merrily to the people as he went along by the way and would make them beleeve that he had taken the Edomite to his side and sealed him a Commission because he is affraid of David he tells them more then twice David lay in wait to kill him therefore he tooke the Edomite to his side for who so faithfull as he to defend his master from Davids violence a poor-hunted Partridge or a more Right handed man to execute his masters command against David True it was David never durst stand to it till hee came to Keilah and there had not the Inhabitants proved themselves ingratefull and treacherous he had guarded himselfe and fenced his throat and hazarded Sauls But Saul feared David no more then the Birds of Prey a hunted Partridge that is the expression And kill David that was his charge There is one doubt more and occasions another question Was this Edomite singular or plurall Qu. The singular number sure Doeg was but one But let us note Ans that One is mentioned sometimes not to exclude a second but to imply the first chiefest in place and so more mighty and principall then the second because of his place as Iehoram is said to compell Iudah to commit fornication When Athaliah was as masculine and imperious yea as mischievous that way and yet not named in that verse because shee acted by power from her husband not so cleare to every mans eye And so Doeg the Edomite is mentioned single as if he did all because the chiefest in favour with his King The meaning of the question then is Was there but one Edomite imployed in that war or were there more There were more sure Ans for it is not imaginable that Doeg alone could destroy the City of Priests men women and children there doubtlesse there were more Edomites there or bastard Israelites as Right-men for Sauls service as the word is if men can be Right who are the seed of the Crooked Serpent as Doeg was Nay it is probable there were many in Sauls Camp Right-men Edomites I meane of that generation for thus it is When a Doeg is entertained at Court is favoured there he will work for his Country-men what he can and according to his power that they may have place and respect thereabouts that they may be of use and service when the King shall rise-up against David One question more with a resolution touching the Edomite Saul his master has entertained him Qu. Is there no meanes to be taken whereby he may be made a faithfull servant to Israel No Ans by no meanes What! Qu. not possible to make him a Right-man No Ans not to Israel but to Sauls service he will be right and straight Me thinkes Israel might have dealt with him Qu. as we with Papists bring him to Church might they not have done so Yes Ans and to no purpose at all for he will goe to the house of Abimelech himselfe that is to the Church as we too commonly call it and a mischievous person though he be yet he will sit there close to his solemne service and pretend there he has a vow upon him you cannot worke upon him that way to make him Right for Israel Then try him another way Qu. give him as we to the Papists the Oath of Allegeance sweare him faithfull to God and his King an Oath is a sacred band that will binde him to Israel sure will it not an Oath I meane such a sacred Band Hang him Ans for like the possessed man no Bands will hold him he will breake all Cords such a childe of Belial is he except one and that the Hangman must pluck-up-close to his neck then turne him downe for by no meanes can you make an Edomite stand right to Israel This is very sutable to the time But for the first Questions How farre the Kings power reacheth for the choice of his owne Ministers I leave as in manners I ought to the determination of the High Court which is this That the King must choose such Ministers as his good people may confide in and by no meanes such who are sworne enemies to the peace of the King and prosperity of the Kingdome A mans private judgement may be steeped in his affections he may cleave more in love to a private person then to a whole Kingdome and in choice of persons to places he may stand byassed to his owne will and ends which All Israel a Parliament there cannot doe Therefore it is against the knowne lawes of Israels Kingdome That Israels King should by himself alone make choice of Persons to high place there for it is against the SUPREME LAW the welfare of the People And Saul taking that liberty against that knowne Law had destroyed the Cities of Iudah and had slaine David too had not the Lord interposed His Almighty Arme. To the other which I should not make a question whether by any meanes a Papist may be made serviceable to Israel It is Answered as before by no meanes which man can use You cannot change the Ethiopians Skin not the Leopards spots Ier. 13.23 He will goe to Church as the Edomite to Abimilechs House and yet be mighty to doe mischiefe You may sweare him to the King and Kingdome Bind him with that Sacred Band he will bee willingly bound for he was a reservation Or if you presse him hard hee is informed very well That he cannot be bound to Heretickes as he cals them in any bands you may put bands upon him he will beake them as easily as you can breake burnt Flaxe The Doctrine of his Church and her Lawes written in blood doe absolve and set free This Child of Belial from all bandsand at liberty to doe all manner of mischiefe And so he has done and it is the very purpose of his heart to doe according to the Power in his hand All the mischiefe as his manner is to Israel being the fruitfull Parent of all the Rebellions Treasons Massacres and so forth for there is no end That have beene acted thorow the Christian World as at this day You may then proclaime them Traytors to the Peace and Crowne of the King and Kingdome for so is every Papist said a great States man in our Kingdom holding to the Tenets of the Romish Church Traytors in hand or in heart in action or affection And so said Luther of himself once an Aug. Moncke and of all his fraternity or Brother-hood there Wee are all Men of Blood * Nemo nostrum non erat vir sanguinum si non opete tamen corde Abhorrebam vel ipsum Nomen W. Hus in Galas Cap. 1. p. 15. sayes hee wee hate a true Protestant such an one as Iohn Huss with our heart and we will presecute him with our hand to the death We abhorretheir very Name we would not have a man of that profession to live upon the Earth so
oyle and yet drawn swords as we read But when we see the hand besmeared with bloud then we certainly conclude that the thoughts were of a scarlet colour and this is the sight or prospect we shall take a view of presently A bloudy execution done upon Nob yet bloudy though it be Saul pretends hee does it by helpe of God and the Law by the knowne Lawes of the Kingdome which that we may examine we will handle it not as an execution done but ready to be done else Saul might be said to doe as the Judge at Lidford who hanged a man in the forenoone and then heard his inditement and passed sentence over him in the afternoone not called the knowne Law of the kingdome then Mr. Iueil defence but Lidford Law to this day Saul was not to bad as to do so he hath slaine Abimelech but hee impleaded him first objects against him and heares what hee can say for himselfe Saul hath this to say against him That Abimelech and the son of Iesse Saul meanes David Ob. whom hee names with as little honour as can be were confederate together and had conspired against him 1 Sam. 22.13 Why have ye conspired against me thou and the sonne of Iesse A sore accusation Ans but of no weight validity or strength from Sauls mouth who calls all conspirators who will not shew Saul where David is that so he may shed innocent bloud according to the power in his hands Vers 8. that so he may shed innocent bloud according to the power in his hands Vers 13. All of you have conspired against me But what had the Priest done which might be called a Conspiracy a taking part with David That he should rise against Saul to lye in wait as it is at this day Thus Saul sayes and so he impleads Abimelech In that thou hast given bread Ob. and a sword and hast enquired of God for him We will take the last first Ans enquired of God for David It was the Priests office so to do nor was that the first time that the Priest enquired of the Lord for David Vers 15. nor did the Priest know the second amongst the many thousands of Israel who deserved better from the hands of Saul and all Israel then Dauid did and therefore why might not Abimelech enquire of the Lord for him There is all Reason and Law both that so the Priest should doe enquire of the Lord for David but reason will not serve nor the resolution of the Lord neither The enquiry was saith Iunius about the Shew-bread c Vt cognoseeree an sacros panes tantùm Sacerdotibus concessos gladium semel Deo sacratum ad alios usus transferre fas esset lawfull for the Priests onely to eat and the Sword consecrated to God Whether that or this might be translated unto other uses whereunto no doubt the Priest had full satisfaction That they might In such an extremity David might refresh his hungry soule with that bread and in such a danger which God was privie to hee might take Goliah sword to defend himself therewith and to prevent Saul from seizing upon it first 1 Sam. 21 10. the more easily thereby to further his bloudy designe upon David But yet there is some more question touching the Sword as for the bread it was made for man and not man for bread That is a cleared case from the Lord Christs owne mouth Touching the Sword there is all the question now Saul a King pretends himselfe Master of the same as of Keilah for all the strong holds and ammunition there did belong to Saul they were all his proper goods and therefore Abimelech giving the sword to David he did it that he should use it against Saul to lye in wait So Saul forceth the accusation Whereunto Abimeleth makes a faire and full answer That Saul was no more Lord of the one then of the other he had no more propriety or right in the sword then in the bread nor the one nor the other were Sauls but the Lords laid-up both before the Lord and consecrated to Him But the Lord hath no nead of bread or of a sword His people Israel have need of both and as their need required so Israel might take the Bread thereby to sustaine life and the Sword thereby to defend life David tooke it for that end and according to the minde and will of God whose intent was cleare That Goliabs sword now lawfully wrested out of his hand and in Davids hand then layed up before the Lord should be for the defence of Israel and to fortifie Israel against their enemies to the worlds end And so the case is resolved about Keilah too a City that had gates and bartes not Sauls City now to batter downe though he would presume so farre about Davids eares but His City whose the kingdome was the Lords kingdome and trusted onely to Saul for the defence of Israel and no further And yet that Abimelech may deliver no more to Saul but what is justifiable by the Law of heaven and earth he assureth him that what he sayes is from Gods Mouth for there he enquired and received answer as aforesaid and thereupon his warrant to give David Bread and Sword both Moreover he addes be it far from him 1 Sam. 22.14 the Priest of the Lord to entertaine a disloyall thought against his Master the Lords Anointed enquiring of the Lord for David and giving him bread and a sword he knew David to be a faithfull person none like him in all Sauls house nor more honourable being the Kings Son-in-Law and for any thing else hee knew nothing lesse or more As honest and satisfying an answere had it been spoken to any mans eare but Sauls as ever came from a Priests mouth for it was taken from Gods Mouth but Saul is resolved before hand upon the Question for nothing can satisfie Sauls thirst but Davids bloud and because Abimelech stood in Sauls way and for reliefe of David Saul will have the Priests bloud Vers 16. And the King said thou shalt surely dye Abimelech See! There is an argument Abimelech cannot answere when a man drives furiously onward in a bloudy way neither law nor reason shall stop him nor the Angel with his drawne sword in the way Nay Saul stops not there he speaks more bloudy words yet and will doe as he speakes What I am loth to mention it from the mouth of a King and King of Israel the great Fiductary of the kingdome there I had rather a Philistin said it such an unkingly word so devoid of all reason and humanity but yet Israels King sayes it and we must repeat it after him Thou and all thy fathers house Ah Lord what a bloudy word is this what a bloudy man is that An Evill spirit came upon Saul indeed haunts him still and drives him on Lord deliver us from him for the man is
flie to the Pit He that ruleth over men must be just ruling in the feare of God b 1 Sam. 23.3 Therefore made He thee King over them c 2 Chro. 9.8 Psal 72.2 Wherefore To doe judgement and justice He shall judge THY People with Righteousnesse and THY Poore with Iudgement There is a must and a shall for the greatest King that ever was It is very emphaticall too and as notable Thy People Thy Poore GODS People and GODS Poore must be judged with Righteous Judgement But so it cannot be but by enquiring of The LORD what He saith taking Counsell from His Mouth and from His Law-Booke which the King stands charged to write for himselfe for it must be with him Deut. 17.18.19 and therein be must reade all the dayes of his life that he may learne to feare The LORD his GOD to keepe all the words of the Law and the statutes to doe them This the Parliament doe They enquire of The Lord by prayer and fasting They take direction from His Law-book which is continually with them wherein they reade and whereby they order the great affaires of The Kingdome Great use of a Law-booke and to have it continually with them before their eyes And this is all the Crime that can be objected and proved against them They enquire of The LORD and consult with This Law-booke It is well they doe They can thanke God for that Sauls accusation runs on 2. The Priest has given David Bread The King by his wicked Counsell accuseth his Parliament even so They have given his good People bread that is life in our sense which by a Figure we may call bread They have given a poore dead People life againe and bread to maintaine life They have given we thanke them heartily life to their lawes life to their liberties life to the soule of their life to their Religion and this they had not done but by enquiring of the LORD and doing all by Statute Law and this we call bread There has been something like this bread given to the People Shew bread rather bread in shew stone indeed and something they had given them like a fish but indeed a Serpent Now the Kings good People will desire no more of their King but that he would give his People Bread bread under this figure which we may call life or bread indeed and properly so called which more then too cruelly was and is denyed to David The third charge followes and that is grievous 3. And a sword sayes Saul then That seemes to be the quarrell now and but seemes that the Sword Forts Castles Townes Ships Ammunition of the Kingdome all which we understand by the Sword is put into Davids hand Trusty welbeloved and faithfull Well and well indeed may we poore people say that the Sword is given into Davids hand the Parliaments hand for they will manage it for our good to defend us and offend the Philistines The Parliament will not cut our throats we are very assured and confident thereof But the Edomite wee shall know him anon if wee know him not yet would have cut our throats before this time all their throats that had their hand with David had he had the Sword delivered into his hand We can confide in none but David no wise man will blame us for him we know a man after Gods owne heart and the Edomite we know and shall know him better anon a Right man for he is the right hand of the Devill We are glad that the Sword is in Davids hand But yet this was charged against the Priest then and the Parliament now that David had the sword And what shall I say to this whereunto GOD Nature and Law speakes Reason and more that so it ought to be the Sword ought to be given into Davids hand a faithfull Man in whom the people may confide A Man will trust no other in shutting-in the windowes doores and gates of his house great Reason there should be the same care had about the great house and Trust of the Kingdome the frontier-Towns there But why given out of his Majesties hand and given into Davids hand Because the Sword was never in the Kings hand as his proper right there any more then the Sword was in Sauls hand as his proper goods there Therefore we speake not properly given-out The Sword is Israels Sword the Common Trust of the Kingdome belonging indeed to the great Fiduciary there and yet is the Sword not out of the Kings hands but given into Davids hands for a second Reason 2. Because as the Edomite was nearest to Sauls hand and heart too at that time So the Papist is so neare to the Kings heart now that he is as deare to him as he is neare even as his Right Arme and Right Eye eternally his for ought we can gather from his writ I will conclude this with the words of an honest Servant to an overbearing Master I will serve you Sir if you wil serve The Lord. You may command me when God commands you I will heartily obey your commands when you shall so obey Gods commands * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The head hath an Head All things shall be done as you will have it But you must command as God will have it Ignatius to a Priest Chryso I pray you heartily give me leave to be honest and faithfull If you will not so I will be whether you will or no. Doe you what you will I will do what I ought No man can dislike this except Saul and his Edomite I need say no more in a case which is so fully opened and cleared that all the Malignants in the world shall not be able to darken it to the worlds end I will not say looke upon Mr. Pryn's booke I will name him for honour sake and to spight the Devil reade him or choose you whether you will or not we must say Blessed be God for His servant who has stood-up in the gap by the power of His might and held up His hand for him ever since against the Mighty Blessed be God But notwithstanding all this is cleared to be all Truth Reason and Law and more yet and that is most of all a Command for all this the Parliament has done from Gods mouth too Yet such Evill Counsels over-rule the King and the case that he does now as Saul did then and much more kils the Priests and destroyes Cities So far as his Arme can reach he has overthrowne those Tunc vere victus quando tot vicis prudentes Walfing Edw. 2. p. â—5 whose hand is with David therein giving himself the greatest overthrow for no such victory against the King as for him to have victory against his good people as was said of Edward the second overcomming his Parliament once and destroying himselfe for ever Thus Saul did in his dayes thus and more the King seduced by Evill Counsell and acted by evill instruments
does in these dayes as followes and what Saul did first Saul was Davids Lord on earth but he hunts after Davids soule that hee might not live upon the ground Saul is Davids King and Davids persecutor The Priests King and the Priests murtherer by the hand of an Edomite Ah Lord who can expresse the miserable plight and how dolefull the condition is the evill spirit has driven Saul into He is Israels King and he is smiting Israels City The great Fiduciary of the Kingdome and the greatest Traytor there This tells us what is done now David is persecuted now and his King seduced by Edomites Davids adversaries persecutes him because who so faithfull as he in all the Kingdome A defendor of the Faith and by his evill Counsell a destroyer of the Faith A maintainer of the Gospel in profession and a persecutor of the faithfull Ministers publishers of the same the Messengers of the Church and the glory of Christ The great Fiduciary of the Kingdome yet seduced by an evill Councell he betrayes that great Trust Englands King and Englands destroyer The Lord of their Cities and waster of the same Are not these grievous words Yes they must be so plaine Truth direct and home what expectation of any good but from such-like-words If ever the King come to himselfe finde himselfe lost for murtherers have stolne him away then such words as these will be to his heart and may serve to usher-in Pardon peace and comfort for the sowrer the herbes the sweeter the Passeover whereas pleasing words from vile flatterers his Court Chaplaines have wounded their Master and left him more then halfe dead Such words as these may kill him out-right and by Gods grace quicken him againe to a life indeed I am glad I have spoken for first I have said no more but what is already told in Gath and published in the streets of Aschalon Secondly what if it were not told by me nor as aforesaid yet all created strength cannot stop the mouth of blouds so loud it cries Irelands bloud what an Ocean of bloud is there Cyciters bloud Burminghams bloud Banburies bloud shedding of this bloud was counted a fine device as Bristols bloud intended to be shed Oxfords bloud Bloud here and there and everywhere whereto the hand could reach O what a voice is here as the voice of many waters or Thunders Is there a voice that can out-cry I meane cry louder to Heaven and in the Eares of the Lord then can the voice of blouds yes the voice of bloud cries louder then the bloud of Abel or the blouds shed from righteous Abel unto this day and there is the hope of Israel concerning their King The voice of the bloud of sprinkling Heb. 12.24 that speakes better things then that of Abel Better things that cryed from the earth for a curse upon the earth and Cain there Gen. 4.12 This cries in Heaven for mercy to such sinners on earth who can say not with Cain My punishment but my sin is greater then I can beare yet not too great for Christ to beare a Redeemer that is strong a Saviour to the utmost There is hope in Israel concerning that And here is ground of hope too because these Stephens the slain all the day long can pray for their King all the day long crying with a loud voice not more for themselves at such a time then for their King saying Lord lay not this sinne to our Kings charge Amen Amen CHAP. 4. Quaeries touching the Edomite whether by the knowne Lawes of Israels Kingdome Saul might entertaine him in his Court grant him a Commission to smite a City of Priests whether any reason for that whether single or plurall and whether by any possible meanes an Edomite may be made serviceable to Israel How it relates to the present exemplifying the History of our Time VVHy does King Saul take an Edomite into his Court Qu. to be an Officer there It is answered in effect before Ans Saul is King and he knew himselfe so to be Qu. and will chuse his owne Officers may he not No indeed Ans he may not unlesse it be to be his Heardsman and there should be caution and some consultation about that too Questionlesse he must not chuse a servant to be chiefe in his house to transact the great affaires of his Kingdome there without the allowance and consent of All Israel because Saul does not chuse for himselfe but for the whole Kingdome But it is written Ob. Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite Yes Ans that is most true it is the charge of the Lord and we have the Reason Deut. 23.8 For he is thy brother Nor shalt thou ab or an Egyptian because thou wast a stranger in his land What is the meaning of this This we must not be unnaturall nor must we forget old favours But it does not follow from hence I hope that therefore Saul might take an Edomite make him a Chiefe Ruler in his house or that he might put considence in an Egyptian for the charge is contrary And if Saul will entertaine an intimacy and familiarity with an Edomite an old adversary to Israel as we have heard and seene and shall make it more legible yet It does plainly argue 3 Sect. Saul to be no true friend to Israel Sauls heart cannot be upright toward Israel when it cleaves to Israels adversary in love He cannot heartily desire the peace of Israel and heartily love an enemy to that peace I pray let us aske some more questions touching the Edomite I will answer by the Booke then good Law and Reason both Why did Saul make the Edomite Generall in this warre against David Qu. Saul gives someanswer to that with a little Reason Ans Because his sonne Ionathan stirred-up David to lye in wait for Saul as at this day 1. Sam. 22.8 As at this day indeed Qu. But this answer makes us more unresolved then before for all the world knowes that Ionathan was a good man and David as good as he besides we finde David fleeing away from the face of Saul like a Partridge and Saul hunting him like a Dog Let us heare Reason I pray you Was it not That the Edomite might recover the sword our of Davids hand No no that could not be it Ans for when Saul speakes out his minde freely as sometimes he did for a wicked heart will discover it selfe amongst his Servants he does not bid them fetch the sword from David but kill him And Saul spake to Ionathan and to all his servants 1 Sam. 19.1 that they should kill David It is Davids life not the sword that is aimed at And the Edomite was a Right man for that service for he was a mighty man mighty to do mischiefe and skilfull to destroy Whom David and All them that had an hand with David That is the direct Answer Saul indeed spake
fac totum Lord Do-all as was said before But the Edomite has smitten Cities and burnt Townes They stinke before David and all Israel now and they must needs know it that Israel will in good time rise up all as one man to thrust them out of their land It is good for Israel that the Edomite has dealt so hatefully with them wasting their Cities and slaughtering their people VVe would not lift up a sword against the Edomite to drive them out of the land without gaine of money not yet which the heathen in ancient time and now scorne to take fighting against Israel The time will come very shortly Iudges 5.19 after the Edomite has vexed us a little more that we shall willingly offer our selves and jeopard our lives to the death to be avenged of the Edomite for our two eyes he would have put them both out our burnt Cities and wasted Townes It was commonly said that there never were any VVolves in England for that the Land would not beare them Yes there were VVolves in England sayes Camerartus Cap. 28. and the Land yeelded the Wolves good and cleane feeding the best Mutton in all the Country they feasted upon it every Night This Man lost 20 Sheepe in a Night another as many more Grievous Wolves indeed The People then did not stand looking one upon the other Complaining of their losses Nor did they commit the slaughter of these Wolves so grievous to their Shepheards Those undertakers who could looke to their owne safety sleepe all Night leave the Wolves to their Prey and take gaine of money in the Morning No it was not so every Man stood-up for himself To keep the Wolfe from his Doore and from his Fold Tooke his weapon in his hand and so pursu'd the Wolves And it was gaine sufficient to rid themselves of them and secure their Folds And so they did their worke quickly being every Mans worke and bestirring themselves about it Only this help was granted them That Offendors so be they were not Murtherers Capitall Offendors should have their lives granted them and their liberty upon Condition That they would bring in so many wolves thier heads or their Tongues else the People could not believe they were killed By this meanes there was a cleane riddance of Wolves untill this day For ought I know had not the VVolves been after their manner grievous The Land had beene pestered and plagued with them as at this day Blessed be GOD say I That VVolves are grievous whether they have foure feet or but two they are wolves and grievous Blessed be God for that That the Prelates hands were so heavy Their Yoke so unsupportable Their Orders Their Oaths their Courts so vexatious mischievous and unsufferable Blessed be GOD That Clergy and Laity Ministers and people both did groane for anguish of Spirit and Cruell Bondage under those Taskmasters doing the worke of an IMPERIOUS WHORISH WOMAN Ezek. 16. I verily believe we shall never see Prelate more in England I say Prelate A Diotrephes I meane such as our Bishops were Therefore the Name though a good Name is so hatefull 3 Iohn 9. because so abused so ill Answered who love to have the preheminence honour amongst Men and therefore cannot love the LORD JESUS CHRIST We shall never have such Bishops againe That word will please best they were so grievous once Sith they were such grievous Thornes by nature it is well they were so indeed That the Thorne was thrust home And so for these Edomites too They will make their owne savour to bee abhorred in the Eyes and Nostrills of all Israel They are about their worke as fast as they can Blessed be GOD for it say I for when there is no Peace to him that goes forth nor to him that comes in But great vexation shall be upon all the Inhabitants of the Countries What then Why then wolves are grievous and then let the Country-Men alone every one will stand in his place The Man and his VVife both Sonne and Daughter also every one with their weapon in their hand what it is I cannot tell but what comes next to hand that shall be a weapon good enough for indignation against the Edomite and his oppression which makes a Wise man mad Eccles 77. will frame him a weapon sooner then all the Smiths forges in the Towne or City Is it a discouragement thinke you That their Armour is taken from them None at all Courage Zeale for GOD hatred of the Edomite Love to their gaine and ease I should not put that last all this is Armour of proof the best Armour in the World Doubtlesse this was good to Israel even to feele the weight of the Edomites hand and the Mischiefe of his Counsell That Israel might have no communion with him ever after It was good for Israel then to be so wasted by Edomites so it is with Israel at this day for Israel will deale with Papists as with their sinnes give entertainment to them put them into Office suffer them to beare rule and sway all there as you heard and their hearts to cleave to them in love even so with their sinnes till they see and feele what mischiefe their sins have done them what Lords or lusts they have served and so what Fightings they have caused without what feare within And when they see and feele all this then they can abhorre their Sins and themselves for giving such loving entertainment to their Sins so long Israel must feel first and their Adversaries must be suffered to deale proudly To prepare Instruments of death and then to thrust them home even unto the heart of Israel Then Israel will open their eyes and look about them and not before To conclude The Edomites must be as pricking Briars and grieving Thornes before they shall be thrust away They must bee not in some but in all places as evening VVolves before every Mans hand will be thrust out against them to thrust them to the heart They must stinke before David and all Israel and then Israel will rise up all as one man to thrust them out who say of Israels Kingdome at this day as in ancient dayes Rase it rase it even to the ground But now here is a strange sight Though the Edomite has dealt so cruelly with Israel as we heard though he has laid waste Israels City and dwelling place yet Israel neighbouring thereabouts come-not-in to helpe their Brethren under the hands of a cruell Lord and a bloody Edomite VVhat might hold backe the neighbouring Israelite from comming-in to succour their poore Brethren That is the question and I desire heartily to be understood in it I shall not question Why it was so long ere the Tribes came-all-in to deliver David for then I should question the wisedome of God wherein I am fully satisfied and do thinke I shall be able by the Grace of God to satisfie others in that point and to give excellent
ENGLANDS SECOND Alarm to VVar Against the Beast Saul with his Edomite has shed blood to his power He smites Israels City and destroyes his owne house overcame his People once and overthrew himselfe for ever It relates to what is done now Grave questions touching the Edomite his admission to Court and into office there how it relates to Papists now He has a Commission to destroy a City of Priests which he does with an utter destruction Excellent Reasons why The Lord suffered such a destruction to be executed upon Israel then And why he suffers the same now And why by an Edomites hand then and now Lament 4.21 Rejoyce and be glad It is a bitter mockery i.e. weepe and howle O Daughter Edom The Cup also shall passe thorow unto thee Thou shalt be drunken and shalt make thy selfe naked Isa 49.25.26 For thus saith The LORD The prey of the Terrible shall be delivered I will contend with him that contendeth with Thee I will feed them that spoile Thee with their owne flesh and they shall be drunken with their owne blood as with sweet wine LONDON Printed for Thomas Vnderhil in the second yeare of the Beasts wounding warring against The Lamb and those that are with Him Called Chosen and Faithfull 1643. ENGLANDS ALARM TO VVar against the Beast SECT II. THe Edomite is Sauls Scout now and his Generall in the Field anon Davids enemy alwaies The Priests accuser but can charge him with no more but what was his office to do therefore not so impudent as are the Edomites in our dayes Saul impleads the Priest gives him leave to make answer for himselfe which he doth clearly and fully and then is destroyed he and a City of Priests man woman and childe there and beast also This relates fully to our times Quaeries touching the Edomite Sauls taking him into his Court assigning him to office there and giving him commission to smite a City of Priests Quaeries touching that miserable destruction Gods judgements secret but just and righteous upon Ireland and England Yet the mischiefe done by man shall returne upon his owne head and his violent dealing upon his owne pate CHAP. I. David comes to Nob Doeg spies him there hastens to Saul tels him all his observations yet can lay nothing to the Priests charge but what was the Priests duty to doe Doeg tels truth yet loved lying The Edomites now more shamelesse DAvid comes to Nob to Abimelech the Priest there 1 Sam. 21. intreats a courtesie of him and the Priest does him a Hawfull favour whereof we shall heare more anon Doeg the Edomite Sauls chiefe Heardsman was there for Saul had a Scout to spy every where but none did his master better service to Sauls liking then Doeg did he was an Edomite that I would have noted and now being in Israels Land he was of his Religion too for that is a thing easily taken up and being at Nob has a faire pretence for that also as you may reade Religion called him thither and held him there a pretence only and no more for that bloudy wretch mindes not Religion not the solemne Acts thereabout he mindes only all that which passed betwixt Abimeleth and David that so he might doe mischiefe a mighty man that way And now having fed his eye and filled his mouth with observations hee hastened to his master Saul 1 Sam. 22.6 findes him in Gibeah under a tree in Ramah having his speare in his hand and all his servants standing about him It is worth the noting by the way what mischiefe this evill and perverse will actuated by his evill spirit has done unto Saul It had drowne him from his owne house and Court where he might have rested in peace with his servants about him he is now even Saul the King under a Tree with a speare in his hand when no enemy is neere him but himselfe and his evill spirit which he entertaines and hugges as his best friend though the worst enemy to Saul next to himselfe and the peace of the kingdome It is a true saying A man findes no such enemy in the world as he may finde himselfe to be to himselfe Chrysost The Greek Father has a full Treatise upon that matter I returne to the Tree againe where Doeg found his master him that had lost himselfe and heard him complaine bitterly to his servants That they had all conspired against him Why because they had not yet betrayed innocent David and delivered him as a prey up unto their masters hands This Saul calls a conspiracy with his sonne Ionathan a good man who withholds his fathers hands as long as he could from shedding innocent bloud and does according to Gods Commandement his utmost to deliver the innocent This Saul calls a stirring up his servant he meanes David against him Verse 9. to lye in wait as at this day It followes Then answered Doeg The Edomite takes the words out of Sauls mouth as spoken to himselfe they were very pleasing to him and answers before he was asked for sure Saul does not question the Edomites readinesse in that service But he answers assureth Saul that hee is none of those conspirators with Ionathan in behalfe of David not he and he gives good testimony thereof for he tells all that which passed betwixt Abimelech and David there he tells all just as David knew it would be when he heard that Doeg the Edomite had spied him there Verse 22. We may observe Davids Psalme touching this matter and by the way how well fitted a cruell master is with a bloudy servant And so let it passe Psal 52. noting only this in this place and touching that Edomite how Doeg impleads Abimelech and what he layes to his charge he tells all and yet he tels nothing at all but what stands upon everlasting record to the Edomites shame and the Priests glory for this he sayes I saw the sonne of Iesse he meanes David but speakes as contemptibly of him as he thought fit at that time yet not so wickedly as the Edomites now adayes call David for they call him by as vile a name as David vile in his owne eyes but the more pretious in Gods eyes cals himselfe a dog I saw the sonne of Iesse come to Nob to Abimelech there Well 1 Sam. 22.9 whither should David goe persecuted by a cruell Lord but to a good Priest for direction from Gods mouth there was no hurt but good in all that The Priest enquired of the Lord for him It was well he did for hee did but his duty and gave David bread The Priest was bound to doe as much to his enemy much more to David for who so faithfull as David in all the kingdome Nay had he not done it though sacred bread he had destroyed David as bloudy men have done in Oxford denying the hungry soule bread there and suffering them to dye for want of water And gave David the sword of Goliab
said Luther having his eyes shut up and living in Monkery Why then when they are declared to bee so So Rebellious to the Lawes of the King of Heaven So Trayterous to the Crowne of the King and Kingdome Let it bee done unto him according to the Judgement of our Law The Hangman must doe his Office see what that cord will doe To the other Questions Wherefore the King taketh the Edomites Atheists and Papists Davids Enemies all To his side Why his heart cleaveth to such Enemies as these in love His Answer is advising with pernicious Counsellors in whose hand he is as Sauls was Because he is perswaded These are Men faithfull to his Person and Right for his Service so they are indeed and will defend him from David who as he seems to say lyes in wait for him as it is at this day and as David lay in wait for Saul in those dayes So we may mocke men but God will not be mocked It were endlesse and needlesse to tell stories touching this matter how Right-handed-men Papists have beene to their Kings and their Kingdomes in all Ages Thank Master Prynne I will name him againe being resolved to anger the Divell and all his Bishops he has told us enough and abundantly satisfied us at this point I proceed Saul may say David lay in wait to take away his life therefore he tooke the Edomite to his side to defend him from Davids sword when the truth was Saul persecuted David thorough the Thousands of Israel and that he might doe to David according to all the desire of his soule he tooke the Edomite to his side a Mighty Adversary to Israel and as Skilfull to destroy The very same Reason and no other now wherefore the King in the hands of bloudy and pernicious Adversaries takes Atheists and Papists to him now why he cleaves to them in love Because they are mighty to doe mischiefe skilfull to shed bloud as is legible now in Ireland and England both But this we must note Though Sauls excuse for taking to himselfe such a guard and such a Captaine over them was not so specious as it was ridiculous yet there was bloodshed in good earnest which was charged heavily upon Saul for it ruined him and all his house and all together as we reade We must apply this now and approve our selves faithfull to the Soul of our King That his Conscience may speak-out before it be too late and he speechlesse then commonly the Conscience speakes loudest That the Conscience may speak-out and in season we apply and reade on So will the bloud-shed in Ireland and England by the Edomites in both places bee charged upon the King whose servants they are and whose Commission they have such a pernicious Counsell he has Turne thou and fall upon the Priest and people all whose hand is with David and the Edomite turned c. This is the Edomites Commission now against all that have an hand with David And therefore all the Bloud they have shed there or here shall be charged upon the King Not the bloud of Ireland sure Ob. not a drop Yes every drop Ans though it be an Occan a. He called them Rebels Ob. and caused them to be proclaimed so in forty Papers at least and Rebels with an accent We remember some such matter Ans and as it harpened saw the Proclamation but it was not hearty if so then not onely the Publique Cryer but every Post and Pillar had proclaimed them Rebels for so the Kings best Subjects were proclaimed the yeare before We understand a The bloud a Ruler commands to be shed or suffers to be shed The Lord chargeth upon the Rulers score Thou hast killed 2 Sam. 12.9 2 Kings 21.19 well when a thing is done heartily for then the whole Land shall ring of it every City and Towne there every Church and Chappell nor so onely Stockes and Stones shall be taught to speake and to proclaime Rebels so good Subjects were proclaimed Rebels Rebels indeed as those in Ireland not so proclaimed but coldly and faintly God He knowes His Majesty made offer to goe himselfe and fight with the Rebels B. his stomack did so rise against them We remember his Secretary wrote some such matter A. but the Secretary knew the stomack of his wicked Counsell rose against Hull and was cager upon that place to take the Ammunition thence which they would have had first and have gone to suppresse the Rebels afterwards we remember this very well And his Majesty sayes his soule bleedeth over the bloudshed in Ireland B. We doe not certainly know what his Majesty sayes A. for we cannot thinke that we reade his words His Secretary has told us so much and truly I can forbeare him no longer he is one of the vilest Hypocrites in all the world one of the vile Counsellours sure who perswaded the King to intercept the provision of Cloathes and other things sending over to a poore peeled naked people and then would make us beleeve They pirty the peoples nakednesse and their soules bleed over their misery The Kings party make all supplyes over to the Rebels there to make them the more able for the shedding of more bloud and then tells us The Kings heart bleeds over the bloodshed there They call them Rebels there and call them over hither to do the like execution here and here they doe it with all their might and yet the Secretary tels us The Kings soule bleeds over this bloudshed O hellish blasphemy horrible hypocrisie If the Secretaries bloud and all the bloud that runnes in the veins of that Hellish Counsell about his Majesty were shed it would not redeeme the wrong they have done to the King their Master I doe not adde and the Kindome by these notorious Blasphemies Contradictions Remonstrances and Contra-Remonstrances declaring one thing with the Tongue and then the contrary with the Hand so making us beleeve That the King their Master is as one of them Obeb 11. which we tremble to think-of as notorious an Hypocrite as was he wee have often read of and we have never read the like till this day whose foot stood in the path of the destroyer did drive-on furiously there weeping all along as he went That is the expression Jer. 41.6 as if his soule had bled over the bodies which he had slaine when yet he went-on furiously resolved to slay more and so many he had slaine that he has filled a great Pit with the slame GOD beholds all this and will require it Rebels in Ireland howsoever proclaimed against for fashion sake are the Kings good Subjects here helping on the Designe And they who opposed their Bloody Designes here and there not in designe onely but in execution are called Traytors and Rebells both and all heartily Here is a double Iniquity We do not pray for we deprecat against the Judgement but the Lord lookes upon this and