at these errors of parents loue when the that so holily iudged Israel all his life misiudged of his owne sonnes IT was Gods ancient purpose to raise vp a King to his people How doth he take occasion to performe it but by the vnruly desires of Israel euen as we say of humane proceedings that ill manners beget good lawes That Monarchy is the best forme of gouernment there is no question Good things may be ill desired so was this of Israel If an itching desire of alteration had not possessed them why did they not rather sue for a reformation of their gouernors then for a change of gouernment Were Samuels sonnes so desperately euill that there was no possibilitie of amendment Or if they were past hope were there not some others to haue succeeded the iustice of Samuel no lesse then these did his person What needed Samuel to be thrust out of place What needed the ancient forme of administration to be altred He that raised vp their Iudges would haue found time to raise them vp Kings Their curious and inconstant new-fanglenes will not abide to stay it but with an heady importunitie labours to ouer-hasten the pace of God Where there is a setled course of good gouernment howsoeuer blemished with some weaknesses it is not safe to be ouer-forward to a change though it should be to the better He by whom Kings raigne saies they haue cast him away that he should not raigne ouer them because they desire a King to raigne ouer them Iudges were his own institutioÌ„ to his people as yet Kings were not after that Kings were setled to desire the gouernment of Iudges had bin a much more seditious inconstancy God hath not appointed to euery time place those formes which are simply best in themselues but those which are best to them vnto whom they are appointed which we may neither alter till he begin nor recall when he hath altred THIS busines seemed personally to concerne Samuel yet he so deales in it not as a party not as a iudge of his owne case but as a Prophet of God as a freind of his opposite He prayes to God for aduise He fore-tells the state and courses of their future King Wilfull men are blinde to all dangers are deafe to all good counsells Israel must haue a King though they pay neuer so deare for their longing The vaine affectation of conformitie to other Nations ouercomes all discouragements there is no readier way to error then to make others examples the rule of our desires â—â—â—nctions If euery man haue â—â—ot grounds of his owne whereon to stand there can be no stabilitie in his resolutions or proceedings SINCE then they choose to haue a King God will choose the King which they shall haue The kingdome shall begin in Beniamin which was to indure in Iuda It was no probabilitie or reason this first King should proue well because he was abortiue their humor of innovation deserued to bee punished with their owne choise Kish the father of Saul was mighty in estate Saul was mighty in person ouer-looking the rest of the people in stature no lesse then he should do in dignitie The senses of the Israelites could not but be well pleased for the time howsoeuer their hearts were afterwards when men are carried with outward shews it is a signe that God means them a delusion How far God fetches his purposes about The asses of Kish Sauls father are strayed away What is that to the newes of a kingdom God layes these small accidents for the ground of greater designes The asses must be lost none but Saul must goe with his fathers seruant to seeke them Samuel shall meet them in the search Saul shall be premonished of his insuing royalty Litle can we by the beginning of any action guesse at Gods intention in the conclusion OBEDIENCE was a fit entrance into soueraingty The seruice was homely for the son of a great man yet he refuseth not to goe as a fellow to his fathers seruant vpon so meane a search The disobedient and scornefull are good for nothing they are neither fit to be subiects nor gouernors Kish was a great man in his country yet he disdaineth not to send his son Saul vpon a thrifty errand neither doth Saul plead his disparagement from a refusall Pride and wantonnesse haue marred our times Great parents count it a disreputation to imploy their sonnes in courses of frugalitie their pampred children think it a shame to do any thing and so beare themselues as those that hold it the onely glory to be either idle or wicked NEITHER doth Saul goe fashionably to worke but does this seruice hartily painfully as a man that desires rather to effect the command then please the commander Hee passed from Ephraim to the land of Shalisha from Shalisha to Salim from Salim to Iemini whence his house came from Iemini to Zuph not so much as staying with any of his kinred so long as to vittaile himselfe He that was afterward an ill King approued himselfe a good sonne As there are diuersitie of relations and offices so there is of dispositions those which are excellent in some attaine not to a mediocritie in other It is no arguing from priuate vertues to publique from dexteritie in one station to the rest A seuerall grace belongs to the particular cariage of euery place whereto we are called which if we want the place may well want vs. THERE was more praise of his obedience in ceasing to seek then in seeking he takes care lest his father should take care for him that whilst hee should seeme officious in the lesse he might not neglect the greatest A blinde obedience in some cases doth well but it doth farre better when it is led with the eyes of discretion otherwise we may more offend in pleasing then in disobeying GREAT is the benefit of a wise and religious attendant such a one puts vs into those duties and actions which are most expedient and least thought of If Saul had not had a discreet seruant he had returned but as wife as hee came now hee is drawne in to consult with the man of God and heares more then he hoped for Saul was now a sufficient iourney from his fathers house yet his religious seruant in this remotenesse takes knowledge of the place where the Prophet dwells and how honorably doth hee mention him to his Master Behold in this Citie is a man of God and he is an honorable man all that he saith commeth to passe Gods prophets are publique persons as their function so their notice concernes euery man There is no reason God should abate any of the respect due to his Ministers vnder the Gospell St Pauls suite is both vniuersall and euerlasting I beseech you brethren know them that labour amongst you THE cheife praise is to be able to giue good aduise the next is to take it Saul is easily induced to condiscend He whose curiositie led him
the feast he honors him with the cheife seat he reserues a select morsell for him hee tells him ingenuously the newes of his insuing soueraigntie On whom is set the desire of all Israel is it not vpon thee and thy fathers house Wise and holy men as they are not ambitious of their owne burden so they are not vnwilling to be eased when God pleaseth to discharge them neither can they enuie those whom God lifteth aboue their heads They make an Idoll of honor that are troubled with their owne freedome or grudge at the promotion of others DOVBTLES Saul was much amased with the strange salutation and newes of the Prophet and how modestly doth he put it off as that which was neither fit nor likely disparaging his Tribe in respect of the rest of Israel his fathers familie in respect of the Tribe and himselfe in respect of his fathers familie neither did his humilitie stoope below the truth For as Beniamin was the yongest sonne of Israel so he was now by much the least Tribe of Israel they had not yet recouered that vniuersall slaughter which they had receiued from the hands of their brethren whereby a Tribe was almost lost to Israel yet euen out of the remainder of Beniamin doth God choose the man that shall command Israel out of the rubbish of Beniamin doth God raise the throne That is not euer the best and fittest which God chooseth but that which God chooseth is euer the fittest the strength or weaknes of meanes is neither spurr nor bridle to the determinate choices of God yea rather he holds it the greatest proofe of his freedome and omnipotencie to aduance the vnlikeliest It was no hollow and fained excuse that Saul makes to put of that which hee would faine enioy and to cause honor to follow him the more eagerly It was the sincere truth of his humilitie that so deiected him vnder the hand of Gods prophet Faire beginnings are no found proofe of our proceedings and ending well How often hath a bashfull childhood ended in an impudency of youth a strict entrance in licentiousnes early forwardnes in Atheisme There might be a ciuill meeknes in Saul true grace there was not in him they that be good beare more fruit in their age SAVL had but fiue pence in his purse to giue the Prophet The Prophet after much good cheere giues him the kingdome he bestowes the oyle of royall consecration on his head the kisses of homage vpon his face and sends him away rich in thoughts and expectation and now least his astonishment should end in distrust he settles his assurance by fore-warnings of those euents which he should finde in his way He tells him whom he shall meet what they shall say hovv himselfe shall be affected that all these and himselfe might be so many witnesses of his following coronation euery word confirmed him For well might he thinke He that can foretell me the motions and words of others cannot faile in mine especially when as Samuel had prophesied to him he found himselfe to prophesie His prophesying did enough foretell his kingdom No sooner did Samuel turne his backe from Saul but God gaue him another heart lifting vp his thoughts and disposition to the pitch of a King The calling of God neuer leaues a man vnchanged neither did God euer imploy any man in his seruice whom he did not inable to the worke hee set him especially those whom he raiseth vp to the supply of his owne place and the representation of himselfe It is no maruell if Princes excell the vulgar in gifts no lesse then in dignitie Their crownes and their hearts are both in one and the same hand If God did not adde to their powers as well as their honors there would be no equalitie The Inauguration of SAVL GOD hath secretly destined Saul to the kingdome it could not content Israel that Samuel knew this the lots must so decide the choice as if it had not beene predetermined That God which is euer constant to his owne decrees makes the lots to finde him out whom Samuel had annointed If once wee haue notice of the will of God we may be confident of the issue There is no chance to the Almighty euen casuall things are no lesse necessarie in their first cause then the naturall So farre did Saul trust the prediction and oyle of Samuel that he hides him among the stuffe He knew where the lots would light before they were cast This was but a modest declination of that honor which hee saw must come His very withdrawing shewed some expectation why else should hee haue hid himselfe rather then the other Israelites yet could he not hope his subducing himselfe could disappoint the purpose of God He well knew that hee which found out and designed his name amongst the thousands of Israel would easily finde out his person in a tent When once we know Gods decree in vaine shall wee striue against it Before we know it it is indifferent for vs to worke to the likeliest I cannot blame Saul for hiding himselfe from a kingdome especially of Israel Honor is heauy when it comes vpon the best termes How should it be otherwise when all mens cares are cast vpon one but most of all in a troubled estate No man can put to sea without danger but he that launcheth out in a tempest can expect nothing but the hardest euent such was the condition of Israel Their old enemy the Philistims were stilled with that fearefull thunder of God as finding what it was to warre against the Allmighty There were aduersaries enow besides in their borders It was but an hollow truce that was betwixt Israel and their heathenish neighbours and Nahash was now at their gates Well did Saul know the difference betweene a peacefull gouernment and the perilous and wearisome tumults of warre The quietest throne is full of cares but the perplexed of dangers Cares dangers droue Saul into this corner to hide his head from a crowne These made him chuse rather to lye obscurely among the baggage of his tent then to sit gloriously in the throne of State This hiding could doe nothing but show that both he suspected lest he should be chosen and desired he should not be chosen That God from whom the hills and the rocks could not conceale him brings him forth to the light so much more longed for as he was more vnwilling to be seene and more applauded as he was more longed for Now then when SAVL is drawne forth in the midst of the eager expectation of Israel modestie and goodlinesse shew'd themselues in his face The prease cannot hide him whom the stuffe had hid As if he had bin made to be seene he ouerlookes all Israel in height of stature for presage of the eminence of his estate from the shoulders vpward was he higher then any of the people Israel sees their lots are fallne vpon a noted man one whose person shewed he was borne to be
and if his heart had not bin more false then either of them neither of them had bin so grosse in their falshood If hypocrisie were not either foolish or impudent she durst not show her head to a Seer of God Could Saul thinke that Samuel knew of the asses that were lost and did not know of the oxen and sheep that were spared Could he foretell his thoughts when it was and now not know of his open actions Much lesse when we haue to doe with God himselfe would dissimulation presume either of safety or secrecy Can the God that made the heart not know it Can he that comprehends all things be shut out of our close corners Saul was otherwise crafty enough yet herein his simplicitie is palpable Sin can besot euen the wisest man and there was neuer but folly in wickednes No man brags so much of holines as hee that wants it True obedience is ioyned euer with humilitie and feare of vnknowne errors Falshood is bold and can say I haue fulfilled the commandment of the Lord If Saul had bin truly obsequious and holy he had made no noise of it A gracious heart is not a blab of his tongue but rests and reioyceth silently in the conscience of a secret goodnes those vessels yeeld most sound that haue the least liquor Samuel had reason to beleeue the sheep and oxen aboue Saul their bleating and lowing was a sufficient conviction of a denied and outfaced disobedience God opened their mouthes to accuse Saul of their life and his falshood but as sin is crafty and neuer wanted a cloke where with both to hide and deck it selfe euen this very rebellion is holy First the act if it were euill was not mine but the peoples and secondly their intention makes it good For these flocks and herds were preserued not for gaine but for deuotion What needs this quarrell If any gaine by this act it is the Lord thy God His Altars shall smoke with these sacrifices yee that serue at them shall fare so much the better this godly thriftines lookes for thanks rather then censure If Saul had beene in Samuels clothes perhaps this answer would haue satisfied him Surely himselfe stands out in it as that whereto hee dare trust and after he heares of Gods angry reproofe he auowes and doubles his hold of his innocency as if the commanders shold not answer for the known sins of the people as if our intentions could iustifie vs to God against God How much adoe it is to bring sinners vpon their knees to make their tongues accuse their hands But it is no halting with the maker of the heart He knew it was couetousnes and not piety which was accessarie to this forbearance and if it had bin as was pretended hee knew it was an odious impiety to raise deuotion out of disobedience Saul shall heare and finde that hee hath delt no lesse wickedly in sparing an Agag then in killing an innocent Israelite in sparing these beasts for sacrifice then in sacrificing beasts that had bin vncleane Why was sacrifice it selfe good but because it was commanded What difference was there betwixt slaughter and sacifice but obedience To sacrifice disobediently is wilfully to mocke God in honoring him The rejection of Saul and the choice of Dauid EVEN when Saul had abandoned God in disobedience hee would not forgoe Samuel yea though he reproued him when he had forsaken the substance yet hee would maintaine the formalitie If he cannot hold the man he will keepe the pledge of his garment such was the violence of Sauls desire that he will rather rend Samuels coat then part with his person Litle did Saul thinke that he had in his hand the pawne of his owne rejection that this act of kinde importunitie should carry in it a presage of his iudgement yet so it did This very rending of the coate was a reall prophesie and did bode no lesse then the rending of the kingdome from him and his posteritie Wicked men whiles they thinke by carnall meanes to make their peace plunge themselues deeper into misery ANY stander by would haue said what a good King is this how deere is Gods Prophet vnto him how happy is Israel in such a Prince as thus loues the messengers of God Samuel that saw the bottom of this hollow affection reiects him whom God had reiected he was taught to looke vpon Saul not as a King but as an offender and therefore refuses with no lesse vehemencie then Saul intreated It was one thing what he might doe as a subiect another what he must doe as a Prophet Now he knowes not Saul any otherwise then as so much the greater trespasser as his place was higher and therefore hee doth no more spare his greatnes then the God against whom he sinned Neither doth hee countenance that man with his presence on whom he sees God to frowne THERE needs no other Character of hypocrisie then Saul in the cariage of this one businesse with Agag and Samuel First he obeyes God where there is no gaine in disobedience then he serues God by halues and disobeyes where the obedience might be losse He giues God of the worst he doth that in a colour which might seeme answerable to the charge of God He respects persons in the execution He giues good words when his deeds were euill He protests his obedience against his conscience He faces out his protestation against a reproofe When hee sees no remedy hee acknowledges the fact denies the sin yea he iustifies the act by a profitable intention When he can no longer maintaine his innocence he casts the blame from himselfe vpon the people He confesseth not till the sinne be wrung from his mouth Hee seeks his peace out of himselfe and relies more vpon anothers virtue then his owne penitency He would cloke his guiltinesse with the holinesse of anothers presence He is more tormented with the danger damage of his sin then with the offence He cares to hold in with men in what termes soeuer hee stands with God Hee fashionably serues that God whom he hath not cared to reconcile by his repentance No maruell if God cast him off whose best was dissimulation OLD Samuel is forced to do a double execution and that vpon no lesse then two Kings The one vpon Saul in diuiding the kingdome from him who had diuided himself from God The other vpon Agag in diuiding him in peeces whom Saul should haue diuided Those holy hands were not vsed to such sacrifices yet did he neuer spill blood more acceptably If Saul had bin truly penitent he had in a desire of satisfaction preuented the hand of Samuel in this slaughter Now he coldly stands still and suffers the weake hands of an aged Prophet to be imbrued with that blood which he was commanded to shed If Saul might not sacrifice in the absence of Samuel yet Samuel might kill in the presence of Saul Hee was yet a Iudge of Israel although he
other mans satisfaction his own he may Samuels contestation EVERY one can be a frend to him that prospereth By this victory hath Saul as welll conquered the obstinacie of his owne people Now there is no Israelite that reioyceth not in Sauls kingdome No sooner haue they done obiecting to Saul then Samuel begins to expostulate with them The same day wherein they began to be pleased God shewes himselfe angry All the passages of their proceedings offended him hee deferd to let them know it till now that the kingdom was setled and their hearts lifted vp Now doth God coole their courage and ioy with a backe reckning for their forwardnes God will not let his people run away with the arrerages of their sins but when they least thinke of it calls them to an account All this while was God angry with their reiection of Samuel yet as fi there had beene nothing but peace hee giues them a victory ouer their enemies hee giues way to their ioy in their election now hee lets them know that after their peace-offerings hee hath a quarrell with them God may be angry enough with vs whiles we outwardly prosper It is the wisdome of God to take his best aduantages He suffers vs to go on till we should come to enioy the fruit of our sinne till wee seeme past the danger either of conscience or punishment then euen when we begin to be past the feeling of our sinne we shall begin to feele his displeasure for our sinnes This is onely where he loues where he would both forgiue and reclaime He hath now to doe with his Israel But where hee meanes vtter vengance he lets men harden themselues to a reprobate senselessnes and make vp their owne measure without contradiction as purposing to reckon with them but once for euer SAMVEL had disswaded them before he reproues them not vntill now If he had thus bent himselfe against them ere the setling of the election he had troubled Israel in that which God tooke occasion by their sin to establish His opposition would haue sauoured of respects to himselfe whom the wrong of this innovation chiefly concerned Now therefore when they are sure of their King and their King of them when hee hath set euen termes betwixt them mutually he lets them see how they were at odds with God We must euer dislike sins we may not euer show it Discretion in the choice of seasons for reprouing is no lesse commendable and necessarie then zeale and faithfulnes in reprouing Good Physitians vse not to euacuate the body in extremities of heat or cold wise mariners do not hoyse sailes in euery winde FIRST doth Samuel begin to cleare his owne innocence ere he dare charge them with their sinne He that will cast a stone at an offender must be free himselfe otherwise he condemnes and executes himselfe in another person The conscience stops the mouth of the guilty man and chokes him with that sinne which lyes in his owne brest and hauing not come forth by a penitent confession cannot find the way out in a reproofe or if he do reproue he doth more shame himselfe then reforme another He that was the Iudge of Israel would not now iudge himselfe but would be iudged by Israel Whose oxe haue I taken whose asse haue I taken or to whom haue I done wrong No doubt Samuel found himselfe guilty before God of many priuate infirmities but for his publike cariage hee appeales to men A mans heart can best iudge of himselfe others can best iudge of his actions As another mans conscience approbation can not beare vs out before God so cannot our owne before men For oft-times that action is censured by the beholders as wrong full wherein wee applaud our own iustice Happy is that man that can be acquited by himself in priuate in publike by others by God in both standers by may see more It is very safe for a man to looke into himselfe by others eyes In vaine shall a mans heart absolue him that is condemned by his actions IT was not so much the tryall of his cariage that Samuel appealed for as his iustification not for his owne comfort so much as their conviction His innocence hath not done him seruice enough vnlesse it shame them and make them confesse themselues faulty In so many yeeres wherein Samuel iudged Israel it cannot be but many thousand causes passed his hands wherein both parties could not possibly bee pleased yet so cleare doth he finde his heart and hands that he dare make the greeued part iudges of his iudgment A good conscience will make a man vndauntedly confident and dare put him vpon any tryall where his owne heart strikes him not it bids him challeng all the world and take vp all commers How happy a thing is it for a man to be his owne frend and patron He needs not to feare forraine broiles that is at peace at home Contrarily he that hath a false and foule heart lyes at euery mans mercy liues slauishly and is faine to dawbe vp a rotten peace with the basest conditions Truth is not afraid of any light and therefore dare suffer her wares to be caried from a dim shop-bord vnto the street dore Perfect gold will be but the purer with trying whereas falshood being a worke of darknes loues darknes and therefore seeks where it may worke closest THIS very appellation cleared Samuel but the peoples attestation cleared him more Innocency vprightnes becomes euery man well but most publique persons who shall be else obnoxious to euery offender The throne and the pulpit of all places call for holines not more for example of good then for liberty of controlling euill All Magistrates sweare to doe that which Samuel protesteth hee hath done if their oath were so verified as Samuels protestation it were a shame for the State not to be happy The sinnes of our Teachers are the teachers of sinne the sins of gouernors do both command and countenance euill This very acquiting of Samuel was the accusation of themselues For how could it be but faulty to cast off a faultlesse gouernor If he had not taken away an oxe or an asse from them why do they take away his authoritie They could not haue thus cleared Saul at the end of his raigne It was iust with God since they were weary of a iust ruler to punish them with an vniust HE that appealed to them for his owne vprightnes durst not appeale to them for their owne wickednes but appeales to heauen from them Men are commonly flatterers of their owne cases It must be a strong euidence that will make a sinner convicted in himselfe Nature hath so many shifts to cosen it selfe in this spirituall verdict that vnlesse it be taken in the manner it will hardly yeeld to a truth either shee will denie the fact or the fault or the measure And now in this case they might seeme to haue some faire pretences For though Samuel was
righteous yet his sonnes were corrupt To cut of all excuses therefore Samuel appeales to God the highest Iudge for his sentence of their sin and dares trust to a miraculous conviction It was now their wheat haruest The hot and dry ayre of that climate did not wont to afford in that season so much moist vapour as might raise a cloud either for raine or thunder He that knew God could and would do both these without the helpe of second causes puts the tryall vpon this issue Had not Samuel before consulted with his Maker and receiued warrant for his act it had bin presumption and tempting of God which was now a noble improuement of faith Rather then Israel shall go cleare away with a sinne God will accuse and arraigne them from heauen No sooner hath Samuels voice ceased then Gods voice begins Euery cracke of thunder spake iudgment against the rebellious Israelites and euery drop of raine was a witnesse of their sin and now they found they had displeased him which ruleth in the heauen by rejecting the man that ruled for him on earth The thundring voice of God that had lately in their sight confounded the Philistims they now vnderstood to speake fearefull things against them No maruell if now they fell vpon their knees not to Saul whom they had chosen but to Samuel who being thus cast off by them is thus countenanced in heauen Sauls sacrifice GOD neuer ment the kingdom should either stay long in the tribe of Beniamin or remoue suddenly from the person of Saul Many yeres did Saul reigne ouer Israel yet God computes him but two yeeres a King That is not accounted of God to bee done which is not lawfully done when God which chose Saul rejected him he was no more a King but a Tyrant Israel obeyed him still but God makes no reckoning of him as his deputy but as an vsurper SAVL was of good yeeres when hee was aduanced to the kingdom His sonne Ionathan the first yeere of his fathers raigne could lead a thousand Israelites into the field and giue a foyle to the Philistims And now Israel could not thinke themselues lesse happy in theâ—â—r Prince then in their King Ionathan is the heyre of his fathers victory as well as of his valour and his estate The Philistims were quiet after those first thunder-claps all the time of Samuels gouernment now they begin to stirre vnder Saul How vtterly is Israel disappointed in their hopes That securitie and protection which they promised themselues in the name of a King they found in a Prophet failed of in a warriour They were more safe vnder the mantle then vnder armes both enmity and sauegard are from heauen goodnes hath bin euer a stronger guard then valour It is the surest policie alwaies to haue peace with God WE finde by the spoiles that the Philistims had some battels with Israel which are not recorded After the thunder had skared them into a peace and restitution of all the bordring Cities from Ekron to Gath they had taken new heart and so beslaued Israel that they had neither weapon nor Smith left amongst them yet euen in this miserable nakednes of Israel haue they both fought and ouercome Now might you haue seene the vnarmed Israelites marching with their slings and ploughstaues and hookes and forkes and other instruments of their husbandry against a mighty well furnished enemie and returning laded both with armes and victory No armour is of proofe against the Almighty neither is he vnweapned that caries the reuenge of God There is the same disaduantage in our spirituall conflicts we are turned naked to principalities and powers whilst wee goe vnder the conduct of the Prince of our peace we cannot but be bold victorious VAINE men thinke to ouer-power God with munition and multitude The Philistims are not any way more strong then in conceit Thirty thousand chariots six thousand horsemen footmen like the sand for number makes them scorne Israel no lesse then Israel feares them When I see the miraculous successe which had blessed the Israelites in all their late conflicts with these very Philistims with the Ammonites I cannot but wonder how they could feare They which in the time of their sinne found God to raise such trophees ouer their enemies run now into caues and rocks and pits to hide them from the faces of men when they found God reconciled and themselues penitent No Israelite but hath some cowardly blood in him If we had no feare faith would haue no maistery yet these fearefull Israelites shall cut the throats of those confident Philistims Doubt and resolution are not meet measures of our successe A presumptuous confidence goes coÌ„monly bleeding â—â—ome when an humble feare retuâ—â—nes in triumph Feare driues those Israelites which dare show their heads out of the caues vnto Saul and makes them cling vnto their new King How troublesome were the beginnings of Sauls honor Surely if that man had not exceeded Israel no lesse in courage then in stature he had now hid himselfe in a caue which before hid himself among the stuffe But now though the Israelites ran away from him yet he ran not away from them It was not any doubt of Sauls valour that put his people to their heeles it was the absence of Samuel If the Prophet had come vp Israel would neuer haue run away from their King Whiles they had a Samuel alone they were neuer well till they had a Saul now they haue a Saul they are as farre from contentment because they want a Samuel vnlesse both ioyne together they thinke there can be no safetie Where the temporall and spirituall state combine not together there can follow nothing but distraction in the people The Prophets receiue and deliuer the will of God Kings execute it The Prophets are directed by God the people are directed by their Kings Where men doe not see God before them in his ordinances their hearts cannot but faile them both in their respects to their superiors and their courage in themselues Piety is the mother of perfect subiection As all authoritie is deriued from heauen so is it thence established Those gouernors that would command the hearts of men must shew them God in their faces No Israelite can thinke himselfe safe without a Prophet Saul had giuen them good proofe of his fortitude in his late victory ouer the Ammonites but then proclamation was made before the fight through all the country that euery man should come vp after Saul and Samuel If Samuel had not bin with Saul they would rather haue ventured the losse of their oxen then the hazard of themselues How much lesse should we presume of any safety in our spirituall combats when we haue not a Prophet to lead vs It is all one sauing that it fauours of more contempt not to haue Gods Seers and not to vse them He can be no true Israelite that is not distressed with the want of a Samuel As one
that had learned to begin his rule in obedience Saul staies seuen dayes in Gilgal according to the Prophets direction and still he lookes long for Samuel which had promised his presence six dayes he expects and part of the seuenth yet Samuel is not come The Philistims draw neere the Israelites runneaway Samuel comes not they must fight God must be supplicated what should Saul doe rather then God should want a sacrifice and the people satisfaction Saul will command that which hee knew Samuel would if he were present both command and execute It is not possible thinks hee that God should be displeased with a sacrifice he cannot but be displeased with indeuotion Why doe the people runne from mee but for want of meanes to make God sure What would Samuel rather wish then that we should be godly The act shall be the same the onely differences shall be in the 〈◊〉 If Samuel be wanting to vs we will not be wanting to God It is but an holy preuention to be deuout vnbidden Vpon this conceit he commands a sacrifice Sauls sinnes make no great show yet are they still hainously taken the impiety of them was more hidden and inward from all eyes but Gods If Saul were among the Prophets before will hee now be among the Preists Can there be any deuotion in disobedience O vaine man What can it auaile thee to sacrifice to God against God Hypocrites rest onely in formalities If the outward act be done it sufficeth them though the ground be distrust the manner vnreuerence the cariage presumption WHAT then should Saul haue done Vpon the trust of God Samuel he should haue staied out the last houre and haue secretly sacrificed himselfe and his praiers vnto that God which loues obedience aboue sacrifice Our faith is most commendable in the last act It is no praise to hold out vntill we be hard driuen Then when we are forsaken of meanes to liue by faith in our God is worthy of a crowne God will haue no worship of our deuising wee may onely doe what he bids vs not bid what he commands not Neuer did any true piety arise out of the corrupt puddle of mans braine If it flow not from heauen it is odious to heauen What was it that did thus taint the valour of Saul with this weaknes but distrust He saw some Israelites goe hee thought all would goe he saw the Philistims come he saw Samuel came not his diffidence was guilty of his mis-deuotion There is no sinne that hath not his ground from vnbeleefe This as it was the first infection of our pure nature so is the true source of all corruption man could not sinne if he distrusted not THE sacrifice is no sooner ended then Samuel is come and why came he no sooner He could not be a Seer and not know how much he was lookt for how troublesome and dangerous his absence must needs be He that could tell Saul that he should prophesie could tell that he would sacrifice yet he purposely forbeares to come for the tryall of him that must be the champion of God Samuel durst not haue done thus but by direction from his master It is the ordinarie course of God to proue vs by delaies and to driue vs to exigents that we may shew what we are He that annointed Saul might lawfully from God controll him There must be discretion there may not be partiality in our censures of the greatest God makes difference of sins none of persons if we make differences of sins according to persons we are vnfaithfull both to God and man Scarce is Saul warme in his kingdome when he hath euen now lost it Samuels first words after the inauguration are of Sauls rejection and the choice and establishment of his successor It was euer Gods purpose to settle the kingdom in Iudah He that tooke occasion by the peoples sinne to raise vp Saul in Beniamin takes occasion by Sauls sin to establish the crowne vpon Dauid In humane probabilitie the kingdom was fixed vpon Saul and his more worthy sonne In Gods decree it did but passe through the hands of Beniamin to Iudah Besides trouble how fickle are these earthly glories Saul doubtles lookt vpon Ionathan as the inheritor of his crowne and behold ere his peaceable possession he hath lost it from himselfe Our sinnes strip vs not of our hopes in heauen onely but of our earthly blessings The way to entaile a comfortable prosperitie vpon our seed after vs is our conscionable obedience vnto GOD. JONATHANS victory and Sauls oath IT is no wonder if Saules courage were much cooled with the heauy newes of his reiection After this he staies vnder the pomgranate tree in Gibeah He stirs not toward the garrison of the Philistims As hope is the mother of fortitude so nothing doth more breede cowardlines then despaire Euery thing dismaies that heart which God hath put out of protection Worthy Ionathan which sprung from Saul as some sweet impe growes out of a crabstock is therefore full of valour because full of faith He well knew that hee should haue nothing but discouragements from his fathers feare as rather choosing therefore to auoide all the blocks that might lye in the way then to leap ouer them he departs secretly without the dimission of his father or notice of the people onely God leads him and his armour-bearer followes him O admirable faith of Ionathan whom neither the steepnes of rocks nor the multitude of enemies can disswade from so vnlikely an assault Is it possible that two men whereof one was weaponles should dare to thinke of incountring so many thousands O diuine power of faith that in all difficulties and attempts makes a man more then men and regards no more armies of men then swarmes of flies There is no restraint to the Lord saith he to saue with many or by few It was not so great newes that Saul should be amongst the Prophets as that such a word should come from the sonne of Saul IF his father had had but so much diuinitie he had not sacrificed The strength of his God is the ground of his strength in God The question is not what Ionathan can do but what God can do whose power is not in the meanes but in himself That mans faith is well vnder-layed that vpholds it selfe by the omnipotencie of God thus the father of the faithfull built his assurance vpon the power of the Almighty But many things God can doe which he will not doe How knowest thou Ionathan that God will be as forward as he is able to giue thee victory For this saith hee I haue a watchword from God out of the mouths of the Philistims If they say Come vp we will go vp for God hath deliuered them into our hands If they say Tarie till we come to you we will stand still Ionathan was too wise to trust vnto a casuall presage There might be some farre fetcht coniectures of the euent from the
dropping and found the meat as ready as their appetite they dare not touch that sustenance and will rather indure famine and fainting then an indiscreet curse Doubtlesse God had brought those bees thither on purpose to try the constancie of Israel Israel could not but thinke that which Ionathan said that the vow was vnaduised and iniurious yet they will rather dye then violate it How sacred should we hold the obligation of our owne vowes in things iust and expedient when the bonds of anothers rash vow is thus indissoluble THERE was a double mischeife followed vpon Sauls oth an abatement of the victory and eating with the blood For on the one side the people were so faint that they were more likely to dye then kill they could neither runne nor strike in this emptinesse Neither hands nor feet can doe their office when the stomach is neglected On the other an vnmeet forbearance causes a rauenous repast Hunger knowes neither choice nor order nor measure The one of these was a wrong to Israel the other was a wrong done by Israel to God Sauls zeale was guilty of both A rash vow is seldome euer free from inconuenience The heart that hath vnnecessarily entangled it self drawes mischeife either vpon it selfe or others IONATHAN was ignorant of his fathers adiuration he knew no reason why hee should not refresh himselfe in so profitable a seruice with a litle taste of hony vpon his speare Full well had hee deserued this vnsought dainty and behold this hony is turned into gall If it were sweet in the mouth it was bitter in the soule if the eyes of his body were inlightned the light of Gods countenance was clouded by this act After he heard of the oath he pleads iustly against it the losse of so faire an opportunitie of reuenge and the trouble of Israel yet neither his reasons against the oath nor his ignorance of the oath can excuse him from a sinne of ignorance in violating that which first he knew not then knew vnreasonable Now Sauls leisure would serue him to aske counsell of God As before Saul would not inquire so now God will not answer Well might Saul haue found sinnes enow of his owne whereto to impute this silence Hee hath grace enough to know that God was offended and to guesse at the cause of his offence Sooner will an hypocrite finde out another mans sinne then his owne and now he sweares more rashly to punish with death the breach of that which he had sworne rashly The lots were cast and Saul prayes for the decision Ionathan is taken Euen the prayers of wicked men are sometimes heard although in iustice not in mercy Saul himselfe was punished not a litle in the fall of this lot vpon Ionathan Surely Saul sinned more in making this vow then Ionathan in breaking it vnwittingly and now the father smarts for the rashnes of his double vow by the vniust sentence of death vpon so worthy a sonne God had neuer singled out Ionathan by his lot if he had not bin displeased with his act Vowes rashly made may not be rashly broken If the thing wee haue vowed be not euill in it selfe or in the effect wee cannot violate it without euill Ignorance cannot acquite if it can abate our sinne It is like if Ionathan had heard of his fathers adiuration he had not transgressed his absence at the time of that oath cannot excuse him from displeasure What shall become of those which may know the charge of their heauenly father and will not which do know his charge and will not keep it Affectation of ignorance and willing disobedience is desperate DEATH was too hard a censure for such an vnknowne offence The cruell piety of Saul will reuenge the breach of his owne charge so as he would be loath God should auenge on himselfe the breach of his diuine command If Ionathan had not found better frends then his father so noble a victory had bin recompenced with death He that saued Israel from the Philistims is saued by Israel from the hand of his father Saul hath sworne Ionathans death the people contrarily sweare his preseruation His kingdome was not yet so absolute that he could runne away with so vnmercifull a iustice their oath that sauoured of disobedience preuailed against his oath that sauoured too strong of cruelty Neither doubt I but Saul was secretly not displeased with this louing resistance So long as his heart was not false to his oath he could not be sorry that Ionathan should liue Contemplations THE THIRTEENTH BOOKE Contayning Saul and Agag The Rejection of Saul and the choice of Dauid Dauid call'd to the Court. Dauid and Goliah Ionathans loue Sauls enuie Michals wile Dauid and Ahimelec TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE Sr THOMAS EDMONDS Knight Treasurer of his Maties Houshold and of his most Honorable Priuy COVNSELL RIGHT HO After your long and happy acquaintance with other Courts Kingdoms may it please you to compare with them the estate of old ISRAEL You shall finde the same hand swaying all scepters and you shall meet with such a proportion of dispositions and occurrences that you will say men are still the same if their names and faces differ You shall finde Enuie and Mutabilitie ancient Courtiers and shall confesse the vices of men still aliue if themselues dye You shall see God still honouring those that honor him and both rescuing innocence and crowning it It is not for mee to anticipate your deeper and more iudicious obseruations I am bold to dedicate this peece of my labour to your HONOR in a thankfull acknowledgment of those noble respects I haue found from you both in FRANCE and at home In lieu of all which I can but pray for your happines and vow my selfe Your Honors in all humble obseruance IOS HALL Contemplations SAVL AGAG GOD holds it no derogation from his mercy to beare a quarrell long where he hates He whose anger to the vessels of wrath is euerlasting euen in temporall iudgement reuengeth late The sins of his owne children are no sooner done and repented of then forgotten but the malicious sinnes of his enemies sticke fast in an infinite displeasure I remember what Amalek did to Israel how they laid wait for them by the way as they came vp from Aegypt Alas Lord might Amalek say they were our forefathers wee neuer knew their faces no not their names the fact was so farre from our consent that it is almost past the memory of our histories It is not in the power of time to raze out any of the arerages of God we may lay vp wrath for our posteritie Happy is that childe whose progenitors are in heauen he is left an inheritor of blessing together with estate whereas wicked ancestors loose the thanke of a rich patrimonie by the curse that attends it He that thinks because punishment is deferd that God hath forgiuen or forgot his offence is vnacquainted with iustice and knowes not that
suspended the execution In Sauls neglect this charge reuerted to him God loues iust executions so well that he will hardly take them ill at any hands I do not finde that the slaughter of Agag troubled Samuel that other act of his seueritie vpon Saul though it drew no blood yet stroke him in the striking and fetched teares from his eyes Good Samuel mourned for him that had not grace to mourne for himselfe No man in all Israel might seeme to haue so much reason to reioyce in Sauls ruine as Samuel since that hee knew him raised vp in despight of his gouernment yet he mournes more for him then he did for his sonnes for himselfe It greeued him to see the plant which hee had set in the garden of Israel thus soone withered It is an vnnaturall senselessnes not to bee affected with the dangers with the sins of our gouernors God did not blame this sorrow but moderated it How long wilt thou mourne for Saul It was not the affection he forbad but the measure In this is the difference betwixt good men and euill that euill men mourne not for their own sins good men do so mourne for the sins of others that they will hardly be taken off IF Samuel mourne because Saul hath cast away God by his sinne he must cease to mourne because God hath cast away Saul from raigning ouer Israel in his iust punishment A good heart hath learn'd to rest it selfe vpon the iustice of Gods decree and forgets all earthly respects when it lookes vp to heauen So did God meane to shew his displeasure against the person of Saul that he would show fauour to Israel he will not therefore bereaue them of a King but change him for a better Either Saul had slandred his people or else they were partners with him in the disobedience yet because it was their rulers fault that they were not ouer-ruled we do not heare of their smarting any otherwise then in the subiection to such a King as was not loyall to God The losse of Saul is their gaine the gouernment of their first King was abortiue no maruell if it held not Now was the maturitie of that State and therefore God will bring them forth a kindly Monarchy setled where it should Kings are of Gods prouiding it is good reason he should make choice of his own deputies but where goodnes meets with soueraignty both his right and his gift are doubled If Kings were meerly from the earth what needs a Prophet to bee seene in the choice or inauguration The hand of Samuel doth not now beare the scepter to rule Israel but it beares the horne for the annointing of him that must rule Saul was sent to him when the time was to be annointed but now he is sent to annoint Dauid Then Israel sought a King for themselues now God seeks a King for Israel The Prophet is therefore directed to the house of Ishai the Bethleemite the grand-child of Ruth now is the faithfull loue of that good Moabitess crowned with the honor of a kingdome in the succeeding generation God fetcht her out of Moab to bring a King vnto Israel Whiles Orpah wants bread in her owne countrey Ruth is growne a great Lady in Bethleem and is aduanced to be great grandmother to the King of Israel The retributions of God are bountifull neuer any man forsooke ought for his sake and complained of an hard bargaine EVEN the best of Gods saints want not their infirmities He that neuer replied when hee was sent to reproue the King moueth doubts when he is bidden to goe and annoint his successor How can I goe If Saul heare it he will kill mee Perhaps desire of full direction drew from him this question but not without a mixture of diffidence For the manner of doing it doth not so much trouble him as the successe It is not to be expected that the most faithfull hearts should be alwaies in an equall height of resolution God doth not chide Samuel but instruct him He which is wisdome it selfe teacheth him to hide his counsels in an honest policie Take an Heifar with thee and say I am come to do sacrifice to the Lord This was to say true not to say all Truth may not be crossed by denialls or equiuocations it may be concealed in a discreet silence except in the case of an oath no man is bound to speake all he knowes we are not only allowed but commanded to be innocently serpentine There were doubtles heifars enow in Bethleem Ishai had both wealth and deuotion enough to haue bestowed a sacrifice vpon God and his Prophet But to giue a more perfect colour to his intention Samuel must take an heifar with him The act it selfe was serious and necessarie There was no place no time wherein it was not fit for a Samuel to offer peace-offrings vnto God but when a King should be annointed there was no lesse then necessitie in this seruice Those which must represent God to the world ought to be consecrated to that maiestie whom they resemble by publike deuotions Euery important action requires a sacrifice to blesse it much more that act which imports the whole Church or Common-wealth IT was great newes to see Samuel at Bethleem hee was no gadder abroad none but necessarie occasions could make him stirre from Ramah The Elders of the Citie therefore welcome him with trembling not for that they were affraid of him but of themselues they knew that guest would not come to them for familiaritie streight do they suspect it was the purpose of some iudgment that drew him thither Com'st thou peaceably It is a good thing to stand in awe of Gods messengers and to hold good termes with them vpon all occasions The Bethlemites are glad to heare of no other errand but a sacrifice and now must they sanctifie themselues for so sacred a businesse We may not presume to sacrifice vnto God vnsanctified this were to marre an holy act and make our selues more prophane by prophaning that which should be holy ALL the Citizens sanctifie themselues but Ishai his sons were in a speciall fashion sanctified by Samuel This businesse was most theirs and all Israel in them the more God hath to do with vs the more holy should we be With what desire did Samuel looke vpon the sonnes of Ishai that hee might see the face of the man whom God had chosen And now when Eliab the eldest sonne came forth a man of a goodly presence whose person seemed fit to succeede Saul he thinks with himselfe This choice is soone made I haue already espied the head on which I must spend this holy oyle This is the man which hath both the priuiledge of nature in his primogeniture and of outward goodlinesse in proportion Surely the Lords annointed is before him Euen the holiest Prophet when hee goes without God runs into error The best iudgment is subiect to deceit It is no trusting any mortall man when hee speaks of
himselfe Our eyes can be led by nothing but signes and appearances and those haue commonly in them either a true falshood or vncertaine truth THAT which should haue fore-warned Samuel deceiued him he had seene the proofe of a goodly stature vnanswerable to their hopes and yet his eye errs in the shape He that iudges by the inside both of our hearts and actions checks Samuel in this mis-conceit Looke not on his countenance nor on the height of his stature because I haue refused him for God seeth not as man seeth The King with whom God meant to satisfie the vntimely desires of Israel was chosen by his stature but the King with whom God ment to please himselfe is chosen by the heart All the seuen sonnes of Ishai are presented to the Prophet no one is omitted whom their father thought capable of any respect If either Samuel or Ishai should haue chosen Dauid should neuer haue bin King His father thought him fit to keep sheep his brethren fit to rule men yet euen Dauid the yongest sonne is fetcht from the folde and by the choice of God destined to the throne Nature which is commonly partiall to her own could not suggest ought to Ishai to make him thinke Dauid worthy to bee remembred in any competition of honor yet him hath God singled out to the rule GOD will haue his wisdom magnified in the vnlikelihoods of his election Dauids countenance was ingenuous and beautifull but if it had promised so much as Eliabs or Abinadabs he had not bin in the fields whiles his brethren were at the sacrifice If we doe altogether follow our eye and suffer our selues to be guided by outward respects in our choice for God or our selues we cannot but goe amisse What do we thinke the brethren of Dauid thought when they saw the oyle powred vpon his head surely as they were enuious enough they had too much repined if they had either fully apprehended the purpose of the Prophet or else had not thought of some improbabilitie in the successe Either they vnderstood not or beleeued not what God would doe with their brother They saw him graced with Gods spirit aboue his wont but perhaps foresaw not whither it tended Dauid as no whit changed in his condition returnes to his sheep againe and with an humble admiration of Gods gracious respect to him casts himself vpon the wise and holy decree of the Almighty resigning himselfe to the disposition of those hands which had chosen him when suddenly a messenger is sent from Saul to call him in all haste to that Court whereof he shall once be master The occasion is no lesse from God then the euent Dauid call'd to the COVRT THAT the kingdome is in the appointment of God departed from Saul it is his least losse Now the spirit of God is also departed from him One spirit is no sooner gone but another is come both are from God Euen the worst spirits haue not onely permission but commission from heauen for the infliction of iudgment He that at first could hide himselfe among the stuffe that he might not be King is now so transported with this glory that he growes passionate with the thought of forgoing it Sathan takes vantage of his melancholike dejection and turns this passion into frenzy God will haue euen euill spirits worke by meanes A distempred body and an vnquiet minde are fit grounds for Sathans vexation Sauls courtiers as men that were more witty then religious aduise him to musicke They knew the strength of that skill in allaying the fury of passions in cheering vp the dejected spirits of their master This was done like some fond Chirurgian that when the bone is out of ioynt laies some soupling pultesses to the part for the asswaging of the ach in the meane time not caring to remedie the luxation IF they had said Sr you know this euill comes from that God whom you haue offended there can be no help but in reconcilement how easie is it for the God of spirits to take off Sathan labour your peace with him by a serious humiliation make meanes to Samuel to further the attonement they had bin wise counsellors diuine Physicians whereas now they doe but skin ouer the sore and leaue it rankled at the bottome The câ—â—muâ—â— must euer proceed in the same steps with the disease else in vaine shall wee seeme to heale There is no safety in the redresse of euills but to strike at the root Yet since it is no better with Saul and his courtiers it is well it is no worse I doe not heare either the master or seruants say This is an ill spirit send for some Magitian that may countermand him There are forcible enchantments for these spirituall vexations If Samuel will not there are witches that may giue ease But as one that would rather be ill then do worse hee contents himselfe to doe that which was lawfull if vnsufficient It is a shame to say that he whom God had reiected for his sin was yet a Saint to some that should be Christians who care not how much they are beholden to the Diuell in their distresses affecting to cast out Diuels by Beelzebub In cases of losse or sicknes they make Hell their refuge and seeke for no patronage but of an enemy Here is a fearefull agreement Sathan seeks to them in his temptations they in their consultations seeke to him and now they haue mutually found ech other if they euer part it is a miracle DAVID had liued obscurely in his fathers house his onely care and ambition was the wellfare of the flocke he tended and now whiles his father and his brothers neglected him as fit for nothing but the field he is talked of at Court Some of Sauls followers had beene at Ishai's house and taken notice of Dauids skill and now that harpe which he practised for his priuat recreation shall make him of a shepherd a Courtier The musicke that hee meant onely to himselfe and his sheep brings him before Kings The wisdom of God thought fit to take this occasion of acquainting Dauid with that Court which he shall once gouerne It is good that our education should perfect our children in all those commendable qualities wherto they are disposed Litle do we know what vse God meanes to make of those faculties which wee know not how to imploy Where the Almighty purposes an aduancement obscuritie can be no preiudice small meanes shall set forward that which God hath decreed DOVBTLES old Ishai noted not without admiration the wonderfull accordance of Gods proceedings that he which was sent for out of the field to be annointed should now be sent for out of the country into the Court and now he perceiued God was making way for the execution of that which he purposed hee attends the issue in silence neither shall his hand faile to giue furtherance to the proiect of God He therefore sends his sonne laden with a present to Saul The
euer odious but so much more in the mariage-bed by how much the obligations are deeper As shee lou'd her husband better then her father so shee lou'd her selfe better then her husband she saued her husband by a wile and now shee saues her selfe by a lye and looses halfe the thanke of her deliuerance by an officious slander Her act was good but shee wants courage to maintaine it and therefore seeks to the weake shelter of vntruth Those that do good offices not out of conscience but good nature or ciuilitie if they meet an affront of danger seldome comes off cleanly but are ready to catch at all excuses though base though iniurious because their grounds are not strong enough to beare them out in suffring for that which they haue well done WHITHER doth Dauid flee but to the Sanctuary of Samuel He doth not though he knew himselfe gracious with the soldiers raise forces or take some strong fort and there stand vpon his owne defence and at defiance with his King but hee gets him to the Colledge of the Prophets as a man that would seeke the peaceable protection of the King of heauen against the vniust furie of a King on earth Onely the wing of God shall hide him from that violence GOD intended to make Dauid not a warriour and a King only but a Prophet too As the field fitted him for the first and the Court for the second so Naioth shall fit him for the third Doublesse such was Dauids delight in holy meditations he neuer spent his time so contentedly as when he was retyred to that diuine Academie and had so full freedom to inioy God and to satiate himself with heauenly exercises The onely doubt is how Samuel can giue harbour to a man fled from the anger of his Prince wherein the very persons of both giue abundant satisfaction for both Samuel knew the counsell of God and durst doe nothing without it and Dauid was by Samuel anointed from God This vnction was a mutuall bond Good reason had Dauid to sue to him which had powred the oyle on his head for the hiding of that head which hee had anointed and good reason had Samuel to hide him whom God by his meanes had chosen from him whom God had by his sentence reiected Besides that the cause deserued commiseration Here was not a malefactor running away from iustice but an innocent auoyding murder not a traytor countenanc'd against his Souerayne but the deliuerer of Israel harbored in a Sanctuary of Prophets till his peace might be made EVEN thither doth Saul send to apprehend Dauid All his rage did not incense him against Samuel as the abettor of his aduersarie Such an impression of reuerence had the person and calling of the Prophet left in the minde of Saul that hee cannot thinke of lifting vp his hand against him The same God which did at the first put an awe of man in the fiercest creatures hath stamped in the cruellest hearts a reuerent respect to his owne image in his Ministers so as euen they that hate them do yet honor them SAVLS messengers came to lay hold on Dauid God layes hold on them No sooner doe they see a company of Prophets busie in those diuine exercises vnder the moderation of Samuel then they are turned from executioners to Prophets It is good going vp to Naioth into the holy assemblies who knowes how wee may bee changed beside our intention Many a one hath come into Gods house to carpe or scoffe or sleepe or gaze that hath returned a conuert THE same heart that was thus disquieted with Dauids happy successe is now vexed with the holinesse of his other seruants It angers him that Gods spirit could find no other time to seize vpon his agents then when he had sent them to kill And now out of an indignation at this disappointment himselfe will go and be his own seruant His guilty soule findes it selfe out of the danger of being thus surprized And behold Saul is no sooner come within the smell of the smoke of Naioth then hee also prophesies The same spirit that when hee went first from Samuel inabled him to prophesie returnes in the same effect now that he was going his last vnto Samuel This was such a grace as might well stand with reiection an extraordinary gift of the spirit but not sanctifying Many men haue had their mouthes opened to prophesie vnto others whose hearts haue bin deafe to God But this such as it was was far from Sauls purpose who in steed of expostulating with Samuel falls downe before him and laying aside his weapons and his robes of a Tyran proues for the time a disciple All hearts are in the hand of their maker how easie is it for him that gaue them their being to frame them to his owne bent Who can bee afraid of malice that knowes what hooks God hath in the nosthrills of men and Diuels what charmes he hath for the most serpentine hearts DAVID AHIMELEC WHo can euer iudge of the children by the Parents that knowes Ionathan was the sonne of Saul There was neuer a falser heart then Sauls there was neuer a truer frend then Ionathan Neither the hope of a kingdome nor the frownes of a father nor the feare of death can remoue him from his vowed amitie No sonne could be more officious and dutifull to a good father yet he layes downe nature at the foot of grace and for the preseruation of his innocent riuall for the kingdom crosses the bloody designes of his owne parent Dauid needs no other counsellor no other aduocate no other intelligencer then he It is not in the power of Sauls vnnaturall reproches or of his speare to make Ionathan any other then a frend and patron of innocence Euen after all these difficulties doth Ionathan shoot beyond Dauid that Saul may shoot short of him In vaine are those professions of loue which are not answered with action Hee is no true frend that besides talke is not ready both to do and suffer SAVL is no whit the better for his prophesying he no sooner rises vp from before Samuel then he pursues Dauid Wicked men are rather the worse for those transitorie good motions they haue receiued If the swine be neuer so cleane washed shee will wallow againe That we haue good thoughts it is no thanke to vs that we answer them not it is both our sin and iudgment DAVID hath learned not to trust these fits of deuotion but flyes from Samuel to Ionathan from Ionathan to Ahimelech when hee was hunted from the Prophet he flees to the Priest as one that knew iustice and compassion should dwell in those brests which are consecrated vnto God THE Arke and the Tabernacle were then separated The Arke was at Kiriath-iearim the Tabernacle at Nob God was present with both Whither should Dauid flee for succour but to the house of that God which had annointed him AHIMELECH was wont to see Dauid attended with the
worthy that our want of thee here should make vs want the presence of thy face for euer The SAGES and the STARRE THE shepherdes and the cratch accorded well yet euen they saw nothing which they might not cōtemne neither was there any of those shepherds that seemed not more like a King then that King whom they came to see But oh the diuine maiestie that shined in this basenesse There lies the babe in the stable crying in the manger whom the Angels came downe from heauen to proclaime whom the Sages come from the East to adore whom an heauenly starre notifies to the world that now men might see that heauen earth serues him that neglected himselfe Those lights that hang low are not farre seene but those which are high placed are equally seene in the remotest distances Thy light O Sauiour was no lesse then heauenly The East saw that which Bethleem might haue seene Oft-times those which are neerest in place are farthest off in affection Large obiects when they are too close to the eye doe so ouer-fill the sense that they are not discerned What a shame is this to Bethleem The Sages came out of the East to worship him whom that village refused The Bethleemites were Iewes The wisemen Gentiles This first entertainment of Christ was a presage of the sequell The Gentiles shall come from far to adore Christ whiles the Iewes reiect him Those Easterlings were great searchers of the depths of nature professed Philosophers them hath God singled out to the honor of the manifestation of Christ Humane learning well improued makes vs capable of diuine There is no knowledge whereof God is not the author he would neuer haue bestowed any gift that should lead vs away from himselfe It is an ignorant conceit that inquiry into nature should make men Atheous No man is so apt to see the starre of Christ as a diligent disciple of Philosophie Doubtlesse this light was visible vnto more onely they followed it which knew it had more then nature He is truely wise that is wise for his owne soule If these wise men had beene acquainted with all the other starres of heauen and had not seene the starre of Christ they had had but light enough to lead them into vtter darknesse Philosophy without the starre is but the wispe of error These Sages were in a meane betweene the Angels and the shepherds God would in all the ranks of intelligent creatures haue some to be witnesses of his Sonne The Angels direct the shepherds the starre guides the Sages the duller capacitie hath the more cleare and powerfull helps The wisdome of our good GOD proportions the meanes vnto the disposition of the persons Their Astronomy had taught them this starre was not ordinary whether in site or in brightnes or in motion The eyes of nature might well see that some strange newes was portended to the world by it But that this starre designed the birth of the Messias there needed yet another light If the starre had not besides had the commentarie of a reuelation from God it could haue led the wisemen onely into a fruitlesse wonder Giue them to bee the ofspring of Balaam yet the true prediction of that false Prophet was not enough warrant If he told them the Messiah should arise as a starre out of Iacob he did not tell them that a starre should arise far from the posteritie of Iacob at the birth of the Messiah He that did put that prophesie into the mouth of Balaam did also put this illumination into the heart of the Sages The spirit of God is free to breath where he listeth Many shall come from the East and the West to seeke Christ when the children of the kingdome shall be shut out Euen then God did not so confine his election to the pale of the Church as that he did not sometimes looke out for speciall instruments of his glory Whither do these Sages come but to Ierusalem where should they hope to heare of the new King but in the mother Citie of the kingdom The conduct of the starre was first only generall to Iudea the rest is for a time left to inquiry They were not brought thither for their owne sakes but for Iuries for the worlds that they might helpe to make the Iewes inexcusable and the world faithfull That their tongues therefore might blason the birth of Christ they are brought to the head Citie of Iudea to report inquire Their wisdome could not teach them to imagine that a King could be borne to Iudea of that note and magnificence that a starre from heauen should publish him to the earth and that his subiects should not know it and therefore as presupposing a common notice they say Where is he that is borne King of the Iewes There is much deceit in probabilities especially when we meddle with spirituall matters For God vses still to goe a way by himselfe If we iudge according to reason and appearance who is so likely to vnderstand heauenly truths as the profound Doctors of the world these God passeth ouer and reueales his will to babes Had these Sages met with the shepherds of the villages neere Bethleem they had receiued that intelligence of Christ which they did vainely seeke from the learned Scribes of Hierusalem The greatest Clarks are not alwaies the wisest in the affaires of God these things go not by discourse but by reuelation No sooner hath the starre brought them within the noise of Ierusalem then it is vanished out of sight God would haue their eyes lead them so farre as till their tongues might bee set on worke to winne the vocall attestation of the cheife Preists and Scribes to the fore-appointed place of our Sauiours natiuitie If the starre had caried them directly to Bethleem the learned Iewes had neuer searched the truth of those prophesies wherewith they are since iustly convinced God neuer withdrawes our helps but for a further aduantage Howsoeuer our hopes seeme crossed where his name may gaine we cannot complaine of losse Litle did the Sages thinke this question would haue troubled Herod they had I feare concealed their message if they had suspected this euent Sure they thought it might be some son or grandchild of him which then held the throne so as this might winne fauour from Herod rather then an vnwelcome feare of riualitie Doubtlesse they went first to the Court where else should they aske for a King The more pleasing this newes had bin if it had falne vpon Herods owne loines the more greeuous it was to light vpon a stranger If Herod had not ouer-much affected greatnesse he had not vpon those indirect termes aspired to the crowne of Iewry so much the more therefore did it trouble him to heare the rumor of a successor and that not of his owne Setled greatnesse cannot abide either change or partnership If any of his subiects had moued this question I feare his head had answered it It is well that the