the_o rest_n have_v engage_v itself_o in_o shebaes_n sedition_n yet_o how_o â—ealously_o do_v joab_n remove_v from_o himself_o the_o suspicion_n of_o a_o intend_a vastation_n how_o fearful_a shall_v their_o answer_n be_v who_o upon_o the_o quarrel_n of_o their_o own_o ambition_n have_v not_o spare_v to_o waste_v whole_a tribe_n of_o the_o israel_n of_o god_n it_o be_v not_o the_o fashion_n of_o david_n captain_n to_o assault_v any_o city_n ere_o they_o summon_v it_o here_o they_o do_v there_o be_v some_o thing_n that_o in_o the_o very_a â—act_n carry_v their_o own_o conviction_n so_o do_v abel_n in_o the_o entertain_n and_o abet_v a_o know_a conspirator_n joab_n challenge_v they_o for_o the_o offence_n and_o require_v no_o other_o satisfaction_n than_o the_o head_n of_o sheba_n this_o matron_n have_v not_o deserve_v the_o name_n of_o wise_a and_o faithful_a in_o israel_n if_o she_o have_v not_o both_o apprehend_v the_o justice_n of_o the_o condition_n and_o commend_v it_o to_o her_o citizen_n who_o she_o have_v easy_o persuade_v to_o spare_v their_o own_o head_n in_o not_o spare_v a_o traitor_n it_o have_v be_v pity_n those_o wall_n shall_v have_v stand_v if_o they_o have_v be_v to_o high_a to_o throw_v a_o traitor_n head_n over_o spiritual_o the_o case_n be_v we_o every_o man_n breast_n be_v as_o a_o city_n enclose_v every_o sin_n be_v a_o traitor_n that_o lurk_v within_o those_o wall_n god_n call_v to_o we_o for_o shebaes_n head_n neither_o have_v he_o any_o quarrel_n to_o our_o person_n but_o for_o our_o sin_n if_o we_o love_v the_o head_n of_o our_o traitor_n above_o the_o life_n of_o our_o soul_n we_o shall_v just_o perish_v in_o the_o vengeance_n we_o can_v be_v more_o willing_a to_o part_v with_o our_o sin_n than_o our_o merciful_a god_n be_v to_o withdraw_v his_o judgement_n now_o be_v joab_n return_v with_o success_n and_o hope_n by_o shebaes_n head_n to_o pay_v the_o price_n of_o amasaes_n blood_n david_n hate_v the_o murder_n entertain_v the_o man_n defer_v the_o revenge_n joab_n have_v make_v himself_o so_o great_a so_o necessary_a that_o david_n may_v neither_o miss_v nor_o punish_v he_o policy_n lead_v the_o king_n to_o connive_v at_o that_o which_o his_o heart_n abhor_v i_o dare_v not_o commend_v that_o wisdom_n which_o hold_v the_o hand_n of_o prince_n from_o do_v justice_n great_a man_n have_v ever_o hold_v it_o a_o point_n of_o worldly_a state_n not_o always_o to_o pay_v where_o they_o have_v be_v conscious_a to_o a_o debt_n of_o either_o favour_n or_o punishment_n but_o to_o make_v time_n their_o servant_n for_o both_o solomon_n shall_v once_o defray_v the_o arerage_n of_o his_o father_n in_o the_o mean_a time_n joab_n command_v and_o prosper_v and_o david_n be_v fain_o to_o smile_v on_o that_o face_n whereon_o he_o have_v in_o his_o secret_a destination_n write_v the_o character_n of_o death_n the_o gibeonite_n revenge_v the_o reign_n of_o david_n be_v most_o troublesome_a towards_o the_o shut_n up_o wherein_o both_o war_n and_o famine_n conspire_v to_o afflict_v he_o almost_o forty_o year_n have_v he_o sit_v in_o the_o throne_n of_o israel_n with_o competency_n if_o not_o abundance_n of_o all_o thing_n now_o at_o last_o be_v his_o people_n visit_v with_o a_o long_a death_n we_o be_v not_o at_o first_o sensible_a of_o common_a evil_n three_o year_n drought_n and_o scarcity_n be_v go_v over_o ere_o david_n consult_v with_o god_n concern_v the_o occasion_n of_o the_o judgement_n now_o he_o find_v it_o high_a time_n to_o seek_v the_o face_n of_o the_o lord_n the_o continuance_n of_o a_o affliction_n send_v we_o to_o god_n and_o call_v upon_o we_o to_o ask_v for_o a_o reckon_n whereas_o like_a man_n strike_v in_o their_o sleep_n a_o sudden_a blow_n can_v make_v we_o to_o find_v ourselves_o but_o rather_o astonish_v then_o teach_v us._n david_n be_v himself_o a_o prophet_n of_o god_n yet_o have_v not_o the_o lord_n all_o this_o while_n acquaint_v he_o with_o the_o ground_n of_o his_o proceed_n against_o israel_n this_o secret_n be_v hide_v from_o he_o till_o he_o consult_v with_o the_o urim_n ordinary_a mean_n shall_v reveal_v that_o to_o he_o which_o no_o vision_n have_v descry_v and_o if_o god_n will_v have_v prophet_n to_o have_v recourse_n unto_o the_o priest_n for_o the_o notice_n of_o his_o will_n how_o much_o more_o must_v the_o people_n even_o those_o that_o be_v the_o inwarde_a with_o god_n must_v have_v use_n of_o the_o ephod_n just_o be_v it_o presuppose_v by_o david_n that_o there_o be_v never_o judgement_n from_o god_n where_o have_v not_o be_v a_o provocation_n from_o man_n therefore_o when_o he_o see_v the_o plague_n he_o inquire_v for_o the_o sin_n never_o man_n smart_v causelesse_o from_o the_o hand_n of_o divine_a justice_n oh_o that_o when_o we_o suffer_v we_o can_v ask_v what_o we_o have_v do_v and_o can_v guide_v our_o repentance_n to_o the_o root_n of_o our_o evil_n that_o god_n who_o counsel_n be_v secret_a even_o where_o his_o action_n be_v open_a will_v not_o be_v close_o to_o his_o prophet_n to_o his_o priest_n without_o inquiry_n we_o shall_v know_v nothing_o upon_o inquiry_n nothing_o shall_v be_v conceal_v from_o we_o that_o be_v fit_a for_o we_o to_o know_v who_o can_v choose_v but_o wonder_n at_o once_o both_o at_o david_n slackness_n in_o consult_v with_o god_n and_o god_n speed_n in_o answer_v so_o slow_a a_o demand_n he_o that_o so_o well_o know_v the_o way_n to_o god_n oracle_n suffer_v israel_n to_o be_v three_o year_n pinch_v with_o famine_n ere_o he_o ask_v why_o they_o suffer_v even_o the_o best_a heart_n may_v be_v overtake_v with_o dulness_n in_o holy_a duty_n but_o oh_o the_o marvelous_a mercy_n of_o god_n that_o take_v not_o the_o advantage_n of_o our_o weakness_n david_n question_n be_v not_o more_o slow_a than_o his_o answer_n be_v speedy_a it_o be_v for_o saul_n and_o for_o his_o bloody_a house_n because_o he_o slay_v the_o gibeonite_n israel_n be_v full_a of_o sin_n beside_o those_o of_o saul_n house_n saul_n house_n be_v full_a of_o sin_n beside_o those_o of_o blood_n much_o blood_n be_v shed_v by_o they_o beside_o that_o of_o the_o gibeonite_n yet_o the_o justice_n of_o god_n single_v out_o this_o one_o sin_n of_o violence_n offer_v to_o the_o gibeonite_n contrary_a to_o the_o league_n make_v by_o joshua_n some_o four_o hundred_o year_n before_o for_o the_o occasion_n of_o this_o late_a vengeance_n where_o the_o cause_n of_o offence_n be_v infinite_a it_o be_v just_a with_o god_n to_o pitch_v upon_o some_o it_o be_v merciful_a not_o to_o punish_v for_o all_o wellnear_o forty_o year_n be_v pass_v betwixt_o the_o commission_n of_o the_o sin_n and_o the_o reckon_n for_o it_o it_o be_v a_o vain_a hope_n that_o be_v raise_v from_o the_o delay_n of_o judgement_n no_o time_n can_v be_v any_o prejudice_n to_o the_o ancient_a of_o day_n when_o we_o have_v forget_v our_o sin_n when_o the_o world_n have_v forget_v we_o he_o sue_v we_o afresh_o for_o our_o arerage_n the_o slaughter_n of_o the_o gibeonite_n be_v the_o sin_n not_o of_o the_o present_a but_o rather_o the_o former_a generation_n and_o now_o posterity_n pay_v for_o their_o forefather_n even_o we_o man_n hold_v it_o not_o unjust_a to_o sue_v the_o heir_n and_o executor_n of_o our_o debtor_n eternal_a payment_n god_n use_v only_o to_o require_v of_o the_o person_n temporary_a ofttimes_o of_o succession_n as_o saul_n be_v high_a by_o the_o head_n and_o shoulder_n than_o the_o rest_n of_o israel_n both_o in_o stature_n and_o dignity_n so_o be_v his_o sin_n more_o conspicuous_a than_o those_o of_o the_o vulgar_a the_o eminence_n of_o the_o person_n make_v the_o offence_n more_o remarkable_a to_o the_o eye_n both_o of_o god_n and_o man_n neither_o saul_n nor_o israel_n be_v faultless_a in_o other_o kind_n yet_o god_n fix_v the_o eye_n of_o his_o revenge_n upon_o the_o massacre_n of_o the_o gibeonite_n every_o sin_n have_v a_o tongue_n but_o that_o of_o blood_n over-crye_n and_o drown_v the_o rest_n he_o who_o be_v mercy_n itself_o abhor_v cruelty_n in_o his_o creature_n above_o all_o other_o inordinatenesse_n that_o holy_a soul_n which_o be_v heavy_a press_v with_o the_o weight_n of_o a_o heinous_a adultery_n yet_o cry_v out_o deliver_v i_o from_o blood_n o_o god_n the_o god_n of_o my_o salvation_n and_o my_o tongue_n shall_v sing_v joyful_o of_o thy_o righteousness_n if_o god_n will_v take_v account_n of_o blood_n he_o may_v have_v enter_v the_o action_n upon_o the_o blood_n of_o vriah_n spill_v by_o david_n or_o if_o he_o will_v rather_o insist_v in_o saul_n house_n upon_o the_o blood_n of_o abimelech_n the_o priest_n and_o fourscore_o and_o five_o person_n that_o do_v wear_v a_o linen_n ephod_n but_o it_o please_v the_o wisdom_n and_o justice_n of_o the_o almighty_a rather_o to_o
lust_n if_o now_o david_n shall_v have_v return_v to_o his_o own_o bed_n he_o have_v second_v the_o incest_n how_o much_o more_o worthy_a of_o separation_n be_v they_o who_o have_v stain_v the_o marriage-bed_n with_o their_o wilful_a sin_n amasa_n be_v one_o of_o the_o witness_n and_o abettor_n of_o absaloms_n filthiness_n yet_o be_v he_o out_o of_o policy_n receive_v to_o favour_n and_o employment_n while_o the_o concubine_n suffer_v great_a man_n yield_v many_o time_n to_o those_o thing_n out_o of_o reason_n of_o state_n which_o if_o they_o be_v private_a person_n can_v not_o be_v easy_o put_v over_o it_o be_v no_o small_a wisdom_n to_o engage_v a_o new_a reconcile_a friend_n that_o he_o may_v be_v confirm_v by_o his_o own_o act_n therefore_o be_v amasa_n command_v to_o leavy_v the_o force_n of_o judah_n joab_n after_o many_o great_a merit_n and_o achievement_n lie_v rust_v in_o neglect_n he_o that_o be_v so_o entire_a with_o david_n as_o to_o be_v of_o his_o counsel_n for_o vriahs_n blood_n and_o so_o firm_a to_o david_n as_o to_o lead_v all_o his_o battle_n against_o the_o house_n of_o saul_n the_o ammonite_n the_o aramite_n absalon_n be_v now_o cashier_v &_o must_v yield_v his_o place_n to_o a_o stranger_n late_o a_o enemy_n who_o know_v not_o that_o this_o son_n of_o zeruiah_n have_v shed_v the_o blood_n of_o war_n in_o peace_n but_o if_o the_o blood_n of_o absalon_n have_v not_o be_v loud_o than_o the_o blood_n of_o abner_n i_o fear_v this_o change_n have_v not_o be_v now_o joab_n smart_v for_o a_o loyal_a disobedience_n how_o slippery_a be_v the_o station_n of_o earthly_a honour_n and_o subject_a to_o continual_a â—â—ueability_n happy_a be_v they_o who_o be_v in_o favour_n with_o he_o in_o who_o there_o be_v no_o shadow_n of_o change_n where_o man_n be_v common_o most_o ambitious_a to_o please_v with_o their_o first_o employment_n amasa_n slacken_v his_o pace_n the_o least_o delay_n in_o matter_n of_o rebellion_n be_v perilous_a may_v be_v inrecoverable_a the_o son_n of_o zeruiah_n be_v not_o sullen_a abishai_n be_v send_v joab_n go_v unsent_a to_o the_o pursuit_n of_o sheba_n amasa_n be_v in_o their_o way_n who_o no_o quarrel_n but_o their_o enâ—y_n have_v make_v of_o a_o brother_n a_o enemy_n have_v the_o heart_n of_o amasa_n be_v privy_a to_o any_o cause_n of_o grudge_n he_o have_v suspect_v the_o kiss_n of_o joab_n now_o his_o innocent_a eye_n look_v to_o the_o lip_n not_o to_o the_o hand_n of_o his_o secret_a enemy_n the_o lip_n be_v smooth_a be_v thou_o in_o health_n my_o brother_n the_o hand_n be_v bloody_a which_o smite_v he_o under_o the_o five_o rib_n that_o unhappy_a hand_n know_v well_o this_o way_n unto_o death_n which_o with_o one_o wound_n have_v let_v out_o the_o soul_n of_o two_o great_a captain_n abaer_n and_o amasa_n both_o they_o be_v smite_v by_o joab_n both_o under_o the_o five_o rib_n both_o under_o a_o pretence_n of_o friendship_n there_o be_v no_o enmity_n so_o dangerous_a as_o that_o which_o come_v mask_v with_o love_n open_v hostility_n call_v we_o to_o our_o guard_n but_o there_o be_v no_o fence_n against_o a_o trust_a treachery_n we_o need_v not_o be_v bid_v to_o avoid_v a_o enemy_n but_o who_o will_v run_v away_o from_o a_o friend_n thus_o spiritual_o deal_v the_o world_n with_o our_o soul_n it_o kiss_v we_o and_o stab_v we_o at_o once_o if_o it_o do_v not_o embrace_v we_o with_o one_o hand_n it_o can_v not_o murder_v we_o with_o the_o other_o only_a god_n deliver_v we_o from_o the_o danger_n of_o 〈◊〉_d trust_n and_o we_o shall_v be_v safe_a joab_n be_v go_v and_o leave_v amasa_n wallow_v in_o blood_n that_o spectacle_n can_v but_o stay_v all_o passenger_n the_o death_n of_o great_a person_n draw_v ever_o many_o eye_n each_o man_n say_v be_v not_o this_o my_o lord_n amasa_n wherefore_o do_v we_o go_v to_o fight_v while_o our_o general_n lie_v in_o the_o dust_n what_o a_o sad_a presage_n be_v this_o of_o our_o own_o miscarriage_n the_o wit_n of_o joabs_n follower_n have_v therefore_o soon_o both_o remove_v amasa_n out_o of_o the_o way_n and_o cover_v he_o not_o regard_v so_o much_o the_o loss_n as_o the_o eyesore_n of_o israel_n thus_o wicked_a politic_n care_v not_o so_o much_o for_o the_o commission_n of_o villainy_n as_o for_o the_o notice_n smother_v evil_n be_v as_o not_o do_v if_o oppression_n if_o murder_n if_o treason_n may_v be_v hide_v from_o view_n the_o obdure_v heart_n of_o the_o offender_n complain_v not_o of_o remorse_n bloody_a joab_n with_o what_o face_n with_o what_o heart_n can_v thou_o pursue_v a_o traitor_n to_o thy_o king_n while_o thyself_o be_v so_o foul_a a_o traitor_n to_o thy_o friend_n to_o thy_o cousin-german_a and_o in_o so_o unseasonable_a a_o slaughter_n to_o thy_o sovereign_n who_o cause_n thou_o profess_v to_o revenge_v if_o amasa_n be_v now_o in_o a_o act_n of_o loyalty_n just_o on_o god_n part_n pay_v for_o the_o arerage_n of_o his_o late_a rebellion_n yet_o that_o it_o shall_v be_v do_v by_o thy_o hand_n then_o and_o thus_o it_o be_v flagitious_o cruel_a yet_o behold_v joab_n run_v away_o secure_o with_o the_o fact_n haâ—â—â—ing_v to_o plague_v that_o in_o another_o whereof_o himself_o be_v no_o less_o guilty_a so_o vast_a be_v the_o gorge_n of_o some_o conscience_n that_o they_o can_v swallow_v the_o great_a crime_n and_o find_v no_o strain_n in_o the_o passage_n it_o be_v possible_a for_o a_o man_n to_o be_v faithful_a to_o some_o one_o person_n and_o perfidious_a to_o all_o other_o i_o do_v not_o find_v joab_n other_o then_o firm_a and_o loyal_a to_o david_n in_o the_o midst_n of_o all_o his_o private_a falsehood_n who_o just_a quarrel_n he_o pursue_v against_o sheba_n through_o all_o the_o tribe_n of_o israel_n none_o of_o all_o the_o strong_a fort_n of_o revolt_a israel_n can_v hide_v the_o rebel_n from_o the_o zeal_n of_o his_o revenge_n the_o city_n of_o abel_n lend_v harbour_v to_o that_o conspirator_n who_o all_o israel_n will_v and_o can_v protect_v joab_n cast_v up_o a_o mount_n against_o it_o and_o have_v environ_v it_o with_o a_o siege_n begin_v to_o work_v upon_o the_o wall_n and_o now_o after_o long_a chase_n be_v in_o hand_n to_o dig_v out_o that_o vermin_n which_o have_v earth_v himself_o in_o this_o borough_n of_o bethmaachah_n have_v not_o the_o city_n be_v strong_a and_o populous_a sheba_n have_v not_o cast_v himself_o for_o succour_n within_o those_o wall_n yet_o of_o all_o the_o inhabitant_n i_o see_v not_o any_o one_o man_n move_v for_o the_o preservation_n of_o their_o whole_a body_n only_o a_o woman_n undertake_v to_o treat_v with_o joab_n for_o their_o safety_n those_o man_n who_o spirit_n be_v great_a enough_o to_o maintain_v a_o traitor_n against_o a_o mighty_a king_n scorn_v not_o to_o give_v way_n to_o the_o wisdom_n of_o a_o matron_n there_o be_v no_o reason_n that_o sex_n shall_v disparage_v where_o the_o virtue_n and_o merit_n be_v no_o less_o than_o masculine_a sure_o the_o soul_n acknowledge_v no_o sex_n neither_o be_v vary_v according_a to_o the_o outward_a frame_n how_o oft_o have_v we_o know_v female_a heart_n in_o the_o breast_n of_o man_n and_o contrary_o manly_a power_n in_o the_o weak_a vessel_n it_o be_v injurious_a to_o measure_v the_o act_n by_o the_o person_n and_o not_o rather_o to_o esteem_v the_o person_n for_o the_o act_n she_z with_o no_o less_o prudence_n than_o courage_n challenge_v joab_n for_o the_o violence_n of_o his_o assault_n and_o lay_v to_o he_o that_o law_n which_o he_o can_v not_o be_v a_o israelite_n and_o disavow_v the_o law_n of_o the_o god_n of_o peace_n who_o charge_n it_o be_v that_o when_o they_o shall_v come_v near_o to_o a_o city_n to_o fight_v against_o it_o they_o shall_v offer_v it_o peace_n and_o if_o this_o tender_a must_v be_v make_v to_o forainer_n how_o much_o more_o to_o brethren_n so_o as_o they_o must_v inquire_v of_o abel_n ere_o they_o batter_v it_o war_n be_v the_o extreme_a act_n of_o vindicative_a justice_n neither_o do_v god_n ever_o approve_v it_o for_o any_o other_o than_o a_o desperate_a remedy_n and_o if_o it_o have_v any_o other_o end_n then_o peace_n it_o turn_v into_o public_a murder_n it_o be_v therefore_o a_o inhuman_a cruelty_n to_o shed_v blood_n where_o we_o have_v not_o proffer_v fair_a condition_n of_o peace_n the_o refusal_n whereof_o be_v just_o punish_v with_o the_o sword_n of_o revenge_n joab_n be_v a_o man_n of_o blood_n yet_o when_o the_o wise_a woman_n of_o abel_n charge_v he_o with_o go_v about_o to_o destroy_v a_o mother_n in_o israel_n and_o swallow_v up_o the_o inheritance_n of_o the_o lord_n with_o what_o vehemency_n do_v he_o deprecate_v that_o challenge_n god_n forbid_v god_n forbid_v it_o i_o that_o i_o shall_v devour_v or_o destroy_v it_o although_o that_o city_n with_o
disdainful_a halue_v of_o his_o hair_n and_o robe_n in_o the_o person_n of_o his_o deputy_n the_o name_n of_o ambassador_n have_v be_v ever_o sacred_a and_o by_o the_o universal_a law_n of_o nation_n have_v carry_v in_o it_o sufficient_a protection_n from_o all_o public_a wrong_n neither_o have_v it_o ever_o be_v violate_v without_o a_o revenge_n oh_o god_n what_o shall_v we_o say_v to_o those_o notorious_a contempt_n which_o be_v daily_o cast_v upon_o thy_o spiritual_a messenger_n be_v it_o possible_a thou_o shall_v not_o feel_v they_o thou_o shall_v not_o avenge_v they_o we_o be_v make_v a_o gaze_a stock_n to_o the_o world_n to_o angel_n and_o to_o man_n we_o be_v despise_v and_o tread_v down_o in_o the_o dust_n who_o have_v believe_v our_o report_n and_o to_o who_o be_v the_o arm_n of_o the_o lord_n reveal_v how_o obstinate_a be_v wicked_a man_n in_o their_o perverse_a resolution_n these_o foolish_a ammonite_n have_v rather_o hire_n syrian_n to_o maintain_v a_o war_n against_o 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