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
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
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