does in these dayes as followes and what Saul did first Saul was Davids Lord on earth but he hunts after Davids soule that hee might not live upon the ground Saul is Davids King and Davids persecutor The Priests King and the Priests murtherer by the hand of an Edomite Ah Lord who can expresse the miserable plight and how dolefull the condition is the evill spirit has driven Saul into He is Israels King and he is smiting Israels City The great Fiduciary of the Kingdome and the greatest Traytor there This tells us what is done now David is persecuted now and his King seduced by Edomites Davids adversaries persecutes him because who so faithfull as he in all the Kingdome A defendor of the Faith and by his evill Counsell a destroyer of the Faith A maintainer of the Gospel in profession and a persecutor of the faithfull Ministers publishers of the same the Messengers of the Church and the glory of Christ The great Fiduciary of the Kingdome yet seduced by an evill Councell he betrayes that great Trust Englands King and Englands destroyer The Lord of their Cities and waster of the same Are not these grievous words Yes they must be so plaine Truth direct and home what expectation of any good but from such-like-words If ever the King come to himselfe finde himselfe lost for murtherers have stolne him away then such words as these will be to his heart and may serve to usher-in Pardon peace and comfort for the sowrer the herbes the sweeter the Passeover whereas pleasing words from vile flatterers his Court Chaplaines have wounded their Master and left him more then halfe dead Such words as these may kill him out-right and by Gods grace quicken him againe to a life indeed I am glad I have spoken for first I have said no more but what is already told in Gath and published in the streets of Aschalon Secondly what if it were not told by me nor as aforesaid yet all created strength cannot stop the mouth of blouds so loud it cries Irelands bloud what an Ocean of bloud is there Cyciters bloud Burminghams bloud Banburies bloud shedding of this bloud was counted a fine device as Bristols bloud intended to be shed Oxfords bloud Bloud here and there and everywhere whereto the hand could reach O what a voice is here as the voice of many waters or Thunders Is there a voice that can out-cry I meane cry louder to Heaven and in the Eares of the Lord then can the voice of blouds yes the voice of bloud cries louder then the bloud of Abel or the blouds shed from righteous Abel unto this day and there is the hope of Israel concerning their King The voice of the bloud of sprinkling Heb. 12.24 that speakes better things then that of Abel Better things that cryed from the earth for a curse upon the earth and Cain there Gen. 4.12 This cries in Heaven for mercy to such sinners on earth who can say not with Cain My punishment but my sin is greater then I can beare yet not too great for Christ to beare a Redeemer that is strong a Saviour to the utmost There is hope in Israel concerning that And here is ground of hope too because these Stephens the slain all the day long can pray for their King all the day long crying with a loud voice not more for themselves at such a time then for their King saying Lord lay not this sinne to our Kings charge Amen Amen CHAP. 4. Quaeries touching the Edomite whether by the knowne Lawes of Israels Kingdome Saul might entertaine him in his Court grant him a Commission to smite a City of Priests whether any reason for that whether single or plurall and whether by any possible meanes an Edomite may be made serviceable to Israel How it relates to the present exemplifying the History of our Time VVHy does King Saul take an Edomite into his Court Qu. to be an Officer there It is answered in effect before Ans Saul is King and he knew himselfe so to be Qu. and will chuse his owne Officers may he not No indeed Ans he may not unlesse it be to be his Heardsman and there should be caution and some consultation about that too Questionlesse he must not chuse a servant to be chiefe in his house to transact the great affaires of his Kingdome there without the allowance and consent of All Israel because Saul does not chuse for himselfe but for the whole Kingdome But it is written Ob. Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite Yes Ans that is most true it is the charge of the Lord and we have the Reason Deut. 23.8 For he is thy brother Nor shalt thou ab or an Egyptian because thou wast a stranger in his land What is the meaning of this This we must not be unnaturall nor must we forget old favours But it does not follow from hence I hope that therefore Saul might take an Edomite make him a Chiefe Ruler in his house or that he might put considence in an Egyptian for the charge is contrary And if Saul will entertaine an intimacy and familiarity with an Edomite an old adversary to Israel as we have heard and seene and shall make it more legible yet It does plainly argue 3 Sect. Saul to be no true friend to Israel Sauls heart cannot be upright toward Israel when it cleaves to Israels adversary in love He cannot heartily desire the peace of Israel and heartily love an enemy to that peace I pray let us aske some more questions touching the Edomite I will answer by the Booke then good Law and Reason both Why did Saul make the Edomite Generall in this warre against David Qu. Saul gives someanswer to that with a little Reason Ans Because his sonne Ionathan stirred-up David to lye in wait for Saul as at this day 1. Sam. 22.8 As at this day indeed Qu. But this answer makes us more unresolved then before for all the world knowes that Ionathan was a good man and David as good as he besides we finde David fleeing away from the face of Saul like a Partridge and Saul hunting him like a Dog Let us heare Reason I pray you Was it not That the Edomite might recover the sword our of Davids hand No no that could not be it Ans for when Saul speakes out his minde freely as sometimes he did for a wicked heart will discover it selfe amongst his Servants he does not bid them fetch the sword from David but kill him And Saul spake to Ionathan and to all his servants 1 Sam. 19.1 that they should kill David It is Davids life not the sword that is aimed at And the Edomite was a Right man for that service for he was a mighty man mighty to do mischiefe and skilfull to destroy Whom David and All them that had an hand with David That is the direct Answer Saul indeed spake
the Philistine And that was it but the greatest reason for that in the world David had slaine the Philistine with the sword then carries it away as lawfull prize but that God might have all the glory he layes it up before the Lord and now after enquiring at Gods mouth it is given David But this is all the Edomite has to say And I know not what he could have said more to the Priest his commendation Blessed be God that the Edomite has not whereof to accuse the good Priest all he speaks is for his commendation and surely so is the will of God that with well doing Priests then and Ministers now and people also and it is their glory may put to silence 1 Pet. 2.16 muzzle the mouths of beastly men we reade silence the ignorance of foolish men And so by the will and grace of God have and doe Ministers and people at this day even put to silence the ignorance of wicked men Many and grievious things are laid to their charge but no more proved then was against David or Paul after him Therefore wee must note here that the Edomite then though a bloudy wretch and mighty to doe mischief and could like the Spider turne Balsome into Poison yet was he a very modest informer I doe not remember that the Bishops had such another in any of their Courts and truly he shames the Edomites of these dayes This Edomite tels Saul the truth and nothing but the truth and so shames the Devill That Abimelech enquired of the Lord for David so he did That he gave David bread so he did too and a sword so he did also The Edomite accuseth the Priest of no more but what the Priest did and the Edomite saw done The children of Edom in these daies are more gracelesse and impudent a great deale they sweare and curse and blaspheme and doe not utter more words then lyes against David the upright in heart what devouring words heare we from their mouthes what horrible blasphemies from Liechfields Presse in Oxford how doe they charge David with those things he knowes not nay abhorres to thinke of as contrary to his foule and spirit as were those things charged upon Iob in his two and twentieth Chapter This is all wee will note touching the Edomite in this Chapter we shall enquire more of him anon We see here he was a very mannerly civill fellow in comparison of the Edomites now a dayes not so much of the Divill in him as these have who rage now amongst us breaking bands and casting away cords as possessed men in ancient times And yet before I shut up this Chapter I must satisfie a small doubt Psal 52.3 David in his Psalme of Instructions tells us that Doeg loved sying So hee did for when Saul complained that all his Servants conspired against him Mâ—â—â—â—â—â— to informe the understanding touching the Edomite and this time they do indeed said Doeg Abimelech conspireth against thee too and so he accuseth the Priest materially not one false word in the whole Accusation But intentionally lyes all and devouring words he intended as much mischiefe to Abimelech as hee could have done him had he spoken against him never a word true We may exemplifie it thus An Edomite now for we shall prove anon that the Papist now and the Edomites then are brothers came to the King tells his Majestie that the Ammunition was removed from Hull That is true and yet lying and devouring words intentionally spoke to enrage the King against his best Subjects It is all in all with what minde words are spoken if with a mind to murther and destroy they are lying and devouring words though never a word false and so I will shut up this Chapter Vers 4. Thou lovest all devouring words O deceitfull man CHAP. II. Saul impleads Abimelech he makes answer for himselfe which clears the case of all the righteous now and the great case now in question Saul is not satisfied with reason but notwithstanding reason and Law both command also from Gods mouth for what Abimelech did Saul slayeth Abimelech and destroy's the City of Priests SAul will be discovered anon his owne hand will take off the Vaile wherewith he has covered the eyes of Priests and People the very intents of his heart touching David will be laid naked before the people his owne hand will now give in cleare evidence how bloody his thoughts were alwayes towards David And indeed the hand is a sure witnesse and tells us evermore whitherto thoughts tend as the casting the Water-mans Armes tells us whither hee tends and not the setting of his face When Diotrephes did reach forth his hand to Excommunication casting the Brethren out of the Church then the old Servant of the Lord must needs tell against whom the malitious words were pointed or prated Against us 3. Epist Ioh. 10. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith Saint John for against them the hand went our also I speak not this as if I thought it so hard a matter to ken which way malicious devouring words doe tend or that I thinke the thoughts projects contrivances of the wicked against the godly are so indiscernable though we must grant that there are many intricacies and perplexities in their wayes the turnings and windings of the crooked Serpent for the wicked like harmfull beasts doe love confusa vestigia The wicked man forgeth and hammereth forth deceit Fabricatur Pro. 6.14 and while his thoughts and imaginations are thus busily employed he thinks no eye is upon him but that he is as some Pioner or Gun-powder-man hid under ground and indeed from the eye of man hee is hid For our thoughts are but the transactions or discussions of the minde within that inward closet and privie Chamber there and therefore they must needs want forme and shape but the office of the tongue is to stamp a forme to give a shape unto them and then our thoughts are legible For what other are our actions but our very thoughts our secret talkings and parleys of our minde cast into a mould onely we must observe and it is but a common observation That the hand giveth the truest shape the hand maketh the perfectest mould There are some we know who read not as they write nor sing as they pricke and many more who speake not as they thinke but the hand varieth not from the Idea that was in the minde If a man forgeth mischiefe upon his bed then when he is up and it be in the power of his hands and there be no over-ruling hand he will act it The hand is a sure interpreter of our mind and of the transactions there an infallible witnesse that cannot lie words may deceive and many times are spoken for this very end to darken the thoughts and intent of the mind and to make them lesse legible these may be smoother then butter when warre is in his heart these may be as soft as
mad with rage Thou and all thy fathers house 1 Sam. 2.23 True it is it was the burden of the Lord upon Elies house and cause there was just enough why God should doe to that house as he threatned Yea and just cause too though not so cleare to dim eyes Wherefore Nob should be so smitten men women and children there We have concluded The cause is just for God is righteous And yet no cause not the least title of reason why Saul should doe it why he should seale a Commission to an Edomite to doe such an horrible execution Saul I say the great Eiductary of the kingdom intrusted with the lives of all the Priests people there no reason why Saul should so say and so do being as aforesaid but all the reason in the world why he should stop his eare from hearing of bloud much more his hand from shedding the same But Saul will do as he said Thou shalt surely dye Abimelech thou and all thy fathers house See! Saul will be chief and fore-man in this bloudy worke to make the City of Priests an Acheldama that it may be called no more Nob but a Field of bloud or HORMAH Num. 21.3 utter destruction Saul is the chiefe Actor here for he commands his servants first Turne ye and slay the Priests his servants would not Saul will have it done then he turned to Doeg a Right-man and said as much to him no sooner said but it was done And Doeg the Edomite turned fell upon the Priests and slew Marke it for though here is a miserable destruction bodies and garments too rolled in bloud yet here is comfort to every true Israelite What is that To see a City lye in ashes Priests and people wallowing in blood is there comfort in this No and yet God will bring comfort and good out of all this to his Israel anon Now this is the comfort that there are but two Actors in this Tragedy Saul and his Edomite only these specified by name True it is we shall reade anon in the third Section of Three thousand chosen men out of Israel whom Saul called together to guard his person he said being affraid of David as the Bird of Prey is of the Partridge But nothing they did not a drop of blood shed by them These only are the Active Men these two skilfull to destroy Saul and his Edomite Thanke God for this Wickednesse proceeds from the wicked man Israel can wash their hands in the innocency of their hearts and say They are free touching this matter for which will be more cleare anon Israel cannot charge any more then two amongst those three thousand their King and his Edomite More were guilty of that bloodshed that is certaine for the Edomite was not singular but plurall as will appeare by and by but no more could Israel charge with the bloodshed that their hands had shed it but Saul and his Edomite only And the charge lay heavy upon Saul like as a heavy burthen unsupportable as a Milstone pressing him downe upon his owne sword and then Lower He had shed blood to his power and blood pursued him till it had made a more cleane riddance of him and his house then he made at Nob for there one Priest escaped his butchers knife here not one shall escape This we may reade in a Book I have seen called the Kings Chronicle And so God reckoned with Saul to the last drop 1. Sect. p. 26.27 which he hath shed for God has barrelled-up the spilt Blood of the Righteous as he bottles-up their Teares CHAP. 3. The Priests Arraignment impleadings and Answers run-up paerallell with ours in these times so does the upshot or determination of the businesse for there was Peace in proposition but none in conclusion betwixt Saul and David So here Saul has shed blood which runs-up to these times too but with a fuller stream of bloods yet the voice of Blood cryes louder then does the voice of Bloods SO now Saul has done execution and God has dealt with Saul according as He threatens When we thinke thereon we have cause to say and feel the vertue of what we say My heart trembleth because of Thee and I feare for thy judgements Before I will relate to these Times I will tell one thing very briefly which shall relate to the present and parallel it selfe Here has beene a faire and peaceable parley betwixt Saul and Abimelech touching David He impleaded Abimelech and gives him leave to make answer which the Priest has done as we heard the clearest and fullest that ever was heard Was there not a sweet agreement betwixt them No it was never intended Proposition it as we say Tender propositions of Peace betwixt Saul and David while the Evill spirit is upon Saul and the Edomite in Sauls Bosom It is to no purpose vanity of vanitie's the greatest vanity To wish or thinke of an Accommodation betwixt Saul and David rebus sic stantibus that must be remembred the Evill spirit in his place and the Edomite in his and Saul quite out of himselfe for so it was then No you will say Let the Priest call-back David take from him the Sword he should have had an hard pull of it then give it unto Saul and the matter is ended No As sure as the Sunne did shine then and does shine now so sure it is That this would not have contented Saul but this would have wonderously contented him If the Priest would have called back David demanded the Sword and being given into his hand have sheathed it into Davids Bowels or have given it Saul that he might doe that horrid execution with his owne hands Then the Priest had been a Right-man for Sauls service Then here had beene Peace betwixt Saul and the Priest such as would have pleased all three The Divel Saul and the Edomite too Then Saul would have blessed the Priest in The Name of the Lord saying Thou hast compassion on me Doe I speake without the Book No it is every word sacred Truth you shall heare more of it in a fitter place We must see now how the lines of this Accusation put up by Saul against Abimelech run parallel with the Kings accusation suggested to him by his vile Councellours against his faithfull Servants at this day The King pleads Law for what he does so did Saul too for he chargeth this heavily upon Abimelech That he enquired of the Lord for David gave Bread to Davids mouth and the sword into his hand All this was against the knowne lawes of the Land as Saul seemes to conceive These are the Kings charges too I will speake thereof in order The first Charge is 1. That Abimelech enquired of The LORD So should Saul have done then and so should the King have done now not hearkning to vile Councellours whose graves The LORD has made for they are vile a Nahum 2.44 hee must not advise with them rather let them
flie to the Pit He that ruleth over men must be just ruling in the feare of God b 1 Sam. 23.3 Therefore made He thee King over them c 2 Chro. 9.8 Psal 72.2 Wherefore To doe judgement and justice He shall judge THY People with Righteousnesse and THY Poore with Iudgement There is a must and a shall for the greatest King that ever was It is very emphaticall too and as notable Thy People Thy Poore GODS People and GODS Poore must be judged with Righteous Judgement But so it cannot be but by enquiring of The LORD what He saith taking Counsell from His Mouth and from His Law-Booke which the King stands charged to write for himselfe for it must be with him Deut. 17.18.19 and therein be must reade all the dayes of his life that he may learne to feare The LORD his GOD to keepe all the words of the Law and the statutes to doe them This the Parliament doe They enquire of The Lord by prayer and fasting They take direction from His Law-book which is continually with them wherein they reade and whereby they order the great affaires of The Kingdome Great use of a Law-booke and to have it continually with them before their eyes And this is all the Crime that can be objected and proved against them They enquire of The LORD and consult with This Law-booke It is well they doe They can thanke God for that Sauls accusation runs on 2. The Priest has given David Bread The King by his wicked Counsell accuseth his Parliament even so They have given his good People bread that is life in our sense which by a Figure we may call bread They have given a poore dead People life againe and bread to maintaine life They have given we thanke them heartily life to their lawes life to their liberties life to the soule of their life to their Religion and this they had not done but by enquiring of the LORD and doing all by Statute Law and this we call bread There has been something like this bread given to the People Shew bread rather bread in shew stone indeed and something they had given them like a fish but indeed a Serpent Now the Kings good People will desire no more of their King but that he would give his People Bread bread under this figure which we may call life or bread indeed and properly so called which more then too cruelly was and is denyed to David The third charge followes and that is grievous 3. And a sword sayes Saul then That seemes to be the quarrell now and but seemes that the Sword Forts Castles Townes Ships Ammunition of the Kingdome all which we understand by the Sword is put into Davids hand Trusty welbeloved and faithfull Well and well indeed may we poore people say that the Sword is given into Davids hand the Parliaments hand for they will manage it for our good to defend us and offend the Philistines The Parliament will not cut our throats we are very assured and confident thereof But the Edomite wee shall know him anon if wee know him not yet would have cut our throats before this time all their throats that had their hand with David had he had the Sword delivered into his hand We can confide in none but David no wise man will blame us for him we know a man after Gods owne heart and the Edomite we know and shall know him better anon a Right man for he is the right hand of the Devill We are glad that the Sword is in Davids hand But yet this was charged against the Priest then and the Parliament now that David had the sword And what shall I say to this whereunto GOD Nature and Law speakes Reason and more that so it ought to be the Sword ought to be given into Davids hand a faithfull Man in whom the people may confide A Man will trust no other in shutting-in the windowes doores and gates of his house great Reason there should be the same care had about the great house and Trust of the Kingdome the frontier-Towns there But why given out of his Majesties hand and given into Davids hand Because the Sword was never in the Kings hand as his proper right there any more then the Sword was in Sauls hand as his proper goods there Therefore we speake not properly given-out The Sword is Israels Sword the Common Trust of the Kingdome belonging indeed to the great Fiduciary there and yet is the Sword not out of the Kings hands but given into Davids hands for a second Reason 2. Because as the Edomite was nearest to Sauls hand and heart too at that time So the Papist is so neare to the Kings heart now that he is as deare to him as he is neare even as his Right Arme and Right Eye eternally his for ought we can gather from his writ I will conclude this with the words of an honest Servant to an overbearing Master I will serve you Sir if you wil serve The Lord. You may command me when God commands you I will heartily obey your commands when you shall so obey Gods commands * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The head hath an Head All things shall be done as you will have it But you must command as God will have it Ignatius to a Priest Chryso I pray you heartily give me leave to be honest and faithfull If you will not so I will be whether you will or no. Doe you what you will I will do what I ought No man can dislike this except Saul and his Edomite I need say no more in a case which is so fully opened and cleared that all the Malignants in the world shall not be able to darken it to the worlds end I will not say looke upon Mr. Pryn's booke I will name him for honour sake and to spight the Devil reade him or choose you whether you will or not we must say Blessed be God for His servant who has stood-up in the gap by the power of His might and held up His hand for him ever since against the Mighty Blessed be God But notwithstanding all this is cleared to be all Truth Reason and Law and more yet and that is most of all a Command for all this the Parliament has done from Gods mouth too Yet such Evill Counsels over-rule the King and the case that he does now as Saul did then and much more kils the Priests and destroyes Cities So far as his Arme can reach he has overthrowne those Tunc vere victus quando tot vicis prudentes Walfing Edw. 2. p. â—5 whose hand is with David therein giving himself the greatest overthrow for no such victory against the King as for him to have victory against his good people as was said of Edward the second overcomming his Parliament once and destroying himselfe for ever Thus Saul did in his dayes thus and more the King seduced by Evill Counsell and acted by evill instruments
oyle and yet drawn swords as we read But when we see the hand besmeared with bloud then we certainly conclude that the thoughts were of a scarlet colour and this is the sight or prospect we shall take a view of presently A bloudy execution done upon Nob yet bloudy though it be Saul pretends hee does it by helpe of God and the Law by the knowne Lawes of the Kingdome which that we may examine we will handle it not as an execution done but ready to be done else Saul might be said to doe as the Judge at Lidford who hanged a man in the forenoone and then heard his inditement and passed sentence over him in the afternoone not called the knowne Law of the kingdome then Mr. Iueil defence but Lidford Law to this day Saul was not to bad as to do so he hath slaine Abimelech but hee impleaded him first objects against him and heares what hee can say for himselfe Saul hath this to say against him That Abimelech and the son of Iesse Saul meanes David Ob. whom hee names with as little honour as can be were confederate together and had conspired against him 1 Sam. 22.13 Why have ye conspired against me thou and the sonne of Iesse A sore accusation Ans but of no weight validity or strength from Sauls mouth who calls all conspirators who will not shew Saul where David is that so he may shed innocent bloud according to the power in his hands Vers 8. that so he may shed innocent bloud according to the power in his hands Vers 13. All of you have conspired against me But what had the Priest done which might be called a Conspiracy a taking part with David That he should rise against Saul to lye in wait as it is at this day Thus Saul sayes and so he impleads Abimelech In that thou hast given bread Ob. and a sword and hast enquired of God for him We will take the last first Ans enquired of God for David It was the Priests office so to do nor was that the first time that the Priest enquired of the Lord for David Vers 15. nor did the Priest know the second amongst the many thousands of Israel who deserved better from the hands of Saul and all Israel then Dauid did and therefore why might not Abimelech enquire of the Lord for him There is all Reason and Law both that so the Priest should doe enquire of the Lord for David but reason will not serve nor the resolution of the Lord neither The enquiry was saith Iunius about the Shew-bread c Vt cognoseeree an sacros panes tantùm Sacerdotibus concessos gladium semel Deo sacratum ad alios usus transferre fas esset lawfull for the Priests onely to eat and the Sword consecrated to God Whether that or this might be translated unto other uses whereunto no doubt the Priest had full satisfaction That they might In such an extremity David might refresh his hungry soule with that bread and in such a danger which God was privie to hee might take Goliah sword to defend himself therewith and to prevent Saul from seizing upon it first 1 Sam. 21 10. the more easily thereby to further his bloudy designe upon David But yet there is some more question touching the Sword as for the bread it was made for man and not man for bread That is a cleared case from the Lord Christs owne mouth Touching the Sword there is all the question now Saul a King pretends himselfe Master of the same as of Keilah for all the strong holds and ammunition there did belong to Saul they were all his proper goods and therefore Abimelech giving the sword to David he did it that he should use it against Saul to lye in wait So Saul forceth the accusation Whereunto Abimeleth makes a faire and full answer That Saul was no more Lord of the one then of the other he had no more propriety or right in the sword then in the bread nor the one nor the other were Sauls but the Lords laid-up both before the Lord and consecrated to Him But the Lord hath no nead of bread or of a sword His people Israel have need of both and as their need required so Israel might take the Bread thereby to sustaine life and the Sword thereby to defend life David tooke it for that end and according to the minde and will of God whose intent was cleare That Goliabs sword now lawfully wrested out of his hand and in Davids hand then layed up before the Lord should be for the defence of Israel and to fortifie Israel against their enemies to the worlds end And so the case is resolved about Keilah too a City that had gates and bartes not Sauls City now to batter downe though he would presume so farre about Davids eares but His City whose the kingdome was the Lords kingdome and trusted onely to Saul for the defence of Israel and no further And yet that Abimelech may deliver no more to Saul but what is justifiable by the Law of heaven and earth he assureth him that what he sayes is from Gods Mouth for there he enquired and received answer as aforesaid and thereupon his warrant to give David Bread and Sword both Moreover he addes be it far from him 1 Sam. 22.14 the Priest of the Lord to entertaine a disloyall thought against his Master the Lords Anointed enquiring of the Lord for David and giving him bread and a sword he knew David to be a faithfull person none like him in all Sauls house nor more honourable being the Kings Son-in-Law and for any thing else hee knew nothing lesse or more As honest and satisfying an answere had it been spoken to any mans eare but Sauls as ever came from a Priests mouth for it was taken from Gods Mouth but Saul is resolved before hand upon the Question for nothing can satisfie Sauls thirst but Davids bloud and because Abimelech stood in Sauls way and for reliefe of David Saul will have the Priests bloud Vers 16. And the King said thou shalt surely dye Abimelech See! There is an argument Abimelech cannot answere when a man drives furiously onward in a bloudy way neither law nor reason shall stop him nor the Angel with his drawne sword in the way Nay Saul stops not there he speaks more bloudy words yet and will doe as he speakes What I am loth to mention it from the mouth of a King and King of Israel the great Fiductary of the kingdome there I had rather a Philistin said it such an unkingly word so devoid of all reason and humanity but yet Israels King sayes it and we must repeat it after him Thou and all thy fathers house Ah Lord what a bloudy word is this what a bloudy man is that An Evill spirit came upon Saul indeed haunts him still and drives him on Lord deliver us from him for the man is
will Require it He will not indure to have evill cal'd good and good evill For three transgressions of Edom c. But of that anon So much for resolution to the Queries touching the Edomite his taking into the Court Designing unto Office there The granting him a Commission to destroy Neb Now see wee how stoutly and with what a good will he performed it Sauls Command was to the Edomites heart and heartily he executes it So Saul shall see That the Edomite is a Right Man 1 Sam. 22.17.18 no sooner Saul had said Turne and slay the Priests of the Lord because their hand also was with David and they knew when he fled and did not shew it me No sooner this was spoken to the Edomite but he turned and did accordingly he fell upon the Priests and slew and shewed no pitty Then Men did groane out of the City and the Soule of the wounded Cryed-out Yet GOD layeth not folly to these murtherers Though they are of those that Rebell against the light Iob 24.12 13. saies Iob offended at those very things our eyes behold at this Day The Lord who cleares His Servants Righteousnesse as the Morning will cleare His owne Righteousnesse as the Noone Day And though we are but dim-sighted yet we shall discern it anon I will shut up this Chapter as David begins his Psalme Why boastest thou thy selfe in mischiefe Psal 52.1 O Mighty Man The goodnesse of God endureth Continually CHAP. 5. Sad Cases examined and tryed before the Lord and resolved from His Mouth which may silence a Poore People slaine all the day long by the hurtfull and oppressing Sword now in the hand of bloody Edomites NOw here is a case to be tryed before the Lord touching these slain Priests and their destroyed City which I hope will give us good satisfaction at least silence us when our spirits are stirred within us beholding the villanous Butcheries the notorious violences acted by our Turks I never yetcal'd them Cavaliers never will by that Gentile Name in our Land upon our Ministers and good People all that have their hand with David our so wasted Towns and Cities Touching the Priests first God is Righteous so we have concluded Ier. 12.1 Hab. 1.13.14 yet the Righteous say now as once they did Wherefore lookest Thou upon them that deale treacherously and holdest Thy Tongue when the wicked devoureth the Man that is more Righteous then hee And makest men as the Fishes of the Sea as the Creeping things that have no Ruler over them Nay they speake now almost as foolishly as once they did it is in vaine to serve GOD and what profit is it that we have kept the Ordinances The Proud are happy for they that tempt GOD are set up Mal. 3.13 14. while they that serve Him truely are cast downe and destroyed This was Abimilechs Case he has done his duty the Edomite himselfe being witnesse by direction from Gods Mouth for hee enquired of the LORD for David c. Yet he is cut off from the Earth with 84. more the Priests of The Lord as not sit to live upon the ground So the Priests were dealt with then and so now So Cruelly And what then Yet the Potsheards must not strive with their Maker but if they will strive the Servants of The LORD must not strive but if they will strive then with the worke of their owne hands the Potsheards with the Potsheards of the Earth The LORD is Righteous and His Judgements as the great deep The Glory of His worke even of His Strange worke exceeds infinitely the glory of the Sunne which yet we cannot pry into and doth ever shine cleare though sometimes we see it not and the blind man never The Cause of His Judgements may be secret but ever Just So we have Concluded But because I would cleare the Sad Condition of our good Ministers now I say 2. There be Sinnes in these Best Ministers for none other are persecuted and though but little Sins in Comparison of others of their Tribe Great and Mighty Sinners before The Lord for Men abhorre the offering of the Lord for their Sakes yet are they Sinnes and the greater in them because they are indeed the Messengers of the Churches and the glory of Christ The more Glory The Lord puts upon them The greater their Sinne And these Sinnes must be purged in them by Fire But Blessed be God That wheras He might have punished them For their Evill doings hee makes them suffer from the hands of wicked men for Righteousnesse sake and so honours them with the Glory of Martyrdome as it is at this day for doubtlesse The Ministers now suffer for the Cause of Christ if ever any suffered for his Cause since the beginning of the VVorld But why were the 84. Priests slaine at the same Time As for Abimilech hee might Transgresse as a Man and yet that cannot bee granted in this Case for hee enquired of the LORD did all by direction from His Mouth hee could call God to Record upon his Soule that he did what he did by Statute-law the knowne Law of the Kingdome But yet suppose That Abimilech did Transgresse in giving forth the sword yet why were the fourescore and foure Priests slaine It is not possible for man to speake Reason here Ans though indeed there is some reason given in the Text the same and as good reason as is given now because their hands also is with David Speak Reason and speake out with whom should she Priests be but with David who had wrought such salvation for Israel and upon whom next to God Israel had rouled themselves and all their concernments yet this was the reason then and this is all the reason now of this horrible persecution because their hand is with David the Worthies the faithfull of the Lord there therefore destroy the Priests because their hand is with David thus we see man can give no reason only God can as aforesaid And wee must note still That these were cut off with the Sword of an Edomite not because they were greater sinners then any other Priests were but because they were godly and conscientious of their duty that enrageth the Edomite against them There is another reason also which The Lord giveth That other Priests might be warned thereby For note we the greatest sinners are not the greatest sufferers in this life I meane they have not the greatest afflictions Nay it is most commonly cleane contrary they have no changes in their life when as the godly have changes of sorrowes True it is and we will not make it a question Destruction is to the wicked and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity But wee must note That to be slaine with the sword of an Edomite is no strange punishment but the lot of the righteous their lot to be smitten with the hand of violence and made the portion of Foxes It is so and the
will of The Lord it should be so for note we where the Lord gives Commission to the Sword to goe forth Ezek. 9.5 spare and pitty none neither old nor young neither man nor woman He does say Come not neare any man upon whom is the marke i. e. to hurt them He does not say Come not neare My Sanctuaries the Priests or their Cities The Holy Ghost chargeth the Sword to beginne there And begin at my Sanctuary We cannot be ignorant what the use is the Apostle Peter would have Priests and people 1 Pet 4.17.18.19 good and bad make hereof If judgement must begin at the house of GOD what shall the end bee of them that obey not the Gospell of God And if the righteous scarcely be saved where shall the ungodly appeare It strikes terrour to the wicked but strong consolation to the godly Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit their soules to Him in well doing as unto A Faithfull Creator But with them and their house the Sword begins for note we who is the Butt of the Edomites malice b Si fuerit sublimis fit despicabilis c. Si bonus est quispiam quasi mâ—lus spernitar Si malns est quasi bonus honoratâ—r Salv. li. 4. p. 113. against whom then and now he drawes his Arrow with all his strength It is that he may shoot at and kill the upright in heart The Priests of The Lord then the servants of The Lord now Is there any one whose hand is with David any one who feares God above many any one who as his Lord and Master loveth Righteousnesse and hateth Iniquity Is he such an one beat him stone him slay him hang-him he is a deg use him like a Dog the Parliaments Dog his hand is with David that is Reason enough with an Edomite turne about and stay him for he is no friend to Caesar Blessed be God That this man can count his cost and account the reproach of Christ great riches And blessed be God that according to their sufferings shall their consolations be full measure pressing downe and running over he remembers his masters words in the world tribulation What more that which makes amends for all in Me peace that 's enough Iohn 16.33 But let me aske these Edomites this question Have they a Warrant for what they doe Yes they will say they have a Commission from the King under the Great Seale of England An honest man is the KEEPER the while which runnes evermore thus For the doing of these notorious violences this commission shall be to you and them and every one of them a sufficient warrant But O that they could remember That God is an avenger of these things and when He makes Inquisition for bloud then he that granted this Commission and hee that executed it Ezek. 22.14 shall fall both together Their heart cannot endure nor can their hands bee strong in the day The LORD shall deale with them and with the KEEPER too who hath wickedly betrayed the great trust of the Kingdome Come we now to the people 1. The children and sucklings there they were slaine The Edomite has made the like slaughter in our dayes for he has slaine the mother and the childe together I thinke the childe in the mothers wombe We need say very little more unto it then this The Sword was in the Edomites hand then it is in his hand now the Papist I meane still as bloudy now and ever as the Edomite ever was and what hee was you shall heare anon 2. We must say The LORD is righteous and these sucklings had finned though not after the similitude of Adams transgression Indeed it is a sad sight but we may shut the eye yet see into this case as farre with our eye shut as open for truly now we are in the darke wee are come to the secrets of GODS Decree and there we leave these Sucklings and Children all Only I will tell my thoughts which have ground from holy Scripture That Parents now seeing their Sucklings snatched from their breasts and their children from out of their deare armes and from under their wings because the Parents have an hand with David pray marke that may take more comfort in such a violent death theirs or their childrens then if they had seen them dye on their bed For I doe assure you That I have read of some Parents who have beene very ambitious of such a Martyrdome Oh! to have an hand with David to help him against the mighty and an heart with Christ and to suffer for this and so it is at this Day is a glorious kind of Martyrdome that it is 3. The People are destroyed Men and Women there Answ I will Answer againe The Edomite did it a sworne Enemy to Israel as we have read once and againe he did it who does thirst after Bloud and yet not he alone It cannot bee reasonably conceived That he alone a single man could act such an horrid execution but helped and strengthned with Sauls bloudy Courtiers some more of that generation or Bastard Israelites as Cruell as the Edomite was every whit And let me say too for it must be observed strengthened also with the Peoples Sinnes I meane the Sinues of that City The Inhabitants there did doubtlesse strengthen the Edomite and the Bastard Israelites against their City and their selves Nostris peccatis Barbarâ— fortes sunt nostris vitijs Romanus superat exercitus Hiero. Epist l. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isid Pelus Ep. l. 1 Ep. 294 p. 66. a The Peoples sins made the Edomite strong we Include all Davids Enemies under that Name against the People of Israel Doubtlesse it was so for I Read the like expression full for our Instruction The Sinnes of Israel strengthned Eglon (b) Iudg. 3.14 against Israel Marke it Eglon then and the Edomite now had a Will alwaies as the Divell has to doe Israel mischiefe But nor Eglon them nor the Edomite now no nor the Divell neither mighty though he be nor this Adversary nor that nor the other have strength and power of themselves To doe Israel mischiefe for hurt they cannot doe I say Will they have still Power they have none of themselves till GOD lets it forth till He strengthens them against His People for their Sinnes against Him The God of all Wisedome Power and Grace So we Read And the Children of Israel did Evill againe in the fight of the Lord. Observe that expression by the way and you will observe That God Markes what is done amisse Hee sees Sin in His People for you Read here and every where before the Eyes of The LORD Iudg. 3.12 in the sight of the LORD And The LORD strengthened Eglon against Israel Why It is repeated againe Because Israel had done Evill in the Sight of The LORD Therefore Eglon was so strong against Israel then The Edomites after that time and
fac totum Lord Do-all as was said before But the Edomite has smitten Cities and burnt Townes They stinke before David and all Israel now and they must needs know it that Israel will in good time rise up all as one man to thrust them out of their land It is good for Israel that the Edomite has dealt so hatefully with them wasting their Cities and slaughtering their people VVe would not lift up a sword against the Edomite to drive them out of the land without gaine of money not yet which the heathen in ancient time and now scorne to take fighting against Israel The time will come very shortly Iudges 5.19 after the Edomite has vexed us a little more that we shall willingly offer our selves and jeopard our lives to the death to be avenged of the Edomite for our two eyes he would have put them both out our burnt Cities and wasted Townes It was commonly said that there never were any VVolves in England for that the Land would not beare them Yes there were VVolves in England sayes Camerartus Cap. 28. and the Land yeelded the Wolves good and cleane feeding the best Mutton in all the Country they feasted upon it every Night This Man lost 20 Sheepe in a Night another as many more Grievous Wolves indeed The People then did not stand looking one upon the other Complaining of their losses Nor did they commit the slaughter of these Wolves so grievous to their Shepheards Those undertakers who could looke to their owne safety sleepe all Night leave the Wolves to their Prey and take gaine of money in the Morning No it was not so every Man stood-up for himself To keep the Wolfe from his Doore and from his Fold Tooke his weapon in his hand and so pursu'd the Wolves And it was gaine sufficient to rid themselves of them and secure their Folds And so they did their worke quickly being every Mans worke and bestirring themselves about it Only this help was granted them That Offendors so be they were not Murtherers Capitall Offendors should have their lives granted them and their liberty upon Condition That they would bring in so many wolves thier heads or their Tongues else the People could not believe they were killed By this meanes there was a cleane riddance of Wolves untill this day For ought I know had not the VVolves been after their manner grievous The Land had beene pestered and plagued with them as at this day Blessed be GOD say I That VVolves are grievous whether they have foure feet or but two they are wolves and grievous Blessed be God for that That the Prelates hands were so heavy Their Yoke so unsupportable Their Orders Their Oaths their Courts so vexatious mischievous and unsufferable Blessed be GOD That Clergy and Laity Ministers and people both did groane for anguish of Spirit and Cruell Bondage under those Taskmasters doing the worke of an IMPERIOUS WHORISH WOMAN Ezek. 16. I verily believe we shall never see Prelate more in England I say Prelate A Diotrephes I meane such as our Bishops were Therefore the Name though a good Name is so hatefull 3 Iohn 9. because so abused so ill Answered who love to have the preheminence honour amongst Men and therefore cannot love the LORD JESUS CHRIST We shall never have such Bishops againe That word will please best they were so grievous once Sith they were such grievous Thornes by nature it is well they were so indeed That the Thorne was thrust home And so for these Edomites too They will make their owne savour to bee abhorred in the Eyes and Nostrills of all Israel They are about their worke as fast as they can Blessed be GOD for it say I for when there is no Peace to him that goes forth nor to him that comes in But great vexation shall be upon all the Inhabitants of the Countries What then Why then wolves are grievous and then let the Country-Men alone every one will stand in his place The Man and his VVife both Sonne and Daughter also every one with their weapon in their hand what it is I cannot tell but what comes next to hand that shall be a weapon good enough for indignation against the Edomite and his oppression which makes a Wise man mad Eccles 77. will frame him a weapon sooner then all the Smiths forges in the Towne or City Is it a discouragement thinke you That their Armour is taken from them None at all Courage Zeale for GOD hatred of the Edomite Love to their gaine and ease I should not put that last all this is Armour of proof the best Armour in the World Doubtlesse this was good to Israel even to feele the weight of the Edomites hand and the Mischiefe of his Counsell That Israel might have no communion with him ever after It was good for Israel then to be so wasted by Edomites so it is with Israel at this day for Israel will deale with Papists as with their sinnes give entertainment to them put them into Office suffer them to beare rule and sway all there as you heard and their hearts to cleave to them in love even so with their sinnes till they see and feele what mischiefe their sins have done them what Lords or lusts they have served and so what Fightings they have caused without what feare within And when they see and feele all this then they can abhorre their Sins and themselves for giving such loving entertainment to their Sins so long Israel must feel first and their Adversaries must be suffered to deale proudly To prepare Instruments of death and then to thrust them home even unto the heart of Israel Then Israel will open their eyes and look about them and not before To conclude The Edomites must be as pricking Briars and grieving Thornes before they shall be thrust away They must bee not in some but in all places as evening VVolves before every Mans hand will be thrust out against them to thrust them to the heart They must stinke before David and all Israel and then Israel will rise up all as one man to thrust them out who say of Israels Kingdome at this day as in ancient dayes Rase it rase it even to the ground But now here is a strange sight Though the Edomite has dealt so cruelly with Israel as we heard though he has laid waste Israels City and dwelling place yet Israel neighbouring thereabouts come-not-in to helpe their Brethren under the hands of a cruell Lord and a bloody Edomite VVhat might hold backe the neighbouring Israelite from comming-in to succour their poore Brethren That is the question and I desire heartily to be understood in it I shall not question Why it was so long ere the Tribes came-all-in to deliver David for then I should question the wisedome of God wherein I am fully satisfied and do thinke I shall be able by the Grace of God to satisfie others in that point and to give excellent