and Austerities he falls upon his Business and Robs the Poor Widows house which he pretends to have Sanctify'd by his Religious Performances IV. By these and such like Arts as I have mention'd the Conspiracy waxed Strong and the People Encreased Continually with Absalom * His Majesties Declaration c. p. 4. And as their Numbers Encreased so did their Boldness Now they thought that all was sure and therefore * Ib. 6. Trusting no longer to the slow Methods of Sedition they betook themselves to Arms. And if Ahitophel's Counsel had been taken He with his 12000 Men wou'd have Master'd those Souldiers which attended the King and not onely have Seiz'd but have Kill'd the King Himself Things being come to this height there was no looking back or thinking of a Reconcilement Those who are engag'd in ways of Wickedness especially in this Bewitching sin of Rebellion endeavour to secure themselves by adding one sin unto another hopeing for no Protection for their smaller Crimes but by the Commission of greater The first Beginnings of Treason are carefully nourish'd 'till they break out into open defiance and what at first perhaps deserved only the more gentle name of Ingratitude by degrees encreases into a most horrid Conspiracy When the House is thus swept and garnished and this one Devil hath taken possession seven Devils greater than the first soon joyn themselves to his Company Rebels seldom have the Grace to Repent but proceed from one Iniquity to another till Treason grows big with Revenge and the Cloud which at first could scarcely be discern'd swells 'till it fall upon the Earth in the Showers Whirle-winds and Tempests of a Civil-War When men have once cast off that Allegiance which they owe unto God and the King they hold it Ignoble to Retreat but to persevere in their Sin they account a Sign of a generous Disposition Such an Anti-christian Policy is that by which Rebellious Counsels are manag'd and such false Apprehensions have they of Shame and Honour who seem so much Concern'd lest they should incur the one or lose the other Ahitophel who has so long been the Grand Contriver scorns at last to become a puisney Penitent but proceeds to Execute that Fatal Mischief which before he had projected I will suddenly said he fall upon David while he is Weary and Weak-handed Ch. XVII 2. David and his Men it might well be supposed were tyred with their long and hasty March and particularly He being afflicted with the Thoughts of his Son's Vileness and the Guilt which he thereby had Contracted was it might be presumed unfit for any Action as 't is said that the hands of Saul's Son became feeble when he heard of Abner's Death Ch. IV. 1. So that in all Probability this sudden and unexpected Assault would have put a Period unto the King's Life and Government For what Resistance could Languishing and Disconsolate Weakness have made against Confident and well Appointed Strength And it may be further observ'd That his Counsel was as Malicious as it was Cunning and favour'd as much of Transcendent Wickedness as it did of Compleat Subtlety What greater baseness is there than to take advantage of mens Misfortunes and to Persecute those whom God hath Smitten But we must not expect to find either honesty or ingenuity in Ahitophel's Counsels especially when his case seems desperate and requires an immediate Execution He was Fearful lest delays might have brought him into danger He fear'd time wou'd have discover'd the Fallacies of Absalom's Cause and have reduc'd the discontented Commons to their former Allegiance Therefore according to the Rules of his Policy he will not let slip this Critical Opportunity Upon Mature Deliberation the People might have seen and been Convinc'd of their Errour And he who Plotted against the life of Good King David by a legal Tryal might have lost his own He Foresaw that the Verdict of an Honest Jury wou'd have pronounc'd him Guilty so that he could not be safe but by the present Destruction of the Lords Anointed V. But the Divine Providence which had hitherto preserved David through the whole course of his life did at this time in an Extraordinary Manner shew it self in the wonderful and gracious Deliverance of him and his dearest Relations and all his loving Subjects from this horrid and damnable Conspiracy David all this while meditates no Revenge against his Enemies He uses no other Weapons but his Prayers and Tears He incessantly beseeches God that he would forgive his Persecutors and Slanderers and that he would turn their Hearts And God who accepts the Sacrifice of an Humble and a Contrite Heart hear'd his Prayers and had respect unto the Sorrows of his Broken Spirit for presently after he had put up his Earnest Petition unto the Lord that he would Turn the Counsel of Ahitophel into foolishness Hushai the Wise Archite meets him with his Clothes rent and Ashes upon his head as the Manner of Mourners was in those days Here God began to answer David's Prayer provideing a man whose Wisdom qualify'd him to confound Ahitophel and turn his Stratagems into his own ruin Hushai prompted by his Loyalty and Dutiful Affections would have Waited upon the King in his Afflictions But David knew his Abilities and thought he might do him more Service at this time in Absalom's Court than his own Wherefore he orders him to return to the City and to behave himself so as to gain Absalom's Favour that having his Countenance he might be able to defeat the Counsel of Ahitophel Accordingly Hushai salutes Absalom as King tenders his service unto him and is admtted into his Secrets And now he and Ahitophel are the two Grand-Counsellours and the whole business is to be Transacted by their directions After other lewd and damnable Advice Ahitophel gives that most pernicious Counsel before mention'd which was that he with 12000 men should pursue after David that very Night But God who Over-rules the Hearts of all men did move Absalom not to resolve till he had also Consulted Hushai about this Weighty Affair Call now for Hushai says he and let us hear what he saith And when he was come he propounded the Question to him Shall we do after this Manner If not speak thou Ch. XVII 5 6. Absalom seems to have been very well satisfy'd with what Ahitophel had propounded and to have Consulted Hushai rather as one whom he was unwilling to make his Enemy than to trust as a Friend and therefore 't is likely did put no great Confidence in him Let us however hear saith he slightly likewise what he saith But when Hushai had deliver'd his Opinion he was strangely pleas'd with it insomuch that he resolves to Act according to his Direction He representeth the danger which might have arisen from a sudden Surprise Davids men he tells him would fight it out to the last That to be sure David lay in Ambush was hid in some Pit or safe place and would certainly
wretched Tutors shall be responsible for the pernicious Principles of their perverted Pupils And if we Consider Ahitophel's Character it will appear that none of all David's Counsellors was so fit and likely to debauch the Mind of this Young Disciple and so become the Great Engineer of this Conspiracy as this Arch-Politician For 1. he had been David's Counsellour or the President it 's possible of that Honourable Board 1 Chron. XXVII 33. Upon this Account he being a Man of Penetrating Wit must needs have been well acquainted with the Methods of David's Counsels the Posture of his Affairs his Particular Inclinations and all the Defects as well as Accomplishments of his Person So that he could inform Absalom how to Provide against his Strength as well as Assault him in the Weakest Place 'T is no small advantage unto those who Meditate a Rebellion to understand the Temper of their Prince the Qualifications of his Prime Ministers and the State of his Government for by this means their Impious Projects are more likely to take Effect Thus they may lay their Plots so as to be least Suspected by the King may perhaps prevail with some of his Familiar Friends to betray him but most Certainly take all Occasions with greater Security to disturb the Government And we may be sure that Ahitophel who 't was well known omitted no Opportunities which made for his Purpose gave no small Encouragement to the Cause by the Knowledge which he had of State-matters and his dextrous Art in applying all his Understanding to the Design which he was Concern'd to Manage Especially 2. At this Time being a a Discontented Courtier doubtless he strain'd his Wit to invent how he might Revenge himself upon Good King David Therefore finding Absalom in the Heat of Youth greedy of Soveraignty and Extreamly Discontented with his Foul Disgrace at Court and long Banishment He presently Joynes Issue with him aggravates the Father's Unkindness represents the Sons Innocence and with all Pathetick Expressions which Malice could suggest endeavours to raise Absalom unto the highest Pitch of Indignation That so the Breach betwixt him and his Father might be beyond the Possibility of a Reconciliation Time might have Moderated Absalom's high Passions and worn out David's Displeasure conceiv'd against him But Ahitophel's Diabolical Cunning took Care to Prevent all Hopes of Agreement Accordingly he adds Fuel to the Fire and instead of quenching blows the Coals of the Conspiracy and becomes the Chief Manager as Questionless he was the first Designer of it For tho' there is no Mention of Ahitophel's Consulting with Absalom before he sent for him to Hebron yet this doth not exclude Former Debates about the business And indeed it is not probable that Absalom had he not been before assur'd of his Utmost Assistance wou'd have made him his Intimate Companion at Hebron and there have imparted to him his most Secret Counsels He knew before this Message that he was strongly link'd to his Faction as well as that he was a Man of Deep Reach and great Judgment in State Affairs 3. Which is another thing that fitted him to be a Principal in this Rebellion The Counsel of Ahitophel sayes the Text was as if a Man had enquired at the Oracle or the word of God So it had been with David and so now it was with Absalom Chap. XVI 23. He was so esteem'd for his Wisdom that his Counsels were receiv'd as if they had all been Divine Truths and Reveal'd from Heaven His Advice was generally seconded with sutable Success therefore it was so highly Reverenc'd and not because in it self it always Deserved to be so much applauded For this Counsel which here he gave Absalom was so far from being Divine that it was most Damnably wicked tho' in the Policy of it most Exquisitely Pernicious So that the Wisdome for which he was so highly admired was not really that which descends from above Pure and Peaceable but that Earthly Wisdom which is Sensual and Devilish He was acquainted with all the Turns and Intrigues the Windeings and Doublings the Passions and Principles of Crooked Nature He was very well Skill'd in all the Frauds Impostures and Vices of Mankind Had all the Wisdome of the Serpent but nothing of the Dove-like Innocence He acted by such Maxims as these Virtue is not much to be regarded but only it's appearance because the Name and Opinion of Virtue may be an Help but Virtue is an Impediment That a True Politician ought to make all Obnoxious and draw them on his side by engaging them in Vnpardonable Villanies That an Exact Statesman shou'd be Concern'd only for himself and Care not if he be Safe in the Ship whether others sink or swim In a word he was the most accomplish'd Machiavilian of his Time He who seem'd to be an Oracle of God was in truth rather inspired by that Infernal Spirit who Actuated the Oracle at Delphos And tho' he appear'd as an Angel of Light yet really was one of the subtle Agents of the Prince of Darkness And now was not he who had been David's Chief Counsellour at present a Discontented Courtier and was so well Vers'd in all the Arts of a Crafty Politician was not he most likely to espouse and most able to manage Absalom's Faction against the Holy David II. Who was the Person against whom this Horrid Rebellion was Intended who all this while lay secure sooner Expecting the Invasion of a Foreign Enemy than a Conspiracy headed by his Dearest Son His indulgent Affection would not suffer him to entertain such a Thought of the Young Man whom he so Entirely loved What is Absalom amongst the Conspirators 't is not possible that he should be so Monstrously Ingrateful Is he not my Subject my Friend and my Child And can he so utterly forget all these Relations as to Design against my Life who am his King his Benefactor and his Aged Father Will he Ruine me who am Contriving his Well-being What can he Propose to himself by my Death but Eternal Shame and Ignomie What can he think will be the Consequence of such an Accursed Cruelty but his own Everlasting Destruction Why then should I Entertain such Hard Thoughts of him poor Young-Man Can he either be so Foolish or so Profligately Wicked as to Endeavour at once both to Undo me and himself After this Manner it's probable that the Good King reason'd with himself till Treason loudly Knock'd at his Gates and he was Certainly inform'd by a Special Messenger that the Hearts of the Men of Israel were after Absalom Now he is fully Convinc'd of the Truth of that which his Fatherly Ingenuity would not easily suffer him to Believe But how may we suppose did this strange News pierce his afflicted Soul The Curses of Shimei and the Reproaches of Goliah were but easy tryals of his Patience when Compar'd with this Son of his own Bowels who had Rebelled against him But besides this Especial Relation which did require
Perswaded to desire a Change not Considering that David by the Wisdom and Experience of Old-Age was now better Qualify'd to Rule his Kingdom in Peace which by the Strength and Valour of his Youth he had before Defended in War But suppose that David through the Infirmities of Age was uncapable to Govern so well as in his more Sprightly Youth doth it become Absalom to expose the Nakedness of his Father or Ahitophel to Discover the Imperfections of his Aged Master Is it the part of an Obedient Son or Faithful Servant in his Declining Age to Incense the People against him and so endeavour with Sorrow to bring down his Gray Hairs unto the Grave Perhaps while they were at Court they had observ'd some Miscarriages of David's Officers What if there were some Male-administrations lyable to just Exception there never was any Government without its Faults and 't is not likely that David's Kingdom tho' an Eminent Type of Christ's was without its Spots and Wrinckles But must the People therefore he alarm'd with sad Outcries against the Government as if none cou'd have Justice and no man could call any thing which he possest his own This use indeed Absalom makes of the Court-Corruptions not that he was Concern'd for the Peoples Happiness but his own Power and Greatness As it follows Oh! that I were made Judge in the Land that every man that hath Suite or Cause might come unto me and I will do him Justice Thus under the Guise of Property and Publick Good Absalom Design'd to get the Government into his own hands but some of his Advisers 't is not unprobable under this Colour intended to turn the Monarchy into a Common-Wealth And this Argument 't was thought would Prevail with those to come over to the Party who were Honest and Industrious who by lawful means had gotten an Estate and were 't was to be suppos'd willing to preserve it 2. In like manner to gain the Ingenuous and those who were well Descended We may be assured that Absalom's Counsellours caus'd it to be bruited abroad that King David was about to bring in Arbitrary Government and to take away all their Laws Rights Priviledges and Immunities which they and their Fore-fathers had hitherto enjoy'd And this to be sure would Create no small Prejudices unto his Royal Person and Authority What! shall we who are a Free born People be Entangled with the Yoke of Bondage Shall we who are Abraham's Seed and never were in Bondage to any man tamely suffer our selves to be made Vassals and Slaves when we have Law on our sides and Power in our Hands to Vindicate our own Liberties If David cease to behave himself as our just and merciful King we do no longer own him the Duty of Subjects Therefore To your Tents O Israel let us dye like Men rather than live like Beasts of Burthen We are not now in Egypt but in Israel and if David will be a Pharaoh shall we be Egyptian Bond-slaves With such like strains as these the Popular Orators drew in to their Faction those Israelites who were Well-Born and had been Ingenuously Educated And tho' in the History of this Rebellion we find no Complaint that their Liberties were Invaded yet 't is very likely they made use of this Topick not only because 't is the usual and plausible Common-Place of the Seditious but also because Solomon's Government which was more Easy and Peaceable than David's was we find accounted Grievous and very Hard to be Born Thy Father says Jeroboam in the name of all Israel made our Yoke Grievous 1 King XII 4. We may therefore not without Reason presume that Absalom's Agitators did not omit this Occasion tho' the Liberty for which they Contended and really aimed at might be nothing else but an Exemption from all the Laws both of God and Man so that they might without fear of Punishment have been Scepticks in their Opinions and Libertines in their Actions 3. But the greatest Imposture was the Pretence of Religion set on Foot as we may suppose by Absalom's Fanatick-Confessours that so their Rebellion might be reputed the Cause of Religion and be strengthen'd with the assistance of all those who desir'd to be accounted the Truly Pious and Devout For this Purpose Absalom must feign at least that he had Vowed if he should return safe to Jerusalem to praise God at Hebron for his goodness towards him Accordingly he Sollicites his Father to Consent unto his Journey The truly Religious David glad to hear that his Son was so well dispos'd readily grants his Petition little suspecting that Hebron where Sacrifices especially Peace-Offerings used to be performed should be a place design'd for a Religious Conspiracy But so it was Jerusalem was not now a Place Convenient for Absalom's purpose the Treason could not have been long Conceal'd in that City where David resided Besides his Presence wou'd have daunted the Courage of some and have won the Love of others Therefore this Conventicle at Hebron is resolved upon as the best Means to Unite them all in this most Hellish Conspiracy Wickedness is never so bewitching as when it appears in the Beautiful Robes of Religion Who would have suspected any harm from this Holy Assembly of the Brother-hood Alas Absalom Good Man intends to becom a New Man resolves to Repent of all his former sins and for this end is come to Hebron to Perform this Vow in a more pure way of Worship than he can do at Jerusalem And as for the Feasts and Publick Entertainments which he makes they are only for his Friends and Relations who come to rejoyce with him as is usual upon such solemn Occasions Thus the Conspirators might Apologise for themselves when they were intimately Conscious that this Thanks-giving with all the Religion and Hospitality which did attend it was design'd as a Prologue unto the most Dismal Tragedy the Murther of the best of Kings The Devil has in all Ages brought about his most Pernicious Stratagems under the shew of Sanctity He 's willing that men shou'd profess as much Godliness as they please if he may but have the Management of it He very well understands his own Interest and is too cunning to forbid his Proselytes the use of all Religion Upon Condition that they will be Employ'd in the Way of Schism and Sedition he allows them to dress themselves with all the External Ornaments of Holiness If he hath secur'd all within and be certain that Hypocrisie lyes lurking in the Heart when a splendid Zeal appears on the out-side he 's very well satisfy'd and fears no Evil from the Long and Tedious Exercises of such Religious Mountebanks Let Absalom himself and his wicked Accomplices pretend to be as Godly as they will at Hebron and Jereboam's Zeal he know's so long as it is Confin'd unto Dan and Bethel promotes his Kingdom He is not displeas'd with the Pharisee for his long Prayers and Frequent Fastings if after these seeming Devotions