but sure there is something in this Ver. 20. and Samuel standing as appointed over them Doubtlesse this change upon Saul the restraint of his bloudy hand the thrusting-backe of his sword three times successively was the fruit of Samuels words and answere of his prayers for an in behalfe of David and to withhold Saul from shedding innocent blood I make mention of it here To shew that all faire and warrantable wayes were used prayers and supplycations were put-up for Saul while there was time for it and persons fit for that service which did properly belong to Samuel and the Priests not to the Heads of the Tribes It was their time now to appeare in the Field there to hold up their hands with their Swords for Saul in pursuance of his own way and to satisfie his will hath commanded the Edomite and Nob is destroyed and Saul is hasting to Keilah and hath called together five thousand men David and his men must look to have the roughest hand put out against them that ever was put forth for it is Sauls hand and his Edomites as it is at this Day Therfore I will cleare Israels duty now touching their prayers for their King now as I have cleared their practice in taking-up Defensive Armes That they have performed their duty at that point just as belongeth to the Israel of GOD. Armies appeare in the field in a seeming opposition to the King yet not so indeed but in opposition to his wicked Councell carryed on and acted by that evill spirit who now workes so effectually all over all the Christian world Now the Objection is That Christians should make no Resistance no not of the Devill but by prayer and fasting I have denyed that and made it cleare That when the Devill acts by the hand of an Edomite then he must be resisted by the sword of an Israclite We must make him bleed a spirit though he be if he maketh us bleed Yet I say as Israel then so have Israel now taken the old way of disposessing the Divell by prayer and fasting They have made petitions to their King prayers and supplications have been put-up to him So many and so servent That Israel may be said in this behalfe to be a praying people wrastlers with GOD for their King and their King may be said to be a King of prayers But yet there is no Answer of prayer Yes there is as shall appeare by and by though yet not such an Answer as Israel could desire with all their hearâ—s And for this it is a sad thing to consider Whether the sighing of the poore under his oppression hath not thrust-back the sighings and groanes of the poore for and in his behalfe whether the blood he hath shed for he hath given a commission to the Edomite the Papist an old Adversary to Israell vvhether this blood he hath spi t like water cryes not lowder in the eares of the LORD for Revenge Then the prayers of his faithfull servants can doe for mercy vve cannot resolve it but it yeelds a sad consideration Yet certain it is The true Israell of GOD Ministers and people may see a Return of prayer for and in behalfe of their King which appeares thus The King by the motion of his evill Councell pursued a way not good he sent a cursed Booke into Scâ—tland vvorse then a Sword against David This destroyes the body That the soule This Booke was rejected by the best Law and Reason that ever was read Facile est quic quid in presenti faculonocet illud grave c. Salv. de Eccl. lib. 2. yet the King vvas pleased to force it upon them and they forced it away The King pressed by an evill Councell pressed-on and sent Messengers again and again and then the Sword pressed on Then he vvent himselfe to the borders as often as Saul sent Messengers to fetch David-in The third time he went himselfe And vvhat he did there for and in behalfe of David I meane the true servants of GOD he knowes and GOD knowes and more then tvvo or three in the vvorld for his ovvn hand has made it legible pursuing David vvith the Sword and those that have an hand vvith David ever since His heart could not be vvith David the faithfull in the LORD in one Kingdome and his hand against them in another But how comes it to passe that the King we must speake out now or never has driven on-vvard furiously more then 4. yeares together pressing-on against the dravvn sword and yet the svvord has not taken him off from the earth We must say GOD is exceedingly patient and long-suffering but sure the prayers of them vvhom he persecutes has hitherto been as a shield over his head to keep off that deadly shower vve read of from falling on his hayry scalpe Psal 116. Prayers have turned back from him the svvord of the destroyer vvherevvith he assayed tvvice to have destroyed his native people or to make their necks stoop to an iron yoake Prayers have vvithheld from his lippes That horrible draught the portion of their Cup vvho vvalke in such vvayes fier and brimstone and an horrible tempest His good people have put up prayers for their King they are not wanting therein If they are wanting to their King it is in reproofes in telling him in plaine and down-right words as the Prophets before him That he is in a perishing way Certainly if they are wanting to their King it is in this they have not sent him a writing such as Iehoranâ— received wherein was written Lamentations Mourning and Woe 2 Chro. 21.12 They have sought GOD for their King and they have not sought Him in vaine therfore it is that he yet drives-on furiously to destroy David and those that have an hand with David and against the Angels sword in his way and yet the sword has not cut him off from the earth And his good people are not a weary they will continue seeking GOD for him still though he revile them they will blesse him See Thank-off p. 83.83 though defamed they entreat being persecuted they will suffer it For this is his good Peoples duty theirs whose duty it is to lye on their face but not theirs to whom GOD sayes now as unto Ioshua GET THEE VP there is an accursed thing which has thrust you from the Lord and it must be thrust away they must be cut off from the earth who have taken peace thence and have put forth their power to dethrone the LORD Christ Ioshus then and the Worthies of the LORD now must not lye upon their faces but according to the power that GOD has put into their hands they must oppose these actings of the evill spirit working effectually with the Princes of the earth I Remember now what the Scots did not 3. Yeeres agoe but almost as many hundred Their King Iames the third lived an idle life from the beginning of his Reigne which was the Seventh
the Edomite in our sense and in Scripture language That Legion of the Papists now Raging and Rioting in our Land we shall resist the King too for this Edomite is the chiefe MANAGER next to the Divel of all the Kings affaires in this Kingdome his very best Subjects and truest Friends O horrible what words are these Papists his best Subjects It must passe for it has the Kings allowance he has declared it so he has proclaimed it so once and againe and a third time The Edomites in Ireland in England they are the Kings best Subjects those he may confide-in his heart may cleave to them in love when David The faithfull of the LORD are called Traitors every day and his good People Rebels all O David cannot be silent now any longer GOD knowes and all the Christian world knowes Davids heart is upright and his hands cleare and his prayer pure touching this matter Their hands have not shed innocent bloud nor have their eyes seen it but with indignation and Zeale against these Murtherers And we say That many Kings have beene seduced by evill counsels Many whose hearts have beene stolne away from their good people and given-up into their enemies hands cleaving to them in love and some have shed bloud to their power as Saul here and others after him But oh how loth I am to speake The Evill Counsellours have carried-on the King in the Path of the destroyer beyond all These for he has given a Commission to destroy his good people and makes shewes That his soule bleeds over them He pittieth his Peoples nakednesse and takes from them their cloathes hee calls them Rebels in Ireland and entertaines the same Rebels here He professeth to do all by helpe of GOD and the Law and all he does has a manifest contrariety to GOD and contradiction to the Law He professeth with his tongue to be for Religion indeed when his heart and hand is utterly against the professors of the same To take them from the Earth He professeth to maintaine his Peoples liberties and does all that is in the power of his hands to inthrall and oppresse his people To make their neckes bend to the Edomites yoake he would make beleeve his hand goes along with GOD when hee puts it forth against The Almighty in all his peoples sight as if he had an arm like GOD. But the bloudshed in both his Kingdomes this The Lord sees and heares the voice of it too And which maketh the voice yet louder The LORD heares how he chargeth it upon the innocent and blesseth the Murtherers those that have shed it indeed The LORD lay it close to the heart of his Majesty that his soule may bleed over the blood he hath shed That he may forbeare to say so till he does so That his soule may shed teares for the bloud he hath shed indeed and indeed Let others pray The LORD bring his Majesty home to his Parliament upon the wings of the Churches Prayers They that pray so pray well but they pray better who pray The Lord open the Kings eyes and heart that he may discerne the Path he has trod the way he is in and feele the working of that bloud shed upon his soule working in him a sorrow after a godly sort The LORD shew him the falshood the hypocrisie of his heart make it as manifest to him as it is to all his good People That his uncircumcised heart may be humbled that he may abhorre evill and loath himselfe for what he has done Amen say I and all who wish that his soule may prosper He may come home to his Parliament and doe more hurt then good there unlesse his heart be humbled for all he has done first I remember very well the Eleventh King of Scotland the worst King that ever was I thinke yet was brought home to his Parliament I meane he came-up to his good People even to all the desire of their hearts for thus he did Those pernicious Counfellors he had many and they stole away his heart or he stole away theirs surely the King was worst because chiefest in the trespasse he suffered to be imprisoned and over some the wheele was turned And all this he did in deep dissimulation that he might the more freely with no resistance worke-out his owne will and doe according to his owne pleasure afterwards And so he did the yeare after by that time he saw all cleare before him the hearts of his Nobles gained for he gave the offenders into their hands and all was well and now they must be feasted They were glad of that and to supper they came which was served-up in a Lordly dish and after the meat Wine they are and dranke and their hearts were merry but the worst Wine was kept last towards the close of the Feast the Nobles were made drunke with their owne bloud as with sweet Wine A few escaped and those few by the helpe of the People rose-up against their King and slew him I shall not meddle with that though in the close of the worke I shall point to that King againe and another halfe as bad I conclude from hence That till the King be truly informed for what he has done That he has walked in the counsell of the ungodly his foot has stood in the way of sinners and he sitteth in the seat of the scornfull Till his heart be humbled for this Tâ—ll his soule cleaves to the ground for this and what else God and his conscience best knowes Till this be the King cannot come-back to his Parliament he caâ—not be to the heart and desires of his good People there Therefore pray we LORD turne the heart of the King give him a sight of what he has done and humble his soule in the sight of it th the hath blasphemed the Name of his GOD deal deceitfully with his Maker treacherouoy with His People abominably with His Day prophaning it by a Law He must be restlesse in his spirit till he hath vindicated That dishonour done to That Rest forcing and persecuting His best Servants touching that matter and shedding their bloud to his power ever since LORD give the King a sight of all this and of all that The Searcher of hearts and his owne heart knowes by himselfe and kindly humble him for all Then all the rest followes the King will be right for his Parliament his heart will be with them then it will be said and not till then What the King does pleaseth all his people and what his good people doe pleaseth the King Amen But if the King doe not his duty his people must doe theirs if hee looke not to his charge how he rules not his but Gods People THY PEOPLE sitting in GODS Throne Yet must the people look to their obedience they must be subject to the higher Power notwithstanding I come then to resolve what this higher Power is and the cases of conscience thereabouts Not touching the giving of
confidences and how their hearts departed from their GOD for so much as the heart drawes and inclines to the creature so much and by the very same steps and degrees it withdrawes from GOD so much of the world as comes-in so much of heaven goes-out This were excellent matter to dilate upon but every good mans spirit is fitted for such a worke selfe-searching and triall what spirit he is of and how it has been discovered to himselfe all this time O the murmurings of his spirit how many have they been what haste has he made If he be not delivered now he shall be tyred and can follow GOD in His way no longer It is not necessary nay nor possible to set downe the murmurings warpings hastinesses of the best mans spirit but he will confesse he has in his HASTE limited the Holy One of Israel and tyed GOD like a creature to his owne time and way A man would doe it at such a time and by such meanes Therefore GOD must doe so too GOD must worke like a man This argueth a great distemper of spirit and must be corrected Alas shall David be delivered at this present time It cannot be the Servant of the Lord must be instructed first to a constancy of spirit so as he can come to this Period and stop there David shall be delivered the fittest time and after such a manner as shall most gloriously exalt GODS Name and Davids comfort and that I hope will best content and so he will conclude Therefore he will doe his worke and let GOD alone to perfect His and he will let GOD alone to His owne Time and to His owne Way in confident assurance That if Davids deliverance be delayed there is mighty Reason why it is so and the prime Reason is that David may be discovered his owne spirit made fully manifest to himselfe Secondly That Davids adversaries every one may be discovered too all the Right-men his true Enemies and false friends all their fine designes all their horrid hellish machinations that all may be discovered and layed open before all Israel and before the Sun David thought GOD was slack touching His Promise He was indeed as we count slicknesse when things are not done and deliverance wrought by the very same meanes and at the very nicke of time which we in our haste have concluded upon GOD was not slacke nor is he slacke towards David He is working wonders for David and we shall see it anon Davids deliverance stayes a little Why That all Davids enemies may be discovered how wicked how pernicious they are how mightily they fight against GOD and His servant David The enemy must be clearly convinced too we will take this and Davids adversaries in order and proceed upon discovery First Sauls most malignant spirit shall be made as manifest and naked to Israels eye as his body was in the day he was born He made shewes of love to David all his shewes shall shrinke-up to nothing or prove reall hatred Saul would have it told David That the King delighted in him Does â—e so Heare what Saul sayes and tell your selfe Saul blesseth the Ziphites those Murtherers 1 Sam. 23.19 Blessed be ye of the LORD Why blessed Because they undertooke Davids destruction in designe in the manner as they did at Bristoll London Lincolne To deliver David into Sauls hands that he might doe to him according to all the desire of his soule What desire was that To sheath his sword in Davids bowels Will the Ziphites give such a price into Sauls hand that he may doe to David according to all the desire of his soule will they so Blessed are ye of the Lord O strange Nay it was not strange it was ordinary with Saul to blesse his Right-men Murtherers and no others Blessed are ye of the Lord. O monstrous what abominable words are these Saul blesseth the Ziphites I ask againe Why does he so Because the Ziphites have a fine designe upon David as our Right-men upon Bristoll c. as was said to deliver him into Sauls hand that Saul may doe to David as we understood before The Ziphites have that in designe and Saul blesseth them for it and so his wickednesse is shewne before the whole congregation Prov. 26. For that is GODS designe too Saul shall not couzen the world any longer but GOD will turne Sauls blessings into curses Saul blesseth Murtherers GOD curseth them a treacherous and a murtherous Generation though they curse yet blesse thou So GOD will and curse them whom Saul blesseth Saul applauds their designes GOD abhorres them and their designes too and the Hang-man is appointed to give them their wages for their worke Observe further the Evill spirit of the man must be made more manifest for he saith ye have compassion on me What ye or who were they The same men who would lay a City waste so they might gratifie Saul in the destruction of David and this Saul calls compassion O blindnesse O desperate wickednesse he counts that a COMPASSION to his soule the working his will upon David which will destroy Sauls life here and his soule for ever Who is there that understands this and does not pray Lord leave me not in the lap of my owne will to run mine owne way and to accomplish my owne desire Does not many a man now-a-dayes count the granting of that a Compassion to his soule which being granted and effected to his hearts desire will destroy body and soule both eternally But I forbeare Here was a full discovery of Sauls spirit But let me speake a word for Saul for truely he had good things in him which must be remembred though the Evill spirits the Divell and his owne Spirit perverted all the contrary way Sauls good spirit was discovered too we fâ—â—de him weeping in one place and blessing David in another True But the Text sayes David would not trust him for all that Saul gave David good words and Blessings too and there was an Oath betwixt them and doubtlesse All was done heartily Saul did not treat with David and in the meane time carry on a fine designe to take away Davids life No doubtlesse Saul spake as he thought and meant to performe 1 Sam 24.22 But sayes the Text David would not trust Saul he and his Men got them up into the hold And the Reason was David knew an Evill Spirit haunted Saul an Edomite besides still at his Elbow and Saul had his foot entred into bloud up to the ankles David would not trust him Had Saul shed but a bottle of Bloud he might have bethought himselfe upon cold bloud as we say and repented and he might shew favour to an Edomite being his Herdsman But Saul has filled Nob with bloud from Corner to Corner And now that the Edomite is declared to be the Chiefe Malignant to Israel that ever was in Israels Land Saul approves of him the more The more bloud he hath shed the
ENGLANDS Third Alarm TO VVARRE Stirring up the whole Land as one Man to help the LORD and His servant David all the Faithfull in the World against most bloudy Adversaries mighty Hunters before the LORD In which Warre No Resistance is maintained but what has now as in Davids time a sweet agreement with Duty and affinity with the best Obedience No Resistance then or now of Regall Authority or Higher Power but of those who are the greatest Enemies thereunto Such were Sauls willing Helpers in his War against David such are the Kings Helpers in his Warre now against his best Subjects the Faithfull of the Land Jer. 48.10 Cursed be he that keepeth backe his Sword from bloud 1 Cor. 7.23 Ye are bought with a Price be not ye the servants of men Joel 2.11 Feare not O Land be glad and rejoyce for the LORD will doe great things Gen. 8.1 God remembred Noah and every living thing and all the Cattell that was with him He will remember David and all his afflictions Psal 132.1 Chrysos Serm. 68. Oremus ut Christus suo semper regnet in Milite ut Miles semper suo triumphet in Rege Let us pray That Christ would evermore be King in his Souldier That His Souldier may evermore triumph in his King London Printed for Thomas Vnderhill in the second yeare of the Beasts wounding warring against the Lamb and those that are with Him Called Chosen and Faithfull 1643. TO THE READER This Epistle shewes the purpose of the Book what could not be shewed in the Tiâ—tle cleares the Duty of all good people to stand-up now all as one man Gives Arguments full to that purpose answers all materiall Arguments against is HEe that speaks to All speaks to none Words as Physicke cannot be applied to MAN under that generall notion but to this or that man in particular Therefore I intend all this unto thee who hast taken it into thy hand that thou maist lay it unto thy heart The noise of the Drum and sound of Warre still in thine eares has awakened thee sure no Sleeper now when such a Tempest lyes upon us unlesse thou art as one of those who can be secure in the midst of the Sea or lye asleepe upon the top of a Mast I suppose thee awakened and hearing thy selfe summoned to Warre Thy Call is from Heaven A supposition oâ—ly that the Reul enites and Gadites had built an Alâ—ar contrary to Godâ— command did stir-up the whole congregation of Israel to warre against them Iosb 22.12 So did the forcing a Concubine All Israel arose and were knit together as one man foure hundred thousand men to warre with Benjamin refâ—sing to give up 〈◊〉 Delinquents to death Iudg. 20.1.8.11.13 See Ep. p. 4. all the Lawes of Heaven and Earth have sealed thee thy Warrant for the cause is Gods His Peoples To maintain all that is dear to Him them in Earth Heaven Thy enemies are the Lords Enemies the most insulting that ever the Church was infested with for they are most of them home-bred that are helpers with the Beast of the same Countrey with thee and have the same Mother Besides they have the hornes of a Lamb they will fight under formall colours semblances shewes and pretences of Law and Justice which they carry upon their Swords point It will be the hottest Warre that ever was yet If these Adversaries have the day expect no more mercy from them then from the mouth of the Devourer be it Cannon Dragon Wolfe Lion or she Beare or from the Divell himselfe for indeed he playes Rex now he has armed the Edomite Papist I meane with a Sword and with a Sword Spirit though he be he must be resisted But in warring now Ob. I may resist the King No thou shalt resist no other Ans but that Evill Spirit which has put a Sword into an Edomites hand now and has engaged the heart of the King to her who has pawned the Jewels of the Kingdom to purchase Instruments of death thereby to lay waste the Kingdome of Israel and to dethrone the King thereof The soule of the King cleaves in love to her even her who bends all her power against the LORD CHRIST and His Kingdome And To purchase this cursed end which will cost the best Flower in their Crowne and they shall misse of it too when all is done To carry on this horrid designe they have joyned hearts and hands with Irish Rebels and English Monsters men skilfull to destroy whose hearts and hands are steeped in bloud and brawned in villanies There can be no question now of the lawfulnesse of resistance for thou shalt offer no more violence to the King and Kingdome then what thou shouldst offer to the Kingdom of Heaven a sweet violence in contending for the Faith and the trust of the Kingdome But some there are most contrary minded Ob. Lawyers and DIVINES both these are against the Covenant now which engageth to defensive Armes and they say their Reason and Conscience is against it too * and this their example may very well stumble thee Example may win much with unstable mindes Ans But surely the example of such men whose walking is as contrary to a common Light and principles as darknesse is to light as contrary to Christ His wayes and servants as the Divel is or as Hell is to Heaven surely the example of such men cannot perswade with thee These men have so long shut their eyes against a naturall light and so long laboured to stifle and choak a naturall Conscience that now they have not so much Logicke Reason I meane then has a Dog nor any more good Conscience then has a Beast I would rather my tongue should cleave to the roofe of my Mouth then that it should send forth the scum of a foule stomack or corrupt heart rotten speeches The Lord knowes I speake what I know and what all may know that will observe the conversation of these men Anti-Covenanters now like as the inti-petitioners before I will say it againe They have no more true Reason nor good Conscience then a Bâ—ast has No their pleasure and profit are their gods their glory their shame unreasonable men they are And this is the clearest evidence thereof that ever was given a â—â—ll 3.19 They mind earthly things No matter what such Cretians say alwayes Lyars evill Beasts slow Bellies Shew thy selfe a man bring forth the speare and stop the way against these Murtherers for even these men are as one of them Obad. 11.12 They stand on the other side They have looked on the day of their Brother They have rejoiced in the day of his destruction and have spoken proudly in the day of distresse these are as one of them Thou wilt wish that these may be cut off that so trouble us and bring forth the speare against those Murtherers whose notorious violences are more legible all over the Land Ob. No thou
stedfastly heaven-ward then they are in heart againe and as bold as Lyons We read as followes CHAP. 4. Saul has shed bloud to his power is resolved to shed more summons Israel to come-in for that purpose They come at his call What to thinke of his Troopers It relates to the later and present time not to dishearâ—â—â— but to encourage all Israel David must be driven from out of all his strong Holds and forsaken of all his friends excellent Reason is given why it is so in the next Chapter SAul has done according as his will carrieth him and the Edomite according to his Commission And now their foot is entred into bloud they drive-on furiously in the Path of the destroâ—er and to Keilâ—h they march A man would thinke now that such a cruell Lord and such a bloudy Generall as is the Edomite should not have one man to goe out with him into the field no not one But see it is otherwise 1 Sam. 23.8 for we read Saul called all the People together to war And they came in at his call I examine not now what moved them thick and threefold as we say by Companies and Troopes to the number of three thousand men What to doe To safeguard Sauls person that was Sauls pretence against the insolencies of David who ye know or else ye know nothing ran away faster then Saul could march after though Saul made as much speed as possibly he could who was exceedingly MAD against the righteous and persecuted David even to strange Cities yet Saul was afraid of David and made his guard so strong Let it goe for I will not inquire into that matter being made so legible already I would rather enquire Who or what manner of persons these Souldiers were It is answered Chosen men out of all Israel that is noble rich valiant stout men learned men also the vile Priests and the treacherous Prophets Doubtlesse these were now as alwayes ever since ingaged in the warre against David and Chosen men out of Israel to that purpose And truly this must needs be a great disheartning to David and so to all Israel for Sauls foot is in the Path of the destroyer the Edomite is with him they are marching to Keilah to doe to that City as they did to Nob and yet GOD seemes to shine upon Saul and his Councell Saul calls and they come-in unto him no fewer them Three thousand châ—sen men out of all Israel To relate unto the present time as we goe along This has beene and is our present case The King in his warre against David now the faithful in his Land has the same advantages now as Saul and his Edomite had in the dayes of old though the King seduced by evill counsels is gone-up to the knees in bloud yet Nobles are come-in unto him rich men valiant men an Army of Scholars too Lawyers and Divines both to help-on the persecution with their Swords and with their Pens Such Instruments the King has Choice and Right-men for his service and they serve their Master heartily without gaine of money for they feed upon free cost all is theirs they can lay hold on Right-men indeed as heart could wish such as the Oratour tells me Philip of Macedon found He sought with diligent search for wicked men who w uld in a treacherous way bring his designes to passe against their owne Countrey-men and such be found Demost de falsa legatione pag. 204. in folio but yet saith the Oratour Philip found them more wicked then he himselfe could have wisheâ— They had plotted and hammered out such projects and contrivances against their owne Countrey and for Philipâ— ends as that Philip himselfe durst not frame-out unto them the like plot or desire the same either by Letter or Embassie so abominable those Instruments were Such instruments the King has worse indeed but more Right and straight to the Designes his Councell has laid-out unto him then he expected or perhaps could have desired And what Davids case is the faithfull of the LORD he knowes nothing that knowes not this He has Armies by Sâ—a and Armies by Land North and South East and West stand-up for his help and the Eâ—e of the LORD is upon them for good that is certaine though many are sicke amongst them and many fallen asleep even the Righteous are taken away Nay many are run-away and more have dealt treacherously as we have heard and shall hear few there are that be hearty to the cause and fewer yet that doe not serve for gaine of money and no money no march Thus they deal with Dâ—vid Ah Lord how does the enemy laugh at this Let his laugh GOD laughes too and His servants laugh also rejoycing alwayes in The LORD they will doe their worke let GOD alone to perfect His worke They will give in their hand to David he shall have their hearts too And no marvell all this not can it seeme any strange matter That many noble rich valiant learned men are now on the contrary side and enemies to David None of all these can endure afflictions with David not a wildernesse with David They cannot goe from soft beds to bard boards They must have their ease for the present for after time they leave it to the DECREE give them their portion here they are satisfied Nor can they conceive but That Saul with his three thousand will overcome David with his five hundred and then they shall receive what a King can give for he will be abundantly good to them now they have assisted him to complete his victory which wil never be over David and his men Yes you will say Saul will overcome David for he has ten for one This Saul understood no more then the Egyptians did when God set Himselfe betwixt them and Israel Ex 14.19 True if Saul were to fight with men David only and his men But Saul must fight with David and his GOD hee must overcome GOD before he overcome David You have not mans warrant now you have GODS warrant That Saul shall never overcome Let him call-in the chosen men out of Israel give them his Commission bid them cut and kill and slay there is their warrant yet they shall never overcome David for GOD is with David But yet Saul must have all the advantage that heart can wish and all the disadvantage must be on Dâ—vids side Saul must rise in his hopes oftentimes and David must fall very low and yet not at the lowest Saul must have the advantage counsell on his side and strength both and numbers also Thousands for Davids hundreds yet David is not troubled at all this for it is as good a signe as can be looked upon he looks to the Cause and to his GOD rolles himselfe and his concernments upon GOD and there he resteth his head and has peace in himselfe and in his way But here is a Triall now The LORD does more then seeme He does indeed
lift-up the right hand of Davids Adversaries does David and Israel say Yes and so He may doe that He may exalt His owne Right-hand toward David anon Where we shall see That Davids cause is not carried on by number or multitude or by strength but by an over-ruling Hand And That GOD on Davids side answers all advantages on the Adversaries side both of number and strength and all disadvantages on Davids side in want of both Though for Thousands with Saul he can write but hundreds yet hee will not feare for GOD is with David and is departed from Saul and that answers all advantages on Sauls side and all disadvantages on Davids side as was said For now GOD delights to shew Himselfe and His Arme else we will not see it unlesse it be made most bare of flesh we would have many on our side so it will be but not yet but let us remember they may be too many for GOD to give us victory Iudges Eccles. 9.11 for we thinke The race must be to the swift and the battell to the strong When in Davids war it is quite contrary So much to Sauls Alarm to war his successe therein his numbers of men and how it relates to this war against David as it is at this day and answers Sauls seeming advantages and takes off the wonder there Now I come to examine what persons these were who come-in to Saul side to carry-on his persecution against David Saul called all the people together to war and they came-in by Troops an Host of three thousand chosen men What manner of persons were they Murtherers all I faâ— all nay GOD sayes all and every one of them were murtherers that were privy to Sauls intents and willingly followed the Commandement Marke that and marke we what we reade Saul spake to all his servants What to doe That they should kill David And they 1 Sam. 19.1.2 who did as Saul spake To their power were murtherers to their power And it was very possible to finde-out some Thousands chosen men in Israel who would kill David the faithfull of the LORD at this time for there were many Noble men in Israel and not many of these would give their hand to David conflict with him against him rather giving their hand to Saul Very probable it was so There were many rich men in Israel And whaâ— sayes the Apostle of them They despise they oppresse the poâ—re they draw them we need not make it a question Ia◠〈◊〉 2.6 our eyes have seene it befâ—re the judgement seat they blaspheme the worthy Name by which we are called Doubtlesse many of these were with Saul and bare their owne charges And I am more then halfe perswaded That Davids five hundred Troopers were but poore men a ragged Regiment very poore and almost naked for whence should they have supplies of necessaries GOD knowes surely man cannot tell I finde them in a wildernesse for the most part amongst wilde Goats No strange place to David and his Army They senâ— to a very Rich Man and he sent them a very churlish Aâ—swer but not one biâ— of bread And yet contented men they were whether paid or not paid and pillage they would not rather dye then doe wrong It it had or beene so they might have made brave pillage of Nabals sheep whereas they would not no not they Davids Souldiers 1 Sam. 25.16 they were a wall unto Nabals shepheards and their flockes both by night and by day And yet such a Nabal he was such a Churle and such a Foole when he made a feast like a King surfeited on his meat and was very drunke Nay before he was so distempered he would not give David no not a morsell This stirred Dâ—vids spirit not a little I passe it over here onely this in passage Davids spirit must be discovered to himselfe and that will be one maine Reason anon why his deliverance was delayed The Note is this The Rich Churlâ— mindes not David in the wildernesse nor shall he or his men taste of his morsels David shall taste of the Rich Mans spirit he will give David bad language and censure him withall Who is David A despicable person I warrant you he and his men are broken away from their Masters There 's his censure for as his name is so is he Nabal is his name and folly is with him Verse 25. he censures David at pleasure But it was well for the Rich man that Dâ—vid and his men were so neare his Shepherds and his Flocks had Sauls Troopers been so neare they would have taken them all for Booâ—ies and had they smelt-out Nabals feast they would not have sent Messengers unto him with a Blessing in their mouth Peace be both to thee Verse 6. and peace be to thy house and peace be unto all that thou hast Nor would they have spoken supplications Verse 8. Let the young men find favour in tâ—â—ne eyes for they come in a good day give I pray thee c. No they would not have prayed they would have commanded and done as the vile Priests did 1 Sam. 2.16 Thou shalt give it me now and if not I will take it by force Such a commanding Host was with Saul and past question such Priests were with him too to helpe-on the persecution for it was against David And never was there any persecution against David wherein the Priests were not most Active Ministers not knuckle deepe as we say but elbow deep in bloud as at this day We will take a view now of the Kings Army As before many Nobles there not many with David Rich men there such as the Apostâ—e has described great hunters before The LORD mighty to oppresse and to blaspheme The Name of their GOD. There are the vile Miniâ—ters too Isa 56.10 they kennell neare the Court even all your Dumb-Dâ—gs which cannot bâ—rke sleeping lâ—ing downe loving to slumber All these all over the Land are with the King now that his hand is against David and to strengthen his persecution They cave murthered Soules already now they will murther Bodies If they cannot with their hands they will set their heart to the worke and open their purses wide towards it Shall these and these men prosper Shall they carry-on their designe against David Shall they that hate The LORD lift-up the head Yes for a Time till GOD has perfected His work And His Adversaries have done theirs filling-up their measures and for other excellent Reasons which we shall heare anon We have seene now what Persons they ever have beene and are who have their hand against David murtherers all mighty hunters before The LORD And yet as I am not so foolishly ignorant to thinke That the vile Priests were not a part of Sauls Army either in Action or Affection contributing their Prayers and Purses towards the holy warre wherein they alwayes have beene a willing people of very large hearts So I am
his uprightnesse towards his Master As for wickednesse it does ever proceed from the wicked man This we have read before and the words are cleare and so Davids innocency is cleared as the noone day and Saul abundantly satisfied and his Evill spirit silenced for that time But yet David would not trust Saul No reason he should trust him in whom is no truth and from whom God is departed So David and his men gat them up into the hold in the hill of Hachilah Vers 22. 1 Sam. 26.1 among the Ziphites againe and these are as treacherous as before 'T is expected so Knave once and Knave still Treacherous persons will deal treacherously they saw Saul did deale so it was his common practise they would follow such a great Master he hearkened to lies and all his servants were wicked Pro. 29.12 But methinkes GOD does not deal so gratiously with His gracious Servant the poore man knows not whither to run hee went forward even now and now backward againe and still almost in the mouth of danger and hands of treacherous men Is this GODS kindnesse to His Friend may some say Yes indeed is it and we shall see it to be so anon Admirable Kindnesse wonderfull Providence strange Discoveries but we will remember all Davids adventures first In the meane time this will serve to beare-up our Spirits that it matters not whither David runs whether forward or backward so he keeps with GOD and GOD with him nay though he doe stray from GOD a little yet GOD will not leave David We proceed Saul reading the Ziphites Intelligence drives furiously with the three thousand men to Ziph againe where he knowes he has Right-men for his service what followes now in the Chapter we have read before but it is very well worth the paines to read the Chapter againe for besides the beholding GODS wonderfull hand there in working for David and casting his enemy into a deep sleep we shall observe there also That the divel was non-â—lust quite silenced he had not a word to say and yet David who could have trusted Saul very well durst not trust his Evill spirit but concludes It is better for him to make speed into the land of the Pâ—ilistines and thither he goes and dwells in Gath driven out from abiâ—ing in the inheritance of the LORD The King shewes David favour there assigneth him a Towne called Ziglag which must be smitten anon and burnt with fire Now we may suppose Davids case to be full of distraction David lookes on the right hand calls out Who is on my side who The Keilites thought he No but they are not their hand is with Saul Then he looked on the left hand to the Ziphites to see if they would helpe him No they are with Saul as Right as the other No help from men they are deceitfull and treacherous Then Dâ—vid lookes before him and hastened to that strong hold and the other and Saul drives him out thence also then into the Wildernesse he goes Saul hunts him there then to Gath and there he is out of Sauls reach whose power vvas stinted there when his vvill to doe David mischiefe vvas boundlesse Novv to the Relation it has vvith our time as it is at this day and then I will conclude the Chapter Indeed it relates it selfe Saul has thrust out a rough hand against David Davids LORD an Almighty Hand to deliver him from out of Sauls hand The hotter the persecution the more glorious the rescue But how did Saul gain advantage upon David By corruption in the Officers and base treachery which we call fine designes But the LORD wrought-forth glorious salvations for David hereby All shall yeeld pretious matter for his soule and spirit to work upon filling his mouth with MICHTAMS golden Songs of deliverance Michtam of David a golden jewell oâ— notable Song and so notes the excellency of these Psalmeâ— 16.56 57 58 59 60. So it was with David in those times So it will be with David The People and Friends of GOD unto the worlds end But these Michtams had beene lost this pretious Treasure of the Church had there not beene such fine devices such subtile contrivances against him had there not beene so much of Hell in all Sauls designes against David there had not been so much of Heaven in Davids Psalmes Nay had not David been in these and these straits had not his friends deceived him and all his Strong-holds too the Church had lost Davids MASCHILS also his Psalmes to give Instruction how to make advantage of an Adversary and of all the mischiefes he shall doe or intend to doe against David He could not have wanted any one thing was done against him by the violence of man either from their hand or from their tongue David could not have been so high above his Adversaries at the last had they not had him under at the first had not his Enemies dealing towards him been so base vile and treacherous David had not been so glorious The truth is Sauls violent dealing with David did David much good he could not have wanted it So likewise the treacherous dealing of the Keilites and Ziphites all this did him much good also And for his strong-holds he lost them with more advantage at the last then he gained them at the first These stood him in stead but for the present time to keepe Saul from his throat the losse of them turned unto infinite advantage To sum-up all that has beene spoken last David is come to Nob gets the sword into his hand the best Sword that ever was in the world for he sees The print of an Almighty hand upon it and carryes the revenge of The LORD along with him in it And now he thinks he shall be delivered No not yet Then he came to Keiliah he has wrought a strange deliverance for them Now he makes no doubt but they will worke for his deliverance with all their might No they are treacherous Then to Ziph he came to see what the Ziphites will doe As little as the Keilites all they can against David Friends prove themselves all false Strong-holds are all too weake yet all to make David strong in his GOD at the last to fill Davids mouth with MICHTAMS and with MASCHIL's pretious songs for deliverance and To give instruction Therefore though we see great reason why all should be even so with David yet we will soberly enquire more fully into all these matters for GOD will give us excellent resolution thereunto CHAP. 5. God suffer'd the Adversary to prevaile a while To worke-out his designes against David That thereby Davids spirit might be discovered to himselfe That his Adversarâ—es spirits might bee made manifest also and convinced And GODS Right-hand made glorious towards David This in all particulars relates to David The Faithfull of The LORD evermore VVHy does The LORD deale thus hardly for so it seemes Qu. with His gracious Servant Dâ—vid For
better Subject he is and friend both and more right for Sauls designes the more he declares himselfe an enemy to David Why now David cannot trust Saul All his sweet words are lost if he be melting a little the Evill spirit and the Edomite will harden him againe So David will to his Strong-hold and is resolved upon the question To go to GATH out of Sauls reach else he could not avoid Sauls bloody hand he thought which pursued him so far even till he had driven David from out of the Inheritance of the Lord And so Sauls Evill spirit is fully discovered now and manifest He must be convinced also non-plussed and put to silence The Evill spirit shall bee convinced that he shall not be able to say a word but in way of acknowledgement and honest confession from a sound conviction That he is a lyar a murtherer and has erred exceedingly See how convincing Truth is from Davids mouth and how ingenuous Saul is in his confession 1 Sam. 26.21 I have played the foole and erred exceedingly He had indeed Saul Davids grand enemy is fully discovered convinced also yet David is not delivered no. though all Sauls Right men the Edomites implacable adversaries his false friends Keilites and Ziphites are made manifest too yet David is not delivered no not yet we shall see more reason for it anon first we must bring-this-up-to our time GOD delayes his Churches deliverances now for the same reason sure That the adversaries thereof might be fully manifest to all Israel The actings of the evill spirit President over the Kings Councell were not manifest enough sixe yeares agoe when they thrust a cursed Booke upon the Scots and after that the sword Nor when they called a Parliament in England not to ease the yokes but to ingage the Kingdome in that warre which would have â—ashed the people one against the other even the father and the son together Ierem. 13.14 This evill spirit was not manifest enough yet for wickednesse may bee established by a Law in Scotland and yet pretence very faire To establish True Religion Lawes and Liberties here in England And goodly and sweet words were spoken that way and much done touching Bishops and their Courts And all this while the evill spirit was as an Angell of light And his Actings more indiscernable then before But then the Designe touching the Army in the North changed the Divels colour quite and made him looke as black as soot as he is an Angel of darknesse But let the evill spirit alone he can cleare up himselfe againe he will not be made manifest yet No not when he prevailed by the evill Counsell To remove the Lieutenant of the Tower in whom all Israel could confide and placed a Murtherer there in that Strong-hold notwithstanding the evill spirit was not manifest enough No nor when he counselled the King to desert the Parliament No nor when he perswaded the King to call all Israel to war against David and all that had their hand with David under pretence of taking a guard to his person Nor when he made the Edomite Generall in the field MANAGER of all the Kings affaires here in Israels Land notwithstanding the evill spirit was not manifest enough yet But now we know what spirit they are of and who rules them For the Land is filled with bloud from corner to corner Zeph. 3.3 The Princes within her are roaring Lyons reade-on her Iudges are evening Wolves never such violences acted by Tartars Caniballs as by these Princes Surely I cannot tell what shall be done unto them these murtherers GOD knowes And that they have broken all the lawes of Heaven and Earth Divine and Humane such Children of Belial they are Iob 31.3 I cannot tell what strange punishment shall befall these workers of iniquity Doth not the LORD see their wayes and count all their steps We will leave them in His Hands Who has put a bridle in their lips But this I can tell What an execution The LORD would have done upon those who had wrought villany in Israel joyning themselves unto BAAL-PEOR Num. 25.3 as these unto as abominable an Idol as was that But they had not shed bloud in the defence of that Idol These Princes in name have filled the Land with bloud from corner to corner Yet hearken what The LORD sayes unto those who joyned themselves unto Baal-Peor as these to the Idol of Rome Take all the heads of the people Vers 4 and hang them up before the LORD against the Sun that the fierce anger of The LORD may be turned away from Israel We will wait Gods time for then they shall be made manifest indeed before Israel and before the Sun In the mean time the evil spirit is discovered and discerned plaine enough for by his meere motion he has prevailed with the King to seale a Commission to his Edomites To kill and to slay his good people to lay a City waste even a Mother in Israel And if they will doe so to their power They shall approve themselves in so doing his best subjects and truest friends so he blesseth murtherers whom GOD will lay if they repent not in the lowest hell They have compassion on their King why they Because they will to their power destroy a mother City in Israel They would have a whole Kingdome wasted Blessed be ye of the LORD ye have compassion on me does the King say Blessed be The LORD The discovering GOD Who has had compassion on His poore people trusting in His Name and on His dwelling place Blessed be GOD The Spirit that rules the King and his Councell is discovered the Edomites also those bitter enemies the Keilites and the Ziphites too those false and treacherous friends Take them in order The Edomites first Those called SPIRITVALL Lords They must be discovered how full of spirit they were Their spirit was not sufficiently discovered eight yeares ago when they forced a cursed Paper to be read in all the Churches there to publish a Declaration for Sports and Passe-times on The LORDS DAY Their spirit was not discovered by all this for this the people liked reasonably well They had an Advouson for liberty To riot on the LORDS DAY and they were glad of that The people had a grant from the Bishops The Bishops from the Archbishop he from the King and that should be sufficient warrant for them and every one of them to riot on the LORDS DAY And for every Minister from the Pulpit GODS mouth there To command the people so to do O abominable Yes they have justified the Heathen at this point And yet these Bishops are not discovered yet They are in their white Robes yet we shall see them in Scarlet by and by And yet not manifest to all the Christian world say they how spirituall they were when with the Scarlet Whore they would have rode in the bloud of Scotland up even unto their horses bridles by the
space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs And yet their spirit not discovered yet Nor when they would have established themselves by an Oath A peculiar enstalment to the High Priest the GOD of our salvation as I shall shew in another Treatise purposely for them To cleare their Spirit to the world how spirituall they were But they would not be discovered then Nor by all the good offices they did the Church in Scotland and Ireland and their mother Church here in England who sayes of them Bloudy fathers have ye beene unto me bloudy fathers have ye beene And yet they are not manifest yet not yet When they would have made void and null as the phrase is All the Votes and Acts of Parliament for the Churches good And was not their spirit discovered now I cannot say No now for all Israel said Yes and they themselves said Yes too◠when they cast themselves out of the Court with their owne hands But yet they will be made more manifest What bloudy wayes have they prosecuted what divellish projects to wrest themselves into their places againe If any there are so divelishly minded so forsaken of common Reason and light of nature that they will give these spirituall men their right hand to lift-them-up to their chaire again though they make way thither through a field of BLOOD yet these Bishops will say Blessed are ye of the Lord ye have compassion on us These men are discovered sure how spirituall they are So are the Temporall Lords too all discovered and fully manifest to all Israel by their deceit guile couzenage their lying not unto man but to the LORD by their justifying the wicked whom the Lord abhorres by their Treacheries Treasons more then bloudy conspiracies now they are manifest enough Lord Digby manifest enough What KEEPERS the Great Seale has manifest enough and what a Recorder the City has manifest enough The LORD turne the Wheele over them all who would turne the Lawes into wormewood and justice into gall and would turne three Kingdomes upside-downe and make Cities ruinous heaps But they are discovered the Keilites too the Ziphites also friends in shew bloudy adversaries in deed These must be convinced also for the Churches innocency must be made manifest and they must put to silence the ignorance of wicked men and this is next to be considered on The LORD brings Saul into Davids Cave 1 Sam. 24.3 there David and his men encompasse him round as Saul and his men encompassed David in the Chapter before Now they come to Parley David cleares his innocency stops the divels mouth opens Sauls mouth for David and against himselfe convinceth Saul makes him weep That 's GODS end They must come to a Parley the second time for the divell is not non-plussed yet he shall be anon 1 Sam. 26.6 7 GOD puts it into Davids heart to goe downe to Sauls campe He causeth a deep sleep to fall upon Saul and his company then David does as we read returning back and standing at a distance he calls-out to Saul and so they come againe to a Parley and now the divell has not a word to say the spirit seemes to depart a little for then Saul heares David speake and so speakes himselfe as if he would make David weep and beleeve that there shall be a sweet agreement betwixt them for ever for Saul blesseth his sonne David and assureth him he shall doe great things 1 Sam. 26.25 and also shall still prevaile O that I could bring up this to this time But I cannot The divell is more mighty now and more shamelesse now then he was then if more can be as surely it can be for as length of time and experiences therein may make him more cunning so more wicked more shamelesse as at this day I can say GOD has brought the King and His Parliament to a Parley once and againe but still the malice of this evill Councell appeared wickednesse still proceeded from the wicked man but how wonderfully was the innocency of David the faithfull servants of the Lord cleared The LORD had this designe now He will make manifest the Adversaries treachery and His Servants innocency and he brings it about thus His Servants shall because they will treat upon a way to accommodate a Peace The LORD left men to goe their owne way not so warrantable by His Word to treat with implacable adversaries that He might bring to passe His owne will and bring good to His people It was conceived by all rationall men that on the Kings party nothing was intended really and indeed but mischiefe and bloudy treachery as is now manifest to the world But GOD suffered it to goe on brought sweet out of that sower good out of that evill The Evill spirit is silenced now the Malignants have not what to say O blessed be GOD He can doe what He pleaseth and what He does is for the good of His Israel This last Treaty betwixt King and Parliament has non-plussed the Divell his MANAGERS all are put to silence now they have not what to say and yet they are not ashamed True the wicked cannot be ashamed Were they sayes the Spirit ashamed when they had committed abomination oppressed GODS Poore to their power shed bloud to their power profaned the LORDS DAY by a Law when they endevoured to establish their cursed Hitrarchy by an Oath were they ashamed Or when they decreed unrighteous decrees and prescribed grievousnesse were they ashamed When they had committed these and these abominations Ier. 6.15 were they ashamed Nay They were not at all ashamed neither could they blush The wicked are discovered now nay they have discovered themselves and they are convinced some of them carry a mighty conviction within their Bosome And the Divell is put to silence too so I said I did not say the wicked are ashamed I know well they who have entred the path of the Destroyer and will pursue it they are hardened and brawned in evill They cannot blush But now what great matter have we gained by all this the wicked are manifest now 〈…〉 they are convinced too and yet nor David nor the Church are delivered Delivered nay they are in as bad a case as before and deliverance further off for ought we see True for David must be lower yet and the Churches deliverance further out of sight then now it is for ought we know But I pray you make answere to this and consider well on it Has David been a loser by any thing that has fallen out unto him all this long time so hee thought it of Sauls persecution No you will say for indeed you must say so David has been a great gainer by all this that hath happened unto him in the day wherein the LORD was pleased to exercise him with sore afflictions he has gained experience of his owne spirit how lying warping murmuring hasty proud and stout it was all this he has gained and
I know not how much more He has gained a full sight of all his adversaries their malice treacheries and falshoods are all made manifest his adversaries are convinced too and the Evill spirit silenced also Why then the Church will trust in their GOD for ever and well they may the LORD deales so and so with David His faithfull servant He delaied Davids deliverance it stayed as a Child comming to the birth when there is no power to bring forth but yet all this slacknesse as we call it in our haste was but to open Davids mouth the wider that he might be more filled with MICHTAMS and with MASCHILS Blessed be GOD then that the Churches deliverance does seeme to linger to be long a comming Blessed be His Name it is GODS doing and he does all things well and this He does now deferring His Churches deliverance is best of all Is it not best of all that the Church sees now more clearly into the way of their owne spirits and more through into the Path of the destroyer and into the very intents and purposes of her Adversaries Certainly if her deliverance be longer delayed as we call delay it is best for the Church still for all her straits shall be a meanes to open her mouth the wider to let in and give forth her MICHTAMS and her MASCHILS If deliverance stayes it is because there must be more discovery yet even of Gods Right-hand with David and this comes now to be considered on for it containes much Thirdly We will read Davids case first how wonderfully God made bare His arme towards him though he did not complete His deliverance yet This will be quickly done Then I will bring it up to these times even as it is at this day where we shall see the Church had seen very little of God had she been delivered after the manner and at the time they would have made choice of But GOD delaying the time from day to day the Church sees much in God every day See it in David first Had not Saul sought David every day to kill him David had not seene GODS hand so wonderfully reached-forth towards him in his salvation How wonderfully was David delivered from the Lions mouth at Nob A wonderful hand is reached out to David when he is delivered from treacherous persons that dealt treacherously Then in the wildernesse of Maon where the LORD wrought as wonderfully for David as He did for the children of Israel when He set-up a pillar betwixt the Egyptians and Israel assuring their adversary but he will not understand who must perish that he must overcome GOD first who lookes to overcome Israel So here is a Rocke of Separation as was said before so wonderfull was GOD in Davids deliverance as in Hachilah and in the wildernesse of Ziph where Ionathan helped David to strengthen his band in GOD and then did Davids GOD strengthen His hand towards David ever more strong towards His servants then when they are in a wood So also in the Philistines Countrey and when Davids City was burnt But I must referre this burning of Ziglag to the last for it was his last refuge and when David sate in ashes there he was nearest to his Crowne To apply this to our times 1 Sam. 23.26 1 Sam. 26. Had the Church been delivered with a deliverance as we had accounted a deliverance not a halfe deliverance but had we been delivered so as would have served our desires capacious and large as the Sea towards the world and things there but straitned to better and higher matters When the Lords and Commons went downe into the North three yeares agoe Then where had beene our Parliament Yet was Gods Hand wonderfull towards His people there Had it been granted to us from that high Court quickly after their sitting there according to the desires of our soules feeling no burden but what presseth and pincheth the outward man That the hurtfull sword should not hurt us at that time that should be sheathed our yokes should be taken off the shoulders ship-money and the like most illegall taxations then had we an ignorant and bruitish people rested our selves wonderously contented we had had enough And the Clergy also a sound part of them had been well enough too had the high Court freed them from that horrible Oath but for the ET-CAETERA'S there there let them be the Clergy thought not of those mischiefes minding the Oath onely that abominable invention I might goe-on but I must stand still and admire too little O the goodnesse of our GOD Hee would not grant our desires He would give us a deliverance indeed He will have things done in order the Prison-doores shall be opened to His servants and fast shut upon His adversaries He will make His enemies who sayd they were Bishops and were not Spirituall and were not Rev. 2.9 Lords and were not whose Blasphemy the LORD knowes He will make those uncase themselves and plucke-off their owne vizards and throw out themselves too at the last with their owne hands He will turne His wheele over the head that consulted against Him and throw downe those Powers that exalted themselves against His hidden one GOD would have glorious things done whether we would or no so as we can say now we were too hasty God has done all things well admirably well hitherto He has cast on the â—â—sâ—â—ps throwne downe their bloody Courts taken away those cu sed Oaths they shall be no more for a snâ—re and a traâ— How wonderfull was GODS right-hand here His people will trust Him for after times If He delayes deliverance it is to make bare His arme more which is best for His people if in patience and with an holy resignation of themselves into His hands they can wait for Him Wait does the hasty and impatient man say the LORD is consuming his house in the fire of His wrath and heat of His sore displeasure No no let GOD alone with His house and houshold all that the LORD does doe is but to exalt His owne Right-hand in all His peoples sight in His Churches deliverance and to open the Churches mouth wide in praise and thanksgiving So we will put the exalting of Gods hand and the exalting of His praise both together 4. Had not the pit of destruction been made wide and deep for Daviâ— his mouth had not been so wide open nor his heaâ—t so inlarged to the Praises of His GOD If he had not been in the depths he had not sung the high Praises of His GOD. Now so many deliverances so Many MICHTAMâ— and how many enemies were discovered so many Masâ—â—ils these pretious songs we find here and â—here And some Psalms TO BRING TO REMEMâ—Râ—Nâ—E Psal 38.70 It was necessary the Church should passe through these and those straâ—ts here and there a Gulfe else she would not have made use of her â—reasure which Daviâ— has prepared for tâ—em I might Reflâ—ct back now an
the Wildernesse and now by the favour of Achish he has one City of Refuge more assigned to him David is stept aside the Amalekites invade the City the while Smite it and burne it with fire and take away all his comforts the desire of his eyes and the delight of his heart all his comfort thence He heares devouring words besides to adde to his griefe Ah Lord what a sad case is this I shall propose some Quere's about it anon because the resolution thereunto will instruct us very much It will state and resolve our questions too and if not satisfie us yet will make us silent But first observing my method all along hitherto we must see how this relates to the present time also And blessed be GOD we see it very clearly it relates fully to our times for our Ziglags are smitten and burnt with fire Yes and our case is more like Davids still David heares devouring words from those he put as much confidence in as could be put upon men too much These talke of stoping him It is our case too we made lyes our refuge we put confidence in men because they are many in that Arm because it is strong And wha doe we heare Surely that which troubles us as much as it did David when his men spake of stoning him That men will prove themselves men deceitfull and treacherous That there is as much or more danger from them then from professed Adversaries VVell yes indeed it is well blessed be GOD let Him take what way He pleaseth so He will cast downe all our strong-holds our vaine confidences I know the Adversary laughs now VVell GOD laughes also and His People may laugh too at their owne folly and bee ashamed also the more the more they looked to multitudes Should not a people loâ—ke to their GOD Stay themselves upon an Almighty Arme Oh blessed be GOD who by every dayes experience of His faithfulnesse and mans unfaithfulnesse instructs His people to discretion To doe now as David did then encourage themselves in The LORD their GOD. And they that can doe so are in a good case as David was here and never nearer and closer to his GOD then when the creature was remotest from his eye never more encouragement from GOD then when he had most discouragement from man Therefore now though there be a casting downe yet these faithfull servanâ—s of The LORD are neare to a raising-up if not to a kingdome in this world yet in a better world which shall not be shaken and that is best of all So now Davids case though it relates not fully to our case yet it tells us what The LORD will doe for His people in after time we hope shortly raise them out of the Ashes so soone not sooner as their strong-holds All their vaine confidences shall bee destroyed As these fall so His people rise wherein we shall have a cleare understanding anon I would call-to remembrance first how wonderfully GOD has wrought for his Church and People that so we might not faint in our mindes but as doubtlesse Gods people doe encourage our hearts in GOD to strengthen us at the present and in after time He has wrought for His Church as strange a deliverance within these foure yeares as was that from out of Egypt That through the Red Sea And the bringing-back from Bâ—bâ—lâ—n so strange a deliverance has GOD wrought I conceive the Church has passed through her greatest strait already Before the sitâ—ing of the last Parliament and a moneth after she went through the greatest gulfe wherein she almost wonders at this day but GOD in Christ is only wonderfull how she passed it â—ver and was not swallowed-up therein Certaine it is That then at that time the Church was brought to the brow of the hill she as her LORD before her pâ—ssed thrâ—ugh the midst of â—er adversaries she knows not how nor have we poore people well and rightly considered on it how wonderfull that deliverance was Had we not had comm n thoughts about it it had not been as t tâ—is day I was a cheape deliverance indeed Isa 9.5 not bâ— the battell of the Warriâ—ur with whom is a confused 〈◊〉 anâ— garmenâ—s rolled in bloud The LORD brought it about by His oâ—ne out streâ—ched Arme. He hath bâ—oke the yoake of â—iâ— buâ—then and the sâ—asâ—eâ—â—is hoâ—â—er thâ— rod of his oppressour as in the day â—f â—idian And He put His pâ—ople to liâ—tle Cost all this while But bâ—cause the cheapneâ—â—e of thâ—t delâ—verance has taken awaâ— very much from the worth and wâ—â—â—ht of the saâ—e therefore sure it is that The LORD will not deliver Hâ—s Church now But by tâ—â— battell of the Waâ—â—â—oâ—â— with confâ—sâ—â— noisâ— and garments â—â—lleâ— in blâ—â—d I purposely insist upon this wonderfull deliverance the Church has had the more to strengthen our haâ—d in GOD against the time to come I do not well understand who Gâ—g â—nâ— Magog are who are her secret who are the Churches open enemies Nor can I â—ell whether the Tuâ—ke may noâ— molest her before she be taken from the earth or made a qâ—iet â—abitation there But this I conceive anâ— yeâ— I will not call it a conceit That as Davids deliverance was most aâ—â—â—rable which yet at present he took least notice of because the dâ—nger was over before he knew it covered and kept close under shâ—wes and pretences of extraordinary favours and acts of grace So were the Churches deliverances also all these three yeares before the war against her was open and manifest but more particularly admirable about three yeares agoe And I verily perswade my selfe the Papists shaâ—l never have the like advantages against her as they have had She has escaped â—heir great snare that is broken And though she was â—n her Advâ—rsâ—ries teeth as a prey there they were sure of her and made no more conscience to devoure her then to eate bread yet she is delivered O wonderfull Truly as wonderfull I think every whit as her deliverance will be then when her open Adversaries shall think verily to swallow her up quick for then when her enemy has prepared his Instruments of death is bigge with expectation Then the LORD will smite his bow out of his left hand Ezek. 39.3 and cause his arrowes to fall out of his Right hand Will it be surely so Yes it is as sure as if it were done Behold it is come and it is done saith the Lord. Surely the Churches deliverance three yeares agoe is as admirable as this will be And marke how the LORD has followed His victory over His Churches adversaries ever since Then He sent in the Heads of the Tribes and He has covered their heads with His owne wing ever since Their abode was among Scorpions yet were they not stung their soule was among Lions yet not devoured they were amongst those that were set on fire yet they were delivered O wonderfull Yes when GOD begins to deliver in delivering
He will deliver He will deliver indeed And see how graciously He has dealt with His Servants that serve Him with a willing mind He has given them successe ever since even to admiration and sent-them-in supplies and prospered those supplies after a wonderfull manner They have been in straits so often but these have served to make their way more passable and their enlargement more glorious I have recalled all this recording the yeares by-past and remembring the Right-hand of the Most High to strengthen and fortifie our spirit that we may not faint in the day of trouble when our Ziglags are smitten and burnt over our heads GOD is He who hath delivered 2 Cor. 1.10 saith the Apostle And so he concludes comfortably for the present and for after time But give me leave to reason a little as flesh bloud will whether we will or not Though GOD has delivered it does not therefore follow that He will deliver He had delivered His People from these and these enemies yet when His People had provoked Him by their images and strange vanities the LORD tells them plainly He will deliver them no more And why may not we expect to heare the same words Ye have rebelled more and more therefore I will deliver you no more We might indeed expect to heare the same words if the LORD in shewing mercy to a land did consult with the People of the Land with their deservings and the merit of their workes which he does not doe but with His free Mercy Goodnesse and loving Kindnesses consulting with Himselfe He hath delivered us from SO GREAT A DEATH marke that SO GREAT A DEATH for we had it not before when the righteous were pressed out of measure above strength when they were brought to the brow and brinke of the hill purposely to throw them downe headlong thence when they despaired even of life when the sentence of death was received in themselves when GOD doth deliver after such a manner as this such an unexpected glorious manner which heaven and earth stand wondring at from so great a death when He turneth the cap ivity of a People as Jordan back when He worketh so strangely so wonderfully this is an evident token that though the deliverance be not perfected yet it is perfecting The LORD doth watch over it and is working and contriving what way to make it more glorious for His Name is engaged upon it It may goe-backe till it be out of sight it may have many stops in comming-on againe it may fall into the depths where we can finde no bottome nor any humane helpe whereby it may rise again Notwithstanding GOD is working gloriously all this while so as we may say even now Now when they that hate the Lord lift-up the head why yet deliverance goes-on the LORD watcheth it and promoteth it and as it is in the Text. He dotâ— deliver while He is fitting His servants and making them MEET for deliverance And the more we shall see the Pit opened before us and hell there the more the way to deliverance shal be opened and the more of heaven we shall see there to doubt thereof were to provoke the LORD as they did at the SEA even at the RED SEA And now I suppose we are better fitted by all this to read over Davids case and therein our owne anon when I have given or rather not I but the Lord a resolution to certaine Quere's touching Davids case why the LORD dealt so bitterly with him Indeed David was greatly distressed a great desolation before his eyes but his eyes are to The LORD and that will helpe all David is as low brought as can be yet not too low for GOD to raise againe if He puts under His hand it is done and it is His glory to put forth His right hand at a dead lift David has said Try me O LORD and prove me the LORD will doe it he shall be tryed as silver is tryed but God his God will stand by him while he melts David shall be at no losse onely the drosse shall goe forth and his scum David had said Thou art my portion O LORD he had not said so had he not found what poore portions of comfort the creature yeelds us here below in the day of trouble David had prayed The LORD bring me to the rocke that is higher then I The LORD will doe it by unbottoming him of all creature confidences Alas how are we deceived we fooles build our house here as if so be we expected alwayes faire weather No we must build so as those who know the Raine will fall Windes will blow stormy haile will beat upon our house Heb. 11.10 We may read Abraham lookt for a City that hath foundations but not before all his strong-holds were downe and he was driven from all his foundations his creature-comforts here below We see already excellent Reasons why David was laid so low but I will speake of them very briefly in this order First David is in a strange land he lookes for peace there No he had no peace in his owne land and expects he to have it amongst the Philistines GOD will not give David rest from all adversity in the Philistines land David must not sit downe at rest till he be returned to his owne People And there is not the place of his rest neither our expectations from worldly things will deceive us it is good to learn how uncertaine these things are betimes that we may put no trust in them 2. Davids Ziglag is smitten and burnt with fire That David might now well understand what kinde of thing his Ziglag is casuall and hazardous He smote Amalecks town a few dayes ago Now Amaleck smites Davids town These are the changes here below up and downe The Adversary was smitten yesterday David to day a great difference in the stroke because GOD ordered it we can conclude neither love nor hatred from these things Do we hear that the Adversaries Right hand is lifted-up has smitten and burnt Davids City and he goes on valiantly as if he would carry all before him Be not dismaid at this it is no new thing Davids case he is low now but he will be up again and confound the Adversary anon and be more then conquerour It was said of the Romanes They were put to the worse in many skirmishes and light battels but never in a War They were worsted in the world many times never conquered there but they conquered the world This truly relates to David and his Warriours They are worsted in the world but yet in Christ they have overcome the world and shall be more then conquerours there anon after they have endured like good souldiers a little hardnesse 3. Davids Ziglag is smitten all his delectable things taken captive thence but not one slaine The Sword is in the enraged Amalekites hand yet does drinke no bloud nor eate flesh I told you before GOD would stand by
affliction and be acquainted with it David is rising a pace to his Crown It must be from the lowest bottome and when he was there in dust and ashes though he thought not so the Crown was hastning to his head For he did not faint in his minde But David encouraged himselfe in The LORD Mighty words and they make David strong and mighty in his GOD. All was gone All the discouragements that the world could lay upon David lyes now upon him yet he can encourage himselfe in GOD and so makes-up all his losses in one GOD. Indeed GOD is all-sufficient And now GOD turnes the heart of his men unto David againe And they march forth against the enemy in the strength of The LORD and fetch all back againe If David can encourage himselfe in GOD he shall see the streame turned presently as the rivers in the South If we can beleeve trust perfectly That which we think cannot be is possible and shall be That which we thinke is gone shall all turn back againe If we can be patient we shall receive all againe with advantage This in passage I would rather set a marke upon the time when David was delivered David was delivered but not before he was driven from all his strong-holds not before his-last place of refuge was smitten and burnt with fire not before all his comforts were taken from him and his men spake of stoning him Then he was delivered when to the eye of Reason deliverance was farthest off cleane out of sight I conclude from hence that David now all the faithfull of the LORD shall be delivered but not yet deliverance is comming-on and perfecting every day even by those meanes and wayes whereby we thinke it is set further backe but it will not be perfected not compleated as it shall be in time and as we call complete before all strong-holds and brest-workes are cast downe and destroyed I cannot be mistaken here I doe not meane that all the strong holds forts and brest-workes before our eyes must be destroyed before the Church shall be delivered no the Church is alwayes allowed the wisdome of the serpent to stand upon her guard and in her watch-tower to fortifie and brest-worke themselves against an insulting adversary who if he should prevaile will tread upon the head of the righteous more heavily then ever yet they were trod upon so as their neckes shall bow downe to the foot of pride shall be trod upon as the mire in the streets Blessed be GOD His servants have so fortified themselves and His blessings be upon the heads of those who have given forth their heart and hand to the raising these works for I verily beleeve these will be very serviceable to the Church till the very time when her LORD will make her a quiet habitation all the time before is like to be Troublous The meaning then is not That these forts and brest-workes before our eyes must be destroyed before the Church is delivered though it is very notable that so it was with David all was downe before he was raised quite forsaken before GOD took him up But all the Churches strong-holds within must be destroyed their vaine confidences their brest-works within raised there by these without making the Church confident and secure trusting in them these must be destroyed before the Church can be delivered Nay if these brest-workes and strong holds within be not destroyed they will destroy us they will put deliverance further backe and destroy these without I meane our trusting in them expecting salvation from them will destroy us and them it will bring a curse upon all the sword shall impoverish thy fenced Cities saith the LORD Ier. 5.17 Why will the Lord suffer the Adversarie to doe so Because His People set their hearts that way and departed from the LORD they expected salvation from their fenced Cities it is as idolatrous every whit as to expect salvation from stockes and stones therefore the LORD would impoverish their fenced Cities wherem thou TRVSTEDST with the sword their trust in these things destroyed the things and persons too But more of this in the eighth and last Chapter Our deliverance is delayed we shall see reason why it is so we are very high now and exalted but GOD must be exalted in that day We do indeed many of us lye among the Pots like as Scullions betwixt the Raunges i.e. sore troubles are upon us Psal 63.13 In summis angustiis sordibus squalore vixeritii Metaphora a calonibus castrensibus Iunius and our eyes have seen adversity and yet because our out-sides shew forth no such thing our outward garbe is so unsutable to Mourners to those that are sultied among Pots because our faces doe not change colour yet nor our cloaths we doe not take shame unto our selves Therefore GOD will not take off our reproach we shall see more adversity before GOD will put glory upon us before we shall be as the wings of a Dove covered with silver and yellow gold But more of thâ—s anon Now David is delivered for all his strong holds are downe and he can encourage himselfe in the Lord when all the discouragements that could be were upon him when he was weakest then was he strongest when he was driven from all his strong holds when all his comforts were removed when his men turned themselves against him then GOD comes in when no help from earth there is much from heaven GOD loves to shew himselfe for David when they can see nothing but His right hand put forth in their salvation Blessed be GOD a refuge that never failed David He comes-in when all goes out a present help in trouble Refuge failed me said David in his Maschil when he was in the Cave no man careth for me Psal 142.4 my owne servants speake of stoning me did he say at that time but then he encouraged himselfe in the LORD his GOD and said Thou art my refuge O! blessed be GOD Be the Nations never so angry and the earth unquiet Ier. 3.23 the Sea of this world never so tempestuous yet His servants eyes are ever to the LORD they can put-in into that harbour and they are secure I conclude Truely in vaine is salvation hoped for from the hills and from the multitude of mountaines Trulâ— in the LORD our GOD is the salvation of Israel Isa 29.19 The meeke shall increase their joy in the LORD and the poore among men shall rejoice in the Holy one of Israel In the way of thy judgements O Lord Isa 26.8 have we waited for thee the desire of our soule is to thy Name and to the remembrance of thee Amen CHAP. 7. A grave Question resolved Touching the manner how a Spirit is to be resisted If he acts like a Spirit then by the spirit of Prayer wherein Israel neither was nor is wanting If hee acts by the hand of an Edomite then he must be resisted by the sword of an
suddenly then the Lord will send them meet Saviours It is true GOD can worke by what instruments he pleaseth but He will not use base and inglorious instruments to worke forth a glorious salvation such as He has now in designe not such as pretend to have an hand with David and work all the mischiefe they can against David and those that have an hand with him and drinke the health of those who have sworne the destruction of David and in pursuance of that shed bloud to their power These men who have drunke a way their wits and their valour and their healths and cursed away their soules the Lord has rejected they shall not if they would doâ— Him service in this warre He will purge His Armies as He has done the Courts He will have Noble Instruments I meane faithfull such as feare GOD above many to carry on these designes and to bring about a worke of this nature Certainly they must be Mosesses and Ioshua's and Davids by which He will worke forth this glorious deliverance when GOD does glorious things wee shall see they are done by glorious instruments so it was in ancient times so it will be now We smote Og and all his people till there was none left to him remaining And a huge fellow this was King of Bashan who remained of the remnant of the Gyants and we tooke all his Cities at that time Deut. 3.3.4 5. there was not a City which we tooke nâ—t from them threescore Cities and these were fenced with high walls gates and barres besides unwalled Townes a great many Who was he that was so victorious Moses the faithfull Servant of the Lord. It is as notable how successefull Ioshua Moses Successor was when the accursed thing was removed we never read the like untill this day He came upon his enemies like a tempest destroyes all as he goes he passed-on to that strong-hold looked upon it and tooke it upon that day sayes the Text That is the account he gives us He came looked upon Makkedah Libnah Lachish Eglon Hebron and Hazor the heads of the Kingdomes tooke them on that day destroyed them neither left they any to breath Some adversaries melted before him others submitted others stood-it-out and quickly fell to his foot which Joshua set upon their neckes and gives Israel assured confidence for ever Thus shall the LORD doe against all the enemies against whom you fight But when are a people meet for such Saviours Quest When the people can love such Saviours Ans and not dote upon them When they can pray for them but not trust in them when they can use them as glorious Instruments in Gods hands but not leane upon them for that is to depart from an Almighty Hand the Church LEANES upon her BELOVED When they can give them their due thankes honour and praise and God all the glory O how faulty have we been at this point therefore how has The LORD pluckt some of those instruments from us those that were most faithfull If we give Gideons sword the preheminence we undo him and overthrow all and weakned the strength of others because we looked so stedfastly towards them How hath he discovered the treachery of others And all this that we may take our hope wholly off from the creature and six it fully upon Him vvho is faithfull If The LORD shevv us no more blessed be His Name that He hath shevved us so much and that He hath strengthned the hand of any of His Servants to bring salvation to His Israel notvvithstanding Israel is so prone to idolize Men. I must give resolution to one question more VVhen are a people fit and meet for such a salvation GOD has novv upon designe Qu. When their uncircumcised hearts are humbled Ans when they can indeed and in truth acknowledge their contrary walking It is a sad relation I read from 2. great persons who had travelled all Germany over that they found the Protestants there sarte more wicked under their pressures and calamitie then when they were in their ease and prosperity Ier. 6.29 and accept of the punishment for walking so contrary to the rule and will of GOD when their drosse and scum is sod forth in the furnace of their affliction this must be before we are delivered GOD does not deliver out of the furnace before His people are purified therein We think we have lyen long in the furnace But what have we profited by lying there so long Is not he that was proud proud still he that was filthy filthy still Is not the great scum sod in and are not the Bellows burnt As The Lord complaineth We are Brasse and Iron indeed an ordinary fire ordinary affliction will not melt us And though some are more tender and with Iosiah will quickly melt at the very hearing of wrath denounced yet these things must be soberly enquired into by all before we be delivered 2. A people are meet for deliverance when the accursed whether persons or things are destroyed from amongst them then Ioshuah was mighty and prevailed and not before Iosh 7.11 Till the accursed were destroyed from amongst Israel Israel were accursed and lying on the face could not help them That is a resolved Case 3. A people is meet for deliverance when all their Strong-holds are down I do not meane those before our eyes though this may he All our Forts and â—reast-workes must be destroyed before our eyes also as Davids was I say it may be so and likely so because it is so hard a matter to have them and not to Trust in them And if we do trust in them then they must be impoverished saith The LORD All our strong-holds must downe All wherein thou trustedst that is out of question Every thing that exalts it selfe against GOD must down for GOD will be exalted in that day It will be a glorious deliverance His people shall be greatly exalted Their enemies all shall be strangely confounded None of the glory of this wonderfull salvation shall be given to the Arm of flesh GOD will have all He is dainty at that point He will not give His glory to another To conclude we think GOD is long in comming and salvation sleepeth No GOD will come in the fittest season His salvation shall come and not stay It shall come and in such a season and in such a glorious manner as His people shall say Salvation could not have come in a fitter time It is certaine that the Servants of The LORD shall acknowledge they could not have wanted any one thing Their LORD has done in shew and semblance for their Adversaries and against them His own people their falling before their enemies has made them fall low before their GOD and rise high in their faith and to hold their confidence the faster They could not have wanted those blowes in the North no nor those blowes in the West which were like those stones thrown