Englands Alarm to VVar against the Beast By command from Heaven and His Israels Example upon Earth comming in to rescue David out of the hands of a cruell Lord and a bloudy Edomite upon the same ground from Scripture and Reason Israel had then and Christians now To resist the Prince ruling in the Aire and with the Kings of the Earth In 3. Sections Wherein I. The History of Sauls War against David is so related from the sacred Text that it relates in whole and in part to the three last yeeres affaires The most remarkable Passages between the King and the Parliament before the War brake forth II. And to the bloudy Execution of the Edomite in this War against the Parliament in Ireland and England ever since III. Here is also excellent Reason given Why the Tribes came not in sooner and sufficient Reason Why they came in so Armed at the last Relating fully to this present time The wonderfull Providences The admirable Deliverances Strange Discoveries c. As at this day Also To confirme the hearts and hands of the Godly in their warfare and to strike terrour to the wicked fighting for the Devill and against Gods hidden ones contrary to the Vow in Baptisme Oath of Allegiance and Covenant entred into by all good Subiects And To stablish the heart in a patient expectation of the glorious end GOD will make Though for a time He will plead with all flesh by fire and by His sword and the slain of the LORD shall be many He who affirms That Christians may not resist wicked Rulers does affirme with as with as loud a voice though he would not be heard That Christians may not resist the Evill-one ruling in wicked Rulers and acting violences by their hands Scl. de Imp. PSAL. 11. 5 6 7. The Lord tryeth the Righteous but him that loveth violence His soul hateth ISAIAH 60 22. A little one shall become a thousand and a small one a strong Nation I the Lord will hasten it in His time Printed in the second yeare of the Beasts wounding making war with the Lamb and those that are with Him 〈…〉 and Faithfull for Thomas Vnderhill 〈…〉 An Apologie for the Epistle following I Shall lay open the depths of Sathan hidden works of darknesse Then I shall shew a Traine of Providences c. The sure mercies of David I can tell my selfe now I shall against my Rule speak excellent things in the eares of a foole shew him the Sun in your hand as the Proverbe is he will not see it Tell him it is the Word of God what cares he he will not heare it Tell him it is a Pearle he regards it not A very swine A brutish man Mad upon his Idols Yet let us do our endeavours to make him sober Surely this before him will do it if any thing under heaven can make him heare and see both For he will see the Devill here all along acting a bloudy part and if the Devill be not in him he will see himselfe and his owne Actings in the Devill He will heare two men speaking to him from the dead also he will see all their notorious violences acted over afresh by his own hand now He must heare the voice of the Eving God too and see what end the LORD makes Those Persons all whom he and his fellowes have dealt so hatefully with shall be set on high before his face the higher the lower he would have pressed them downe there singing the high praises of their GOD and himselfe amongst others his fellow Malignants laid low as contemptible as their own dung gnawing their tongues for paine Whether he will heare or whether he will forbeare it is at his perill Let him that is filthy be filthy still and let the foole hold fast his folly sober men will heare and be instructed To the most Malignant Reader IT is granted on both sides there are but two That now is the time all over the Christian world when Kings go forth to battell All their Subjects are engaged now It is high time then to consider the Case weigh it well with all our hearts and with all our soules There are but two great Commanders in the world God and the Devill All serve under thâ—se two Another Commander there is we call it mans Will and boasteth great things but an underling it is and subservient obeyed in reference to the other two who rule in chiefe so the question is single Who must be hearkened to or obeyed Not whether Gods Command or mans Will contrary thereunto Though this is the greatest question in the world and most stubbornly argued nor will it be answered no not when it is answered and fairly proposed to every mans consideration judge yet so it was answered more then sixteen hundred yeeres ago therefore Act. 14. 19 it cannot be the question now But this Whether God is to be obeyed or the Devill I confesse it is a strange question But it were a stranger answer and argued more then a distemper in the brain To say That the Devill is to be obeyed and God is to be resisted And yet so much thou must say if thou wilt accuse Israel now for taking up defensive Armes being charged thereunto in obedience to God and in defiance of the Devill for this is the very Case which we will propose in Israels Case fiâ—st and anon bring-it-up to our times and make every line then run parallell with our Case now This was Israels Case All true Israel once tooke shield and buckler came in so armed to rescue David Did they well It must be granted they did well and their bounden duty in rescuing David and in him themselves out of the hand of a cruell Lord and bloody Edomite Indeed it would argue more then indiscretion in us to censure all Israel at that point for taking up defensive Armes though we could give no reason for what they did But the sacred Text is cleare in the point That the Tribes came-in not with an intent to resist Saul their King no nor the Edomite neither and that a Malignant may think strange being not like but the same now with the Edomite then a bloody adversary to Israel and yet Israel not resist him But to resist the evill Spirit commanding in chiefe with both This evill Spirit commanded in Saul else he had not throwne a javelin aâ— David quickly after at his owne son Jonathan nor had Saul after all this sealed a Commission to an Edomite to execute the pleasure of his owne will upon Israel 2. And the evill Spirit ruled in the Edomite too else he had not executed Sauls Commission to destroy a City of Priests man and beast there The Tribes then came-in not to resist Saul but the perverse will in Saul acted by the evill Spirit upon Saul They took up defensive Armes to withstand the notorious violences the astings of Sauls and the Edomites wills acted by their evill Spirits These outrages
a Comedy with a marriage but quickly there is a turning of the Scene proves a Tragedy and ends in blood David was envyed by Saul for two Reasons 1. Because he had wrought salvation for Israel slaying Goliah the Philistine with his owne Sword 2. And because the Kingdome must be established in Davids house and Saul knew it therefore he envied David and pursued him 1 Sam. 23. 17 to the death but because bloody intentions have no pleasant appearance Saul vailed them over with sugered words and lovely actions he causeth many love-tokens to passe betwixt himselfe and David as if he purposed not only to affiance his daughter to David but marry himselfe unto him too See the depths of Sathan that evill spirit who wrought so effectually upon Saul All his words and actions were as soft and smooth as Oyle and Butter but inwardly drawne swords to slay David therewith But the people remote from the Court I say remote from the Court for Israel in and about the Court knew very well that Saul hated David and would have nailed his head and the wall together twise and once he would have served his Son Jonathan so too for being a friend to David Therefore I say Israel remote from the Court were wholly taken with things in appearance and so judged of Saul and David and of their actions so as if one of the two were too blame David was he And these colourable pretences stood Saul in some stead to vaile the peoples eyes for some time and not long for wicked and malicious intentions will work-out and discover themselves as five will and light will they will not be hid Saul plots against the righteous layes a snate here and there a snare for Davids soul The Righteous God discovers all and breaks the snare which enrageth Saul yet more the evill Spirit taking advantage thereby And now Saul pursues David with open aâ—e and sword in hand up to Naioth in Ramah and from thence to Nob. There he enters his foot first into bloud and goes up to the knees therein quickly for he takes an Edomite to his side gives him a Commission useth him as his right hand presently he with other Edomites with him for we cannot imagine that one should do that â—xecution alone smites a City of Priests slayes men women and sucklings there and beast also Where I shall note That all this is done by the knowne Lawes of the Kingdome for the Edomite accuseth the Priest Saul gives the Priest leave to answer for himselfe then execution is done according to the knowne Law which Saul and the Edomite have enacted We shall enquire farther into these matters when I shall handle them in order why Saul takes the Edomite to his side gave him a Commission being a knowne adversary to Is ael whereof I shall give a better account anon And then though we are concluded That the Lord is righteous and His Judgements are as the great deepe yet I shall search into them and findeoâ—â— reason enough to satisfie us why the Lord suffers the Edomite to make such a slaughter in Israels Land and His owne Kingdome To do execution according to their wills upon those who did their duâ—y by direction from Gods mouth We shall see reason for all this though God needs not give account of His matters yet we shall see so He is pleased to do And now Davids History proves Tragicall indeed The Priests are slaine and David is strucken-at thorow the priests sides he sees Sauls sword now and against whom it was pointed So away he flies and to Keilah he comes in all haste expecting relief there for he had done the inhabitants such a piece of service as was very notable would have engaged them to David for ever had they been honest men But Keilites cannot consider what David had done for them they ponder not the kindnesse of God towards them nor mans kindnesse neither And now David having a strong hold over his head is resolved therein to defend himselfe but the Keilites proved treacherous they after their manner will betray David and he is warned thereof for a mighty Councellour was with David wheresoever he went and away he went from Keilah to a mountaine in the wildernesse of Ziphâ— Saul pursues his way and bloudy intentions and after he goes for he sought David every day but it followes God 〈◊〉 2â— 1â— delivered him not into his hands The Keilites would have done it so would the Ziphites too these would have delivered up David into Sauls hands yea but God would not do it and His is the overruling Hand These adversaries shall but shew themselves so shew their teeth unto David discover their treacherous hearts against him that is all they shall do more they would do but they cannot Therefore Psal 54. David makes a Psalme of praise to his God for that deliverance Here a great question will be proposed anon I do but give the heads here why the Tribes came-not-in all this while now they saw what was done to Nob what was offered to be done to Keilah and saw the sword was pointed directly to Davids throat why yet the Tribes came-not-in Some will Answer Conscience withheld them had they come-in to help David they had resisted their King I shall cleare the contrary in the third Section for it is the chiefe purpose thereof Other conceits there are I will passe them over in this place This is certaine Things were not ripe yet nor yet Gods time Davids straits must be yet greater then they were at Nob or when he was at Keilah and and there must be farther discoveries yet of Gods right hand with David and of his adversaries against him whereof towards the close of the Work Saul pursues David still thorow all the Thousands of Judah d 1 Sam. 23. 23. malice will draw bloud but it cannot yet will pursue to the death he and his men have cooped-up David and his men for they have compassed David round about Then God wrought wonderfully for David as His Name is and His Manner and the Earth must help David A Drossie earthy people shall help David shall work for his deliverance though enemies to him And though Saul has David as a prey in his hand yet the Lord sets up a Rock of separation betwixt David and Saul David is almost under Sauls nose within the reach of his speare and yet saul cannot reach him O wonderfull It is so indeed therefore 1 Sam. 23. 28. they called the place Sela-Hammahlekoth e as at this day 〈◊〉 takes no notice of this no not of Davids Rock in his way he 〈◊〉 David still and he pops-into a Cave all alone where David and all â—â— mâ—n were the man shall run strange adventures that 〈◊〉 David and may escape once and again but beware the third 〈…〉 he that pursues David may fall into the Philistines hands aâ—on as Saul did Note againe how various and changeable
matâ—â—rs are in the câ—â—ying-on of Davids Wars Saul had David in a coop â—â—e other day now David has Saul at the same advantage It was so 〈…〉 will be so in Davids wars ever more Then Saul had the advantage now David Down and up Vp â—nd down But the advantage iâ— shall on Davids-side whether he rise or fall for he is instructed To make advantage of his falls Saul cannot of his risings Either he shall not see his advantage or shall make no advantage thereof at all David shall see his advantages and make use of them for glorious ends and towards Saul to cleare his innocencie as the noone day For now it shall appeare to all Israel and to Saul himselfe That David is a man after Gods owne heart and will shew him the kindnesse of the Lord And that Saul is mis-informed and all his Courtiers are liers all Now Saul and David are come to a Parley and David is heard to speake for himselfe he can speak with such evidence of Truth that the quarrell had now ended for the evill Spirit in Saul seemes to be quite silenced for a short time and Saul himselfe so fully convinced concerning Davids uprightnesse as that he seems to â— Sam. 24. 16. melt into tears nay it is so indeed he wept heartily but that the evill Spirit moves in Saul againe and the Ziphites a mischievous generation â— Sam. 26. and enemies to Peace did egge-on and drive Saul to pursue David againe see what he Devill will do and these Ziphites as evill as he and as like him as the children are like the father these hurry Saul-onward and after David he runs for the Devill drives him having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him A marvellous â— Sam. 24. 2. thing That thousand chosen men of Israel with him And yet I shall make it no marvell at all anon for if a King will fall desperately upon his owne sword there is another will do as desperately as the King does fall upon it too It is no marvell at all That Saul 1 Sam. 31. 5. 6. hath three thousand chosen men with him But this is the wonder That after such a conviction as we read before he should yet with such a company seek David to slay him But that is no wonder neither The evill Spirit is with him and the Ziphites his Councellours These will drive-on Saul furiously but David shall see whereto they drive for he has his b 1 Sam. 26. 4. spies abroad and they tell David where Saul is and thither he goes as bold as a Lion for his Cause was good and though it was stormy without yet alwayes cleare within he came to the place where Saul had pitched beheld it well and there went downe he with two more even to Sauls Campe by night and there they found Saul asleepe and all his people round about him sleeping too God would have it so Then said Abishai to David Let me smite thine enemy once one blow shall do the deed there shall not need a second to destroy him No sayes David and observe what he sayes The Lord forbid that I should stretch forth my hand against the Lords Anointed suffering thee to take away Sauls head but take away his speare c. and so they did then gat them away and no man awaked for a deep sleep from the Lord was fallen upon thâ—m The Lord will finde out a way to cleare Davids innocencie as the noone day David was no sooner gon but he calls out to Abner Captaine of Sauls guard reproves his negligence above many bids him behold the speare c. which stuck so neare his Masters pillow his Masters Verse 16. head was in the same danger and Abner asleep the while When Saul heard that for it could be no mans voice but Davids his heart seemes and in his owne apprehension to close with David now Observe what Saul sayes and what David replyes for now they are Vers 21. as their last Conference Matters are fairly debated and concluded betwixt them even with a blessing from Sauls mouth Then Saul Vers 25. returned to his place But Saul was resolutely bent to oppose Gods decree touching the setting of the Crowne upon Davids head therefore Suspectum semper invisum que domiâ—anti bâ—s qui prâ—xim â—s desâ—inarâ—tur Iac. Hâ—â— 1. lib. 1. cap. 7. he envied David and the evill Spirit wrought effectually upon that advantage so as David did not trust Saul nor regarded his words for indeed bloudy thoughts lodged within him sâ—ill nor was he sui juris but of the possession of himselfe quite The Keilites had a part in him the Ziphites also and the evill Spirit divided Saul betwixt them they have him in their power and drive him as they will and so David will trust none of them all Nay they prevailed so That David distrusted God a little and so away David runs to Gath and when Saul heard that he sought no more after him sayes the Text c 1 Sam. 27. 4. intimating no lesse then this That Saul would have pursued him still but that he was out of Sauls reach About this very time the Tribes came-in when all was cleare before them touching Sauls implacablenesse and stubborne resolution touching Davids uprightnesse the treachery of Davids friends then the Tribes came-in after they saw all faire wayes had beene used to incline Saul to hold him back from shedding bloud after they had prayed and fasted too for this I must make good also Then the Tribes came-in with shield and buckler as we read And so we have a briefe relation of Davids Story and Sauls persecution which will relate clearly and fully anon the History of our time I shall not do as the wise Judges did in a 〈…〉 Case wherein it was hard and dangerous to give righteous Judgement They bad the Parties come and appeare before them a hundred â— years after I cannot do so now As I shall relate an ancient History so I must declare how it relates to these present times for in setting downe Davids Story and Sauls persecution of him I must needs set downe the story of these dayes fully and wholy for no Chronicle in the world gives us the like story so paralell with the Churches story now and affaires of these dayes For example A King the chiefe Actor then a King the chiefe Actor now Persecuting David then persecuting his owne subjects now All under colourable pretences then the same pretences and shewes now The delivering up of the sword into Davids hand was the pretence and no more of the quarrell then the same pretence now Saul takes an Edomite to his side and gives reason for so doing then The King takes Edomites for they say of our Jerusalem as aforesaid into his bosome and gives the same reason for so doing now The Edomite informeth against the faithfull servants of the Lord then so they do now but
it was by the Devils motion that David had no more time then to b 1 Sam. 18. 10. slip away and avoid the place so the javeline was smote into the wall And though this was twice yet this was knowne in the Court onely perhaps to some dwellers hard by It is as true also and as cleare every whit in the sacred Text but the people inquire not into that not what is written not they That an evill Spirit from God c 1 Sam. 18. 10. came upon Saul and that is reported twice too And this evill Spirit was so active in Saul That whereas he might have rested and slept quietly in his owne house he runs about tanquam ostro percitus from place to place for he must run whom the Devill drives and is restlesse in the pursuit of Davids soule so as Saul might say and others also and all say truly and the people might beleeve it too That Saul did not go away from his Court but was dâ—iâ—â—n away he was indeed for an evill Spirit did drive him which is clearly written But I say the people observe none of that Noâ— could they heare what good Jonathan spake of David unto Saul his faâ—â—er Davids works have been to-thee-ward very good he did so and so and so â— ronght a great salvation for all Israel wherefore then wilt thou siâ— against innocent blood to slay David without a cause d 〈…〉 â— 4. 5. The people Aâ—l Isrâ—el remote from the Court heard none of all this they heard what a salvation David had wrought and they might think as Jonathan did judging his fathers spirit by his owne that Saul seeing that salvation did rejoyce thou sawest it and didst rejoyce Verse 5. said Jonathan so the people might think too and that David was in all the blame and Saul in none at all That David had done some great matter against Saul because Saul did so persecute him so the people may think and the people might very well be so deluded for Saul did cover his malice with faire words as a potsheard may be covered with silver drosse e â—â— 26. 23 go and tell David from me said Saul The King hath delight in thee and all his servants love thee f 1 Sam. 18. 22. Nor could there be greater shews nor more lively expressions then were in Saul towards David nor were his shews greater then were the reality of his actions as the people must understand them We do accouut Acts of meere Right and Justice to be Acts of most transcendent Grace and so we can flatter but indeed the Acts of Saul towards David could seeme no otherwise then Acts of most transcendent Grace and that was the account that David himselfe made of them he was sued unto twice to be the Kings Son-in-law and David was exceedingly taken with it seemeth it to you a light thing to be a Verse 23. Kings Son in-Law seeing that I am but a pore man and lightly esteemed It made David quite forget that unkingly act of throwing the javelin at him And the people must needs be taken as much with it also seeing a poore shepherd matched to a Kings Daughter for the people could not tell what Saul had said in his heart I will give him Verse 21. her that she may be a snare unto him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him Note it by the way That this very snare wherewith Saul intended to catch David took Saul himselfe as we may read 1 Sam. 31. 3. It is ominous and a point of desperate folly to lay a snare for David But this snare was contrived in the Court and that which was said was said in the heart whose language the people cannot understand till it be made legible by the hand So much as was in sight was an act of most transcendent Grace True indeed it is and it is legible that Saul spake to Jonathan his son bad 1 Sam. 19 1. councell to a young Prince therefore an Almighty hand staied Jonathan upright conversing with such a Father and amongst such Councellours and to all his servants as we heard That they should kill David But this was not legible to the people it was a secret from the Court where David had a good friend Jonathan who will tell him all he heares and what his fathers bloody intents are that so he might prevent them Saul goes on sends Messengers to Davids house to watch 1 Sam. 19. 11. him and to slay him in the morning but his wife makes an ill-favoured shift to save her husband and tells a lie to boote So David escaped Psalm 59. at that time and makes a Psalme of Thankesgiving to the LORD after his manner so many deliverances so many Psalmes to call to remembrance Then to Ramah he runnes and Saul sent Messengers as fast after him and then came himselfe thither we shall read more of that in due place And now that Saul is at Ramah David flies from thence and comes to Jonathan he and David are made sure together and fast one to the other Marke it by the way Saul had his Scout to spie as you shall heare anon The LORD provided for David too he had a Spie at Court a fast friend there close at Sauls elbow Be thou as David was upright with the LORD thou shalt have a Jonathan a true friend at Court that is certaine I proceed The Father observes great signes and tokens of their love so his anger kindled against Jonathan and reproacheth him shamefully it grieved Saul that 1 Sam. 20. 30 31. David liveth upon the ground that is the expression commands Jonathan to fetch him unto his Father for he shall surely die Jonathan will see reason for what he does he will not run out of the Court gates to fetch David to his Father because his Father said David shall die Jonathan was a good man notwithstanding the bloody words his ear dranke in from his Fathers mouth continually and his conversing daily with bloody Courtiers God He onely keeps the heart upright and from pollution even there where Satans throne is there Jonathan was a good man and an obedient Son notwithstanding Object Nay but he was not you may say for his Father a King commands and Jonathan a son disobeyes Ans It is seemingly so indeed and as we use to say That he is an obedient servant who obeyes his Lord never examining what is the command and charge nor how unjust as the Kings Attourney did obey commanded by his Master to accuse the six Members sitting in Parliament of high Treason This was an obedient servant say we but what says the Lord our great Master in heaven I think the Judgement Deut. 19. 19 20 21. from the LORD is That this wicked servant shal be drawn first and hanged after For ye shall do unto this evill servant as he had thought to have done unto his brother This was
with much more fore-head and lesse shame now than then as will appeare The King impeached the servant of the Lord then so the King does now The servant of the Lord made answer to his Master the clearest that ever was read The servants of the Lord do render as full and fair accompt of all their actions now Notwithstanding the king gives a Commission to the Edomite to smite all the Priests because one had done his duty then The King gives the Edomites the very same Commission now And so a City was smitten and burnt with fire then Cities and Townes yea two Kingdomes are smitten and burnt with fire now And yet the Tribes come-not-in no not yet Why I will tell you the reason for that in due time They did come-in then to help David And all true Israel will come-in anon to help the Church that we are sure of in obedience to God and in defiance of the Devill so soone as the Kings intentions shall be yet more clearly manifested our Edomites sins shall be full Israel shall sufficiently groane under such Task-Masters crying unto God against them c. when the Edomites bloudy intentions shall be yet more fully manifest and when the treachery of the Keilites and Ziphites for such we have amongst us shall be yet more fully discovered to the world and when by all this Israels sins shall be purged their hearts prepared their strong holds forts and brest works vaine confidences meant thereby are destroyed all and every one then Israels deliverance comes carried on as upon Eagles wings when Israel is very low in Davids Case their Ziglags smitten all vaine confidences their comforts taken thence and they have strengâ—â—ened their hand in God Then as all Israel once came in to help David so will all true Christians now joyne hand and shoulder and heart together to help the Church but of this in the last place All along for I am entering into the particulars of the Story we shall read words and actions then words and actions now answering each other as face in water answers fâ—ce Then how heart answers heart the world will judge whether we will or no. I must observe â—riâ—â— Hâ—storiâ—◠〈◊〉 â—â— quiâ— falsi audâ—â—â—â—e qâ—â—â—â—â—ri 〈◊〉 audâ—â—◠〈◊〉 Oraâ— the Law of History I must not be so impudent as to speak what is false nor must I be so bold as to conceale the truth Specially being perswaded that the speaking out the truth now in such a Case as this may prevail with the Reader now more then if one came to him from the dead Again this comforts me all along in the things done then and now which run up so paralell each with other that yet I hope the destruction of the Kings house now will not answer the destruction then to Saul and his house It is true Never any man from that day to this houre persecuâ—ed David and prospered Compare it 1 Sam. 18. 17. with 31. 3. And very notable it is That Saul was wounded with those instruments of death in the enemies hand wherewith he would have had David to have been wounded and he perished by the very sword which he would have made drunk with bloud in Davids bowels 1 Sam. 31. 4. Nor was this all he would have destroâ—ed David that the Kingdom might not be established in Davids house and he slew all the Priests for Davids sake and so he ruined himselfe and his whole house for 1 Chron 10. 16. Saul died and his three sons and all his house died together from such a destruction the Lord deliver the King and his Kingdome And we hope the Lord will do it though the Kings hand now in the hands of bloudy and pernicious men is as rough now his intentions against the Church now are as bloudy now and as manifestly so as Sauls were against David yet we hope the destruction will not be such though God is the same and the Church as deare to him now as David was then We have onely this thred a weak support to beare up our hope herein That we read not Saul had any one Prophet nor any good man so much as is in shew with him who justified his way of persecution against David But the King is in the Schole of the Prophets has those by him eminently knowne all over the Christian world for Learning and Piety who if we beleeve heresay I beleeve it not do justifie the Kings way saying of it It is the right way and according to the Scriptures and they who are against that way do turne head against the Scripture of God the 13. to the Romans touching that matter This may be some inducement to the King to prosecute this stubborne way having such persons approving his doings The greater their sin if they do so by conniving at it or not contending against it with all their might But it may render the King more excusable a tanto then Saul was I will give a full and faire accompt of this way of persecution all the turnings and windings in it as Saul followed-on against David And we shall see how it runs-up all along with the way of persecution now And if this way prove it selfe according to the Rule and Line of the Word in any one degree or step of it If it hath any agreement with Peace Righteousnesse and Holinesse then all the true Israel of God are utterly unacquainted with the good Word of God and have erred concerning the way of Holinesse from the beginning of the world upward unto this day I will examine and ponder the Kings way what it was anciently and what it is now the severall steps and motions therein beginning with the first step as followes Chap. 2. Sauls bloudy intentions to David varnished over with faire Words and lovely Actions These are compared with Words and Actions now And so all the most Remarkable Passages and Acts of Grace which passed between the King and Parliament since they sate till the War brake-forth are Recorded and Weighed but found Light PEace is in Sauls tongue War is in his heart There he conceived mischiefe but yet that he might not make his wicked thoughts legible to all Israel that they might not break-out at his mouth nor at his fingers end as they have done before a few in the Court he vailed the peoples eyes by meanes we shall fully understand by and by He persecutes David with his tongue and hand too but so privaâ—ely and cunningly that the people remote from the Court could read no such thing but that Sauls tongue was for David and his hand too Nor would they enâ—erâ—aine a thought that Saul the chiefe Master and Dispencer of Justice would do unjustly True indeed it was That Saul had almost tantum non pinned or nailed Davids head and the wall together Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with his javeline a 1 Sam. 19. 10. And it was so violent and sudden for
the Law anciently what proportion the laws have now with this then let the honest Lawyer judge Now we are informed of and resolved in an high point or question who has an obedient ear Who obeys indeed He who disobeys the perverse will of Saul and obeyes the Holy will of GOD This must be our resolution now which was Jonathans then he disobeyed he resisted as some expresse it his Father pleades Davids case and his innocency which vexed Saul not a little as appeared by his Answer for he made reply to that with his Javelin Now Jonathan has a full discovery of that Evill spirit ruling in his Father takes a little lad with him and betakes himselfe to his bowe for Jonathan is allowed the wisdome of the serpent shoots an arrow sends words after the Boy but intends them to Davids ear make speed hast stay not the evil spirit workes effectually in my Father Then he sent back the lad runs to David they imbrace one the other bid farewell then turned back to back Jonathan back to his Fathers Court David hastens forwards and comes to Nob that strong hold we shall come thither anon also Chap. 3. Words and Actions then are compared and weighed with these now and being weighed are found light now as then Now we will looke over what has been said and take the result there from which is briesly this gathered to our hands Sauls words those that were heard abroad were as soft as butter when war was in the heart his actions also those the Common people remote Psal 55. from Court and unacquainted with matters transactions there can take notice of were very lovely full of favour and indeed most transcendent Grace yet were they snares and traps or to expresse it as the Searcher of hearts does very drawne swords This is the Result of all Sauls Words and Actions hitherto the very product the Spirit gives us there-from Now I will compare together Words then and Words now Actions then and Actions now and for the intentions of the heart I will leave them to the world to read for they will be legible by and by The King in the hands of wicked men has given good words so did Saul too The King now by his evill Councell has made so many Declarations of his grace and favour so full of engagements that he is worse then an Infidell that will not beleeve him so they say who what ever they know care not what they say I will entreat but this observe this Story well and we shall never trust bare words no nor the most lovely Actions neither that can be in shew In this Story we have all this most gracious words and most transcendent Acts of Grace yet proved themselves meere traps and snares very drawne swords It is possible now to say no more yet that Acts of meere Right and Common Justice the Acts and Grants of the King have been no other no not even for the continuance of a Parliament may prove as deceitfull now And whether so or not the Court and places there-abouts can more then guesse for the Court is witnesse of as hard dealing from the King against David now as it was in Sauls time against David then Nay to go-on a little in the generall Court City Countrey all now can tell us That as when Sauls words were most like unto oyle and butter most smooth and soft then were the thoughts of his heart most bloudy and treacherous even as drawne swords so now when the Kings-party made some overtures towards a peace when they gave most goodly words as oft times they did then were the most devillish projects hatching and bringing forth to the birth when the wicked made shews of Justice then they plotted against the Just and gnashed upon him with their teeth against all the rules of humanity and justice also when the wicked seemed as Angels of Light then did they carry-on Designes most horrid and hellish as it is at this day But what a good God what a discovering God does Israel serve Who would not serve Him He suffers the wicked to conceive mischiefe to travell with iniquity and then to bring forth falshood He leaves them to Psal 7. 14. their owne Councells to make a pit and dig it deep and then they must fall into the ditch they have made their mischiefe must returne Verse 15. Verse 16. Verse 17. upon their own head and their violent dealing must come downe upon their owne pate proceed I will praise the Lord according to his Righteousnesse and will sing praise unto the Lord most high O that the wicked could consider all this and this which follows Let not him that is dâ—ceived trust in vanity for vanity shall be his recompence Job 15. 31 But I must not stay upon Generalls More particularly Thus Saul commanded it to be said to David then The King delighteth in thee and all his servants love thee he carrieth the same regard to thee as unto his owne childe for thou must be the King Son-in-law The King now hath said as much That he tendered the Parliament and their safety then as his owne safety or the safety of those most neare to him in place and affection And the very next day yes the very next day these lovely words were drawne swords But let words go His Actions before and after were such as if he meant to exceed Saul in loving kindnesses to David he would marry not as Saul his Daughter to David but himselfe to his good people for ever his Kingdome should be his wise he would be eternally theirs so long as this world lasteth So he spake and so he did perhaps heartily intending all good to all his good people But no sooner did his Majesty turne aside and give his Eare to his pernicious Councell but all was turned the cleane contrary way To the ruine of himselfe and his Kingdome Chap. 4. Vile and pernicious Councellours pervert their Masters minde making shewes of much good to his poore people the clean contrary way To the destruction of the King and Kingdome NO say his Majesties most wicked desperate and pernicious Councellours in whose hands he is for thus they say That his Majestie has no Malignants about him none that councell him but for the good of King and Kingdome And that it is so thus it may appeare to the whole world and so they would cast a vaile before the eyes of the multitude First by what his Excellent Majestie has done and by the Acts of most transcendent Grace which has passed his hands Consider on them in order and first what he has done There were vile Councellours set up in high places the vilest men A. Psal 12 8. were exalted and then the wicked walked on every side This his Majestie suffered to be cast into prison and the one of them he suffered to be brought unto the Block Besides he suffered the prison doores to be opened and let
the oppressed go free We will say this onely This was marvellous in our eyes The B. The wise man hath given a double observation upon it and it shal suffice here The righteousnes of the upright shall deliver them but transgressours Pr. 11 6 8. shall be taken in their owne naughtinesse The righteous is delivered out of trouble and the wicked commeth in his stead As he put the wicked downe so at the same time he exalted precious A. men and honourable indeed he set them in high places This was marvellous also in our eyes And we judge not what B. the Councels were and the intentions of the heart in setting-up those so precious men and truly honourable though in the multitude of such Councllours there is safety and to such Councellours Pro. 11. 14. 12. 20. there is joy But we praise God That the snare is broke What snare A great snare the snare of the world the faire offers thereof its Pompe and Glory that snare is broken They were tempted saith the Heb. 11. 37. Spirit with the Glory of the world that 's certaine If stoning could not serve the turne nor sawing asunder neither tempt them with the glory of the world see what that will do It is not possible to withstand that temptation without an Almighty assistance How have the mighty fallen here Alas the humble know full fell The world knowes no other but his owne those that love the world and his glory and are content to live and die with it closest to the heart If the world do conferre any glory which is to guild gold with copper upon the precious and truly honourable in the world it is because they should fall downe and serve the world and blaspheme their God which they will rather die then do though they should be stoned sawne asunder or slaine with the sword for they looke to be exalted in due time and to obtaine a better Resurrection Therefore they will not be servants to men mens lusts not they They are firmly resolved though they might be promoted to great honours and have a house full of silver and gold yet they will not pleasure man and grieve their God His good Subjects of Scotland Rebels some moneths before and A so written upon every Post and Pillar are stiled and enacted Brethren loyall and faithfull Subjects to God and their King The breach was made up and a day of Remembrance commanded and all this by his Majesties command never such an Act of Grace We acknowledge it and blessed be His glorious Name who B made up the breach wide as the Sea caused war to usher-in peace gave his people honey out of that devourer delivered his good people there and here from all the expectation of the enemy from the oppression of his hand and sword of his mouth We praise His glorious Majestie for all this And we do not question how upright the Kings heart stood in that matter because he calls his good people of England Rebels and Traitours now for doing their duty and much lesse in shew and indeed against him then the Scots did and yet they did nothing but what they had warrant to do from the law of Nature and Reason and their Book the Kings Law-Book too His Majesty put down the two Courts as infamous over the Christian A world as ever was or is the Spanish Inquisition the Popes truest Purgatory for these Courts were turned against the Righteous and with such violence and extremity that it was justly accounted the greatest tyranny and feverest kinde of persecution under heaven Whence it came to passe that those Courts stank before David and all Israel There the estates of men were consumed their consciences wracked their persons abased and abused worse then Davids fervants yea more cruelly then will a Mastiffe-Dog touse a poore sheep or lug a swine So and worse then so were the servants of the Lord toused crapped and lugged by the eares In these places they said unto the soule of the Righteous Bow downe that we may go over and he laid his body as the ground and as the street to them that went over g Isa 51. There they gathered themselves together against the soule of the Righteous and condemned the innocent bloud I say the innocent he was the But and the Mark that they bended to he that served God and feared an oath he that lived in all good conscience h Act. 23. he was smitten on the mouth and because he did so even because he was upright in heâ—â—t when the vilest Priests such as made the Offering of the Lord to be abhorted when such as they were purged there Not as the King of Babylon purged those two base persons in the fire i Jer. 29. 22. but purged after the manner of the Court which was to cleare them whom God and His Word condemned These Courts his Majestie hath put downe he has taken those yokes from off the neck He has so and we thank His glorious Majesty for this His transcendent grace and favour to His good people evermore Who intends B. them good and will have good done unto them what ever mans intentions were then or would have done since It is cleare enough That the Kings intentions seduced by evill Counsels were not to disburden his people not to take off their yoke but to make it yet heavier and more to establish the foot of Pride Nor do we judge of the heart now or of the thoughts transactions or discussions of the minde then within his inward closet and privy chamber there we do not judge of these secret talkings and parleys of his minde any farther then as lawfully we may and ought to judge of them now being cast into a faire mould and as his Majestie has given them a true stamp and shape ever since His Majestie has passed an Act against the Bishops Voting in Parliament and more then that too touching that matter And this was A. a very lovely Act indeed Indeed it was and as equitable as ever was any Act in the world B. for enquire what Bishops did there All the mischiefe they could against the LORD CHRIST and His hidden ones Therefore a most equitable Act. We againe and againe thank His glorious Majestie Whose over-ruling hand did all this The King did not do it with a cleare intent thereby to bring glory to God and reliefe to his oppressed people groaning under those Task-masters for his Majestie has made a full Declaration of his minde that way and his people understand it very well Let the Parliament have their will in this also let them take his Bishops said his wicked Councell out of the Court and let them be taken with his Majesties favour and Act of Grace that way But the hand of the Philistines said Saul The Army of the North shall come-up said the Kings evill Councell and over-power the Parliament and undo
all that has been done in favour and honour of David and his Court. It is presumption to judge of the Kings intentions to be so and so bloudy and destructive towards his Parliament and by consequence to his Kingdome when his Words and Actions were so clearly otherwise good pious and most advantagious to King and Kingdome To iudge his intentions now argueth rashnesse headinesse and presumption all three No it does not For we do not iudge of thoughts proiects contrivances B while these are the secret Talkings as was aforesaid and parleys of the minde for this were rashnesse and madnesse both because they are in the dark to us and indiscernable But we may and ought to iudge of them when they are made legible by the hand demonstratively known to the world in full Declarations touching the Army in the North and his Bishops also There are more Acts of transcendent grace yet behinde But I A will summe up all in this one The King has passed an Act for the continuance of a Parliament a fundamentall mercy and such an Act of Grace as never the like Act passed from any Kings hand Yes there has But let that go For we will thank God here B who can make a grand enemy to the Parliament and as great a Traitour to the King and Kingdome Digby I meane not Lord now but Nobile Portentum a Noble Monster in the Heathens account Nequitâ—a sordâ—â—us imbuta Nobitia portenta â—al Mâ—x lib. 3. c. 5. Josh 10. â—2 an active Instrument to work-out this grace and good to the Kingdome We care not what his intentions were too bad and bloudy and so they have declared themselves but we Praise we Blesse we magnifie the LORD Jehovah Who did as great a work at that time in our dayes as he did in Joshuahs day when He made The Sun to stand still upon Gibeon and The Moon in the valley of Aiialon VVe exalt and magnifie this God and so we are resolved to doe while we have any being and not to give any thanke to the kings Councellours and yet we will give the King his due for we say and shall make good what we say had this Act been from the King an Act of Grace there had been grace in it I mean he had given grace unto it by continuing a gracious aspect upon it and his Influence into it seeing it was not imaginable how he could in so doing wrong himselfe or preiudice his prerogative for it had been good for his Kingdom and that was the end then it could not but be good for him But that his People may know and be assured what grace was in that Act of continuing his Parliament the King with-hol is all grace from it Makes it what he could and to his power headlesse and uselesse he takes away all life and power from it so far as was in his power I beleeve the oldest man living never heard of the like of an Act of grace made so gracelesse And yet I think I have read of an Act somewhat like it and that was as bloody an Act I think as ever was done in the world and yet it seemed and carried the face and obtained the opinion in the People a little while of an Act of grace Thus it was Duke D' Alva all the world knew what he was had besieged a Towne in the low-countreys so long that the Inhabitants in extremity treate with him for their lives he shall have a peaceable entrance all the Ammunition and all onely the Inhabitants crave their lives It was granted their lives I meane and the People accept it thankefully as an Act of grace for life is a precious thing When the Conquerour a Tyrant rather was entred the city he keeps the People pent-up still and denies them bread and yet tells them he keeps Covenant with them and keeps himself to the Articles of agreement They have their lives but they shall have no bread for bread that was not expressed in the Covenant No O monstrous But it is boorlesse to cry out and dispute the matter now otherwise I could make this good at large as I shall by and by very briefely That the Conquerour granting them their lives did in the same grant give them bread too But the Lord has Answered this matter by himselfe so I will passe it over and apply it onely telling the Reader this first That this Act of Grace was so gracelesse that it rendered him odious to all people after this and did the King his master Philip of Spaine no small disadvantage too for it lost him a little Kingdom which neither his Sonne nor his Sons son could ever recover againe no not to this day They will not be subject to him who would give them their lives but no bread to sustaine life I will apply it so far as it fits to our purpose Truly this Act of the King which is so extolled is but too like this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mentioned life was granted why then bread too in the 〈◊〉 grant bread is denied a poor People why then life is denied them for they cannot live without bread though I read of a maid that did live without bread or meat and was named Meatlesse it is a loud lie told by a Papist amongst a thousand more after his manner I say life here cannot be preserved in an ordinary way without bread or something like it therefore take away bread you take away life so the King grants an Act for the continuing his Parliament an Act of grace indeed it is which lyes in this included in the same Act a grant of all things which lay in him whereby to make the Parliament succesfull and by necessary consequence himself happy viz. his presence the influence of his very spirits into it his free ascent to the passing all Acts tending to the forementioned end But his Maiesty seduced by evâ—l counsell with drawes all this which is as bread to life as the Soule of a Parliament he withdrawes all and yet this grant before specified must be called an Act of grace No God knows and he knowes and all his people know there is no grace in it at all for he has withdrawne his gracious presence from his Parliament and influence thereunto as aforesaid No his Maiesty did not willnngly withdraw himself his Parliament A â—erced him to do as he did to withdraw from the Tumults about the Court and from the City Take heed what you say God the searcher of hearts â—ears us B what we say and what was spoken in secret is made manifest now and that which was hid is knowne and come abroad and the Parliaments Aâ—â— 8. 17. Righteousnesse touching this imputation and the Cities inâ—â—cency is cleared at this point as the noone-day therefore pray let â—s speake and heare Reason Lesse cannot be said but what his Maiesty is pleased to say he did A not go from his Parliament but was driven so