first encounter the Philistim receiues the first foile and shall first let in death into his eare ere it enter into his forehead Thou com'st to me with a sword and a speare and a sheild but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of Hosts the God of the host of Israel whom thou hast railed vpon This day shall the Lord close thee in my hand and I shall smite thee and take thine head from thee Here is another stile not of a boaster but of a Prophet Now shall Goliah know whence to expect his bane euen from the hands of a reuenging God that shall smite him by Dauid and now shall learne too late what it is to meddle with an enemy that goes vnder the inuisible protection of the Almighty No sooner hath Dauid spoken then his foot and hand second his tongue Hee runnes to fight with the Philistim It is a cold courage that stands onely vpon defence As a man that saw no cause of feare and was full of the ambition of victory hee flyes vpon that monster and with a stone out of his bag smites him in the forehead There was no part of Goliah that was capable of that danger but the face and that piece of the face the rest was defenced with a brazen wall which a weake sling would haue tryed to batter in vaine What could Goliah feare to see an aduersary come to him without edge or point And behold that one part hath God found out for the entrance of death He that could haue caused the stone to passe through the shield and brest-plate of Goliah rather directs the stone to that part whose nakednesse gaue aduantage Where there is power or possibility of nature God vses not to worke miracles but chuses the way that lies most open to his purposes The vaste fore-head was a faire marke but how easily might the sling haue missed it if there had not beene another hand in this cast besides Dauids Hee that guided Dauid into this field and raised his courage to this combat guides the stone to his end and lodges it in that seat of impudence There now lyes the great Defier of Israel groueling and grinning in death and is not suffered to deale one blow for his life and bites the vnwelcome earth for indignation that he dies by the hand of a Shepheard Earth and Hell share him betwixt them such is the end of insolence and presumption O God what is flesh and blood to thee which canst make a little peeble-stone stronger then a Gyant and when thou wilt by the weakest meanes canst strew thine enemies in the dust Where now are the two shields of Goliah that they did not beare off this stroke of death or wherefore serues that Weauers beame but to strike the earth in falling or that sword but to behead his Master What needed Dauid load himselfe with an vnnecessary weapon one sword can serue both Goliah and him If Goliah had a man to beare his shield Dauid had Goliah to beare his sword wherewith that proud blasphemous head is seuered from his shoulders Nothing more honours God then the turning of wicked mens forces against themselues There is none of his enemies but caries with them their owne destruction Thus didst thou O Sonne of Dauid foyle Satan with his owne weapon that whereby he meant destruction to thee and vs vanquished him through thy mighty power and raised thee to that glorious triumph and super-exaltation wherein thou art wherein we shall bee with thee IONATHANS Loue and SAVLS Enuy. BEsides the discomsiture of the Philistims Dauids victory had a double issue Ionathans Loue and Sauls Enuy which God so mixed that the one was a remedy of the other A good sonne makes amends for a way-ward father How precious was that stone that killed such an enemy as Goliah and purchased such a friend as Ionathan All Sauls Courtiers lookt vpon Dauid none so affected him none did match him but Ionathan That true correspondence that was both in their faith and valour hath knit their hearts If Dauid did set vpon a Beare a Lyon a Gyant Ionathan had set vpon a whole Host and preuailed The same Spirit animated both the same Faith incited both the same Hand prospered both All Israel was not worth this paire of friends so zealously confident so happily victorious Similitude of dispositions and estates tyes the fastest knots of affection A wise soule hath piercing eyes and hath quickly discerned the likenesse of it selfe in another as we doe no sooner looke into the Glasse or Water but face answers to face and where it sees a perfect resemblance of it selfe cannot choose but loue it with the same affection that it reflects vpon it selfe No man saw Dauid that day which had so much cause to dis-affect him none in all Israel should be a loser by Dauids successe but Ionathan Saul was sure enough setled for his time onely his Successor should forgoe all that which Dauid should gaine so as none but Dauid stands in Ionathans light and yet all this cannot abate one ior or dram of his loue Where God vniteth hearts carnall respects are too weake to disseuer them since that which breakes off affection must needs be stronger then that which conioyneth it Ionathan doth not desire to smother his loue by concealment but professes it in his cariage actions He puts off the Robe that was vpon him and all his garments euen to his Sword and Bow and Girdle giues them vnto his new friend It was perhaps not without a mystery that Sauls cloths fitted not Dauid but Ionathans fitted him and these he is as glad to weare as he was to be disburthened of the other that there might be a perfect resemblance their bodies are suted as well as their hearts Now the beholders can say there goes Ionathans other selfe If there bee another body vnder those clothes there is the same soule Now Dauid hath cast off his russet coate and his scrip and is a Shepheard no more he is suddenly become both a Courtier and a Captaine and a Companion to the Prince yet himselfe is not changed with his habit with his condition yea rather as if his wisedome had reserued it selfe for his exaltation he so manageth a sudden Greatnesse as that he winneth all hearts Honour shewes the man and if there be any blemishes of imperfection they will bee seene in the man that is inexpectedly lifted aboue his fellowes He is out of the danger of folly whom a speedy aduancement leaueth wise Ionathan loued Dauid the Souldiers honoured him the Court fauoured him the people applauded him onely Saul stomackt him and therefore hated him because he was so happy in all besides himselfe It had beene a shame for all Israel if they had not magnified their Champion Sauls owne heart could not but tell him that they did owe the glory of that day and the safety of himselfe and Israel vnto the sling of Dauid who in
Philistims may be against him The purpose of any fauour is more then the value of it Euen the greatest honours may be giuen with an intent of destruction Many a man is raised vp for a fall So forward is Saul in the match that hee sends spokes men to sollicit Dauid vnto that honour which he hopes will proue the high-way to death The dowry is set An hundred fore-skins of the Philistims not their heads but their fore-skins that this victory might bee more ignominious still thinking why may not one Dauid miscary as well as an hundred Philistims And what doth Sauls enuy all this while but enhance Dauids zeale and valour and glorie That good Captaine little imagining that himselfe was the Philistim whom Saul maligned supererogates of his Master and brings two hundred for one and returnes home safe and renowned neither can Saul now fly for shame There is no remedy but Dauid must be a sonne where he was a riuall and Saul must feed vpon his owne heart since he cannot see Dauids Gods blessing graces equally together with mans malice neither can they deuise which way to make vs more happy then by wishing vs euill MICHALS wyle THis aduantage can Saul yet make of Dauids promotion that as his Aduersarie is raised higher so hee is drawne nearer to the opportunity of death Now hath his enuy cast off all shame and since those craftie plots succeed not hee directly subornes Murtherers of his riuall There is none in all the Court that is not set on to bee an Executioner Ionathan himselfe is sollicited to imbrue his hand in the blood of his friend of his Brother Saul could not but see Ionathans cloathes on Dauids backe he could not but know the league of their loue yet because he knew withall how much the prosperitie of Dauid would preiudice Ionathan he hoped to haue found him his sonne in malice Those that haue the Iaundis see all things yellow those which are ouergrowne with malicious passions thinke all men like themselues I doe not heare of any reply that Ionathan made to his father when he gaue him that bloody charge but he waits for a fit time to disswade him from so cruell an iniustice Wisdome had taught him to giue way to rage and in so hard an aduenture to craue aide of opportunitie If we be not carefull to obserue good moodes when wee deale with the passionate we may exasperate in stead of reforming Thus did Ionathan who knowing how much better it is to be a good friend then an ill sonne had not onely disclosed that ill counsell but when be found his father in the fields in a calmes temper laboured to diuert it And so farre doth the seasonable and pithy Oratory of Ionathan preuaile that Saul is conuinced of his wrong and sweares As God liues Dauid shall not die Indeed how could it be otherwise vpon the plea of Dauids innocence and well-deseruings How could Saul say he should dye whom hee could accuse of nothing but faithfulnesse Why should he designe him to death which had giuen life to all Israel Oft-times wicked mens iudgements are forced to yeeld vnto that truth against which their affections maintaine a rebellion Euen the foulest hearts doe sometimes entertaine good motions like as on the contrary the holiest soules giue way sometimes to the suggestions of euill The flashes of lightning may be discerned in the darkest Prisons But if good thoughts looke into a wicked heart they stay not there as those that like not their lodging they are soone gone Hardly any thing distinguishes betwixt good and euill but continuance The light that shines into an holy heart is constant like that of the Sunne which keepes due times and varies not his course for any of these sublunary occasions The Philistim Warres renue Dauids victories and Dauids victory renues Sauls enuy and Sauls enuy renues the plots of Dauids death Vowes and Oaths are forgotten That euill spirit which vexes Saul hath found so much fauour with him as to winne him to these bloody machinations against an innocent His owne hands shall first bee imployed in this execution The speare which hath twice before threatned death to Dauid shall now once againe goe vpon that message Wise Dauid that knew the danger of an hollow friend and reconciled enemy and that found more cause to mind Sauls earnest then his owne play giues way by his nimblenesse to that deadly weapon and resigning that stroke vnto the wall flies for his life No man knowes how to be sure of an vnconscionable man If either goodnesse or merit or affinitie or reasons or oaths could secure a man Dauid had been safe now if his heeles doe not more befriend him then all these hee is a dead man No sooner is hee gone then messengers are sped after him It hath been seldome seene that wickednesse wanted Executioners Dauids house is beset with Murderers which watch at all his doores for the opportunitie of blood Who can but wonder to see how God hath fetch from the loines of Saul a remedy for the malice of Sauls heart His owne children are the onely meanes to crosse him in the sinne and to preserue his guiltlesse Aduersarie Michal hath more then notice of the plot and with her subtill with countermines her father for the rescue of an Husband Shee taking the benefit of the night lets Dauid downe through a window Hee is gone and disappoints the ambushes of Saul The messengers begin to be impatient of this delay and now thinke it time to inquire after their Prisoner She whiles them off with the excuse of Dauids sicknes so as now her Husband had good leisure for his escape and layes a Statue in his bed Saul likes the newes of any euill befalne to Dauid but fearing he is not sicke enough sends to aide his disease The messengers returne and rushing into the house with their Swords drawne after some harsh words to their imagined charge surprize a sicke Statue lying with a Pillow vnder his head and now blush to see they haue spent all their threats vpon a senselesse stocke and made themselues ridiculous whiles they would be seruiceable But how shall Michal answer this mockage vnto her furious father Hitherto shot hath done like Dauid wife now she begins to be Sauls Daughter He said to me Let me goe or else I will kill thee Shee whose wit had deliuered her Husband from the Sword of her Father now turnes the edge of her Fathers wrath from her selfe to her Husband His absence made her presume of his safety If Michal had not bin of Sauls plot he had neuer expostulated with her in those termes Why hast thou let mine enemy escapeâ— neither had she framed that answer He said Let me goe I doe not find any great store of religion in Michal for both she had an Image in the house afterward mocked Dauid for his deuotion yet Nature hath taught her to prefer an Husband to a Father to chide a
and lumpish Carnall hearts are euer in extremitie If they bee once downe their deiection is desperate because they haue no inward comfort to mitigate their sorrow What difference there was betwixt the disposition of Dauid and Nabal How oft had Dauid beene in the valley of the shaddow of death and feared no euill Nabal is but once put in minde of a death that might haue beene and is stricken dead It is iust with God that they who liue without grace should die without comfort neither can we expect better while we goe on in our sinnes The speech of Abigail smote Nabal into a qualme that tongue had doubtlesse oft aduised him well and preuailed not now occasions his death whose reformation it could not effect shee meant nothing but his amendment God meant to make that louing instrument the meanes of his reuenge shee speakes and God strikes and within tenne dayes that swound ends in death And now Nabal payes deare for his vncharitable reproach for his riotous excesse That God which would not suffer Dauid to right himselfe by his owne Sword takes the quarrell of his Seruant into his owne hand Dauid hath now his ends without sinne reioycing in the iust executions of God who would neither suffer him to sinne in reuenging nor suffer his Aduersaries to sinne vnreuenged Our louing God is more angry with the wrongs done to his seruants than themselues can be and knowes how to punish that iustly which we could not vndertake without wronging God more than 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 Fauourite of him whose displeasure and reuenge is euerlasting How farre God lookes beyond our purposes Abigail came onely to pleade for an ill Husband and now God makes this iourney a preparation for a better So that in one act she preserued an ill Husband and wonne a good one for the future Dauid well remembers her comely person her wise speeches her gracefull carriage and now when modesty found it seasonable hee sends to sue 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 stead of Nabals Dâ—udge shee that learned humility vnder so hard a Tutor abaseth her selfe no lesse when Dauid offers to aduance her Let thine Hand-mayde bee a Seruant to wash the feete of the Seruants of my LORD None are so fit to bee gre t as those that can stoope lowest How could Dauid bee more happy in a Wife hee findes at once Pietie Wisedome Humilitie Faithfulnesse Wealth Beautie How could Abigail bee more happie in an Husband than in the Prophet the Champion the Annointed of God Those Mariages were well made wherein Vertues are matched and Happinesse is mutuall DAVID and ACHISH GOod motions that fall into wicked hearts are like some sparkes that fall from the flint and steele into wet tinder light some for the time but soone out After Sauls teares and protestations yet he is now againe in the wildernesse with three thousand men to hunt after innocent Dauid How inuincible is the charity and loialty of an honest heart The same hand that spared Saul in the caue spares him sleeping in the field The same hand that cut away the lap of his Masters garment carried away his Speare that Speare which might as well haue carried away the life of the owner is onely borne 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 flieth from him whom hee hath ouercome A man that sees how farre Saul was transported with his rancorous enuy cannot but say that he was neuer more mad than when he was sober For euen after he had said Blessed art thou my sonne Dauid thou shalt doe great things and also preuaile yet still he pursues him whom he grants assured to preuaile what is this but to resolue to lose 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 wel doing and yet doe it not whiles wicked men cast away their indeuours 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 beginnes to bend vnder this triall and resolues so to flie from Saul as he runnes from the Church of God and whiles he will auoid 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 afraid of ten thousands now sayes I shall perish one day by the hand of Saul Hee had woont to consult with God now he sayes thus in his owne heart How many euident experiments had Dauid of Gods deliuerances how certaine and cleere predictions of his future Kingdome how infallible earnest was the holy Oyle wherewith he was annointed 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 darkenesse and infidelity We doe vtterly misreckon 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 hee gone from the inheritance of God into the Land of the Philistims That Saul might seeke him no more he 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 doores and let his spittle fall 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 hee was in danger to haue lost in Israel Goliah the Champion of the Philistims whom Dauid slew was of Gath yet Dauid dwels with Achish King of the Philistims in Gath euen amongst them whose fore-skins hee had presented to Saul by two hundreds at once doth Dauid choose to reside for safety Howsoeuer it was a weaknesse 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 COVLD Saul haue rightly considered it hee had found it no small losse and impayring to his Kingdome that so valiant a Captaine attended with sixe hundred able Souldiers and their Families should forsake his Land and ioyne with his enemies yet hee is not quiet till hee haue abandoned his owne strength The world hath none so great enemy to a wicked man as himselfe his hands cannot bee 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 be fidelitie without the Church and falshood within It need not bee any newes to finde some Turkes true and some Christians faithlesse EVEN vnwise men are taught by experience how much more they who haue wit to learne without it Dauid had well found what it was to liue in a Court Hee therefore whom Enuie droue from the Court of Israel voluntarily declines the Philistim Court and sues 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 sonnes or brothers or fathers or allies hee had slaughtered without some perillous machination of his ruine therefore hee makes suit for an early remoue For why should thy seruant dwell in the chiefe Citie of the Kingdome with thee Those that would stand sure must not affect too much height or conspicuitie The tall Cedars are most subiect to windes 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 safetie in mediocritie How rarely is it seene that a man loseth by his modestie The change fell out well to Dauid of Ziklag for Gath Now hee hath a Citie of his owne All Israel where he was annointed afforded him not so much possession Now the Citie 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 fight and hearing of the Philistim Idolatries and enioy God no lesse in the wals of a Philistim-Citie than in an Israelitish wildernesse withal an happy oportunitie was now opened to his friends of Irael to resort vnto his aide the heads of the thousands that were of Menasseh and many valiant Captaines of the other Tribes fell daily to him and raised his six hundred followers to an army like the host of God The deserts of Israel could neuer haue yeelded Dauid so great an aduantage That God whose the earth is makes roome for his owne euery where and oft-times prouideth them a forraine home more kindly than the natiue It is no matter for change of our soyle so we change not our God If we can euery-where acknowledge him he will no where bee wanting to vs. IT was not for Gods Champion to be idle no sooner is he free from Sauls sword than he beginnes â—n offensiue warre against the Amalekites Girzites Geshurites Hee knew these Nations branded by God to destruction neither could his increasing Army bee maintained with a little By one act therefore hee both reuenges for God and prouides for his Host Had it not beene for that olde 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 else were no better than damnable It is now Iustice which were otherwise Murder The will of God is the rule of good what need we enquire into other reasons of any act or determination when we heare it comes from Heauen How many hundred yeares had this brood of Cananites liued securely in their Countrey 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 safetie 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 bee 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 hee was driuen not onely to maintaine his Armie by spoyle but to colour his spoyle by a sinfull dissimulation Hee tels Achish that hee had beene rouing against the South of Iudah and the South of the Ierahmelites and the South of the Kenites either falsly or doubtfully so as hee meant to deceiue him vnder whom he liued and by whom hee was trusted If Achish were a Philistim yet hee was Dauids friend yea his Patron and if hee had bin 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 hee will bee tempted If a man will put himselfe among Philistims hee cannot promise to come forth innocent How easily doe wee beleeue that which we wish The more credit Achish giues vnto Dauid the more sinne 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 doe any lesse than promise his aid 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 hee doe now To fight with Achish hee 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 bee vnnaturall Oh what an inward battle must Dauid needs haue in his brest when hee thinkes of this battle of Israel
the goods Wise and holy Dauid whose prayse was no lesse to ouercome his owne in time of peace than his enemies in warre cals his contending followers from Law to equitie 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 there fellowes A sentence wel-beseeming the Iustice of Gods Annoynted Those that represent God vpon earth should resemble him in their proceeding It is the iust mercie of our God to measure vs by our wils not by our abilities to recompence vs graciously according to the truth of our desires and endeauours and to account that performed by vs which hee only letteth vs from performing It were wide with vs if sometimes purpose did not supply actions Whiles our heart faulteth not wee that through spirituall sicknesse are faine to abide by the stuffe shall share both in grace and glorie with the Victors The death of SAVL THe Witch of Endor had halfe slaine Saul before the Battell it is just that they who consult with Deuils should goe away with discomfort Hee hath eaten his last bread at the hand of a Sorceresse and now necessitie drawes him into that field where hee sees nothing but despaire Had not Saul beleeued the ill newes of the counterfeite Samuel hee had not beene strooke downe on the ground with words Now his beliefe made him desperate Those actions which are not sustayned by hope must needes languish and are only promoted by outward compulsion Whiles the mind 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 likelihood one selfe-same day saw Dauid a victor ouer the Amalekites 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 wee doe ill to looke to speede 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 Sauls measure might bee full God is long ere hee strikes but when hee doth it is to purpose First Israel flees and fals downe wounded in Mount Gilboa They had their part in Sauls sinne they were actors in Dauids persecution Iustly therefore doe they suffer with him whom they had seconded in offence As it is hard to bee good vnder an euill Prince so it is as rare not to bee enwrapped in his iudgments 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 holinesse if sinceritie of heart could haue beene any defence against mortalitie Ionathan had suruiued Now by their wounds and death no man can descerne which is Ionathan The soule onely findes the difference which the body admitteth not Death is the common gate both to Heauen and Hell wee 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 than God conducteth him to glory The best cannot bee happy but through their dissolution Now therefore hath Ionathan no cause of complaint hee is by the rude and cruell 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 glorie to the friend of Dauid The Philistim-archers shot at randome God directs their arrowes into the bodie of Saul Lest 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 he begs of his Armour-bearer that deaths-blow which else hee must to the doubling of his indignation receiue from a Philistim Hee begges this bloudie fauour of his seruant and is denyed Such an awefulnesse hath God placed in souereigntie that no intreatie no extreamitie can moue the hand against it What metall are those men made of that can suggest or resolue and attempt the violation of Maiestie Wicked men care more for the sâ—â—â—e of the World than the danger of their soule Despâ—â—â—â— Saul will now supply his Armor-bearer and as a man that 〈◊〉 armes against himselfe he falls vpon his owâ—â— Sword What if he had died by the 〈◊〉 of a Philistin So did his sinne Ionathan and lost no glory These conceits of disreputation preuaile with carnall hearts aboue all spirituall respects There is no greater murderer 〈◊〉 glory Nothing more argues an heart voide of grace than to bee transporte onâ— idle popularity into actions preiudiciaâ—â—â— to the Soule Euill examples especially of the great neuer escaped imitation the Aâ—â—â—or-beateâ— of Saul followes his Master and came doe that to himselfe which to his King hee durst not as if their owne Swords had beeing more familiar executions 〈◊〉 they yeelded vnto them what they grudged to their pursuers From the beginning was Sauls euer his owne enemy neither did any hands hurt him but his owne to and now his death is sutable 〈◊〉 his life his owne hand paies his â—â—â—ard of all his wickednesse The end of Hypocrites and enuious men is commonly fearefull Now is the bloud of Gods Priests which Saul shed and of Dauid which hee would haue shed required and requited The euill spirit had said the euening before To â—â—rrow thou shalt bee with mee and now Saul hasteth to make the Deuill no Liemâ—â—â—â—â—er than faile he giues himselfe his owne Mittimus Oh the wofull extremities of a despairing soule plunging him euer into a greater mischiefe to auoide the lesse He might haâ—â— beene a patient in anothers violence and faultinesse now whiles hee will needs act the Philistins part vpon himselfe he liued and died a Murderer The case is deadly when the Prisoner breakes the Iayle and will not stay for his deliuery and though we 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 hainous and such as without repentance kils the soule It was the next day ere the Philistims knew
against this Philistim to fight with him for thou art a boy and hee is a man of warre from his youth Euen Saul seconds Eliab in the conceit of this disparitie and if Eliab speake out of enuy Saul speakes out of iudgement both iudge as they were iudged of by the stature All this cannot weaken that heart which receiues his strength from faith Dauids greatest conflict is with his friends The ouercomming of their disswasions that he might fight was more worke then to ouercome his enemy in fighting Hee must first iustifie his strength to Saul ere he may proue it vpon Goliah Valour is neuer made good but by tryall He pleads the tryall of his puissance vpon the Beare and the Lyon that hee may haue leaue to proue it vpon a worse beast then they Thy seruant slew both the Lyon and the Beare therefore this vncircumcised Philistim shall be as one of them Experience of good successe is no small comfort to the heart this giues possibilitie and hope but no certainty Two things there were on which Dauid built his confidence on Goliahs sinne and Gods deliuerance Seeing he hath railed on the host of the liuing God The Lord that deliuered me out of the pawes of the Lion and the Beare he wil deliuer me out of the hand of this Philistim Well did Dauid know that if this Philistims skin had beene as hard as the brasse of his shield his sinne would make it penetrable by euery stroke After all brags of manhood hee is impotent that hath prouoked God Whiles other labour for outward fortification happy and safe were wee if we could labour for innocence Hee that hath found God present in one extremitie may trust him in the next Euery sensible fauour of the Almightie inuites both his gifts and our trust Resolution thus grounded makes euen Saul himselfe confident Dauid shall haue both his leaue and his blessing If Dauid came to Saul as a Shepheard hee shall goe toward Goliah as a Warriour The attire of the King is not too rich for him that shall fight for his King and Country Little did Saul thinke that his helmet was now on that head which should once weare his crowne Now that Dauid was arrayed in the warlike habit of a King and girded with his sword hee lookt vpon himselfe and thought this outside glorious but when he offred to walke and found that the attire was not so strong as vnweeldy and that it might be more for show then vse hee layes downe these accoustrements of honor and as caring rather to bee an homely victor then a glorious spoile he craues pardon to goe in no clothes but his owne he takes his staffe in stead of the speare his shepherds scrip in stead of his brigandine and in stead of his sword hee takes his sling and in stead of darts and iauelins hee takes fiue smooth stones out of the brooke Let Sauls coate bee neuer rich and his armour neuer so strong what is Dauid the better if they fit him not It is not to bee enquired how excellent any thing is but how proper Those things which are helpes to some may be encombrances to others An vnmeet good may be as inconuenient as an accustomed euill If we could wish another mans honor when wee feele the weight of his cares we should be glad to be in our owne cote Those that depend vpon the strength of Faith though they neglect not meanes yet they are not curious in the proportion of outward meanes to the effect desired Where the heart is armed with an assured confidence a sling and a stone are weapons enow to the vnbeleeuing no helps are sufficient Goliah though he were presumptuous enough yet had one shield caried before him another hee caried on his shoulder neither will his sword alone content him but he takes his speare too Dauids armour is his plaine shepheards russet and the brooke yeelds him his artillery and he knowes there is more safety in his cloth then in the others brasse and more danger in his peebles then the others speare Faith giues both heart and armes The inward munition is so much more noble because it is of proofe for both soule and body If we be furnished with this how boldly shall wee meet with the powers of darknesse and goe away more then conquerors Neither did the quality of Dauids weapons bewray more confidence then the number If he will put his life and victory vpon the stones of the brooke why doth he not fill his scrip full of them why will he content himselfe with fiue Had he been furnished with store the aduantage of his nimblenesse might haue giuen him hope If one faile that yet another might speed But now this paucity puts the dispatch to a sudden hazard and he hath but fiue stones cast either to death or victory still the fewer helps the stronger faith Dauid had an instinct from God that he should ouercome he had not a particular direction how he should ouercome For had he beene at first resolued vpon the sling and stone he had saued the labor of girding his sword It seemes whiles they were addressing him to the combat he made account of hand-blowes now he is purposed rather to send then bring death to his aduersarie In either or both he durst trust God with the successe and before-hand through the conflict saw the victorie It is sufficient that wee know the issue of our fight If our weapons and wards vary according to the occasion giuen by God that is nothing to the euent sure we are that if we resist we shall ouercome and if wee ouercome wee shall be crowned When Dauid appeared in the lists to so vnequall an aduersarie as many eyes were vpon him so in those eyes diuers affections The Israelites lookt vpon him with pitty and feare and each man thought Alas why is this comely stripling suffred to cast away himselfe vpon such a monster why will they let him goe vnarmed to such an affray Why will Saul hazard the honour of Israel on so vnlikely an head The Philistims especially their great Champion lookt vpon him with scorne disdayning so base a combitant Am I a dog that thou com'st to me with staues What could be said more fitly Hadst thou beene any other then a dog O Goliah thou hadst neuer opened thy foule mouth to barke against the host of God and the God of hosts If Dauid had thought thee any other then a very dogge hee had neuer come to thee with a staffe and a stone The last words that euer the Philistim shall speak are curses brags Come to me and I will giue thy flesh vnto the Fowles of the heauen and the beasts of the field Seldome euer was there a good end of ostentation Presumption is at once the presage and cause of ruine He is a weake aduersary that can bee killed with words That man which could not feare the Gyants hand cannot feare his tongue If words shall
issue can distinguish betwixt a Dauid and a Doeg when they are both in the Tabernacle Honest Ahimelech could little suspect that he now offered a Sacrifice for his Executioner yea for the Murtherer of all his Family Oh the wise and deepe iudgements of the Almighty God owed a reuenge to the House of Eli and now by the delation of Doeg he takes occasion to pay it It was iust in God which in Doeg was most vniust Sauls cruelty and the trecherie of Doeg doe not lose one dram of their guilt by the Counsell of God neither doth the holy Counsell of God gather any blemish by their wickednesse If it had pleased God to inflict death vpon them sooner without any pretence of occasion his Iustice had beene cleere from all imputations now if Saul and Doeg be in stead of a pestilence or feuer who can cauill The iudgements of God are not open but are alwaies iust He knowes how by one mans sinne to punish the sinne of another and by both their sinnes and punishments to glorifie himselfe If his word sleepe it shall not dye but after long intermissions breakes forth in those effects which wee had forgotten to looke for and ceased to feare O Lord thou art sure when thou threatnest and iust when thou iudgest Keepe thou vs from the sentence of death else in vaine shall we labour to keepe our selues from the execution Contemplations THE FOVRTEENTH BOOKE Containing SAVL in DAVIDS Caue NABAL and ABIGAIL DAVID and ACHISH SAVL and the Witch of Endor ZIKLAG spoyled and reuenged The death of SAVL ABNER and IOAB By IOS HALL D. of Diuinitie and Deane of WORCESTER 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 HONOVRABLE AFter some vnpleasing intermissions Ireturne to that taske of Contemplation wherin onely my soule findeth rest Jf in other imployments I haue indeuoured 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 importunitie of an Aduersary may force me to fetch it in If Truth oppressed by an erroneous Teacher cry like a rauisht Virgin for my aid J betray it if J releeue it not when J haue done J 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 heart 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 whereof hath so farre affected mee that if I might doe it without danger of mis-construction I could beg euen of an Enemie this leaue to bee happy I haue already giuen account to the World of some expences of my houres this way and heere I bring more which if some Reader may censure as poore none can censure as vnprofitable J am bold to write them vnder your Honorable Name whereto I am deeply obliged that I may leaue behinde me this meane but faithfull Testimony of mine humble thankfulnesse to your Lordship and your most honoured and vertuous Ladie The noble respects J haue had from you both deserue my Prayers and best seruices which shall neuer be wanting to you and yours From your Honours sincerely deuoted in all true duty IOS HALL Contemplations SAVL IN DAVIDS CAVE IT was the strange lot of Dauid that those whom he pursued preserued him from those whom he 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 hillocke 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 renewed chase hunts him dry-foot thorow euery wildernesse The very Desart is too faire a refuge for innocence The hils and rockes are searched in an angry iealousie the very wilde Goats of the mountaines were not allowed to be companions for him which had no fault but his vertue Oh the seemingly-vnequall distribution of these earthly things Cruelty and oppression reignes 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 leades Saul to his enemy without bloud He which before brought them within an hils dâ—stance without interuiew brings them now both within one roofe so as that whiles Saul seekes Dauid and finds him not he is found of Dauid vnsought If Saul had known his own 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 laid themselues downe in their owne Graues The Wisdome of God thinkes fit to hide from euill men and spirits those meanes and seasons which might be if they had beene taken most preiudiciall to his owne we had beene oft foiled if Satan could but haue knowne our hearts sometimes we lie open to euils and happy it is for vs that he only knowes it which pitâ—ies in stead of tempting vs. It is not long since Saul said of Dauid lodged then in Keilah God hath deliuered him into mine hands for he is shut in seeing he 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 barres hath inclosed him within the Valley of death How iust is it with God that those who seeke mischiefe to others finde it to themselues and euen whiles they are spreading nets are insnared Their deliberate plotting of euill is surprized with a sudden iudgement How amazedly must Dauid needs looke when hee saw Saul enter into the Caue where himselfe was what is this thinkes he 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 wherein wee place shame are not exempted from a prouidence The fingers of Dauids followers itched to sease 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 enemy into thine hand and thou shalt do to him as it shall seeme
thou shalt bee King There is no heart made of flesh that sometime or other relents not euen â—lint and marble will in some weather stand on droppes I cannot thinke these teares and protestations fained Doubtlesse Saul meant as hee said and passed through sensible fittes of good and euill Let no man thinke himselfe the better for good motions the praise and benefite of those Guests is not in the receit but the retention Who that had seene this meeting could but haue thought all had beene sure on Dauids side What can secure vs if not Teares and Praiers and Oathes Doublesse Dauids men which knew themselues obnoxious to Lawes and Creditors beganne to thinke of some new refuge as making account this new peeced league would bee euerlasting they looked when Saul would take Dauid home to the Court and dissolue his Armie and recompence that vniust persecution with iust honour when behold in the loose Saul goes home but Dauid and his men goe vp vnto the hold Wise Dauid knowes Saul not to be more kinde than vntrusty and therefore had rather seeke safety in his hold than in the hold of an hollow and vnsteedie friendship Heere are good words but no securitie which therefore an experienced man giues the hearing but stands the while vpon his owne gard No Charitie bindes vs to a trust of those whom wee haue found faithlesse Crudelitie vpon weake grounds after palpable disappointments is the Daughter of Folly A man that is Weather-wise though hee 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 innocencie could haue secured from Sauls malice Dauid had not bin persecuted and yet vnder that wicked King aged Samuel dyes in his bed That there might be no place for Enuie the good Prophet had retyred himselfe to the Schooles Yet he that hated Dauid for what hee should be did no lesse hate Samuel for what hee had bin Euen in the midst of Sauls malignitie there remained in his heart impressions of awfulnesse vnto Samuel he 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 seede so doth God euer in the worst of persecutions Samuel is dead Dauid banished Saul tyrannizeth 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 wherein 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-conditioned Nabal Vertue is not like vnto Lands inheritable All that is traduced with the seede is either euill or not good Let no man bragge with the Iewes that he hath Abram to his father God hath raised vp of this stone a sonne to Caleb Abigail which signifieth her fathers ioy had sorrow enough to be 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 he married her to the wealth not to the man Many a childe is cast away vpon riches Wealth in our matches should be as some graines or scruples in ballance super-added to the gold of vertuous qualities to weigh downe the scales when it is made the substanceÌ„ 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 â—eeces must needes require many hands neither is any thing more plentifull commonly than a Churles Feast What a world was this that the noble Champion and Rescuer of Israel Gods Annointed is driuen to send to a base Carle for victuals It is no measuring of men by the depth of the purse by outward prosperitie Seruants are oft-times set on horse backe whiles Princes goe on foot Our estimation must be led by their inward worth which is not alterable by time nor diminishable with externall conditions One rag of a Dauid is more worth than the Ward-robes of a thousand Nabals Euen the best deseruings may want No man may bee contemned for his necessitie perhaps he may be so much richer in grace as he is poorer in estate neither hath violence or casualtie more impouerished a Dauid than his pouertie hath enriched him He 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 see that Nabals flockes lay vntouched in Carmel but more that Dauids Souldiers were Nabals Sheepheards yea the keepers of his Sheepheards gaue them a iust interest in that sheep shearing Feast iustly should they haue beene set at the vpper end of the Table That Nabals sheepe were safe hee might thanke his Sheepheards that his Sheepheards were safe he might thanke Dauids Souldiers It is no small benefit that wee receiue in a safe protection well may wee thinke our substance due where wee owe our selues Yet this churlish Nabal doth not onely giue nothing to Dauids Messengers but which is worse than nothing ill words Who is Dauid or Who is the sonne of Ishai There be many seruants now adaies that breake-away from their Masters Dauid asked him bread hee giueth him stones All Israel knew and honoured their Deliuerer yet this Clowne to saue his victuals will needes make him a man either of no merits or ill either an obscure man or a Fugitiue Nothing is more cheape than good words these Nabal might haue giuen and beene neuer the poorer If he had beene resolued to shut his hands in a feare of Sauls reuenge he might haue so tempered his denyall that the repulse might haue beene free from offence But now his foule-mouth doth not onely deny but reuile It should haue bin Nabals glory That his Tribe yeelded such a Successor to the Throne of Israel now in all likelihood his enuie stirs him vp to disgrace that man who surpassed him in honour and vertue more than he was surpassed by him in wealth and ease Many an one speakes faire that meanes ill but when the mouth speakes foule it argues a corrupt heart If with Saint Iames his verball
and the Philistims How doth he wish now that hee had rather stood to the hazard of Sauls persecution than to haue put himselfe vpon the fauour of Achish Hee must fight on one side and on whether side soeuer he should fight hee could not auoyd to bee treacherous a condition worse than death to an honest heart which way he would haue resolued if it had comne to the execution who can know since himselfe was doubtfull either course had bin no better than 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 friend for his enemy against Achish for Saul hee was now inuironed with iealous Philistims and might rather looke for the punishment of his Treason than the glory of a Victorie HIS heart had led him into these straits the Lord finds a way to leade him out The suggestions of his enemies doe herein befriend him The Princes of the Philistims whether of enuie or suspition pleade for Dauids dismission Send this fellow backe that hee may goe againe to his place which thou hast appointed him and let him not goe downe to the battle lest hee bee an Aduersary to vs. No Aduocate could haue said more himselfe durst not haue said so much Oh the wisdome and goodnesse of our God that can raise vp an Aduersary to deliuer out of those euils which our friends cannot That by the sword of an enemie can let out that Apostume which no Physician could tell how to cure It would be wide with us sometimes if it were not for others malice There could not bee a more iust question than this of the Philistim Princes What doe these Hebrewes here An Israelite is out of his element when hee is in an Armie of Philistims The true seruants of God are in their due places when they are in opposition to his enemies Profession of hostilitie becomes them better than leagues of amity Yet Achish likes Dauids conuersation and presence so well that hee professeth himselfe pleased with him as with an Angell of God How strange is it to heare that a Philistim should delight in that holy man whom an Israelite abhorres and should bee loth to be quit of Dauid whom Saul hath expelled Termes of ciuilitie 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 Wisedome Discourse Wit it is their praise not ours But if for diuine Grace and Religion it is our prayse with theirs Such now was Dauids condition that he must pleade for that hee feared and argue against that which he desired What haue I done 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 be more cordiall to him than 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 necessitie either of offending or miscarriage SAVL and the Witch of Endor EVen the worst men may sometimes make head against some sinnes Saul hath expelled the Sorcerers out of the Land of Israel and hath forbidden Magick vpon paine of death Hee 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 then 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 entertayned in malice He knew and found Saul his whiles he resisted and smiled to yeeld thus farre vnto his Vassall If we quit not all sinnes hee will bee content wee should either abandon or persecute some Where is no place for holy feare there will bee place for the seruile The gracelesse heart of Saul was astonied at the Philistims yet was neuer moued at the frownes 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 than terror preuention than confusion There is nothing more lamentable than to see a man laugh when he should feare God shall laugh when such an ones feare commeth Extremitie of distresse will send euen the prophanest man to God like as the drowning man reacheth out his hand to that bough which he contemned whiles hee stood safe on the banke Saul now asketh counsell of the Lord whose Prophet hee hated whose Priests hee slew whose Annointed he persecutes Had Saul consulted with God when hee should this euill had not beene but how if this euill had not beene hee had consulted with God The thanke of this Act is due not to him but to his affection A forced piety is thanklesse and vnprofitable God will not answer 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 hee 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 voice in trouble when wee would not regard his in peace Vnto what mad shifts are men driuen by despayre 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 knowne this course Deuillish why did he decree to banish it to mulct it with death yet now against the streame of his conscience hee will seeke to those whom he had condemned There needes no other iudge of Sauls act than himselfe had he not before opposed this sinne he had not so hainously sinned in committing it There cannot bee a more fearefull signe of an heart giuen vp to a reprobate sense than 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 eyes may discerne it What was Saul the better to fore-know the issue of his approaching battell If this consultation could not haue strengthened him against his enemies or promoted his victory there might haue beene some colour for so foule an act Now what could he gaine but the satisfying of his bootlesse curiositie in
Samuel himselfe whiles hee was aliue could not haue spoken more grauely more seuerely more diuinely than this euill ghost For the Lord will rent thy Kingdome out of thy hand and giue it to thy neighbour Dauid because thou obeyedst not the voyce of the Lord not executedst his fierce wrath vpon the Amalekites therefore hath the Lord done this vnto thee this day When the Deuill 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 spells because they finde nothing in them but good words What Prophet could speake better words than this Deuill in Samuels Mantle Neither is there at any time so much danger of that euill spirit as when hee speakes best I could wonder to heare Satan preach thus prophetically if I did not know that as hee was once a good Angell so hee can still act what hee was Whiles Saul was in consultation of sparing Agag wee shall neuer finde that Satan would lay any blocke in his way Yea then hee was a prompt Orator to induce him into that sinne now that it is past and gone hee can lade Saul with fearefull denunciations of iudgement Till wee haue sinned Satan is a parasite when wee haue sinned hee is a Tyrant What cares 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 he hath wonne 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 Ziklag spoyled and reuenged HAd not the King of the Philistims sent Dauid away early his Wiues and his people and substance which hee left at Ziklag had beene vtterly lost Now Achish did not more pleasure Dauid in his entertainment than in his dismission Saul was not Dauids enemy more in the persecution of his person than in the forbearance of Gods enemies Behold thus late doth Dauid feele the smart of Sauls sinne in sparing the Amalekites who if Gods sentence had beene duly executed had not now suruiued to annoy this parcell of Israel As in spirituall respects our sinnes are alwayes hurtfull to our selues so in temporall oft-times preiudiciall to posteritie A wicked man deserues ill of those hee neuer liued to see I cannot maruell at the Amalekites assault made vpon the Israelites of Ziklag I cannot but maruell at their clemencie how iust it was that while Dauid would giue aid to the enemies of the Church against Israel 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 Ziklag in reuenge kill neither man nor woman Shall wee 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-bloudy reuenge burning only the wâ—â—es and leading away the persons Israel crossed the reuealed will of God insparing Amalek Amalek fulfils the secret will of God in sparing Israel It was still the lot of Amalek to take Israel at all aduantages vpon their first comming out of Egypt 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 Philistians another was gone with the Philistims against Israel the Amalekites set vpon the Coasts of both and goes away laded with the spoile No other is to bee exspected of our spirituall Aduersaries who are euer readiest to assayle when wee are the vnreadiest to defend It was a wofull spectacle for Dauid and his Souldiers vpon their returne to find mines and ashes in stood of houses and in steed of their Families solitude Their Citie was vanished into smoke their housholds into captiuitie neither could they know whom to accuse or where to enquire for redresse whiles they made account that their home should recompence their tedious iourney with comfort the miserable desolation of their home doubles the discomfort of their iourney what remained there but teares and lamentations They lifted vp their voyces and wept till they could weepe no more Heere was plentie of nothing but misery and sorrow The heart of euery Israelite was brim full of griefe Dauids ranne ouer for besides that his crosse was the same with theirs all theirs was his alone each man looke 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 Author of their vndoing whom they followed all this while as the hopefull meanes of their aduacements Now Dauids losse is his least griefe neither as if euery thing had conspired to torment him can hee 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 Ziklag yet all these are easie aduersaries in comparison of his owne his owne followers are so far 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 sence of their losse and were enough to distract the most resolute heart why should it bee strange to vs that wee meete with hard tryalls when wee see the deare Annoynted of God thus plunged into euils What should the distressed sonne of Ishai now doe Whither should hee thinke to turne him to goe backe to Israel hee durst not to goe to Achish hee might not to abide amonst those waste heapes hee could not or if there might haue beene harbor in those burnt wals yet there could bee no safety to remayne with those mutinous spirits But Dauid comforted himselfe in the Lord his God oh happie and sure refuge of a faithfull soule The earth yeelded him nothing but matter of disconsolation and heauinesse hee lifts his eyes aboue the hils whence commeth his saluation It is no maruell that God remembreth 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 sence could discerne any euasion
so they must shew it vpon all good occasions letting passe no opportunitie of making spare of bloud Ishbosheth was it seemes a man of no great spirits for being no lesse than fortie yeares old when his father went into his last field against the Philistims hee was content to stay at home Abner hath put ambition into him and hath easily raised him to the head of a faction against the annoynted Prince of Gods people If this vsurped Crowne of Sauls Sonne had any worth or glory in it hee cannot but acknowledge to owe it all vnto Abner yet how forward is vnthankfull Ishbosheth to receiue a false suggestion against his chiefe Abettor Wherefore hast thou gone in to my fathers Concubine Hee that made no conscience of an vniust claime to the Crowne and a maintenance of it with bloud yet seemes scrupulous of a lesse sinne that carried in it the colour of a disgrace The touch of her who had beene honoured by his fathers bed seemed an intolerable presumption and such as could not bee seuered from his owne dishonour Selfe-loue sometimes borrowes the face of honest zeale Those who out of true grounds dislike sinnes doe hate them all indifferently according to their hainousnesse Hypocrites are partiall in their detestation bewraying euer most bitternesse against those offences which may most preiudice their persons and reputations It is as dangerous as vniust for Princes to giue both their eares and their heart to mis-grounded rumors of their innocent followers This wrong hath stript Ishbosheth of the Kingdome Abner in the meane time cannot be excused from a treacherous inconstancy If Sauls sonne had no true Title to the Crowne why did hee maintaine it If hee had why did he forsake the cause and person Had Abner out of remorse for furthering a false claime taken off his hand I know not wherein he could be blamed except for not doing it sooner But now to withdraw his professed allegeance 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 iustice of the World how much more should we learne from a supreme hand to take hard measures with thankes It had beene Abners duty to haue giuen his King a peaceable and humble satisfaction and not to flie 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 than traiterously honest So soone as Abner hath entertained a resolution of his rebellion hee perswades the Elders of Israel to accompany him in the change and whence doth he fetch his maine 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 ful 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 hee 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 he beene so at this time if he had not intended a reuengefull departure from Ishbosheth Nothing is more odious than to make Religion a stalking horse to Policy WHO can but glorifie God in his iustice when he sees the bitter end of this treacherous dissimulation Dauid may vpon considerations of State entertaine his new Guest with a Feast and well might hee seeme to deserue a welcome 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 worke Ioab returnes from pursuing a troupe 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 hee repaies 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 wee can worthily blame Abner for the death of Asahel who would needs after faire warnings runne himselfe vpon Abners Speare yet this fact shall procure his paiment for worse Now is Ishbosheths wrong reuenged by an enemy wee may not alwayes measure the Iustice of Gods proceedings by present occasions Hee needs not make vs acquainted or aske vs leaue when hee will call for the arrerages of forgotten sinnes Contemplations THE FIFTEENTH BOOKE Contayning VzZAH and the Arke DAVID with MEPHIBOSHETH and ZIBA HANVN and DAVIDS Ambassadors DAVID with BATHSHEBA and VRIAH NATHAN and DAVID AMON and THAMAR ABSALOMS returne and conspiracie TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE MY VERY GOOD LORD William LORD BVRLEIGH ALL GRACE AND Happinesse RIGHT HONOVRABLE THere are but two Bookes wherin we can reade 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 dim of that smaller but clearer Philosophers haue turned ouer this and erred That Diuines and studious Christians not without full and certaine information Jn the Workes of God we see the shadow or footsteps of the Creator in his Word we see the face of God in a glasse Happinesse consists in the Vision of that infinite Maiesty and if wee be perfectly happy aboue in seeing him face to face our happinesse is well forward below in seeing the liuely representation of his face in the glasse of Scriptures Wee cannot spend our eyes too much vpon this Obiect For mee the more J see the more J am amazed the more I am rauished with this glorious beautie With the honest Lepers I cannot bee content to enioy 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 weak but not vnprofitable Contemplations which shall hold themselues not a little graced with your Honourable Name Whereto together with your right Noble and most Worthy Lady I haue gladly deuoted my selfe to bee Your Lordships in all dutifull obseruance IOS HALL Contemplations VzZAH AND THE ARKE REMOVED THe house of Saul is quiet the Philistims beaten victory cannot end better than in deuotion Dauid is no sooner settled in his house at Ierusalem than he fetcheth God to bee his guest there the thousands of Israel goe now in an holy march to bring vp the Arke of God to the place of his rest The tumults of Warre affoorded no opportunity of this seruice onely peace is a friend to Religion neither
call for the blood of the Gibeonites though drudges of Israel and a remnant of Amorites Why this There was a periury attending vpon this slaughter It was an ancient Oath wherein the Princes of the congregation had bound themselues vpon Ioshua's league to the Gibeonites that they would suffer them to liue an oath extorted by fraud but solemne by no lesse â—â—me then the Lord God of Israel Saul will now thus late either not acknowledge it or not keepe it out of his zeale therefore to the children of Israel and Iudah he roots â—ut some of the Gibeonites whether in a zeale of reuenge of their first imposture or in a zeale of inlarging the possessions of Israel or in a zeale of executing Gods charge vpon the brood of Canaanites he that spared Agag whom he should haue smitten smites the Gibeonites whom he should haue spared Zeale and good intention is no excuse much lesse a warrant for euill God holds it an high indignitie that his name should be sworne by and violated Length of time cannot dispense with our oathes with our vowes The vowes and oathes of others may binde vs how much more our owne There was a famine in Israel a naturall man would haue ascribed it vnto the drought and that drought perhaps to some constellations Dauid knowes to looke higher and sees a diuine hand scourging Israel for some great offence and ouer-ruling those second causes to his most iust executions Euen the most quick-sighted worldling is pore-blind to 〈◊〉 all obiects and the weakest eyes of the regenerate pierce the heauens and espy God in all earthly occurrences So well was Dauid acquainted with Gods proceedings that he knew the remouall of the iudgement must begin at the satisfaction of the wronged At once therefore doth he pray vnto God and treat with the Gibeonites What shall I doe for you and wherewith shall I make the atonement that I may blesse the inheritance of the Lord In vaine should Dauid though a Prophet blesse Israel at the Gibeonites did not 〈…〉 lesse them Iniuries done vs on earth giue vs power in heauen The oppressor is in no mans mercy but his whom he hath trampled vpon Little did the Gibeonites thinke that God had so taken to heart their wrongs that for their sakes all Israel should suffer Euen when we thinke not of it is the righteous Iudge auenging our vnrighteous vexations Our hard measures cannot bee hid from him his returnes are hid from vs It is sufficient for vs that God can bee no more neglectiue then ignorant of our sufferings It is now in the power of these despised Hiuites to make their owne termes with Israel Neither Siluer nor Gold will sauour with them towards their satisfaction Nothing can expiate the blood of their fathers but the blood of seuen sonnes of their deceased persecutor Here was no other then a iust retaliation Saul had punished in them the offence of their predecessors they will now reuenge Sauls sinne in his children The measure we mete vnto others is with much equity re-measured vnto our selues Euery death would not content them of Sauls sonnes but a cursed and ignominious hanging on the Tree Neither would that death content them vnlesse their owne hands might bee the executioners Neither would any place serue for the execution but Gibeah the Court of Saul neither would they doe any of this for the wreaking of their own fury but for the appeasing of Gods wrath We will hang them vp vnto the Lord in Gibeah of Saul Dauid might not refuse the condition Hee must deliuer they must execute Hee chooses out seuen of the sonnes and grand-children of Saul That house had raised long an vniust persecution against Dauid now God payes it vpon anothers score Dauids loue and oath to Ionathan preserues lame Mephibosheth How much more shall the Father of all mercies doe good vnto the children of the faithfull for the couenant made with their Parents The fiue sonnes of Adriel the Meholathite Dauids ancient riuall in his first loue which were borne to him by Merab Sauls Daughter and brought vp by her barren sister Michol the wife of Dauid are yeelded vp to death Merab was after a promise of mariage to Dauid vniustly giuen away by Saul to Adriel Michol seemes to abet the match in breeding the children now in one act nor of Dauids seeking the wrong is thus late auenged vpon Saul Adriel Merab Michol the children It is a dangerous matter to offer iniury to any of Gods faithfull ones If their meeknesse haue easily remitted it their God will not passe it ouer without a seuere retribution These fiue together with two sonnes of Rizpah Sauls Concubine are hanged vp at once before the Lord yea and before the eyes of the World No place but an Hill wil serue for this execution The acts of iustice as they are intended for example so they should be done in that eminent fashion that may make them both most instructiue and most terrifying Vnwarrantable courses of priuate reuenge seeke to hide their heads in secresie The beautifull face of iustice both affects the light and becomes it It was the generall charge of Gods Law that no corps should remaine all night vpon the gibbet The Almighty hath power to dispense with his owne command so doubtlesse he did in this extraordinary case these carkasses did not defile but expiate Sorrowfull Rizpah spreads her a Tent of Sackcloth vpon the Rocke for a sad attendance vpon those sonnes of her wombe Death might bereaue her of them not them of her loue This spectacle was not more grieuous to her then pleasing to God and happy to Israel Now the clouds drop â—â—messe and the earth runs forth into plenty The Gibeonites are satisfied God reconciled Israel relieued How blessed a thing it is for any Nation that iustice is vnpartially executed euen vpon the mighty A few drops of blood haue procured large showres from Heauen A few carkasses are a rich compost to the earth The drought and dearth remoue away with the breath of those pledges of the offender Iudgements cannot tyrannize where iustice raignes as contrarily there can be no peace where blood cryes vnheard vnregarded The numbring of the people ISrael was growne wanton and mutinous God puls them downe first by the sword then by famine now by pestilence Oh the wondrous yet iust wayes of the Almightie Because Israel hath sinned therefore Dauid shall sinne that Israel may be punished Because God is angry with Israel therefore Dauid shall anger him more and strike himselfe in Israel and Israel through himselfe The spirit of God elsewhere ascribes this motion to Satan which here it attributes to God Both had their hand in the worke God by permission Satan by suggestion God as a Iudge Satan as an enemy God as in a iust punishment for sinne Satan as in an act of sinne God in a wise ordination of it to good Satan in a malicious intent of confusion Thus at once
in the graine but in the heart If the hearts of men were not more blasted with couetousnesse and cruell selfe-loue than their graine with distemper of aire this needed not The Barnes and Granaries are full the Markets empty Authority knowes how to remedy this euill how to preuent a dearth in abundance that men may not affamish whom God hath fed and that when God hath giuen vs the staffe of bread it may not bee either hid or broken shortly that our store may not be iudged by the appearance Ciuill Wisemen and statesmen especially may not alwaies looke the same way they would goe like skilfull Sea-men they sometimes lauere and as the wind may stand fetch compasses of lawfull policies to their wished point That of Tiberius was fearefull of whom Xiphiline 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That he sayled euer against the wind of his words But sometimes a good Constantius or Anastasius will wisely pretend what hee intends not As our Sauiour made as if hee went further when hee meant to turne into Emaus The hearts of Kings are as deepe waters wee may not thinke to draine them in the hollow of our hand Secret things to them of whom God hath said Dixi Dij estis things reuealed to vs and our children Euen we meane ones would be loth to haue alwayes our hearts read in our faces Iudge not therefore according to the appearance Diuine In these our speech must dwell If we should iudge according to the appearance we should thinke basely of the Sauiour of the world Who that had seene him sprawling and wringing in the Cratch flitting to Aegypt chopping of chips at Nazareth famishing in the Desert transported by Satan attended by Fishermen persecuted by his Kinred betraied by one Seruant abiured by another forsaken of all apprehended arraigned condemned buffeted spat vpon scourged to bloud sceptred with the reede crowned with thornes nailed to the Crosse hanging naked betwixt two Theeues scorned of the beholders sealed vp in a borrowed graue could say other than Hee hath no forme nor beauty when wee shall see him there is nothing that wee should desire him Who that should haue seene his skinne all dewed with pearles of bloudy sweat his backe bleeding his face blubbered and besmeared his forehead harrowed his hands and feet pierced his side gushing out his head bowed downe in death and should withall haue heard his dying lips say My God my God why hast thou forsaken mee would not haue said Hee is despised and reiected of men yea in appearance of God himselfe Yet euen this while to the cutting of the sinewes of those stiffe-necked Iewes the Angels owned him for their Lord the Sages adored him the Starre designed him the Prophets foreshewed him the Deuils confest him his Miracles euinced him the earth shooke the Rocks rent the Dead lookt out the Sunne lookt in astonished at the sufferings of the God of nature Euen whiles he was despised of men he commanded the Deuils to their chaines whiles base men shot out their tongues at him Principalities and Powers bowed their knees to him whiles he hanged despicably vpon the tree of shame the powers of hell were dragged captiue after the triumphant chariot of his Crosse the appearance was not so contemptible as the truth of his estate glorious Iudge not therefore according to the appearance Should appearance bee the rule how scornfully would the carnall eye ouer-looke the poore ordinances of God What would it finde here but foolishnesse of preaching homelinesse of Sacraments an inky Letter a Priests lips a sauorlesse message a morsell of Bread a mouth full of Wine an handfull of Water a slander-beaten Crosse a crucified Sauiour a militant Church a despised profession When yet this foolishnesse of preaching is the power of God to saluation these mute Letters the liuely Oracles of God these vile Lips the Cabinets of heauen to preserue knowledge this vnplausible Message Magnalia Dei this Water the Water of Life in the midst of the Paradise of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this Bread the Manna of Angels thi Wine heauenly Nectar this Church the Kings Daughter all glorious within this dying Sacrifice the Lord of life this Crosse the Banner of Victory this Profession Heauen vpon earth Iudge not therefore according to appearance Should appearance be the rule woe were Gods children happy were his enemies Who that had seene Cain standing masterly ouer the bleeding carkasse of Abel Ioseph in his bonds his Mistresse in her dresse Moses in the Flags Pharaoh in the Palace Dauid sculking in the Wildernesse Saul commanding in the Court Elias fainting vnder his Iuniper tree Iezebel painting in her closet Michaiah in the prison Zidkijah in the presence Ieremy in the dungeon Zedekiah in the throne Daniel trembling among the Lions the Median Princes feasting in their Bowers Iohns head bleeding in the Platter Herods smiling at the Reuels Christ at the Barre Pilate on the Bench the Disciples scourged the Scribes and Elders insulting would not haue said O happy Caine Potiphars wife Pharaoh Saul Iezebel Zidkijah Zedekiah Median Princes Pilate Herod Elders miserable Abel Ioseph Moses Dauid Eliah Michaiah Ieremy Daniel Iohn Christ the Disciples Yet wee know Caines victory was as wofull as Abels martyrdome glorious Iosephs irons were more precious than the golden tires of his Mistresse Moses Reedes were more sure than Pharaohs Cedars Dauids Caâ—e in the Desart more safe than the Towers of Saul Eliahs Rauen a more comfortable purueyor than all the Officers of Iezebel Michaiahs prison was the gard-chamber of Angels when Ahabs presence was the counsell-chamber of euill spirits Ieremies Dungeon had more true light of comfort than the shining state of Zedekiah Daniel was better garded with the Lions than Darius and the Median Princes with their Ianisaries Iohns head was more rich with the Crowne of his martyrdome than Herods with the Diadem of his Tetrarchate Christ at the Barre gaue life and being to Pilate on the Bench gaue motion to those hands that strucke him to that tongue that condemned him and in the meane while gaue sentence on his Iudge The Disciples were better pleased with their stripes and wales than the Iewish Elders with their proud Phylacteries After this who that had seene the primitiue Christians some broyled on Gridirons others boyled in Lead some roasted others frozen to death some fleaed others torne with horses some crashed in peeces by the teeth of Lions others cast downe from the rocks to the stakes some smiling on the wheele others in the flame al werying their tormentors and shaming their Tyrants with their patience would not haue said Of all things I would not be a Christian Yet euen this while were these poore torturing-stocks higher as Marcus Arethusius bragged than their persecutors dying Victors yea Victors of death neuer so glorious as when they began not to be in gasping crowned in yeelding the ghost more than Conquerours Iudge not therefore according to appearance When thou lookest about and seest on
of their nationall wickednesse The experience whereof hath moued some witty Nations both ancient and present to shut themselues vp within their owne bounds and to barre the intercourse of strangers as those that thought best to content themselues with their owne faults A corrupt disposition out of a naturall fertilitie can both beget and conceiue euill alone but if it be seconded by examples by precepts by incouragements the Ocean it selfe hath not so much spawne as it in all which regards hee hath escaped well that returnes but what he caried but hee is worthy of memory that returnes either more good or lesse euill Some haue come home perhaps more sparing others more suttle others more outwardly courteous others more capricious some more tongue-free few euer better And if themselues be not sensible of their alterations yet their Countrey and the Church of God feeles and rues them SECT XXII LEt me therefore haue leaue to shut vp this discourse with a double sute one to our Gentry the other to supreme authoritie both which shal come from the bottome of an heart vnfainedly sacrificed to the common good neither speake I words but my very soule vnto both To the former my sute is that they would bee happy at home God hath giuen vs a world of our owne wherein there is nothing wanting to earthly contentment Whither goe ye then worthy Country-men or what seeke yee Here growes that wealth which yee goe but to spend abroad Here is that sweet peace which the rest of the world admires and enuies Here is that gracious and well-tempered gouernment which no Nation vnder heauen may dare once offer to parallel Here all liberall Arts raigne and triumph And for pleasure either our earth or our sea yeelds vs all those dainties which their natiue Regions enioy but single Lastly here Heauen stands open which to many other parts is barred on the outside with ignorance or mis-beliefe And shall our wantonnesse contemne all this bounty of God and carie vs to seeke that which we shall finde no where but behinde vs but within vs Shall the affectation of some friuolous toyes draw vs away from the fruition of those solid comforts which are offered vs within our own dores How many of ours whom their iust offence hath cast out of the bosome of their Country compare their exile with death and can scarce abide to bid that breath welcome which they are forced to draw in a foraine aire and though freedome of conscience entertaine them neuer so liberally abroad yet resolue either to liue or die at home and doe wee suffer our folly to banish vs from those contentments which they are glad to redeeme with the hazard of their blood are we so little in our owne bookes that wee can be content to purchase outlandish superfluities with the mis-cariage of our foules with the danger of mis-cariage with the likelihood of danger Are we so foolish that whiles we may sweetly enioy the setled estate of our Primogeniture wee will needs bring vpon our selues the curse of Ruben to runne abroad like water whose qualitie it is not easily to be kept within the proper bounds yea the curse of Cain to put our selues from the side of Eden into the land of Nod that is of demigration None of the least imprecations which Dauid makes against Gods enemies is Make them like vnto a wheele O Lord. Motion is euer accompanied vvith vnquietnesse and both argues and causes imperfection whereas the happy estate of heauen is described by rest whose glorious spheres in the meane time doe so perpetually moue that they are neuer remoued from their places It is not the least part either of wisdome or happinesse to know when wee are well Shall we not be shamelessely vnthankfull if we cannot sing the note of that great Choriester of God My lot is falne to mee in a good ground Hath not the munificence of God made this Iland as it were an abridgement of his whole earth in which he hath contriued though in a lesse letter all the maine and materiall commodities of the greater vvorld and doe we make a prison where God meant a Paradise Enioy therefore happy Countrymen enioy freely God and your selues enrich your selues with your owne mines improue those blessed opportunities which God hath giuen you to your mutuall aduantage and care not to be like any but your selues SECT XXIII ANd if at any time these vnworthy papers may fall betwixt the hands of my Soueraigne Master or any of his graue and honorable Ministers of State let the meannesse of so weake and obscure solicitors presume to commend this matter to their deepest consideration and out of an honest zeale of the common safetie sue to them for a more strict restraint of that dangerous libertie whereof too many are bold to carue themselues Who can be ignorant of those wise and wholesome lawes which are enacted already to this purpose or of those carefull and iust cautions wherewith the licences of Trauell are euer limited But what are we the better for Gods owne lawes without execution Or what are limits vnto the lawlesse Good lawes are the hedges of the Common-wealth iust dispensations are as gates or stiles in the hedge If euery straggler may at pleasure cast open a gap in this fence of the State what are we the better for this quick set then if we lay open to the common Who sees not how familiarly our yong Recusants immediatly vpon their disclosing are sent ouer for their full hatching making Italy Spaine Artois and now of late France it selfe prouides nests and perches and mewes for these birds vvith the same confidence wherewith we breed our owne at home vvhich when they are once well acquainted vvith the Romane lure are sent backe againe fit for the prey And as for those of our owne feather whereas the libertie of their trauell is bounded chiefly with this double charge one that they haue no conuersation or conference with Iesuites or other dangerous persons the other that they passe not into the dominions of the Kings enemies both these are so commonly neglected as if they were intended onely for a verball formalitie yea as if the Prohibition meant to teach men what they should doe Euery of our Nouices hath learned to make no difference of men and dare breathe in the poisonous ayre of Italy it selfe and touch the very pommell of the chaire of pestilence It is this licentious freedome which we mis-call Open-hearted ingenuity that vndoes vs. Doe we not see the wary closenesse of our Aduersaries which will not so much as abide one of our bookes a mute sollicitor to harbour in any of their coasts How many of the Italian or Spanish Noblesse haue wee knowne allowed to venture their education in our Courts or Vniuersities Doe they lie thus at the locke and doe we open our brest and display our armes and bid an enemie strike where he list Since then we haue no more wit
must goe out of this foraine Land of our Pilgrimage to the home of our glorious inheritance to dwell with none but our own in that better and more lightsome Goshen free from all the incumbrances of this Aegypt and full of all the riches and delights of God The guilty conscience can neuer thinke it selfe safe So many yeares experience of Iosephs loue could not secure his brethren of remission those that know they haue deserued ill are wont to mis-interpret fauours and thinke they cannot be beloued All that while his goodnesse seemed but concealed and sleeping malice which they feared in their Fathers last sleepe would awake and bewray it selfe in reuenge Still therefore they plead the name of their Father though dead not daring to vse their owne Good meanings cannot bee more wronged then with suspition It grieues Ioseph to see their feare and to find they had not forgotten their owne sinne and to heare them so passionately craue that which they had Forgiue the trespasse of the seruants of thy Fathers God What a coniuration of pardon was this What wound could be either so deepe or so festred as this plaster could not cure They say not the sonnes of thy Father for they knew Iacob was dead and they had degenerated but the seruants of thy Fathers God How much stronger are the bonds of Religion then of Nature If Ioseph had been rancorous this deprecation had charmed him but now it resolues him into teares They are not so ready to acknowledge their old offence as he to protest his loue and if he chide them for any thing it is for that they thought they needed to intreat since they might know it could not stand with the fellow-seruant of their Fathers God to harbour maliciousnesse to purpose reuenge Am not I vnder God And fully to secure them hee turnes their eyes from themselues to the Decree of God from the action to the euent as one that would haue them thinke there was no cause to repent of that which proued so successefull Euen late confession findes forgiuenesse Ioseph had long agoe seene their sorrow neuer but now heard their humble acknowledgement Mercy stayes not for outward solemnities How much more shall that infinite goodnesse pardon our sinnes when hee findes the truth of our repentance Contemplations THE FOVRTH BOOKE The affliction of Israel Or The Aegyptian bondage The birth and breeding of Moses Moses called The plagues of Aegypt BY IOS HALL D. of Diuinitie and Deane of WORCESTER LONDON Printed for THOMAS PAVIER MILES FLESHER and John Haviland 1624. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE JAMES LORD HAY ALL GRACE AND HAPPINESSE Right Honorable ALL that J can say for my selfe is a desire of doing good which if it were as feruent in richer hearts the Church which now we see comely would then be glorious this honest ambition hath caried mee to neglect the feare of seeming prodigall of my little and while J see others Talents rusting in the earth hath drawne mee to traffique with mine in publike I hope no aduenture that euer I made of this kinde shall be equally gainfull to this my present labour wherein I take Gods owne Historie for the ground and worke vpon it by what Meditations my weaknesse can afford The diuinenesse of this subiect shall make more then amends for the manifold defects of my discourse although also the blame of an imperfection is so much the more when it lighteth vpon so high a choice This part which I offer to your Lordship shall shew you Pharaoh impotently enuious and cruell the Israelites of friends become slaues punished onely for prospering Moses in the Weedes in the Court in the Desart in the Hill of visions a Courtier in Aegypt a Shepheard in Midian an Ambassador from God a Leader of Gods people and when you see the prodigious varietie of the plagues of Aegypt you shall not know whether more to wonder at the miracles of Moses or Pharaohs obstinacle Finally you shall see the same Waues made both a wall and a gulfe in one houre the Aegyptians drowned where no Jsraelite was wet-shod and if these passages yeeld not abundance of profitable thoughts impute it not without pardon to the pouertie of my weake conceit which yet may perhaps occasion better vnto others Jn all humble submission J commend them what they are to your Lordships fauourable acceptation and your selfe with them to the gracious blessing of our God Your Lordships in all dutifull obseruance at command IOS HALL Contemplations THE FOVRTH BOOKE The affliction of Jsrael EGYPT was long an harbour to the Israelites now it proues a Iayle the Posteritie of Iacob finds too late what it was for their forefathers to sell Ioseph a slaue into Aegypt Those whom the Aegyptians honoured before as Lord now they contemne as drudges One Pharaoh aduances whom another labours to depresse Not seldome the same man changes copies but if fauours out-liue one age they proue decrepit and heartlesse It is a rare thing to find posterity heires of their fathers loue How should mens fauour be but like themselues variable and inconstant there is no certaintie but in the fauour of God in whom can be no change whose loue is intayled vpon a thousand generation Yet if the Israelites had been treacherous to Pharaoh if disobedient this great change of countenance had been iust now the onely offence of Israel is that he prospereth that which should be the motiue of their gratulation and friendship is the cause of their malice There is no more hatefull sight to a wicked man then the prosperitie of the conscionable None but the spirit of that true Harbinger of Christ can teach vs to say with contentment He must encrease but I must decrease And what if Israel be mighty and rich If there be warre they may ioyne with our enemies and get them out of the Land Behold they are afraid to part with those whom they are grieued to entertaine either staying or going is offence enough to those that seeke quarrels There were no warres and yet they say If there be warres The Israelites had neuer giuen cause of feare to reuolt and yet they say Lest they ioyne to our enemies to those enemies which we may haue So they make their certaine friends slaues for feare of vncertaine enemies Wickednesse is euer cowardly and full of vniust suspitions it makes a man feare where no feare is fly when none pursues him What difference there is betwixt Dauid and Pharaoh The faith of the one sayes I wil not be afraid for then thousand that should beset me The feare of the other saies Left if there be warre they ioyne with our enemies therefore should hee haue made much of the Israelites that they might be his his fauour might haue made them firme Why might they not as well draw their swords for him Weake and base minds euer incline to the worse and seeke safety rather in an impossibility of hurt then in the likelihood of iust
oppression tyranny Dauid slew 200. Philistims for their fore-skins but the ground of his act was their hostilitie It is iust with God to destine what enemies he pleases to execution It is not to be expostulated why this man is stricken rather then another whē both are Philistims SAMSONS victory I Can no more iustifie Samson in the leauing of his wife then in the chusing her He chose her because she pleased him because she despised him he left her Though her feare made her false to him in his Riddle yet shee was true to his bed That weake trechery was worthy of a checke not a desertion All the passions of Samson were strong like himselfe but as vehement motions are not lasting this vehement winde is soone allaid and he is now returning with a Kid to win her that had offended him and to renue that feast which ended in her vnkindnesse Slight occasions may not breake the knot of matrimoniall loue and if any iust offence haue slackned it on either part it must be fastned againe by speedy reconciliation Now Samsons father in law shews himselfe a Philistim the true parent of her that betraied her husband for no sooner is the Bride-groome departed then he changes his sonne What pretence of friendship soeuer hee made a true Philistim will soone be weary of an Israelite Samson hath not so many dayes liberty to enioy his wedding as he spent in celebrating it Marriage hath been euer a sacred Institution and who but a Philistim would so easily violate it One of his thirty companions enioyes his wife together with his sute and now laughs to be a partner of that bed whereon he was an attendant The good nature of Samson hauing forgotten the first wrong carried him to a proffer of familiarity is repulsed but with a gentle violence I had thought thou hadst hated her Lawfull wedlocke may not be dissolued by imaginations but by proofes Who shall stay Somson from his owne wife Hee that slew the Lion in the way of his wooing and before whom thousands of the Philistims could not stand yet suffers himselfe to be resisted by him that was once his father in Law without any returne of priuate violence Great is the force of duty once conceiued euen to the most vnworthy This thought I was his son bindes the hands of Samson else how easily might he that slew those thirty Philistims for their sutes haue destroyed this family for his wife How vnnaturall are those mouthes that can curse the loines from which they are proceeded and those hands that dare lift vp themselues against the meanes of their life and being I neuer read that Samson slew any but by the motion and assistance of the Spirit of God and the diuine wisdom hath reserued these offenders to another reuenge Iudgement must descend from others to them sith the wrong proceeded from others by them In the very marriage God fore-saw and intended this parting and in the parting this punishment vpon the Philistims If the Philistims had not been as much enemies to God as to Samson enemies to Israel in their oppression no lesse then to Samson in this particular iniurie that purpose and execution of reuenge had been no better then wicked Now He to whom vengeance belongs sets him on work makes the act iustice when he commands euen very crueltie is obedience It was a busie and troublesome proiect of Samson to vse the foxes for his reuenge for not without great labor and many hands could so many wilde creatures be got together neither could the wit of Samson want other deuices of hostility But he meant to finde out such a punishment as might in some sort answere the offence and might imply as much contempt as trespasse By wiles seconded with violence had they wronged Samson in extorting his secret and taking away his wife and what other Embleme could these foxes tied together present vnto them then wilinesse combined by force to worke mischiefe These foxes destroy their corne before he which sent them destroy the persons Those iudgements which beginne in outward things end in the owners A stranger that had been of neither side would haue said What pitty it is to see good corne thus spoiled If the creature be considered apart from the owners it is good and therefore if it bee mis-spent the abuse reflects vpon the maker of it but if it be looked vpon with respect to an ill master the best vse of it is to perish He therfore that slew the Egyptian cattel with murraine and smote their fruit with hailestones hee that consumed the vines of Israel with the Palmer-worme and Caterpiller and canker-worme sent also foxes by the hand of Samson into the fields of the Philistims Their corne was too good for them to inioy not too good for the foxes to burne vp God had rather his creatures should perish any way then serue for the lust of the wicked There could not be such secrecie in the catching of three hundred foxes but it might well be knowne who had procured them Rumor wil swiftly flie of things not done but of a thing so notoriously executed it is no maruell if Fame be a blab The mention of the offence drawes in the prouocation and now the wrong to Samson is scanned and reuenged Because the fields of the Philistims are burned for the wrong done to Samson by the Timnite in his daughter therefore the Philistims burne the Timnite and his daughter The tying of the firebrand betweene two foxes was not so witty a policy as the setting of a fire of dissention betwixt the Philistims What need Samson be his owne executioner when his enemies will vndertake that charge There can be no more pleasing prospect to an Israelite then to see the Philistims together by the eares If the wife of Samson had not feared the fire for her selfe and her Fathers house she had not betrayed her husband her husband had not thus plagued the Philistims the Philistims had not consumed her and her father with fire now shee leaps into that flame which shee meant to auoid That euill which the wicked feared meets them in their flight How many in a feare of pouerty seeke to gaine vnconscionably and die beggers How many to shunne paine and danger haue yeelded to euill and in the long runne haue been met in the teeth with that mischiefe which they had hoped to haue left behinde them How many in a desire to eschue the shame of men haue falne into the confusion of God Both good and euill are sure paymasters at the last He that was so soone pacified towards his wife could not but haue thought this reuenge more then enough if he had not rather wielded Gods quarrell then his owne He knew that God had raised him vp on purpose to be a scourge to the Philistims whom as yet he had angred more then punished As if these therefore had been but florishes before the fray he
future royalty of Saul Who would not haue looked that aged Samuel should haue emulated rather the glory of his young riuall and haue looked churlishly vpon the man that should rob him of his authority yet now as if he came on purpose to gratifie him he bids him to the feast hee honours him with the chiefe seat he reserues a select morsell for him he tels him ingenuously the newes of his insuing Soueraignty On whom is set the desire of all Israel is it not vpon thee and thy fathers house Wise and holy men as they are not ambitious of their owne burden so they are not vnwilling to bee eased when God pleaseth to discharge them neither can they enuy those whom God lifteth aboue their heads They make an idoll of honour that are troubled with their owne freedome or grudge at the promotion of others Doubtlesse Saul was much amazed with the strange salutation and newes of the Prophet and how modestly doth he put it off as that which was neither fit nor likely disparaging his Tribe in respect of the rest of Israel his fathers Family in respect of the Tribe and himselfe in respect of his Fathers Family neither did his humility stoope below the truth For as Beniamin was the youngest sonne of Israel so he was now by much the least Tribe of Israel They had not yet recouered that vniuersall slaughter which they had receiued from the hands of their brethren whereby a Tribe was almost lost to Israel yet euen out of the remainder of Beniamin doth God choose the man that shall command Israel out of the rubbish of Beniamin doth God raise the Throne That is not euer the best and fattest which God chooseth but that which God chooseth is euer the fittest the strength or weaknesse of meanes is neither spur nor bridle to the determinate choices of God yea rather he holds it the greatest proofe of his freedome and omnipotency to aduance the vnlikeliest It was no hollow and fained excuse that Saul makes to put off that which he would faine enioy and to cause honour to follow him the more eagerly It was the sincere truth of his humilitie that so deiected him vnder the hand of Gods Prophet Faire beginnings are no sound proofe of our proceedings and ending well How often hath a bashfull childhood ended in an impudency of youth a strict entrance in licentiousnesse early forwardnesse in Atheisme There might be a ciuill meeknesse in Saul true grace there was not in him they that be good beare more fruit in their age Saul had but fiue pence in his purse to giue the Prophet The Prophet after much good cheere giues him the Kingdome he bestowes the oyle of royall consecration on his head the kisses of homage vpon his face and sends him away rich in thoughts and expectation and now lest his astonishment should end in distrust he setles his assurance by forewarnings of those euents which he should find in his way Hee tels him whom he shall meet what they shall say how himselfe shall bee affected that all these and himselfe might be so many witnesses of his following coronation euery word confirmed him For well might he thinke He that can foretell me the motions and words of others cannot faile in mine especially when as Samuel had prophecied to him he found himselfe to prophesie His prophesying did enough foretell his Kingdome No sooner did Samuel turne his backe from Saul but God gaue him another heart lifting vp his thoughts and disposition to the pitch of a King The calling of God neuer leaues a man vnchanged neither did God euer employ any man in his seruice whom he did not enable to the worke he set him especially those whom hee raiseth vp to the supply of his owne place and the representation of himselfe It is no maruell if Princes excell the vulgar in gifts no lesse then in dignity Their Crownes and their hearts are both in one and the same hand If God did not adde to their powers as well as their honours there would be no equality The Jnauguration of SAVL GOD hath secretly destined Saul to the Kingdome it could not content Israel that Samuel knew this the lots must so decide the choice as if it had not beene predetermined That God which is euer constant to his owne decrees makes the lots to find him out whom Samuel had anointed If once we haue notice of the will of God we may be confident of the issue There is no chance to the Almighty euen casuall things are no lesse necessary in their first cause then the naturall So farre did Saul trust the prediction and oyle of Samuel that he hides him among the stuffe Hee knew where the lots would light before they were cast This was but a modest declination of that honour which he saw must come His very withdrawing shewed some expectation why else should he haue hid himselfe rather then the other Israelites yet could hee not hope his subducing himselfe could disappoint the purpose of God He well knew that hee which found out and designed his name amongst the thousands of Israel would easily find out his person in a Tent When once we know Gods decree in vaine shall we striue against it Before we know it it is indifferent for vs to worke to the likeliest I cannot blame Saul for hiding himselfe from a Kingdome especially of Israel Honour is heauy when it comes vpon the best tearmes How should it be otherwise when all mens cares are cast vpon one but most of all in a troubled estate No man can put to Sea without danger but he that lancheth out in a tempest can expect nothing but the hardest euent such was the condition of Israel Their old enemie the Philistims were stilled with that fearfull thunder of God as finding what it was to warre against the Almighty There were aduersaries enow besides in their borders It was but an hollow truce that was betwixt Israel and their heathenish neighbours and Nahash was now at their gates Well did Saul know the difference betweene a peacefull gouernment and the perilous and wearisome tumults of warre The quietest Throne is full of cares but the perplexed of dangers Cares and dangers droue Saul into this corner to hide his head from a Crowne These made him chuse rather to lye obscurely among the baggage of his Tent then to sit gloriously in the Throne of State This hiding could doe nothing but shew that both he suspected lest hee should be chosen and desired he should not be chosen That God from whom the hils and the rockes could not conceale him brings him forth to the light so much more longed for as he was more vnwilling to be seene and more applauded as he was more longed for Now then when Saul is drawne forth in the middest of the eager expectation of Israel modesty and godlinesse shewed themselues in his face The prease cannot hide him whom the stuffe had hid As if hee had beene
say Come vp we will goe vp for God hath deliuered them into our hands If they say Tarry till we come to you we will stand still Ionathan was too wise to trust vnto a casuall presage There might be some farre fetcht coniectures of the euent from the word We will come to you was a threat of resolution Come you to vs was a challenge of feare or perhaps Come vp to vs was a word of insultation from them that trusted to the inaccessiblenesse of the place and multitudes of men Insultation is from pride pride argued a fâ—ll but faith hath nothing to doe with probabilities as that which acknowledgeth no Argument but demonstration If there hid not beene an instinct from GOD of this assured warrant of successe Ionathan had presumed in stead of beleeuing and had tempted that GOD whom hee professed to glorifie by his trust There can be no faith where there is no promise and where there is a promise there can be no presumption Words are voluntary The tongues of the Philistims were as free to say Tarry as Come That God in whom our very tongues moue ouerruled them so as now they shall speake that word which shall cut their owne throats They knew no more harme in Come then Tarry both were alike safe for the sound for the sense but he that put a signification of their slaughter in the one not in the other did put that word into their mouth whereby they might inuite their owne destruction The disposition of our words are from the prouidence of the Almighty God and our hearts haue not alwayes the same meaning in our speeches In those words which we speake at random or out of affectation God hath a further drift of his owne glory and perhaps our iudgement If wicked men say Our tongues are our owne they could not say so but from him whom they defie in saying so and who makes their tongue their executioner No sooner doth Ionathan heare this inuitation then hee answers it Hee whose hands had learned neuer to faile his heart puts himselfe vpon his hands and knees to climbe vp into this danger the exploit was not more difficult then the way the paine of the passage was equall to the perill of the enterprize that his faith might equally triumph ouer both he doth not say how shall I get vp much lesse which way shall I get downe againe but as if the ground were leuell and the action dangerlesse hee puts himselfe into the view of the Philistims Faith is neuer so glorious as when it hath most opposition and will not see it Reason lookes euer to the meanes Faith to the end and in stead of consulting how to effect resolues what shall be effected The way to heauen is more steepe more painfull O God! how perillous a passage hast thou appointed for thy labouring Pilgrims If difficulties will discourage vs we shall but climbe to fall When we are lifting vp our foot to the last step there are the Philistims of death of temptations to grapple with giue vs but faith and turne vs loose to the spight either of Earth or Hell Ionathan is now on the top of the hill and now as if he had an army at his heeles he flyes vpon the hoste of the Philistims his hands that might haue beene weary with climbing are immediately commanded to fight and deale as many deaths as blowes to the amazed enemie He needs not walke farre for this execution Himselfe and his Armour-bearer in one halfe acres space haue slaine twenty Philistims It is not long since Ionathan smote their Garison in the hill of Geba perhaps from that time his name and presence carried terror in it but sure if the Philistims had not seene and felt more then a man in the face and hands of Ionathan they had not so easily groueled in death The blowes and shrikes cannot but affect the next who with a ghastly noise ranne away from death and afright their fellowes no lesse then themselues are afrighted The clamour and feare runnes on like fire in a traine to the very formost rankes Euery man would flye and thinkes there is so much more cause of flight for that his eares apprehend all his eyes nothing Each man thinkes his fellow stands in his way and therefore in stead of turning vpon him which was the cause of their flight they bend their swords vpon those whom they imagine to be the hinderers of their flight and now a miraculous astonishment hath made the Philistims Ionathans Champions and Executioners He followes and kils those which helped to kill others and the more he killed the more they feared and fled and the more they killed each other in the flight and that feare it selfe might preuent Ionathan in killing them the earth it selfe trembles vnder them Thus doth God at once strike them with his owne hand with Ionathans with theirs and makes them runne away from life whiles they would flye from an enemie Where the Almighty purposes destruction to any people hee needs not call in forraigne powers he needs not any hands or weapons but their own He can make vast bodies die no other death then their owne waight We cannot be sure to be friends among our selues whiles God is our enemy The Philistims flye fast but the newes of their flight ouer-runnes them euen vnto Sauls Pomegranate Tree The Watchmen discerne afarre off a flight and execution search is made Ionathan is found missing Saul will consult with the Arke Hypocrites while they haue leisure will perhaps be holy For some fits of deuotion they cannot bee bettered But when the tumult encreased Sauls piety decreases It is now no season to talke with a Priest withdraw thine hand Ahaiah the Ephod must giue place to Armes It is more time to fight then to pray what needs he Gods guidance when he sees his way before him He that before would needs sacrifice ere hee fought will now in the other extreame fight in a wilfull indeuotion Worldly minds regard holy duties no further then may stand with their owne carnall purposes Very easie occasions shall interrupt them in their religious intentions like vnto children which if a Bird doe but flye in their way cast their eye from their booke But if Saul serue not God in one kind he will serue him in another if he honour him not by attending on the Arke hee will honour him by a vow His negligence in the one is recompenced with his zeale in the other All Israel is adiured not to eate any food vntill the euening Hypocrisie is euer masked with a blind and thanklesse zeale To wait vpon the Arke and to consult with Gods Priest in all cases of importance was a direct commandement of God To eate no food in the pursuit of their enemies was not commanded Saul leaues that which he was bidden and does that which he was not required To eate no food all day was more difficult then to attend an houre vpon
the field to bee anointed should now bee sent for out of the Countrey into the Court and now hee perceiued God was making way for the execution of that which he purposed hee attends the issue in silence neither shall his hand faile to giue furtherance to the proiect of God He therefore sends his sonne laden with a Present to Saul The same God which called Dauid to the Court welcomes him thither His comelinesse valour and skill haue soone wonne him fauour in the eyes of Saul The giuer of all graces hath so placed his fauours that the greatest enemies of goodnesse shall see somewhat in the holiest men which they shall affect and for which they shall honour the persons of them whose vertues they dislike as contrarily the saints on earth see somwhat to loue euen in the worst creatures No doubt Dauid sung to his harpe his harp was not more sweet then his song was holy Those Psalmes alone had beene more powerfull to chase the euill spirit then the Musicke was to calme passions both together gaue ease to Saul and God gaue this effect to both because he would haue Saul traine vp his Successor This sacred Musick did not more dispell Satan then wanton Musick inuites him and more cheers him then vs He phyes and danceth at a filthy Song he sings at an obscure dance Our sinne is his best pastime whereas Psalmes and Hymnes and spirituall Songs are torment vnto the Tempter and Musick to the Angels in Heauen whose trade is to sing Alleluiahs in the Chore of glory DAVID and GOLIAH AFter the newes of the Philistims Army I heare no more mention of Sauls frenzy Whether the noise of Warre diuerted those thoughtfull passions or whether God for his peoples sake tooke off that euill spirit lest Israel might miscary vnder a franticke Gouernor Now Dauid hath leisure to returne to Bethleem The glory of the Court cannot transport him to ambitious vanity He had rather be his Fathers Shepherd then Sauls Armour-bearer All the magnificence and state which hee saw could not put his mouth out of the taste of a retyred simplicity yea rather hee loues his hooke the better since he saw the Court and now his brethren serue Saul in his stead A good heart hath learnt to frame it selfe vnto all conditions and can change estates without change of disposition rising and falling according to occasion The worldly mind can rise easily but when it is once vp knowes not how to descend either with patience or safety Forty dayes together had the Philistims and Israelites faced each other they pitched on two hills one in the sight of other nothing but a Valley was betwixt them Both stand vpon defence and aduantage If they had not meant to fight they had neuer drawne so neere and if they had beene eager of fight a Valley could not haue parted them Actions of hazard require deliberation not fury but discretion must be the guide of Warre So had Ioshua destroyed the Giantly Anakims out of the Land of Israel that yet some were left in Azzah Gath and Ashdod both to shew Israel what Aduersaries their forefathers found in Canaan and whom they mastered as also that God might winne glory to himselfe by these subsequent executions Of that race was Goliah whose heart was as high as his head his strength was answerable to his stature his weapons answerable to his strength his pride exceeded all Because he saw his head higher his armes stronger his sword and speare bigger his shield heauier then any Israelite hee defies the whole host and walking betweene the two Armies braues all Israel with a challenge Why are ye come out to set your battaile in aray Am not I a Philistim and you seruants to Saul Choose you a man for you and let him come downe to me giue me a man that we may fight together Carnall hearts are caried away with presumption of their owne abilities and not finding marches to themselues in outward appearance insult ouer the impotencie of inferiors and as those that can see no inuisible opposition promise themselues certainty of successe Insolence and selfe-confidence argues the heart to be nothing but a lumpe of proud flesh The first challenge of Duell that euer we finde came out of the mouth of an vncircumcised Philistim yet was that in open warre and tended to the sauing of many liues by aduenturing one or two and whosoeuer imitateth nay surpasseth him in challenge to priuate Duell in the attempt partaketh of his vncircumcision though he should ouercome and of his manner of punishment if in such priuate combats he cast away his life For of all such desperate prodigals we may say that their heads are cut off by their owne sword if not by their owne hand Wee cannot challenge men and not challenge God who iustly challengeth to himselfe both to take vengeance and to giue successe The more Goliah challenges and is vnanswered the more is he puft vp in the pride of his owne power And is there none of all Israel that will answer this champion otherwise then with his heeles Where is the courage of him that was higher then all Israel from the shoulders vpward The time was when Nahash the Ammonite had made that tyrannous demand of the right eyes of the Gileadites that Saul could aske vnasked What aileth the people to weepe and could hew his oxen in peeces to raise the spirits of Israel and now he stands still and sees the host turne their backe and neuer so much as aske what aileth the people to flie The time was when Saul flew forty thousand Philistims in one day and perhaps Caliah was in that discomfiture and now one Philistim is suffered by him to braue aâ—â—â—â—el forty dayes whence is this difference The Spirit of God the spirit of fortitude was now departed from him Saul was not more aboue himselfe when God was with him then he is below others now that he is left of God Valour is not meerely of nature Nature is euer like it selfe by this rule he that is once valiant should neuer turne coward But now wee see the greatest spirits inconstant and those which haue giuen good proofes of magnanimitie at other times haue bewrayed white liuers vnto their owne reproch He that is the God of hosts giues and takes away mens hearts at his pleasure Neither is it otherwise in our spirituall combats sometimes the same soule dare challenge all the powers of darknesse which otherwhiles giues ground to a temptation We haue no strength but what is giuen vs and if the author of all good gifts remit his hand for our humiliation either wee fight not or are foyled Dauid hath now lien long enough close amongst his flocke in the fields of Bethleem God sees a time to send him to the pichtfield of Israel Good old Ishai that was doubtlesse ioyfull to thinke that he had afforded three sonnes to the warres of his King is no lesse carefull of their welfare and
fore-seeing that which hee should not bee able to auoid Foolish men giue away their soules for nothing The itch of impertinent and vnprofitable knowledge hath beene the hereditary disease of the sonnes of Adam Eue How many haue perished to know that which hath procured their perishing How ambitious should wee bee to know those things the knowledge whereof is eternall Life Many a lewd Office are they put to which serue wicked Masters one while Sauls seruants are set to kill innocent Dauid another while to shed the bloud 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 beene good hee had needed no disguise Honest actions neuer shame the doers Now that hee goeth about a sinfull businesse hee changeth himselfe hee seekes the shelter of the night hee takes but two followers with him It is true that if Saul had come in the port of a King the Witch had as much dissembled her condition as now hee dissembleth his yet it was not onely desire to speed but guiltinesse that thus altered his habit such is the power of conscience that euen those who are most affected to euill yet are ashamed to be 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 NOTVVITHSTANDING 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 bee some that will ieopard their heads vpon the grossest sinnes No Garden can be so curiously tended that there should not bee one Weed left in it Yet so farre can good Statutes and due inflictions of punishment vpon offenders preuaile that mischieuous 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 sinne if it cannot be expelled As contrarily wofull is the condition of that place where is a publike profession of wickednesse This Witch was no lesse crafty than wicked shee had before as is like bribed Officers to escape inditement lurke in secrecy and now shee will not worke her feares without securitie her suspition proiects the worst Wherefore seekest thou to take wee in a snare to cause mee to dye Oh vaine Sorceresse that could bee wary us auoid the punishment of Saul carelesse to auoid the iudgment of God Could wee fore-thinke what our sinne would cost vs wee durst not but be innocent This is a good and seasonable answer for vs to make vnto Satan when hee sollicites vs to euill wherefore seekest thou to take mee in a snare to cause mee to dye Nothing is more sure than this intention in the tempter than this euent in the issue Oh that wee 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 safetie than shee addresseth her to her Sorcery Hope of impunitie 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 rayse 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 lodge of Deuils how senselesse hee is to say Bring me vp Samuel It is no rare thing to lose euen our wit and iudgement together with graces How iustly are they giuen ouer to fottishnesse that haue giuen themselue ouer to sinne 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 safetie by expostulation She cryed with a loud voyce why hast thou deceiued mee for thou art Saul The very name of Saul was an accusation Yet is he so farre from striking his brest that doubting lest this feare of the Witch should interrupt the desired worke hee encourages her whom hee should haue condemned Be not afraid Hee that had more cause to feare for his owne sake in an expectation of iust iudgment cheeres vp her that feared nothing but himselfe How ill doth it become vs to giue that counsell to others whereof wee haue more neede and vse in our owne persons As one that had more care to satisfie his curiositie than her suspicion hee askes 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 farre is Satan content to descend to the seruice of his seruants that hee 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 Else-where Satan transformes him into an Angell of light What wonder is it that his wicked Instruments appeare like Saints in their hypocriticall dissimulation if wee will bee iudging by the appearance wee shall bee sure to erre No eye could distinguish betwixt the true Samuell 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 He that would not worship God in Samuel aliue now worships Samuel in Satan and no maruell Satan was now become his refuge in steed 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 than to be 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 dost thou aske of mee seeing the Lord is gone from thee and is thine enemy Nothing 〈…〉 pleasing to that euill one than to be solicited yet in the person of Samuel hee can say Why hast thou disquitted wâ—â—e Had not the Lord beene gone from Saul hee had neuer coâ—ne to the Deuillish Oracle of Endor and yet the counterfetting spirit can say Why dost thou arke of 〈◊〉 seeing the Lord is gone from thee Satan cares not how little hee is knowne to bee himselfe he loues to passe vnder any sonne rather than his owne The more holy the person is the more carefully doth Satan act him that by his stale hee may ensnare vs. In euery motion it is good to try the spirits whether they be of God Good words are no meanes to distinguish a Prophet from a Deuill
than the delicate Bed of her whom he thought as honest as he knew faire The Arke saith hee and Israel and Iudah dwell in Tents and my Lord Ioab and the Seruants of my Lord abide in the open Fields shall I then goe into my house to eat and drinke and lye with my Wife by thy life and by the life of thy soule I will not doe this thing Who can but bee astonished at this change to see a Souldier austere and a Prophet wanton And how doth that Souldiers austeritie shame the Prophets wantonnesse Oh zealous and mortified Soule worthy of a more faithfull Wife of a more iust Master how didst thou ouer-looke all base sensuality and hatedst to bee happy alone Warre and Lust had wont to bee reputed friends thy brest is not more full of courage than chastity and is so farre from wandring after forbidden pleasures that it refuseth lawfull There is a time to laugh and a time to mourne a time to embrace and a time to bee farre from embracing euen the best actions are not alwayes seasonable much lesse the indifferent Hee that euer takes libertie to doe what hee may shall offend no lesse than hee that sometimes takes libertie to doe what hee may not If any thing the Arke of GOD is fittest to leade our times according as that is eyther distressed or prospereth should wee frame our mirth or mourning To dwell in seeled 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 O Ierusalem let my right hand forget her cunning If I doe not remember thee let my tongue cleaue to the roofe of my mouth yea if I preferre not Hierusalem to my chiefe ioy As euery man is a limme of the Communitie so must hee bee affected with the estate of the vniuersall bodie whether healthfull or languishing It did not more aggrauate Dauids sinne that whiles the Arke and Israel was in hazard and distresse hee could finde time to loose the reines to wanton desires and actions than it magnifies the religious zeale of Vriah that hee abandons comfort till he see the Arke and Israel victorious Common dangers or calamities must like the rapt motion carrie our hearts contrarie to the wayes of our priuate occasions He that cannot bee moued with words shall bee tried with Wine Vriah had equally protested against feasting at home and societie with his wife To the one the authoritie of a King forceth 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 austeritie But Wine is a mocker when it goes plausibly in no man can imagine how it will rage and tyrannize hee that receiues that Traytour within his gates shall too late complaine of surprizall Like vnto that ill spirit it insinuates sweetly but in the end it bytes like a Serpent and hurts like a Cockatrice Euen good Vriah is made drunke the holiest soule may be ouer-taken It is hard gaine-saying where a King beginnes an health to a subiect Where oh where will this wickednesse end Dauid will now procure the sinne of another to hide his owne Vriahs drunkennesse is more Dauids offence than 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 hee 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 than Wine Whiles that with-holdes in vaine shall the fury of the Grape attempt to carry Vriah to his owne Bed Sober Dauid is now worse than drunken Vriah Had not the King of Israel beene more intoxicate with sinne than Vriah with drinke hee had not in a sober intemperance climbed vp into that Bed which the drunken temperance of Vriah refused If Dauid had bin but himselfe 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 frō him that he may be smitten and dye What is becomne of thee O thou good spirit that hadst woont to guide thy chosen Seruant in his former wayes Is not this the man whom we 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 hee should otherwise haue doted now by many cunning windings Satan rises vp to that tentation and preuailes that shall bee done for a colour of guiltinesse whereof the foule would haue hated to bee immediately guiltie Euen those that finde a iust horror in leaping downe from some high Tower yet may bee perswaded to descend by stayres to the bottome Hee knowes not where he shall stay that hath willingly flipt into a knowne wickednesse How many doth an eminent offender draw with him into euill It could not bee but that diuers of the Attendants both of Dauid and Bathsheba must bee conscious to that adulterie Great mens sinnes are seldome secret And now Ioab must be fetcht in as accessary to the murder How must this example needs harden Ioab against the conscience of Abners bloud Whiles he cannot but thinke Dauid cannot auenge that in mee which he acteth himselfe Honour is pretended to poore Vriah death is meant This man was one of the Worthies of Dauid their courage sought glorie in the difficultest exploits That reputation had neuer beene purchased without attempts of equall danger Had not the Leader and Followers of Vriah beene more treacherours than his Enimies were strong hee had come off with Victory Now hee was not the first or last that perished by his friends Dauid hath forgotten that himselfe was in like sort betrayed in his Masters intention vpon the dowrie of the Philistims-fore-skinnes 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
thine absence must needs bee the fulnesse of horror and torment Hide not thy face from vs O Lord but shew vs the light of thy countenance that we may liue and praise thee EVEN 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 retayne an euerlasting anger towards the fruit of their loynes how much lesse shall the GOD of mercies bee vnreconcileably displeased with his owne and suffer his wrath to burne like fire that cannot bee quenched Hee will not alwayes chide neither will hee 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 Beautie and Greatnesse make him proud Pride workes his ruine Great spirits will not rest content with a moderate prosperitie Ere two yeares bee runne out Absalom runnes out into a desperate plot of rebellion None but his owne Father was aboue him in Israel None was so likely in humane exspectation to succeede his Father If his ambition could but haue contayned it selfe for a few yeares as Dauid was now neere his period dutifull carriage might haue procured that by succession which now â—e 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 painfull throwes till-shee haue brought forth her abortiue Desires How happie were we if our affectation could be so eager of spirituall and heauenly promotions Oh that my Soule could finde it selfe so restlesse till it feele the weight of that Crowne of Glorie OVTWARD Pompe and vnwonted shewes 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 than Princely Equipage His Charets rattle and his Horses trample proudly in the Streets Fiftie Foot-men runne before their glittering Master Ierusalem rings of their glorious Prince and is readie to adore these continuall Triumps of Peace Excesse and Noueltie of exspensiue Brauery and Ostentation in publike persons giues iust cause to suspect either vanitie or a plot True-hearted Dauid can misdoubt nothing in him to whom hee had both giuen life and forgiuen this Loue construed all this as meant to the honour of a Fathers Court to the expression of ioy and thankfulnesse for his reconcilement The eyes and tongues of men are thus taken vp now hath Absalom laid snares for their hearts also He 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 he shined in Beautie and Royall Attendance so much more glory it was to neglect himselfe and to preferre the care of Iustice to his owne ease Neither is Absalom more painfull then plausible his eare is open to all Plaintiues all Petitioners there is no cause which hee 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 deepe than the applause of all others There is none deputed of the King to heare thee What insinuations could bee more powerfull No Musicke can bee 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 Absolom What a iust and carefull Ruler would Absalom be How happy were we if we might be iudg'd by Absalom Those qualities which are wont single to grace others haue conspired to meete in Absalom Goodlinesse of Person Magnificence of State gracious Affabilitie vnwearied Diligence Humilitie in Greatnesse feeling Pittie loue of Iustice care of the Common-wealth The World hath not so complete a Prince as Absalom Thus the hearts of the people are not wonne but stolne by a close Traytor from their lawfully Annointed Souereigne Ouer-faire shewes are a iust Argument of vnsoundnesse no naturall Face hath so cleere a White and Redde as the painted Nothing wants now but a cloâ—e of Religion to perfect the Treachery of that vngracious Sonne who carryed Peace in his Name Warre in his heart and how easily is that put on Absalom hath an holy Vow to be payd in Hebron The deuout man had made it long since whiles hee was exiled in Syria and now hee hastes 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 mocke men The more deformed any Act is the fayrer Visor it still seeketh How glad is the good old King that hee is blessed with so godly a Sonne whom hee dismisseth laden with his causlesse blessings What trust is there in flesh and bloud when Dauid is not safe from his owne Loynes The Conspiracie is now fully forged there lacked nothing but this guilt of Pietie to winne fauour 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-hearted lye most open to Credulitie How easie it is to beguile harmelesse intentions The name of Dauids Sonne carryes them against the Father of Absalom and now these simple Israelites are vnwittingly made loyall Rebels Their hearts are free from a plot and they meane nothing but fidelitie in the attendance of a Traytor How many thousands are thus ignorantly misled into the traine of Errour 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 bee as farre from safetie as innocence Contemplations VPON THE HISTORIE OF THE NEVV TESTAMENT The fifth Volume By IOS HALL SIC ELEVABITVR FILIVS HOMINIS Io 3. ANCHORA FIDEI LONDON Printed for THOMAS PAVIER MILES FLESHER and John Haviland 1624. Contemplations VPON THE HISTORIE OF THE NEW TESTAMENT The first Booke Containing The Angell and ZACHARY The Annuntiation The Birth of CHRIST The Sages and the Starre The Purification HEROD and the Infants TO MY MVCH HONOVRED AND RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL FRIEND SIR Henrie Yeluerton KNIGHT ATTVRNEY GENERALL TO HIS Maiestie RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL IT is not out of any satietie that I change from the old Testament to the new These two as they are the Brests of the Church so thâ—y yeeld Milke equally wholsome equally pleasant vnto able Nurselings Herein J thought good to haue respect vnto my Reader in whose strength there may be difference That other Brest
the fact as of the message There are busie spirits that loue to cary newes though thanklesse though purposelesse such was AhimaaZ the son of Zadock who importunately thrust himselfe into this seruice wise Ioab who well saw how vnwelcome tydings must be the burthen of the first post disswades him in vaine hee knew Dauid too well to imploy a frieÌ„d in that errand An Ethiopian seruant was a fitter bearer of such a message then the son of the Priest The entertainment of the person doth so follow the quality of the newes that Dauid could argue a far off He is a good man he commeth with good tidings Oh how welcome deserue those messengers to bee that bring vs the glad tidings of saluation that assure vs of the foile of all spirituall enemies and tell vs of nothing but victories and Crownes and Kingdomes If we thinke not their feet beautifull our hearts are foule with infidelity and secure worldlinesse So wise is Ahimaaz growne by Ioabs intimation that though hee out-went Cushi in his pace he suffers Cushi to out-goe him in his tale cunningly suppressing that part which he knew must be both necessarily deliuered and vnpleasingly receiued As our care is wont to be where our loue is Dauids first word is not how fares the host but how farâ—â— the yong man Absalom Like a wise and faithfull messenger Cushi answers by honest insinuation The enemies of my Lord the King and all that rise against thee to doe thee hurt be as that yong man is implying both what was done and why Dauid should approue it being done How is the good King thunder strooke with that word of his Black-more who as if he were at once bereaued of all comfort and cared not to liue but in the name of Absalom goes and weepes and cryes out O my son Absalom my son my son Absalom Would God I had dyed for thee O Absalom my son my son What is this wee heare that hee whose life Israel valued at ten thousand of theirs should be exchanged with a traitors that a good King whose life was sought should wish to lay it down for the preseruation of his murtherer The best men haue not wont to be the least passionate But what shall we say to that loue of thine O Sauiour who hast said of vs wretched traitors not Would God I had died for you But I will dye I doe dye I haue died for you Oh loue like thy selfe infinite incomprehensible whereat the Angels of Heauen stand yet amazed wherewith thy Saints are rauished Turne away thine eyes from me for they ouercome mee Oh thou that dwellest in the Gardens the companions hearken to thy voyce cause vs to heare it that we may in our measure answer thy loue and enioy it for euer SHEBAES Rebellion IT was the doome which God passed vpon the man after his owne heart by the mouth of Nathan that the sword should neuer depart from his house for the blood of Vriah After that wound healed by remission yet this scarre remaines Absalom is no sooner cast down into the pit then Sheba the son of Bichri is vp in armes If Dauid be not plagued yet he shal bee corrected First by the rod of a son then of a subiect He had lift vp his hand against a faithfull subiect now a faithlesse dares to lift vp his hand against him Malice like some hereditarie sicknesse runs in a blood Saul and Shimei and Sheba were all of an house That ancient grudge was not yet dead The fire of the house of Iemini was but raked vp neuer throughly out and now that which did but smoke in Shemei flames in Sheba Although euen through this chastisement it is not hard to discerne a Type of that perpetuall succession of enmity which should be raised against the true King of Israel O Son of Dauid when didst thou euer want enemies How wert thou designed by thine eternall Father for a signe that should be spoken against How did the Gentiles rage and the people imagine vaine things The Kings of the earth assembled and the Rulers came together against thee Yea how doe the subiects of thine owne kingdome daily conspire against thee Euen now whiles thou enioyest peace and glory at thy Fathers right hand as soone shalt thou want friends as enemies vpon earth No eye of any traitor could espie a iust quarrell in the gouernment of Dauid yet Sheba blowes the trumpet of rebellion and whiles Israel and Iudah are striuing who should haue the greatest part in their re-established Soueraigne hee stickes not to say We haue no part in Dauid neither haue wee inheritance in the son of Ishai and whiles he sayes Euery man to his tents O Israel hee calls euery man to his owne So in proclaiming a liberty from a iust and loyall subiection he inuites Israel to the bondage of an vsuâ—per That a lewde Conspirator should breathe Treason it is no wonder but is it not wonder and shame that vpon euery mutinous blast Israel should turne Traitor to Gods anointed It was their late expostulation with Dauid why their brethren the men of Iudah should haue stolne him from them now might Dauid mâ—re iustly expostulate why a rebell of their brethren should haue stolne them from him As nothing is more vnstable then the multitude so nothing is more subieâ—â— distastes then Soueraignty for as weake minds seeke pleasure in change so euery light conceit of irritation seemes sufficient colour of change Such as the false dispositions of the vulgar are loue cannot bee security enough for Princes without the awfulnesse of power What hold can there bee of popularity when the same hands that euen now fought for Dauid to be all theirs now fight against him vnder the son of Bichri as none of theirs As Bees when they are once vp in a swarm are ready to light vpon euery bow so the Israelites being stirred by the late commotion of Absalom are apt to follow euery Sheba It is vnsafe for any State that the multitude should once know the way to an insurrection the least track in this kind is easily made a path Yet if Israel rebell Iudah continues faithfull neither shall the son of Dauid euer be left destitute of some true subiects in the worst of Apostasies Hee that could command all hearts will euer bee followed by some God had rather glorifie himselfe by a remnant Great Commanders must haue actiue thoughts Dauid is not so taken vp with the embroiled affaires of his state as not to intend domesticke iustice His ten concubines which were shamelesly defiled by his incestuous son are condemned to ward and widowhood Had not that constupration been partly violent their punishment had not been so easie had it not also beene partly voluntary they had not been so much punished But how much so euer the act did partake of either force or will iustly are they sequestred from Dauids bed Absalom was not more vnnaturall in his rebellion then in his
lust If now Dauid should haue returned to his owne bed hee had seconded the incest How much more worthy of separation are they who haue stained the mariage-bed with their wilfull sinne Amasa was one of the witnesses and abettors of Absaloms filthinesse yet is he out of policie receiued to fauour and imployment whiles the concubine suffer Great men yeeld many times to those things out of reasons of state which if they were priuate persons could not bee easily put ouer It is no small wisdome to engage a new reconciled friend that he may be confirmed by his owne act Therefore is Amasa commanded to leauie the forces of Iudah Ioab after many great merits and atchieuements lies rusting in neglect he that was so intire with Dauid as to bee of his counsell for Vriahs blood and so firme to Dauid as to lead all his battels against the house of Saul the Ammonites the Aramites Absalom is now cashiered must yeeld his place to a stranger late an enemy Who knows not that this sonne of Zeruiah had shed the blood of war in peace But if the blood of Absalom had not bin louder then the blood of Abner I feare this change had not been Now Ioab smarteth for a loyall disobedience How slippery are the stations of earthly honors and subiect to continuall â—â—ueability Happy are they who are in fauour with him in whom there is no shadow of change Where men are commonly most ambitious to please with their first imployments Amasa slackens his pace The least delay in matters of rebellion is perilous may be inrecouerable The sons of Zeruiah are not sullen Abishai is sent Ioab goes vnsent to the pursuit of Sheba Amasa was in their way whom no quarrell but their enâ—y had made of a brother an enemy Had the heart of Amasa beene priuy to any cause of grudge he had suspected the Kisse of Ioab now his innocent eyes looke to the lips not to the hand of his secret enemy The lips were smooth Art thou in health my brother the hand was bloody which smote him vnder the fift ribbe That vnhappy hand knew well this way vnto death which with one wound hath let out the Soules of two great Captaines Abaer and Amasa both they were smitten by Ioab both vnder the fift ribbe both vnder a pretence of friendship There is no enmity so dangerous as that which comes masked with loue Open hostility cals vs to our guard but there is no fence against a trusted trecherie We need not bee bidden to auoyde an enemy but who would run away from a friend Thus spiritually deales the world with our soules it kisses vs and stabs vs at once If it did not embrace vs with one hand it could not murther vs with the other Onely God deliuer vs from the danger of 〈◊〉 trust and we shall be safe Ioab is gone and leaues Amasa wallowing in blood That spectacle cannot but stay all passengers The death of great persons drawes euer many eyes Each man sayes Is not this my Lord Amasa Wherefore doe we goe to fight whiles our Generall lyes in the dust What a sad presage is this of our owne miscariage The wit of Ioabs followers hath therefore soone both remoued Amasa out of the way and couered him not regarding so much the losse as the eye-sore of Israel Thus wicked Politicks care not so much for the commission of villany as for the notice Smothered euils are as not done If oppressions if murders if treasons may be hid from view the obdured heart of the offender complaines not of remorse Bloody Ioab with what face with what heart canst thou pursue a Traitor to thy King whiles thy selfe art so foule a Traitor to thy friend to thy cozen-german and in so vnseasonable a slaughter to thy Soueraigne whose cause thou professest to reuenge If Amasa were now in an act of loyalty iustly on Gods part payd for the arerages of his late rebellion yet that it should bee done by thy hand then and thus it was flagitiously cruell Yet behold Ioab runs away securely with the fact haâ—â—â—ing to plague that in another whereof himselfe was no lesse guilty So vast are the gorges of some consciences that they can swallow the greatest crimes and find no straine in the passage It is possible for a man to be faithfull to some one person and perfidious to all others I do not find Ioab other then firme and loyall to Dauid in the midst of all his priuate falshoods whose iust quarrell he pursues against Sheba through all the Tribes of Israel None of all the strong Forts of reuolted Israel can hide the Rebell from the zeale of his reuenge The Citty of Abel lends harbor to that conspirator whom all Israel would and cannot protect Ioab casts vp a Mount against it and hauing inuironed it with a siege begins to worke vpon the wall and now after long chase is in hand to dig out that Vermin which hath earthed himselfe in this borough of Bethmaachah Had not the City been strong and populous Sheba had not cast himselfe for succor within those wals yet of all the inhabitants I see not any one man moue for the preseruation of their whole body Onely a woman vndertakes to treat with Ioab for their safety Those men whose spirits were great enough to maintaine a Traitor against a mighty King scorne not to giue way to the wisdome of a matron There is no reason that sexe should disparage where the vertue and merit is no lesse then masculine Surely the soule acknowledgeth no sex neither is varied according to the outward frame How oft haue we knowne female hearts in the brests of Men and contrarily manly powers in the weaker vessels It is iniurious to measure the act by the person and not rather to esteeme the person for the act She with no lesse prudence then courage challengeth Ioab for the violence of his assault and layes to him that law which he could not bee an Israelite and disauow the Law of the God of peace whose charge it was that when they should come neere to a City to fight against it they should offer it peace and if this tender must be made to forainers how much more to brethren So as they must inquire of Abel ere they batter'd it War is the extreme act of vindicatiue iustice neither doth God euer approue it for any other then a desperate remedy and if it haue any other end then peace it turnes into publike murder It is therefore an inhumane cruelty to shed blood where we haue not profered faire conditions of peace the refusall whereof is iustly punished with the sword of reuenge Ioab was a man of blood yet when the wise woman of Abel charged him with going about to destroy a mother in Israel and swallowing vp the inheritance of the Lord with what vehemency doth hee deprecate that challenge God forbid God forbid it me that I should deuoure or destroy it Although that city with
right Commentary vpon Gods intention in this act for the terrour of the disobedient and to giue his voice to the certaintie of that future iudgement which his late guest had threatned to Israel sometimes it pleased the wisedome of God to expresse and iustifie himselfe euen by the tongues of faulty Instruments Withall he hath so much faith and courage as to fetch that carkasse from the Lion so much piety and compassion as to weepe for the man of God to interre him in his owne Sepulcher so much loue as to wish himselfe ioyned in death to that body which he had hastened vnto death It is hard to finde a man absolutely wicked Some grace will bewray it selfe in the most forsaken brests It is a cruell courtesie to kill a man and then to helpe him to his graue to betray a man with our breath and then to bedew him with our teares The Prophet had needed no such friend if hee had not met with such an enemy The mercies of the wicked are cruell IEROBOAMS Wife IT is no measuring of Gods fauour by the line of outward welfare Ieroboam the idolatrous vsurper of Israel prospers better then the true heires of Dauid Hee liues to see three successions in the throne of Iuda Thus the Iuy liues when the oake is dead Yet could not that mis-gotten crown of his keep his head alwaies from aching He hath his crosses too God whips sometimes more then his own His enemies smart from him as well as his children his children in loue his enemies in iudgement Not simply the rod argues loue but the temper of the hand that weelds it and the backe that feeles it First Ieroboams hand was striken now his Sonne Abijah the eldest the best sonne of Ieroboam is smitten with sicknesse As children are but the pieces of their Parents in another skin so Parents are no lesse striken in their children then in their naturall lims Ieroboam doth not more feele his arme then his sonne Not wicked men onely but beasts may haue naturall affections It is no thanke to any creature to loue his owne Nature wrought in Ieroboam no grace He is enough troubled with his sons disgrace no whit bettered I would haue heard him say God followes me with his afflictions it is for mine impiety what other measure can I expect from his iustice Whiles mine Idols stand how can I look that my house should prosper I will turne from my wickednes O God turne thou from thy wrath These thoughts were too good for that obdured heart His son is sick he is sorrowfull but as an amazed man seeks to go forth at the wrong doore his distraction sends him to a false help He thinks not of God he thinks of his Prophet He thinks of the Prophet that had foretold him he should be a King he thinks not of the God of that Prophet who made him a King It is the property of a carnall heart to confine both his Obligations and his hopes to the meanes neglecting the Author of good Vaine is the respect that is giuen to the seruant where the Master is contemned Extremity drawes Ieroboams thoughts to the Prophet whom else he had not cared to remember-The King of Israel had Diuines enow of his owne Else hee must needs haue thought them miserable gods that were not worth a Prophet And besides there was an old Prophet if he yet suruiued dwelling within the smoke of his Palace whose visions had bin too well approued why would Ieroboam send so farre to an Ahijah Certainly his heart despised those base Priests of his high places neither could trust either to the gods or the Clergie of his own making His conscience rests vpon the fidelity of that man whose doctrine hee had forsaken How did this Idolater striue against his owne heart whiles he inwardly despised those whom he professed to honour and inwardly honoured them whom hee professed to despise Wicked brests are false to themselues neither trusting to their owne choice nor making choice of that which they may dare to trust They will set a good face vpon their secretly-vnpleasing sinnes and had rather be selfe-condemned then wise and penitent As for that old Seer it is like Ieraboam knew his skill but doubted of his sinceritie that man was too much his neighbour to be good s Ahijahs truth had beene tryed in a case of his owne Hee whose word was found iust in the prediction of his Kingdome was well worthy of credit in the newes of his sonne Experience is a great encouragement of our trust It is a good matter to be faithfull this loadstone of our fidelity shall draw to vs euen hearts of iron hold them to our reliance As contrarily deceit doth both argue and make a bankrupt who can trust where he is disappointed O God so oft so euer haue we found thee true in all thy promises in all thy performances that if we doe not seeke thee if wee doe not trust thee in the sequell wee are worthy of our losse worthy of thy desertions Yet I do not see that Ieroboam sends to the Prophet for his aide but for intelligence Curiositie is guilty of this message and not deuotion hee cals not for the prayers not for the benediction of that holy man but for meere information of the euent He well saw what the prayers of a Prophet could doe That which cured his hand might it not haue cured his sonne Yet he that said to a man of God Intreat the face of the Lord thy God that he may restore my hand sayes not now in his message to Ahijah Intreat thy God to restore my Sonne Sinne makes such a strangenesse betwixt God and man that the guilty heart either thinkes not of suing to God or feares it What a poore contentment it was to foreknow that euill which hee could not auoid and whose notice could but hasten his misery Yet thus fond is our restlesse curiosity that it seekes ease in the drawing on of torment He is worthy of sorrow that will not stay till it comes to him but goes to fetch it Whom doth Ieroboam send on this message but his wife how but disguised Why her and why thus Neither durst he trust this errand with another nor with her in her own forme It was a secret that Ieroboam sends to a Prophet of God none might know it but his owne bosome and she that lay in it if this had bin noised in Israel the example had been dangerous Who would not haue said the King is glad to leaue his counterfeit deities and seek to the true Why should we adhere to them whom he forsakes As the message must not be knowne to the people so shee that beares it must not bee knowne to the Prophet her name her habit must be changed shee must put off her robes and put on a russet coat she must put off the Queene and put on the peasant in stead of her Scepter she must take vp