which ne're Amnon heard least good or ill Till Absolon it punisht 'gainst thy will And now thy gentlenesse and indulgence By yeelding to the vain profuse expense And costly bravery of Absolon More â—itting for a Monarch than thy son Who could not up and down the City ride With lesse than fifty footmen by his side Hath rais'd his high ambition to thy Crown And thus lo thou art vexed by thine own The â—reasures of thy Kingdom must supply Him meanes for managing this treachery Sure had he liv'd this day to see thy face Thou hadst receiv'd him to thy former grace But we that have adventur'd goods and lives To save the King his daughters sons and wives Secluded from thy face and presence be As if wee all were Traytors and not he Now therefore here I sweare before the Lord Except thou hearken to thy servants word And come and stand in some faire open place To shew thy servants comfort in thy face Of all the men that thus for thee did fight There will not one remain with thee by night Which will be worser far oh King than all The evils that ever did thee befall Alas saith David I could not allow In other men the things which I do now But Parents love is strong and naturall And violently down the hill doth fall Flouds falling from precipite hills you may As well as Parents loves to children stay But if mine errors onely you relate You do not me advise but exprobrate 'T is easie others faults to reprehend True wisdome others and his own to mend But Ioab seeing speeches-liberty Did only rub not heal the malady Begins with modesty to blame the time And some of those offenders that were prime When David thus what must we here abide Or shall we go on Iordans other side What thinkst thou must we try another field Or will the people and the Cities yield No doubt saith Ioab all the Townes will yield None of the faction can maintain the field Nor do I know a man now he is gone They will accept to be their minion Now that the streame is turn'd behold the tide Will flow as fast unto the other side Mens fancies like an optique glasse make all The eye is fixed on seem faire great and fall Where people love they showes for truth will take And where they hate of vertues vices make What made them else so vain fantasticall To follow Traytors and from thee to fall For as we in Prospective glasses see Things farthest off far fairer than they be So people by their fancy do approve Kings vice or vertues as they hate or love Be but at first of these thy friends secur'd Who now much danger have for thee endur'd And thou as of one man shalt draw the hearts Ev'n of all Palestina to thy parts The Tribes which now beyond the floud remain Will strive which first shall bring thee back again Yea Iudah who was first to put thee down Will come first to restore thee to thy Crown Thus came the King into the City gate Which when the people heard they that of late For griefe and sorrow fled unto their Tent Do thither come for joy incontinent Who them with comfortable words so pleaseth He all their former griefs and sorrowes easeth The King was scarse descended from his Throne When Rumors over all the Camp are blown That all the Tribes do strive about the King Which first of them him back again should bring Oh say the people he is just and wise And saâ—ed us from all our enemies And from the Philistines delivered Yet now out of the Land from us is fled For Absolon late in the Battail slain Whom we annoynted over us to raign Ah saith the King then will it be a shame For Iudah of my kindred tribe and name If when as all the Tribes of Israel haste To bring me home againe they be the last And therefore sends he to the Priests that they Should in this manner to the Elders say Why should you be the last that seek to bring Again unto his house with you the King Now seeing all the other Tribes conspire To that the King of you doth most desire You are my brethren mine own flesh and bone Then be not last but rather come alone To fetch me home to you and I will grace Your Captain Amasa with Ioabs place Is he not also of my flesh and bone What though he fought against me for my son This was and is a politick wise fashion To sway the people by the Priests Oration For they have at command the peoples eare And what they teach we all are bound to heare In Iebus City is a spacious Court Where Elders and the people ay resort To heare the Prophets and the Law expounded And Rules of good and holy life propounded Where God whom heav'n of heav'ns cannot contain Doth with his Ark in Tents of skins remain Here reverend Zadock to the Congregation Out of his Pulpit utters this Oration By which he wisely did the hearts command Of Elders all and people of the Land Men Brethren Fathers whom I see this day Assembled here in great concourse to pray For th' health and safety of our holy King Whom God in peace and honour to us bring I will not exprobrate your least omission Of any duty in his last dismission I onely of his merits make narration And leave all to your loyall application Will you be pleas'd to heare me first begin Where first he your and Israels hearts did win Th' uncircumcised Giant he did quell Defying all the host of Israel To count his strength and vallour I forbeare In killing of the Lion and the Beare For this was his first signall act of fame Whereby he honour wan to Ishai's name By which he was made known to Saul and wan Such grace and favour with sweet Ionathan Who as his soul most dearly David lov'd From which he would by no meanes be remov'd And though Saul would perswade his son to hate Him as the assured ruine of his State Against his violence he firmly stood And never ceast to do King David good After Goliah slain he for his hire Became to be Sauls servant and Esquire And on his Harp so cunningly did play He often drave Sauls evill spirit away From whence he was advanc'd to have command Amongst the men of warre when with his hand The jealous Tyrant sought to strike him dead As on his Harp he plaid and solaced To â—ide his hate yet to betray his liâ—e Saul proffers him his daughter unto wife So with twice fifty fore skins he endow her In hope his foes and him thus to devower But this hope failing Davids victories Began in Saul such feares and ielousies That divers wayes his death he practised But God by Michol him delivered Whence he to Samuel in Ramoth fled Saul thither him pursuing prophesi'd Then sav'd he Keilah by the Philistine Besieg'd and took great store of Sheep and Kine
DAVID'S TROUBLES REMEMBRED IN 1. Absolons Sheep-shearing 2. Ioab projecting 3. Bathsheba bathing 4. Israel rebelling 5. Ahithophel hanging 6. David returning 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 PSAL. 119. 71. It is good for mee that I have been in trouble that I may learne thy Statutes LONDON Printed by Richard Hodgkinsonne and are to be sold by Daniel Frere at the signe of the Bull in Little-Britan 1638. To the Author THe Poem which shall live and oft be read With foure faire Ornaments is garnished It must describe to life fitly compare Abound with Sentences and Fictions rare All these are met in thine and doe conspire To dresse thy Lines in durable attire Thy chosen Subject of a sacred straine Is Index of thy sanctified Braine Prophaner Muses vent your idle dreames While thine discourseth of diviner Theames It shall bee written on thy mournfull Herse Hee turn'd all sacred Story into Verse RO. WILLAN Ad Authorem Quiddam ex Virgilii Eclogâ sextâ inflexum huic penso pretextum per G. H. HAs oh Laete fides tibi dant en accipe Musae Psalmicini quas ante duci quibus ille solebat Cantando sacros deducere coelitus hymnos His tibi suavifluo currit scaturigine vena Ne quis sit vates quo se plus jactet Apollo Omnis te pia Musa canit nec gratior ulla est Quam quae Davidis praescribit pagina nomen Quae canit aerumnas regis curasque sequaces Saepius obsessi latrantibus undique monstris To the worthy Author of this Divine Poem ORder and Number set the World in frame Tun'd the harmonious Spheres made memory A Cabinet to eternize Mans fame And to Record th' eternall Deity All Verses rellish not of Levitie Who saith true Poesie is not Divine Knows not the Hebrew Hymn nor hath read thine Should I beleeve a Metempsychosis Isha's sonnes soule silenc'd by his last fate I 'de sweare inform'd thy body and made this Vse of thy Peace to draw his trouble's State That others might take heed ere 't is too late Church and State Hypocrites in their owne trap To catch though maskt lul'd in fortunes lap Follow thy Prophet Poets follow thee Till they have learn'd to leave Venerian Rimes And thou hast taught religious Historie Affords the proper Sonnets of our times Best Organs Canzons true coelestiall Chimes So having penned Odes for Davids Lyre Goe helpe to chaunt them in the Angels Quire ROB. SYBTHORP Idem ad Lectorem INcestûs poenae fraterni sanguinis ultor Principis aerumnae Proditionis opus Contemptus Cleri rabies temeraria vulgi Peccantis planctus contritionis amor Si tibi sint curae pandit mysteria mira Aâ—-laetus vates alite digna Jovis R. S. DAVIDS TROUBLES The first Booke Absolons Sheep-shearing I Tell the divers tryalls of the King Who hevenly hymns did to his Maker sing Blest Spirit that infus'd on him such skill Dispose aright thine humble servants quill Now liv'd the King at home in happy peace Free from all Wars and dangerous disease Of civill broiles For all Sauls house was slaine None but the lame Mephibosheth remaine The Philistins are all brought downe so low They dare no other Lord than David know The Syrians in two battailes overthrowne Now make their peace and serve him as his own The Heralâ— violating Ammonite Is strong enough to serve but not to fight Two yeare are past since Thamars ravishment The Peeres and people free from discontent When thus becalm'd with peace and newly rose From meat newes comes thus fame by going growes That all his sonnes by Absolon were slaine Not one amongst the living did remaine This made him from his Cloth of state descend And teare his clothes and dolefull cryes out send Lye on the earth whilst all his servants cry And with their clothes all rent stand mourning by Till Ionadab begins thus to the King Take not my Lord so grievously this thing As if that all thy sonnes at once were dead Thine Amnon's onely slaine who ravished His sister Thamar Absolon this thing E're since hath vow'd and now to passe doth bring By faire pretence of making him a feast Thus hath hee slaine his Brotheâ— and his Guest By this the Watchman looking up descride Much people comming on the Mountaines side When Ionadab Lo as thy servant said The Kings sonnes come my Lord be not dismaid They all are safe scarce had hee made an end When downe the hill they saw them all descend Who as they neerer came still more lamented The King and all his servants hearts relented As when from Egypt with full sacks of graine Old Iacobs sonnes came to him home againe Because with Ioseph Simeon was left bound The Sonnes and Father make the valleys sound With plaints groans and cause at home more mourning For Simeons misse than joy at their returning So was it here King David and his Sonnes Make all the Court to sound with plaints and groanes Meane while the guiltie murtherer Absolon Not daring stay to answer what was done In hast t' avoid the Lawes revenging hand To Geshur posts his Mothers native land Geshur a Citie is in Syrias Fields On Iudahs borders where old Talmaie wields The Scepter who for some respects of state When David yet o're Hebron onely sate To him had given his Daughter from whose bed Came Absolon and Thamar ravished It was no little pleasure to the King To see his goodly Nephew but this thing Amaz'd him much great Davids Sonne to see Attended with so small a companie But his sweet Beautie and brave personage Commended by the flower of his age So takes the good old King his salutation Was all compos'd of joy and admiration The hidden vigour of his lightning eye His rosie cheeks his fronts sweet Majestie His Nose like Gnomon of a Diall faire His Lippes pure scarlet Ribbands whereon haire Arose like finest Downe his Mouth not wide But open'd did discover on each side An Ivorie range of Teeth as even and sound As twinned Lambs which on the Mountaines bound His Locks were like to twist of burnishâ— Gold Which did out-weigh so oft as hee was pol'd The Ramm's faire Fleece and to the Sun-beames turn'd Did seeme a flaming Bush that never burn'd In all the Kingdomes of the East not one Was found for Beauty like to Absolon From his foots sole up to his curled crowne No blemish could in Absolon be showne This made th' idolatrous vaine Syrian Thinke him a God in likenesse of a man Beleeving Sol had left his Chariot bright In Geshurs Court one night to take delight Or warlike Mars resign'd his Sphere above To solace there in pleasing armes of Love The Priests themselves that were or should be wise Were ready even to offer Sacrifice When Talmai thus my fairest Absolon Art thou my Nephew royall Davids Sonne Or dost thou from amongst the Gods descend Mee to admonish of my latter end Worship there 's due unto a power divine And not Embracements If that thou
he alas when I had bak'd him meat Two dainty cakes which he desir'd to eat Commanded all his men out of the roome And bade me into his bed-chamber come Where he would be refreshed at my hand I that did simply all things understand Brought in the Cakes and offer'd him to eat But found my honour was his long'd-for meat For holding fast my hand he doth begin With these faire words me to his lust to win Pure heavenly Star of my Nativity By whose benign aspect I live or dye Sweet Soveraign leech of my souls long diseasc No Physick but thy self my grief can ease Thy onely heat can quench my hot desire As Sunnes bright shining beames extinguish fire I care not for these Cakes thy candid hand Hath more enrich'd than Pearles calcin'd to sand Were it my pleasure onely to obtain And that thou shouldst more honour loose than gain Thou mightst deny But Amnon seeks thy grace And humbly supplicates thy sweet embrace Aske half my birth-right onely with me lye My dearest Sister else for love I dye When I deare Brother let not Gods choise nation Be guilty of so foule abhomination By strength a Sister to base lust compell Such sin was never known in Israel Lo all thy people thee for this will blame And where shall I ah hide my head for shame If thou dost love me as thou dost pretend Such foule beginnings never well can end Before thou force me aske me of the King Not that I foule incestuous guilt would bring Upon my Land or had the lest intent To move the King to give us his consent For what can be a lowder crying sin Than blood to joyne to blood and kin to kin I onely sought to win him to forbeare But I my charmes tun'd to deaf Adders eare As when a Wolf hath seized for his prey A little Lamb that went aside to play The Lamb doth bleat and struggle all in vaine So I as little by my striving gaine For by his strength and power he me opprest Oh shame forbids me to reveale the rest But as if malice more than raging lust Had him invited to this fact unjust Soon as his pleasure thus was satisfide He could not in his presence me abide But as a Strumpet vile or common Whore Commands me straight to get me out of doore And when I loâ—h to publish this disgrace By my foule usage and my blubber'd face Him on my knees besought he would forbeare To doe this second wrong he would not heare But with a furious hatred farre above The raging passion of his lustfull love Calls he his servant in and storming more Commands him put me out and shut the doore Talmai at this amaz'd streight up doth stand And cryes are these your fruits of holy Land What other King yet ever gave consent To such a base incestuous Ravishment Where he the King his father did defraud And made him to incestuous lust a Bawd Oh had it been mine onely Sonne and heire I would have hangd the wretch up by the haire Or with wild horses torn his joynts in sunder Had God forborn to strike him down with Thunder But what said David when he heard this thing Did he th' offender punish No O King Saith Absolon he onely seem'd displeas'd At first with Amnon but was soon appeas'd For neither good nor bad to him was said As if he to displease him were afraid Th' offence he hated and th' offender lov'd But love it seemes for more than anger mov'd The Sun hath finish't twice his annuall course Since Thamar thus was ravished by force Whil'st in my house she liv'd disconsolate For lorn of all for feare of Amnons hate But never any word thereof durst mutter For feare we should but our disgraces utter We knew the King unwilling to repaire His daughters losse with hazarding his heire Nor did I shew at all my discontent Lest his distrust should my revenge prevent But covertly my hate dissembeled Till opportune Revenge were offered And now approach'd the season of the yeere That I my Sheep on Hazors plaines did sheare Where I prepar'd a sumptuous Royall Feast And did invite the King to be my Guest But he unwilling me to over-charge Said Nay my Son we will not so much charge Thee at thy house us all to entertaine Nor would he goe although I urg'd againe Then said I yet let Amnon go with me Ah saith the King why should he go with thee More than thy presence nothing mighty King Would to thy servant grace and honour bring But since thou art not pleas'd with me to go That honour thou deny'st let Amnon do So I him urg'd he promis'd in the end That he with Amnon all his Sonnes would send Was never Wood-man gladder when at hand He spyes the Stag come faire upon his stand Than I at comming of my wisâ—ed guest For whom indeed I did provide the Feast In coolest vault whose sweeter Northern light Was freed from hotter gleams of Sun-shine bright My servants had the Table covered For Davids sonnes whilst Thamar ravished In covert close for shame her head did hide Whom Amnon could not in his sight abide When all were come and at the Table set And as their stomacks lik'd fell to their meat Two of my servants as I did command Who closely waiting did by Amnon stand So soon as I gave them a secret signe And that his heart was merry grown with wine Down smote him dead which service bravely done Shall never be forgot by Absolon The Kings sonnes all with sudden horrour scar'd As if like cheare had been for them prepar'd Haste to their Mules to thee forthwith I fled On swiftest coursers ready sadeled I nothing of the truth from thee conceale And now my King and Father I appeale Unto thy Iustice where if guilty I Be judg'd of Amnons blood then let me dye I would not put my life upon the rude And violence of furious multitude Nor on the Iustice of an angry King Time may again me into favour bring I then shall plainly prove that Absolon Hath done no more than David should have done And when Kings suffer such sinnes in their Land God will revenge them by anothers hand Lo thus he ends When Talmai valiant son I do commend this act so bravely done In answering this foule base indignity Thou hast reveng'd thy Sister self and me No generous brave spirit could have born So great dishonour and so foule a scorn Be confident in this my son that I Will in this quarrell live with thee and dye The rather for that thou thy self hast shew'd As just in punishing a crime so lewd So also politick in cutting down That Tree which stopt thy way unto the Crown O grand exploit which fairly both wayes tends To publike Justice and to private ends Some reach at Crowns by shedding guiltlesse blood But thou by being great and seeming good Thus shall my Absolon get thanks and praise As popular in that which
like Diamonds on his eares Makes no reply but to the City tends Whilst David weeping up the Mount ascends Bare footed with his head all covered â—ea all the people wept and hid their head Where soon as David had done worshipping Hushai the Archite comes unto the King With garments torn and earth upon his head To whom the King should I thee with me lead Thou wilt be but a burthen on the way But if thou go to Absolon and say â—s to thy Father I have been O King 〈◊〉 faithfull Senator in counselling â—o will I be a servant to his son â—hou thus maist me advertise how to shun â—he cunning projects of Achitophel Who noble Hushai thou remembrest well Hath by his tongue and practises unjust Rais'd up himself to honour from the dust â—hou knowst I made him for his eloquence Or rather his unskilfull impudence The Steward of my private state and Crown Where he so close all under his long gown Convey'd and 's fingers lickt by tricks unknown He purchaseth a City for his own 〈◊〉 rais'd him to my highest judgment Seat Where finding him for me too potent-great And his proceedings hollow and unsound Projeeting crosse to all I did propound I thought it fit to ease him of his place Which taking for an undeserv'd disgrace He ever since to crosse my best intents My people humours in their discontents And as he at the first had learn'd the Arts To take their purses now he catcheth hearts And winds their suffrages as in a string â—hey please the people best that crosse the King None e're was more for my prerogative So long as by it he eould rise or thrive But soon as he to his high pitch was flown None ever labor'd more to beat it down Not that I would for gain by flatteries Trench on my meanest subjects liberties Who never duly will our Lawes observe Except Kings by example them preserve In making them our subjects rule and measure And not our own or Iudges will and pleasure For Lawes come all from purest Iustice streame And peoples safety is the Law supreme But this must shadowed be from peoples eyes Who if they feare not Kings them soon despise My dearest honest Counsellor of State Thou seest they make Religion but a hait To catch my people and betray their King Oh! therefore help me in discovering Their most flagitious trâ—asons and confound Achitophels devises most profound With thee is Zadock and Abiathar To whom discover all that thou canst heare They by their sons to me the truth will send That I may shun the evill they intend Thus by thy Counsell wise thou shalt defend All these my people and thy faithfull friend When Hushai thus the Lawes of every Nation â—o chiefly tend to common preservation Of peoples health and safety which depend All on the King their head whom to defend VVe are oblig'd in this politicall As members in the body naturall And to their counsell wise submit as they 〈◊〉 therefore shall thy just commands obey Now up was Israel in Armes and Lawes Became as tame as sleeping Lyons pawes For where warres rage Lawes execution cease Especially when Princes break the peace And as the Plague that 's in a City bred Doth over all the Country soon dispread So spreads th' infectious Leprosie of sinne â—f it amongst the Princes first begin The people fuell to the fire bring Of any vice ensampled by the King Thus Absolons profound conspiracy Hath turn'd plain-dealing all to policy Now faith and loyalty are out of fashion And treason 's grown the only occupation When Ziba with two Asses sadeled Laden with Raisons VVine ripe fruits and bread VVhich he for David and his men did bring Blames lame Mephibosheth thus to the King Let me find grace and favour in thy sight My gracious Lord whilst thou prepares to fight For Soveraignty with traiâ—rous Absalom Mephibosheth as neuter sits at home In hope when both have spent your strength and store The people will his right to him restore Then Ziba said the King thine be his lands God me deliver from these Traytors hands This like a cunning curre could closely bite Yet never barke and like a Theef by night Purloin his Masters living and good name But Shimei dares thus openly defame The King himself Thou man of Belial Thou bloudy murtherer of the house of Saul God justly now shall bring upon thy head Ev'n all the guiltlesse blood which thou hast shed And give thy Kingdome to thy rebell son Which thou by wicked meanes from Saul hast won And more than words he throweth stones ev'n then When David had about him all his men Yet would he not let Abishai go take From him his head though he did offer make But 〈…〉 humble sinner free from passion Deserving rather pitty and compassion Than now to be insulted over so When God for sin had humbled him so low Replyes thus gently it to us belongs Not to revenge but meekly suffer wrongs Let us not punish him but humbled be With moâ—rning anger cannot well agree Alas who knows but that the Lord hath sent Him here to curse us for our chastisement Not that I Shemei's malice will excuse For that 's his own and though God doth it use To punish past or sinnes to come prevent It frees him not from guilt or punishment But I acknowledge all these stroaks from God And therefore now will kisse not burn the Rod The son of mine own bowels seeks my right And life Then much more may this Benjamite With false reproaching scandals me defame It may be God will blisse me for this shame I that the Speare took from Sauls sleeping head And would not suffer thee to smite him dead And cut his garments lap off in the cave Am now reproach'd for bloud where life I gave Did not I cause th' Amalakite to fall Who brought me word that he had killed Saul And Banaahs and Râ—â—habs bloud he shed When unto me they brought their Masters head Yea lame Mephibosheth to rule unable Sits like a Prince and eats at mine own Table I do confesse my guiltinesse of blood But for Sauls house I ever did them good But Davids gentlenesse and patience Emboldneth Shimei in his insolence So as he rails on and for more disgrace Takes stones and dust to throw in Davids face Oh most incomparable patience A King to beare this Subjects insolence But wrongs are ne're so easily overcome As when we notice take from whence they come But now Ahimaaz and Ionathan To David and the host all posting ran And wisht them all to passe the floud that night Before they were constrained to the fight So all are past o're Iordane ere the day When Ionathan begins thus on the way No sooner did the Priests our Fathers bring The holy Arke by the command O King From Kedrons Book up to Ierusalem When thy son Absolon and all his men The men of Iudah and of Israel The City entred with Aâ—hi
Thence flies he to Ahimelech the Priest Who paid too deare for such a Royall Guest For spitefull Doeg did to Saul complain And neere a hundred Priests by him were slain From thence to Achish Prince of Gath where he Pretendeth madnesse and simplicity From thence he hunted to Adullams Cave Like to a Partridge flies his life to save To Ziph Eugaddy Maons Desarts where He cut off Sauls coat-lap but 's life did spare And after took his Sreare from 's sleeping head Then he the second time to Achish fled Of whom he was most kindly entertain'd For hate of Saul and Ziglags Town obtain'd Whence he to warre on Iudahs Coasts pretended But so 'gainst Amalek his forces bended And other foes of ours that to complain He never let one man alive remain By which he faln now into th' indignation As Achish thought of his own King and Nation Was brought to field 'gainst Saul his King to fight But these Philistine Lords that knew his might And fearing he to th' other side should turn Made him again to Ziglag back return Which burnt he found their women captive led With all their children that him followed For which all were so grieved and offended His Souldiers there to stone him had intended Amid all troubles God did him sustain And helpt to win his own and more again For he so close pursu'd th' Amalekite And them unwares so furiously did smite He all the Host left dead upon the plain And losses all recovered again Inriching them with spoiles that with him went And many presents to our Elders sent In all his troubles which of you can say He did me wrong or made of mine a prey Was he not rather unto you for all Your Goods against your enemies a wall Aske foolish Nabals servants they will say He was a wall to us by night and day No sheep were lost no Lambs of ours were slain Whilst David neer to Carmel did remaâ—n And though the churle did evill him requite Yet God who is the Iudge of wrong and right Reveng'd his churlishnesse with losse of life Rewarding Davids goodnesse with his wife By this Saul and his sons were overthrown At Gilboa which soon as it was known To David how did he compassionate Their deaths and those afflictions of the State Which were so great they over Iordan fled And many of their Townes abandoned So as by this so great an overthrow Were Israel and Iudah brought so low They to the son of Ishai presents bring And him acknowledge their annointed King For what was closely done by Samuel Was known to all the Tribes of Israel Had he not been a valiant man of warre The Philistins prevailed had so farre We surely had long since their servants been And not these dayes of liberty have seen Abner long at Mehanaim maintain'd The son of Saul whilst he at Hebron raign'd Till Traytors did his head to David bring Then all the Tribes acknowledge him their King Oh with what wondrous joy and acclamation Was he accepted then of all this Nation He went before us in and out in all The warres in times of Samuel and Saul He saved us from all our enemies And honour'd us with glorious victories Oh! then he was of our own flesh and bone And fit to govern all the Tribes alone Sure his deserts were infinite before But hath he not to these still added more Witnesse this place where now Gods Arke is pight In th' heart of Iudah which the Iebusite 'Gainst Iosuab Iudges Samuel Saul maintain'd By Davids might and prowesse now obtain'd This holy place where now you meet to pray And offer sacrifices night and day For Sions Mount your Kings brave habitation Worlds wonder and the Glory of this Nation Whilome of theeves and murtherers a den Whence they did steal your goods and spoil your men And sacrifice to Rimnon morn and even And worship'd daily all the host of Heaven Yea often to appease th' infernall Ire Did drive your sons and daughters through the fire This fort defended by the blind and lame He builded and Hierusalem did name Did not all Palestine their forces bring 'Gainst David soon as he was crowned King Whom all to weak his valour to withstand God twice delivered into Davids hand Yea ev'n the God of Hosts to shew his right Led him forth from the Mulberry trees to fight Soon as his enemies subdued are He wholly on Religion sets his care Gods Ark into your City home to bring That God might dwell with you as did the King Why should I here sad Vzzahs breach recite Whom God for his presumption dead did smite For staying but the Arke up with his hand Medling with sacred thing 'gainst Gods command For which it was to Obeâ— Edoms led Where whilst it staid all things well prospered But ah how did our Prophet dance and sing More like a holy Levite than a King When th' Ark was brought up hither to be rear'd And set up in the place for it prepar'd Who though he then was scorn'd in Michâ—ls sight God never did in him take more delight What hath he not for this your City done Besides his many Royall workes begun And finished whereby he chang'd this hold Of earth and stone to streets of brasse and gold 'T was in his mind a Temple here to raise To Gods eternall Worship laud and praise Till God by Nathan otherwise declared Yet he for it materialls hath prepared The which his son that Prince of peace shall raise And blesse with peace and honour all his dayes For all such as have had their hands in bloud As David though their warres are just and good From medling with Gods Altar ought abstain The stones whereof should all in peace be lain For what are all our Rites and offerings Arke Incense and all other holy things But figures of eternall peace and rest No bloudied hands may minister this feast Irregularity for second wives Is vain as you shall see by both their lives And therefore David leavs it to his son He after all his former battails won Hath taken Gath the key of all your Land The Bridle thus wringing out of the hand Of Philistins who now 〈◊〉 brought so low They all their knees to Iudahs Monarch bow Ittai one of their Lords of greatest might Serv'd under David in this civill fight Moab you know with lines was measured Two lines to save alive another dead And Hadadezar Syrians King of Kings With all his Vice-Roys presents to us brings Now Aram and Damascus ours remain Twenty two thousand of them being slain He hither all the Shields of gold did bring Which he had taken from the Syrian King We quite through Edom all our Armies led And of them eighteen thousand slaughtered So as in all these Cities and wall'd Townes The King hath put strong men in Garrisons Yea ev'n Damascus though as Queen she reigns Above the rest a Garrison maintains What Presents did the son of Tohu bring Of Gold
to invite Her to the Court sometimes to take delight Till her belov'd Vriah did return And not to sit all day at home and mourn Glad was the woman that her Lord and King Did so much for her Husbands honouring And sayes though for Vriahs safe retire To pray and mourn I onely do desire I will my self and him this thing denay Ere I my gracious King will disobey Soon as the King her in the Court doth see Amongst the Ladies like faire Cypresse Tree Amongst the Shrubs or Cynthia shining bright Amid the twinkling Starres in frosty night He first begins her beauty to commend And blushing kist her cheek and calls her friend And said that if he might a servant be To such a beautious Mistris his degree Of State should bow her humbly to observe And do his best her favour to deserve Thus though her Husbands Honour first did bring This Dame to Court yet proud now that a King Should there confesse he did such service owe For few faire Ladies but their beauty know As ready was to take as he to offer All Complements of Court the King would proffer Not once suspecting such a godly King Would offer her the least dishonouring Nor could all Satans cunning him have brought At first to entertaine so foule a thought But as a simple Lambe on flowrie banks Of Iordan bounds and leaps and plaâ—es his pranks Till his faire shadow in the watry glasse He spies which seemes the substance to surpasse Whereon he nigher comes and comes to look Till unawares he falls into the brook Whence he may strive to get out but in vain The streames by force him carry to the Main Even so the King at first begins to play With her pure hand as on his Couch he lay Then gazing on her eyes and modest face Reflecting beauties like a Looking-glasse He unawares in Beauties snare is took Ev'n as the Lamb was drowned in the Brook Oh lothsomnesse deceitfulnesse of sinne The sweetnesse bitternesse we finde therein Beginnings fawnings growing terrour smart Our weaknesse Satans envie mans false heart Thus Mortals which to Heaven should seek the way As Fishes which in fresher water play Swim in delights and lustfull pleasures all Till unawares they in the dead-sea fall But as you evermore shall see one sinne Beget another to lye hidden in So David his Adultery to hide Commits first drunkennesse then homicide For she perceiving that she had conceiv'd And fearing lest for being so deceiv'd The Lords and all the people would her blame Because her Lord could not beget the same Who had been three full months to battail gone Before her bathing and the act was done She hereof closely certifies the King Who seeks thus to provide a covering He sends to me a Letter which requir'd Vriah home as if he had desir'd To know by him how all things did succeed But 't was to father what his wife did breed In brief Vriah comes and doth relate To David mine and all the peoples state And how the warres went on and prospered Then David wisht him get him home to bed Refresh thy self thy journey hath been great And after him he sends a messe of meat But brave Vriah hating all delight Or pleasure which disabled him to fight Among the Guard did all that night attend Nor would to his own house and wife descend Which when the King next morrow understands He of Vriah thus the cause demands Brave Hittite may thy King the reason know Why this last night when thou didst from me go You went not home but tarryed with my Gard As of thy journey thou hadst no regard Who said the Arke with Iudah Israel And my Lord Ioab in their Tents do dwell Abroad i' th' field What then shall I alone Lye with my wife and eat and drink at home As thy soule lives and as thou liv'st O King I am resolved not to do this thing The King yet caus'd him in the City stay All that and afterwards another day In hope at last he to his wife would go But when he found that this way would not do He makes him in his presence sup that night And drink down healths untill his head was light Yet he his wife regarded nere the more But with the Gard all night lay as before Oh such brave Spirits saith Abishai would raise Unto themselves and us immortall praise Were they but as they due deserve regarded But see saith Ioab how this was rewarded He brings a Letter sign'd with Davids hand To me which did to this effect command Of thee and of thy host I did inquire By this and finde all things as I desire This onely now to thee I do not find This Hittite answerable to my mind And therefore set him formost in the fight Where thou discern'st the men of greatest might And when he is in danger soon retire And let him dye No other cause inquire Of thy King David Having this command My part was to obey and not to stand In disputation were it wrong or right And therefore where I saw most men of might Defend the walls I brave Vriah sent Where all succeeded just to mine intent Of Davids servants many likewise fell Both of Iudea and of Israel Whereof when first I certifi'd the King He seemed much displeased with the thing But when he heard Vriah also di'd His wrath appeas'd he thus again repli'd Salute thou Ioab tell him after-care Or grief avails not 'gainst the chance of Warre For thus the sword doth usually devoure All that do come within his reach or power Be not discourag'd make thine Armie strong To be reveng'd of this and all our wrong What said his wife saith Abishai hereto Ev'n mourn'd for fashion as â—ich widdowes do Saith Ioab but as soon as that was done The King her makes his wife and takes her home The joy to be a Queen soon dryes her eyes And with her husbands murtherer she lyes Wondrous iniquity saith Abishai I never heard the like untill this day A head distemper'd thus cannot but ake And make the heart and all the members shake He were a man of wondrous wisdome sure That could to this disease apply a cure Is not one Prophet left in Israel That dares the King of these offences tell Yes sure saith Ioab there 's a skilfull one Hath searcht this sore unto the very bone Good Nathan yet with such a gentle hand He made the King his faults to understand By telling others so the sore did presse With prudent gentle pious tendernesse For Prophets that reprove such faults in Kings Must strike at one to sound out other strings And not reproach their errours to their faces Nor publish to the people their disgraces Since Bathsheb as conception did begin The King slept in this Lethargy of sinne They both had like beginning life and growth And have like bringing forth and birth of both As skilfull Leech to cure his Patients ills With gold oft covers biâ—ter wholsome
pills So Nathan doth this Parable apply A seeming-sweet but bitter remedy Pardon my Liege saith he if Iustice I Desire when sinnes to Heaven for vengeance cry Lo in a City were nay which is more Still are two men one rich the other poore The rich had mighty Heards and Flocks the poore A little Lambe had onely for his store Deare bought which he at home with him did cherish And even amongst his sonnes and daughters nourish Drank of his cup eate of his bread and ay As his own daughter in his bosome lay But lo a stranger to the rich man came Who secretly purloins the poore mans Lamb Whereof he for the stranger doth prepare And his own Heard and all his Lambs did spare Now as the Lord lives David doth reply The man that did the thing deserves to dye Besides he foure-fold shall the Lamb restore Because he was so cruell to the poore As he that doth besiege a mighty Tower Doth use at first more policy than power But when the breach is made and he got in To shew his strength and courage doth begin And as we see Ambassadours of Kings In formes are curteous but advance the things Which unto them their master doth command With resolution so doth Nathan stand The breach with as much courage to maintain As he the same by subtile meanes did gaine Thou art the man saith Nathan thou alone This vile abhominable thing hast done Thou art the rich Vriah was the poore Thou hast thy choise of wives he one no more Which thou hast ravisht and her husband slain The wicked stranger lust to entertain This is the thing I must make plainly known The words I speak are Gods and not mine own I have annointed thee the King of all My people and thee freed from hand of Saul I gave to thee thy Masters house and wives And to thy hand committed all the lives Of Israel and Iudah and would more To thee have given if thou hadst wanted store Oh! why shouldst thou my Precepts thus despise And do this wicked evill in mine eyes The stout Vriah by thy sword is dead And thou his wife hast taken to thy bed This Worthy oft escap'd more dangerous fights Thy sword hath kil'd him not the Ammonites The sword shall never from thine house depart Because thou hast despised me and art Defil'd with ravishing Vriahs wife And for thy pleasure took'st away his life Thus saith the Lord against thee I will raise Up evill in thine house even in thy dayes Thy fruit begotten in Adultery Shall onely breed thee sorrow and so dye Thy Sonne with incest shall defile the bed Of thine own daughter by him ravished Thy Sonnes shall rise up one against another And Brothers hands imbrew with bloud of Brother Thy Wives shall be defil'd in open light The Sun shall blush to see so foule a sight Thou sin'dst in secret but this shall be done In sight of all the people and the Sunne As tender Oakes shak'd with fierce blasts of wind Bâ— yeelding do the faster rooting find When stouter Oakes which give no way at all Are thrown quite down and ruine in their fall So it with David fares whose heart relents And shakes and trembles at Gods menacements His sinne confessing but his Faith holds fast And sings this Peniâ—entiall Psalme at last PSAL. 51. OF thy great goodnesse Lord some pitty take On me whom sinne Doth now awake If thou in loving kindnesse wilt begin All mine offences easely may Be by thy mercies done away â—hen wash me throughly from this staine Of sinfull guilt Till none remaine â—ow I confesse O Lord thou canst and wilt Cause sin which now me lyes before Never to rise against me more â—gainst thee I O Lord have sinn'd alone And in thy sight This evill done â—hat judg'd thou mightst be found most pure and right I full of sinne of good bereav'd Iust as my mother me conceiv'd Thou truth dost in the inward parts require Which to discern Lord me inspire So I of thee may secret wisdome learn With Hyssope purge me I shall grow More clean and pure than whitest snow Of joy and gladnesse make thou me to heare My broken bones Thus shalt thou cheare And into joyfull Ditties change my grones Thy face turn from my sins foul hew My heart make clean my spirit renew Cast me not out from thee for my demerit Nor take from me Thy holy Spirit Recomfort Lord my will conform to thee So shall I sinners teach thy way And them convert that go astray From guilt of blood O Lord deliver me Oh help or never Shall I be free So of thy goodnesse I shall sing for ever Ope thou my lips mine Organs raise Then shall my mouth set forth thy praise Thou sacrifice desir'st not else would I With all my might Thereto comply Nor dost thou in burâ—t-offerings delight A troubled spirit's best sacrifice Broak contrite hearts thou l't not despise Let thy protecting arms like walls embrace Hierusalem And Sion grace Then our burnt offerings thee shall please agen We will upon thine Altar lay Gifts and oblations every day Here Ioab ends when noble Abishai â—o thy discourse hath shortned much the way Beyond the River I discern the plain That Iair Manasses son by sword did gain Upon which bordereth the Geshurite Ride on we may see Talmai's Court to night And bring most welcome newes to Absolon I know saith Ioab well what I have done This is a project of mine own devising To please the setting Sun as well as rising Nothing more pleasing is to Davids mind No service more the Princes heart can bind Nor to King Talmai be more acceptable Who will us gratifie as he is able What 's he saith Abishai a petty King Saith Ioab here on Gilead bordering Great Hadadezar was Lord Paramount And here did but as Tributaries count These lesser Kings till we at Helam slew His Captain and his Army overthrew Since that they all are servants to our King Except old Talmai and him Presens bring But night encroacheth now so on the day They leave their talk and look unto their way By which that night to Geshurs Court they come Most welcome to the King and Absalom For this was their Ambassage from the King The young-man to Hierusalem to bring THE FOURTH BOOKE Israel rebelling SOL had no sooner haâ—nessed his horse Rejoycing Giant-like to run his course His longest journey froÌ„ the East to West When Talmai who that nigâ—t took little rest So were his thoughts â—a'ne up and fil'd with care For 's Grand-child Israels apparant heire And plotting both their powers to combine To subject to one head all Palestine To his Bed-side did send for Absolon And as a Father counsels thus his sonne Besides thy royall birth and riper age Thy strength of wit and goodly personage With vertues all which fit a man to raigne And with the people love and favour gaine Thou hast in highest Courts of Kings been bred And