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A70539 Pia Fraus, or, Absalom's theft being a sermon preached to a country-congregation on the thirtieth of January last, being the anniversary fast for the martyrdom of King Charles the First / by R.L., M.A. Lawe, Robert, b. 1617 or 18. 1684 (1684) Wing L637A; ESTC R43031 12,974 34

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open force probably he had never prevailed so far therefore he lays the foundation of his Plot in secret fraud and makes use of the Foxes case to prepare a way for his after-appearance in the Lions skin III. Thirdly Let us enquire whose hearts Absalom stole The hearts of the men of Israel who were 1. The peculiar people of God solemnly dedicated to him and his service in covenant with him and highly prized by him Now to draw them into so foul an Apostacy so fatal a Conspiracy against the Lord and his Anointed was a great aggravation of his damned Impiety 2. But this is not all The men whose hearts he stole were David's Subjects tyed not onely by the Bonds of natural Allegiance to their Prince but with the most sacred Tyes of Religion a Solemn League and Covenant made before the Lord in Hebron 2 Sam. 5.3 So that he drew them not onely into Rebellion but Perjury such near affinity there is between sins of this nature 3. Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel not barely from their King but a King of Gods own immediate choice and appointment Psal 89.20 I have exalted one chosen out of the people I have found David my servant as it were by diligent search and enquiry after some excellent and heroick person with my holy oyl have I anointed him And 2 Chron. 6.6 I have chosen Jerusalem that my Name might be there and have chosen David to rule over my people Israel that under his government they might enjoy the greater felicity 4. He stole their hearts from a King whom they received with the greatest expressions of joy 1 Chron. 12.40 and not without cause if you consider how well he deserved of them by their own acknowledgment 2 Sam. 5.2 Also in time past when Saul was King over us thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel c. 2 Sam. 19.9 The King saved us out of the hand of our enemies and delivered us out of the hand of the Philistins c. In a word one that had conquered their enemies enlarged their Territories but above all reformed their Religion according to the purity of Gods Law And yet these are the men whose hearts were stoln from their confessedly-deserving Soveraign by the crafty insinuations of complemental Absalom So mutable are the opinions and affections of the giddy Multitude IV. Fourthly This will appear more clearly if we consider the next circumstance from whom the hearts of the men of Israel were stoln from no common person but a King from no foreign King but their own no unworthy dastardly Prince but an heroical magnanimous and renowned one for his Valour Wisdom Piety c. chosen of God to be the Ruler of his people as you heard before A man after Gods own heart 1 Sam. 13.14 one that did judgment and justice to all his people 2 Sam. 8.15 whatsoever the Rebel suggested to the contrary ruled them prudently with all his power fed them according to the integrity of his heart and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands Psal 78.72 This is the King whose Subjects hearts were stoln by an ungrateful Son and infamous Rebel So blind is Ambition in the Plotters and a brutish Itch after novelty in the Abettors of rebellious projects and practices against the best of Princes How much then doth it concern Princes to carry a jealous eye over that beast with many heads to suspect the fickle and unconstant disposition of the Multitude especially if poysoned with principles of Rebellion under pretences of Religion who are apt enough of themselves to grow weary of the present Government if at least it be charged true or false they never examine by their graceless Ringleaders with any irregularities or defects though such as probably cannot be avoided in the best of Governments or by the best of Governours but Absalom furatus est cor c. i. e. as one descans upon the Text excordem reddidit amentem populum he made the people stark mad by his intoxicating Allurements and Inchantments V. Fifthly By what means he stole the hearts of the men of Israel By the most vile and sordid that Hell it self could suggest and yet such as are usually practised by Rebels in their method of undermining Kingdoms as Fraud Flattery Lying Hypocrisie palpable and malicious slandering his Fathers Person and Government This obsequious Gallant puts forth his hand embraces and kisses every one that comes to him to do him obeisance 2 Sam. 15.5 Et omnia serviliter pro dominatione as Tacitus said of Otho He kissed them not out of love but designe as Judas did our blessed Lord and Saviour Mat. 26.48 not to salute but betray him We read John 12.4 and 5. how sollicitous the Hypocrite seemed to be for the good of the poor not that he cared for the poor but because he was a thief So this Traytor puts on the Cloak of feigned Humility and Humanity Holiness and Charity not that he regarded any of those or minded the happiness of the people but because he was a Thief and aimed at the Crown For what probability was there that he who was so prodigal of the bloud of his own Brother Amnon should be tender of the lives of his Subjects or that he should make conscience of preserving the Rights and Priviledges of his People who endeavoured to deprive his Prince and Father of his Regal Prerogatives or that he should consult the Peace of the Nation that wilfully involved it in an unnatural and bloudy War onely to satisfie his own ambitious Lust And yet how passionately doth the Hypocrite breath out O that I were made a judge in the land that every man that hath suit on cause might come unto me and I would do him justice How zealous would the good man be for the Peoples Welfare * Occultum insidiosum malum est perfidia cujus efficasissimae vires sunt mentiri fallere Val. Max. Prov. 10.18 He that hideth hatred with lying lips and he that uttereth a slander is a fool for says he thy matters are good and right but there is no man deputed of the King to hear thee As if he should have said Neither the King nor any of his Officers have any regard to Justice or the Publick Good a brazen-fac'd lye and shameless slander of a graceless wretch Yet with this Art he woes and wins the hearts of the men of Israel But the grand Engine to advance his hellish designe was the Traytors hypocrisie and pretence of Religion the painted Vizard that the vilest Rebels use to hide the deformity of their mischievous Plots with Religion must be a Cloak for his Rebellion a Vow must be paid in Hebron the place where his Father was first crowned King and as 't is probable where himself was born and bred amongst his Relations and Acquaintance and at some distance from the Court that he might act his part with the less suspition