might at the first haue gone with thee Verse 26 and drunke of the same cuppe but he went and tooke the beast for himselfe and left mee at home through lamenesse not being able to follow and thus what with his presents and glozing speeches hath hee raysed vp an euill report against me But oh King thou hast wisdome enough to see his subdolousnesse my vprightnesse to thee therefore doe I referre it p Verse 27 My Lord the King is as an Angell of God doe therefore thy pleasure Thus MEPHIBOSHETH assoyle and acquit him selfe from the imputation of that bitter slander shewing that he stayed not at Ierusalem to stirre vp sedition nor vpon this occasion of Dauids troubles to worke his owne endes and aduantages but was constrayned there to remaine and all the while of the Kings absence continued a peaceable and well-wishing Subiect Thirdly His generous answere vpon Dauids too too moderate satisfaction for before vpon Zibahs smooth tale Dauid had giuen away all MEPHIBOSHTHS Lands to Zibah q â— Sam. 16 Behold thine are all that pertained to MEPHIBOSHETH But now perceiuing MEPHIBOSHETH to be guiltlesse hee thought it vnmeet vnreasonable but that some restitution should be made him therefore adiudge hee r â—erse 29 Thou and Zibah deuide the Lands Now though Zibah deserued rather to haue bene diuided in pieces then to haue any diuision of the Lands yet doth MEPHIBOSHETH carry himselfe discontentedly No Non frendet non labrum mordet He shewes no token of dislike for see his notable demeanour nay heare his resolute and Laudable answere It is not my goods saith he that I care for but the Kings life and therefore that I may appeare to be what I plead for a well affectionate subiect My Lord the King being come home in Peace I am so ouerioyed with it that I respect no wordly wealth and that I may manifest it I submit my selfe to thy determination that Zibah should haue halfe my meanes nay that he should possesse the whole portion Yea saith good MEPHIBOSHETH Let him take all seeing my Lord the King is come home in Peace This Alablaster Boxe of MEPHIBOSHETHS matchlesse answere doe I purpose to open amongst you and to powre out the precious Spiknard in the same that the whole house may bee filled with the sauour of it and all of vs incited to some semblable ioyfulnesse vpon the happy returne of our Illustrious Prince In the words there are two parts A wonderfull transporting A cause of weight importing 1 The wonderfull transporting Yea let him take All. 2 The cause of weight importing Seeing my Lord the King is come home in Peace First for the wonderfull Transporting Yea let him take All. This Transporting seemes to be wonderfull for three respects of The Person Him Yea let him The Proffer Take Yea let him take The Portion All Yea c. First for the transporting as it seeme wonderfull in respect of the Person Him Let him Zibah Had it beene some ancient friend or entire approued acquaintance it had beene lesse maruellous but Let Him What the treacherousest Miscreant that euer MEPHIBOSHETH had against him He that had brused his heele empeached his credit that dead flye that had made the sweet oyntment of his fame to stincke That faithlesse wretch who being one of his owne Houshold had layd a wound vndâ—r his side What Let him Yes Let Him saith MEPHIBOSHETH Obserue Oh what see we here but a heart offended relenting and inclining to peace Was hee euer grieued against Zibah Were it so yet Nescit odisse he knowes not how to hate as Dauid will keepe his eyes from looking vpon vanity so Mephibosheth his heart from muzing vpon vengeance He will poure coales of fire vpon his Enemies head for Let Him How choise and conspicuous is this Paterne How many amongst vs can thus hide reproofes in our bosomes and when our cheekes are nipped our faces smitten long furrowes made vpon our backes not feele the smart of the same No it was a true speech of Å¿ Laert. lib. 5. cap. 1. Aristotle who being demanded what was the first and what was the last thing that waxed olde answered Gratia Jniuria a good turne first a bab turne last because of kindnesses we are so soone forgetfull but of vnkindnesse valdè tenaces such long remembrancers t Prou. 19.11 The glory of a man is to passe by an offence but this glory is esteemed of many the greatest ignominy for what forget an indignitie bury a greeuance oh this were a Dastardly thing indeede no wreacke our teene feede our eyes with the ruine of our Aduersaries this is manly this is glorious scribunt in marmore laesi The dust is no fit Register for wrongs but they write them in Tables of Marble and til they see due repaiment there is no true content an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth we are rather Esaus then Mephibosheths As it is reported of u Herod lib. 5. Darius that hauing receiued an abuse from the Athenians he shot vp an arrow into Heauen and fell into an extreame rage withall commanding one of his seruants that euery Supper time he should say Here memento Atheniensium Master remember the Athenians So fares it with vs vpon the least ill turne wee fall into furious behauiour and vse all meanes whereby the memorie of such things might remaine fresh with vs continually But oh in the meane while where is the power of diuine grace Haue wee so learned Christ Is this the light that Gods blessed truth instructeth vs in No The w Iam. 3.17 Wisdome that descend from aboue is peaceable easie to bee intreated x Prou. 24.29 Say not I will doe to him as he hath done to me I will recompence euery man according to his workes y Rom. 12.2 Be not ouercome with euill but ouercome euill with goodnesse Away then with those vindictiue and implacable Spirits which boile with nothing but rancour and thirst after the ouerthrowe of their foes and aduersaries Oh let Aspes haue these galles but in the bosomes of Saints let them neuer bee found Amongst vs let there be rather Jndolentia then Jnuidia yea so tractable and flexible let vs seeme to be to our deadliest enemies that wee be ready rather to benefit them then infest and mischiefe them See here a renowned example Zibah had grossely deepely basely abused Mephibosheth yet see his sweet nature to this man will he be courteous For Let him take all Now let vs come to the Proffer Take Had it beene let him enioy a gracious looke or a good word it had beene much but let him Take what see wee heere but a most faire Proffer Obserue Would Mephibosheth thus to his enemy part with some of his Estate rather then stand after Dauids iudgement giuen contending Oh might not this serue to charme our wearisomlesse Law-wormes which are giuen to interminable Suits and many of them not as
deformity how can the chiefe string bee wanting from the Instrument and not faint Musicke So how can there bee any hearty delight when the Lord the King is not in the midst of the people n 1 Sam 9. Did Saul thinke that if hee were wanting but three dayes that his father would begin to sorrow for him and not much more the Subiects euen languish in themselues when their Princes are in remote Parts o Psal 82. I haue said ye are Gods Oh how do the People reioyce in the presence of their Gods be it but to eye them and behold such royall Vessels wherein the rich Treasures of their blisse and happinesse are stored vp So that seeing the presence of Princes is so great a comfort Mephibosheth heere you see had matter enough to bee wonderfully affected For The Lord his King was come home Now let vs come to the measure In peace Seeing my Lord the King is come home in peace This word peace I know hath many acceptions but if my iudgement faile mee not for these three things it is heere put First for freedome from former dangers that wheras before Dauid was in great straits hee is now escaped out of them Gods rod and staffe hauing comforted him when hee was almost walking through the shadow of death as the Israelites had many Egyptians pursuing after them but when they looked backe they were all drowned So though this royal Prince had many feares terrors marching after him yet now if hee looke backe they are all swallowed vp Dauid is now in peace Secondly for health of body That Dauid is not come home to lye on a Couch or to bee wrung with some pangfull Disease that hee needs not the Phisitians to prescribe recouering Receipts but that hee finde his body in good temper and himselfe euery way healthfully disposed Dauid is thus in peace Thirdly for the good liking of his Subiects That comming into his Territories hee is not enforced to take Castle nor to enter into conditions of peace for the settling himselfe in his Kingdome but that all his Subiects as yet are well affected to him and that Mephibosheth see not a man that lifts vp his head or threatens future molestation vnto him Dauid is in peace But is this the extent of Mephibosheths weighty cause importing is this that fill vp the Cup of his delight vnto the brimme Then who see not that Subiects can neuer haue perfection of comfort in their Princes vnlesse all their dangers bee remoued if they bee not in peace how stould the people bee in ioy It is a prepostrous thing for the Subiects foreheads to smile when the Soueraignes forehead hangs downe yet how many are there that can bee delightsome and mirthfull enough in the midst of their Rulers perils and can triumph in the midst of their troubles For my owne part I thinke these know not what it is to haue a Superiour Power ouer them for then the People with their Kings would like those two famous Twinnes weepe when they weep and laugh when they laugh Mephibosheth I am sure did so all the while the King was in danger ye heard how disconsolately hee behaued himselfe as though hee had beene a man carelesse of himselfe and doth he expresse any ioy when is it when hee sees his Lord the King in health and happinesse safety and security For Let him take all seeing my Lord the King is come home in Peace Thus at last haue I runne short descant vpon the celebrious ensigne notable carriage of Mephibosheth Oh Mephibosheth with renowne would I still follow thee I would I could blow a siluer Trumpet in thy praise and set a Crowne of immortall honour vpon thy Head Floreat splendeat semper Mephibosheth Let Mephibosheths esteeme euer flourish euer flourish and let it glister like Phosphorus in his brightnesse Quid vltra What yet remaineth To see whether wee haue such ioyfull cause that so wee may betake our selues to the like ioyfull carriage Indeed to the Letter wee cannot hold but wee can come as nigh to it as the Princely Eaglet come to the Kingly Eagle for not the Lord our King is come home in peace but the Lord our Prince is come home in peace As for the Lord our King hee being old stayed at home in the middest of his Nobles wearing the writhen platted Crowne of Thornes in taking care for the welfare of his People hearing and answering forraigne Embassages and consulting how there might bee a speedy concluding of the troublesom affaires of Christendome and as his chiefest worke fitting himselfe for his graue and preparing his Soule for God As for the Lord our Prince hee being yet young and the Scepter being not yet in his hand he vndertake hard Voyages and being accompanied with some few Nobles yea Ipse vno graditur comitatus Achate venters to see the fashions of other Countries Virgil. and the lustres of other Courts Well then though the Lord our King went not forth so that we might reioyce at his comming home yet it was Filius Domini Regis Adolescens secundus Spes Imperatoris Jmperij the neerest to him in bloud the deerest vnto him in loue the pleasure of his eye the stasse of his age the ioy of his life he for whom hee sacrificed both morning and euening So that vpon the person we need not much to stand But what was the Lord our Prince in any great danger like Dauid Yes hee might say with Paul that he was p 2 Cor 11. Jn perills often in perils by Land in perils by Sea in perils by Robbers in perils in the Citie in perils in the Wildernesse in wearinesse and painefulnes c. Doubtlesse so great were his dangers that there might haue bene but a hand-breath between him death and had not the Lord sent his good Angel with him as he did Raphael with Tobith hee might haue miscaried betweene Niniueh and Rages 1. For who know not that his passage ouer was troublesome 2. His speedy iournying very wearisome 3. His possibilitie of being discouered in a strange Countrey something dangerous 4. His ventring through Dales Forrests solitary Plaines hazardable 5. His liuing so long in a Kingdome and that in the scorchingest time of Summer not agreeable to his Nature and when as it is reported a Plague ouerspread the Land perilous 6. And at last after his sumptuous entertainment and belike Magnificent welcome hauing with honour and mutuall respects taken leaue of the Court of Spaine entring into his Nauy then with what more vncertaine Horat. Myrtoum pauidus nauta secat mare by Windes Tempests Rockes Sands c. He might haue miscaried or wandred along while vpon the Seas for Virgil. Errabant acti fatis maria omnia circum was it said of the Trojans But is there any such sad newes at which our eares would haue tingled our eyes dropped out of our heads our hearts broken within our bosomes yea we euen
Mephibosheth might haue stood out heere for due right but for such Possessions as haue beene tyrannously gotten and are violently kept How many of these are there whom no Iudges mouth can satisfie nor Iuries equally chosen and impartially dealing can bring to a cessation of their troublesome Courses No there are such which of their Rights are neuer resolued till their estates begin to bee dissolued the Lions cannot indure to part with spoyles gotten once into their iawes for let euidence and oath declare neuer so cleerely yet they see nothing they yeeld nothing but bend themselues to another pleading another tryall many there are that haue these grieuous Vexators continually molesting them as the Poets feigne Prometheus had a Vulture continually gnawing at his heart whose lengthened Suites are as famous as Bellum Decommale Troiae as the tenne yeares Siege of Troy Yee may know by some Sergeants and Councellours fat cheekes if there be not such a pestilent breed for who know not these are the Pleaders good Benefactors Let a Lawyer bee neuer so poore at the first yet if hee can but happen vpon such a Booty a wilfull Richling the leane Kine will soone eate vp the fat the Offerings of Moloch at the seuen Aumbries were neuer more costly and chargeable saue that of the liuing Child then the Lawyers Oblations as Pharoah made the Israelites gather straw and make bricke for him so these make their Clyents to gather and spare racke rend teare to discharge their Writs and Fees I speake the truth in the Lord I lye not Yet let the expences be neuer so great where there are great Spirits men will not bee daunted many there are that had rather spend halfe of their meanes vpon such then to part with a quarter to make restitution for their il-gotten goods and whereas God hath giuen men wealth to maintaine good Neighbourhood and to liue comfortably in their owne Families rather then these men will satisfie what conscience requireth if either their owne power or their Councellors wit can withold it let Hospitality be neglected and the whole family eat the bread of carefulnesse Oh curuae in terris animae coelestium inanes But for these endlesse contentions are not the Pleaders as deep in the guilt as the gaines Yes Who know not that many of them when they see the cause neuer so cleere against their Clients and in Conscience they ought to wish them to stirre no further but to let the honest man haue his due yet seeing hope of profit comming they tell them this Demurre may be made and that Quirke of Law pleaded which fuell being administred a great flame soone breakes foorth therefore as a Pardall meete with a Lion to beget a Leopard so the Pleaders conioyne with their Clyents to breede vniust wearisom Sutes when the Clients are at their wits end and their spirits waxe blunt for want of knowledge of any further scruple to be found and stood vpon to prosecute further quarrell they goe to these as the z 1 Sam. 13 20. Israelites went to the Philistimes to sharpen their Mattockes and their Axes and is it not much for these to disanimate Clients desirous of contention Yes it is as hard for Lawyers not to incite men to Sute as it is for Panders not to entice men to vncleannesse they know what will come of it Incidit in Scyllam qui vult vitare Charybdin Hee that will eschew in this kinde an euill conscience there will be small custome little commings in hee must walke in a thried-bare gowne and course vp at Termes without buxome Attendants and this Lawyers feauer commonly worse then the clawes of Belzebub All this while I trust I am not runne into Scandalum Magnatum but haue onely endeauoured to break Capita Draconum I thought it conscience meeting them thus rightly to smite them friendly it may be a meanes to do them more good then to breake their heads with precious balmes and to iustifie their abominable courses with the a Eccl. 7.7 Songs of Fooles as Salomon calles flattering speeches in a bad cause Thus yee see how I haue reproued the indefatigable Contender and the heartening Pleader and can there in this any iniurie be done to either Horat. No Arcades ambo both of them deserue the blacke Coale Well if this Fire can kindle it may be a means whereby there shall be no long variances but quicke agreements though it bee with losse like to the course of Mephibosheth here whom Dauid adiudged to diuid the Lands with Zibah now he being of no proterne refractary disposition nor hauing no prompting Ploydon at his elbow to tell him hee might make more worke and bring about againe yeelded something as ye may see already in this Proffer for Accipiat Let him Take But now let vs come further and consider the Portion All. Let him take All. Not Halfe Obserue but All What see we heere but that ingenuous people good natures performe more then is required wheresoeuer this vertue shines it is a kinde of a bright Image of God for he vse to giue more abundantly then wee can aske or craue As Salomon desired but wisdome of him and not onely that is vouchsafed him but b 1 Kin. 3.13 Also saith the Lord J haue giuen thee that which thou hast not asked both Riches and Honour so that among the Kings there shall be none like vnto thee all the daies of thy life and this good God good people desire endeauour to resemble as c Ruth c 2. Booz when Ruth craued leaue to gleane in his Field not onely granted what she requested but added that she should haue victuals and sustenance with his Seruants So d 2 Sam. 24. Araunath when Dauid desired but to buy the Threshing-floor yet he offered though afterwards Dauid would not accept any thing but vpon purchase most freely Let my Lord the King take and offer what seemeth him good in his eyes behold the Oxen for the burnt offering and Chariots and the instruments of the Oxen for wood and it is said All these things did Araunath as a King giue vnto the King In like manner e Neh 5. Nehemiah when the people complained that they were oppressed with the Vsury of their brethren did not onely cause that to bee released but would not take the bread of the Gouernour and maintained a hundred and fiftie Iewes continually at his Table so that so prompt are all well deuoted persons that they exceede expectation and are not their practises answerable to Christs counsells Yes f Mat. 5.40 â—1 If any man will haue thy coate let them take thy cloake also and whosoeuer will compell thee to goe with him a mile goe twaine How much are they to be blamed then who are so farre from doing more then is desired that they are backward to doe that which is meet and requisite which satisfie no lawfull desires but slenderly and grudgingly yea with a repining and
cheerelesse Spirit doe they stretch out their hand to any good dutie were it not happily that shame may moue them or authority force them they would turne the All into Nothing Nabal sent Dauids messengers away with an emptie answere and Diues will not vouchsafe to Lazarus so much as the crummes and so indeed if many might haue their owne wills litle it is that should be giuen to Poore Church or State be the occasions of demaunding neuer so forcing the reasons of requiring neuer so iust But at last let such be ashamed of their nigardizing and endeauour to haue bowells enlarged so that they may not onely fulfill but exceede iust motions let them not be too much set vpon the world like Mephibosheth there Let him take All. Thus much for the wonderfull Transporting briefely handled because I aime not now so much at Explication as Application Let vs now come to the cause of weight Importing wherein there are three things likewise to be considered The Man Matter Measure The Lord the King is come home In Peace First for the Man Since my Lord the King Was this the inducement that made him so free no some good thing that happened to his Lord the King Then from hence obserue Obserue that both the Persons and blessings of Kings ought to be precious in the peoples eyes and accounts for if they be enriched with any singular fauour this ought to be to them singular Ioy. Oh whensoeuer Heauens Power is gracious vnto them they should euen be rapt and rauished with the same For a rotten member is that that feele no comfort when the HEAD is annoynted with Balme all should seeme sweetly to participate of the Superiours felicities g 2 Sam. 18 3. Thou art worth ten thousand of vs and therefore whatsoeuer beneficial thing such enioy for glory and dignitie should bee highly esteemed of all them that belong to them Oh wretched they therefore which haue little minde of their Lords their Kings either concerning their persons or blessings they liue in a Common wealth as in a house ouer which they remember no Master to be set for let the distillations of Gods loue be neuer so plentifull it workes in them no admiration no delectation But what are such diuided branches If not Why doe they not reioyce in the sappe of their Roote euery one should stand blessing of himselfe in the happinesse of his Soueraigne as we vse to blesse our selues when wee behold the Sunne rising in brightnesse Thus fared it with Mephibosheth heere Let him take all since my Lord the King But is Dauid heere called Mephibosheths Lord and King Why so for two reasons 1. For Defence 2. For Command First for Defence For gracious Soueraignes must bee the Peoples Lord-Protectors by their power they must preserue them in safety as the Cherubims kept the way of the Tree of Life with the blade of a fiery sword shaken The Lord cryeth out against the h Zach. 11.17 Idol Shepheard that left the flock so indeed a miserable thing it is when the Prince hath no care of the welfare of his poore Subiects they must carry their people in their bosomes and i Numb 11 12. as a Nurse carryeth a sucking Child that is very regardfully and tenderly ready to shelter them from them that seeke to mischiefe them and to hold them vp in their Princely armes from falling into any dangers It is not enough to bee knowne to be a Soueraigne as Augustus Caesar was by taxing his whole Dominions but chiefly in safe garding the peoples Persons and Estates Secondly they are Lords Kings for command for what are they to bee vsed onely as walles of an House to keepe out dangers or as Flood-gates to keepe out Inundations Indeed so many too many carry themselues vnto them they are nimble to dispute what a Soueraigne stould doe but they cannot hit of the veyne to conceiue what he should haue how he should be respected how reuerenced how obeyed for their honours are slightly giuen them their commands coldly performed their Tributes murmurringly paid and all things wherein their Kingly Soueraignty consists faintly executed Where is now then that of our Sauiour k Math. 22.21 Giue vnto Caesar that which is Caesars and that of the Apostle Admone eos Principibus Potestaribus subditos esse l Tit. 3.1 Put them in remembrance that they bee subiect to the Principalities and Powers Famous is the commendations of Mutezumaes Subiects who durst not looke vpon his face for very reuerence and if he did but send his Ring from his finger to the greatest Commander vnder him as it appeared in the dismall Story of Qualpopoca at the instigation of Cortez in all the Dominions of the Mexicane Empire though it cost him his life out of obedience he would not denye to come and whatsoeuer by way of Tribure hee demanded or by Edict published all his people with the greatest alacrity shewed their loyalty Oh therefore as we ought to pray vnto God that our Soueraignes with all care conscience compassion may defend vs So wee ought to beseech God to giue vs grace that in all submission and subiection we may obey them But are the Lords and Kings for defence of vs and for command ouer vs then who see not heere the necessity of Royall Authority for how should wee euer bee in safety of our liues without their defence and how would wee euer liue in any vertuous manner without their commands take away the first and wee are but like Sheepe without a Shepheard ready to bee torne in pieces by euery beast of prey take away the second and wee are but like wilde Asse-Colts snuffing vp the wind at our pleasure prone to doe nothing but that which is good in our owne eyes Siccine habet goeth the matter thus Let no man think then the Calling of Princes to be onely a matter of State and Pompe where they might sit in a Chayre of Magnificence weare a Crown shake a Scepter but of vse and worth m Rom. 13.4 Hee is the Minister of God for thy good Rom 1â— 4 Let those meane conceits therefore of the Regall Office bee banished euer thinke highly of this Ordinance for yee see it is not so much for Superiority and preheminence as it is for vtility and emolument Now let vs come to the matter is Come home Since my Lord the King is come home Quid deinde What of that Is that so great a matter Yes with Mephibosheth it was a motiue of great validity Obserue From hence then who see not that the absence of Princes from their people is a great darkening of their ioy For how can they misse them but with as great want as the want of the Sunne out of the Firmament the Wife without her Husband hath no solace nor the Kingdome without the King any true comfort how can the Corner stone be taken from the building and not great