as I have done saith Adonibezek Judg. 1. 7. so God hath rewarded me Even so us our Abnor our great man in the Text falls by the hâ—nd of Joab so Joab must look to have his fall too although it be many years after by Benaiah 1 Kings 2. 31 32 33 34. and the curse of Jehoiakim King of Judah shall follow him to his grave Jer. 22. 18. There shall be none to lament him saying Ah my Brother or ah Lord or ah his glory And let all true hearted Israelites speak as Cushi did to David of Absolom 2 Sam. 18. 32. So let all the Enemies of the Lord their King perish and be as Joab is The Text is a vindication of Davids innocencie in and a lively description of Abners death wherein let us consider these five particulars 1. His qualities and so he was no mean man sprung from the dunghil or Ale-tap no broken Citizen or bankerout Gentleman no Mechanick or Artificer none of the base condition of Davids followers when he fled from Saul 1 Sam. 22. 2. but he was Ishbosheths staff the supporter of Sauls house and the glory of that Diadem and so the Pen-man sets him out two waies 1. As a Prince 2. As a great man 1. As a Prince unto which the Latine word hath a near relation Princeps the which signifies a chief head or ruler secretly inssinuating that as of a head he ought to be defended and made much of because life consists so well in the head as in the heart then as a Ruler he ought to be obeyed and feared according to Saint Paul's rule Rom. 13. 1. Let every soul be subject to the higher Powers but Joab had learned instead of Obsta principiis Obsta Principibus withstand the beginnings of sin stifling the first conception of murther in his heart to promote it and give life unto it by the fall of a Prince and so hath received to himself condemnation ver 2. 2ly The Hebrews use many words signifying a Prince but I shall make use but of one and that is Naghidh carrying this sence Dux Princeps a Captain and chief Commander ordering disposing and giving rules to Souldiers to go out and come in to draw and to sheath their swords and such a Prince was Abner and a valiant Prince but whom Ajax cannot conquer Vlysses will undermine by treason For know ye not that a Prince and a great man is fallen And so I passe to the second Branch 2. As a great man As when Ephraim spake there was trembling Hos 13. 1. As when the Lion roars who will not be afraid Amos 3. 8. even so when this great man speaks not onely the inferiour beasts of the Forest but even the Lion himself coucheth as is clear in the 11 verse before the Text and if a bare hand upon the wall did so starcle Belshazzar in his cups when men are most Pot-valiant and in the Guard of his Princes and making metry with his wives and concubines that his countenance changed the joints of his loins were loosed and his knees smote one against another Dan. 5. 6. How will Joab look How will Joab stand How will he shift when the great God shall make inquisition for this great mans blood Psal 9. 12. Davids heart smote him for cutting off but the Lap of Saul's garment 1 Sam. 24. 5 6. How then deeply may they be touched that had a hand in cutting off the head of the Lords anointed for the greater the person the greater is the sin in them that conspire his death Kings and Princes and great man in authority are termed gods by Gods own mouth Psal 82. 6 and to act Treason against such is to be treacherous to God himself for which cause God spared not the Angels that had finned but cast them down into hell and delivered them into chains of darknesse to be kept unto damnation 2 Pet. 2. 4. What Christ spake in another kind holds true in this Matth. 25. 40. In as much as ye have done it unto them ye have done it unto me Another particular is the manner of this great Princes death so he is not threatned a fall as God told Adam that if he should eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil in that day he should die the death Gen. 2. 17. for then he would have looked about him either to prevent his fall or to make a good preparation for his soul against his fall as the wise Steward did for his body Duke 26. 4. but in the present tense occidit is fallen noting the suddennesse of his death and his unprovidenesse for his grave Joab not onely labouring to kill his body but so far as he could his soul too like as the Italian I read of endevoured to serve his enemy overcome in duel wherein we may observe 1. Prov. 12. 10. The mercies of the wicked are truel 2ly The uncertainty of our death we have one way into the world but many out Ferro peste fame vinclis algore calore Mille modis miseros mors rapit una viros as sometimes by fire famine plague water sword like Abner and Joab And this consideration should move us to look for that in every place which every where looks for us Pharaoh tasted of deaths Cup in the deep Sea Herod upon his throne Eglon sunning himself in his Summer Parlour Amnon when his heart was merry with wine Ahab in the battel Zenecharib in the house of his God And who amongst us can coast of to morrow for we know not what a day may bring forth Prov. 27. 1. Let it be our wisedom then 1. So to live as if we were alwaies dying and giving up our accounts to the great judge of Heaven and Earth of our several stewardships 2ly With Joseph in the time of famine with Solomons Pismire in the harvest time and with the wise Virgins in the acceptable time to provide oyl for our Lamps that we may be found a people ready prepared for our God when he shall knock at our door and call us 3ly To pray alwaies as the Church hath taught us From sudden death Good Lord deliver us 3ly The next particular is the time of Abners fall and that is said to be hoc die this day Know ye not that there is a Prince and a great man this day fallen in Israel This was a day of darknesse and of blacknesse a day of clouds and obscuritie Joel 2. 2. a day of heavinesse and mourning a stormy and watery day and in a word such a sad day to David and all Israel as if as one man they had combined to revive their Abner with their tears as Christ did Lazarus John 11. or if they could not do that for him yet they would witnesse to the world their love to him and how wonderfully they lamented his losse To love a rich man and a great man living is no news the living dog being better than the dead Lion Eccles 9.
go to heaven that had all his time served the Devil on earth and therefore of the two he thought his own case best and that he was most fit to die and so if God had so pleased chose to die I would God I had died for thee From whence we learn Obs That death which to the ungodly is the King of terrors Job 18. 14. to the righteous is a welcom guest at all times Absalom may be afraid to die because the wages of his wickedness are alwayes ready to be paid him which is eternal death of body and soul for ever Rom. 6. 23. When good David shall willingly resign up his soul into the hands of his Creator for he knows his end will be peace Psal 37. 37. Oecolampadius being ready to depart as old Simeons Phrase is comforted his friends that stood howling about him with these words Non mori timeo quia bonum habeo Dominum I am not afraid to die because I have served a good God He that fears God shall never need to fear death for Christ hath pulled out the sting thereof that he may tryumphantly singwith the Apostle 1 Cor. 15. 55 56 57. O death where is thy sting O grave where is thy victory The sting of death is sin but thanks be unto God which hath given me victory through our Lord Jesus Christ The Reasons why death is welcome to the godly at all times are Reas 1. Because it is an end of their sorrows and the beginning and entrance into the joy of their Lord Matth. 25. 23. It is the Exodus of their miseries and Genesis of their comforts It is as a Bridge over which they must passe into life as the Israelites must go thorow the red Sea before they can get into Canaan a Land flowing with milk and hony and all good things wherefore they rejoice to see that day as old Simeon did when he embraced Christ in his arms Luke 2. â—8 Reas 2. Because they are a people ready prepared for the Lord Luk. 1. 17. they are not fool-hardy like others who put far away from them the evil dayes that they may boldly approach unto the seat of iniquity Amos 6. 3. but they are still thinking of death and looking for death and providing for death that whensoever it comes early or late at the Cock crowing at midnight or the dawning of the day they may enter into the rest remaines for the people of God Heb. 4. 9. Reas 3 Because they have Jachin and Boaz faith and a good conscience to support them from sinking under the pains of death And this made the thief on the Crosse to die joyfully believing Christs words that he should that day be with him in Paradise Luk. 23. 43. this made St. Steven to laugh in death beholding the heavens opened and Christ standing at the right hand of the Father ready to receive his spirit Acts 7. 55 56. and this made David so willing to die for Absalom because he believed that his sinnes were covered Psal 32. 1. Obj. Did David well to wish for death or to die for his sonne Answ 1. Mortem optare malum formidare pejus It is not good to wish for death but worse to fear it It is an argument of great weakness to dispute with God much more to quarrel with God and most of all to seem to be wiser than God We pray and David prayed Thy will O Father be done and yet here he seems to prefer his own will before Gods Would God I had died for thee Absalom So that as the Apostle speaks James 3. 10. This thing ought not to be 2ly David did savour much more in this wish of flesh and blood than of spirit for that altogether submits with patience to suffer and bear what the good pleasure of the Lord is to bring to passe when the other grumbles and murmurs and repines at every thing contraries their humours This was Davids case and was his failing as the best want not theirs Vse Speaks the true happy state of a godly man He will not be afraid of evil tidings for his heart is fixed and he believeth in the Lord Psal 112. 7. when the wicked trepidant ad arundinis umbram tremble at the shaking of a leaf and flee when none pursueth then the righteous are as bold as a Lion Prov. 28. 1. The very thought of death strikes the ungodly as dead when they that fear the Lord like the Swan sing the sweetest song in death and the song of the Saints Rev. 22. 20. Come Lord Jesus come quickly The wicked when they are visited with sickness which is deaths Paratour to summon them into the Court for to give up their great accompt like the unjust Steward Luk. 16. 2. they roar and howl and crie like the hog which thinks he is never taken but to have his throat cut when the upright and just look up and lift up their heads with joy and comfort for their redemption draweth near Luke 21. 28. When the wicked call to the mountaines to fall upon them and to the hills to cover them and hide them from the presence of him that sitteth on the Throne and from the wrath of the Lamb Rev. 6. 16. The righteous shout for joy like those that divide the spoyl and rejoyce according to joy in harvest Isa 9. 3. for they shall be gathered like wheat into the Lords Garner when the chaff shall be burned with unquenchable fire Mat. 3. 12. And as Balaam said Numb 23. 10. O that my latter end might be like his And so thus much of the first person spoken of in the text David with his passion and compassion 2ly The next person is Absalom And in him let us consider 1. His Name 2ly His Person 3ly His Life 4ly His Death Of these in order 1. His Name and that was Abishalom which signifies his fathers peace He was so sweet a Babe that his father promised himself great matters and hope in him but he proved the greatest crosse that ever he did bear So that we cannot say Vt nomen sic natura as Abigail did of Nabal As his name was so was he For he was a moth a canker a thorn in his fathers eye and the greatest disturber of his quiet and rest and ease and peace that ever he was acquainted with that he is constrained to flee and shift for his life lest he be devoured by his Sonnes sword 2 Sam. 13. 14. 2ly His person And so he was the fairest of ten thousand for from the sole of the foot to the top of his head there was no blemish in him 2 Sam. 14. 25. He had a fair body but a foul soul and heart like the Swan which hath a white feather but a black skin Or like Mausolus his tombe or the painted Sepulchres in the Gospel glorious and beautiful without but full of rottenness and stinking bones within Or like a white glove over a scabby hand Or like the Pharisees
tears for David weeps and Israel weeps and weeps again as it is vers 34. that as a man falleth before wicked men so Abner shall fall And the King said unto his Servants Know ye not that there is a Prince and a great man this day fallen in Israel No man as yet no not the Son of God himself as man be he never so potent and mighty was privileged from death or from tasting of Deaths cup Psal 89. 48. for the decree is past the doom is irrecoverable decretum est omnibus mori there is an appointed time for all men to dye Heb. 9. 27. But to fall immaturely like Fruit before it be ripe but to be cropped like the Rose in the bud but to be nipped in the Spring like the flower of the field but to be chased up and down like a Fox fleeing to the Mountains but to be wearied and worried to death Acteon-like by his own Hounds and greedy Currs thirsting to fill themselves full with the flesh and blood of their loving Master but to be cheated and gull'd of his life and that after many Protestations Vows and lifting up of hands to the Almighty but to be betrayed with a Kisse as Judas served his Lord but to be stubbed up root and branch in time of peace and that under colour of a fair treaty and parley as Joab did Abner vers 26 27. Hinc illae lachryme Niobe herself will weep at this This cannot but cause the most stony heart to melt this cannot but cause all Israel to hang down their heads like Bull-rushes and to wring their hands and to water their couches with tears Psal 6. 6. and this cannot but move Israel to curse with David the Author and Authors of Israels woe vers 29. that Abner a Prince a great man should fall and thus fall and in Israel too where was the Law and the Prophets where the word was taught and preached and where a reformation a goodly reformation a general reformation is pretended But although horret meminisse David is ashamed is startled and trembles at so horrid so cruel so unnatural a Fact that he would not have it published in Gath nor proclamed in Askalon lest the Heathen the uncircumcised the Philistines the Papists the Jesuites tryumph and rejoyce in Israels wonderfull inspeakable invaluable losse wherein the light of Israel is quenched as it is 2 Sam. 22. 17. Yet he declareth and broacheth this sad news and heavy tidings to his Servants that they might take notice what a rich Jewel was fallen from the Crown saying Know ye not that a Prince and a great man is this day fallen in Israel There is no innocent blood spilt and shed upon the ground but hath a tongue to cry unto Heaven for vengeance So saith God to Cain Gen. 4. 10. The voice of tby brothers blood crieth to me from the Earth and therefore that the Land might be found guiltlesse of so foul crime for Clamitat in Coelum vox sanguinis Sodomorum Vox oppressorum merces retenta laborum and so acquitted of the imminent and eminent judgements following it from the great Tribunal above the Law requires the Coroner to sit and make enquiry after the death of the meanest Peasant for saith the Statute in that case provided the King hath lost a Subject and must have an account thereof How much more then when an Abner a Prince a great man falles ought whole Israel by the same bond of love to stand uâ— as one man and require satisfaction for his death that as it is ver 28. The Kingdom may be guiltlesse before the Lord for ever concerning the blood of Abner David fore-sees a black storm comming and therfore labours to make his peace with God and Men laying open unto them the manner nature of Abners fall in these words ver 33. Died Abner as a fool dieth and prayeth unto the Lord to reward the evil doer according to his wickednesse ver 39. and digito monstrat hominem points out with his finger to the eyes of all the mourners in Israel Joabs evil and wickednesse like Cains brand-mark on his forehead to be the shedding of bloud innocent bloud Princes bloud for saith the King to his servants Know ye not that there is a Prince and a great man this day fallen in Israel Scelus aliquis tutum nullus securum tulit saith Seneca a man may commit theft rape murther c. so secretly that neither the Sun oculus mundi the worlds great eye nor mans eye seeth it not But all things are naked and open unto his eyes with whom we have to do Heb. 4. 13. but that Erynnis conscientiae the Worm of conscience will be alwaies checking and gnawing and griping of him for them with pangs as bitter as Hell Let Richard the third deny this if he could speak but once again was not his hand still upon his Dagger being afraid that every one met and found him would slay him did not the bloud of the harmlesse infants he caused to be slain that they might be a foot-stool to mount him into their throne so trouble him so disquiet him that either sleep departed from his eyes as it did from Ahasuerus Esth. 1. or he was so frighted in his sleep with dreadfull apparitions of ugly Devils haling and tearing of him into pieces that his life was burthensome unto him Let Joab speak what one comfortable day or night he enjoyed after the slaughter of a good Prince I had almost said the best of Princes In the day time trepidat ad arundinis umbram he is afraid of his own shadow in the night the cracking of a few Chest-nuts in the fire terrifie him So that herein is the Prophecie fulfilled Isa 57. 21. non est pax impiis there is no peace unto the wicked saith my God or otherwise perhaps Joab may vaunt it for some few years or daies over his prey in great Gallantry outward Pomp magnificence and statelinesse but so sure as the Lord lives his end shall not be peace neither shall he go to the grave in a full age as a rick of Corn commeth in due season into the barn Job 5. 26. and to this effect speaks David Psal 37. 35 36. I have seen the wicked strong and spreading himself like a green Bay-tree Yet be passed away and to be was gone and I sought him but could not find him and no wonder for evil shall hunt the cruel man to destruction Psal 140. 11. and such is the justice of the Almighty that commonly that as he made a pit and digged it so he should fall into the pit that he made Psal 7. 15. and Neque enim Lex justior ulla est Quam necis artifices arte perire sua then evil watch evil catch As Tomyris said unto Cyrus who had formerly slain hir son cutting off his head and casting it into a Tub of bloud sanguinem sitisti sanguinem habes bloud thou thirstedst drink thy fill and
4. and moreover every mans affection almost extending more propter sua than propter se for his private profit or preferment than for any parts or goodnesse he finds in him like drones which haunt the Hive for the honny sake but to love him dead when he can do him neither good nor harm is rara avis nigroque similima cygno a rare quality hardly to be found among the sons of men and yet this was Davids case Israels case for Abner and ought to be our case for our Prince and great man that is this day fallen in our Israel And so this leads me to the next particular 4ly The place where he fell and that is said to be Israel he fell not amongst the barbarous Gothes and Vandals amongst the Turks and Cannibals amongst the inhuman Switzers in the Conquest of the Thuricences in battel Anno Dom. 1443. or amongst the Numantines who vowed not to break their fast but with the flesh of a Roman nor drink till they had tasted of the blood of an Enemie or amongst the heathen and uncircumcised but in Israel where God was known in her Palaces Psal 48. 3. but in Israel where his wonderfull acts were manifested but in Israel a peculiar people chosen to himself but in Israel where his Prophets taught and his name was called upon Quis talia fando temperet à lacrimis who can restrain tears that where there was such gracious means there should be such gracelesse practices by a brotherhood like Simeon and Levi brethren in evil Gen. 49. 5. If this had been done at Rome where degrading of Princes murthering of heretical Princes with their whole families is a warrantable and meritorious tenet the world would not have trembled at it nor wondered or admired it but to be practiced in Israel the wonder of the world for as it is Deut. 47 8. What Nation is so great unto whom the Gods come so near unto them in all that they call unto the Lord for And what Nation is so great that hath ordinances and Laws so righteous Surely this makes Israels condition equivalent to Chorozins and Bethsaidaes Mat. 11. 21. Wo to thee Corazin wo to thee Bethsaida for if the great works which were done in you had been done in Tyrus and Sidon they had repented long agone in Sackeloth and Ashes Wherefore it shall be easier for Tyrus and Sidon at the day of judgement than for you than for Israel Joab and Abishai his brother were men of War and so the lesse marvell they neither respected the person nor place where they shed blood but the hunters of our Prince and great man to death were not only Sword-men but Gown-men even wolves in sheeps clothing and if God spared not the old world nor Sodom nor Gomorrah 2 Pet. 2. 5 6. how shall they escape the judgement of God to come and the judgement of God is according to truth against them that commit such things Rom. 2. 2. Wherefore as Daniel counselled King Nebuchadnezzar 4. 27. Break off thysins by righteousness and thine iniquities by mercy towards the poor that there be a healing of thine errour even so my counsel to all Israel that have had a hand in the Princes death and great mans fall is according to that we read of Amos 4. 12. Prepare to meet thy God O Israel For repentance may heal where thy sin hath wounded 5ly Davids Proclamation throughout all Israel and Judah to take notice of his losse and their losse his and their losse as if they had with him lost the brightest star in the Firmament or had lost their right eyes right hands or their right feet or as the Church complained Lam. 4 20. The breath of our Nostrils the Anointed of the Lord is taken from us of whom we said Vnder his shadow we shall be preserved alive among the Heathen How hath the Lord darkened the Daughter of Zion in his wrath and hath cast down from Heaven unto earth the beauty of Israel draw near behold and see what a Prince what a great man is this day fallen Know ye not that there is a Prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel 1. The causes moving David to publish this Proclamation were v. 37. his Innocency to clear him in the face of all the people that he had no hand in spilling this innocent blood finding no fault in the man of those things whereof others accused him as Pilate said of Christ although with a better mind Lu. 23. 14. 2ly To make Joab the more odious to the people for executing such a rash and malicious and unnatural fact As Jeroboam is stigmatized with this brand-mark lying in his Grave Jeroboam the Son of Nebat who made Israel to sin and as Judas the Traytor with this Judas Iscariot who betrayed his Master So Joab hath this spot and blot upon his Coat of Arms to be seen read of all ages Joab that in the time of peace slew Abner in the Gate v. 27. And for this David and let all Israel curse him in the words verse 29. Let the blood of Abner fall on the head of Joab and on all his Fathers House that the House of Joab be never without some that have running Issues or Leper or that leaneth on a staff or that doth fall on the sword or that lacketh bread 3ly That Joab by the sight of the publick mourning and vent which the King and People gave to their full hearts might be convinced of his sin and so brought to repentance Know ye not and thou Joab too that there is a Prince and a great man this day fallen in Israel The Observations from what hath been said are Observ 1. That great mens death and Princes fall ought to be lamented by all This David confirms both by Precept and Example and it is said Praecepta ducunt Exempla trahunt Precepts do sweetly allure but examples do violently draw men to obedience So that if the one or the other be of force to work upon our hearts and eyes to weep with Jeremiah day and night for our Abner then look upon David Lissen to his charge to all the people that were with him vers 31 32. Rent your clothes and put on Sackcloth and mourn before Abner and King David himself followed the Beer And the King lift up his voice and wept besides the Sepulchre of Abner and all the people wept and vers 33 34. The King lamented over Abner and all the people wept again for him As if such a mans death can never be over-lamented Know ye not saith David as if no man should be ignorant of this his duty to his Prince to his Country When Josiah was buried there was so great mone made for him 2 Chron. 35. 22. that it grew into a Proverb Zech. 12. 11. Like the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon Yea when Jacob but a mean man although father to a Prince was buried they made so great such an
harvest Death thrusts in his sickle and the fairest corn falls to the ground Wise men die and also the ignorant and foolish perish together Psal 49. 10. I said ye are gods but ye shall die like men and fall like others 82. ver 7. All flesh is grasse and all the glory of man like the flower of the field the grasse withereth the flower fadeth away because the Spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it Surely all flesh is grasse omnis Caro all flesh the flesh of Princes and great men so well as of the Peasant and begger Paul saith Heb. 9. 27. Decretum est omnibus mori There is an appointed time for all men to die All the seed of Adam have had their day Noah Abraham Isaac Iacob Solemon Sampson with our Abner Know ye not that there is a Prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel Ob. If God bounds mans life to an appointed time to a day then Ioab seems to fulfill the good pleasure of God in giving a full period to Abners life he was but as the Atropos to cut the threed of his mortality asunder and so how could this be said to be sin in him Ans Cain might plead the same Argument in murthering of his brother Abel but how displeasing it was to the most high let his punishment let his yellings and roarings witnesse to the world 2ly Although mans appointed time be known to God yet it is unknown to man so he is called Palmoni which signifies a secret number because he knoweth the number of our dayes which is secret and hidden to us for as Christ spake of the end of the world Mat. 24. 36. so may I speak in this kind Of that day and hour knoweth no man And so it must needs follow that Ioab's wickednesse was Monstrum horrendum most hainous and detestable Vse 1. All men have their falling day Be wise now therefore O ye Kings be learned ye Iudges of the earth serve the Lord in fear Feriunt ceisos fulmina montes the higher ye are the more ticklish ye stand and the more ready ye are to fall ye stand upon slippery places and are suddenly cast down consumed and perished Psal 73. 18 19. Quem dies videt veniens superbum hunc dies fugiens videt jacentem Whom the morning behold swelling and strutting like the proud Peacock the Evening beheld wallowing in his own blood and gore Know ye not that a Prince is fallen this day The day of great men is no longer than the poor mans day and therefore it will be their greatest honour and wisdome to work out their salvation whilst it is day Phil. 2. 12. Heb. 3. 13. For the night cometh when no man can work John 9. 4. Vse 2. Here is instruction for inferiours to pray with Moses Psal 90. 12. Lord teach us so to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdome and there is no wisdom like to that of looking well to the better part with Mary and gaining of heaven It is written of Alexander the great that a little pit held him after his death whom the whole world could scarcely contain living and so he was still crowding for more elbow room according to that of the Poet. Vnus Pellaeo juveni vix sufficit orbis And of Franciscus Borgia seeing a little Tomb and Coffin to contain all the Princely glory power and magnificence of that great Empresse Augusta that he departed from her Funeral saying Mortem Augustae sibi vitam attulisse that her death should give him life Even so let the consideration of the mortality of our bodies quicken us and put life into us to labour for the immortality of our souls in blisse Let the meditation of sic transit gloria mundi all earthly glory vanisheth immediately like flax that is set on fire as the Master of the Ceremonies was wont to speak to the Pope the first day of his inauguration mind us to seek after the things above Col. 3. 1. which fade not nor fail not Luke 22. 33. It was the saying of Augustine nescis qua hora veniet vigila ut quod nescis quando veniet paratum te inveniat quum venerit ad hoc forte nescis quando veniet ut semper paratus sis the which I may interpret by our Saviours own words Matth. 25. 13. Ye know neither the day nor the hour when the Son of man will come watch therefore that when he cometh he may find you well-doing And for this cause of that day and hour knoweth no man that every man should watch and be found a people ready prepared for the Lord Luke 1. 17. and so enter into the Kingdome prepared for them from the beginning of the wotld Matth. 25. 34. When Pharaoh Abimelech Sisera Herod Abner least dreamed of their fall then their day was at an end Let then Abolibah learn to be wise by the punishment laid upon her sister Abolah for what is spoke of Abner here will be verified of all in the same sence although not words Know ye not that a Prince and a great man is this day fallen in Israel Obs 4. In Israel Gods Church is not free from spots In Paradise there was a deadly stinging Serpent in Christs bosome a Judaâ— In the fairest garden Later anguis sub herba will be some venemous creature Israel was a nursery of Religion and Prophets It was the Lords peculiar treasure Exod. 19. 5. and Vine and yet lo this treasure hath a canker this Vine a deadly Viper couching under her branches to sting Abner unto death Know ye not that a Prince and a great man is fallen this day How By Treason Where In Israel whom By Joab I might enlarge my self farther but I will conclude all in a few words The Allusion 1. Abner died when he least thought of death even so our Prince and great man is pulled down to his grave in the flower and strength of his years when he least thought of the turning of the Sun â—â— Cesar being asked what death he would choose answered no lingring but a sudden death and this our Prince enjoyes being alive and dead in a moment the breath of man can scarce pronounce so fast Est but the Eccho answereth as fast Non est he is fallen 2ly Abner died a violent death even so our Prince by unmercifull hands on every side is bereaved of his life Gebal Ammon and Amalech Edom and Ishmael Moab and the Agarims Jesuites and Zamzummims Deut. 2. â—0 that is a people who called themselves Rephaims preservers or Physicians to heal and reform vices but played the Devils to open a gap to let in all heresie and abomination and wickedness and profanesse and covetousness which is idolatry These all of them have taken crafty counsel against him Psal 83. 3. and worried him and dethroned him and like Cannihals have devoured him 3ly Abner was evil spoken of by Joab and his innocency tainted and spotted by him and
art not given over to a reprobate sense Rom. 1. 28. then these things cannot but melt thee relent thee and dam up thy way from prosecuting thy devilish purposes any farther I but thinks Absalom that is not the way to the Kingdom and Sceptre and to reign and therefore be it never so foul I will thorow it and as Caesar said Vel inveniam vel faciam I will hack and hew it out with my sword and so having gathered together all the men of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and made him self strong for the battel he prepares to divide the spoil Oh unparalleld traytor for 1. He sought the death of the Lords anointed and that it is aggravated in these Circumstances 1. His anointed child And right dear and precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints Psal 116. 15. 2ly His Prophet who was as the apple of Gods eye very tender to him Zech. 2. 8. and concerning whom he hath given so strict a chatge Psal 105. 15 Touch not mine anointed nor do my Prophets no harm 3ly That he was anointed his King a King of Gods own pointing out 1 Sam. 16. 12. a King after Gods own heart 1 Sam. 13. 14 A typical King of Christ a King-father and a father to his people so well as to his own children a nursing father Isa 49. 23. And for Absalom to rob God and men of such a King who would not should not fight it out to the death like Zebulun and Nephtali Judg. 5. 18. to save him but Absalom and some of his Faction who love to fish in troubled waters but hence we learn Obs That one sin if not in time stifled makes way for a bigger as a little wedge doth for a greater Read backward and ye shall find that his sin grew like a snow-ball to a very great pitch and height and so I may compare it to Elijahs cloud 1 Kin. 18. 44. the which at first seemed no bigger than a mans hand but by and by it overspread the heaven or like to Ezekiels waters chap. 47. 3 4 5. which came to the ancles then up to the knees then to the loins and afterward waxed so deep that they could not be passed oveâ— or like to that fountain which became a river Ezek. 10. 6. and as our Proverb is Give the Devil an inch and he will take an ell We read Matth. 12. 43 44 45. of an unclean spirit in a man Which goeth forth and taketh seven other spirits worse than himself and they enter in and dwell there Even so if we give way to one unclean spirit one sin yea and as Lot sayd of Zoar a little sin we make way for all sin that we may say as Jacob did of Gad A Troop cometh As the Sea making the least breach be it thorow a mole-hole presently grows bigger and bigger upon it and pours in an inundation to the destruction of man and beast and as the Story goeth of Hatchet which begging a withered bough of an Ash to make it a helve instantly falls to work and cuts down the tall Cedar and strong Oke and green Elm and Ash which stood before secure and as Pompey marching with his Souldiers to take a great and rich City and finding the gates shut and the opposition strong he craves leave of the Citizens to give entertainment to some few of his wounded and sickly men and he would passe away without their least disturbance the which having obtained they in the night opened the gates to the General and the stronger men to the sacking and utter undoing of a famous City Even so if the Devil can but beg a helve for a hatchet or make a breach in mans heart to get in his little finger he will strain hard to make room for his head and if he can get in his head he will draw in his whole body or if he can procure the favour from us to give entertainment to some weakling and puling sins then he cries out with Moah now Moah to the spoil now Devil to thy prey and therefore Vse Is for our instruction to kill the Crocodile in the egge lest it grow to be a serpent and so kill us to quench the fire whilst it is but a spark lest it get head and so consume us Obsta Principiis withstand the beginnings of sin lest they grow to be so mountainous that they crush thee down to hell Venienti occurre morbo faith the Physician Prevent the disease by taking Physick in time lest it run on and destroy thee before thy time If Absolom had observed this rule he had never fallen so shamefully so suddenly like a child new born so wonderfully like Jerusalem Lam. 1. 9. 2ly Absaloms Treason is aggravated in that he sought the death of his father his father that begat him and his father that so well loved him He was troubled with a new disease at that time for he was sick of his father and nothing could cure him but his removal out of his eye that he might sit at Helm an steer the ship from whence we learn Obs That when Kings Princes Governors and Magistrates shall suffer sin to go unpunished in others God will make them so spared instruments to punish them David permitting Absalom to run on in sin out of one sin into another not executing the Law or justice upon him God makes him as the Canaanite to the Israelite Num. 33. 55. A prick in his eye and a thorn in his side We have a Proverb Save a Thief from the Gallows and he will hang thee at last if he can Amnons Murther deserved severe punishment by the Law of God but David out of foolish pity omitting it and winking at it God sets him home to him at last and raiseth up the son of his bowels and love too to hunt after his life Absalom may grieve God and yet that doth not much grieve David wherefore God takes his own quarrel in hand and causeth him to be the greatest grief that ever he encountred withall and so hear him roaring and howling forth this sad lamentation and Dittie for him O Absalom my son my son Absalom would God I had died for thee O Absalom my son my son And so I passe to the last point 4ly Which is Absaloms death The two Generals Absalom and Joab joyned Battel to dispute the Controversie about the Crown and at last Absalom being worsted flieth and flying the Mule came under a great thick Oke And his head caught hold on the Oke and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth and Joab took three darts and thrust them thorow Absalom and so he died verse 9. 14. Died between heaven and earth as unworthy by reason of his debauchednesse to go to the one or to have a burial place in the other the which is a most terrible and fearfull example of Gods vengeance 1. Against Rebels to their King 2ly Against those that are disobedient to
Parents and yet as bad as he was David the King wept for him saying O Absalom my son my son Absalom would God I had died for thee O Absalom my sonne my son Athaliah's detestable Treason SERMON III. 2 Kings 11. 14. Then Athaliah rent her cloathes and cried Treason treason VErbum diei in die suo was the Apostles charge to Timothy 2 Tim. 4. 2. and therefore it shall be my practice for saith Solomon Prov. 25. 11. A word spoken in season is like apples of gold with pictures of silver How well then doth this Text match the occasion of this our meeting together at this time which is to give thanks unto God for the discovery of Sundercombs desperate Treason against Oliver Lord Protector Then Athaliah rent her cloaths and cried Treason treason Herein let us consider these two general branches 1. Athaliahs action Then Athaliah rent her cloaths 2ly Athaliahs passiion And cried Treason treason In the first let us consider these two particulars 1. The subject of her action her cloaths she rent her cloaths Ah Athaliah this was a more suitable occasion for thee to follow the Prophets instruction Joel 2. 13. in rending thy heart and not thy garments But she that had no heart to spare infants like Herod had no heart to repent and so runs on still in revenge And if she can make man the subject of her wrath no longer her cloaths shall feel it and speak her minde She rent her cloaths 2ly The time of her rageing and mad wilde action implyed in the first word then Then she rent her cloaths Then when she saw another sun risen up in Judah to eclipse her pride her glory and her hautiness Then when she found she could no longer stand or keep the saddle or wear the Crown She rent her clothes In the second consider with me these two particulars likewise 1. The manner how she vents her passion She cried Her dead and seared conscience now revives and whispers in her ears that she had committed crying sins and so considering how near her door the punishment of them was come as a woman amazed frighted and startled at it she cried out for help when she was past cure she cried 2ly The cause of her passion and of her heavy exclamation in these words Treason Treason She had committed Treason against heaven and the King of heaven and that never troubled her which is the greatest Treason of all She had committed Treason in murthering the Kings Seed and that lieth not nigh her heart but when she seeth her full sea ebbing her sun setting her bright day drawn to an end and shutting in her hour-glasse run out and her doom of death passed upon her Then she rent her clothes and cryed Treason Treason Herein let us for the better discovery and opening the Text consider these four particulars 1. What Athaliah signifies 2ly Who Athaliah was 3ly What her Treason was and that which she complained of 4ly What her end was and of these in order 1. Athaliah signifies time for the Lord. When the ungodly destroy Gods Law and bring it into utter contempt then saith David in this sense Psal 119. 126. It is time for thee Lord to work that is to send help either by converting or confounding the enemies thereof as God converted Saul but confounded Herod When the wickednesse of the Amorites is full Gen. 15. 16. and the corn ripe for the harvest then it is time for the Lord to thrust in his sickle When Ahaliahs feathers of pride are full grown then it is time for the Lord to deplume her and send her as naked out of the world as ever she came into it When she was joined to Idols it was time for the Lord to make her know that an Idol was as vain a thing as a horse to save her from tumbling and ruine and destruction Psal 33 17. And this time is come and is made good to a tittle upon her all crying out with one voice as they did against Paul Acts 22. 22. Away with such a woman from the earl for it is not meet that she should live 2ly Who Athaliah was from the beginning And so she was descended from high Parentage for she was daughter unto Omri King of Israel 2 Kings 8. 22. and mother to Ahaziah King of Judah and wife to Jâ—horam his father As she came from a high Stock so she soared high and nothing could satisfie her ambition but the Scepter and sway of the Kingdom and the Crown and have it she will per fas per nefas be it right be it wrong rather than she will misse of so goodly a bait From whence we may learn Obs That ambitious Spirits will climb over the head of all wickednesse and make it their foot-stool to raise them to honour When Eteocles and Polynices his brother were contending for their Fathers kingdom with naked swords in their hands ready to sheath in each others bowels then Jocasta their Mother stepped in between them mediating for peace and accommodation upon her bended knees using these or the like words What my sons the sons of my womb the sons of my desires as Bath-sheba the Mother of Solomon said to him Prov. 31. 1. rather than let my eyes be spectators of your selves weltring in your bloud in me convertite ferrum put up your weapons into the womb that did conceive and bear you But saith Eteocles to her Pro regno velim patriam penates conjugem flammis dare Imperia precio quolibet constant bene To gain a kingdom I would set Country Houshold-gods wife and all on fire like Troy for Kingdoms and Crowns cannot be purchased at too dear a rate Absalom to step into his Fathers throne quid non audet what will he not what dares he not to do And it was the speech of one in later times who having by perjury dissimulation and treachery mounted himself aloft That if he fell all the Commonwealth should fall with him farr preferring his private interest before the publique And Athaliah was cast into the same mould for neither the frown of God the curse of the people the tears of Innocents could give a supersedeas to her wicked design she had in hand but a kingdom she will have although she buyes it with the losse of her soul Obs 2. As it was said of Corax and Lysias mali â—orvi malum ovum a curst Crow hath hatched a shrewd egge a crafty Master hath bâ—ed as crafty a scholar Even so as Isay speaks 24. 2. Like father like daughter a wicked father 1 King 16. 25 26. and as vile a child Of all the Kings of Israel there was not one good and of all their children there was not one thoroughly righteous It s true there was found some goodnesse in Abijah towards the Lord God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam 1 Kings 14. 13. but it was but some and that God takes notice of and that goeth not unrewarded but of all
stand is and therefore David from this Consideration draws this Conclusion Psal 37. 10. Yet a little while and the wicked shall not appear and thou shalt look after his place and he shall not be found If thou lookest for mighty Nimrod the great hunter before the Lord Gen. 10. 9. If thou lookest for persecuting painting Jezabel thou shalt find nothing but her skull and feet and palms of her hands 2 Kings 9. 35. and if thou lookest for Kâ—ng-killing Athaliah she is vanished like a vapour which appeareth but for a little time James 4. 14. and so I end this point in the words of David Psal 146. 3. Put not your trust in Princes nor the Son of man for they cannot help put not your trust in riches for they are uncertain 1 Tim 6. 17. and deceivable Matth. 13. 22. Put not your trust in earthly things for they are as unconstant as the wind and vanity saith Solomon and vanity of vanities yea and all things are vanity Eccle. 1. 2. saving onely the fearing of God and the keeping of his Commandements but if ye will trust in any thing let it be 2ly In atchieving the true honour and such treasures as fail not reserved in the heaven for you Luke 12. 33. It was the Vltimum Vale farewel Speech that Cardinal Wolsey gave unto the world in Henry the eighths dayes being to suffer death Well saith he if I had been as carefull to serve my God as I have been to serve my Prince I should never have come to this Even so if we will be careful to serve God then when Peter and Demas such miserable comforters as Job calls them shall forsake us then when our earthly pleasures and treasures and honours shall deny us and leave us then God will fail thee never saith David When thy father and mother shall forsake thee then the Lord will gather thee up Psal 27. 10. When the wicked shall not be suffered to dwell in the Land the righteous shall never be removed Prov. 10. 30. When the Crown of pride shall be pulled from the head of the ungodly then the Lord will honour those that honour him 1 Sam. 2. 30. and we shall find the comfort of all when we come to die Aâ—hâ—liah had no fear of God before her eyes she kicked against the pricks and strived against the stream Acts 9. 5. she leaned on a brokâ—n staff she rejected the counsel of God agâ—inst herself like the Pharisees and the expounders of the Law Luke 7. 30. and what was the issue of this she fell like Lighting from heaven and once beginning to fall never rested till she came to the ground like a stone tumbled down a hill I will end this point in the words of Augustine Mundus transit concupiscentia ejus quid vis Vtrum amare temporalia transire cum tempore an Christum amare in aeternum vivere the world passeth away and the glory thereof now chuse whether thou wilt follow and love temporal things which will die with thee or Christ and live eternally 3ly Seeing there is no constancy and stability to be found in earthly things Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall 1 Cor. 10. 12. Ye have heard what God did to Pharaoh Herod Nebuchadnezzar Korah Dathan and Abiram for their Rebellion Antiochus Ahab Jeroboam Iezabel for their wickedness Troy Niniveh Sodom and Gomorrhe Israel and Iudah now lying in dust and ashes one stone not being left upon another Now saith the Apostle All these things came upon them for ensamples and to admonish us to provide against our changes shall come as Ioseph did against a dearth It is a great lessening of our grief when nothing befalls us but what we looked for for fore-warned fore-armed to bear it Praemonius praemunitus What made Iob a conqueror over all his sorrows that pressed upon him like armed men Prov. 6. 11. but his wife forecast of the brittle condition of all sublunaries so are his words chap 3. 25. The thing I feared is come upon me and the thing that I was afraid of is come unto me If his poverty sores scabs running issues contempt of his wife forsaking of his friends scorn of his servants derision of his enemies losse of his children had according to Christs Prophesie come upon him as a snare that is suddenly and unlooked for Luke 21. 35. they could not but have brake his heart but musing and meditating beforehand upon the alterations of all things and expecting the worst he stood in the door to welcome them and his godly patience drave them out again finding a full supper after a sharp and short dinner As God speaks of Moses Deut. 32. 29. Oh that men were wise then they would consider this they would remember their latter end Even so speak I in this kind Oh that men were wise then they would understand this they would consider that riches have their end pleasures their end Kingdoms their end honours their end and man himself his end and so not labour for the meat which perisheth but for that meat which hath no end enduring unto everlasting life Iohn 8. 27. 4ly Here we learn that it will nothing profit a man to gain the whole world and at last lose his own soul Mat. 16. 26. Athaliah wore the Crown swayed the Kingdom trimmed up her self with Peacock feathers and we say Gay feathers make gay birds Her Princes did her homage her Servants went and came at her command her Servants cried before her Abrech in sign of honour as was done unto Joseph Gen. 41. 43. She had stately houses fruitfull vineyards pleasant gardens and orchards with trees of all fruits Shee had Beeves and Sheep in abundance silver and gold and the chief treasures of Kings and Provinces She had Men-singers and Women-singers and the delights of the sons of men She was great and whatsoever her eyes and heart desired was not with-held from them as Solomon spake of his outward felicity Eccles 2. 4. c. yet as Haman said to his wife Zeresh and his friends about him shewing them the glory of his riches the multitude of his children and how the King had promoted him above all What do all these things avail me so long as I see Mordecai the Iew sitting at the Kings gate not bowing his knee unto me Even so What do all these things before mentioned avail Athaliah seeing her soul shall go to hell she made but a sorrie exchange of heaven for hell of joy for sorrow of things eternal for transitorie of ease for endless pains and torments as the rich Gallant tells you Luke 16. 23. Felix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum Happy are ye if her harms can teach you Wisdome to beware of her sins and all sins whose end is bitternesse as Abner told Ioab of the sword and death Rom. 6. 23. 5ly If there be no constancy in earthly things then let us follow Saint Pauls direction
great Leviathan Our friends to help us are like Jobs miserable comforters our footing on this sea of glasse very slipperie but when all our other trust is but as a spiders web this is our comfort in our afflictions that although our father and mother and all the world forsake us yet the Lord will then gather us up and will not leave us comfortless Wherefore in all humble acknowledgement of all thankfulness due unto thee vve offer up unto thee our selves our souls and bodies a quick and living sacrifice that the God in whom we live move have our being may be glorified in and by our being This is our day therfore it is our duty whilst it is called to day to seek the Lord while he may be found and call upon him whilst he is near This is our day wherein we are to work and so let it be our sole wisdome to work out our salvation lest the night come and overtake us when no man can work This is our day and how ill doth it become us to trewant and loiter it away like those that stood idle in the market place or to riot it and revelling it eating and drinking and cursing Abimelech lest we be in hell to morrow yelling and howling and roring with Dives Devils and damned ones Let the Sun which cometh as a Bridegroom out of his chamber and rejoiceth to run his race Ever teach us to be active in spiritual duties and heavenlie exercises Let the Sun which encreaseth from glorie to glorie teach us to encrease in vertue goodnesse and godlinesse adding to vertue knowledge to knowledge temperance to temperance patience to patience brotherlie kindnesse and so one grace to another that we may be complete Christians like unto our head and Lord and Master Let the morning instruct us to remember our Creator in the daies of our youth Let the Noon tutour us to be strong in the faith Let the Evening admonish us to think of the end of our life and shutting in of our daies Let all teach us so to number our daies that we may applie our hearts unto wisdome Let a waterie daie ever mind us of the sorrows afflictions and troubles attend us in this life Let a pleasant day mind us of the pleasures to come when these are faded and forgotten Let a short daie mind us of the shortnesse of this life which is but as a span long and swifter than a Weavers Shuttle Let a long daie mind us of Eternitie of life either in blisse or bane and so read us a continual Lecture to labour for that meat which endures unto everlasting life and not after that bread which perisheth with us the which that we may do the Lord grant unto us for the Lord Jesus Christs sake our blessed Saviour and redeemer Amen A Prayer for the Evening I Will lay me down and also sleep in peace for thou Lord makest me dwell in safety saith David Now good God grant that as we lie down in thy love so we may rise by thy power and glorifie thee for thy mercy O most gracious God and in thy son Jesus Christ our loving Father we miserable sinners dust and ashes worms and not men do prostrate our selves before the footstool of thy Throne of grace beseeching thee that seeing thou hast made the night for man to rest so well as the day for him to labour so that thou wouldest be pleased to blesse us this night and keep us from fire sword sicknesse death and those manifold evils may befall us and overtake us by reason of our manifold sins and wickednesses Thou art about their beds and givest thy Angels charge over them that seek unto thee for succour thou knowest their down-lying and uprising and art near unto those that call upon thee in truth and syncerity of heart wherefore graciously good God spread thou the wings of thy loving kendnesse and favour over us this night and let not this house be as a tomb and Sepulchre erected over our heads let not our beds be as our graves our blankets as the mold of the earth and our sheefs as our winding-sheets but let them all serve to minister comfort and refreshment to our wearied bodies and senses that the day following we may be the better enabled to set forth thy praise and thy glorie Let not our sleep be insatiable according to the desires of the flesh but onely so as that it may revive our dull and heavy drooping spirits and make them active in thy service and in the works of our calling Teach us by our unclothing and uncovering of our selves and casting away our garments from us continually to think of casting away every weight and casting off that old man which is corrupt through his deceivable works Teach us by our nakednesse when our garments are from us continually to think of harmlesnesse and innocency of life endevouring our selves daily to live void of offence towards God and towards man Teach us by going out of our warm clothes into our cold beds continually to think on a change of life how that we shall one day leave this sinfull world and passe into another there to receive according to our several works Teach us by our sleep continuallie to think on death and by our waking from sleep again continually to think of resurrection of life how that we shall one day wake and rise out of the dust of the earth and behold our God not with other but with these same eyes O let everie thing be our instruction to shew us the right way to heaven and everlasting blisse Father blesse us bodily yea and blesse us spiritually give unto our bodies a happie rest in Christ Jesus whensoever as we know not how soon thou maiest call them out of this sinful world and say unto our souls that he was the redemption thereof and paid the ransom of them with his dearest blood that under the shadow of his wings we may flie to thy heavenly Sanctuary Father bless us inwardlie and blesse us outwardly blesse us inwardly with all these graces which are fit and needfull for our several places conditions and callings and blesse us outwardlie with all those things we want and stand in need of as health strength ease wealth blesse us likewise in everie thing belongs unto us that they yielding forth their strength and encrease unto us we may yield forth unto thee our God the strength of our obedience praise and thanksgiving O father thou art great and therefore to be feared thou art good and therefore to be praised according therefore to thy greatnesse and according to thy goodnesse be thy praise and we entreat thee to continue this thy loving kindnesse to us unto our lives end and to life eternal And that we may obtain this mercy we beseech thee to give us grace to walk worthie of thy mercies that we may find and feel the fruits of thy favour budding in our souls O give us grace that
so near to a man or go so near to his heart as bene facere male audire to do well and to be rewarded ill by a Servant or any other ingratefull wretches The Oxe knoweth his owner Isay 1. 3. and for a man not to know his master and maker is worse than brutish and deserves nigro carbone notari to be branded for a vile man indeed A houshold enemie is noted by Christ for a sharp plague Mat. 10. 36. and yet such is our Abners condition to fall by such Joab had Zimri peace that slew his Master 2 Kin. 9. 31. then look for no peace living or dying Obs Occidit is fallen from whence may be observed that death is no deâ—th to them that die in the Lord. It is but as a sleep from which they shall be awakened at the sound of the last Trumpet And in this sence saith Christ to his disciples John 11. 11. Our friend Lazarus sleepeth but I go to wake him up It is but as a falling to the earth from whence we through Gods might recover our selves and rise again It is but as Requietorium a Bed of rest as Isay shews 57. 2 They shall rest in their Beds every one that walketh before him and men go not to bed to lie there for ever but some short time It was said by a Jester unto a great man If I fall I can rise again but if thou fallest thou wilt never rise more but this holds true of the faithfull in general Dan. 12. 2. they shall rise to everlasting life thus David tells not his servants A Prince or a great man is dead but is fallen being assured that he should rise again like Antheus with greater strength and courage and honour and glory than ever he enjoyed before like Damascens wise yet deposed King as we read of in M. Bunnyes resolutions Vse Here is comfort for Abners friends that although his body is sown in corrupion yet it shall be raised in incorruption If it be sown in dishonour yet it shall be raised in glory 1 Cor. 15. 42 43. that although he was conquered by Treason yet he is Conquerour over all his enemies and greatest Traytors death sin and Satan that although he be fallen yet he is mounted up aloft upon the wings of Cherubims and glorious angels like Lazarus into the bosome of his father that although he be losse to them yet their losse is his gain for instead of war he finds peace instead of sorrow joy unspeakable instead of vexation of spirit The things which eye hath not seen ear hath not heard neither have entred into the heart of man 1 Cor. 2. 9. instead of a corruptible Crown an incorruptible Chap. 9. 25. Instead of a Crown of thorns a Crown of ease instead of an earthly Kingdome a Kingdome which endureth for ever even the Kingdom of God and of Christ instead of earthly treasures heavenly instead of buffetings reproaches spittings in the face kisses with sweet embracings Instead of Apage Euge be gone We will not have this man reign longer over us welcome and well done good and faithfull servant enter thou into the joy of thy Lord Matth. 25. 23. instead of the society of beasts such as Paul fought withall at Ephesus the fellowship of glorified Saints and Angels Iacob in his dream saw a Ladder the foot thereof stood upon earth but the top reached up to heaven Gen. 28 12. and by this Ladder our Abner our Prince like an Angel of God is ascended up thither Question not this O man whosoever thou art for he was living a living pattern of vertue and godlinesse to all 1 For sobriety for who could detect him of drunkennesse 2ly of chastity for who could blemish him of uncleanesse Posse nolle nobile What Castle by promotion or bribes or command cannot a great man scale and not to subdue it to his power and lust is Prince-like indeed 3ly Of Piety Religion being diligent in Prayer sincere in his devotions and admirably attentive in hearing of Sermons and that sometimes in my eye 4ly Of knowledge and learning witness his Book entituled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which few Bishops with all their learning and reading could outrun and witness his Disputation with the Scotch Minister who shall be nameless and whom he so foiled by arguments that whereas before he was his bitter enemy in Pulpit and out of it he set forth unto the world his own recantation and his Princes vindication to undeceive his people 5ly Of bounty and liberality to his followers I and to some ingratefull and undeserving followers 6ly Of patience for after the example of Christ 1 Pet. 2. 23. Being reviled he reviled not a-again when he suffered he threatned not but committed it to him that judgeth righteously 7ly Of magnanimity being as daring as a lion as some of his own Captains can speak and would have proved it in red letters if he might have been suffered wrote with a pen of iron 8ly Of compassion lamenting the losse of his enemies as if their blood had been drawn from his own heart Iulian honoured those Souldiers that died in his war and service but he those that died in the war against him 9ly Of affection to his wife so that as Solomon speaks of the good woman I may truly aver of him Prov. 31. 29. Many husbands have done vertuously but thou surmountest them all 1. For fidelity to her bed a rare thing to be found in great men 2. For affability and kindness to her â—â—ving her as his own soul 3 For indulgencie over his and her children Now laying all these together as so many steps or stairs or stakes of the Ladder doubtlesse his works follow him Rev. 14. 13 and he is passed and gone to your father and his father to his God and your God Wherefore comfort ye one another with these words 1 Thes 4 18. And as Christ said to the daughters of Ierusalem Luke 23. 28 Weep not for him but for your selves left as a prey to the wolf hurrying and worrying Christs flock Vse 2. Abner is fallen As the Widow of Zarephath spake to Elijah 1 Kings 17. 18. O thou man of God art thou come to call my sins to remembrance and to slay my son Even so Abners fall should put Israel in mind of their sins which have pulled him down from his Throne and of a sudden Repentance lest they follow him to the grave If old Eli was punished for the iniquity of his sons 1 Sam. 3. 12 13 14. then by the same rule a Father of his Countrey may suffer for the wickedness of his children and people Obs 3. Hoc die This day from whence I observe that all men have their falling day The Sun that now shines will set the Moon that now is at Full will wain the see that now flows will ebbe After a Spring will follow an Autumn after a Summer comes a hard Winter and after the green blade comes a