all Oppositions sometimes it goes visibly at a great rate sometimes more insensibly and when we see not the Motions of it it goes whither the Spirit was to go Ezek. 2.12 Man may lose Time and Opportunities but the Spirit of God never lost and never will lose time 6. The Work of this Generation is God's in an eminent manner and he will carry it on till all be finished but he tieth not himself to Means and Instruments therefore so should not we The Work of God hath been and is a Work for Generations and no one Man is ordained to do all but many Instruments have their several parts None is immortal none invulnerable or impenetrable Let us therefore believe with confidence that this War is God's and it is the Hand of God and our King is one of the greatest Instruments that God hath used he came up like Queen Elizabeth when the Kingdom was weak like a Gustavus Adolphus Let us see God in him follow God and wait upon him and be careful of him and by strong Faith humble Confidence fervent Prayers trust him under the Shadow of the Almighty Object But how can we rejoice and take comfort in Him as the Light of Israel seeing he adventures his Royal Person in very dangerous Voyages and Battels As it would be the greatest Grief of our Souls to be deprived of him so our Hearts are in daily fear of Evil befalling to him What would become of us in our divided and discontented State if our Light should be quenched Answ 1. You should consider that this bright illustrious Lamp is not given to us alone I cannot but adore the safe and hasty dispatch which God Alwise and Almighty made of the mighty Affair of these Kingdoms How soon did the King of Heaven and Earth pull down one and set up another How soon did God make an end of one King's Reign and begin another's The King that then was in Arms a powerful well-prepared and trained Army almost if not above double the number to those our King brought in and yet not as much as the stop of one Day 's march or diversion given by fighting one Battel He had time enough for leisurely and orderly Marches without any cause of Precipitation or losing time by committing Errors What a good Providence was this Things shall be easy when God doth save it shall be as easy as to bid an Army in array to stand still and see the Salvation of the Lord and as soon as to say 2 Chron. 20.17 Neh. 9.27 To morrow ye shall go out against them for the Lord will be with you So when the Lord doth raise a Saviour to his People he will be with him and when he is with him he makes way for him Had our King conquered by winning many Battels and after he had beaten a great Army been constrained to spend much time in long Debates how miserable had this Kingdom been by Fears and Factions And to what Necessities had foreign Nations been pressed Ireland certainly lost Scotland confounded if not ruined But he who ruleth over all was pleased to save us and settle us with great expedition that his Servant David might go forth against the Philistines What Treacheries with Obstructions were used to hinder him from saving Ireland in time may be with trouble remembred that some People who appeared forward to embrace Deliverance withdrew their Help as if they had repented of doing any thing to make themselves happy and save others from utter Ruin How many wished the King might not go to Ireland in Person that the Loss of Ireland might be imputed to him And others were for his going that he might never return again or in his Absence our Enemies might make work in England Some honest Hearts wished he would not go being afraid of Commotions in his Absence and Danger to his Person Others prayed for his going and when gone for his Prosperity and safe Return and we have rejoiced for both out with some trembling for God rebuked us 2. Beside the Interests of many Nations united in him he is led into the best way and method of securing and saving us at home by going to meet the great Enemy abroad and if God be with him there we shall reap the Benefit of it here Balthazaris Ayala De jure Off. bell l. 4. c. 2. It hath been variously adjudged by great Commanders whether it is
to Israel than the God of Israel goes before him and bears him up in his Hand 5. Trust God in all Dangers to preserve him and succour him in case of fainting God has succoured him by one of his Nobles in a former Battel against France Let us pray and trust that Help shall not be far from him when Dangers are nigh O let all that fear the Lord trust in the Lord Now let our Eyes be towards the Lord and trust him over all trust him I say again with our Light and Lamp And O that we could trust God not with a humane Trust as far as we see great Armies and early Successes but trust God with the Trust of humble penitent believing sincere praying Hearts The 2d Duty is Prayer and this is one part of the whole Armour of God without which who can expect to be saved Great and many were David's Extremities and therefore we find so many of his Prayers and Thanksgivings for their Success They who pray most and best are God's best Servants and the King 's truest Subjects O let us pray by Faith with Hope with Contrition Humiliation Sincerity Fervency Continuance and Perseverance by the Spirit in the Name and Mediation of Jesus Christ to the Lord of Hosts to God mighty in Battel When David spake of the peaceable and prosperous Reign of Solomon he saith Psal 72.15 and for him shall Prayer be made continually O all you that can pray pray heartily pray daily pray abundantly Prayer has been most prophanely derided in this Age But if we would have God do what we will let us believe and pray according to the Will of God Let not a day pass over you without effectual Prayers for God's Glory in the prosperity of the Gospel and redeeming Israel out of all his Troubles And that God would guide assist preserve and prosper our King and Queen and strengthen them by his Spirit in the inner Man take these following Considerations to satisfy and encourage your Hearts 1. The King must go to these Wars It is not Vanity to see the young Men play before him as Abner said to Joab 2 Sam. 2.14 Hest 4.14 no but necessity A necessity in respect of Duty and Obedience to God who hath prepared and called him to it He is obliged to assist in a Common Cause against a Common Destroyer of Countries and Cities And who knoweth but he is come to the Kingdom for such a Time for such a Service as this He doth not only add Strength by his Armies but puts Life into the Armies of other Princes as well as his own There is the same Necessity for our King to go forth to Battel as it was for David's going when he went it may be so that there may not be hereafter a like Necessity as there was not when the Men of David obliged him not to go for then he was much disabled and there were many others fit for the Service that were forward to go Men fit to be trusted Wendeline Doctrin Politicae lib. 2. c. 42. Ayala l. 2. c. 2. Sect. 19. Men that were true to the Happiness of Israel And as Cesar was wont to say Not go but Come along So many other great Captains have not only been present but performed the parts of Souldiers as well as Generals But the greatest Valour must do this with great Caution and remember he is a General and not a Commander posted to maintain his assigned Ground lest he become a Mark for an Ishbi-benob or give cause to an Enemy to say as he did who killed the most renowned King of Sweden That is the true Bird and so shot him dead Let us not forget to ask of God always to govern the King 's great Mind and guide him with his Eye 2. Here is sufficient Encouragement for us all not to be faint-hearted and dismayed but to pray with an awful humble Confidence and Expectation that God will favour this Righteous Cause For 1. this War is a lawful War and that gives us encouragement to seek God for the Success of it and our good King's Prosperity and Preservation The Lawfulness of this War will appear in all the Causes of a lawful War if you 1. Consider our Selves 2. Our Enemies 3. Our Allies 1. If you consider our Selves It is lawful because undertaken by Supream Authority by the King and Consent of the Parliament The King hath just cause to maintain his own just Title to the Crown and Government of these Kingdoms And it is the Peoples Duty to serve him in the Wars according to their utmost Ability as Judah did adhere to David 2 Sam. 2.4 whom they received and anointed him to be their King You know that I have not made State-Matters the Subject of my Preaching but now it is necessary to say something to inform you in what I believe is true and then engage and perswade you to your Duties The King's Title and Right to the Crown is scrupled by some who own him as King de facto in Possession these do seem rather to temporize than to obey upon a full Principle of Obedience and speak not fully to the Point and the Case of the King and Queen And others refuse to swear Allegiance to them though settled upon the Throne by a free Convention of Peers and People and their Title ratified by a Parliament and acknowledged by all Princes and States abroad except One who would have the Kingdom for himself if he could Which of all the Heads of the several Families and Lines of our English Kings could shew a better Title or near so good than our King and Queen antecedent to their Coronation But since it should be held undoubted and therefore this War is lawful if it were for nothing but to maintain his just Title against his Enemies The Reasons which Abner and the Men of Israel gave for their submission were good to prove David's Title and every one of them might be applied to prove our Soveraign's Title see 2 Sam. 3.12 17 18. Chap. 5.2 3. And though God hath not spoken by audible Words to them You shall feed my People Israel and thou shalt be Captain over Israel he hath spoken aloud by convincing Providences 2. It is lawful if you respect our Enemies The French have declared War against us attempted an Invasion Do not we know him too well to let him in If we resist him who shall be our King He that hath saved us and doth still endeavour it or he who when he had declined and refused to satisfy the just Petitions of his Subjects and contrary to Law and his Duty went about to change our Government and not daring to meet a Free Parliament ventured his Cause to the determination of God by the Sword and lost it in that Court of Judgment and deserted the Government and Kingdom and withdrew to an open Enemy's Country and hath made use of that Enemy's Power against us and