they went along with him and they were slaine the same day TOGETHER Certainly it is not safe to goe one step forward with a man when we see plainly what way he goes and that he drives furiously on towards a cursed end If we see two men walke together we must needs thinke they are agreed for so sayes the Spirit they cannot walke together else yet we will not judge that all in the Kings Court are Enemies to David We think rather That some there be whose body is with their King and their heart with David We acknowledge That Relations are binders and Court-bands are shackles But yet there is no such binder in the world as our engagement to David Which Ionathan answered as a right precious and faithfull friend therefore no blame can lye upon him And in case we finde him persecuted GOD will beare us out in it if we cast off all orher bands and shackles and come to helpe David for then wee helpe The LORD against Whom the Adversary kicks when he kicks David And let the Adversary remember and all his men with him That Saul died and all his men That same day TOGETHER 4. Saul called together his men bade them follow him doe as he did pursue David and shed bloud to their power 2 Sam. 13.28 Be couragious and be valiant have not I commanded you So he said to his followers as Absalon to his Servants Smite David then kill him feare not my COMMISSION shall be your WARRANT for you and every one of you to beare you out in all violences you shall doe against David VVell GOD takes the matter into his owne hand and in the day of Recompences for Sion Saul is slaine and all his men together And then what good does it to his servants That they had their masters Command for what they did and his Commission for their Warrant The Servant has done his Masters worke as his charge was and the power in his hands and now the hang-man must pay him his wages They are the most unhappy servants in the world that are servants to men who will put their servants upon desperâ—te designes and then tell them that they shall have a Warrant for what they doe under the Great Seale which yet is of no more strength then are the Popes Paper-pardons from whom the LORD deliver us and from them and their commands who are not Masters of themselves It is good and safe to be at the command of that LORD who gives His Command and His Warrant and His Wages too He will beare-out His Servants in all they shall doe by Command from His Mouth That shall be their Warrant indeed To them and every one of them for what they doe and for so doing there is a sure reward And if the adversary shall thrust these men for doing their duty into a fiery furnace or Lions den yet GOD HAS COMMANDED That is their Warrant still and shall carry them boldly into the mouth of the devourers so as they shall quench the violence of the fire and stop the mouth of Lyons O how good a thing it is to be at the command of such a Master whose command is your Warrant your defence and reward too We have viewed the Armies on both sides Saul has most men and the most successefull he is and strong for the warre But GOD is with David Iob 9.19 and if we speake of strengâ—h Lo He is strong or of counsell Lo He is WONDERFUL COUNSELLOR the MIGHTY GOD or of Reward Lo there is no service to the service of That KING nor Wages like to that He gives Wo must proceed in the Chapter Saul has David in chase he will pursue him to the utmost extent of his chaine as farre as his hand can reach so farre we will follow him and so end the Chapter David and his men are hunted from Keilah whence they went whathersoever they could goe 1 Sam. 23.13 And the best way they could thinke-on in their distraction was to goe into a mountainous and wilde countrey where David abode in strong holds Vers 14. even in the wildernesse of Ziph And Saul sought him every day but God delivered him not into Sauls hand Ionathan Sauls sonne Vers 16. a true friend visits David in the wood strengthened his hand in GOD they two made a Covenant together then Ionathan returned to his house lest David in the wood in a strong hold there with the Ziphites Vers 17.18.19 20 Now they play their prankes give notice to Saul where Sauls abode is Saul takes this wondrous kindly counts it the Ziphites treacherous dealing a compassion blesseth them those Murtherers then bids them prepare his way Vers 21. Num dicebat mihi esse c. Trem. observe Davids haunt a subtle fellow he told me so himselfe sayes Saul when we were familiar together bring me word sayes Saul touching the certainty of Davids abode Vers 23. and his lurking places and I will goe up with you and search him out throughout all the thousands of Iudah Vers 22.23.25 See! Saul workes all by treachery if any help and successe in his way the divel helps him to it for he makes lyes and liars his refuge And Saul does as he said hee and his men went to seeke David And they told David Who told him Some in Sauls camp sure faithfull to David See! David has friends perhaps besides Ionathan Vers 19. in Sauls Court So he leaves Hachilah came down to Maon and before he could breath himself Saul hears where his abode is and pursues David even thither There David is in a maze knowes not in the world what way to take for Saul and his men have compassed him round But behold in passage the wonderfull workes of GOD towards David Saul pursues after David in all haste as after an enemy has him in a Coop makes no more conscience of destroying him then he does to eat bread Saul shall lose his advantage for now he must be told that an enemy indeed has invaded his land so Saul must hasten as fast against the Philistines as he hasted before in the pursuite of David c. for it is noted before Thus David escaped at this time and at all times Vers 29. and he now dwels in strong holds in En-gedi Saul has cleared his land of the Philistines 1 Sam. 24. now he drives after David as furiously as before for David is discovered againe and Saul is told where Davids abode is even among the wilde goats Vers 2. and upon the rockes there Saul a mighty hunter before the LORD hunts David with two thousand dogges and more not three thousand I thinke for the reason before said though so many were with him Notwithstanding Sauls Companies David shall have the better Saul had an advantage upon David before but could not take it David has an advantage now of Saul but will not take it farther then to declare
himselfe and so playes mad prankes Reader you cannot justifie David in all he did though one of the best men in those dayes nor may you condemn him Nor may you say if you had been in his case you would not have done as David did You know not what you might have done had you been in his case close pursued at the heels by a cruell Lord a bloudy Edomite Thou little knowest now what thou mightest have done then being in Davids case It is thy neighbours case now pitty them condemne them not but looke to thy owne standing and in whose strength thou doest stand Meditate Terrour and strengthen thy hand and thy heart in GOD against the day of trouble and treading downe Now proceed The Lord orders all even Davids mad prankes for Davids good He is not more affraid of Achish then Achish is affraid of David A mad fellow I have no need of him David shall not come into my house sayes Achish David cared not whether he came thither or no. Nay he counts it a mercy That he is escaped thence And now hee is gone to the Cave Adullam 1 Sam. 22. There his friends comfort him and he has an Army of five hundred men He goes on somewhat an indirect course we shall heare more of that anon for he was affraid The Prophet meets with him bids him goe backe againe into the land of Judah There Saul heares tidings of him and from Doegs mouth he heares of all that was done at Nob. Then followes a miserable destruction as we heard all the Priests slaine except one who escaped to bring David the heavy tidings of All that befell the Citty of Priests which yet David expected knowing it would be so because he saw the Edomite was there But David has escaped and being delivered hee will doe some service in testimony of his thankfull remembrance for that deliverance David heares that the Keilites were distressed the Philistines were fighting against them and notorious Pillagers they were almost as these in our dayes 1 Sam. 23.1 They robbed the threshing floores tooke from the poore People their provision they had layed-up against winter David cannot endure this wrong his Soule hates oppression where ever he sees it and to the LORD he goes for He is Davids Oracle The LORD delayes not David gives him present Answer Goe and smite the Philistines and save Keilah Verse 2. No but doe not said his men See! they crosse Gods command Verse 3. but they give good Reason for it so as they put David to a stand We are afraid say they of one man Saul who is behind us and wilt thou thrust thy selfe into the mouth of the Troopers before thee a legion of them A poore hand-full of men against the Armies of the Philistines a fronte Wilt thou so It must not be so The men spake like men very good reason but they who can speak no more are not for action they will hinder Davids victories Now David is at a stand and faints hastens to GOD againe thither he can retire himselfe still and refresh his fainting spirits enquires of The LORD and is established A gracious God! He does not reprove David for hearkning to his men after he had heard what God said but gives him the same answere as before And now David is upon his legges again and as bold as a Lion he will venture himself among Scorpions now what cares he who they are they are Gods enemies or how many they are they are but men all and miserable men David carries the revenge of God with him and he must prevaile and doe worthily God bids him goe against them and he will goe David waits but for GODS commission and that shall be a sufficient warrant for David indeed Let God alone with the rest In point of worke and good service we must divide with God Wee have to doe with no more but the Duty the doing Gods command as here Davids command was Goe and smite the Philistines David must goe for GODS command carries a good man as Abraham blind-fold he knowes not whither But the distracting troublesome part that which is above strength the difficulty the darksome part of the worke which so disheartned Davids men and so shakes the soule with feare that is not ours but Gods part It must bee rolled upon Him Who is mighty and set Faith to work there A little Man and a great Faith an hand-full of Men and an heart-full of Faith will doe great matters Put to flight Armies of Aliens So David did here he smote those Pillagers and saved the Inhabitants of Keilah And now there David is even at KEILAH amongst the inhabitants there he is amongst those whom he has indeared and engaged to him he thinkes by unrecountable favours This was told to Saul That David was come to Keilah and Saul was glad of that and so he said God hath delivered him into my hands 1 Sam. 23.7 for he is shut in by entring into a Towne that hath gates and barres And that he may take the opportunity which GOD put into his hand he thought which yet was but to discover Sauls spirit the treachery of the Keilites and his owne glorious Arme stretched out still against Saul and for his Servant David Saul calls all the People together to war to goe downe to Keilah to besiege David and his men there David understands all this and more for this was Davids advantage and comfort both GOD was with David and went along with him where ever David went a Refuge to Whom he could continually resort for counsell and direction from His Mouth So David understands all the purposes of Sauls heart and that the Keilites will prove Treacherous also Set a Marke upon these Keilites as we passe that we may know them where ever we meet them Wicked ungratefull people David has taken off their yokes delivered them out of the hands of Spoylers made them Free-men who were Slaves before David put his life in his hand would jeopard it for them stand up for them against an Army of Philistines In a word David did for these KEILITES as the Parliament have done for us and when all this is done ungratefull wretches as they are they are so far from standing up for David that they will betray him into Sauls hand O monstrous c. Deliver up deale treacherously with him who was the best friend they had in the world Give him up into the hand of Saul and his Spoylers the Edomites to be spoyled who had delivered them from out of the hands of Spoilers O monstrous But yet David must not repent of what he has done it was his duty he had a command for it Though Saul is a bloudy man and the Keilites treacherous GOD is faithfull He will but learne His Servants this great Lesson Not to trust in men but in the Living and Faithfull and True God Men will deale like men deceitfully GOD is
contracted by long rest and so Israel might be like a Dove without an heart an Asse and a strong Asse couching downe betwixt burthens laid upon them by Saul and his bloudy Courtiers for Saul commands and the Edomite smote Nob and overthrowes all who stood-up for or had an hand with David And all Israel stood shrinking up their armes into their sleeves as we reade in Xenophon The Persians were wont to doe before their King in homage and subjection to all his commands But as I said I will not conclude so That a deadnesse of spirit was upon Israel at this time I beleeve there was a more commanding cause then that which with-held Israel at that time Wee shall heare that anon when I have taken off the imputation of treason and rebellion charged upon David by his master Saul for David a private man doth defend himselfe as well as hee can and would have fortified Keilah had they not proved treacherous to him and the lawfulnesse of this may be questionable by all Israel as well as by Saul himselfe Whether David in defending Keisah Quest had not maintained it against Saul It was not against Saul Ans It was against the notorious violences of his evill spirit those David would have withstood But Keilah was Israels City Saul the King of Israel Qu. why would David fortifie that City As it is more then probable he would have done had not the Keilites proved themselves ungratefull and treacherous Because David knew That Saul secretly practised mischiefe against him Ans and would destroy Keilah for his sake All this is written 1 Sam. 22. Therefore hee thrust himselfe into Keilah would have fortified that place But Saul might thrust out David thence for it was Sauls City Qu. was it not No it was Israels City Sauls for Israels good to defend Israel Ans not to destroy Israel We are sure of that But David had strong-holds here and there Qu. and did Breast-worke himselfe against Saul his master No Ans not against Saul his master but against those notorious violences the actings of the evill spirit upon Saul his master Against these extreame out-rages and riots David did fortifie and Breast-worke himselfe And where ever we reade of these strong-holds and Breast-works there we shall reade of Sauls bloudy persecution against David Israels best friend and temporall Saviour Therefore will those strong holds be an eternall dishonour to King Saul till the Records of Time be lost 1 Sam. 26.19 1 Sam. 23.14 David did get up to his strong-hold where be abode and there he did Breast-worke himselfe Why It is answered for Saul sought every day to kill him It is upon ever-lasting Record an eternall dishonour to King Saul so to persecute his best servant for who so faithfull as David in all his Kingdome And if David a private man did so fortifie himselfe to safe-guard his owne throat much more might all Israel for their owne and Davids sake stand-up against the insolencies of a private will and an evill spirit acting thereby Whatever held in Israel from comming-out armed at this time conscience it was not To let the King doe what a Tyrant does make will his law and doe what he pleaseth and yet Israel stand still the while behold all this with open face hold their hands in their pockets or shrinke them up into their sleeves in homage forsooth to the Evill spirit commanding in Saul and in obedience to the Edomite executing that command Surely the like was never done since the beginning of the world untill this Day For here is the King of Israel smiting Israel the great Fiduetary of the Kingdome to whom Cities and Townes Priests and People are all intrusted betraying this Trust into an Edomites hands And so he that should next to GOD uphold and preserve Israel destroyes Israel and will lay their Cities waste And all this that he may be avenged of David one of the best men and best subjects he had in his Kingdome We are well resolved now in point of Israels subjection to that power which GOD had intrusted Saul with thereby to be a Terrour to the evill not to good workes Rom. 13.3 And that if Israel had stood-up in their owne and Davids defence they had not stood-up against Saul but for him and against the notorious violences the actings of the evil spirit by Sauls and his Edomites hands And so I come to enquire concerning this Edomite who he was VVhen we know him we shall see plainly that Israel could make no scruple of conscience to stand up in resistance of him who stood up against the Crowne and peace of Israels King and Kingdome VVho this Edomite was How bloudy his minde against Israel VVho was this Edomite A Childe of Edom who in the day of Hierusalem said Rase it rase it even to the foundation thereof And The LORD remembers this and chargeth the Edomite with it Amâ—s 1 11. hee did pursue his brother with the sword and did cast off all pitty and his anger did teare perpetually and kept his wrath for ever The LORD threatens the Edomite in the same place also For three transgressions of Edom and for foure I will not turne away the punishment thereof A finite number for an infinite for three transgressions and for foure But his bloudshed his cruelty towards his brother that shall set deepe upon his score Though the LORD should passe over six transgressions of Edom yet the seventh GOD will not passe over I will not turne away the punishment thereof Edom has broken all the bands of Nature O take heed of breaking those bands of Nature and brother like kindnesses the Edomite did so he did pursue his brother with the sword and when he had his brother under his hands he cast-off all pitty his anger did teare as wee reade before An old adversary to Israel Num. 20.14 The Edomite knew of all the travell that befell his brother Yet he will not shew his brother the least favour he will not suffer him to passe by the Kings high way though Israel will not be chargeable to the Edomite for a drop of water or a mouthfull of grasse if my Cattell drinke of thy water then we will pay for it A reasonable request as ever was asked yet the Edomite would not grant it He would give his brother a stone for bread and for a fish a Serpent so he answered his brothers request and then came-out against his brother with much people and a strong hand When In the day of Iacobs trouble And now see what he has done He had no sooner the word of command from Sauls mouth but hee answers it with his hand Turne thou and fall upon the Priests And Doeg the Edomite turned and pursued his Brother with the sword and shewed no pity Ah Lord Can an Israelites heart endure to see this An Edomite flourishing with his sword in Israels
his uprightnesse towards his Master As for wickednesse it does ever proceed from the wicked man This we have read before and the words are cleare and so Davids innocency is cleared as the noone day and Saul abundantly satisfied and his Evill spirit silenced for that time But yet David would not trust Saul No reason he should trust him in whom is no truth and from whom God is departed So David and his men gat them up into the hold in the hill of Hachilah Vers 22. 1 Sam. 26.1 among the Ziphites againe and these are as treacherous as before 'T is expected so Knave once and Knave still Treacherous persons will deal treacherously they saw Saul did deale so it was his common practise they would follow such a great Master he hearkened to lies and all his servants were wicked Pro. 29.12 But methinkes GOD does not deal so gratiously with His gracious Servant the poore man knows not whither to run hee went forward even now and now backward againe and still almost in the mouth of danger and hands of treacherous men Is this GODS kindnesse to His Friend may some say Yes indeed is it and we shall see it to be so anon Admirable Kindnesse wonderfull Providence strange Discoveries but we will remember all Davids adventures first In the meane time this will serve to beare-up our Spirits that it matters not whither David runs whether forward or backward so he keeps with GOD and GOD with him nay though he doe stray from GOD a little yet GOD will not leave David We proceed Saul reading the Ziphites Intelligence drives furiously with the three thousand men to Ziph againe where he knowes he has Right-men for his service what followes now in the Chapter we have read before but it is very well worth the paines to read the Chapter againe for besides the beholding GODS wonderfull hand there in working for David and casting his enemy into a deep sleep we shall observe there also That the divel was non-â—lust quite silenced he had not a word to say and yet David who could have trusted Saul very well durst not trust his Evill spirit but concludes It is better for him to make speed into the land of the Pâ—ilistines and thither he goes and dwells in Gath driven out from abiâ—ing in the inheritance of the LORD The King shewes David favour there assigneth him a Towne called Ziglag which must be smitten anon and burnt with fire Now we may suppose Davids case to be full of distraction David lookes on the right hand calls out Who is on my side who The Keilites thought he No but they are not their hand is with Saul Then he looked on the left hand to the Ziphites to see if they would helpe him No they are with Saul as Right as the other No help from men they are deceitfull and treacherous Then Dâ—vid lookes before him and hastened to that strong hold and the other and Saul drives him out thence also then into the Wildernesse he goes Saul hunts him there then to Gath and there he is out of Sauls reach whose power vvas stinted there when his vvill to doe David mischiefe vvas boundlesse Novv to the Relation it has vvith our time as it is at this day and then I will conclude the Chapter Indeed it relates it selfe Saul has thrust out a rough hand against David Davids LORD an Almighty Hand to deliver him from out of Sauls hand The hotter the persecution the more glorious the rescue But how did Saul gain advantage upon David By corruption in the Officers and base treachery which we call fine designes But the LORD wrought-forth glorious salvations for David hereby All shall yeeld pretious matter for his soule and spirit to work upon filling his mouth with MICHTAMS golden Songs of deliverance Michtam of David a golden jewell oâ— notable Song and so notes the excellency of these Psalmeâ— 16.56 57 58 59 60. So it was with David in those times So it will be with David The People and Friends of GOD unto the worlds end But these Michtams had beene lost this pretious Treasure of the Church had there not beene such fine devices such subtile contrivances against him had there not beene so much of Hell in all Sauls designes against David there had not been so much of Heaven in Davids Psalmes Nay had not David been in these and these straits had not his friends deceived him and all his Strong-holds too the Church had lost Davids MASCHILS also his Psalmes to give Instruction how to make advantage of an Adversary and of all the mischiefes he shall doe or intend to doe against David He could not have wanted any one thing was done against him by the violence of man either from their hand or from their tongue David could not have been so high above his Adversaries at the last had they not had him under at the first had not his Enemies dealing towards him been so base vile and treacherous David had not been so glorious The truth is Sauls violent dealing with David did David much good he could not have wanted it So likewise the treacherous dealing of the Keilites and Ziphites all this did him much good also And for his strong-holds he lost them with more advantage at the last then he gained them at the first These stood him in stead but for the present time to keepe Saul from his throat the losse of them turned unto infinite advantage To sum-up all that has beene spoken last David is come to Nob gets the sword into his hand the best Sword that ever was in the world for he sees The print of an Almighty hand upon it and carryes the revenge of The LORD along with him in it And now he thinks he shall be delivered No not yet Then he came to Keiliah he has wrought a strange deliverance for them Now he makes no doubt but they will worke for his deliverance with all their might No they are treacherous Then to Ziph he came to see what the Ziphites will doe As little as the Keilites all they can against David Friends prove themselves all false Strong-holds are all too weake yet all to make David strong in his GOD at the last to fill Davids mouth with MICHTAMS and with MASCHIL's pretious songs for deliverance and To give instruction Therefore though we see great reason why all should be even so with David yet we will soberly enquire more fully into all these matters for GOD will give us excellent resolution thereunto CHAP. 5. God suffer'd the Adversary to prevaile a while To worke-out his designes against David That thereby Davids spirit might be discovered to himselfe That his Adversarâ—es spirits might bee made manifest also and convinced And GODS Right-hand made glorious towards David This in all particulars relates to David The Faithfull of The LORD evermore VVHy does The LORD deale thus hardly for so it seemes Qu. with His gracious Servant Dâ—vid For
excellent Reasons has The LORD done all this First Ans I. 1. The Lord will discover David to himselfe Saul shall prosper yet longer he shall have fine devices and neat contrivances against David he shall corrupâ— by flattery and worke mightily by treacheries And David shall continue in his straits yet longer Why That Sauls spirit might be fully manifest and all his fine prankes fully opened to the world That is true as we shall heare presently But there is a maine and prime cause first to be considered on That David may be discovered to himselfe Alas David knows not himselfe yet he shall before he be delivered and his adversary shall helpe him exceedingly at this high point To discover Davids spirit to himselfe wherewith in probability David had not beene acquainted had not Saul persecuted him from place to place As first 1. Suppose Saul and David had come to a good understanding and then to an agreement before David came to Nob Then David had not beene acquainted with his lying spirit I will but point at things for excellent reason that GOD may have the glory for I like not to stay upon the Saints infirmities The truth was David had a lying spirit and he hath told all the world so much who will heare him It was customary to him to tell a lye he came to the Priest at Nob and slaps him in the mouth with foure lyes before he came to a full stop And he traversed the way of lying till he came to Achish in Gath and then he was in the way of lying too David shall not be delivered yet fully This lying spirit must bee discovered to David first And blessed be GOD Who sanctified Sauls rough hand towards David and the treacheries of men for this high end The making Davids lying spirit manifest to himselfe so as he can abhor himselfe for it and desires of his GOD nothing more then That He would remove out of sight now upon his deepe humiliation these wicked shifts Psal 119.29 Remove from mee sayes hee the way of lying 2. Davids spirit could close with the creature it could rest it selfe upon the Arme of flesh he had done a notable service for the Keilites now thought he they whom I have so and so delivered from such and such dangers They will be fast friends unto me I may rest upon them No if that be his thought he shall be hunted yet further till he see clearly That men are vanity deceitfull and light upon the ballance There is no trust to be put in men Saul may take them off with a profer of honour gaine or the like But David may trust in GOD He is faithfull Davids spirit shall be restlesse till it winde-up it selfe by GODS power above man all humane props and hath bottomed it selfe upon GOD an Almighty foundation So for Strong-holds too he must be driven from them all because his spirit could secure it selfe so well in such hiding-places David must not be delivered yet till he be acquainted with his owne spirit at this point also That David may say Surely Thou onely art my strong-hold and my Hiding place But more of this when we come to Ziglag 3. David had a very shifting fleeting spirit bessides his mad pranks which we will not recall he fluttered from place to place I cannot tell how warrantable his way was either when he went to the King of Moab or afterwards to Gath True it was David was hardly driven Saul still at his heels and Saul was driven by the divell It would make the wisest man run and flye also to get out of the divels reach But yet surely the Prophet advised David well Get thee into the land of Iudah David must be advised whither he runs and suffer reproofe too What makest thou with the King of Moab 1 Sam. 21.5 Get thee into the land of Iudah It seemes spoken by way of reproofe David would thrust himselfe into this place and into that here he might have refuge and there No David must be taught now and Saul shall be his good master That these are but shifts vaine thoughts These places being trusted unto as we shall see anon are but like childrens castles which they have framed with their owne hands not likely to bee of any continuance GOD must be Davids refuge whereto he may continually resort 4. David was very impatient of delayes he could not wait till GOD had perfected His worke A man of an hasty spirit If he was not delivered at this time then GOD was slacke as he counted slacknesse And if not delivered at the other time just when he would have it Then all men were lyars Samuel and all Non Deispiritu propheticè sed c. Psa 116.11 All his promises touching a Kingdome were but words and they vanish into winde hee shall never be King but by Sauls hand he shall fall he said so in his HASTE haste indeed all men are lyars It is well then Accellerando cum praeceps raperetur in perturbatione carnis Ibid. David shall not be delivered till he has got more power over his spirit more constancy there Till he can be long-suffering endure and wait GODS time which is evermore best for David Now I may be the briefer in relating to these times God seemes to deale hardly with His Friends They are not delivered They expected That at such a time deliverance would be and at such a time but yet deliverence is delayed and a rough hand is put-out against them to the uttermost as it is at this day It is well it is so for GOD does all things well Alas what a little ease of Iron yoakes would have pleased His People How little of purity in GODS Ordinances Quicquid Deuâ— instituerit faciendum praeceperit certum est non esse rem nihili sed pretiosam utilem etiamsi externâ facie stâ—pulâ fabali aut casiâ nuce esset inanioâ— levior Luth. Cat. de Bap. Tempore sâ—o Is â— 60.12 would have pleased them well might they have had their Will and their Time A little though nothing is liâ—tle there and the least swerving from the Rule makes a great Rent and greatly to bee stood upon But I say and I doe but point at it how little would have served the turne would GOD have left His People to their own time and way GOD is better to them then they are to themselves Blessed be His Name He has provided better for them above their prayers and beyond their hopes They shall have a deliverance if they will wait a little A full Reformation But â—hey must leave GOD to His Owne Time and Way But how are the spirits of the best men discovered by these seeming delayes unto themselves Even David the best servants of the LORD made lyes their Refuge That they did and it is plainly discovered unto them now that so they did so also the warpings of their spirits and their vaine
better Subject he is and friend both and more right for Sauls designes the more he declares himselfe an enemy to David Why now David cannot trust Saul All his sweet words are lost if he be melting a little the Evill spirit and the Edomite will harden him againe So David will to his Strong-hold and is resolved upon the question To go to GATH out of Sauls reach else he could not avoid Sauls bloody hand he thought which pursued him so far even till he had driven David from out of the Inheritance of the Lord And so Sauls Evill spirit is fully discovered now and manifest He must be convinced also non-plussed and put to silence The Evill spirit shall bee convinced that he shall not be able to say a word but in way of acknowledgement and honest confession from a sound conviction That he is a lyar a murtherer and has erred exceedingly See how convincing Truth is from Davids mouth and how ingenuous Saul is in his confession 1 Sam. 26.21 I have played the foole and erred exceedingly He had indeed Saul Davids grand enemy is fully discovered convinced also yet David is not delivered no. though all Sauls Right men the Edomites implacable adversaries his false friends Keilites and Ziphites are made manifest too yet David is not delivered no not yet we shall see more reason for it anon first we must bring-this-up-to our time GOD delayes his Churches deliverances now for the same reason sure That the adversaries thereof might be fully manifest to all Israel The actings of the evill spirit President over the Kings Councell were not manifest enough sixe yeares agoe when they thrust a cursed Booke upon the Scots and after that the sword Nor when they called a Parliament in England not to ease the yokes but to ingage the Kingdome in that warre which would have â—ashed the people one against the other even the father and the son together Ierem. 13.14 This evill spirit was not manifest enough yet for wickednesse may bee established by a Law in Scotland and yet pretence very faire To establish True Religion Lawes and Liberties here in England And goodly and sweet words were spoken that way and much done touching Bishops and their Courts And all this while the evill spirit was as an Angell of light And his Actings more indiscernable then before But then the Designe touching the Army in the North changed the Divels colour quite and made him looke as black as soot as he is an Angel of darknesse But let the evill spirit alone he can cleare up himselfe againe he will not be made manifest yet No not when he prevailed by the evill Counsell To remove the Lieutenant of the Tower in whom all Israel could confide and placed a Murtherer there in that Strong-hold notwithstanding the evill spirit was not manifest enough No nor when he counselled the King to desert the Parliament No nor when he perswaded the King to call all Israel to war against David and all that had their hand with David under pretence of taking a guard to his person Nor when he made the Edomite Generall in the field MANAGER of all the Kings affaires here in Israels Land notwithstanding the evill spirit was not manifest enough yet But now we know what spirit they are of and who rules them For the Land is filled with bloud from corner to corner Zeph. 3.3 The Princes within her are roaring Lyons reade-on her Iudges are evening Wolves never such violences acted by Tartars Caniballs as by these Princes Surely I cannot tell what shall be done unto them these murtherers GOD knowes And that they have broken all the lawes of Heaven and Earth Divine and Humane such Children of Belial they are Iob 31.3 I cannot tell what strange punishment shall befall these workers of iniquity Doth not the LORD see their wayes and count all their steps We will leave them in His Hands Who has put a bridle in their lips But this I can tell What an execution The LORD would have done upon those who had wrought villany in Israel joyning themselves unto BAAL-PEOR Num. 25.3 as these unto as abominable an Idol as was that But they had not shed bloud in the defence of that Idol These Princes in name have filled the Land with bloud from corner to corner Yet hearken what The LORD sayes unto those who joyned themselves unto Baal-Peor as these to the Idol of Rome Take all the heads of the people Vers 4 and hang them up before the LORD against the Sun that the fierce anger of The LORD may be turned away from Israel We will wait Gods time for then they shall be made manifest indeed before Israel and before the Sun In the mean time the evil spirit is discovered and discerned plaine enough for by his meere motion he has prevailed with the King to seale a Commission to his Edomites To kill and to slay his good people to lay a City waste even a Mother in Israel And if they will doe so to their power They shall approve themselves in so doing his best subjects and truest friends so he blesseth murtherers whom GOD will lay if they repent not in the lowest hell They have compassion on their King why they Because they will to their power destroy a mother City in Israel They would have a whole Kingdome wasted Blessed be ye of the LORD ye have compassion on me does the King say Blessed be The LORD The discovering GOD Who has had compassion on His poore people trusting in His Name and on His dwelling place Blessed be GOD The Spirit that rules the King and his Councell is discovered the Edomites also those bitter enemies the Keilites and the Ziphites too those false and treacherous friends Take them in order The Edomites first Those called SPIRITVALL Lords They must be discovered how full of spirit they were Their spirit was not sufficiently discovered eight yeares ago when they forced a cursed Paper to be read in all the Churches there to publish a Declaration for Sports and Passe-times on The LORDS DAY Their spirit was not discovered by all this for this the people liked reasonably well They had an Advouson for liberty To riot on the LORDS DAY and they were glad of that The people had a grant from the Bishops The Bishops from the Archbishop he from the King and that should be sufficient warrant for them and every one of them to riot on the LORDS DAY And for every Minister from the Pulpit GODS mouth there To command the people so to do O abominable Yes they have justified the Heathen at this point And yet these Bishops are not discovered yet They are in their white Robes yet we shall see them in Scarlet by and by And yet not manifest to all the Christian world say they how spirituall they were when with the Scarlet Whore they would have rode in the bloud of Scotland up even unto their horses bridles by the
stedfastly heaven-ward then they are in heart againe and as bold as Lyons We read as followes CHAP. 4. Saul has shed bloud to his power is resolved to shed more summons Israel to come-in for that purpose They come at his call What to thinke of his Troopers It relates to the later and present time not to dishearâ—â—â— but to encourage all Israel David must be driven from out of all his strong Holds and forsaken of all his friends excellent Reason is given why it is so in the next Chapter SAul has done according as his will carrieth him and the Edomite according to his Commission And now their foot is entred into bloud they drive-on furiously in the Path of the destroâ—er and to Keilâ—h they march A man would thinke now that such a cruell Lord and such a bloudy Generall as is the Edomite should not have one man to goe out with him into the field no not one But see it is otherwise 1 Sam. 23.8 for we read Saul called all the People together to war And they came in at his call I examine not now what moved them thick and threefold as we say by Companies and Troopes to the number of three thousand men What to doe To safeguard Sauls person that was Sauls pretence against the insolencies of David who ye know or else ye know nothing ran away faster then Saul could march after though Saul made as much speed as possibly he could who was exceedingly MAD against the righteous and persecuted David even to strange Cities yet Saul was afraid of David and made his guard so strong Let it goe for I will not inquire into that matter being made so legible already I would rather enquire Who or what manner of persons these Souldiers were It is answered Chosen men out of all Israel that is noble rich valiant stout men learned men also the vile Priests and the treacherous Prophets Doubtlesse these were now as alwayes ever since ingaged in the warre against David and Chosen men out of Israel to that purpose And truly this must needs be a great disheartning to David and so to all Israel for Sauls foot is in the Path of the destroyer the Edomite is with him they are marching to Keilah to doe to that City as they did to Nob and yet GOD seemes to shine upon Saul and his Councell Saul calls and they come-in unto him no fewer them Three thousand châ—sen men out of all Israel To relate unto the present time as we goe along This has beene and is our present case The King in his warre against David now the faithful in his Land has the same advantages now as Saul and his Edomite had in the dayes of old though the King seduced by evill counsels is gone-up to the knees in bloud yet Nobles are come-in unto him rich men valiant men an Army of Scholars too Lawyers and Divines both to help-on the persecution with their Swords and with their Pens Such Instruments the King has Choice and Right-men for his service and they serve their Master heartily without gaine of money for they feed upon free cost all is theirs they can lay hold on Right-men indeed as heart could wish such as the Oratour tells me Philip of Macedon found He sought with diligent search for wicked men who w uld in a treacherous way bring his designes to passe against their owne Countrey-men and such be found Demost de falsa legatione pag. 204. in folio but yet saith the Oratour Philip found them more wicked then he himselfe could have wisheâ— They had plotted and hammered out such projects and contrivances against their owne Countrey and for Philipâ— ends as that Philip himselfe durst not frame-out unto them the like plot or desire the same either by Letter or Embassie so abominable those Instruments were Such instruments the King has worse indeed but more Right and straight to the Designes his Councell has laid-out unto him then he expected or perhaps could have desired And what Davids case is the faithfull of the LORD he knowes nothing that knowes not this He has Armies by Sâ—a and Armies by Land North and South East and West stand-up for his help and the Eâ—e of the LORD is upon them for good that is certaine though many are sicke amongst them and many fallen asleep even the Righteous are taken away Nay many are run-away and more have dealt treacherously as we have heard and shall hear few there are that be hearty to the cause and fewer yet that doe not serve for gaine of money and no money no march Thus they deal with Dâ—vid Ah Lord how does the enemy laugh at this Let his laugh GOD laughes too and His servants laugh also rejoycing alwayes in The LORD they will doe their worke let GOD alone to perfect His worke They will give in their hand to David he shall have their hearts too And no marvell all this not can it seeme any strange matter That many noble rich valiant learned men are now on the contrary side and enemies to David None of all these can endure afflictions with David not a wildernesse with David They cannot goe from soft beds to bard boards They must have their ease for the present for after time they leave it to the DECREE give them their portion here they are satisfied Nor can they conceive but That Saul with his three thousand will overcome David with his five hundred and then they shall receive what a King can give for he will be abundantly good to them now they have assisted him to complete his victory which wil never be over David and his men Yes you will say Saul will overcome David for he has ten for one This Saul understood no more then the Egyptians did when God set Himselfe betwixt them and Israel Ex 14.19 True if Saul were to fight with men David only and his men But Saul must fight with David and his GOD hee must overcome GOD before he overcome David You have not mans warrant now you have GODS warrant That Saul shall never overcome Let him call-in the chosen men out of Israel give them his Commission bid them cut and kill and slay there is their warrant yet they shall never overcome David for GOD is with David But yet Saul must have all the advantage that heart can wish and all the disadvantage must be on Dâ—vids side Saul must rise in his hopes oftentimes and David must fall very low and yet not at the lowest Saul must have the advantage counsell on his side and strength both and numbers also Thousands for Davids hundreds yet David is not troubled at all this for it is as good a signe as can be looked upon he looks to the Cause and to his GOD rolles himselfe and his concernments upon GOD and there he resteth his head and has peace in himselfe and in his way But here is a Triall now The LORD does more then seeme He does indeed
not so uncharitable as to thinke That all these three thousand were all murtherers They that were acquainred with Sauls minde and willingly followed the Commandement Those all were murtherers in the highest degree there is no doubt of all that But some there were a very few who followed Saul and crossed his commandement what they could So did Jonathan and how many more I cannot tell And others there were who followed Saul as sheepe are driven by the Shepheard when hee meanes to plunge them into the waters They did not properly follow Saul but were driven by the hand of violence as some of late have beene and as Saul himselfe was by the Divell To exemplifie this by the Edomites practice at this time The Edomite now in the North we have no other name for him has exercised such cruelties upon the inhabitants there to force them to his side tying their heads and heeles together till from some of them breath departed And by these Turkish inforcements he has gained many bodies to his side but David has their hearts And so we may conceive and so judge it was with men in Sauls Host because the Sacred Scripture gives us that allowance For we reade of no execution done upon Israel upon their Cities but by Saul and the Edomite Saul spake indeed to all his Servants That they would kill David and wee make no doubt many were active Instruments that way for the Edomite could not doe all his executions alone But that all this Host was ingaged upon this service and would have answered Sauls bloudy will had they come to a set Battell is more then I can tell or any man in the world for we have not a word for it Onely to cleare this and to say as much as needs in reference to the present tiâ—e also for all is plaine all along this I will say That whosoever amongst those three thousand did follow Saul and his Command though grieving for Conscience not asleep or seared will regret and recoile give checke sometimes and yet approving An. lib. 14 cap. 〈◊〉 In some Bookes the fourth Moerens ac laudans as Tacitus speakes of Burrhus in a case not unlike I say All such as followed Saul so though grieving yet approving and commending what Saul did these were as one of them Edomites murtherers in true judgement and Scripture account And if the Sacred Scripture accounts these men murtherers then GOD accounts them so and then what will their Commission and Warranâ— profit them Or can it bâ—are them out in these outrages they have committed when they are indeed the fiercest enemies that ever the Church had But I will draw-up to a conclusion of this matter with some few observations from all wee have read First 1. Here an Edomite has done all the mischiefe a Right-hand to Saul in his bloudy execution What was hee A meane man sure an Heards-man then he was lifted up higher and made Steward of Sauls house set over his Servants there Conferring of honours upon him engaged him to Saul and his service so Saul made him Generall in the Field O! This preferment these honoâ—rs are a sweet bait it takes a man strangely it will take a man quite from Dâ—vid that hath not his heart engaged to his GOD Saul knew what he did when he raâ—lâ—d the Edomite to honour he shall doe what Saul will have him doe He is more then a man who can shut his eyes against the glory of the world and contemne it for Daviâ—s sâ—ke A man without â—ruth of Grace is like a ship without ballast it cannot endure a stonne That can be content to passe over with a carelesse eye the pleasures and profits of the Court. and endure afflictions with David the friends of GOD. An HOTHAM who had the boldnesse when time was and GODS pleasure to maintaine David and his cause to out face a Prince could not out-face the glory of the world he is taken with the bait of honour gaine or I know not what and so hath undone what he did and made himselfe infamous to all generations The King has that at his dispose which will worke upon all complexions but honour for the proud workes strangely brings many to his side and makes them RIGHT for his service David is in a Wildernesse has little for himselfe and lesse for his friends but they that serve David serve Him heartily nothing can win them to Davids side but meere conscience of duty to GOD and His cause LORD stablish the heart with Grace a sleeting thing we are never sure of it and must never be secure about it shew it the excellencies in the LORD JESUS then we shall not be taken with the â—omp of the world Acts 24. a Phantasie nor be offended at the troubles of David Secondly there were many Noble many Rich many Stout many valiant men and many wife men on Sauls side but yet they must not be a dishonour to Israel all these must come-in under one Head and the Edomite their Generall must beare the envie and dishonour of that Naturall war for it is as Naturall for the Edomite to warre with David as for the fire to burne It is not said Israel smote Nob No The Edomite smote Nob and all his helpers some Israelites no doubt yet they goe under that name So here are two Kingdomes smitten with the sword Who smote them It shall not be said This Prince or That Prince This Noble-man or That Noble-man No The Edomite did it It shall not lye as a reproach upon England it shall cause her sorrow that her owne children whom she has dandled upon her lap have to their power eat out her bowels It is a grievous thing And that those Brethren in evill who ought themselves unto this Church should prove such vipers and doe her such mischiefe This is grievous But the dishonour of it shall not lye upon this Mother-Church but upon Rome it shall lye upon the children of that Edom and the Church shall remember them to all generations Who in the day of Ierusalem said Rase it rase it even to the foundation thereof Thirdly though we doe not question Ionathans sincerity being well resolved at that point that he was a good man and a true friend to David and did him great service at the Court yet I thinke wee may question whether his bands of nature or Court-bands all very strong no doubt were strong enough to bind his bodily presence to continue with his father all the time his father persecuted David I determine nothing here because the Scripture is silent but thus the Scripture speakes out and we may set a marke upon it that if Ionathan was not slaine first which yet the Text seemes to say yet thus it was 1 Sam. 31.6 Saul died and his three Sonnes and his Armour-bearer and all his men that same day together TOGETHER they went along with Saul in a bloudy Path he did drive-on furiously but
confidences and how their hearts departed from their GOD for so much as the heart drawes and inclines to the creature so much and by the very same steps and degrees it withdrawes from GOD so much of the world as comes-in so much of heaven goes-out This were excellent matter to dilate upon but every good mans spirit is fitted for such a worke selfe-searching and triall what spirit he is of and how it has been discovered to himselfe all this time O the murmurings of his spirit how many have they been what haste has he made If he be not delivered now he shall be tyred and can follow GOD in His way no longer It is not necessary nay nor possible to set downe the murmurings warpings hastinesses of the best mans spirit but he will confesse he has in his HASTE limited the Holy One of Israel and tyed GOD like a creature to his owne time and way A man would doe it at such a time and by such meanes Therefore GOD must doe so too GOD must worke like a man This argueth a great distemper of spirit and must be corrected Alas shall David be delivered at this present time It cannot be the Servant of the Lord must be instructed first to a constancy of spirit so as he can come to this Period and stop there David shall be delivered the fittest time and after such a manner as shall most gloriously exalt GODS Name and Davids comfort and that I hope will best content and so he will conclude Therefore he will doe his worke and let GOD alone to perfect His and he will let GOD alone to His owne Time and to His owne Way in confident assurance That if Davids deliverance be delayed there is mighty Reason why it is so and the prime Reason is that David may be discovered his owne spirit made fully manifest to himselfe Secondly That Davids adversaries every one may be discovered too all the Right-men his true Enemies and false friends all their fine designes all their horrid hellish machinations that all may be discovered and layed open before all Israel and before the Sun David thought GOD was slack touching His Promise He was indeed as we count slicknesse when things are not done and deliverance wrought by the very same meanes and at the very nicke of time which we in our haste have concluded upon GOD was not slacke nor is he slacke towards David He is working wonders for David and we shall see it anon Davids deliverance stayes a little Why That all Davids enemies may be discovered how wicked how pernicious they are how mightily they fight against GOD and His servant David The enemy must be clearly convinced too we will take this and Davids adversaries in order and proceed upon discovery First Sauls most malignant spirit shall be made as manifest and naked to Israels eye as his body was in the day he was born He made shewes of love to David all his shewes shall shrinke-up to nothing or prove reall hatred Saul would have it told David That the King delighted in him Does â—e so Heare what Saul sayes and tell your selfe Saul blesseth the Ziphites those Murtherers 1 Sam. 23.19 Blessed be ye of the LORD Why blessed Because they undertooke Davids destruction in designe in the manner as they did at Bristoll London Lincolne To deliver David into Sauls hands that he might doe to him according to all the desire of his soule What desire was that To sheath his sword in Davids bowels Will the Ziphites give such a price into Sauls hand that he may doe to David according to all the desire of his soule will they so Blessed are ye of the Lord O strange Nay it was not strange it was ordinary with Saul to blesse his Right-men Murtherers and no others Blessed are ye of the Lord. O monstrous what abominable words are these Saul blesseth the Ziphites I ask againe Why does he so Because the Ziphites have a fine designe upon David as our Right-men upon Bristoll c. as was said to deliver him into Sauls hand that Saul may doe to David as we understood before The Ziphites have that in designe and Saul blesseth them for it and so his wickednesse is shewne before the whole congregation Prov. 26. For that is GODS designe too Saul shall not couzen the world any longer but GOD will turne Sauls blessings into curses Saul blesseth Murtherers GOD curseth them a treacherous and a murtherous Generation though they curse yet blesse thou So GOD will and curse them whom Saul blesseth Saul applauds their designes GOD abhorres them and their designes too and the Hang-man is appointed to give them their wages for their worke Observe further the Evill spirit of the man must be made more manifest for he saith ye have compassion on me What ye or who were they The same men who would lay a City waste so they might gratifie Saul in the destruction of David and this Saul calls compassion O blindnesse O desperate wickednesse he counts that a COMPASSION to his soule the working his will upon David which will destroy Sauls life here and his soule for ever Who is there that understands this and does not pray Lord leave me not in the lap of my owne will to run mine owne way and to accomplish my owne desire Does not many a man now-a-dayes count the granting of that a Compassion to his soule which being granted and effected to his hearts desire will destroy body and soule both eternally But I forbeare Here was a full discovery of Sauls spirit But let me speake a word for Saul for truely he had good things in him which must be remembred though the Evill spirits the Divell and his owne Spirit perverted all the contrary way Sauls good spirit was discovered too we fâ—â—de him weeping in one place and blessing David in another True But the Text sayes David would not trust him for all that Saul gave David good words and Blessings too and there was an Oath betwixt them and doubtlesse All was done heartily Saul did not treat with David and in the meane time carry on a fine designe to take away Davids life No doubtlesse Saul spake as he thought and meant to performe 1 Sam 24.22 But sayes the Text David would not trust Saul he and his Men got them up into the hold And the Reason was David knew an Evill Spirit haunted Saul an Edomite besides still at his Elbow and Saul had his foot entred into bloud up to the ankles David would not trust him Had Saul shed but a bottle of Bloud he might have bethought himselfe upon cold bloud as we say and repented and he might shew favour to an Edomite being his Herdsman But Saul has filled Nob with bloud from Corner to Corner And now that the Edomite is declared to be the Chiefe Malignant to Israel that ever was in Israels Land Saul approves of him the more The more bloud he hath shed the
space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs And yet their spirit not discovered yet Nor when they would have established themselves by an Oath A peculiar enstalment to the High Priest the GOD of our salvation as I shall shew in another Treatise purposely for them To cleare their Spirit to the world how spirituall they were But they would not be discovered then Nor by all the good offices they did the Church in Scotland and Ireland and their mother Church here in England who sayes of them Bloudy fathers have ye beene unto me bloudy fathers have ye beene And yet they are not manifest yet not yet When they would have made void and null as the phrase is All the Votes and Acts of Parliament for the Churches good And was not their spirit discovered now I cannot say No now for all Israel said Yes and they themselves said Yes too◠when they cast themselves out of the Court with their owne hands But yet they will be made more manifest What bloudy wayes have they prosecuted what divellish projects to wrest themselves into their places againe If any there are so divelishly minded so forsaken of common Reason and light of nature that they will give these spirituall men their right hand to lift-them-up to their chaire again though they make way thither through a field of BLOOD yet these Bishops will say Blessed are ye of the Lord ye have compassion on us These men are discovered sure how spirituall they are So are the Temporall Lords too all discovered and fully manifest to all Israel by their deceit guile couzenage their lying not unto man but to the LORD by their justifying the wicked whom the Lord abhorres by their Treacheries Treasons more then bloudy conspiracies now they are manifest enough Lord Digby manifest enough What KEEPERS the Great Seale has manifest enough and what a Recorder the City has manifest enough The LORD turne the Wheele over them all who would turne the Lawes into wormewood and justice into gall and would turne three Kingdomes upside-downe and make Cities ruinous heaps But they are discovered the Keilites too the Ziphites also friends in shew bloudy adversaries in deed These must be convinced also for the Churches innocency must be made manifest and they must put to silence the ignorance of wicked men and this is next to be considered on The LORD brings Saul into Davids Cave 1 Sam. 24.3 there David and his men encompasse him round as Saul and his men encompassed David in the Chapter before Now they come to Parley David cleares his innocency stops the divels mouth opens Sauls mouth for David and against himselfe convinceth Saul makes him weep That 's GODS end They must come to a Parley the second time for the divell is not non-plussed yet he shall be anon 1 Sam. 26.6 7 GOD puts it into Davids heart to goe downe to Sauls campe He causeth a deep sleep to fall upon Saul and his company then David does as we read returning back and standing at a distance he calls-out to Saul and so they come againe to a Parley and now the divell has not a word to say the spirit seemes to depart a little for then Saul heares David speake and so speakes himselfe as if he would make David weep and beleeve that there shall be a sweet agreement betwixt them for ever for Saul blesseth his sonne David and assureth him he shall doe great things 1 Sam. 26.25 and also shall still prevaile O that I could bring up this to this time But I cannot The divell is more mighty now and more shamelesse now then he was then if more can be as surely it can be for as length of time and experiences therein may make him more cunning so more wicked more shamelesse as at this day I can say GOD has brought the King and His Parliament to a Parley once and againe but still the malice of this evill Councell appeared wickednesse still proceeded from the wicked man but how wonderfully was the innocency of David the faithfull servants of the Lord cleared The LORD had this designe now He will make manifest the Adversaries treachery and His Servants innocency and he brings it about thus His Servants shall because they will treat upon a way to accommodate a Peace The LORD left men to goe their owne way not so warrantable by His Word to treat with implacable adversaries that He might bring to passe His owne will and bring good to His people It was conceived by all rationall men that on the Kings party nothing was intended really and indeed but mischiefe and bloudy treachery as is now manifest to the world But GOD suffered it to goe on brought sweet out of that sower good out of that evill The Evill spirit is silenced now the Malignants have not what to say O blessed be GOD He can doe what He pleaseth and what He does is for the good of His Israel This last Treaty betwixt King and Parliament has non-plussed the Divell his MANAGERS all are put to silence now they have not what to say and yet they are not ashamed True the wicked cannot be ashamed Were they sayes the Spirit ashamed when they had committed abomination oppressed GODS Poore to their power shed bloud to their power profaned the LORDS DAY by a Law when they endevoured to establish their cursed Hitrarchy by an Oath were they ashamed Or when they decreed unrighteous decrees and prescribed grievousnesse were they ashamed When they had committed these and these abominations Ier. 6.15 were they ashamed Nay They were not at all ashamed neither could they blush The wicked are discovered now nay they have discovered themselves and they are convinced some of them carry a mighty conviction within their Bosome And the Divell is put to silence too so I said I did not say the wicked are ashamed I know well they who have entred the path of the Destroyer and will pursue it they are hardened and brawned in evill They cannot blush But now what great matter have we gained by all this the wicked are manifest now 〈…〉 they are convinced too and yet nor David nor the Church are delivered Delivered nay they are in as bad a case as before and deliverance further off for ought we see True for David must be lower yet and the Churches deliverance further out of sight then now it is for ought we know But I pray you make answere to this and consider well on it Has David been a loser by any thing that has fallen out unto him all this long time so hee thought it of Sauls persecution No you will say for indeed you must say so David has been a great gainer by all this that hath happened unto him in the day wherein the LORD was pleased to exercise him with sore afflictions he has gained experience of his owne spirit how lying warping murmuring hasty proud and stout it was all this he has gained and
David when he was in the refining pot melting there His presence would be with him as with the three Worthies He will moderate the fire if He does not quench it the extream heat of the enemies rage against David he shall do David no hurt blessed be His Name But yet behold the Ciâ—y is burnt with fire wives sons and daughters taken captives Davids wives too Learne then 4. How corruptible our Ziglags are how uncertaine our comforts there like Ionas Gourd they cast a shadow in the morning and we sit contentedly under them at night they are withered David and his men a very few dayes ago had every man an house wives and children round about them and David had a City a place of refuge to go unto Now their houses lye in ashes and all their delectable things taken thence Let us consider well on it and reade the Case once more David and his men are gone from home they returne in ashes their houses smitten and burnt all their comforts taken thence It was Davids case and theirs whose hand was with David Then why maâ— it not be ours LORD teach us by this example not to set our eyes upon our Ziglags not our hearts upon our comforts there A great lesson for this time and because of our dotings that way a maine reason why The LORD infinitely wise and exceeding loving to Daviâ— suffers his Ziglag to lye in ashes before his eyes haply David and his men had set their eyes upon that place and their comforts there they had delighted in them too much Whosoever does so David must not therefore his Ziglag shall be smitten and burnt with Fire But we do not see the worst of Davids case yet His City is burnt it is possible for David a valiant man to get another His wives are taken captives he may recover them againe but he cannot doe all this without his men and see hâ—s case they will turn from him or turn against him for they spake of stoning him It is the saddest case that ever I read I meane an outward case and so every man will say that observes it David is in a strange Countrey he has a shelter there It is burnt with fire all his comforts taken thence O for a friend now to comfort him he has not one They that should comfort him are miserable comforters Their soule is grieved every man for his sons and daughters then they spake of stoning David Israels old doings Their father 's dealt little better with Moses If they wanted bread or water or were in danger then presently they blamed Moses So here these men are smitten whose ever was the hand it was GODS rod and they speak of smiting David Surely David is in a sad and a darksome condition he walks now in the shadow of death but GOD will be a light unto him and David looks for Him even for a light to rise in this obscurity I remember there was a Kingdom which wanted an heire Competitors there were enow It was agreed upon amongst the Nobles That he should be King who could first spy the Suns rising You will imagine now that many eyes were turned eastward intent that way for they looked for a Kingdom and yet not all one amongst many and but one looked as stedfastly westward and got a Kingdom by it for without controversie he spied the beams of the rising Sun first striking upon the high places of the earth westward Here is the patience of the Saints They can wait upon GOD stay His leasure leave Him to His own way and Time Who created the light and formed the darknesse His servants expect now the clearest manifestation of the light of GODS countenance towards them there Isa 58.10 where the Sun of all their outward comforts set Thy light shall rise in obscurity and Thy darknesse shall be as the noone day Every man expects light in the morning and to see the Sun rise in the East But to expect light to rise in the West where the Sun of all our comforts here below sets here is the wisedome and patience of the Saints also And it is a wonderfull Promise In the morning it shall be light Are those the words No for that runs along vvith our sense too but vvhen vve think the time vvill be darkest as novv in Davids case vvhen the Sun of all his comforts is set novv to expect light there is the wisedome and patience of the Saints and they have a vvonderfull promise for it praised be His glorious Name But it shall come to passe Zech. 147. That at EVENING IT SHALL BE LIGHT It shall be the lightest Time vvith David vvhen he expects it vvill be darkest i.e. When he is in the shadovv of death AT EVENING IT SHALL BE LIGHT vvhich Davids GOD vvill create for David and that is a glorious light We can novv resolve our selves vvhy The LORD vvill have it night vvith David vvhy He vvill have the Sun of all his outvvard comforts goe dovvne and set all at once Why To indeare light unto him VVhile the Sun shines and it is day vvith us light is but an ordinary thing and but an ordinary rate set upon it an excellent creature though it be But vvhen neither Sunne nor Moone nor Stars appeare in the night of our affliction then to have light come-in unto us as to Paul and Silas in the prison this indeares light novv it is light indeed To have a light arise in obscurity that is comfortable indeed in this evening of our distractions in the night of our affliction it shall be light That is a glorious promise and it is a new Creation The LORD suffers the adversary to over-power David to take from him all was his all below that David could take delight in Now would we say David is an undone man No we are deceived the enemy cannot undoe a man he may distresse him for a minute or an houre but he cannot undoe him the enemy cannot take GOD from a man and till that be done till GOD be gone from a man he is never undone Nay the more fierce and violent the enemy is upon David the nearer GOD is to him as wee are nearest our children when trouble and paines are upon them then we are nearest them so is GOD too and He is the Fountaine of Light be it Even-tide or Mid-night with us He maketh it day where-ever He is And now His Servant David will set his face more stedfastly to looke after this light now that his shadow is so dark If his comforts be not removed from his eye the streame of his affections will not run cleare towards the Spring-head The Living Fountain of light and comfort David must finde a nothingnesse in the creature before he can finde all in GOD. He cannot be taught that great lesson but by losses after losses David must be a King just and mercifull therefore he must feele oppression and grone under it He must see