the wrongs done to his seruants then themselues can be and knowes how to punish that justly which we could not vndertake with wronging God more then men haue wronged vs. He that saith Vengeance is mine I will repay repayes oft-times when we haue forgiuen when we haue forgotten and cals to reckoning after our discharges It is dangerous offending any fauorite of him whose displeasure and reuenge is euerlasting How farre God lookes beyond our purposes Abigail came only to plead for an ill husband and now God makes this iourney a preparation for a better So that in one act shee preserud an ill husband and wonne a good one for the future Dauid well remembers her comely person her wife speeches her gracefull carriage and now when modesty found it seasonable he sendes to sue to her which had beene his suppliant she intreated for her husband Dauid treates with her for his wife her request was to escape his sword hee wisheth her to his bed It was a faire suite to change a Dauid for a Nabal to become Dauids Queene in steed of Nabals drudge shee that learned humilitie vnder so hard a Tuter abaseth her selfe no lesse when Dauid offers to aduance her Let thine hand-maid be a seruant to wash the feet of the seruants of my Lord None are so fit to be great as those that can stoope loewst How could Dauid be more happy in a wife he finds at once piety wisdom humility faithfulnes wealth beauty How could Abigail bee more happy in an husband then in the Prophet the Champion the Anoynted of God Those mariages are well made wherein vertues are matched and happinesse is mutuall Dauid and Achish GOOD motions that fall into wicked harts are like some sparks that fall from the flint and steele into wet tinder lightsome for the time but soone out After Sauls teares and protestations yet is he now againe in the wildernes with three thousand men to hunt after inocent Dauid How inuincible is the charity and loyalty of an honest hart The same hand that spared Saul in the caue spares him sleeping in the field The same hand that cut away the lappe of his maisters garment caryed away his speare that speare which might as well haue caryed away the life of the owner is only born away for a proofe of the fidelity of the bearer Still Saul is strong but Dauid victorious and triumphs ouer the malice of his persecutor Yet still the victor flyeth from him whom he hath ouercome A man that sees how farre Saul was transported with his rancorous enuy cannot but say that hee was neuer more mad then when he was sober For euen after he had said Blessed art thou my sonne Dauid thou shalt do great things and also preuaile yet still hee pursues him whom hee grants assured to preuaile what is this but to resolue to loose his labour in sinning and in spight of himselfe to offend How shamefull is our inequality of disposition to good We know we cannot misse of the reward of well-doing and yet doe it not whiles wicked men cast away their endeauours vpon those euill proiects whereof they are sure to faile sinne blindes the eyes and hardens the heart and thrusts men into wilfull mischiefes how euer dangerous how euer impossible and neuer leaues them till it haue brought them to vtter confusion THE ouer-long continuance of a tentation may easily weary the best patience and may attaine that by protraction which it could neuer doe by violence Dauid himselfe at last begins to bend vncler this triall and resolues so to flee from Saul as that hee runnes from the Church of God and whiles he will auoyde the malice of his master ioynes himselfe with Gods enemies The greatest Saints vpon earth are not alwayes vpon the same pitch of spirituall strength He that sometimes said I will not be affraid for ten thousand now saies I shall perish one day by the hand of Saul He had wont to consult with God now hee saies thus in his owne hart How many euident experiments had Dauid of Gods deliuerances how certaine and cleare predictions of his future Kingdome how infallible earnest was the holy oyle wherewith hee was anoynted of the crowne of Israel And yet Dauid said in his heart I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul The best faith is but like the twy-light mixed with some degrees of darkness infidelity We doe vtterly misreakon the greatest earthly holinesse if we exempt it from infirmities It is not long since Dauid told Saul that those wicked enemies of his which cast him out from abiding in the inheritance of the Lord did as good as bid him Goe serue other Gods yet now is he gone from the inheritance of God into the land of the Philistims That Saul might seeke him no more hee hides himselfe out of the lists of the Church where a good man would not looke for him Once before had Dauid fled to this Achish when hee was glad to scrabble on the doozes and let his spittle fal vpon his beard in a semblance of madnesse that he might escape yet now in a semblance of friendship is hee returned to saue that life which he was in danger to haue lost in Israel Goliah the Champion of the Philistims whom Dauid slew was of Gath yet Dauid dwells with Achish King of the Philistims in Gath Euen amongst them whose fore-skins he had presented to Saul by two hundreds at once doth Dauid choose to reside for safety Howsoeuer it was a weakenesse in Dauid thus by his league of amity to strengthen the enemies of God yet doth not God take aduantage of it for his ouerthrow but giues him protection euen where his presence offended and giues him fauour where himselfe bore iust hatred Oh the infinite patience and mercy of our God who doth good to vs for our euill and in the very act of our prouocation vpholdeth yea blesseth vs with preseruation Could Saul haue rightly considered it hee had found it no small losse and impairing to his kingdome that so valiant a Captaine attended with sixe hundred able soldiers and their families should forsake his land and ioyne with his enemies yet he is not quiet till he haue abandoned his owne strength The world hath none so great enemy to a wicked man as himselfe his hands cannot be held from his owne mischiefe hee will needs make his friends enemies his enemies victors himselfe miserable DAVID was too wise to cast himselfe into the hands of a Philistim King without assurance What assurance could hee haue but promises Those Dauid had from Saul abundantly and trusted them not Hee dares trust the fidelity of a Pagan hee dares not trust the vowes of a King of Israel There may bee fidelity without the Church and falshood within It need not bee any newes to finde some Turks true and some Christians faithlesse EVEN vnwise men are taught by experience how much more they who haue wit to learne without
Contemplations THE FIFTH VOLVME By IOS HALL D. of D. LONDON Printed by E. G. for Nathaniel Butter 1620. Contemplations VPON THE OLD TESTAMENT The 14th Booke Saul in Dauids Caue Nabal and Abigail Dauid and Achish Saul and the Witch of Endor Ziklag spoyled and reuenged The Death of Saul Abner and Ioab TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE AND MY SINGVLAR good Lord PHILIP Earle of MONGOMERY one of the Gentlemen of his Maiesties Bed-chamber and Knight of the most honourable Order of the Garter Right Honourable AFter some vnpleasing intermissions I returne to that taske of Contemplation wherein onely my soule findeth rest If in other imployments I haue indeauoured to serue God and his Church yet in none I must confesse with equall contentment Me thinkes Controuersie is not right in my way to Heauen how euer the importunity of an aduersarie may force me to fetch it in Jf Truth oppressed by an erroneous teacher cry like a rauisht virgin for my ayd I betray it if J releeue it not when I haue done I returne gladly to these paths of peace The fauour which my late Polemicall labour hath found beyond merit from the learned cannot diuert my loue to those wrangling studies How earnestly doth my hart rather wish an vniuersall cessation of these armes that all the Professors of the deare name of Christ might bee taken vp with nothing but holy and peaceable thoughts of deuotion the sweetnesse wherof hath so farre affected mee that if J might doe it without danger of mis-construction I could beg euen of an enemy this leaue to be happy I haue already giuen account to the world of some expences of my houres this way here J bring more which if some reader may censure as poore none can censure as vnprofitable J am bold to write them vnder your Honourable Name whereto I deeply obliged that J may leaue behind me this meane but faithfull Testimony of mine humble thankefulnesse to your Lo and your most honored and vertuous Lady The noble respects I haue had from you both deserue my prayers best seruices which shall neuer bee wanting to you and yours From your Honors sincerely deuoted in all true duty IOS HALL Contemplations SAVL in DAVIDS Caue IT was the strange lot of Dauid that those whom hee pursued preserued him from those whom hee had preserued The Philistims whom Dauid had newly smitten in Keilah call off Saul from smiting Dauid in the wildernesse when there was but an hillock betwixt him and death Wicked purposes are easily checked not easily broken off Sauls sword is scarce dry from the bloud of the Philistims when it thirsts anew for the bloud of Dauid and now in a renued chase hunts him dry-foot thorow euery wildernesse The very desert is too faire a refuge for innocence The hils and rocks are searched in an angry iealousie the very wilde goats of the mountaines were not allowed to bee companions for him which had no fault but his vertue Oh the seemingly-vnequall distribution of these earthly things Cruelty and oppression raignes in a palace whiles goodnesse lurkes among the rockes and caues and thinkes it happinesse enough to steale a life Like a dead man Dauid is faine to be hid vnder the earth and seekes the comfort of protection in darknesse and now the wise prouidence of God leads Saul to his enemy without bloud He which before broght them within an hils distance without interview brings them now both within one roofe so as that whiles Saul seekes Dauid and findes him not hee is found of Dauid vnsought If Saul had knowne his owne opportunities how Dauid and his men had interred themselues he had saued a treble labour of chase of execution and buriall for had he but stopt the mouth of that caue his enemies had layd themselues downe in their owne graues The wisdome of God thinkes fit to hide from euill men spirits those means and seasons which might be if they had been taken most preiudiciall to his owne Wee had been oft foyled if Satan could but haue knowne our hearts somtimes wee lye open to euils and happy it is for vs that hee onely knowes it which pitties in steed of tempting vs. It is not long since Saul sayd of Dauid lodged them in Keilah God hath deliuered him into mine hands for he is shut in seeing hee is come into a City that hath gates and bars but now contrarily God deliuers Saul ere he was aware into the hands of Dauid and without the helpe of gates and bars hath inclosed him within the valley of the shadow of death How iust it is with God that those who seeke mischeefe to others finde it to them selues and euen whiles they are spredding nets are insnared Their deliberate plotting of euill is surprized with a sudden judgement How amazedly must Dauid needes looke when he saw Saul enter into the caue where himselfe was what is this thinkes hee which God hath done Is this presence purposed or casuall is Saul here to pursue or to tempt me Where suddenly the action bewrayes the intent and tels Dauid that Saul sought secrecy and not him The superfluity of his maliciousnesse brought him into the wildernesse the necessity of nature led him into the caue Euen those actions wherin we place shame are not exempted from a prouidence The fingers of Dauids followers itched to cease on their Masters enemy and that they might not seeme led so much by faction as by faith they vrge Dauid with a promise from God The day is come whereof the Lord said vnto thee Behold I will deliuer thine enemie into thine hand and thou shalt do to him as it shall seeme good to thee This argument seemed to carry such command with it as that Dauid not onely may but must embrue his hands in blood vnlesse he will bee found wanting to God and himselfe those temptations are most powerfull which fetch their force from the pretence of a religious obedience Whereas those which are raysed from arbitrary and priuate respects admit of an easie dispensation If there were such a prediction one clause of it was ambiguous and they take it at the worst Thou shalt doe to him as shall seeme good to thee that might not seeme good to him which seemed euill vnto God There is nothing more dangerous then to make construction of Gods purposes out of euentuall appearances If carnall probabilities might be the rule of our iudgement what could God seeme to intend other then Sauls death in offering him naked into the hands of those whom he vniustly persecuted how could Dauids soldiers thinke that God had sent Saul thither on any other errand then to fetch his bane and if Saul could haue seene his owne danger hee had giuen himselfe for dead for his hart guilty to his owne bloody desires could not but haue expected the same measure which is meant But wise and holy Dauid not transported either with misconcert of the euent or fury of passion or sollicitation
those whom we haue found faithlesse Credulity vpon weake grounds after palpable disapointments is the daughter of folly A man that is weatherwise though he finde an abatement of the storme yet will not stirre from vnder his shelter whiles hee sees it thicke in the winde distrust is the iust gaine of vnfaithfulnesse Nabal and Abigail IF innocency could haue securd from Sauls malice Dauid had not beene persecuted and yet vnder that wicked King aged Samuel dies in his bed That there might be no place for enuy the good Prophet had retyred himselfe to the Schooles Yet hee that hated Dauid for what hee should bee did no lesse hate Samuel for what hee had beene Euen in the midst of Sauls malignity there remained in his heart impressions of awfulnesse vnto Samuel hee feared where he loued not The restraint of God curbeth the rage of his most violent enemies so as they cannot doe their worst As good husbands doe not put all their corne to the ouen but saue some for seed so doth God euer in the worst persecutions SAMVEL is dead Dauid banished Saul tyranizeth Israel hath good cause to mourne it is no maruell if this lamentation be vniuersall There is no Israelite that feeleth not the losse of a Samuel A good Prophet is the common treasure wherin euery gracious soule hath a share That man hath a dry heart which can part with Gods Prophet without teares NABAL was according to his name foolish yet rich and mighty Earthly possessions are not alwayes accompanied with wit and grace Euen the line of faithfull Caleb will afford an ill-condition'd Nabal Vertue is not like vnto lands inheritable All that is traduced with the seede is either euill or not good Let no mam brag with the Iewes that he hath Abram to his father God hath raised vp of this stone a sonne to Caleb ABIGAIL which signified her fathers ioy had sorrow enough to bee matched with so vnworthy an husband If her father had meant shee should haue had ioy in herselfe or in her life he had not disposed her to an husband though rich yet fond and wicked It is like hee married her to the wealth not to the man Many a childe is cast away vpon riches Wealth in our matches should bee as some graines or scruples in the balance superadded to the gold of vertuous qualities to weigh downe the scales when it is made the substancc of the weight and good qualities the appendance there is but one earth poysed with another which wheresoeuer it is done it is a wonder if either the children proue not the parents sorrow or the parents theirs NABALS sheep-shearing was famous Three thousand fleeces must needes require many hands neither is any thing more plentiful commonly then a Churles feast What a world was this that the noble Champion Rescuer of Israel Gods Anoynted is driuen to send to a base Carle for victuals It is no measuring of men by the depth of the purse by outward prosperity Seruants are oft-times set on horse-backe whiles Princes walke on foot Our estimation must bee led by their inward worth which is not alterable by time nor diminishable with externall conditions ONE rag of a Dauid is more worth then the ward-robes of a thousand Nabals Euen the best deseruings may want No man may be contemned for his necessity perhaps he may be so much richer in grace as hee is poorer in estate neither hath violence or casualty more impouerished a Dauid then his pouerty hath enriched him Hee whose folly hath made himselfe miserable is iustly rewarded with neglect but he that suffers for good deserues so much more honour from others as his distresse is more Our compassion or respect must be ruled according to the cause of anothers misery ONE good turne requires another in some cases not hurting is meritorious Hee that should examine the qualities of Dauids followers must needes grant it worthy of a fee that Nabals flocks lay vntouched in Carmel but more that Dauids Souldiers were Nabals Sheepheards yea the keepers of his shepheards gaue them a just interest in that sheep-shearing feast justly should they haue beene set at the vpper end of the table That Nabals sheepe were safe he might thanke his Shepheards that his Shepheards were safe hee might thanke Dauids Souldiers It is no small benefit that wee receiue in a safe protection well may we think our substance due where wee owe our selues Yet this churlish Nabal doth not onely giue nothing to Dauids messengers but which is worse then nothing ill words Who is Dauid or who is the sonne of Ishai There be many seruants now a dayes that breake away from their Masters Dauid asked him bread he giues him stones All Israel knew and honored their Deliuerer yet this Clown to saue his victuals will needs make him a man either of no merits of ill either an obscure man or a Fugitiue Nothing is more cheap then good words these Nabal might haue giuen and been neuer the poorer If he had beene resolued to shut his hands in a feare of Sauls reuenge he might haue so tempered his deniall that the repulse might haue beene free from offence But now his foule mouth doth not onely deny but reuile It should haue beene Nabals glory that his Tribe yeelded such a Successor to the Throne of Israel now in all likely hood his enuy stirs him vp to disgrace that man who surpassed him in honour and vertue more then hee was surpassed by him in vertue and ease Many an one speaks faire that meanes ill but when the mouth speakes foule it argues a corrupt heart If with S. Iames his verball benefactors wee say onely Depart in peace warme your selues fill your bellies wee shall answer for hypocriticall vncharitablenesse but if wee rate curse those needy soules whom we ought to releeue wee shall giue a more fearefull account of a sauage cruelty in trampling on those whom God hath humbled If healing with good words bee justly punishable what torment is there for those that wound with euill DAVID which had all this while beene in the schole of patience hath now his lesson to seeke Hee who had happily digested all the rayling and persecutions of a wicked Master cannot put off this affront of a Nabal Nothing can asswage his choler but bloud How subiect are the best of Gods Saints to weake passions and if wee haue the grace to ward an expected blow of temptations how easily are wee surprized with a sudden foe Wherefore serue these recorded weaknesses of holy men but to strengthen vs against the conscience of our infirmities not that we should take courage to imitate them in the euill whereunto they haue been miscarried But we should take heart to our selues against the discouragement of our own euils THE wisdome of God hath so contriued it that commonly in societies good is mixed with euill wicked Nabal hath in his house a wise and good seruant a prudent and worthy wife That
hee to flatter any more when hee hath what hee would Now his onely worke is to terrifie and confound that hee may enioy what hee hath won How much better is it seruing that Master who when wee are most deiected with the conscience of euill heartens vs with inward comfort and speakes peace to the soule in the midst of tumult Ziglag spoyled and reuenged HAD not the King of the Philistims sent Dauid away earely his wiues his people and substance which he left at Ziglag had beene vtterly lost Now Achish did not more pleasure Dauid in his intertainment then in his dismission Saul was not Dauids enemy more in the persecution of his person then in the forbearance of God enemies Behold thus late doth Dauid feele the smart of Sauls sin in sparing the Amalekites who if Gods sentence had beene duely executed had not now suruiued to annoy this parcell of Israel As in spirituall respects our sins are alwayes hurtfull to our selues so in temporall oft-times preiudiciall to posterity A wicked man deserues ill of those he neuer liued to see I cannot maruell at the Amalekites assault made vpon the Israelites of Ziglag I cannot but maruell at their clemency how just it was that while Dauid would giue ayd to the enemies of the Church against Ifrael the enemies of the Church should rise against Dauid in his peculiar charge of Israel But whilst Dauid rouing against the Amalekites not many dayes before left neither man nor woman aliue how strange is it that the Amalekites inuading and surprizing Ziglag in reuenge kill neither man nor woman Shal we say that mercy is fled from the brests of Israelites and rests in heathens Or shall wee rather ascribe this to the gracious restraint of God who hauing designed Amalek to the slaughter of Israel and not Israel to the slaughter of Amalek moued the hand of Israel and held the hands of Amalek This was that alone that made the heathens take vp with an vn-bloody reuenge burning only the walls and leading away the persons Israel crossed the reuealed will of God in sparing Amalek Amalek fulfills the secret will of God in sparing Israel It was still the lot of Amalek to take Israel at all aduantages vpon their first cōming out of Aegypt when they were weary weake and vnarmed then did Amalek assault them And now when one part of Israel was in the field against the Philistims another was gone with the Philistims against Israel the Amalakites set vpon the coasts of both and goes away laded with the spoyle No other is to be exspected of our spirituall aduersaries who are euer readiest to assayle when we are the vnreadiest to defend It was a wofull spectacle for Dauid and his Souldiers vpon their returne to finde ruines and ashes in steed of houses and in steed of their families solitude Their citie was vanished into smoake their housholds into captiuity neither could they know whom to accuse or where to enquire for redresse whiles they made account that their home should recompence their tedious journey with comfort the miserable desolation of their home doubles the discomfort of their journey what remained there but teares and lamentations They lifted vp their voices and wept till they could weepe no more Heere was plenty of nothing but misery and sorow The heart of euery Israelite was brim-full of griefe Dauids ran ouer for besides that his crosse was the same with theirs all theirs was his alone each man lookt on his fellow as a partner of affliction but euery one lookt vpon Dauid as the cause of all their affliction and as common displeasure is neuer but fruitfull of reuenge they all agree to stone him as the auther of their vndoing whom they followed all this while as the hopefull meanes of their aduancements Now Dauids losse is his least griefe neither as if euery thing had conspired to torment him can he looke besides the aggrauation of his sorrow and danger Saul and his souldiers had hunted him out of Israel the Philistim Courtiers had hunted him from the fauour of Achish the Amalekites spoyled him in Ziglag yet all these are easie aduersaries in comparison of his owne his owne followers are so farre from pittying his participation of the losse that they are ready to kill him because they are miserable with him Oh the many and grieuous perplexities of the man after Gods owne heart If all his traine had ioyned their best helpes for the mitigation of his griefe their cordials had beene too weake but now the vexation that arises from their fury and malice drowneth the sense of their losse and were enough to distract the most resolute heart why should it be strange to vs that we meete with hard tryals when wee see the deare anoynted of God thus plunged into euils What should the distressed Son of Ishai now doe whether should he thinke to turne him to goe backe to Israel hee durst not to goe to Achish he might not to abide amongst those waste heapes he could not or if there might haue beene harbor in those burnt walls yet there could bee no safety to remaine with those mutinous spirits But Dauid comforted himselfe in the Lord his God oh happy and sure refuge of a faithfull Soule The earth yeelded him nothing but matter of disconsolation and heauines he lifts his eyes aboue the hills whence commeth his saluation It is no meruaile that God remembred Dauid in all his troubles Since Dauid in all his troubles did thus remember his God hee knew that though no mortall eye of reason or sense could discerne any euasision from these intricate euils yet that the eye of diuine prouidence had descryed it long before and that though no humane power could make way for his safety yet that the ouer-ruling hand of his God could doe it with ease His experience had assured him of the fidelity of his Guardian in heauen and therfore he comforted himselfe in the Lord his God In uaine is comfort expected from God if wee consult not with him Abiathar the Priest is called for Dauid was not in the court of Achish without the Priest by his side nor the Priest without the Ephod Had these beene left behinde in Ziglag they had beene miscarried with the rest and Dauid had now beene hopelesse How well it succeedes to the great when they take God with them in his Ministers in his ordinances As contrarily when these are layd by as superfluous there can be nothing but vncertainty of successe or certainty of mischeefe The presence of the Priest and Ephod would haue little auailed him without their vse by them he askes counsell of the Lord in these straits The mouth and eares of God which were shut vnto Saul are open vnto Saul are open vnto Dauid no sooner can he aske then hee receiues answer and the answer that he receiues is full of courage and comfort Follow for thou shalt surely ouertake them and recouer all That God of truth
it Dauid had well found what it was to liue in a Court He therfore whom enuy droue from the Court of Israel voluntarily declines the Philistim Court and sies for a country-habitation It had not beene possible for so noted a stranger after so much Philistim-bloud shed to liue long in such eminency amongst the prease of those whose sons or brothers or fathers or allies he had slaughtered without some perilous machination of his ruine therfore he makes suit for an earely remoue For why should thy seruant dwell in the cheefe City of the Kingdome with thee Those that would stand sure must not affect too much height or conspicuity The tall Cedars are most subiect to winds and lightnings whiles the shrubs of the valleyes stand vnmooued Much greatnesse doth but make a fairer marke for euill There is true firmnesse and safety in mediocrity How rarely is it seene that a man loseth by his modesty The change fell out well to Dauid of Ziklag for Gath Now he hath a City of his owne All Israel where he was anoynted afforded him not so much possession Now the City which was anciently assigned to Iudah returnes to the iust Owner and is by this meanes entayled to the Crowne of Dauids Successours Besides that now might Dauid liue out of the sight and hearing of the Philistim Idolatries and enioy God no lesse in the wals of a Philistim-City then in an Israelitish wildernesse withall an happy opportunity was now opened to his friends of Israel to resort vnto his ayd the heads of the thousands that were of Manasseh and many valiant Captaines of the other Tribes fell dayly to him and raised his six hundred followers to an army like the Host of God The deserts os Israel could neuer haue yeelded Dauid so great an aduantage That God whose the earth is makes room for his own euery-where and oft times prouideth them a forraine home more kindely then the natiue It is no matter for change of our soyle so wee change not our God If we can euery where acknowledge him hee will no where bee wanting to vs. It was not for Gods Champion to be idle no sooner is he free from Sauls sword then hee begins an offensiue war against the Amalekites Girzites Geshurites Hee knew these Nations branded by God to destruction neither could his increasing army be maintained with a little By one act therefore he both reuenges for God and prouides for his Host Had it not beene for that old quarrell which God had with this people Dauid could not be excused from a bloudy cruelty in killing whole Countries onely for the benefit of the spoyle Now his Souldiers were at once Gods Executioners and their owne Forragers The interuention of a command from the Almighty alters the state of any act and makes that worthy of praise which els were no better then damnable It is now Iustice which were otherwise murder The will of God is the rule of good what neede we enquire into other reasons of any act or determination when wee heare it comes from Heauen How many hundred yeeres had this brood of Cananites liued securely in their Country since God commanded them to bee rooted out and now promised themselues the certainest peace The Philistims were their friends if not their Lords The Israelites had their hands full neither did they know any grudge betwixt them and their neighbours when suddenly the sword of Dauid cuts them off and leaues none aliue to tell the newes THERE is no safety in protraction with men delay causeth forgetfulnesse or abates the force of anger as all violent motions are weakest at the furthest but with him to whom all times are present what can be gained by prorogation Alas what can it preuaile any of the cursed seed of Canaan that they haue made a truce with Heauen and a league with Hell Their day is comming and is not the further off because they expect it not MISERABLE were the straits of Dauid while he was driuen not onely to maintaine his army by spoyle but to colour his spoyle by a sinfull dissimulation He tels Achish that he had beene rouing against the South or Iudah and the South of the Ierahmelites and the South of the Kenites either falsely or doubtfully so as hee meant to deceiue him vnder whom hee liued and by whom hee was trusted If Achish were a Philistim yet hee was Dauids frend yea his Patron and if hee had beene neither it had not becomne Dauid to bee false The infirmities of Gods children neuer appeare but in their extremities It is hard for the best man to say how far he will bee tempted If a man wil put himselfe among Philistims hee cannot promise to come forth innocent How easily doe we beleeue that which we wish The more credit Achish giues vnto Dauid the more sin it was to deceiue him And now the conceit of this ingagement procures him a further seruice The Philistims are assembled to fight with Israel Achish dares trust Dauid on his side yea to keepe his head for euer neither can Dauid do any lesse then promise his ayd against his owne flesh Neuer was Dauid in all his life driuen to so hard an exigent neuer was hee so extremely perplexed For what should he do now To fight with Achish he was tyed by promise by merit Not to fight against Israel hee was tyed by his calling by his vnction Not to fight for Achish were to bee vnthankfull To fight against Israel were to be vnnaturall Oh what an inward battle must Dauid needes haue in his brest when he thinks of this battle of Israel and the Philistims How doth he wish now that hee had rather stood to the hazard of Sauls perfecution then to haue put himselfe vpon the fauour of Achish He must fight on one side and on whether side soeuer hee should fight he could not auoyd to be treacherous a condition worse then death to an honest heart which way hee would haue resolued if it had comne to the execution who can know since himselfe was doubtfull either course had beene no better then desperate How could the Israelites euer haue receiued him for their King who in the open field had fought against them And contrarily if hee would haue fought against his frend for his enemy against Achish for Saul he was now inuironed with jealous Philistims and might rather looke for the punishment of his treason then the glory of a victory HIS heart had led him into these straits the Lord findes a way to lead him out The suggestions of his enemies do herein befrend him The Princes of the Philistims whether of enuy or suspition plead for Dauids dismission Send this fellow back that he may goe againe to his place which thou hast appoynted him and let him not goe downe to the battle lest he be an aduersary to vs. No aduocate could haue said more himselfe durst not haue sayd so much Oh the wisdome and goodnesse of
our God that can raise vp an aduersary to deliuer out of those euils which our frends cannot That by the sword of an enemy can let out that apostume which no Physician could tell how to cure It would be wide with vs somtimes if it were not for others malice There could not bee a more just question then this of the Philistim Princes What doe these Hebrewes here An Israelite is out of his element when he is in an army of Philistims The true seruants of God are in their due places when they are in opposition to his enemies Profession of hostility becomes them better then leagues of amity YET Achish likes Dauids conuersation and presence so well that he professeth himselfe pleased with him as with an Angell of God How strange it is to heare that a Philistim should delight in that holy man whom an Israelite abhors and should be loth to be quit of Dauid whom Saul hath expelled Termes of ciuility be equally open to all religions to all professions The common graces of Gods children are able to attract loue from the most obstinate enemies of goodnesse If we affect them for by-respects of valour wisdome discourse wit it is their praise not ours But if for diuine grace and religion it is our praise with theirs SVCH now was Dauids condition that hee must plead for that he feared and argue against that which hee desired What haue I done and what hast thou found in thy seruant that I may not goe and fight against the enemies of my Lord the King Neuer any newes could bee more cordiall to him then this of his dismission yet must he seeme to striue against it with an importunate profession of his forwardnesse to that act which hee most detested One degree of dissimulation drawes on another those which haue once giuen way to a faulty course cannot easily either stop or turne backe but are in a sort forced to second their ill beginnings with worse proceedings It is a dangerous and miserable thing to cast our selues into those actions which draw with them a necessity either of offending or miscarriage Saul and the Witch of Endor EVEN the worst men may somtimes make head against some sinnes Saul hath expelled the Sorcerers out of the land of Israel and hath forbidden magicke vpon paine of death He that had no care to expell Satan out of his owne heart yet will seeme to driue him out of his kingdome That wee see wicked men oppose themselues to some sinnes there is neither maruell nor comfort in it No doubt Satan made sport at this edict of Saul what cares he to be banished in sorcery whiles he is entertained in malice He knew and found Saul his whiles he resisted and smiled to yeeld thus farre vnto his vassall if wee quit not all sinnes he will be content wee should either abandon or persecute some Where is no place for holy feare there will be place for the seruile The gracelesse heart of Saul was astonied at the Philistims yet was neuer moued at the frowns of that God whose anger sent them nor of those sinnes of his which procured them Those that cannot feare for loue shall tremble for feare and how much better is awe then terror preuention then confusion There is nothing more lamentable to see a man laugh when hee should feare God shall laugh when such a ones feare commeth Extremiry of distresse will send euen the prophanest man to God like as the drowning man reacheth out his hand to that bow which he contemned whiles hee stood safe on the banke Saul now asketh counsell of the Lord whose Prophet he hated whose priests he slue whose anoynted he persecutes Had Saul consulted with God when he should this euill had not beene but now if this euill had not beene he had consulted with God The thanke of this act is due not him but to his affection A forced piety is thankelesse and vnprofitable God will not answere him neither by dreames nor by vrim nor by Prophets Why should God answer that man by dreames who had resisted him waking Why should he answer him by vrim that had slaine his Priests Why should he answer him by Prophets who hated the Father of the Prophets rebelled against the word of the Prophets It is an vnreasonable vnequality to hope to finde God at our command when wee would not be at his To looke that God should regard our voyce in trouble when wee would not regard his in peace Vnto what mad shiftes are men driuen by despaire If God will not answer Satan shall Saul said to his seruants seeke me a woman that hath a familiar spirit If Saul had not known this course Diuelish why did he decree to banish it to mulct it with death yet now against the streame of his conscience he will seeke to those whom he had condemned There needs no other iudge of Sauls act then himselfe had hee not before opposed this sinne he had not so haynously sinned in committing it There cannot bee a more fearefull signe of an heart giuen vp to a reprobate sence then to cast it selfe wilfully into those sinnes which it hath proclaimed to detest The declinations to euill are many times insensible but when it breakes forth into such apparant effects euen others eies may discerne it What was Saul the better to fore-know the issue of his approaching battaile If this consultation could haue strengthned him against his enemies or promoted his victory there might haue bene some colour for so foule an act Now what could hee gaine but the satisfying of his bootlesse curiosity in fore-seeing that which hee should not be able to auoyd Foolish men giue a way their soules for nothing The itch of impertinent and vnprofitable knowledge hath beene the heriditary distroyer of the sonnes of Adam and Eue How many haue perished to know that which hath procured their perishing How ambitious should wee bee to know those things the knowledge wherof is eternall life Many a leud office are they put to which serue wicked masters one while Sauls seruants are set to kill innocent Dauid another while to shed the blood of Gods Priests and now they must goe seeke for a Witch It is no small happinesse to attend them from whom we may receiue precepts and examples of vertue Had Saul bene good he had needed no disguise Honest actions neuer shame the doers Now that hee goeth about a sinfull businesse hee changeth himselfe he seekes the shelter of the night he takes but two followers with him It is true that if Saul had comne in the port of a King the Witch had as much dissembled her condition as now he dissembleth his yet it was not only desire to speed but guiltinesse that thus altred his habit such is the power of conscience that euen those who are most affected to euill yet are ashamed to bee thought such as they desire to be Saul needed another face to fit that tongue which should say
Coniecture to me by the familiar spirit and bring me vp whom I shall name vnto thee An obdurate heart can giue way to any thing Notwithstanding the peremptory edict of Saul there are still Witches in Israel Neither good lawes nor carefull executions can purge the Church from Malefactors There will still be some that will ieopard their heads vpon the grossest sins No garden can bee so curiously tended that there should not be one weed left in it Yet so farre can good statutes and due inflictions of punishment vpon offenders preuaile that mischeeuous persons are glad to pull in their heads and dare not doe ill but in disguise and darknesse It is no small aduantage of Iustice that it affrights sin if it cannot be expelled As contrarily wofull is the condition of that place where is a publique profession of wickednesse This Witch was no lesse crafty then wicked she had before as is like bribed Officers to escape inditement lurke in secrecy and now shee will not worke her feats without security her suspition proiects the worst Wherefore seekest thou to take me in a snare to cause me to dye Oh vaine Sorceresse that could bee wary to auoyd the punishment of Saul carelesse to auoyd the judgement of God Could wee fore-thinke what our sinne would cost vs we durst not but bee innocent This is a good and seasonable answer for vs to make vnto Satan when he sollicites vs to euill Wherefore seekest thou to take me in a snare to cause me to dye Nothing is more sure then this intention in the tempter then this euent in the issue Oh that we could but so much feare the eternall paines as wee doe the temporary and bee but so carefull to saue our soules from torment as our bodies No sooner hath Saul sworne her safety then shee addresseth her to her sorcery Hope of impunity drawes on sinne with boldnesse were it not for the delusions of false promises Satan should haue no Clients Could Saul be so ignorant as to thinke that Magick had power ouer Gods deceased Saints to raise them vp yea to call them downe from their rest Time was when Saul was among the Prophets And yet now that he is in the impure lodg of Diuels how sencelesse he is to say Bring me vp Samuel It is no rare thing to lose euen our wit and judgement together with graces How justly are they giuen ouer to sottishnesse that haue giuen themselues ouer to sin The Sorceresse it seemes exercising her coniurations in a roome apart is informed by her Familiar who it was that set her on worke shee can therefore finde time in the midst of her exorcismes to binde the assurance of her owne safety by expostulation Shee cryed with a loud voyce Why hast thou deceiued mee for thou art Saul The very name of Saul was an accusation Yet is hee so far from striking his brest that doubting lest this feare of the Witch should interrupt the desired worke hee encourages her whom he should haue condemned Be not afraid He that had more cause to feare for his owne sake in an expectation of just judgement cheeres vp her that feared nothing but himselfe How ill doth it become vs to giue that counsell to others whereof wee haue more need and vse in our owne persons As one that had more care to satisfie his curiosity then her suspicion he asks What sawest thou Who would not haue looked that Sauls haire should haue stared on his head to heare of a spirit raised His sinne hath so hardened him that hee rather pleases himselfe in it which hath nothing in it but horror So far is Satan content to descend to the seruice of his seruants that he will approue his fained obedience to their very outward sences What forme is so glorious that hee either cannot or dare not vndertake Here Gods ascend out of the earth Elsewhere Satan transformes him into an Angell of light What wonder is it that his wicked Instruments appeare like Saints in their hypocriticall dissimulation If wec will bee iudging by the appearance we shall be sure to erre No eie could distinguish betwixt the true Samuel and a false spirit Saul who was well worthy to bee deceiued seeing those gray haires and that mantle inclines himselfe to the ground and bowes himselfe Hee that would not worship God in Samuel aliue now worships Samuel in Satan and no meruel Satan was now become his refuge in stead of God his Vrim was darknesse his Prophet a Ghost Euery one that consults with Satan worships him though hee bow not neither doth that euill spirit desire any other reuerence then to bee sought to How cunningly doth Satan resemble not onely the habit and gesture but the language of Samuel Wherefore hast thou disquieted me and wherefore doest thou aske of mee seeing the Lord is gone from thee and is thine enemy Nothin is more pleasing to that euill one then to be solicited yet in the person of Samuel hee can say Why hast thou disquieted mee Had not the Lord beene gone from Saul he had neuer comne to the diuellish Oracle of Endor and yet the counterfetting spirit can say Why dost thou aske of mee seeing the Lord is gone from thee Satan cares not how little he is knowne to bee himselfe hee loues to passe vnder any forme rather then his owne The more holy the person is the more carefully doth Satan act him that by his stale he may ensnare vs. In euery motion it is good to try the spirits whether they bee of God Good words are no meanes to distinguish a Prophet from a Deuill Samuel himselfe whiles hee was aliue could not haue spoken more grauely more seuerely more diuinely then this euill Ghost For the Lord will rent thy Kingdome out of thy hand and giue it thy neighbour Dauid because thou obeyedst not the voyce of the Lord nor executedst his fierce wrath vpon the Amalekites therefore hath the Lord done this vnto thee this day When the Diuell himselfe puts on grauity and religion who can maruell at the hypocrisie of men Well may lewd men bee good Preachers when Satan himselfe can play the Prophet Where are those Ignorants that thinke charitably of charmes and spels because they finde nothing in them but good words What Prophet could speake better words then this Diuell in Samuels mantle Neither is there at any time so much danger of that wicked spirit as when hee speakes best I could wonder to heare Satan preach thus prophetically if I did not know that as he was once a good Angell so hee can still act what hee was Whiles Saul was in consultation of sparing Agag we shall neuer finde that Satan would lay any block in his way Yea then he was a prompt Orator to induce him into that sin now that it is past gone he can lade Saul with fearfull denunciations of judgment Till wee haue sinn'd Satan is a Parasite when wee haue sinn'd hee is a Tyrant What cares
neuer disappoynted any mans trust Dauid now findes that the eye which waited vpon God was not sent away weeping Dauid therfore and his men are now vpon their march after the Amalekite It is no lingring when God bids vs goe They which had promised rest to their weary limbs after their returne from Achish in their harbour of Ziglag are glad to forget their hopes and to put their stiffe joynts vnto a new taske of motion It is no maruell if two hundred of them were so ouertyred with their former toyle that they were not able to passe ouer the riuer Besor Dauid was a true type of Christ We follow him in these holy wars against the spirituall Amalekites All of vs are not of an equall strength Some are carried by the vigour of their faith through all difficulties Others after long pressure are ready to languish in the way Our Leader is not more strong then pittifull neither doth hee scornfully cashier those whose desires are hearty whiles their abilities are vnanswerable How much more should our charity pardon the infirmities of our brethen and allow them to sit by the stuffe who cannot endure the march The same Prouidence which appoynted Dauid to follow the Amalekites had also ordered an Aegyptian to be cast behinde them This cast seruant whom his cruell Master had left to faintnesse and famine shall bee vsed as the meanes of the recouery of the Israelites losse and of the reuenge of the Amalekites Had not his Master neglected him all these rouers of Amalek had gone away with their life and booty It is not safe to despise the meanest vassal vpon earth There is a mercy and care due to the most despicable peice of all humanity wherein wee cannot bee wanting without the offence without the punishment of God Charity distinguisheth an Israelite from an Amalekite Dauids followers are strangers to this Aegyptian an Amalekite was his Master His Master leaues him to dye in the field of sicknesse and hunger these strangers releeued him and ere they know whether they might by him receiue any light in their pursuit they refresh his dying spirits with bread and water with figs and raisins Neither can the haste of their way bee any hindrance to their compassion Hee hath no Israelitish blood in him that is vtterly mercilesse Perhaps yet Dauids Followers might also in the hope of some intelligence shew kindnesse to this forlorne Aegyptian Worldly wisdome teacheth vs to sow small courtesies where we may reape large haruests of recompence No sooner are his spirits recalled then hee requites his food with information I cannot blame the Aegyptian that hee was so easily induced to descry these vnkind Amalekites to merciful Israelites those that gaue him ouer vnto death to the restorers of his life much lesse that ere he would descry them hee requires an oath of security from so bad a Master Well doth hee match death with such a seruitude Wonderfull is the Prouidence of God euen ouer those which are not in the neerest bonds his owne Three dayes and three nights had this poore Aegyptian Slaue lyen sicke and hunger-starued in the fields and lookes for nothing but death when God sends him succour from the hands of those Israelites whom hee had helped to spoile though not so much for his sake as for Israels is this heathenish Stragler preserued It pleases God to extend his common fauors to all his creatures but in miraculous preferuations he hath still wont to haue respect to his owne By this means therfore are the Israelites brought to the sight of their late spoylers whom they finde scattered abroad vpon all the earth eating and drinking and dancing in triumph for the great prey they had taken It was three dayes at least since this gainefull forraging of Amalek and now seeing no feare of any Pursuer and promising themselues safety in so great and vntraced a distance they make themselues merry with so rich and easie a victory and now suddenly when they began to think of enioying the beauty and wealth they had gotten the sword of Dauid was vpon their throats Destruction is neuer neerer then when security hath chased away feare With how sad faces and hearts had the wiues of Dauid and the other Captiues of Israel looked vpon the triumphall reuels of Amalek and what a change do we thinke appeared in them when they saw their happy and ualiant Rescuers flying in vpon their insolent Victors and making the death of the Amalekites the ransome of their captiuity They mourned euen now at the dances of Amalek now in the shriekes and death of Amalek they shout and reioyce The mercy of our God forgets not to enterchange our sorrowes with ioy and the ioy os the wicked with sorrow The Amalekites haue paid a deare lone for the goods of Israel which they now restore with their owne liues and now their spoyle hath made Dauid richer then he expected that booty which they had swept from all other parts accrewed to him Those Isralites that could not goe on to fight for their share are comne to meete their brethren with gratulation How partiall are wee wont to be vnto our owne causes Euen very Israelites will bee ready to fall out for matter of profit where selfe-loue hath bred a quarrell euery man is subiect to flatter his owne case It seemed plausible and but iust to the actors in this rescue that those which had taken no part in the paine and hazard of the journey should receiue no part of the commodity It was fauour enough for them to recouer their wiues children though they shared not in the goods Wise and holy Dauid whose praise was no lesse to ouercome his owne in time of peace then his enimies in warre calls his contending followers from law to equity and so orders the matter that since the plaintifes were detained not by will but by necessity and since their forced stay was vse-full in garding the stuffe they should partake equally of the prey with their fellowes A sentence well-beseeming the justice of Gods anoynted Those that represent God vpon earth should resemble him in their proceeding It is the just mercy of our God to measure vs by our wills not by our abilities to recompence vs gratiously according to the truth of our desires and endeauors and to account that performed by vs which hee only letteth vs from performing It were wide with vs if somtimes purpose did not supply actions Whiles our heart faulteth not we that through spirituall sicknesse are faine to abide by the stuffe shall share both in grace and glory with the victors The death of Saul THe Witch of Endor had halfe slaine Saul before the battell It is iust that they who consult with deuils should goe away with discomfort He hath eaten his last bread at the hand of a Sorceresse and now necessitie drawes him into that field where he sees nothing but despaire Had not Saul beleeued the ill newes of the
counterfait Samuel he had not beene strook downe on the ground with words Now his beleefe made him desperate Those actions which are not sustained by hope must needs languish and are only promoted by outward compulsion Whiles the minde is vncertaine of successe it relieues it selfe with the possibilities of good in doubts there is a comfortable mixture but when it is assured of the worst euent it is vtterly discouraged and deiected It hath therefore pleased the wisdome of God to hide from wicked men his determination of their finall estate that their remainders of hope may harten them to good In all likelyhood on selfe-same day saw Dauid a victor ouer the Amalakites and Saul discomfited by the Philistims How should it bee otherwise Dauid consulted with God and preuailed Saul with the Witch of Endor and perisheth The end is commonly answerable to the way It is an idle iniustice when we do ill to look to speed well The slaughter of Saul and his sonnes was not in the first scene of this Tragicall field that was rather reserued by God for the last act that Saules measure might be full God is long ere he strikes but when he doth it is to purpose First Israel flees and falls downe wounded in mount Gilboa They had their part in Sauls sinne they were actors in Dauids persecution Iustly therfore doe they suffer with him whom they had seconded in offence As it is hard to be good vnder an euill Prince so it is as rare not to be enwrapped in his iudgements It was no small addition to the anguish of Sauls death to see his sonnes dead to see his people fleeing and slaine before him They had sinned in their King and in them is their King punished The rest were not so worthy of pittie but whose heart would it not touch to see Ionathan the good Sonne of a wicked Father inuolued in the common destruction Death is not partiall All dispositions all merits are alike to it If valour if holines if syncerity of heart could haue beene any defence against mortality Ionathan had suruiued Now by their wounds and death no man can discerne which is Ionathan The soule only findes the difference which the body admitteth not Death is the cōmon gate both to heauen and hell we all passe that ere our turning to either hand The sword of the Philistims fetcheth Ionathan through it with his fellowes no sooner is his foot ouer that threshold then God conducteth him to glory The best cannot bee happy but through their dissolution Now therefore hath Ionathan no cause of complaint he is by the rude and cruel hand of a Philistim but remoued to a better Kingdome then hee leaues to his brother and at once is his death both a temporall affliction to the Sonne of Saul and an entrance of glory to the frend of Dauid The Philistim-archers shot at random God directs their arrowes into the body of Saul Least the discomfiture of his people and the slaughter of his sonnes should not bee griefe enough to him hee feeles himselfe wounded and sees nothing before him but horror and death and now as a man forsaken of all hopes hee begs of his armor-bearer that deaths-blow which els he must to the doubling of his indignation receiue from a Philistim Hee begs this bloody fauour of his seruant and is denyed Such an awefulnes hath God placed in soueraigntie that no intreaty no extremity can moue the hand against it What mettall are those men made of that can suggest or resolue and attempt the violation of maiesty Wicked men care more for the shame of the world then the danger of their soule Desperate Saul will now supply his armor-bearer and as a man that bore armes against himselfe hee falls vpon his owne sword What if he had dyed by the weapon of a Philistim So did his Son Ionathan and lost no glory These conceites of disreputation preuaile with carnall hearts aboue all spirituall respects There is no greater murderer then vain-glory Nothing more argues an heart voyd of grace then to be transported by ydle popularity into actions preiudiciall to the Soule Euill examples especially of the great neuer escaped imitation the armour-bearer of Saul followes his master and dares do that to himselfe which to his King he durst not as if their owne swords had beene more familiar executioners they yelded vnto them what they grudged to their pursuers From the beginning was Saul euer his owne enemy neither did any hands hurt him but his owne and now his death is sutable to his life his owne hand payes him the reward of all his wickednesse The end of hypocrites and enuious men is commonly fearefull Now is the blood of Gods Priests which Saul shed and of Dauid which he would haue shed required requited The euil spirit had said the euening before To morrow thou shalt be with mee and now Saul hasteth to make the diuell no lyer rather then fayle he giues himselfe his own mittimus Oh the wofull extremities of a dispayring Soule plundging him euer into a greater mischiefe to auoyd the lesse Hee might haue beene a patient in anothers violence and faultlesse now whiles hee will needs act the Philistims part vpon himselfe hee liued and dyed a murderer The case is deadly when the prisoner breakes the Iayle and will not stay for his deliuery though wee may not passe sentence vpon such a Soule yet vpon the fact we may the Soule may possibly repent in the parting the act is haynous and such as without repentance kills the Soule It was the next day ere the Philistims knew how much they were victors then finding the dead corpes of Saul and his Sonnes they begin their triumphs The head of King Saul is cut off in lieu of Goliahs and now all their Idoll temples ring of their successe Foolish Philistims If they had not beene more beholden to Sauls sinnes then their Gods they had neuer carryed away the honor of those trophees In steed of magnifying the iustice of the true God who punished Saul with deserued death they magnifie the power of the false Superstition is extemely iniurious to God It is no better then theft to ascribe vnto the second causes that honor which is due vnto the first but to giue Gods glory to those things which neither act nor are it is the highest degree of spirituall robbery Saul was none of the best Kings yet so impatient are his subiects of the indignity offered to his dead corps that they will rather leaue their owne bones amongst the Philistims then the carcasse of Saul Such a close relation there is betwixt a Prince and subiect that the dishonor of either is inseparable from both How willing should wee bee to hazard our bodyes or substance fo the vindication either of the person or name of a good King whiles he liues to the benefit of our protection It is an vniust ingratitude in those men which can endure the disgrace of
Princes to giue both their eares and their heart to misgrounded rumors of their innocent followers This wrong hath stript Ishbosheth of the Kingdome Abner in the meane time cannot be excused from a trecherous inconstancy If Sauls son had no true title to the Crowne why did he maintaine it If hee had why did hee forsake the cause and person Had Abner out of remorse for furthering a false claime taken off his hand I know not wherein hee could be blamed except for not doing it sooner But now to withdraw his professed allegegeance vpon a priuate reuenge was to take a lewd leaue of an ill action If Ishbosheth were his lawfull Prince no iniury could warrant a reuolt Euen betwixt priuate persons a returne of wrongs is both vncharitable and vniust how euer this goe currant for the common justice of the world how much more should we learn from a supreme hand to take hard measures with thankes It had been Abuers duty to haue giuen his King a peaceable and humble satisfaction and not to fly out in a snuffe If the spirit of the ruler rise vp against thee leaue not thy place for yeelding pacifieth great offences now his impatient falling although to the right side makes him no better then trayterously honest So soone as Abner hath entertained a resolution of his rebellion hee perswades the Elders of Israel to accompany him in the change whence doth he fetch his main motiue but from the Oracle of God The Lord hath spoken of Dauid saying By the hand of my seruant Dauid will I saue my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistims and out of the hand of all their enemies Abner knew this full well before yet then was well content to smother a knowne truth for his owne turne and now the publication of it may serue for his aduantage he wins the heart of Israel by shewing Gods Charter for him whom he had so long opposed Hypocrites make vse of God for their owne purposes and care onely to make diuine authority a colour for their owne designes No man euer heard Abner godly till now neither had hee beene so at this time if hee had not intended a reuengefull departure from Ishbosheth Nothing is more odious then to make religion a stalking horse to policy Who can but glorifie God in his Iustice when he sees the bitter end of this trecherous dissimulation Dauid may vpon considerations of state entertaine his new guest with a feast and well might he seeme to deserue a welcom that vndertakes to bring all Israel to the league and homage of Dauid but God neuer meant to vse so vnworthy meanes for so good a work Ioab returnes from pursuing a troop and finding Abner dismissed in peace and expectation of a beneficiall returne followes him and whether out of enuy at a new riuall of honour or out of the reuenge of Asahel he repayes him both dissimulation and death God doth most iustly by Ioab that which Ioab did for himselfe most vniustly I know not setting the quarrell aside whether we can worthily blame Abner for the death of Asahel who would needes after faire warnings run himselfe vpon Abners speare yet this fact shall procure his payment for worse Now is Ishbosheths wrong reuenged by an enemy wee may not alwayes measure the Iustice of Gods procedings by present occasions He needs not make vs acquainted or aske vs leaue when hee will call for the arrerages of forgotten sins Contemplations VPON THE HISTORY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT THE FIFTEENTH BOOKE Vzzah and the Arke Dauid with Mephibosheth Ziba Hanun and Dauids Ambassadors Dauid with Bashsheba and Vriah Nathan and Dauid Amon and Thamar Absaloms returne and Conspiracy TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE MY VERY GOOD LORD WILLIAM Lord Burleigh All grace and happines Right Honorable THere are but two Bookes wherein we can read God The one is his word his workes the other This is the bigger volume that the more exquisite The Characters of this are more large but dimme of that smaller but clearer Philosophers haue turned ouer this and erred That Diuines and studious Christians not without full and certaine information In the workes of God wee see the shadow or foot-steps of the Creator in his word we see the face of God in a glasse Happines consists in the vision of that infinite Maiestie and if wee bee perfectly happy aboue in seeing him face to face our happines is well forward below in seeing the liuely representation of his face in the glasse of the Scriptures Wee cannot spend our eyes too much vpon this obiect For mee the more I see the more I am amazed the more I am rauished with this glorious beauty With the honest lepers I cannot bee content to inioy this happy sight alone there is but one way to euery mans felicity May it please your Lordship to take part with many your Peeres in these my weake but not vnprofitable Contemplations which shall hold themselues not a little graced with your Honorable name Whereto together with your right noble and most worthy Lady I haue gladly deuoted my selfe to be Your Lordships in all dutifull obseruance IOS HALL Vzzah and the Arke remoued THe house of Saul is quiet the Philistims beaten victory cannot end better then in deuotion Dauid is no sooner setled in his house at Ierusalem then hee fetcheth God to be his guest there the thousands of Israel goe now in an holy march to bring vp the Ark of God to the place of his rest The tumults of warre afforded no oportunity of this seruice only peace is a frend to religion neither is peace euer our frend but when it is a seruant of piety The vse of warre is not more pernicious to the body then the abuse of peace is to the Soule Alas the ryot bred of our long ease rather driues the Ark of God from vs so the still sedentary life is subiect to diseases and standing waters putrifie It may bee iust with God to take away the blessing which wee doe so much abuse and to scoure off our rust with bloody warre c. The Ark of God had now many yeares rested in the obscure lodge of Abinadab without the honor of a Tabernacle Dauid will not indure himselfe glorious and the Ark of God contemptible his first care is to prouide a fit roome for God in the head of the Tribes in his owne city The chiefe care of good Princes must be the aduancement of religion What should the deputies of God rather do then honor him whom they represent It was no good that Israel could learne of Philistims Those Pagans had sent the Ark backe in a new cart the Israelites saw God blessed that conduct and now they practise it at home But that which God will take from Philistims he will not brook from Israel Aliens from God are no fit patternes for children Diuine institution had made this a cariage for the Leuites not for Oxen Neither should those
or mourning To dwell in sieled houses whiles the Temple lyes waste is the ground of Gods iust quarrell How shall wee sing a song of the Lord in a strange land If I forget thee ô Ierusalem let my right hand forget her cunning If I do not remember thee let my tongue cleaue to the roofe of my mouth yea if I prefer not Hierusalem to my cheefe ioy As euery man is a limme of the community so must hee be affected with the estate of the vniuersal body whether healthfull or languishing It did not more aggrauate Dauids sin that whiles the Arke and Israel was in hazard and distresse he could finde time to loose the reynes to wanton desires and actions then it magnifies the religious zeale of Vriah that he abandons comfort till he see the Arke and Israel victorious Common dangers or calamities must like the rapt motion carry our hearts contrary to to the wayes of our priuate occasions Hee that cannot bee mooued with words shall be tryed with wine Vriah had equally protested against feasting at home and society with his wife To the one the authority of a King forces him abroad in hope that the excesse thereof shall force him to the other It is like that holy Captaine intended onely to yeeld so much obedience as might consist with his course of austerity But wine is a mocker when it goes plausibly in no man can imagine how it will rage and tyrannize he that receiues that Traytor within his gates shall too late complaine of a surprizall Like vnto that ill spirit it insinuates sweetly but in the end it bites like a Serpent hurts like a Cockatrice Euen good Vrias is made drunk the holyest soule may bee ouertaken It is hard gaine-saying where a King begins an health to a subiect Where oh where will this wickednesse end Dauid will now procure the sin of another to hide his owne Vriahs drunkennesse is more Dauids offence then his It is weakly yeelded to of the one which was wilfully intended of the other The one was as the sinner the other as the tempter Had not Dauid knowne that wine was an inducement to lust he had spared those superfluous cups Experience had taught him that the eye debauched with wine will looke vpon strange women The Drunkard may bee any thing saue good Yet in this the ayme failed Grace is stronger then wine Whiles that with-holds in vaine shall the fury of the grape attempt to carry Vriah to his own bed Sober Dauid is now worse then drunken Vriah Had not the King of Israel beene more intoxicate with sin then Vriah with drinke he had not in a sober intemperance climbed vp into that bed which the drunken temperance of Vriah refused If Dauid had beene but himself how had he loued how had he honoured this honest and religious zeale in his so faithfull seruant whom now he cruelly seekes to reward with death That fact which wine cannot hide the sword shall Vriah shall beare his owne Mittimus vnto Ioab Put yee Vriah in the fore front of the strength of the battle and recule backe from him that he may bee smitten and die What is becomne of thee ô thou good Spirit that hadst wont to guide thy chosen seruant in his former wayes Is not this the man whom wee lately saw so heart-smitten for but cutting off the lap of the garment of a wicked Master that is now thus lauish of the bloud of a gracious and well-deseruing Seruant Could it be likely that so worthy a Captaine could fall alone Could Dauid haue expiated this sinne with his owne bloud it had beene but well spent but to couer his sinne with the innocent bloud of others was a crime aboue astonishment Oh the deepe deceitfulnesse of sinne If the Deuill should haue comne to Dauid in the most louely forme of Bathsheba her selfe and at the first should haue directly and in termes solicited him to murder his best seruant I doubt not but hee would haue spat scorne in that face on which he should otherwise haue doted now by many cunning windings Satan rises vp to that tentation preuailes that shall be done for a colour of guiltinesse whreof the soule would haue hated to be immediately guilty Euen those that find a iust horrour in leaping downe from some hie tower yet may be perswaded to descend by stayres to the bottome Hee knowes not where hee shall stay that hath willingly slipt into a knowne wickednesse How many doth an eminent offender draw with him into euill It could not be but that diuers of the attendants both of Dauid and Bathsheba must be conscious to that adultery Great mens sinnes are seldome secret And now Ioab must bee fetcht in as accessary to the murder How must this example needes harden Ioab against the conscience of Abners blood Whiles he cannot but thinke Dauid cannot auenge that in me which he acteth himselfe Honor is pretended to poore Vriah death is meant This man was one of the worthies of Dauid their courage sought glory in the difficultest exploits That reputation had neuer bene purchased without attempts of equall danger Had not the leader and followers of Vriah beene more trecherous then his enemies were strong hee had comne off with victory Now he was not the first or last that perished by his frends Dauid hath forgotten that himselfe was in like sort betrayed in his masters intention vpon the dowry of the Philistim-foreskins I feare to aske Who euer noted so foule a plot in Dauids reiected predecessour Vriah must be the messenger of his owne death Ioab must be a traytor to his frend the host of God must shamefully turne their backs vpon the Ammonites all that Israelitish blood must bee shed that murder must bee seconded with dissimulation and all this to hide one adultery O God thou hadst neuer suffered so deare a fauorite of thine to fall so fearefully if thou hadst not meant to make him an vniuersall example to mankinde of not presuming of not despayring How can wee presume of not sinning or despaire for sinning when we finde so great a Saint thus fallen thus risen Nathan and Dauid YEt Bathsheba mourned for the death of that husband whō she had bene drawn to dishonor How could shee bestowe teares enow vpon that funerall whereof her sinne was the cause If shee had but a suspicion of the plot of his death the fountaines of her eyes could not yeild water enough to wash off her husbands blood Her sin was more worthy of sorrow then her losse If this griefe had beene right placed the hope of hiding her shame and the ambition to be a Queene had not so soone mittigated it neither had she vpon any termes beene drawne into the bed of her husbands murtherer Euery gleame of earthly comfort can drye vp the teares of worldly sorrow Bathsheba hath soone lost her griefe at the Court The remembrance of an husband is buryed in the iollity and state of a Princesse
one son would bee but wofully releiued with the losse of another Hee therefore that in the newes of the deceased infant could change his clothes and wash himselfe and cheere vp his spirits with the resolution of I shall goe to him he shall not returne to mee comforts himselfe concerning Amnon and begins to long for Absolom Those three yeeres banishment seemed not so much a punishment to the son as to the father Now Dauid begins to forgiue himselfe yet out of his wisdome so inclines to fauour that he conceales it and yet so conceales it that it may bee descryed by a cunning eye If hee had cast out no glances of affection there had beene no hopes for his Absalom if hee had made profession of loue after so foule an act there had beene no safety for others now hee lets fall so much secret grace as may both hold vp Abfalom in the life of his hopes and not hearten the presumption of others Good eyes see light thorow the smallest chinke The wit of Ioab hath soone discerned Dauids reserued affection and knowes how to serue him in that which hee would and would not accomplish and now deuises how to bring into the light that birth of desire wherof he knew Dauid was both big and ashamed A woman of Tekoah that sex hath beene euer held more apt for wiles is suborned to personate a mourner and to say that by way of parable which in plaine termes would haue sounded too harshly and now whiles she lamentably laies forth the losse danger of her sons she shewes Dauid his owne and whiles she moues compassion to her pretended issue shee wins Dauid to a pitty of himselfe and a fauourable sentence for Absalom We loue our selues better then others but wee see others better then our selues who so would perfectly know his owne case let him view it in anothers person Parables sped well with Dauid One drew him to repent of his owne sin another to remit Absaloms punishment And now as glad to heare this plea and willing to bee perswaded vnto that which if he durst he would haue sought for he gratifies Ioab with the grant of that suit which Ioab more gratified him in suing for Goe bring againe the young man Absalom How glad is Ioab that hee hath light vpon one act for which the Sunne both setting and rising should shine vpon him and now he speeds to Geshur to fetch back Absalom to Ierusalem he may bring the long-banished Prince to the City but to the Court hee may not bring him Let him turne to his owne house and let him not see my face The good King hath so smarted with mercy that now hee is resolued vpon austerity and will relent but by degrees It is enough for Absalom that hee liues and may now breathe his natiue ayre Dauids face is no obiect for the eyes of a murtherer What a Dearling this son was to his father appeares in that after an vnnaturall and barbarous rebellion passionate Dauid wishes to haue changed liues with him yet now whiles his bowels yearned his brow frowned The face may not be seen where the heart is set The best of Gods Saints may be blinded with affection but when they shall once see their errors they are carefull to correct them Wherfore serues the power of Grace but to subdue the insolencies of nature It is the wisdome of parents as to hide their hearts from their best children so to hide their countenances from the vngracious Fleshly respects may not abate their rigor to the ill deseruing For the childe to see all his fathers loue it is enough to make him wanton and of wanton wicked For a wicked childe to see any of his fathers loue it emboldens him in euill and drawes on others Absaloms house is made his prison Iustly is he confined to the place which hee had stained with blood Two yeeres doth hee liue in Ierusalem without the happinesse of his fathers sight It was enough for Dauid and him to see the smoke of ech others chimnies In the meane time how impatient is Absalom of this absence Hee sends for Ioab the Solicitor of his returne So hard an hand doth wise and holy Dauid carry ouer his reduced sonne that his frendly Intercessor Ioab dares not visit him Hee that afterwards kindled that seditious fire ouer all Israel sets fire now on the field of Ioab whom loue cannot draw to him feare and anger shall Continued displeasure hath made Absalom desperate Fiue yeeres are passed since hee saw the face of his father and now he is no lesse weary of his life then of this delay Wherefore am I comne downe from Geshur It had beene better for mee to haue beene there still Now therefore let mee see the Kings face and if there bee any iniquity in me let him kill me Either banishment or death seemed as tolerable to him as the debarring of his fathers sight What a torment shall it bee to the wicked to be shut out for euer from the presence of a God without all possible hopes of recouery This was but a father of the flesh by whom if Absalom liued at first yet in him he liued not yea not without him onely but against him that son found hee could liue God is the Father of Spirits in whom wee so liue that without him can be no life no being to bee euer excluded from him in whom wee liue and are what can it be but an eternall dying an eternall perishing If in thy presence ô God be the fulnes of ioy in thine absence must needs be the fulnes of horror and torment Hide not thy face from vs ô Lord but shew vs the light of thy countenance that we may liue and praise thee Euen the fire of Ioabs field warmed the heart of Dauid whiles it gaue him proofe of the heat of Absaloms filiall affection As a man therefore inwardly weary of so long displeasure at last hee receiues Absalom to his sight to his fauour and seales his pardon with a kisse Naturall parents know not how to retaine an euerlasting anger towards the fruit of their loynes how much lesse shall the God of mercies be vnreconcileably displeased with his owne and suffer his wrath to burne like fire that cannot be quenched Hee will not alwayes chide neither will he keepe his anger for euer His wrath endureth but a moment in his fauour is life weeping may endure for a night but ioy commeth in the morning Absalom is now as great as faire beauty and greatnesse make him proud pride works his ruine Great spirits will not rest content with a moderate prosperity Ere two yeeres bee run out Absalom runs out into a desperate plot of rebellion None but his owne father was aboue him in Israel None was so likely in humane expectation to succeed his father If his ambition could but haue contained it selfe for a few yeeres as Dauid was now neere his period dutifull carrige might haue procured that
by succession which now he sought by force An aspiring minde is euer impatient and holds Time it selfe an enemy if it thrust it selfe importunately betwixt the hopes and fruition Ambition is neuer but in trauell and can finde no intermission of painefull throwes till shee haue brought forth her abortiue desires How happy were we if our affectation could be so eager of spiritual and heauenly promotions Oh that my soule could finde it selfe so restlesse till it feele the weight of that crowne of glory Outward pompe and vnwonted shews of magnificence are wont much to affect the light mindes of the vulgar Absalom therefore to the incomparable comelinesse of his person addes the vnusuall state of a more-then-princely equipage His Charets rattle and his hor ses trample proudly in the streets Fifty foot-men runne before their glittering master Ierusalem rings of their glorious Prince and is ready to adore these continuall triumphs of peace Excesse and nouelty of expensiue brauery and ostentation in publique persons giues iust cause to suspect either vanity or a plot True-harted Dauid can misdoubt nothing in him to whom hee had both giuen life and forgiuen death Loue construed all this as meant to the honor of a fathers Court to the expression of ioy and thankfulnes for his reconcilement The eyes and tongues of men are thus taken vp now hath Absalom laid snares for their hearts also Hee rises early and stands beside the way of the gate Ambition is no niggard of her paynes seldome euer is good meaning so industrious The more hee shined in beauty and royall attendance so much more glory it was to neglect himselfe and to prefer the care of iustice to his owne ease Neither is Absalom more painefull then plausible his eare is open to all plaintiues all petitioners there is no cause Which he flatters not See thy matters are good and right his hand flatters euery commer with a salutation his lips with a kisse All men all matters are soothed sauing the state and gouernment the censure of that is no lesse deep then the applause of all others There is none deputed of the King to heare thee What insinuations could be more powerfull No musick can be so sweet to the eares of the vnstable multitude as to heare well of themselues ill of their gouernours Absalom needs not to wish himselfe vpon the Bench Euery man sayes Oh what a curteous Prince is Absalom What a iust and carefull ruler would Absalom be How happy were wee if wee might bee iudg'd by Absalom Those qualities which are wont single to grace others haue conspired to meet in Absalom goodlines of person magnificence of state gracious affability vnwearied diligence humility in greatnes feeling pitty loue of iustice care of the Common-wealth The world hath not so complete a Prince as Absalom Thus the harts of the people are not won but stolne by a close traytor from their lawfully-anointed Soueraigne Ouer-faire showes are a iust argument of vnsoundnes no naturall face hath so cleare a white and red as the painted Nothing wants now but a cloke of religion to perfect the trechery of that vngracious Sonne who carryed peace in his name warre in his hart and how easily is that put on Absalom hath an holy vow to be paid in Hebron The deuout man had made it long since whiles hee was exiled in Syria and now hee hasts to performe it If the Lord shall bring me backe againe to Ierusalem then I will serue the Lord wicked hypocrites care not to play with God that they may mock men The more deformed any act is the fayrer visor it still seeketh How glad is the good old King that he is blessed with so godly a Son whom he dismisseth laden with his causelesse blessings What trust is there in flesh and blood when Dauid is not safe from his owne loynes The conspiracy is now fully forged there lacked nothing but this guilt of piety to win fauor and value in all eyes and now it is a wonder that but two hundred honest Citizens goe vp with Absalom from Ierusalem The true-harted lie most open to credulity How easie it is to beguile harmelesse intentions The name of Dauids Son carryes them against the father of Absalom and now these simple Israelites are vnwittingly made loyall rebells Their harts are free from a plot and they meane nothing but fidelity in the attendance of a traytor How many thousands are thus ignorantly misled into the train of error Their simplicity is as worthy of pitty as their misguidance of indignation Those that will suffer themselues to be carryed with semblances of truth and faithfulnesse must needs be as farre from safety as innocence Contemplations VPON THE HISTORY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT THE SECOND BOOKE Christ among the Doctors Christ Baptized Christ Tempted Simon Called The Mariage in Cana. The good Centurion TO THE HONORABLE GENERALL Sir EDWARD CECILL Knight all honor and happines Most Honored Sir THE store of a good Scribe is according to our Sauiour both old and new I would if I durst be ambitions of this onely honor hauing therefore drawne forth these not-friuolous thoughts out of the old Testament I fetch these following from the new God is the same in both as the body differs not with the age of the sute with the change of robes The old and new wine of holy Truth came both out of one vineyard yet heere may wee safely say to the word of his father as was said to the Bride-groome of Cana Thou hast kept the best wine till the last The authority of both is equally sacred the vse admits no lesse difference then is betwixt a Sauiour fore-shadowed and comne The intermission of those military imployments which haue won you iust honor both in forraine nations and at home is in this only gainefull that it yeilds you leasure to these happy thoughts which shall more fully acquaint you with him that is at once the God of hosts and the Prince of Peace To the furtherance whereof these my poore labors shall doe no thankelesse offices In lieu of your noble fauors to me both at home and where you haue merited command nothing can be returned but humble acknowledgements and harty prayers for the increase of your Honor and all happines to your selfe and your thrice-worthy and vertuous Lady by him that is deepely obliged and truely deuoted to you both IOS HALL CHRIST among the Doctors EVEN the spring showes vs what we may hope for of the tree in Summer In his nonage therfore would our Sauiour giue vs a taste of his future proofe least if his perfection should haue shewed it selfe without warning to the world it should haue beene intertained with more wonder then beleefe now this act of his Childe-hood shall prepare the faith of men by fore-expectation notwithstanding all this early demonstration of his diuine graces the incredulous Iewes could afterwards say whence hath this man this wisdome and great workes What would they haue