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A26303
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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 kingdoms great deliverance from the late treasonable conspiracy against his sacred person and government.
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1683
(1683)
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Wing A439A; ESTC R19991
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19,330
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32
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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