To come more particularly to the point that we may resolve Conscience anon we will see first what Saul did and by whose Instigation he did it Then who this Edomite was What Saul did is legible before written in bloudy Characters which will remaine unto the worlds end By whoâ—e instigation he did it This is as legible also By the instigation of the Divel vexing and tormenting Saul effectually working in him together with his owne spirit thereby agitated stirred-up and boyled to the heigth of extreme wrath against David and all those that wished well unto or had their hand with David This being premised I conclude first That Conscience could not hold-backe Israel from helping their Brethren in the day of distresse and treading downe for who did so oppresse Israel at this time It must be answered Saul their King for he had hands and feet and other Instruments besides to execute the wrath but all he did was by the divels motion that Evill spirit upon him which hurried him from place to place so as he did not goe but was driven and all his way long he breathed out threatnings against David By the motion of this Evill spirit and his owne which every man Saul also are bound to resist did Saul doe all this Therefore whatsoever Israel makes conscience of they cannot make conscience of resisting the divell or the private will which by the helpe of the divell has done all the violences that ever were done in the world I presume this is a cleared case therefore I leave it for if Saul acted by an Evill spirit will flye at Israels throat they can make no conscience in the world to resist him I meane the bloudy actings and notorious violences of the divell Secondly Israel must looke upon Saul now the great Fiduciary of the Kingdome betraying that trust into an Edomites hand then smiting Israels City Man and Beast there Conscience well informed now calls-in Israel to help their distressed Brethren so far as was in the power of their hands to helpe grant so much power in their hands that they could and were able to relieve their Brethren and yet would not then Conscience will be so far from pleading their excuse that it will condemne them as accessary to that murder and bloodshed Israel stands charged not to suffer bloud to be shed so farre as they can hinder the shedding of it Deut. 21.7 Our hands have not shed this bloud nor have our eyes seene it That is Conscience to quit their Eyes in this case as well as their hands had their Eyes seene innocent bloud-shedding as in this case and not come-in to rescue the Innocent they had not been innocent Conscience then did not hold Israel backe from comming-in all as one man to rescue Nob the Priests and People there now greatly distressed and to deliver David Rather Conscience rightly informed engageth Israel upon all this being in the power of their hands for it is to shew mercy to their Brethren in this time of their great distresse and treading down by the foot of pride Thirdly they had shewne mercy indeed to Saul their Master even to his soule could they have conjured that Evill spirit and overcome him solacing and delighting himselfe as his manner is in proud wrath and wherewith their Master Saul was sore vexed that like the Lunaticke man he falls oft times into the fire and oft times into the water i.e. into most imminent apparent and destructive dangers Doubtlesse it had been a point of pure love duty and conscience to have resisted him to have with-held him driving-on furiously to shed bloud Had Israel done so they had shewne themselves conscientious men who understood their duty and entirely loved their King and therefore would not suffer him to doe that which would undoe him for ever O! it had been an act of mercy and of a well instructed conscience if Israel had every man to his power as one man stept-in and withstood Saul in his bloudy way and all the true Israel in the world would have acquitted them so doing and said in meere pitty and compassion to Saul and that which should be dearest unto him have they done this with-held their Master from shedding bloud Nay Saul himselfe had he ever come to himselfe but the Evill spirit haunted him to the day of his death would have thanked Israel for so doing But here though nothing can be said for Saul in justification of what he did yet much is said against them that had any hand with David That they were Rebells and Traitors all against the King and so Saul himselfe chargeth all his servants and all the Priests too All of you have conspired against me 2 Sam. 22. Vers 8. Vers 13. and why have ye done so An heavie charge but yet no honest man made any account of it as a charge of dishonour They counted it a cheape word a great honour rather being the Cognizance of the choicest men of all Israel and they could glory in it defamed for rigâ—teousnesse sake for the very best and choicest men in those dayes were called Conspirators Rebels to their King David was called so I know not how often and the Edomite the Rightest man and best Subject yet let us heare what may be charged upon these so defamed men though nothing can be proved That Ob. had Israel rose up to defend themselves and their Brethren they had withstood their King No Ans they had stood for him and had done him an infinite service could they have delivered their King from the power of the Evill spirit and his owne Will and from the hands of the Edomite who withstood the King indeed and fought against his Crowne Peace and Dignity But if Israel Ob. standing up in their own defence had not withstood Saul yet they had resisted the ordinance of God and they must make conscience there Yes Ans great Reason they should let Israel make conscience evermore of resisting Saul their King or their Kings power for that power is the ordinance of GOD and hee that resisteth the ordinance of GOD doth resist GOD. That is true but these orders disorders rather of the evill spirit and of mans perverse will are not the ordinance of GOD Therefore to resist these is to obey GOD and to resist the divell Make conscience evermore of resisting Saul the King the power which GOD hath intrusted him with but never make conscience of resisting the evill spirit ruling and commanding in Saul the King he did nothing in prosecution of David but by suggestion from that evill spirit mighty in Saul and in other of Israels Kings and Queenes And this spirit was pro tempore Dominus fac totum therefore it could not be conscience that kept Israel quiet and still the while A sinfull and base fearfulnesse iâ— might be yet I will not be so bold as to determine that a stupidity a benummednesse a drossinesse of spirit
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
excellent Reasons has The LORD done all this First Ans I. 1. The Lord will discover David to himselfe Saul shall prosper yet longer he shall have fine devices and neat contrivances against David he shall corrupâ— by flattery and worke mightily by treacheries And David shall continue in his straits yet longer Why That Sauls spirit might be fully manifest and all his fine prankes fully opened to the world That is true as we shall heare presently But there is a maine and prime cause first to be considered on That David may be discovered to himselfe Alas David knows not himselfe yet he shall before he be delivered and his adversary shall helpe him exceedingly at this high point To discover Davids spirit to himselfe wherewith in probability David had not beene acquainted had not Saul persecuted him from place to place As first 1. Suppose Saul and David had come to a good understanding and then to an agreement before David came to Nob Then David had not beene acquainted with his lying spirit I will but point at things for excellent reason that GOD may have the glory for I like not to stay upon the Saints infirmities The truth was David had a lying spirit and he hath told all the world so much who will heare him It was customary to him to tell a lye he came to the Priest at Nob and slaps him in the mouth with foure lyes before he came to a full stop And he traversed the way of lying till he came to Achish in Gath and then he was in the way of lying too David shall not be delivered yet fully This lying spirit must bee discovered to David first And blessed be GOD Who sanctified Sauls rough hand towards David and the treacheries of men for this high end The making Davids lying spirit manifest to himselfe so as he can abhor himselfe for it and desires of his GOD nothing more then That He would remove out of sight now upon his deepe humiliation these wicked shifts Psal 119.29 Remove from mee sayes hee the way of lying 2. Davids spirit could close with the creature it could rest it selfe upon the Arme of flesh he had done a notable service for the Keilites now thought he they whom I have so and so delivered from such and such dangers They will be fast friends unto me I may rest upon them No if that be his thought he shall be hunted yet further till he see clearly That men are vanity deceitfull and light upon the ballance There is no trust to be put in men Saul may take them off with a profer of honour gaine or the like But David may trust in GOD He is faithfull Davids spirit shall be restlesse till it winde-up it selfe by GODS power above man all humane props and hath bottomed it selfe upon GOD an Almighty foundation So for Strong-holds too he must be driven from them all because his spirit could secure it selfe so well in such hiding-places David must not be delivered yet till he be acquainted with his owne spirit at this point also That David may say Surely Thou onely art my strong-hold and my Hiding place But more of this when we come to Ziglag 3. David had a very shifting fleeting spirit bessides his mad pranks which we will not recall he fluttered from place to place I cannot tell how warrantable his way was either when he went to the King of Moab or afterwards to Gath True it was David was hardly driven Saul still at his heels and Saul was driven by the divell It would make the wisest man run and flye also to get out of the divels reach But yet surely the Prophet advised David well Get thee into the land of Iudah David must be advised whither he runs and suffer reproofe too What makest thou with the King of Moab 1 Sam. 21.5 Get thee into the land of Iudah It seemes spoken by way of reproofe David would thrust himselfe into this place and into that here he might have refuge and there No David must be taught now and Saul shall be his good master That these are but shifts vaine thoughts These places being trusted unto as we shall see anon are but like childrens castles which they have framed with their owne hands not likely to bee of any continuance GOD must be Davids refuge whereto he may continually resort 4. David was very impatient of delayes he could not wait till GOD had perfected His worke A man of an hasty spirit If he was not delivered at this time then GOD was slacke as he counted slacknesse And if not delivered at the other time just when he would have it Then all men were lyars Samuel and all Non Deispiritu propheticè sed c. Psa 116.11 All his promises touching a Kingdome were but words and they vanish into winde hee shall never be King but by Sauls hand he shall fall he said so in his HASTE haste indeed all men are lyars It is well then Accellerando cum praeceps raperetur in perturbatione carnis Ibid. David shall not be delivered till he has got more power over his spirit more constancy there Till he can be long-suffering endure and wait GODS time which is evermore best for David Now I may be the briefer in relating to these times God seemes to deale hardly with His Friends They are not delivered They expected That at such a time deliverance would be and at such a time but yet deliverence is delayed and a rough hand is put-out against them to the uttermost as it is at this day It is well it is so for GOD does all things well Alas what a little ease of Iron yoakes would have pleased His People How little of purity in GODS Ordinances Quicquid Deuâ— instituerit faciendum praeceperit certum est non esse rem nihili sed pretiosam utilem etiamsi externâ facie stâ—pulâ fabali aut casiâ nuce esset inanioâ— levior Luth. Cat. de Bap. Tempore sâ—o Is â— 60.12 would have pleased them well might they have had their Will and their Time A little though nothing is liâ—tle there and the least swerving from the Rule makes a great Rent and greatly to bee stood upon But I say and I doe but point at it how little would have served the turne would GOD have left His People to their own time and way GOD is better to them then they are to themselves Blessed be His Name He has provided better for them above their prayers and beyond their hopes They shall have a deliverance if they will wait a little A full Reformation But â—hey must leave GOD to His Owne Time and Way But how are the spirits of the best men discovered by these seeming delayes unto themselves Even David the best servants of the LORD made lyes their Refuge That they did and it is plainly discovered unto them now that so they did so also the warpings of their spirits and their vaine
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
GOD And how miserable when they brake covenant with Him He that has put this purpose of heart into them 〈…〉 in the purpose of their heart for ever and make the heart of the people firme stable and upright with their GOD in this great maâ—â—â—r Amen Hâ—therto we have seene GOD working wonderfully for His people in their straits and grievous afflictions discovering â—heir hearts an◠〈◊〉 â—o themselves and if their afflictions continue yet longerâ— it is that there may be more discovery made of the way and pâ—â—de of their spiriâ—s That when GOD calls them to mourning they may not make then cloaths so gay but be as those whom GOD will humble 2. Discoverinâ— the adversaries to His people their wiles projects and bâ—â—â—d◠〈◊〉 signes against His Church and if deliverance staves and is â—â—â—cke in comming it is that more discovery may be made this way also and that the adversary may be yet more convinced 3. That GODS Right hand may be more manifest with His people And 4. His peoples mouths may be more open to sing the high praises of their GOD. And because deliverance lingers and is slacke in comming as we count slâ—cknesse it is because there might be more discovery made of all the particulars before mentioned I will draw up to a conclusion of the Chapter Psal 94.12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest O LORD and teaâ— est them out of thy Law We must not stop there but read on in the Psalme thereby to strengthen our spirits that we may stand st lâ— and wait for GOD in the way of His judgements there are sad matters yet behind we have scene Dâ—vid brought very low but not yet at the lowest we shall see him and heare him out of the depths but he is delivered out of them all David now many the faithfull Servants of the LORD are in Davids case which we shall read by and by their Ziglags are smitten and burnt with fire we are sure in a sad case if we knevv it and which speaks sadly to our hearts our case is like to be sadder yet we are low and are like to be lovver for un-answerable Reasons vvhich vve shall heare fully anon This in short because vve doe not humble our selves under GODS Almighty hand He has layed us lovv vve are high our spirits are proud and stout Hovv does that appeare As plainly as the nose in your face by the provision vve make for our backs and bellies I say no more here but this vve should not be more stout but more humble because our Ziglags vve call properly ours are not burnt yet These are burnt round about us the fire has taken the State and Church-house and vve should as men doe in such a case plucke dovvne every thing that exalts it selfe I remember a note of Master Ainsworths touching Israel In Deut. When the sword of GOD is abroad vvarre famine pestilence though amongst the heathen people â—et it is GODS sword and a calamity we must pray and faâ—t we must say they humble our selves the onely way to keep it from eâ—â—â—ing our dooreâ— The sword is bâ—tâ—ed in heaven novv our ovvne land is vvatered vvith our bloud and dunged vvith our carcases and vve vvould have the svvord to rest and be still No it cannot vve must fall lovv in our spirits and rise high in our saith before this vill be It is a true saying also Calamity knockes at that mans doore and will enteâ— Calamiâ—as illiuâ— fâ—â—â— pulâ—â—â— qui alio 〈◊〉 noâ—â—movetuâ— wâ—â—â— minalesse of the calamity upon his neighbour and brother We conclude novv vve are like to see heavier times because vve have not vvell observed the vvay of our ovvne spirits nor the operaâ—â—â—n of GODS hand not the meaning of â—is Rod tovvâ—â—â—â— us all this vvhile vve are not humbled Well blessed be 〈◊〉 vvâ—at ever it be and blessed be His Name vvho useth Princes and Nobles of the earth as Scullions indeed to cleare and vvash His Vessels appâ—â—â—â— to hâ—nour But that vve may not faint in out â—â—deâ— bâ—t exâ—ect vvith patience the salvation of GOD We vv lâ— proâ—â—â—◠〈…〉 vvâ—â—â—â— vve broke off and give no rest to our spirits â—â—ll vve have â—â—xed them upon an everlasting â—â—undaâ—â—on vvhereupon vve may stand still and abide the raine and the vvindes tâ—e stormes and haâ—â—e even the stâ—â—â—s of great Waters in Davids assurance and confidence Psal 94.22 Verse 23. That the LOâ—D is my defence and my GOD is the rocke of my refuge And He shall bring upon my adversaries their owne iniquity and shall â—ut them off in then owne wickednesse Yea the LORD our GOD shall cut them off Amen CHAP. 6. Davids troubles have a happy close but his case is very sad first The Churches case now is read in Davids case then therefore we record former deliverances very wonderfull to strengthen our assurance in a deliverance to come which will be more glorious the longer it stayes Quere's touching Davids case now at the lowest with resolution from Gods mouth thereunto which speaks comfortable words to David but sad things to us Our strong holdâ— as well as Davids must be cast downe before we are delivered I See the Land said one after he had beene long upon the Sea and escaped many dangers there We can say as much touching Davids adventures as a private man and what end God makes That is glorious still but David must endure first Wee read before that David came to Gath the King there respects him very well assigneth him a City called Ziglag which David might lay claime to Iâ—sh 14 31. being assigned long before by Iâ—shuah to the Tribe of Iudah and now fell to David by lot David was there but he could not sit still there he was for action the service of his GOD and his Countrey and abroad he goes though his body be among the Philistines yet his heart is in Iudah and to doe Saul his Master all the good service he can and his adversaries all the hurt he is able Hereon depends a very notable story because of some very notable circumstances thereabouts specially touching the sword An hurtfull instrument but yet could do David no hurt being wholly at Gods dispose and that is very comfortable specially at that time which I would have insisted upon a little but that I finde my selfe prevented in a little Paper called A staffe of comfort whereunto I referre the Reader if please him That which concernes us here is David has put himselfe upon a very hot service and overcomes where-ever he goes for he carries the Revenge of GOD with him After execution done he retires to Ziglag 1 Sam. 30.3 comming thither he finds it smitten and burnt with fire the Amalekites had been there had done as we read and had taken thence all Davids earthly comforts every one Truely a very hard and sad case Saul has hunted him from all his strong holds those in Israel those in