for Mordocaies sake he will bee revenged of the whole nation but pretend's publique good Ester 4. â—5 it is not saith he for the Kings proffit to suffer them Herod is pleased in seeing the daughter of Herodias daunce and therefore Iohn Baptist's head must pay for the musicke Neither could the innocency of the man saue his life but Herods byrth-day most become the day of his death The Church mournes when Tyrants are borne and the Godly fast and pray and weepe when the wicked feast and play revell Herod hath sworne and therefore religiously will keepe his vowe Iohn Baptist must dye O superstitious hypocrite noe necessity caused the to vowe nor is their any to make thee keepe it To doe good at all times necessitie comaunds vs to doe mischeife at any time noe necessitie compell's vs. In this thou art religious but to keepe Herodias they brother Phillips wife that never troubles thy conscience Hypocrite strayne out guats and swallow camells Soe Lewis the eleueneh of France would not sweare by the Crosse of Saim Loro of Angiers but any other oath he would take and hauing broken them kisse the leaden God which he wore in his cap and all was well his conscience was quiet Assuredly what pretence soever men make he that liue's in any open sinne without remorse and repentance hath noe religion in him Superstition may posesse him and guild him without true wisedome and devotion cannot secure him within Demetrius the Silver-smith pretends religion to stop the doctrine of Saint Paul Yet couetousnes his priuate proffit was the end of his vproare and for that cause he gather's together a factious troope of persons interressed in the same crafte and comodity Act. 19. 24. 28. with a greedy acclamation saying Great is Diana of the Ephesians Now all these might and did pretend causes to extenuate the haynousnes of their facts nay perhaps to justify them altogether for there is noe act but hath his cause and be it neuer soe fowle put 's on a fayre vyzour but none of these can cleare themselues to haue any other impulsiue cause then the corruption and praevarication of their ownevile natures They cannot say that either necessitie to prevent some imniment danger or to procure some certaine or probable good excited them to worke neither can they justifie themselues with such an expostulation as our Duellist here doeth saying what haue wee now done Is their not a cause They must therefore confesse their actions to be grounded vpon ambition pride vayne-glory malice envye or some other oblique and crooked cause and soe to be sinfull censurable together with all such as shall hereafter resemble them CONCLVSION 2. A Second Conclusion from hence deduced is that necessitie supplie's the place of an ordinary calling and warrants the vndertaking of any action for the avoyding of a certaine mischeife either to the state where wee liue or the true religion which wee professe WEe see in nature that when the eye waxeth blynd the hand grope's the foote beat 's for way and the eare by listening seeke's to guide the body right and to supplie the place of an eye Soe the eye where men are deafe and dumbe borne apprehend's by signes and sends back her owne conceptions by a visible kind of language One member supplie's the place of an other in service of the whole body neither doth the head where reason reside's find fault with the comunitie of partes and exchange of their portions The mouth in case of necessitie think 's noe scorne to become a draught and purging place to the stomack by vomit neither doth the stomack in case of necessitie refuse meate that is sent vp by glisters Nature makes vse of any parte in any office for preservation of the whole man from ruine In the reasonable faculties of the soule the jmagmation stand's in stead of memorie by begetting newe Ideas in braines that be inclyned to be ouer-hott and drye and the memorie supplie's the defect of judgment by following former presidents where the brayne inclyne's to ouermuch moysture and all parts bringing intelligenc to the reasonable soule the Governesse of all shee reject's none before examination nor censure 's any for doing the office which belong's to an other whilst the other is defectiue and this doth not neglect it 's proper function Soe that the soule hauing neede of all maks vse of all for the comon benefit In-soemuch as if the foote by tripping giue 's her warning of that which the eye should haue seene she doth not therefore neglect to looke out because the intelligence come's from a blynd guide but therefore she looke's out to see if the foote say true or noe soe let 's the eye see it 's owne fault in the dilligence of the foote The Apostle vseth this argument to perswade the Corinthians to vnity 1 Cor. 12. 21. 22. 23 24. shewe's that there is a fellow-vse or neede that one member hath of anotther and that likewise their ought to be a fellow care one for an other 1. Cor. 12. 25. and also a fellow feeling or compassion of common afflictions one with an other And since euery member partak's with the head and whole body 1 Cor. 12. 26. in paine or pleasure in houor or dishonor therefore it concern's euery member to looke to the preservation both of themselues in perticuler and of others in generall Because noe member can say they are absolute in themselues and haue noe needs of another The eye doth not see for it self alone but for the foote and whole body It concerne's the Eye therefore to watch that if the eare by accident should be negligent or lett slip a remarkeable observation which concernes necessarily the whole body that the eye might be in stead of an eare and giue notice to the soule by some visible motion And thus wee see the eye steadfastly fastned vpon the speaker or any other object keepes the imagination from wandring and makes the eare more attentiue to the voyce and apprehensiue of the meaning And soe whilst the eye takes a napp or in the darke when it cannot see it concernes the eare towatch for it selfe for the eye for the whole body for though it be true that the eye cannot heare nor the eare see yet there is some such affinity betwixt all these members in their seuerall operations as inables the one to supply the defects of an other Nature hath ordinarily made the tongue to speake to the eare but God extra ordinarily did speake by the tongue to the eye Act. 2. 3. and knits all in a perfect and happy society As wee see in the elements though nothing be more opposed then the fyre and water yet they are mixt in the ayre which is hott and moist the fyre is hott and dry and the ayre is hott and moist Now though the ayre and fyre be diuerse yea meere contraries as the one is dry and the other moist
yet they are easely married together as they are both hott Soe the water is cold and moist and the earth cold and dry as the one is moist and thother dry they haue neede of each other and yet they fall out and fight but as they are both cold they easely agree and are compounded in one body And thus it is in the members of the humane body composed of these elements and thus is it in the Church and Comon-wealth which is a mysticall and politique body composed of these men Now therefore hauing thus beheld the comunity of the parts even in nature let vs looke into a few examples following this reason or law of nature and there see how actions otherwise questionable are warranted and justified by necessity when they respect the publique The King of Sodome rebells against Chedorlaomer King of Elam Gen. 14. 4. It is vnlawfull to rebell vnlawfull to assist rebells yet Lot takes his part and is taken prisoner Abraham thinks it noe injustice to joyne in confederacy with this rebelling King but that it is lawfull to make an invasiue warre to rescue his brother Lot The reason is nature bynds him to it and if hee should neglect his duty in this case he were worse then an infidell Nay religion bynds him to it and a righteous family calls for helpe Herein Abraham though he assailes doth but defend according to the law of nature for if they had not first inuaded the Church and taken Lot Abraham had sate still but now his assault is taken as a defence for otherwise the Church faith of the church could not be defended The Church is in distresse in hazard to receiue a blowe by this meanes Hee is noe living parte of the Church that suffers any parte to fall whilest his hand can vpholde it I had rather pull the house with Sampson ouer my head then grynde in a mill like an idolatrous and blynde beast all my life to the rejoycing of vncircumcised Philistims Surely Sampsons death Iud. 16. 30. 2 King 25 Num. 31. 6. was more honorable thē Zedechias life yet both lost their eyes when religion is at the stake the Preist who is a man of peace maye excite to the warre nay must blow the trumpet must sound the Alarum And then doubtles Salomon the peaceable builder of the Temple may draw his sword for the glosse or brightnes of that sword of justice is not stayned nor the edge bated with any other spott or stroke then the touch of innocent blood But that like as Aqua fortis eats into steele or as the blood of Goates softens Diamonds doth indeede soften the mettall and soe turnes the edge of authority that it cuts not at all or only cuts the abuser and perverter of it This wee see in Abraham who after this very warre and only then is blessed by Melchisedesk the King and Preift of peace Yea Melchisedeck accepts the tythe of the spoiles by his acceptance confirme's vs in the lawfulnes of the like acquisition for had the goods beene ill gotten as they must needs bee were the warre vnlawfull that King of justice would not haue pertaken nor receaued any portion of it for himself or for God but now his acceptance approues the action and warrants our imitation soe that if any man question the fact shall beholde Abraham stands foorth Like David in this place and saith what haue I now done Is their not a cause Moses beholding with sorow the bondage of his Country-men and how basely the Egyptians insulted over them provoked by the necessity of the case offered himself to be their deliverer and in revenge of a wronged Isralite slew an oppressing Egyptian but they notwithstanding Gods worke for their weale were loth to be admonished of any error therefore where he laboured to vnite them in loue they requite him with accusation and cast in his teeth what he had done for their good with the hazard of his owne life This make's him slee but they smart for it fourty yeares after Phineas in case of necessity though a Preist a man of peace when he beholds manners corrupted religion profaned Iustice contemned steps vp and armes himself with the weapens of warr and executes judgment vpon two impudent offenders hauing the necessity of the case sor his calling and the approbation of God after the fact to encourage our zeale in the like The noblenes of blood should be noe warrant to protect notorions sinners from shame and punishment Num. 25. 7. if like Phineas our harts were inflamed with the loue of God and his truth Deborah a woman modest vertuous in the time of necessity becomes a Iudge becomes a Captaine At other times to doe thus had neither beene the part of a modest nor vertuous wooman now not to doe it when necessity calls her out were to become as beastly and slauish as those be who should censure or condemne her for doing it Iud. 4. 4. 9 Sheba flying into Abel Ioab beseigeth him therein The Citty being brought to extremity 2 Sam. 20. 13. 15. noe way likely to auoyd ruine a woman steps vp among the Captayns and Councellors and by her wisdome in case of necessity finds a meanes to satiffie Ioab and to secure the City In case of necessity Azariah withstand's the King saying It pertaineth not to thee Vzziah to burne in cense vnto the Lord but to the Preists the sonnes of Aaron that are consecrated for to offer incense Goe forth of the sanctuary for thou hast transgressed 2 Chr. 26. 18. and thou shalt haue noe honour of the Lord God Had not the Preist bene stout in this case he had bene worthy of that leprosy which the Prince was plagued withall for being too stout It was here found true which Salomon saith Better is a poore a wise child Eccl. 4. 13 then an olde and foolish King which will noe more be admonished The Iewes vnder Ahazhuerus are in great daunger of a generall massacre by the practise of an ambitious and irreligious favorite Mordocay sends word to Esther who is safe her self and secure in the armes of the King that shee would remember her inocent Countrey-men and bestirre her self in the time of this extreame necessity shee resolue's presently to doe her best in this buisines and layidg a side all respect of the Ceremony of the Court the Majesty of the King Est. 4. 14. 15. 16. the terror of a contrary law shee goe's on with this resolution If I perish I perish Let these examples that follow be of credit with the Reader according to the credit of those Apocriphall books from whence they are taken Yet this will follow that those who penned the books were of this judgment the times wherein these books were penned approued and praised these actions and soe would haue done the like if in these dayes they had liued and met the like occasion as was then offered them And
our sayd discourse and fitting it to all apprehensions First wee will breifly shew who and what he was that vsed this speech Secondly wee will declare who and what the person was to whom he spake Thirdly wee will shew the occasion and time when this speech was vsed Fourthly wee will set forth the speech it selfe and what conclusions wee may draw from it for our purpose First for the person that vsed this speech it was David in whom consider three things His age His Profession or calling His Relation His age he was in the flower of youth about 23. yeares olde vngrounded vnexperienced litle in stature fayre and effeminate in appearance not like ever to be stout in performance 1 Sa. 16. 11 And this was seene when Saul afterwards 1 Sam. 17. 39. put his armour vpon him he was hardly able to beare such a burden Secondly his profession or calling a shepheard and therfore peaceable no fit man to make a souldier of we haue a Proverbe of such tender and quiet spirits they are fit to keepe sheepe such was he not only fit to keepe sheepe as many are who keepe none but suited with an office agreable to his milde nature for he was a keeper of sheepe Such was Abel therefore a fit prey for a butcherlike brother Gen. 4. 3. Such was Iacob and his sonnes Such were Moses Aron and of good shepheards they proved milde gratious governours so that it was sayd of them to God by the Psalmist Ps 77. 20. Thou leddest thy people like sheepe by the hands of Moses Aron And such a maÌ„ was David at this time a good watchfull shepheard therefore like to proue a good vigilant Prince but noe great valiant souldier They that converse with wylde ravenous beasts learne somewhat of their savage natures For as the body partake's of ayre water other nourishments is humored tempered accordingly or as man communicate's with man by conversation is judged to be like the company he keepes so every maÌ„ pertake's with beasts in their properties give 's to themagayne some of his in exchaÌ„ge The Lyon Beare learne some civility of their keeper as their keeper take's some bruitish cruelty from them The master learnes to be currish of his dogg the dogg learne's curtesy of his master Nimrod Esau coÌ„versing amongest doggs Pol. virg de inven â—e l. 3. c. 5 became cruell and bloody Tyrants Marius was a braue souldier but bloudy cruell as an ensigne of his cruelty he first gaue them names of beasts to the Romane Legions calling one the Wolfe an other the Minotaure a third the Horse a fourth the Boare a fift the Eagle but none of them all the Sheepe that harmelesse creature And doubtles Actaeon had much of a beast within him when his hownds puld ' him downe on the other side David converseth with none but innocent harmelesse sheepeâ— who are a prey for every beast vnlike is this man therefore to become a souldier His relation A brother 1. by nature 2. by subjection to one King 3. by faith in one God members of one householde of one common-wealth of one Church But withall a yonger brother by all probability the weakest of all I am assured the yongest of eight An vnfit man therefore for the present imployment And thus much for the speaker The person to whom he speakes is Eliab whom likewise wee will beholde in a threefolde respect 1. His age 2. His Profession 3. His Relation His age the eldest sonne of Ishai the eldest amongest eight brethren amongest whom David the youngest was a man growne needes therefore must the eldest be of mature yeares of great experience able to advise able to execute as for his strength of body his stature promiseth as much as his yeares for when Samuell comes by Gods commande to annoynt one of Ishaies sonnes King assoone as he sees Eliab the admiration of his person for it seemes he was like Saul a tall proper man higher by the head then the common sort makes him fasten vpon him for King without doubt or question till God removes his carnall eye 1 Sa. 16. 7 with admonition Looke not saith God on his countenaÌ„ce or on the height of his stature because I haue resused him For God seeth not as man seeth For man looketh on the outward apparance but the Lord beholdeth the heart His Profession A souldier he was now thoug perhaps a shepheard before for it is sayd 1 Sam. 17. 13. That the three eldest sonnes of Ishai went and followed Saul to the battell Now as he was of mature age and of a gooly presence so it is like he was an olde souldier of great experience in the warres And that as others esteemed him such so he knew his owne worth value wherefore like an olde expert Commander he taketh vpon him to curbe in restrayne the inquisitiue ignorance and rash foole-hardynes as he thought of this silly shepheards lad saying to him in anger why camest thou downe hither with whom hast thou left those few sheepe in the wildernes I know the pride the malice of thy heart that thou art come downe to see the battell As if he should say what didst thou meane David to presse to this place of daÌ„ger vncalled from wheÌ„ce the stoutest would gladly withdrawe themselues if they could with the safety of their honors doest thou thinke thy selfe able to doe more then we can doe who are souldiers by profession men of experience of approved strength courage Thou art a babe a suckling an effeminate boy a freshwater souldier Why what a folly was it for thee to leaue the care of the sheepe come hither to loose them there thy selfe here This must needes proceede from that ambitious proude heart of thine which I knowe puff's thee vp ever since thou wert entertayned to be one of Saules Musitians But thou art much mistaken it is farr more easy to compose a sonnet in prayse of ye conquerour or to sett a song in perfect parts to the Harpe then to obteyne a victory or to order an army It is farre more easy to finger the Harpe with nimble and obedient fingers then to handle a speare the battell-axe the sworde and those instruments of death and warre A consort of musitians suits thee better then a Company of Souldiers and that effeminate face of thine doth better become the foldes and the sheepe-coates or the Court and the prefence of fayre ladyes then the feild of Wolues of Lyons or of men more terrible then these But thou art desirous of noveltyes to see and be seene and here thou art come too soone to buy repentance at a deare rate To all this David mildly humbly wisely and yet stoutly replye's What haue I now done Is their not a cause His Relation a brother elder brother even the eldest of all such a one