Absalom's Obedience David was King of all Israel and therefore all the People were bound to give unto him the things which belong unto Caesar Custom Tribute Reverence Loyalty and Dutiful Allegiance Had he been as bad as Zedekiah yet was he the Breath of their Nostrils and ought to have been Treated as the Anointed of the Lord Lam. IV. 20. Had he been as Wicked as Nero yet he was God's Vicegerent and his Subjects were oblig'd to Obey not only him as Supream but also his Ministers as sent by him and this under no less a Penalty than Damnation Had he been the Greatest Oppressour and most Cruel Tyrant yet who had any Right to say unto him what doest thou Eccles VIII 4. For against a King there is no Riseing And who can Stretch out his hand against the Lord 's Anointed and be guiltless Prov. XXX 31. 1 Sam. XXXVI 9. Is it fit saith Elihu to say to a King thou art wicked and to Princes ye are ungodly Is it comely nay is it not highly Impious to Reproach the Footsteps of God's Anointed Job XXXIV 16. Psal LXXXIX 51. And as we must not Blaspheme the Sacred Persons of Kings with our Words or Assault them with our Actions So neither must we Murmur against them or Curse them no not in our Thoughts Those who do so Rebel not only against them but against the King of Kings who hath reserv'd unto himself the Prerogative of Judging Rebuking and Punishing his Representatives Thus had David been one of the wicked Kings of Israel yet every Soul was bound to Reverence his Royal Person and instead of Opposing him by Force of Arms was oblig'd to make it part of his Daily Prayer unto God that he wou'd grant the King a long Life even for ever and ever Neh. II. 3. But if we Consider him as a most Gracious and Merciful Wise and Prudent Just and Righteous King this does hugely aggravate the Guilt of those Rebellious Israelites He resembled God not only in Power but also in Mercy Wisdom and Justice with which his Government was so admirably Temper'd that his Subjects had no cause to complain of those Mischiefs which usually accompany that Princes Reign which is manag'd with Barbarous Cruelty unworthy Cunning and Licentious Toleration What therefore should move them to Rebel against him who in Virtue as well as Dignity of Place was the Light of Israel and Worth ten Thousand of them O Foolish People and Unwise do you thus Requite your great Deliverer and Benefactor Shall David who hath destroyed the Mighty Man and preserved you from the hand of the Philistins shall he who hath saved you as well as himself from the Jaws of the Lion and the Paw of the Bear shall he whom God hath miraculously protected for your Good shall he be deposed by you who Live Thrive and Prosper under the kind Influence of his Benigne Favour Do you first judge him unfit to Govern and then Resolve to rend his Kingdom from him But where hath God made you Judges f your Princes Abilities and by what Prophet hath he Pulickly denounc'd that his Kingdom shall not Continue To what Man of God hath he given Commission to appoint another During his Reign as he did to Samuel to anoint David whilst Saul possest the Kingdom of Israel If the House of Saul by God's Express Order be rejected for his Rebellion against God shall therefore Good King David without positive command from Heaven be dethron'd by the People God does not now Transfer Kingdoms from one to another by Immediate Revelation and when he did so he never gave any Power to the People either to Create or Depose Kings When he had Chosen Moses to be King in Jesharun he abhors and is highly offended at those Factious Levites and famous Members of Parliament men of Renown who shall murmur and Remonstrate against his proceedings But notwithstanding the severe Judgment which God Inflicted upon Corah and his Rebellious Associates Absalom and Ahitophel with their Rebellious Associates are Confederates together with one Consent against their Lawful and most Gracious Soveraign III. And that they may put a Good Face upon their Rebellious Practices they declar'd that they very Unwillingly enter'd upon these Violent Courses could they any other way have redress'd these Grievances under which the whole Nation lay most sadly Opprest Alas they could easily bear the Affronts and Indignities which David by the Advice of his Evil Counsellours had put upon them But when they consider'd the Oppressions with which the Poor People were harrassed When their Ancient Liberties and Just Rights and that which ought to be most dear unto every true Israelite their Holy Religion as Reform'd by Absalom and Ahitophel at Hebron lay at Stake and were in danger to be utterly lost When Israel's Condition was thus Miserable they could not but endeavour to relieve their Beloved Countrymen and doubted not but that all who had any love to their Country or their Religion would joyn with them in this Righteous and Holy Cause They were very sensible that the Followers of David would reproach them as Rebels and Traytors and appropriate unto themselves the Title of the Loyal Party But this did not move them who for the good of their Brethren were ready not only to be evil Spoken of but to Sacrifice their very Lives and all their dearest Concerns in this World And now what honest plain and simple Israelite hearing these fair Pretences wou'd not become a Proselyte weep over the Miseries of his Nation look upon these Persons as his only Patriots and intirely give up himself unto their Conduct These sweet Words and glosing Harangues especially coming from Men famous in the Assembly were enough to Charm the Common and Vulgar tho' Innocent and Well-meaning People An Upright Man in whom was no Guile would not have suspected any in this Declaration When in Truth it was nothing but an Artificial Perswasive to draw all Sorts of men into a most Horrid and Unnatural Rebellion A Cabal of Republicans Atheists and Fanaticks met together at Hebron and agreed under the specious Pretences of Property and Publick Good Liberties and the Laws Religion and Reformation to invite into the Faction the Honest and Industrions the Ingenuous and Free-born the Pious and Devout They were already Assured of those who were like unto themselves in Temper and Principles and that they might catch others who in a Lawful Sense were Friends to Property Liberty and Religion they Baited the Hook with these Glittering Pretences See says Absalom after he had Examin'd each Man's Case thy Matters are good and right But there is no man deputed of the King to hear thee Or as it is in the Margine none will hear thee from the King downward 2 Sam. XV. 3. David now began to grow in Age and therefore Absalom took this Occasion to render him Odious and Despicable unto the People When the King Grows Old the Giddy Multitude are easily
fall upon some part of the Army and defeating them put the other to flight Then he suits his language to the proud humour of the Vain-glorious Prince He counsels that all Israel be gathered together even from Dan unto Beersheba as the sand that is by the Sea for Multitude That he himself like a couragious General should Command them in Person Thus he tells him that he might promise himself Success Such a numerous Army would fall upon him as the dew upon the ground And if he was fled to any City wou'd be able to draw him and the City it self and all his Company into the River Absalom's youthful Fancy was hugely struck with these big Words and hyperbolical Expressions so Ahitophel's Advice not taking Effect David gains time to strengthen and prepare himself with necessary Provisions against the danger with which he was encompassed Hushai presently acquaints Zadok and Abiathar with what had passed and lest Absalom being fickle should alter his Resolution he advises them to send word unto David saying Lodge not this night in the plains of the Wilderness but speedily pass over Jordan In this management of Hushai we may observe a rare mixture of Obedience Faithfulness and Discretion Treason is usually jealous of unexpected Friendship and Absalom taking his newly reconciled Enemy for a Spy might probably have deliver'd him over unto present Execution But his clear spirit was not moved with this Consideration He fears not Absalom's Displeasure when he acts in obedience unto David's Commands Besides had he been an Ahitophel and not an Hushai had he been a Wicked and not an Honest Politician Absalom's greatness might have tempted him to have quitted David's broken Fortunes and have courted the Affections of his Rising son But he like a Faithful Subject hates to be Treacherous to his Master and chuses rather to mourn with David in his Afflictions than triumph with his Rebelious Subjects And as his Obedience and Fidelity were remarkable in this critical juncture so his Conduct was exactly discreet in this great and dangerous Concern He did not like an officious Politico intrude himself into Absalom's Presence but waited a convenient Opportunity and stay'd 'till he was ask'd And when he offer'd his Counsel 't was with all due submission unto Ahitophel's greater Wisdom onely at this time he beg'd leave to dissent from him The Counsel which Ahitophel hath given at this time is not good And after he perceiv'd that Absalom was of this Opinion how careful is he to lose no time with what haste doth he fly to the Priests that they might immediately dispatch a Messenger unto the King 2. They extremely glad to hear so good News forthwith observe his Instructions which were no doubt that they should acquaint the King with the whole state of Absalom's Affairs as well as to desire him to provide for his own present Safety This they did by a silly Maid whose tender Age and Sex made her unfit for such a piece of Service had she not been an Instrument in the hands of God who by the most Contemptible Means doth often confound the Wisdom of the Wise By strength alone no man can prevail The Race is not always to the swift nor the Battel to the strong King David at this time was not saved by the multitude of an Hoast but by the despicable and unarmed weakness of a single Woman Abiathar was at this time the High-priest and Zadok next in order to him but both of them David's faithful Servants they had not learnt the New Doctrine of Resistance nor did they act by the Politick Rule of our Modern Laodiceans who really neither espouse the King's Cause nor the Faction of his Enemies but stand aloof off till they may with discretion join themselves to the stronger side Zadok and Abiathar were as wise as they but more honest and tho' they were God's Priests yet continued the Kings Loyal Subjects in his greatest Distress and utmost Extremities They were obedient unto David's Command and continued in the City tho' with no small hazard of their lives tho' it was known that they were no Friends unto Absalom's Designs I wish that some who term themselves the Ministers of the Gospel would acquit themselves in this respect as well as these howsoever despised Priests of the Law And it 's well if the immoveable Loyalty of our Clergy to the Crown be not the Chief Reason why they are treated by her Enemies on both sides with such contempt and scorn But if this be our only Crime we own and glory in it and are no more asham'd to imitate the Jewish Priests in their Christian Vertues than we are to be called by their Name We are ready to attend our Lord the King whithersoever he goes but if he shall please to order us to waite upon the Ark of God in Jerusalem we obey and shall there With Zadok and Abiathar serve him to the utmost of our power as well with our Daily Actions as Constant Prayers But it may be thought that I do too much divert from my Subject I shall therefore return And having observ'd Hushai's prudent Address Zadok and Abiathar's watchful Care for their Prince's Safety in the next place this Great Deliverance must chiefly be ascrib'd unto the good Providence of God in whose hands are the hearts of Kings Without the Divine Protection all Humane Means are weak and insufficient It was God alone who turned the counsel of Ahitophel into foolishness He brought Hushai to David in this exigence mov'd him to send him back into the City and enclin'd Absalom to follow his counsel tho' much worse for his purpose than Ahitophel's It was he who caus'd Zadok and Abiathar to remain in Jerusalem and made them the happy Instruments of the King's Deliverance Without his Providential Care these Watchmen had waked but in vain These things did not happen by Fate or Chance but by his Appointment who giveth Salvation unto Kings and sheweth Mercy unto his Anointed Whatever men may propose unto themselves it is only in the Power of the Almighty to dispose The Politicians may Consult and the Souldiers fit their Arms but without God's permission neither the Counsels of the one nor the Weapons of the other can prevail against King David The Pharisees consulted how to put Jesus to death And some profligate Villains had sworn to take away S. Paul's life but neither can execute their malicious Purposes when God shall please to interpose in the behalf of injur'd innocence Absalom with his Great Men may Rebel and take Counsel against the Lord and against his Anointed but he who dwelleth in Heaven shall laugh the Lord shall have them in derision He shall speak unto them in his wrath and vex them in his sore displeasure Psal II. 2 4 5. He hearkens unto Davi'd's Prayer And by Hushai's honest Policy Zadok and Abiathar's Loyal Piety together with the diligent industry of a silly Maid turns Absalom's Strength into Weakness and
Ahitophel's Policy Defeated A SERMON Preached on the 9th of September Being the Day appointed by His MAJESTY for a Publick Thanksgiving For HIS and the KINGDOMS GREAT DELIVERANCE From the late Treasonable CONSPIRACY Against His Sacred Person and Government For it was not an Enemy that reproached me then I could have born it neither was it be that hated me that did magnifie himself against me then I would have hid my self from him But it was thou one whom I esteemed as my self my guide and my acquaintance we took sweet counsel together Psalm LV. 12 13 14. Regum exitus si reputaverimus plures à suis quà m ab hostibus interemptos reperiemus Quint. Curt. L. IX Non creditur nisi perpetratum facinus Liv. L. XL. LONDON Printed for W. Kettilby at the Bishops Head in S. Paul's Church-yard 1683. 2 Sam. XV. 12. And Absalom sent for Ahitophel the Gilonite Davids Counsellour from his City even from Giloh while he offered Sacrifices and the Conspiracy was strong for the people increased continually with Absalom WE read in the XIII Chapter of this Book that Absalom having kill'd his Brother Ammon for defiling his Sister Tamar presently fled unto Geshur in Syria where he continued some time with King Talmai his Grandfather by the Mother's side Ammon was elder Brother and therefore considering Absalom's aspiring Genius 't is probable that he committed this Parricide rather out of an Ambition he had to be the more nearly related to the Crown than any Vertuous Detestation of his Brothers sin Such as God was sometimes pleas'd to put into the hearts of the Jewish Zealots However he takes this occasion to remove him out of the way and because he justly feared that his Father David would not let so foul a Fact go unpunish'd he flyes from his presence and returns not again to Jerusalem till about three years after When Joab perceiving the King's Affections towards his Son by the Parable which he put into the mouth of the Widow of Tekoah prevail'd with the King to issue out Order for bringing him back again to the Imperial City So Joab arose and went to Geshur and brought Absalom to Jerusalem Ch. XIV v. 23. Where after he had resided about two years he is permitted to see the King's face and is graciously receiv'd into favour Good King David could not cast off the bowels and tenderness of a Father tho' he unnatural Child abandon's all the Duty of a Son for instead of repenting for what he had done he seconds his former sin with another of a more hainous nature to Murther he adds Rebellion And he who before had illegally kill'd his Brother does now both against all the Laws of God and man wickedly Conspire against his own Father For this purpose he prepares Chariots and Horses and fifty men to guard his body from the assaults of his Enemies that is the Kings Friends And because he well knew that his Design would not take Effect unless the Multitude were drawn into the Design by fair speeches and flattering insinuations he Steals away the Peoples hearts from his Father David And lest his secret Machinations should be discover'd he resolves to quit Jerusalem Accordingly he begs and obtains leave to depart And to cover his black Designs with a fair Appearance he alledges Religion as the Cause of his removal I pray thee says he unto the King let me go and pay my Vow which I have vowed unto the Lord in Hebron The pious King was glad to find his Son so well dispos'd hopeing that now he would seriously repent of his former wickedness He therefore easily granted his request and said unto him go in peace So he arose and went to Hebron When he was come thither he sends for Ahitophel that cunning Politician And now Wit and Strength Judgment and Courage being united no wonder that the People daily flock'd to Absalom and that great numbers continually listed themselves into the Conspiracy And Absalom sent for Ahitophel the Gilonite Davids Counsellour from his City even from Giloh while he offered sacrifices and the Conspiracy was strong for the People encreased continually with Absalom I shall consider the words with relation unto the Context and therefore shall not strictly bind my self within the compass of this Verse but represent this Conspiracy as it is more fully described in this and the following Chapters where we have an Account I. Of the Heads and Chief Promoters of it II. Of the Person against whom it was design'd III. The Pretences by which it was carry'd on IV. The Progress which was made in it And V. how at last it was happily Discover'd and Defeated I. The Chief Heads and Promoters of it were Absalom and Ahitophel two whose Qualifications render'd them fit both to project and execute this horrid Conspiracy For who amongst all the Children of Israel more likely to go further in a Rebellion than Absalom whose Birth and Beauty plausible Carriage and undauntd Courage seem'd to speak him a King at the first sight and Challenge the highest place of Honour as a Reward naturally due unto his great Accomplishments 1. By Birth we find that he was the King's Son tho' not the Immediate Successour For David had another Son elder than he was 2 Sam. III. 3. But no matter whether the Title be lawful or no. Ambition stays not to Examine such small Punctilio's In his own Thoughts he 's the most deserving and he 's already Crown'd in the Peoples Favour Why should he stand upon the niceties of Law when his own Merits and the Voice of the Multitude have already declar'd him King And what Consecration can be more Sacred than this wherein Intrinsick Worth and External Testimony do both concur Shall the Plea of Hereditary Succession be admitted against a Claim Seal'd in Heaven and proclaim'd on Earth by God's Representatives the People I am the King's Son as we may suppose Absalom arguing the case with himself and tho' there be another elder than I am yet being neither fit to Govern nor Beloved of the People the Priviledge which he has by Birth is cancell'd and therefore the Right of Succession devolves upon me who am the next in order I have the Royal Blood in my Veins as well as he and none of those Impediments which disanuls his Birthright and make him altogether uncapable to be King of Israel Thus we may suppose Absalom's ambitious Thoughts roving beyond all the Sacred Bounds of God's Laws to find out new Arguments whereby he might prove that he and not his Elder Brother was by especial Providence design'd to Succeed in the Throne of his Father David 2. And as by Birth he was the King's Son so he had other Advantages which did not a little encourage him in his Treasonable Attempt His fair and comely Feature render'd him amiable in the Eyes of Men and did silently plead his Cause with those who Judge according to appearance and not righteous Judgment Amongst all the
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