should come that some should think they did God good service in killing them Paul during his Pharisaism persecuted the Church of God out of zeal Men may give their bodies to be burned and yet die not as Martyrs but as malefactors An Heretick may seal his heresy with his Blood as Servetus at Geneva I Doubt not but many Mahumetans would Dy rather then renounce their religion The glory of Martyrdom requires a just and righteous cause to be suffered for as well as a good intent in them that suffer Martial law excuseth not a Captain exceeding his commission notwithstanding he did it out of a good intention and with good successe Subjects should not be injurious to their Prince either for the sake of Religion or civill Liberty Davids intention smiting Sauls Skirt was Honourable yet the Act it self is Condemned by himself I come now to the Second part of the Text. Davids Loyal detestation of cutting off the Royall head of the Lords Anointed manifested in his excellent Oration Part. II. 1. The Occasion whereof first presents it self to our consideration which was two-fold First the fit Opportunity Secondly The great Importunity he had to slay Saul from whence note these two fundamentall principles of loyalty 1. That the fittest opportunity wherein to offer violence to a Prince is to be rejected 2. That the greatest importunity thereunto is to be resisted First Obs 1. That the fittest opportunity wherein to offer violence to a King is to be rejected Opportunity is the Touchstone of Loyalty David might have effected the death of Saul with the greatest certainty and with the greatest security 1. 1 Sam. 24.4 With the greatest certainty David and his men had so incompassed Saul in the Cave that his men cryed out unto him behold the day of which the Lord said unto thee I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand that thou mayest do to him as shall seem good unto thee Saul being asleep in the Trench Abishai said unto David 1 Sam. 26.8 let me smite him I pray thee with the spear even to the Earth at once and I will not smite him the second time David finding Saul in the Cave might have smote off his Head as well as the Skirt of his Robe and turned the Cave into his Grave And finding him asleep in the Trench he might have took away instead of the Cruise of water from his Bolster so much blood from his Heart and made it his last sleep courting him with that Complement wherewith a Captain once courted his Souldier whom he found asleep on the watch when he thrust his Sword into his bowels saying Dead I found thee and dead I leave thee But this was the Crown and Glory of Davids loyalty that he was Opportunity-proof As the Salamander remaineth unscorched in the Fire and as a man in a Pest-house escapeth the infection of the Plague so David preserves his loyal breast untainted with these temptations instead of improving opportunityes for the acting of murther he converts them into Trophyes of his fidelity had David abstained from an attempt on Sauls life only while the Successe was Dubious it would have been an argument of his Policy But to forbear it when he had such an opportune season at one blow to make this Royal Lyon that was so rampant not only couchant but also a Dead Carkasse was a Monument of his Loyalty 2. With the greatest security Had David been the Object of the Peoples Envy a desire of self-preservation was enough to restrain him from the Murder of Saul lest the Noise of such a Fact should have given an Alarm to the People to rise up as one man to avenge the bloud of their King and like Lions robbed of their Whelps to tear him into pieces as a destroyer of their Countrey But David was so far from the danger of being exposed to the rage and fury of the Israelites that he was even their Idol Insomuch that Saul being slain he might have expected their Acclamations rather than Exclamations their Congratulations for his Safety rather than their condoling of Sauls death Peruse the History and it will appear what great interest he had in the Affections and what great applause from the mouths of the Children of Israel 1 Sam. 18.5 He behaved himself so wisely that he was accepted of all the people and of Sauls Servants And v. 6 7. VVith Tabrets and with Harps they sang Saul hath slain his thousands and David his ten thousands How willingly did the men of Judah anoint him King after Sauls death 2 Sam. 3.4 Deservedly was David thus esteemed of his Countrey-men For never did any gallant Romans not Regulus or Cato themselves merit better of their Countrey than David of his Now how different was Loyal David from the mind of his Son Absalom The Son by fair Speeches and courteous behaviour stole away the hearts of the Israelites and then employed them in rebellion 2 Sam. 15.2 to 7. But the Father not only abstained from all subtil Insinuations and horrid Calumniations of Sauls Person and Government but when his Deserts like the Sun drew all eyes and affections unto him yet disdained to pervert his popular interest and favour to any rebellious Design This Self-denial condemneth our English Absaloms who by Machivilian dissimulation and slandering the Footsteps of the Lords Anointed sought to render his Person odious and his Restauration impossible themselves amiable and their Usurped Power impregnable Likewise it admonisheth all Persons of Renown and Interest in their Countrey to employ themselves in extinguishing rather than fomenting that Turbulency which is a Chronical disease in the Vulgar Now Davids abhorrence of Revenge when he might so certainly and so securely have dispatched his Enemy sets such an Emphasis on his Loyalty 1 Sam. 24.17 18 19. that it struck Saul himself into an admiration and adoration of it It is nothing for a Beggar who hath not sufficient for necessity to abstain from supersluity but to fit at a Rulers Table swimming with all manner of Dainties and to put a Knife to the throat to be temperate with Timothy among luxurious Asians enhaunceth the worth of Tempetance As it was the Glory of Joseph that he rejected a fair opportunity and great importunity to commit adultery Gen. 39.7 8 9. As it was the Honour of Joseph afterward in Pharoah's Court of Obadiah in Ahabs of Daniel in Nebuchadnezzars of Nehemiah when Cup-bearer to Artaxerxes of Lot in Sodom and of the Saints in Nero's House a monster of men Phil. 4.22 that they retained their Piety notwithstanding the manifold Temptations and opportunities unto sin wherewith they were assaulted so like a Diamond in a Ring it sets a great price on Davids Loyalty that at the Cave he did not violate it Not to seek an opportunity for revenge is honourable but to reject it when offered is double honour Many are not disloyal because they cannot rather then because they would not As Tully saith
Princes to the Church in protecting the Ministry from the fury of grossely prophane and giddy Fanatick people to whom it is an eye-sore in supplying the Church with maintenance in order to the carrying on the Worship of God in providing Universities and Colledges to be Seminaries of Learning in backing the Laws of God with their secular Authority doth lay strong Obligations on Ministers to make their Churches Schools as of Piety toward God so of Loyalty toward their King What horrid ingratitude would Ministers be guilty of by proving fire-brands of Sedition Trumpeters of Rebellion and by making their Sermons an Alarm unto war It would be to rip up the bowels of their Nursing Fathers and to cut off the Breasts of their Nursing Mothers Furthermore as Simeon and Levi made the Name of their Father Jacob to stink Gen. 34.30 Num. 13.32 by their perfidious Murder of the Shechemites as the Spies brought an evil report on the Land of Canaan and as Judas delivered his Master unto the Scoffes of his enemies so disloyalty in Ecclesiastical persons scandalizeth Religion The sins of Elies Sons caused the Sacrifices of the Lord to be abhorred 1 Sam. 2.17 The Prophet Davids Adultery with Bathsheba and Murder of Uriah Rom. 2.17 to 25. gave great occasion to the enemies of God to blaspheme For Ministers to prostitute their Sacred Function unto Ambition and Rebellion is a great provocation unto Magistrates to root them out of their Kingdoms yea to put them to death as Saul did Ahimelech and the Priests of the Lord of whom he slew fourscore and five persons upon Doegs false and malicious information that they conspired with David 1 Sa. 22.18 Let Sermons be Exclamations against sins not against Kings against the Prince of the power of the Air not against the Princes of the earth The Lord teach the Clergy of England not only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that they may neither procure the accusation of disloyalty to themselves nor derive any scandal unto Religion Let no man be lifted up with pride by reason of the dignity of his Office Judas cast Devils out of others Luke 22.3 but could not keep the Devil out of himself Then Satan entred into Judas and so as Luther saith there was one Devil in another As water cleanseth other things and then is crst into the sink as many who laboured in building Noahs Ark were drowned in the Floud so a Minister may teach others and yet be himself a cast-away without true Piety which is inconsistent with disloyalty The Scripture hath linked them both together My Son fear thou God and the King It was the honour of Zadok and Abiathar Prov. 24. that they turned not aside unto Absalom but faithfully cleaved unto David their rightful Soveraign 2. David was anointed to the Office of a King The Lord said unto Samuel how long wilt thou mourn for Saul 1 Sam. 16.1 seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel Fill thine Horn with Oyl and go I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite for I have provided me a King among his Sons 1. David by vertue of this Unction had a plausible Argument to have justified the Murder of Saul being rejected by God and himself elected in his room and to have represented such an act as the execution of Justice as Jehu did the destruction of Ahabt posterity But David abhorred this obvious plece of Policy 2 Kin. 10.10 because it would have been a breach of Piety Forasmuch as Comminations are no Commissions Gen. 4.15 Whosoever shall slay accursed Cain vengeince shall be taken on him seven fold So the bloud of rejected Saul would have brought down vengeance on the head of David if he had shed it The crucifying of Christ was an Act of Glorious Mercy in God but of barbarous Cruelty in the Jews Joseph tels his Brethren that it was not they but God that sent him into Egypt and yet they were guilty of the most unbrotherly act next to actual Fratricide that ever was committed Gen. 45.8 One and the same action may be righteous as it proceedeth from the first cause and unrighteous in respect of the Second Gods bidding Shimei to curse David 2 Sam. 12.11 12. and permission of Absalom to ravish his Fathers Concubines were acts of Justice in God but acts of Treason and Incest in Shimel and Absalom Wherefore let such be accounted Instruments of the Devil Ch. 16.10 who dare offer violence to Kings under pretence of being Instruments to execute divine Justice 2. David by vertue of his Unction might have produced a specious Title unto the Kingdom of Israel if he had been of an ambitious spirit but he knew that he was anointed only to the reversion of the Kingdom and that as a last Will and Testament is of no force until the death of the Testator So his Unction was of no force until the death of Saul A Loyal Subject will wave obvious Pleas for his Right unto a Kingdom 3. David being anointed to the reversion of the Kingdom by the death of Saul might have took Livery and Seisin of it But as Moses cast the Kingdom of Egypt with all the Honours and Treasures thereof at his heels chusing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season Heb. 11. So David preserred the prolongation of his undeserved persecution before the unjust acceleration of the day of his Inauguration unto the Office of a King he esteemed a Turfe in the wilderness with a clear Conscience a better seat than a Throne in a Palace with a Conscience laden with Royal Blood-guiltiness he accounted it a greater honour to be a Loyal Subject than an unlawful King Crowns Scepters and Kingdoms are cogent Temptations Caesar said If Justice may be broken in any case it is regnandi causa Mat. 21.38 The Husbandmen cry out This is the Heir come let us kill him and the Inheritance will be ours But David abhorred to swim unto a Throne through the Blood of his Master having taken the resolution of Ferdinand the first Emperor of Germany Fiat Justitia pereat mundus Let Right be done and come what will of it The gain of a Kingdom will not countervail the loss of a good Conscience What will it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own Soul Or what will be given in exchange for the Soul There is a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the words What will it profit i. e. What an hard bargain will it be What infinite Damage and Detriment shall a man sustain thereby For put the whole world into one ballance and the Soul into another and this little spark of Divinity will out-weigh the whole Globe of the Earth the vast Fabrick of the Creation It is far better to be upbraided as Balaam was by Balak The Lord hath kept thee
of the Catalinarians aliis Facultas defuit aliis Occasio voluntas profectò nemini As the Tap to the Vessel and the Spark to dry Tinder as the fire to benummed fingers and Aquavitae to a fainting person such is a fit opportunity to a disloyal heart Many who have been good Subjects have proved bad Emperors and many who have been tolerable Cardinals when advanced to the Papal Chair have proved Luxurious Sodomites Aegyptian Magicians devouring Abaddons and Incurable Babylonians so difficult is it to withstand the Force of an inviting opportunity unto sin Wherefore Job Ch. 31. V. 1. made a Covenant with his eyes that he would not look upon a woman lest he should lust after her And Solomon admonisheth us not to look on the Wine when it is red when it giveth its colour in the Cup and moveth it self aright lest by the pleasant colour we should be allured to an excessive use thereof Prov. 23.31 But Vertues how much the more difficult are so much the more honourable It was an Impeachment of Jacobs Fraternal affection to Esau that he took the opportunity of his hunger to buy him out of the Prerogatives of Primogeniture Gen. 25.31 33. Though in other cales David was easily overcome by Temptations the sight of a naked Bathshoha provoked him to violate his Chastity and the unkindness of Nabal to meditate revenge and Murder yet so great an Influence had the sacred Office of a King on his heart that the sight of Saul in a Cave could not wound his Loyalty As the skill of a Pilot is tried in a storm and the valour of a Souldier in a Battel so an opportunity of sin is the proof of vertue It is frequent with men to exclaim against a Fact before they are in a capacity to commit it and yet afterward to become notoriously guilty of that against which they exclaimed With what indignation did Hazael answer the Prophet Elisha telling him that he should rip up women with Child and dash out the Brains of Children 2 Kings 8.13 But what is thy Servant a Dog that I should do this great thing But when he became King of Syria the Prophesie of Elisha was fulfilled Magistratus indicat virum The greatest Importunity to offer violence to a King is to be resisted Observ 2. Davids Souldiers did importunately solicite him to slay Saul 1 Sam. 24.4 10. Some bade me kill thee 2 Sam. 26.8 Abisha◠said now let me smite him I pray thee with the spear unto the earth These words do virtually include such like Expostulations as these O David Thou hast for a long time been hunted as a Partridge in the Mountains we thy stedfast Friends even in advensity have hazarded our Lives and dearest blood for thy defence VVherefore embrace this opportunity and make it the death of Saul and our own Miseries betray as not by thy vain scruples and foolish lenity into the hands of an implacable and deceitful Adversary VVhat strong Obligations had Davids Souldiers laid on him to gratiste their request by the denial whereof he might fear left they should revolt from him and upbraid him with preferring his enemies before his Friends as Joab did when he mourned for the death of Absalom 2 Sam. 19.5 6. Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants which have saved thy life and the lives of thy Wives and Concubines in that thou lovest thine enemies and hatest thy frituds For thou hast declared this day that thou regardest neither Prinors nor fervants for I perceive that if Absalom had lived and all we had died this day it would have pleased thee well Besides what plausible Reasons for and what seeming necessity of the death of Saul might have been suggested to David But he looking more to present duty than future danger chose rather to hazard all his concernments then to condiscend to a sinful act though cloaked with such specious pretences as might have drowned the harsh sound of Murder Importunity is no Apology for Impiety VVere this Rule observed it would save many Thieves and Traytors from the Gallows How frequently do malefactors at the time of execution complain against their evil Companions who seduced them Adams Plea The woman gave me and I did eat Gen. 3.12 Nor Eves The Serpent beguiled me and I did eat Gen. 3.13 were not accepted by God for their tasting the Forbidden Fruit. Moses would not acquit Aaron from the guilt of Idolatry when he made the Golden Calf though he pleaded the importunity of the people Exod. 32.22 Thou knowest this people is set on mischief and they said unto me make us gods Samuel urgeth on Saul his sin in sparing Agag and the best of the spoil until he confessed I have sinned I have transgressed because I feared the people and obeyed their voice 1 Sam. 15.24 An evil action is to be fathered on the Actor and not to be translated to the Tempter Temptations resisted are the Tempters sins and not ours but if embraced they become our sins as well as the Tempters The fire of temptation would do no hurt without the dry Tinder of our own lusts For where there is no wood the fire goeth out Prov. 26.20 But as Coals are to burning Coals so is a vitiated nature to corrupt suggestions Solicitations have no constraining or compulsive power over the will but only an enticing and alluring vertue they cannot infuse any vicious quality into the mind but only stir up that Lust which is in it already they work not in a physical but in a moral way There can be no Adulteress without an Adulterer VVere there not a formative vertue in the womb of the corrupt heart giving life unto sinful injections they would prove abortive births though an Enticer may be said to be the Father begetting yet the corrupt heart is the mother conceiving and bringing forth the Bastard-brood of sin Should a man rob or stab you and plead that he was tempted to it would you be satisfied with such an excuse Importunity is no cloak for disloyalty forasmuch as the counter-perswasions of God in his Word from it are greater than mens solicitations unto it Now as Peter and John answered the Jewish Rulers Whether is it right in the sight of God to hearken unto men more than unto God judge ye The violent Clamours of the Jews against Christ Acts 4.19 Crucifie him Crucifie him did not acquit Pilate from the guilt of his bloud but according to their imprecation of judgment on and execration of themselves it hath been on the heads of them and their children this 1600 years The Petitioners which were suborned against King Charles like Jezabels false Witnesses against Naboth did not discharge the Actors of that Fatal Tragedy from the guilt of his Royal Blood All the plausible Remonstances specious pretences and sophistical Pleas which our late Juglers raised to delude the injudicious Vulgar vanish before this evident testimony deduced from Davids Loyalty notwithstanding the
disloyal clamours of his Souldiers even as Dagon fell down before the Ark and as the Mists and Vapours in the Air are chased away by the glorious beams of the arising Sun Now possibly some who have rased out all Principles of Religion and Reason out of their minds may arraign David for a person of an abject and ignoble spirit and condemn him for Folly and pusillanimity because he made not Ambition and self-advancement his Card and Compass whereby to steer his course but neglected so fair an opportunity to acquire a Kingdom This Enditement will appear to be no Billa vera but a Forgery and Davids Loyalty to be no Impeachment either of his Prudence or Magnanimity if we review the precedent History wherein are recorded most undoubted proofs of both Let that Subjects Valour be accounted Diabolical fury and his wisdom diabolical Subtilty that clasheth and interfereth with his Allegiance and is inverted against his Soveraign Thus much in reference to the Occasion of Davids Oration 2. Now followeth the Orator He i. e. David said unto his men 1. David a Subject 2. David a Captain of Souldiers 1. David a Subject From whence note That Subjects ought not to be contented with personal Loyalty Observ but should endeavour to Loyalize others As Light so Loyalty is not to be hid under a Bushel Mat. 5.15 Loyalty is of a diffusive nature it will not be engrossed and monopolized it will not be put into a Napkin or locked up in private breasts David would not imprison his Loyalty in his own breast but causeth it-to flame forth in a Loyal Oration that it might kindle the like Sacred fire in the breasts of others Piety toward God and Loyalty toward our King should be of a like nature It is the property of Grace to be commuicative John 1. Andrew having found the Messiah calleth Simon and Philip Nathanael Moses could even wish his Name were blotted out of the Book of Life and Paul himself accursed from Christ for the sake of the Israelites So Loyalty is of a spreading and assimilating nature like fire that converts the Fuel into its own substance like Leaven that leaveneth the whole Lump and like the Philosophers stone that turneth what it toucheth into Gold With what Marks of Infamy do such deserve to be branded who have run counter hereunto not only by personal disloyalty but also by indefatigable industry to poyson others with Principles of Sedition The Holy Ghost stigmatizeth those who incited the Jews to rebel against the King of Babylon with the Names of Diviners Enchanters and Sorcerers Jer. 29.9 O that all who have endeavoured to propagate Treason in England by seditious Pamphlets would deal with their Libels as the Sorcerers did with their conjuring Books Acts 19.19 they brought them together and burned them before all men and counted the Price and found it fifty thousand Pieces of silver 2. 1 Sam. 22.2 Consider David in a military capacity as Captain of Souldiers 400 people gathered themselves to him and he became Captain over them Generals of Armies should perswade their Souldiers not only to be valiant against their Enemies but also faithful to their King The great dignity conferred on them the great trust reposed in them their Authority over and Interest in their Souldiers do all require this duty from them Besides Souldiers are usually very respectful to the Persons obsequious to the Commands observant of the directions and apt to imitate the Examples of their Leaders It was said of Naaman the Syrian 2 Kin. 5.1 that he was a great man and honourable but a Leper To praise a man with a but is but to dispraise him It is a wound and dishonour never to be wiped off from the Names of some Generals that they were Famous and Valiant Warriours but they inverted their Arms against their Soveraigns A Commendation with this Discretive but is a diminutive Commendation It gives an Accent to the Renown of Joab 2. Sam. 12. that he would not build up his own Glory out of the Ruines of his Kings After he had almost taken Rabbah he sent Mesengers to David saying Gome and encamp against it lest I take the City and it be called by my Name The memory of our late Military Officers will stink in the Nostrils of all Loyal Subjects because they debauched the minds of their Souldiers with seditious Principles instigated them unto Rebellion and by subtil Insinuations inthroned themselves in their Affections in order to the dethroning of their Soveraign But let it be recorded for the perpetual Renown of our Famous and Heroical English General that he trode in the Footsteps of David that he took up the Cudgels against our rampant Enemies who were so drunk with Success that they defied all Antagonists as Goliah did David and that he employed his Arms for effecting the happy Restauration of our Dread Soveraign King Charles the Second to his Throne and Kingdom Wherefore let his Name be precious unto the English as the Names of Gideon Barak Samson Jepthah and the rest of those Worthies of Israel were unto that Nation for being Instruments of their deliverance out of the hands of Midianites Moabites Ammonites and Philistines Unto this Magnanimous Hero's tutelar Sword next unto His Royal Majesties tutelar Scepter the principal efficiency and the Glory of being reserved for and ascribed unto the Great God England is indebted for all its Happiness 3. The Third Member observed in the dissection of this Verse is Davids Auditors He said to his men i. e. Souldiers being a pâ—ck of hungry and bankrupt persons 1 Sam. 22.2 Every one that was in distress in debt and discontented gathered themselves to him These mens wants might provoke them to offer violence to Saul that they might be inriched with his Spoiles and have his Kingdom for a Prey Therefore David darteth forth this Loyal Oration that as cold water cast into a Pot stayeth the boyling thereof it might allay the violent Aestuations of their Passions Souldiers of all men have most need of Loyal Instruction that it may be an Antidote against the Poyson of the Temptations arising from a military Employment All is fish that cometh to net with Sword-men they are apt to put no difference between the Princes Robes and the Peasants Russet they are so accustomed to Instruments and Acts of Cruelty that immanity becomes natural to and habituated in them Inter Arma silent Leges The sounding Trumpet the roaring Cannon and the ratling Spear like the noise of the Aegyptian Cataracts which as it is reported maketh the adjacent inhabitants almost deaf hindereth the voice of the Law from being heard and the Sword will be made use of for the decision of Controversies 1 Kings 3.24 25. as it was by Solomon in another manner As Fire in the Chimney is necessary and profitable but on the House-top dangerous and pernicious so though a Militia be sometimes necessary for the defence
hath given thee a Kingdom Those Nations that will not serve Jer. 27.6 8 9. and put their necks under the yoke of the King of Babylon shall be punished with the Sword and with Famine and with Pestilence until they be consumed Therefore hearken not to your Diviners nor to your Dreamers nor to your Enchanters nor to your Sorcerers which say unto you ye shall not serve the King of Babylon The holy Apostles Peter and Paul command Subjection to heathen Emperors Rom. 13.1 2 3. 1 Pet. 2.13 17. For it was about 300 years after Christ and consequently a long time after the death of the Apostles before any Magistrates became Christians The Primitive Christians were wont to pray for Pagan Princes Exoptantes ipsis vitam prolixam imperium securum domum tutam exercitus fortes Senatum fidelem populum probum orbem quietum Tertul. Apologet. Cap. 30. Eminent was the example of Mephibosheths Loyal deportment toward David notwithstanding he 〈◊〉 unjustly sequestred half his estate The King said 2 Sam. 19.29 30. why speakest thou any more of thy matters I have said thou and Ziba divide the Land And Mephibosheth saith yea let him take all forasmuch as my Lord the King is come again to his House in peace Our Saviour Jesus Christ commandeth the payment of Tribute unto Caesar Give unto Caesar the things that are Caesars Mat. 22.21 And acknowledgeth that Pilate an unjust Judge had his Commission from Heaven Thou couldest have no power against me John 19.11 unless it were given thee of God The barbarous Jews themselves who crucified the Lord of Life being asked by Pilate whether they would have their King to be crucified answered we have no King but Caesar intimating that if they had believed that Christ was their King no violence should have been offered unto him Rehoboam threatned Tyranny unto Israel saying my little finger shall be thicker than my Fathers Loyns my Father chastised you with whips but I will chastise you with Scorpions yet the Revolt of the ten Tribes from him is called Rebellion 2 Chron. 13.4 5 7. and the Promoters thereof Sons of Belial Ahab and Jezebel were as great Oppressors and as bloody Persecutors of the Prophets as ever held Scepter yet God threatneth to punish Jehn for destroying them and their Posterity Hos 1.4 I will avenge the bloud of Jezreel on the House of Jehu and will cause the Kingdom to cease from the House of Israel Though the defection of the ten Tribes from the House of David was the punishment of Solomons Idolatry and the destruction of Ahab and Iezebel 1 Kin. 11.11 the Judgment of God on them for their Cruelty to Naboth Yet this did no more excuse the Treason of the ten Tribes and Jehu 1 Kings 21.19 21. who out of rebellions minds executed these Judgments than Gods predetermination of the death of Christ did justifie Judas betraying him or the Jews crucifying him So then we conclude that in case of private and personal or publick and National Injuries received from a King Subjects ought to lay aside all Malice Guile Envy Evil Speakings 1 Pet. 2.1 and all weapons of War and Instruments of death Jesus saith to one of his Disciples resisting the Officers of the Chief Priests and Elders of the Jews that were sent to apprehend him Put up thy sword into its place for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword Mat. 26.52 Preces Lachrima were the only Arms that the Primitive Christians used when they were oppressed and persecuted Humiliation Refâ—â—â—â—ion and Supplication unto God who judgeth among the gods and in whose hands are the hearts of Kings Prov. 21.1 who turneth them as Rivers of water are better Expedients for the removal of Pressures from a Nation than Rebellion Samuel having in the precedent verses foretold to the Israelites the rigorous carriage of their King towards them 1 Sam. 8.18 he saith ye shall cry out in that day because of your King but the Lord will not hear you he doth not say ye shall rise up and depose your King but ye shall cry unto the Lord for Relief A provoked Prince ought to be pacified by Submission not irritated by Revenge which is not lawful against a Private Person much less against the Head of a Nation For a Subject lying under groundless suspitions to infer from thence that it is better to be suspected for somthing than nothing is the Devils Logick and to exercise Rebellion correspondent to such a Principle is a diabolical Fact Mens submissive deportment and sedulous endeavours to remove even the causless Jealousies of their Prince is the most probable means to stir up the Embers of Ingenuity in his heart A Flint will break upon a Featherbed No heart can be so Adamantine as to withstand the force of an Argument drawn from doing good for evil This like a Sun-beam melted the spirit of Saul himself Saul said is this thy voice my Son David and he lift up his voice and wept 1 Sam. 24.16 17 18 19. And said to David thou art more righteous than I for thou hast rewarded me good whereas I have rewarded thee evil and thou hast shewed this day that thou hast dealt well with me forasmuch as when the Lord delivered me into thy hands thou killedst me not For if a man find his enemy will he let him go free 1 Sa. 26.21 Again I have sinned return my Son David for I will no more do thee harm because my soul was precious in thine eyes Behold I have played the fool and erred exceedingly Herein the words of Solomon are verified By long for bearing a Prince is best perswaded Prov. 25.15 But a revengeful retaliation of Injuries will exasperate the Spirits of Princes who being Cedars in Lebanon will disdain to receive affronts from Thistles in Lebanon Wherefore that Admonition in Eccles 10.4 is not only most pious and Christian but also most prudential If the spirit of a Ruler rise up against thee leave not thy place i. e. flee not away in rage and passion for yielding pacifieth great offences Now this Prerogative of Princes to wit their exemption from the violence of their Subjects should be a golden Bridle to restrain them from all actions exorbitant and excentrical from Justice and equity and a golden spur to quicken them to such Heroical actions for the publick good that may argue them to be of Noble and Prince-like spirits as well as of Noble and Princely Blood and Dignity But blessed be the Lord who hath set over England not a Scratching Bramble but a Royal Olive whose Fatness and Sweetness doth rejoyce and exhilerate our hearts A Prince that is as it was said of Titus the Roman Emperor Deliciae generis humani the delight of mankind in whom Clemency Wisdom and all other Royal endowments and Princely vertues are concentricated Upon this account I had almost