purpose to kill David The judicious Peter Martyr doth conjecture that he might be girded about in sign of his being made some Officer in the Army and that he must do some great Action and meritorious Exploit which became the greatness of his Family and Strength and the Dignity of his Place This Story is brought in to illustrate the Danger and Deliverance of David and to set forth the Providence of God in great Straits and Dangers and to make God's People and their Enemies also know that let them have all the Advantages they can desire yet they shall not prevail against David and against Israel Let us not go over so large a Text without making some Observations 1. You read David's great Inequality and Disadvantage though when he was young he killed Gâ—liah but now David waxed faint In respect of Strength and stature what was David to him but now here 's David at a Disadvantage he waxed faint There may be sometimes great Disproportions between the Servants of God and the Enemies of God The Servants of God may in Appearance be much the weaker 2. The Assailant was a Man of note among the Philistines a Man of Name as Goliah was from whom some great Action might be expected The Enemies of God and his People may be furnished with Men extraordinarily fitted prepared and resolved Men pick'd out for Designs and Attempts pernicious to the People of God Here was a great Man a noted Man a Man of great Strength and Stature of desperate Designs for he thought of killing David and yet when many Wagers might be laid on the Philistines Head and Party it was so probable if not sure that such a Hand must needs prevail against David yet David comes off safe and his mortal Enemy falls and perisheth the Giant had an Opportunity to attempt and never was David in a worse case to make his Defence and yet the Design failed Such Men as these are not to be trusted to if we had an Army of them on our side nor to be feared See Mr. Jo. Mackenzie's Narrat of the Siege of London-Derry p. 2. col 1. The new levied Souldiers were to be all near six Foot high formidable for their Bulk whatever they were for their Courage though all our Enemies were such God can defeat them all Men cannot perform what Men would have them or hope from them How curious were our Enemies the Philistines in the choice of Regiments of great Stature and Strength what confidence was put in them and yet they proved but like Babes and Lubbars 3. This Ishbi-benob was girded with a new Sword that is as some conjecture he was newly made some great Officer from his being girded a Mark of Honour others that his new Sword was a newly invented Weapon for his turn and others think it might be a new Sword not used before the Edg of it was first to be tried upon David's Persâ—â— How proud might this Man be of his Name his Stature his Strength his Command and his Sword How often might he fancy David's Head upon his Sword 's Point See the Narrative of the French Joy for the Death of King William in the Battel of Boyn and his Body at his Feet and yet his Weapon shall not prosper against Good King David Our Enemies the Philistines have changed the way of fighting invented new Instruments of War to make themselves the more formidable how may their ambitious vain-glorious Ishbi-benobs boast what they will do with David kill him and then drag him in the Streets and Dunghils and yet David is preserved Men and Weapons are alike vain and ineffectual when God is a Shield to David and to Israel 4. This Ishbi-benob had David almost in his Power and within his reach for Abishai succcoured David who waxed faint Hence learn the Enemy of David may be prepared to kill may have a great Advantage over him being weak and faint and he had as fair and open Opportunity to make him think he had him as sure as if he were in his Hand and yet David escapes the Villain tho a Giant David was and our David may be in great Danger and nigh to Death and yet preserved Great Dangers make great Deliverances and the Deliverance is as sure in great Danger as in common and less How near was David many a time to be cut off yet he was delivered from the Hand of Saul and all his Enemies so we pray and trust that God will be a Shield and a Succourer of our David in all his Wars 5. He thought to have slain David or he spake as the word signifies of killing David perhaps by thinking of killing the King he was ambitious to have the Glory of winning the Field and routing Israel perhaps to avenge the Philistines so often beaten and destroyed by David his Spight and Aim was at David not to take him not to maim and hurt him but outright to kill him David had been successful and done great Services for Israel and for that the Philistines might hate him and have particular Designs upon him A victorious and a good King is hateful to Philistines The greater Blessing a good King is to the Israel and Church of God the more aimed at but when his Dangers are greatest God is nearest for his Salvation David was aimed at and he could not choose but know it for they sought him once before in particular yet David's Courage Religion Conscience and Care of Israel 2 Sam. â— 13 did oblige him to go down to the Battel David is faint and when faint the Enemy laid at him to have sped him and yet David is preserved It is extraordinary when God suiteth the Spirit of a King to his Charge and Dangers and that King who turns not his back upon God's Cause Religion and People may humbly expect that God will not turn his back upon him in his greatest Dangers but watch over him and preserve him The King 's wearing the Crown of England makes the Philistines aim the more at his Head His Greatness and Valour do multiply his Perils but God who made him great for this Work is mighty to save him 5. In ver 17. we have these Remarkables 1. A famous Act of Abishai the Son of Zeruiah who succoured David and he smote the Philistine and killed him 2. The Zeal and great Concern of the People for their King Then the Men of David sware unto him saying Thou shalt go no more out with us to Battel 3. The Reason for that Resolution and Zeal That thou quench not the Light of Israel that our Light and Glory may not be put out with thy Life who art the Light of Israel 4. David's Permission of that Oath and Resolution of the People and his Acquiescence in that Act for his own and their Preservation and Comfort In the first of these we have many things to observe 1st Abishai the Son of Zeruiah he was a valiant Man and David's
for your own ways O House of Israel Ezek. 36.22 32. When we have least to say and have no Reasons to plead taken from our selves we have most to say and the most prevailing Argument to urge by Faith taken from the free Mercy of God and the Glory of his great Name O let us take Courage and come boldly to the Throne of Grace and say Psal 6.4 Jer. 14.7 Save us for thy Mercies sake O Lord though our Iniquities testify against us do thou it for thy Name 's sake for our back-slidings are many we have sinned against thee O Lord hear O Lord forgive O Lord hearken and do defer not Dan. 9.19 for thine own sake O my God for the City and People that are called by thy Name Not unto us O Lord not unto us but unto thy Name give Glory for thy Mercy Psal 115.1 2. and for thy Truth 's sake Wherefore should the Heathen say the French and Irish the Philistines the Enemies of the Lord that have so reproached him that have destroyed all his Tabernacles in the Land say Where is now their God Such an Encouragement as this may quicken us to a lively Attention to the Word of God and put Life into our Prayers when most dejected under the sense of our Sins And so now I come to the Words 1. In this part of sacred Story we read of another War between a proud Zech. 9.6 unquiet idolatrous superstitious People and David ver 5. The Philistines had been often destroyed and conquered by the Sword of David and yet they begin another War with David as the Phrase doth intimate And the Philistines had yet War again with Israel as if they began it and provoked Israel unto it We read not what the particular Cause of the War was it might be from inveterate Hatred from Contrariety of Religion for the Philistines like our Papists had their Images in the Battel of Baal Perazim and as their Images could not help them so neither could they save their Images 2 Sam. 5.21 or it might be Impatience of Revenge that might stir them up and they thought themselves strong enough to overcome and over-run Israel or they might promise to themselves the Life of David having a self-confident vain-glorious Giant Ishbi-benob who might brag as well as think of killing David It is a righteous Judgment of God upon the inveterate Enemies of his People which they see not that they will not be quiet in their Possessions but after many Overthrows they will be making Wars against them 2. And David went down and his Servants with him and fought against the Philistines it seems to be a defensive as well as a lawful War to go down against the Philistines and not to stay for their coming into the Land of Israel they were the beginners of the War and David doth wisely choose the Seat of the War which might be most convenient the further off from home and the nearer the Enemies Country the better An experienced valiant King will neither refuse nor delay to fight against the Enemies of God's People and his Kingdom when there is just Cause and Provocation given 3. And David waxed faint he grow in Years and was much decayed in Strength or tired and weakned with the Wars This Circumstance affords us many Observations 1. The Wars and Troubles in a King's Reign are no Sign or Indication of and should create no Suspitions in any Men of the Weakness or Badness of his Title to the Kingdom Never had King a better or a clearer Title to a Kingdom than David had appointed and designed of God elected and made by the People and anointed Nay the Malice of the Philistines boil'd and swell'd and broke out into an open Attempt and War against David when they heard he was anointed 2 Sam. 5.17 But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David King over Israel all the Philistines came to seek David And spread themselves in the Valley of Rephaim v. 18. Is David anointed has he taken the Kingdom upon him then before he is settled in his Throne we will seek him This Policy was equal to the Malice while the Government was young and tender as some here said of ours and the Factions of the Kingdom not inwardly healed but the Providence of God turned this to David's Glory by giving him the Victory they and their Images fell into his Hands ver 20 21. When God designs a King and gives him a Throne they who rise against him rise and war against God himself and let that King acknowledg God and seek him as David did and all his Enemies shall not prevail against him but fall and perish David had a good Title but a troublesome Reign 2. A good King when he takes a Kingdom takes it not for the Glory and Ease of it but for the Glory of God and Good of his Kingdom with all the Labours and Dangers of a War 3. The true Interest Peace and Happiness of a Kingdom is the Concernment of a good King The Philistines had a great spight against David's Person in the former Design and War but now they hated Israel which were the People of God and professed the true Religion and now David is as much engaged to go out in Person against the Philistines 4. A faithful and a valiant King will endure the great Toil and Weariness of a War even to Faintness 5. That even a David a Servant of God will find it a hard and hazardous Work to fight his Enemies 6. A good and valiant King will expose his own Person and tire himself in Battel and yet not fly nor leave the Field David waxed faint but yet stands his ground 7. The best and stoutest King must feel his own Infirmities that he may know that he conquereth not by his own Strength 8. That though a good King shall prevail yet first he may be brought very low and faint The greatest Champion will faint in time and often-times a Cause and People may be brought very low before a Conquest The Power of God will be seen in humane Weakness and give him hot and fainting work that his glorious Power may bring forth Victory and Peace 4. Ver. 16. And Ishbi-benob c. How exact an account have we here given us of this great Enemy of David By his Name a very notorious and noted Man his Descent and Family which was of the Sons of the Giant his great Strength his dangerous Weapon The Weight of whose Spear weighed three hundred Shekels of Brass in Weight About nine Pound six Ounces Haver depoise Clark's Annot About half as big as Goliah's 1 Sam. 17.7 but according to others a great deal more and by his particular Preparation for Mischief to David's Person being girded with a new â—word Sword is not in the Original Text but supplied for Explication as contained in the word girded Girded with a new somewhat extraordinary and fitted for his
Sister 's Son Whence observe It is under God and next to a Guard of Angels 1 Chron 2.16 a great Security for a King to have a Confident and approved valiant trusty Friend at hand in time and place of Danger such a Man was Abishai How Abishai come now to be so near David's Person we do not know whether he was there by Command as in his Place or whether brought thither by the Providence of the Lord of Battel there he was at hand for this eminent Service Whence we will observe 1. It is the Providence of God over David to place a valiant loyal Friend to succour him in great Weakness and great Danger So let us in all our David's Danger pray that God Exod. 15.3 who is called a Man of War and the Lord of Hosts would place an Abishai near his Person to succour him in time of need 2. It is a great Duty and Praise of a valiant loyal Captain as Abishai was to take care of the Person of a good and valiant King and interpose between him and Death or Harm 3. Abishai's care and business was not to carry David out of the Field and to leave it with him the great Siâ—n of Affection and Loyalty in many a Coward but he stood by fainting David to succour him in the Encounter and to win the Day This is true Fidelity both to the King and Israel also 4. Whoever the Person be who defends David in a time of Danger deserves to be remembred and honoured for it and it is an Honour to his Person and to his House Here David's Second is named Abishai and his Family noted Abishai the Son of Zeruiah both remembred and honoured by this sacred Penman and the Service is not only done to a King's Person but to the King's Kingdom 5. Nay further not only Men but God himself takes notice of and rewards with Honour that Person or more that succour David when he is faint in fighting the Lord's Battels And this should be a great Encouragement to all that are in chief Place or near the Person of our King to expose themselves to sight for the King's Preservation It is an Honour to their Name an obliging Service to the King and Israel also and they may do it with Success upon the Enemy and Safety to themselves and what can be more to embolden and inspirit a Person to engage an Enemy 6. The most valiant and stoutest King may stand in need of Succour and it 's no dishonour to the greatest King to accept the Service for he must know and acknowledg he cannot always hold out nor conquer all with his own Hands 7. That such as come in to succour a King in time of Danger should not hinder nor be slack nor make as though he did but do his work effectually Abishai did not make a shew but effectually succour'd him this is a sign of Courage Skill and Fidelity The Lord that provided one to succour David at a hard push deliver our King from treacherous Standers by and Cowards This must be one of our Petitions for him that either God would bind up the Hands of every villanous Ishbi-benob or send him some one or more to succour him as he did David 2. Abishai smote the Philistine and killed him The Son of the Giant was over-tall and too big for any ordinary Man to deal with yet as big as he was here is one that fears him not but strikes and strikes home too he smote and killed him The Action is roundly expressed he smote the Philistine and killed him He was not long about him but made short work with him he smote him and kill'd him The Courage of Abishai and his Skill and Vigor appear in the Stroak But could Abishai come within his reach Could not the Giant fence and keep him off at Sword 's point and Arm 's length No he could not it seems he had bulk enough a great mass of Flesh might hang upon his great Bones he might have neither true Courage nor Skill but lay at catch to take David at an advantage of Weakness and act the Coward 's part But now David is not deserted but succoured Abishai strikes once for all and kills him Look upon both these in their contrary Sides The Son of the Giant is for the Philistines against Israel really against God and against his Church Abishai is David's Officer and Servant a Commander under him as he was under God From Particulars we must not conclude Universals But God permits his Enemies now what he permitted then yea they have not only many Men of great bulk and stature in one Kingdom but like the Horses of Egypt they are Flesh and not Spirit and in another not raw and fleshy Bodies without Courage but disciplin'd Armies and Veteranes And they want not for new Swords not for any Inventions and Furniture for all Occasions suppose some excel in Bulk in Flesh and Bones and yet want Skill and Courage for a noble and honourable Attempt suppose others be Men expert in War who excel in Skill but want true Courage suppose they exceed in Number and are more than we are but are such as will not stand shall we then only venture and reckon according to Sense and Reason This is unworthy of the People of the mighty and living God who should look by Faith upon him and upon David though weak yet in the Hand of God and thus we ought to do Then let us make such Observations as these to encourage our Faith and Hopes waiting upon God by Prayer 1. There are none so great so strong so big in the Enemies Army but God can find out Men to fetch them down The Philistines had an Ishbi-benob and David had an Abishai on his side who proved too hard for him 2. When the Enemies of David exceed in Stature Strength and Arms it makes them but the more bold to venture and design what will prove to their own Destruction The Philistines were appointed for destruction and when they thought themselves fit for War they were fit for Destruction They made many Wars against David and before David appeared but never had success but when the Sins of Israel were ripe for Punishment Our Enemies are as like them as if they were descended from them how Philistine-like did they use Sampson The Inhumanities of our Enemies are a reproach to Nature of which they have as little as they have of Grace and true Religion Our Enemies are given to burn and make desolate they cannot rest from troubling David raising War after War and what but Bitterness in the latter end is and will be the Fruit of their Wars and Commotions Their very Giants are for the Slaughter because every Battel against them is the Lord's therefore they cannot stand 3. A great a bold a daring Enemy of David is as soon killed as the weakest what could be sooner done And Abishai smote the Philistine and kill'd him and
Bottles How many of those who seem well affected to the Government are grosly ignorant sensual and profane unreformed unrefined from their Lees What can these do What ill-favoured irreverent what cold and dead what broken Work do many make so that we have cause to fear the Divine abhorrence of our Fasting How far may a Man ride before he can see one Sinner whose Heart and Life is reformed according to the Word of God after our many monthly Days of Fasting If a Poll could be taken of them that are for or against or are wary Neuters whether ever God and Christ or their Enemies should be found in the best side All must be excluded from voting right who do not lift up holy Hands to God in Prayer so that from the Land's End even to the Town of Berwick we can make no more than a Gideon's Army But yet I hope there are enow to make an Army too strong for all the Enemies of our Faith Religion Peace and Government Be therefore of good Courage wait on the Lord and he shall strengthen your Heart all ye that hope in the Lord. Encourage our selves in the Lord our God were our Extremities greater and more than they are And consider 1. Is not God on our Side O let us humbly wrestle with his Majesty to rise for his own Glory for David's sake for Jerusalem's sake what will our Enemies the Heathen say 2. Hath not God prevented us with his loving-Kindness Did we by our Prayers call in our Deliverer Did not God put it into his Heart before we knew of it Have we not seen when we fasted and prayed it went well with us for the Honour of God for the Honour of his Ordinance for Prayer's-sake despised blasphemed Prayers-sake I was glad to hear it was the poor praying People of Ireland that saved London-derry that made the Men of Inniskillin more than Men and not our Gallant Dammees and Hectors Pray on to the last Breath pray to the last drop of Tears Give not up so great and so good a Cause for lost it is all in the Hand of God our God trust him 3. Pray on there are more for us than there be against us Is not God for us Are not Angels for us Do not the Souls under the Altar solicite God and cry How long Lord Holy and True Rev. 6.10 dost thou not avenge our Blood on them that dwell on the Earth I beseech you observe this that they who are our Enemies now are they who have shed the Blood of the Saints We are sure that God will avenge the Blood of his Servants and hear the Prayers of his Saints in Heaven and on Earth The Lord never denied to hear their Prayers he hath only delayed Andit was said unto them that they should rest yet for a little season until their fellow-Servants also and their Brethren that should be killed as they were should be fulfilled Some have written and others believe this late is the last Persecution of the Churches in France at least and if so that the Number of them that should be Killed is fulfilled then we shall shortly sing as Jehosaphat and the People did For his Mercy endureth for ever 2 Chron. 20.21 4. Pray believing in him to whom you pray and knowing against whom you pray Is he not a bloody merciless Persecutor who can set him out in his Garments dy'd in Blood and hath not God said He hath ordained his Arrows against the Persecutors plead that with God Psal 7.13 5. Who do we pray for Are they not God's own People the Apple of his Eye or hath God not one small Râ—â—nant left Remember the Prayer of Nehemiah Now these are thy Servants and thy People whom thou hast redeemed with thy great Power and by thy strong Hand Nehem. 1.4 to 10. 6. Argue from the very Strength and Greatness of our Enemy O say our Men of Reason and Thoughts Men like the cowardly Spies of the Land of Canaan who discouraged the People How powerful is France How Great that King How wise his Counsel How mighty are his Armies How strong at Sea How well disciplined what an Advantage hath he who is one in united Councils before-hand with his Enemies in the time of Year whereas the Confederates are slow in Resolutions and Preparations He 'll hold them in play he 'll tire them out And what will not this Great Man do Yea Are these things true is this the sense of Men wise Men most Men Be it so Yet for all this hâ—â—l he the Army of Zera the Ethiopian Let us cry to the Lord as Asa did 2 Chron. 14.9 Lord it is nothing with thee to help whether with many or with them that have no Power Help us O Lord our God for we rest on thee and in thy Name we go against this multitude thou art the Lord our God let not Men prevail against Thee Let us wait upon God and take an Argument from the strength of our Enemies Psal 59.9 Because of his Strength let us wait on thee for God is my Defence We have a God hearing Prayer to pray unto we have a good Cause all is in Danger we have great Encouragements O let us say He hath delivered and we trust be will not only deliver but prosper O then let us pray for a praying Heart And pray every Day without ceasing And that first for our King and Queen that they may have the whole Armour of God to put on the Testimony of a good Conscience that in the Vprightness of their Hearts they do all they do that they may never fall into the slippery and pernitious Steps of evil Kings Let us pray for them that they may inherit an Everlasting Kingdom that endeavour to make ours so happy Many do labour to fright us more with the King's Successes than with the return of their idolized Image as if he would be as absolute as high for Prerogatives as any of his Predecessors What Confusions he will make say others in the best Church in the World and much more Whereas the great fear is that he will do more for God than most of his Predecessors Men are mightily afraid of losing their Pluralities their Ceremonies their Sins Let us pray for the preservation of our Lamps the free Progress of the Gospel the Advancement of Religion and Godliness into High Places for a painful Preaching exemplary Ministry for the saving and sanctifying Protestant Churches for healing of Breaches in a word for Grace Mercy Peace And when we have pray'd to the pouring out of our Hearts let us not trust to our Prayers beyond God's Promises but stay our selves upon the Rock of our Salvation To whom be Might and Dominion for ever Salvation to our God Hallelujah The Great Concern and Zeal of a Loyal People for a Good Warlike KING c. 2 Sam. 21.15 16 17. Moreover the Philistines had yet War again with Israel and David went down and his Servants
what became of his strong and his mighty Arm or his new Sword then 4. The Enemies of God and his David may imagine and design greatest mischief to him but are so far from being able to execute and perform their Counsels and Designs that they perish in the attempt to execute them 5. The Servants of God and the King should not fear a Philistine tho he were an armed Giant in the defence of the King and Israel let him smite and kill at once 6. It is a Duty and a necessary part of Wisdom to know when and whom the Servants of God must smite and spare or smite and kill Abishai was ready at it and David was not so faint but he might have bad him forbear to kill if it had not been his Duty There is a great difference to be made between some Enemies and others 7. The Instruments of God's Judgments upon his Enemies do quickly and effectually execute his Pleasure upon them Abishai smote and killed him 8. How dreadful is it for any Man to be an Enemy to God and his People Israel It must needs be a torment to be disappointed of his Aim had David only escaped his and been preserved and he escaped and fled To lose the pleasure of his Enmity against him to lose the honour of such a Fact and the prey and reward of his Service but not only to fail but to perish and go down to Hell in a moment what Horror attends his Breath going out of his Nostrils What a tormenting Disappointment was it to miss of David and die in a doing Enterprize 2dly Another thing in the Words is the zealous Action and Behaviour of the People and the use they made of the King's Deliverance Then the Men of David sware unto him saying Thou shalt go no more with us to Battel They had in another case withstood the King's Declaration to them of going in person with his Army into the Field against Absalom 2 Sam. 18.3 There they did more than humbly disswade the King from going they did resolutely gainsay the King's Declaration but the People answered Thou shalt not go forth and gave their reason for it But here they carry their Resolution higher they swore unto the King thou shalt go no more to Battel c. What would some of our late Asserters and Promoters of the Absolute Power of Kings have said of this Case The Persons were all David's Subjects and yet they sware unto the King they sware unto the King without asking his leave or license they sware unto the King not to bind themselves to their Duty to him but to bind him and to bind him absolutely without limitation or restriction Thou shalt go no more out with us to Battel Tho their Concernment for the King and Kingdom 's Preservation and Welfare was good yet thus it would have been interpreted 1. To restrain the King from going out to Battel any more 2. And for them to swear that he should not go was to exercise an Act of Superiority and Usurpation over the King's Power and Liberty 3. And tho the End and Intention was good to preserve the King's Life and the Light of Israel yet was it not doing ill that good might come of it 4. Was it not ill done of David the King to suffer such an Oath to be made and an emboldning of Subjects to combine and to swear obtaining this to have what they list at any time Was it not a defect in David's Government to suffer this and to be imposed upon I shall not enter into Enquiries on this Subject but it is necessary to say something to the matter The Judgment of Peter Martyr a Reformer of great Learning Judgment and Sincerity is much to be valued Saith be Comment in 2 Sam. 21.17 The Men of Israel did piously think that the King should not be exposed to danger As the Members are willing to be endangered for the Head so it is the duty of good Subjects to take care of the Safety of their Princes And saith he it is not unbecoming Kings In chap. 18 sometimes to yield to the honest Counsels of their Subjects That which is obvious will keep us from falling into Briars in the dark 1. It is certain that David was a Sovereign King in his Kingdom 2. His Government was by God's Institution and Appointment 3. King and People were so united for the most part that they agreed in one common Design and End the Publick Good here called the Light of Israel The People did highly and justly honour and esteem the King 2 Sam. 18.3 and the King did sincerely regard their Prosperity and Happiness 4. The People were not a Generation of brutish Animals nor so despised they know wherein the Happiness of their Kingdom did consist and made bold to do more than petition they gainsaid the King's Will in conscience of his and the common Safety 5. The King did not oppose his Will against their Safety and free Resolutions neither but understanding their Will he condescended to it and without disputing Prerogative did acquiesce and yield 6. The People did highly value the King's Life above their own they would continue in their Loyalty to the King and Kingdom and undergo the Hazards of War in their Persons and go to War but provided for his Safety and the Safety of the Kingdom in his 7. The Peoples Sense of publick Dangers and publick Safety and their expressing and declaring that Sense is not inconsistent with their strictest Duty nor highest Honour towards a Sovereign King of God's own Designation And Self-denial for publick Benefit is no derogation from soveraign Power 8. The nature of their Oath was high and strict as if they had power so far to dispose of the King's Person as to bind him for his and the Kingdom 's undoubted Good and Welfare they sware unto the King that he should go no more out with them to Battel but they add their Reason That thou quench not the Light of Israel So much of the Peoples Act. 3dly The reason of their Oath to the King contains very excellent matter which being duly applied will be a means to continue to us the Light of our Israel 1. A good holy righteous King and Governour is given of God in Mercy to a People to be to them a great publick Blessing As the Sun is a Light to the World so is a good King to a Kingdom And this is the difference between a King of God's Donation and Appointment and a King by a judicial Permission to a dissatisfied discontented People The desire of all Israel was after a King 1 Sam. â— 20 8.5 19. and they had one granted them but what he proved need not here be repeated but as bad as he was he was true to the common Interest of the Kingdom against the Enemies thereof and went not about to subject it to foreign Powers When he was rejected God provided him a
King 1 Sam. 16.1 as he told Samuel and he whom God provided in Mercy was a Light to Israel God's Favour did shine upon Israel through David their King God hath as full a right to reject a King in our days as ever he had and to provide a King and that King whom God provides a wise People will highly esteem and God may justly be displeased at those who are not pleased with what God provides Do not they forget God's unlimited Soveraignty over all the Kingdoms of the World who assert the absolute Power of Kings in their own Dominions to set up and cast down without respect to Justice or Mercy But the God of the whole Earth hath in Justice driven away one and brought in another Greatest Mercy and shall we murmur at our Mercy 2. That as a good King is an eminent shining publick Blessing like the Light of the Sun so it is the duty and wisdom of a People to esteem and honour him as the great Gift of God So the Men of Israel did behold David as the Light of Israel they knew what a publick Benefit they received from him they remembred the evil Days of Saul 2 Sam. 1.19 c. out of which David in his Lamentation for him pick'd the best in comparison of which the Days of David were like Light compared to Darkness and Tempest But when a People shall be weary of Light or murmur against it or be dissatisfied with it and shall wish for Darkness Hail and Thunder Blasting and Mildew they sin against their Temporal State as they do against their Spiritual by loving Darkness rather than Light and without any fanciful Allusion but in real Truth they hate the Light because their Deeds are evil and lest they should be reproved and be obliged to be reformed 3. The Happiness of a Kingdom doth much depend upon the Life and Preservation of a good King Lest thou quench the Light of Israel not only the Light and Glory of his own Family and the House of David but the Light of Israel that the Light of Israel and not of Judah or Bethlehem only or any part of Israel but all Israel Their Light of Prosperity Peace and Glory was bound up in the Bundle of his Life 4. A People that are sensible of their Happiness and the Benefit of the Preservation of a good King will do all they can to preserve it The Men of Israel were sensible of the Advantage and Blessing of a good King and foresaw the loss that would befal them by his Death They valued him highly and yet really below his worth when they said 2 Sam. 18.3 4. He was worth ten thousand of them it had been a greater loss to have lost David than ten thousand of the People They value him according to his Worth when they admire and honour him as the very Light of Israel and therefore they do with all humility and earnestness oblige him to keep out of the reach of the Enemies Sword they will fight if he will keep himself safe at Home we will go out to Battel but thou shalt not go with us 5. Yet observe the reach of the Argument and Reason That thou quench not the Light of Israel A good King being a great and publick Blessing to his Kingdom should not expose himself to unnecessary Dangers but take care to preserve himself for the Kingdom 's sake and Benefit A clear Evidence that good Kings are not their own but their Kingdom 's The Argument is drawn from his own Safety and Danger and from their loyal Affection to him but the Argument reacheth further to the common and publick Danger if he hazard himself and the common and publick Benefit of Israel of the whole Kingdom that thou quench not thine own Light but ours also The Light of a King is for the Kingdom 's Good 6. A King is and a good King will reckon himself to be as much for his People the Publick and Universal Good as the People can be for him Here they intimate that they will go to Battel when there is cause and more they cannot venture more they cannot do than serve the King with their Estates and Lives but then if he be as the Light of Israel he should take care of himself with respect to them and their Benefit His Light is their Light and he should be as careful of theirs as of his own When it is well with the one it is well with the other 7. Yet again mark the words they do not say That the Light of Israel be not quenched but That thou quench not the Light of Israel This Reason grows out of the Sides of the former that a King receiving his Authority and Gifts from God under God for his Peoples Profit and Welfare should imploy all his Abilities for their Prosperity he should communicate and send forth all his Abilities and Powers as the Sun diffuseth his Influences upon inferior Bodies to make his People happy in him So on the contrary he should be exceeding tender of doing any thing that should be to their detriment and especially that he by going to Battel should die that he quench not their Light it would be his own Act that would be fatal to himself and them 4thly The last Particular in the Verse is the King's Acquiescence and tacit Concession and Permission of their Oath taken out of sincere Loyalty and Affection to the King's Preservation and their own in him In God's Kingdom and in a godly King's Reign the People might lawfully and without rebuke loyally admonish the King of the common Danger and more than petition even swear that he should not go forth to Battel that the Light of Israel be not quenched David was a Wise Holy Religious and Heroick Prince a King of long Experience and great Valour it was hard for him to refrain from a Battel altho he fainted But doth the Publick Happiness Glory and Prosperity depend upon it Doth it so much concern the Publick Do the Men of Israel remonstrate intreat and swear also then he takes himself to be obliged to condescend and acquiesce I am perswaded this Doctrine was true in those ancient and purest Times This was not a Surprize upon David or a Thing inconsiderately condescended to but what he yielded to once before in Absalom's Rebellion After that David had commanded and ordered his Army into three Bodies under three Generals and given them Orders he declared he would go forth with them 2 Sam. 18.3 4. And the King said unto the People I will surely go forth with you my self also But the People answered Thou shalt not go forth for if we flee away they will not care for us neither if half of us die will they care for us but thou art worth ten thousand of us therefore it is better that thou succour us out of the City And the King said unto them What seemeth you best I will do Here was
fled another Kingdom since to that same Enemy's Country again The Israelites yea Abner himself 2 Sam. 3.18 Chap. 5.2 thought David was the rightful King who had gone in and out before the People and had saved them from all their Enemies It is a lawful War for us to defend our selves against an open Enemy 3. The War of France against us is an unlawful War suppose it were as we clearly see it is not with a pure respect to the late King but if it were it would be our Duty to resist him 1. He was no lawful King of England according to the Law of England The lawful King of England is Supream in his Dominions in opposition to all Foreign Jurisdictions or Power out he subjected himself to a Foreign Jurisdiction and therefore lost it and ceased to be the King of England 2. There is no Allegiance due to any other according to Law but to a Protestant King whom we swear to defend in opposition to the Usurpation of the Bishop of Rome But the King was a professed Papist and own'd that Jurisdiction against which we swore Therefore c. 3. He is no King according to our Laws and therefore an Usurper and Tyrant that doth not swear to maintain our Laws He that shall endeavour to bring in Popery forbidden by Law and to root out the Religion established by Law doth not rule by Law Therefore c. That he did enâ—eavour to do so let us cousult his Letter written and sent to the Pope from Dublin now printed at the end of the Lord Preston's Trial Nov. 26. 1689. Most Holy Father c. The only Source of all these Rebellions against us is that we embraced the Catholick Faith and do nor disown but to spread the same not only in our three Kingdoms but over all the dispersed Colonies of our Subjects in America was our determination What greater Evidence of his Designs and Endeavours to bring in Popery contrary to our Laws than this He was King only in Possession He had been their Expectant and did actually succeed and had quiet Possession by God's Permission and the Kingdom 's Peaceableness till he went about to dissolve the very Foundations of the Government And our present lawful King then a Free Prince and no Subject of England See Grot. de jure Belli l. 2. c. 24. And the R. R. Bp. of St. Asaph 's Discourse came to deliver us and preserve our Laws and Liberties which was a lawful Act. His Invasion was a lawful Act and had it produced a War it had been a lawful War against a King that had fallen from his legal Kingly Supremacy by his own Fault and Act. 4. This War is a lawful War in respect of our Confederates though some of them are of a differing Religion from us Many of them as well as our King have received great Injuries from him and been oppressed by him and all have cause more than to suspect him of destructive Designs by his growing Power to make a Prey of Neighbouring Nations This might easily be proved lawful by the Example of Abraham Gen. 14. of David rescuing Keilah 1 Sam. 23. and made a prosperous War upon Hadarezar 1 Chron. 18.3 5. The miserably oppressed Subjects of France cry for Assistance to save them perishing and restore their just legal Liberties and Protestant Princes may be moved to engage on the behalf of the Persecuted Protestants whose Liberties and Religion were established by Edicts and Compacts 6. Our gracious Soveraign is engaged in this War by the most honourable Engagement that could induce and oblige a King to undertake a War the Conduct of the Confederates Armies entrusted with him Now what remaineth but that we all engage our Hearts to God and heartily concern our selves for the Preservation of his Majesty's Person under the safe Conduct of God and his Angels An Army of praying servent Souls may do great Service in this Publick Cause Pray and cry daily and mightily with God Wrestle with God in his own Power and when God is with us no Man can prevail against us Two Words more must be added to quicken us 1. The Apprehensions of the dreadful Consequences of the Extinction of the Lamp of Israel at Home which visibly appears to every considering Mind Our Enemies the Murmurers at Home are now weak but would soon lift up their Horns on high and a Spirit of Persecution enter into them and this quickly enraged by the Power of a King who hath made himself odious to humane Nature for it But we hope his Day is coming 2. Consider the now languishing expiring Weakness of Protestant Churches and Countries Abroad And both put together did ever so many Interests meet in one Person of Nations and of so many Kinds both Civil and Religious as depend under God upon our King's Preservation O then let us trust and pray without ceasing for him And so God save the King
may follow his Trade travel and be commonly very safe if he walk by Day for Day-light is a Defence unto him In these Instances you have heard the Benefit of a good King as he is the Light of a Kingdom Now hearken a little further and you shall see what cause a People have to honour and study the Happiness of such a King and their own in him 1. As the Light is immediately from God so is a holy religious wise and valiant King as David was a peculiar Creature of that glorious Maker and not a meer humane Creature as all that are constituted by Men and a peculiar Blessing and Treasure to a People that Fitness for Government which is in him the placing of him in his Throne the removing of him from one part of his Sphere to another is a Remove made by the special Providence of God God alone doth make the Light prepares and qualifies a King for Government and the more of Providence appears the greater is the Mercy to a People 2. As the Light is above the Earth for the benefit of things below him so is a King placed in a Degree of Sublimity above his Israel but altogether for Israel's Good A King is above but for his Subjects And as the Light of Heaven is placed in Heaven for the good of Creatures underneath so are Kings placed by God in high Places that their Vertues may descend upon their Inferiors 3. As the Light shines from above and sends and spreads forth its Powers and Influences afar off to all the Corners of the Earth so a good King doth not restrain but takes Pleasure in communicating his Goodness to all the parts of his Dominions He hath his Vehicles Means and Instruments to convey the Stores of Gifts and Abilities for Good which God hath enriched him with All People that do not forfeit should be the better for him and so all his Subjects should know how much the better they are for him the Riches of a King's Abilities are beyond all the Riches we entrust him with for our Peace and Safety 4. But notwithstanding these great Advantages the King had of doing Good and the People received from his diffusive Goodness yet he is liable to Mortality the Light of Israel may be quench'd he is a Light but such a Light as may be put out and quenched As Israel was so all People should be sensible of the publick Blessing and Good received from a King who is as the Light of Israel and should be much concerned and zealous for his Preservation as their own 1. You cannot but feel by reading the Words the true sense which the Men of Israel had of their Happiness in David he was a great Light to them communicating and streaming down the Effects of his Light upon them They remembred the Night out of which they came the Trouble and Confusion the Dangers and Injuries the Dishonours and Confusions which kept them in fears so long they considered the happy change in Affairs what a new Face the Light had given and not a Face of Affairs only but a strong Constitution of the Body of Israel and they foresaw what a Night would follow upon his Fall 2. They were much concerned and zealous for his Preservation he had escaped the Dangers of many Battels and so might do again his Strength failed but he was able for Conduct he was near to be slain by a resolute masty desperate Giant who thought to kill him but he was succoured seasonably and with Success and if ever hâ— should come out to Battel again they would all be ready to defend his Person Why might not he as long as he was able to endure the Fatigue with any Spirit go out to Battel Would not his Conduct and his Presence direct and animate them and so further the War towards a prosperous Issue None of these Suggestions nor many more could abate their Care nothing but this to keep himself safe in Jerusalem the City of the Lord of Hosts 3. They were so much concerned and so zealous for his Preservation as if all Israel should fall with him if he should fall in Battel That thou quench not the Light of Israel as if all the Light of Israel did shine from him and were all of it comprehended in him as the Lamp that gave Light to all the Branches As if the Sun should be put out the Moon and Stars would be extinguished If the Pillars of a State or Kingdom fall the Kingdom must needs come down and fall to Ruin and Confusion but if the Supporter of these Pillars fall the Pillars must fall and all that stand upon them and are supported by them Now said David The Earth and all the Inhabitants thereof are dissolved I bear up the Pillars of it Psal 75.3 The Earth that is Judea and all the Inhabitants thereof are dissolved are unlinked the Land lieth waste and like a Wilderness and the Inhabitants thereof are unbound and untied they are jealous and afraid of one another being dissolved into Factions and Parties some Pillars there are Psal 11.3 and I bear them up If the Foundations be destroyed if Towns Magistrates and Government and Order be destroyed what shall the Righteous do they shall be made a Prey What can we that are but few in Number and weak in Power do What can we do if the Foundations be destroyed till the Foundations of Religion Righteousness and Peace are laid Blessed David was like the Light in Heaven on high and like the Foundation beneath that bears up the Pillars which bear the House If the Light be quenched there follows Darkness and all the Confusions and Miseries of Darkness if the Foundations be dissolved what but Ruine Wo then to the Land if its Light and Glory pass away as of Necessity it will if thou put out the Light of Israel All stands and all falls together for if David be the Foundation and Israel the House if the Foundation fall the House will tumble and of a well-ordered Fabrick it will tumble into Heaps David and Israel the Glory of all Lands are but one united Light and he is the Sun in the Firmament if he be quenched our Glory will depart Thus were they concerned for themselves in David their King And how could any People in the World express more care and zeal towards him than they did in so few words 1. They unanimously consent to prevail with him to keep himself as choicely as might be as you would keep in a Lamp or Light growing low in the Socket of expiring Age. 2. They swear to him that he shall not go out to Battel 3. They tell him there will be no need of his going for they will go to Battel as willingly as if he were with them 4. Surely David who had been their Light would not be accessary to or guilty of so great a Mischief as to put out their Light they presume upon it that he would
not do such an Act Would he be such an Enemy unto them now as to turn their Day into Night Surely no therefore they oblige him not to expose himself for if Evil should befal him Evil would befal them and they should impute it to him it would be the worst of Acts and it would be his own he felt the Zeal of a loyal People which melted him into a compliance with their Desires APPLICATION Vse 1. This is not a Day to dissemble nor slatter God nor Man I shall speak nothing in the Use but according to the Truth in the Doctrines raised from this Text I shall speak because I do believe and nothing but what I believe I speak my Judgment and my Conscience and therefore I will speak freely and boldly I would not be deceived nor misinformed my self nor would I mislead you into any Error nor now forbear to instruct you in Duty in a great Duty in a needful time Was David a Light to Israel Did Israel account him so Were they tender of him Were they concerned and zealous for him as the greatest Blessing of their Age and Nation O what cause have we to bless God for that singular Blessing God hath bestowed upon us of these Nations in our King and Queen who are both but one great resplendent Light of our Israel Give me leave to speak freely for your Profit and Information 1. As they are both Lights 2. As they are both joined in one Light 3. As they are both our Light the Light of Israel 1. As they are both Light and as they are both one Light one in concord of Judgment and Affection one in consort of Government Are they not both Light by Illumination in the same Faith and Religion Are they not Light for Wisdom and Knowledg able to direct and order the great and manifold Affairs of Government both Military and Civil Are they not Light by the conspicuity of their eminent Qualities and Example Are they not Light diffusing the blessed Influences of their Royal Goodness and Authority to all the Corners of their Dominions Who but obstinate Rebels or sullen Male-contents will not acknowledg this And was more Clemency ever shewed towards open Rebels or offered and declared to Murmurers than by our gracious King and Queen Let disaffected Persons speak like Men of Sense and Reason much more like Men of Conscience and they must by speaking Truth reprove their own Murmuring and Discontents Are they not Lights who have set up Stars and Angels burning Lights in the Church and restored them to light who for many years were under Clouds and the lowring Aspect of the Rulers of the Kingdom and given them liberty to take their several Candlesticks to give out their Light and spend their Oil Is it not by their Light that Popish and Antichristian Darkness and thick Darkness is fled away or constrained to keep up close not in Holes and Caverns of the Earth nor into Prisons and Dungeons indeed but into Coverts and Shelters How is Westminster-Hall enlightned by learned and able Judges excellent in opening and deciding Cases and Controversies clearing and summing up Evidences pronouncing righteous Judgment even to the conviction of the obstinate and deeply-engaged Enemies of our Peace Mr. Ashton in his Trial. that their Proceedings were fair and equal What Iniquity was to be found in the Seats of Judgment before is yet felt by all Conditions in the Land and above all by the best of Men What a Set was there of Judges Juries and Evidences for the Designs of Kings What Discoveries have been made of the Secrets Plots and Contrivances hatch'd in Cabals and hidden Counsels of our Confederate Enemies for the Ruin of Church and State by the appearing of this great Light By this Light we see the Pathes of our Destroyers and the stupendious Providences of God in countermining their pernicious Endeavours By this Light we know where we were bought and sold and whither some of us were gone and others going The Apostle speaks of the nature and benefit of Light Whatsoever maketh manifest is Light Ephes 5.15 It is from this Light we have such full discoveries of the secret Counsels of Conspirators and by this Light we have the things that belong to our Peace laid open to our Election and the way of Peace pointed out if we have but Wisdom and Hearts to walk therein What a Light and Joy did their Ascent into the Throne God making them way to it bring to the Oppressed in these Kingdoms and to our persecuted Brethren from abroad It was the springing of their Light that gave cause to the Reformed Churches to sing The Winter is past or passing away that the Rain is over and gone O what a cold Winter was it in Ireland and France and the Valleys in Scotland and to them who by a Christian Sympathy felt their Cold How hungry and cold naked and miserable were our persecuted Brethren that were driven from their Houses stripp'd naked without as much as the shortest or thinnest covering of their Nakedness cruel Impudence of the most inhumane degenerate part of Mankind worse than Brutes as bad as Devils could make them or desire them to be See the History of the Persecution in France Savoy and Orange And Mous Jurieu's Letters How miserable a Sight was it to see Death sit upon their Faces and worse than Death about them their worse than barbarous Heathenish Enemies How miserable was their Bondage under them worse than Egypt for in Egypt the People of God had Flesh-pots and Onions such as the Earth did yield such they did eat But these persecuted Fellow-members of the same Body had scarce Morsels of Bread knodden with dirty Water Dirt and Gravel to keep them from utter starving when not any of this impenitent stupid carnal Generation who live after the Flesh and mind the things of the Flesh felt the Cold the Nakedness and pinching Bitterness of that Winter Our Protestant Brethren of France Savoy Ireland and Scotland do rejoice in this Light to feel so much of the Winter past over as they have done and to see so much of the Rain the Tribulation that beats upon the House and tries whether it be built on the Rock or the Sand blown over and gone It is because of this Light that the Flowers appear on the Earth the time of the Singing of Birds is come and the Voice of the Turtle is heard in our Land Cantic 2.11 12. O that the blindest and perversest among us had Eyes to see this great Light that now shines upon our Land 'T is true indeed our Lights come short of Omniscience all things are not naked and bare unto them they cannot see in secret and know not what is in Man as our Saviour did when he did not commit himself to them who came in unto him They are as far from Infallibility as they are from Popery the Darkness and the Light are not alike to them