blesseth God for a miraculous deliverance of her self and the Ark of God setled in her possession If it had not been the Lord who was on our side now may Israel say If it had not been the Lord who was on our side when men rose up against us Then they had swallowed us up quick when their wrath was kindled against us Then the water had overwhelmed us the stream had gone over our soul Then the proud waters had gone over our soul Blessed be the Lord who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowler the snare is broken and we are escaped Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth Non nobis Domine non nobis therefore not unto us Lord not unto us but unto thy name be the praise Thou art worthy to receive glory and honour and praise but to us there belongeth nothing but shame and confusion of face for we contributed only to the reproach and captivity of Gods Ark and solemn worship its happy restitution and settlement we ow to thy signal power and goodness great and marvellous are thy works Lord God Almighty just and true are thy ways thou King of Saints Who shall not fear thee O Lord and glorifie thy name Rev. 15.3 4. 2. A second design of our spiritual burnt sacrifice must be to make an atonement for those miscarriages which forfeited our interest in the Ark and betrayed it into captivity It was good advice of the Priests and Diviners to the Philistims when they consulted them about returning the Ark of God 1 Sam. 6.3 Oh! send it not away empty said they but in any wise return God a trespass-offering with it that you may be healed The captivity of that Ark wrought a strange conviction in the Philistims as well as in the Jews The Philistims saw clearly they had no reason to triumph in this defeat they had given Isâ—ael for though they had won the field they had got no Victory they had taken the Ark indeed but they had made no conquest of it for it fell upon the Reer of them and smote them in their hinder parts it discovered so much of their nakedness and turn'd their inside so much outward and put them to so much shame and anguish that they were glad to send it back with a trespass-offering and beg to be reconciled to it the Israelites they were instructed likewise that it was not out of ill will to the Ark nor for want of strength in God that the Philistims prevailed to take it captive but only out of a just indignation to revenge the prophanation of that sacred Instrument which was the visible obsignation of his grace and favour to them And when God was about to suffer his holy Temple to be defiled upon a like account he sends his people to be schooled by that example Jer. 7.11 12. Is the house that is called by my name become a den of robbers behold I have seen it But go now to my place which was in Shiloh where I set my name at the first and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel And because of your wicked works I will therefore do to that house that is called by my name as I did to Shiloh Is there any here amongst us that can plead not guilty hast not thou prophaned the Ark of Gods Worship that was amongst us hast not thou been unthankfull for it hast not thou been unfruitfull under the Ministry of it there is no person in this Congregation if he be of a competent age but his heart will tell him that he did contribute something to the captivity of this Ark. If we had as much ingenuity I am sure we have as much cause as Mr. Bradford in the Book of Martyrs had or as the Christians that were banished in Q. Maries days had to accuse our selves for our wilful betraying the honour of our Religion and the interest of the holy Gospel We may all say For my sins and for thy sins was the Ark the solemn worship and service of God tâ—ken captive and upon this account it becomes our duty to present a burnt sacrifice for our atonement now upon its restitution But wherewith shall I come before the Lord and how my self before the most high God Mic. 6.6 the Psalmist hath resolved us Psal 51.17 A broken and a contrite heart O God thou wilt not despise This is our burnt sacrifice 2. But to this we must add a peace-offering and that must consist of a double ingredient 1. A dutiful submission to this settlement of the Ark. And 2. A joyful gratulation for it 1. A dutiful submission to it In the the 24. Psal we find the people invited to a solemn reception of the Ark Psal 24.7 Lift up your heads O ye gates and be ye lift up ye everlasting doors and the King of glory shall come in Fuit beneficium Dei non vulgare saith Mr. Calvin quod Deus visibili symbolo in medio ipsorum residebat In Psal 24.7 coelesteque suum domicilium volebat in terrâ conspici See 1 Kings 8.6 with 11. It was no ordinary favour of God that he would reside amongst them in a visible representation and suffer his sacred habitation be seen on earth it should be their ambition therefore and zeal to entertain it Therefore lift up your heads Oh ye gates and the King of glory shall come in but what are those gates that should be so solemnly opened for the admission of the King of glory Sub ratione typi fuerunt portae Templi Ames in Psal 24.24 1 Kings 8.6 11. saith Amesius Reipsâ vero sunt fidelium corda Isa 66.1 2. they were the gates of the Temple in type but the hearts of holy men in reality they are the Tabernacle that Gods Ark and worship should reside in We must therefore inwardly in our very hearts and souls submit to this outward settlement of it in the Tabernacle or Church of God and this upon a fourfold Consideration 1. In regard of the place where the Ark is setled not in Barnes or Stables not in a Forreign far distant place 't is within thy Neighbourhood and yet appropriated to this service Though God be not confin'd to any place though he hath not chosen any peculiarly to put his Ark in as among the Jews yet for our sakes he delights in such places as our devotions have made his propriety The Lord loveth the gates of Zion more then all the dwellings of Jacob and in compliance with him herein the devout soul cries out Lord I have loved the habitation of thy house and the place where thy honour dwelleth and the Zeal of thy house hath even consumed me and make not my Fathers house a house of Merchandize it is observable though our Saviour in the first year of his Ministry foretels that
of the Almighty The Elders that Rule well under a pious Prince they do correspond and comply with him in his Devotions as those Elders in the Revelation did with the four Beasts which are conceived to be the four Evangelists when those Beasts gave glory and honour to him that sate upon the Throne Then the twenty four Elders fell down before him that sate upon the Throne Revel 4.9 10. and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever Such were these Elders here they did comply with David to attend the Ark in this Solemn Procession And so did the Captains too not for fashion sake 3. The Captains I wist or meerly to pay a civil homage to their Prince like Naaman when he went into the house of Rimmon but out of devotion For Souldiers may be Religious we read of one Centurion that had a prodigious faith I have not found so great faith no not in Israel of another commended for his worthy piety He loveth our nation and hath built us a Synagogue of another whose devotions soared so high upon the wings of his almes and fasting Acts 10. that they procured him an extraordinary visitation of kindness from Almighty God Souldiers are the sinews of a Kingdom if they be lax and dissolute through intemperance and effeminacy the state of that Kingdom is but feeble if they be cut asunder by Factions and Divisions it has no strength at all but enough to enable it to tumble and wallow in its own gore To strengthen these sinewes there is no such Anodyne as Religion and indeed if Souldiers be not Religious how will they serve their Prince either for the Lords sake or for conscience sake Atheism cancels the two strongest obligations of a subjects duty and Allegiance Gallantry will carry but few to the Gates of death for the safety and honour of their Prince and if interest be all the engagement he hath upon his Souldiers that may be bought off the best Exchequer the fullest Purse will carry it If his Captains be not Religious the Prince cannot be so confident of their fidelity to be sure not of their valour and success for through faith the servants of God waxed valiant in fight Heb. 11.33 34. put to flight the Armies of the aliens and subdued Kingdoms They got not the victory through their own strength neither was it their own arme that saved them but it was the aid and favour of the Daity whom they adored Hereupon the Psalmist saith I will not trust in my bow it is not my Sword that shall help me but it is thou O God that savest me and puttest them to confusion that hate me Non eripio Magistratui arma Typotius de Salut Reipub. p. 242. non praecido Consilia His enim Resp stat illis defenditur I do not disarm the Magistrate of his Militia nor cut off his Counsel for the Common-weal is upheld by the one and defended by the other At quovis rerum Statu absque Dei Numine nihil recte geritur desperatis rebus quid subsidii reliquum est Si non Deus praepotens atque immortalis In the best state of things nothing is well done without Gods assistance but when things are grown desperate what Anchor to hold is steady what Sanctuary to flee to but only the defence of the Almighty Some put their trust in Chariots and some in Horses but we will remember the name of the Lord our God They are brought down and fall'n but we are risen and stand upright Psal 20.7 8 David therefore will have no Souldiers to be of his Guard but such aâ— have a devotion for the Ark of God And where there is such a Prince after Gods own heart â—uch a conformable Priesthood such Religious Elders such devout and zealous Souldiers we may be confident of an orderly well-affected people for it is the Irregular Priest and the Seditious Elder and the Factious Souldier that does distract and imbroil a Kingdom and fill it with disorder and confusion In a word to shut up this Scene of our Discourse When a Prince comes newly to his Throne and the possession of his Kingdom all Degrees and Orders of men under his Dominion address themselves to make their recognition of his Authority and pay their homage to him Why now the Ark of God was a going to be inthroned in Sion and take possession as it were of its Kingdom and therefore David will have all his Subjects of what rank or quality soever present themselves to acknowledge and perform their respective Duty the Priests to devote their zeal and diligence the Elders their Counsel and Authority the Captains their strength and valour and all the people their fidelity and obedience to the Royal Prerogative thereof Thus we have given you an account of the first Quaere who they were that did Transport or Conduct this Ark in this pregnant Relative They So They brought 2. How they did Transport and Conduct it 1. With what Carriage or Instruments 2. With what Pomp and Solemnity in which as in the other general parts that are to follow I must be more brief that I may come timely to the pitch of my designe the Application 1. With what Carriage and Instruments To set the Ark of the Covenant upon a Cart and commit it to the blind conduct of a pair of Kine was somewhat tolerable in the Philistims who had no Priests that were rightly dedicated to the most high God And they had so much reverence to it as to set it upon a Cart that had not been over-worn in the service of the world in the drudgery of their secular imployments a new Cart will less profane it then the shoulders of an old uncircumcised Philistine They had so much care and reverence too as to commit it to the conduct of such Kine as being sent from their Calves would be sure not to hurry it on too fast to run it into the danger of an utter over-throw It might have fall'n into the hands of some men much more rash unreasonable and head-strong But yet that this new Cart and those Kine should carry it as they did was not without a miracle as the Learned think When the Ark is within the confines of Israel where there are Priests anointed and hallowed to attend upon it to Cart it then whether out of sloth or negligence out of irreverence or carelesness out of Faction or Inconformity is such an intolerable contempt and prophanation as God will not let go unpunished David doth acknowledge that the breach which was made upon them by the death of Uzzah was for this disorder 1 Chron. 15.13 for God will have things performed in their due order in his service and that afflâ—ction was an instruction to him and made him apprehend that none ought to carry the Ark but the Priests and Levites * 1 Chron. 15.2 2 Chron. 5 4 5. and Josh 3.6 whom the Lord had chosen
for that Ministry And well might they undertake it for the Ark of God was not like the Idols of Egypt a burden to the weary Beast †Isa 46.1 it did not oppress or wring the Priests shoulders for the Text saith The Lord helped them to bear it 1 Chron. 15.26 Such is Gods goodness if we will but seriously endeavour it we cannot want a sufficient assistance to perform our expeâ—ted duty Thus you see with what Carriage or Instruments the Ark was transported But 2. With what pomp and solemnity and of this we may observe that it was very great but withal very pious very decent very delightful and very cordial 1. A pious solemnity It began with an accustomed Form of Prayer for so Moses had taught them when the Ark advanced to say * Num. 10 3â— Rise Lord and let thine enemies be scattered To their Prayers they added Sacrifice Psal 68.1 2. 1 Chron. 15.26 A Sacrifice of thanksgiving that God did vouchsafe not only to spare the Levites whereas he had smitten Uzzah but also to assist them in their Ministry and that their devotions might be the more rational they make them intelligible by a Psalm of praise newly penn'd on purpose to adorn the pomp of this solemnity 1 Chron. 16.7 c. 2. It was a decent Solemnity 1 Chron. 15.27 for David was clothed with a robe of fine linen and all the Levites that bare the Ark and the Singers and Chenaniah the Master of the Song with the Singers David also had upon him an Ephod of linen See Eng. Annor on Judg. 8.27 1 Sam. 2.18 on 2 Sam. 6.14 The Ephod was an habit appropriated to Gods Service And there were two sorts of them one very rich and costly peculiar to the High-Priest made of blew purple scarlet and twined linen cunningly wrought and embroidered with gold of which Exod. 28.4 6. the other was a vestment of linen for Priests and Levites which others might freely use also though we finde it no where prescribed to them and such a one David used at this time say the English Annotators not only as being more light and fit for motion on 2 Sam. 6.14 but also to shew his devotion in his religious Service Here was decency and a signification of devotion in the use of this garment I pray observe and carry that home with you and hereupon the Votaries of the Lamb of God are represented to St John See Dr. Ham. Notes upon Rev. 19.8 as celebrating the solemn Service of God in the Christian Church in this habit Revel 19. 3. It was a delightful Solemnity For There was shouting and the sound of the Cornet and Trumpets and Cymbals making a noise with Psalteries and Harps 1 Chron. 15.28 God requires that his people should serve him with joy and gladness * Deut. 28.47 and as well to blow up and inflame that sacred fire as to entertain and discover it he allows the use of these bellows Musical Instruments as well as Voices When our melody is spiritual and does not degenerate into carnality and looseness when the Holy Ghost is the Master of the Musick it is so great an advantage to our devotions that we are exhorted even under the New Testament John 4. where all the Worship of God is to be performed in Spirit and in Truth even here under the dispensation of the Gospel we are exhorted to use it to raise up our devotions to the edification of our selves and others Eph. 5.18 19. Col. 3.16 Be not drunk with wine wherein is excess but be filled with the Spirit speaking to your selves and admonishing others in Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Songs singing with your voice and making melody with musical instruments with grace in your hearts unto the Lord. And accordingly 4. This was a cordial Solemnity There are a sort of men in the world so rash so uncharitable so censorious that they condemn all the Service that is performed to Almighty God with pomp and ceremony or any shew of solemnity as meerly formal and hypocritical Let the practice of David upon this occasion confute their vain and false imaginations It is a contradiction to say the more there is of delight the less there is of the soul in any service David perform'd this duty not only with joy and gladness * 1 Chron. 15.25 2 Sam. 6.12 but with all his might and the holy extasies of his soul caused a religious transportation and rapture in his body in these exercises for he danced before the Lord with all his might †2 Sam. 6.14 When his heart danced so for joy his body could not chuse but sympathizâ— in the passion and dance in grave and comely measuâ—es with it My heart and my flesh cryeth out for the living God Psal 84.2 When I went with the multitude into the house of God I poured out my soul in me saith he Psal 42.4 i. e. I emptied my self of all earthly and carnal delights Bellar. ad haec verba Psalmi that I might be filled with the pleasures of Gods house I expatiated and enlarged my desires and faculties that I might be capable to receive the influences of so great a blessing His body was in the dance with the decency of an Ephod but his very heart and soul were in the joy of this holy procession so cordial and so delightful so decent and so pious was this Solemnity And thus we have done with the first general part of the Text the Transportation or Conduct of the Ark So they brought the Ark of God We come now to the second 2. The scituation of it And they set it in the Tent that David had pitched for it This was in the City of David a part of Jerusalem 2 Sam. 6.12 where the Court was kept David knew there was need of a sovereign Amulet against those temptations that do usually â—aunt and follow greatness The splendour of a Court might possibly dazzle his eyes and make him forget his duty 't is good therefore to have the light thereof eclipsed by the greater splendour of a divine Majesty The bands of Religion may be drawn so close and tyed so fast about his soul upon the frequent sight of such a sacred Shrine as the Ark was that nothing could easily puff it up or make his spirits flye out into dissolution The sight of this was apt to strike the heart with awe and reverence 2. But besides David was certainly inform'd that the presence of the Ark had brought signal blessings evidences of Gods favour upon the Family of Obed-Edom and why should not he endeavour to share in the benefit who had at least as good a Title as Obed-Edom to the Ark it self 1 Cor. 12.31 To covet the best gifts and that earnestly is a very commendable part of our duty To hunger and thirst after righteousness after spiritual blessings is a holy thirst and hunger To be ambitious to