stand is and therefore David from this Consideration draws this Conclusion Psal 37. 10. Yet a little while and the wicked shall not appear and thou shalt look after his place and he shall not be found If thou lookest for mighty Nimrod the great hunter before the Lord Gen. 10. 9. If thou lookest for persecuting painting Jezabel thou shalt find nothing but her skull and feet and palms of her hands 2 Kings 9. 35. and if thou lookest for Kâ—ng-killing Athaliah she is vanished like a vapour which appeareth but for a little time James 4. 14. and so I end this point in the words of David Psal 146. 3. Put not your trust in Princes nor the Son of man for they cannot help put not your trust in riches for they are uncertain 1 Tim 6. 17. and deceivable Matth. 13. 22. Put not your trust in earthly things for they are as unconstant as the wind and vanity saith Solomon and vanity of vanities yea and all things are vanity Eccle. 1. 2. saving onely the fearing of God and the keeping of his Commandements but if ye will trust in any thing let it be 2ly In atchieving the true honour and such treasures as fail not reserved in the heaven for you Luke 12. 33. It was the Vltimum Vale farewel Speech that Cardinal Wolsey gave unto the world in Henry the eighths dayes being to suffer death Well saith he if I had been as carefull to serve my God as I have been to serve my Prince I should never have come to this Even so if we will be careful to serve God then when Peter and Demas such miserable comforters as Job calls them shall forsake us then when our earthly pleasures and treasures and honours shall deny us and leave us then God will fail thee never saith David When thy father and mother shall forsake thee then the Lord will gather thee up Psal 27. 10. When the wicked shall not be suffered to dwell in the Land the righteous shall never be removed Prov. 10. 30. When the Crown of pride shall be pulled from the head of the ungodly then the Lord will honour those that honour him 1 Sam. 2. 30. and we shall find the comfort of all when we come to die Aâ—hâ—liah had no fear of God before her eyes she kicked against the pricks and strived against the stream Acts 9. 5. she leaned on a brokâ—n staff she rejected the counsel of God agâ—inst herself like the Pharisees and the expounders of the Law Luke 7. 30. and what was the issue of this she fell like Lighting from heaven and once beginning to fall never rested till she came to the ground like a stone tumbled down a hill I will end this point in the words of Augustine Mundus transit concupiscentia ejus quid vis Vtrum amare temporalia transire cum tempore an Christum amare in aeternum vivere the world passeth away and the glory thereof now chuse whether thou wilt follow and love temporal things which will die with thee or Christ and live eternally 3ly Seeing there is no constancy and stability to be found in earthly things Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall 1 Cor. 10. 12. Ye have heard what God did to Pharaoh Herod Nebuchadnezzar Korah Dathan and Abiram for their Rebellion Antiochus Ahab Jeroboam Iezabel for their wickedness Troy Niniveh Sodom and Gomorrhe Israel and Iudah now lying in dust and ashes one stone not being left upon another Now saith the Apostle All these things came upon them for ensamples and to admonish us to provide against our changes shall come as Ioseph did against a dearth It is a great lessening of our grief when nothing befalls us but what we looked for for fore-warned fore-armed to bear it Praemonius praemunitus What made Iob a conqueror over all his sorrows that pressed upon him like armed men Prov. 6. 11. but his wife forecast of the brittle condition of all sublunaries so are his words chap 3. 25. The thing I feared is come upon me and the thing that I was afraid of is come unto me If his poverty sores scabs running issues contempt of his wife forsaking of his friends scorn of his servants derision of his enemies losse of his children had according to Christs Prophesie come upon him as a snare that is suddenly and unlooked for Luke 21. 35. they could not but have brake his heart but musing and meditating beforehand upon the alterations of all things and expecting the worst he stood in the door to welcome them and his godly patience drave them out again finding a full supper after a sharp and short dinner As God speaks of Moses Deut. 32. 29. Oh that men were wise then they would consider this they would remember their latter end Even so speak I in this kind Oh that men were wise then they would understand this they would consider that riches have their end pleasures their end Kingdoms their end honours their end and man himself his end and so not labour for the meat which perisheth but for that meat which hath no end enduring unto everlasting life Iohn 8. 27. 4ly Here we learn that it will nothing profit a man to gain the whole world and at last lose his own soul Mat. 16. 26. Athaliah wore the Crown swayed the Kingdom trimmed up her self with Peacock feathers and we say Gay feathers make gay birds Her Princes did her homage her Servants went and came at her command her Servants cried before her Abrech in sign of honour as was done unto Joseph Gen. 41. 43. She had stately houses fruitfull vineyards pleasant gardens and orchards with trees of all fruits Shee had Beeves and Sheep in abundance silver and gold and the chief treasures of Kings and Provinces She had Men-singers and Women-singers and the delights of the sons of men She was great and whatsoever her eyes and heart desired was not with-held from them as Solomon spake of his outward felicity Eccles 2. 4. c. yet as Haman said to his wife Zeresh and his friends about him shewing them the glory of his riches the multitude of his children and how the King had promoted him above all What do all these things avail me so long as I see Mordecai the Iew sitting at the Kings gate not bowing his knee unto me Even so What do all these things before mentioned avail Athaliah seeing her soul shall go to hell she made but a sorrie exchange of heaven for hell of joy for sorrow of things eternal for transitorie of ease for endless pains and torments as the rich Gallant tells you Luke 16. 23. Felix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum Happy are ye if her harms can teach you Wisdome to beware of her sins and all sins whose end is bitternesse as Abner told Ioab of the sword and death Rom. 6. 23. 5ly If there be no constancy in earthly things then let us follow Saint Pauls direction
as I have done saith Adonibezek Judg. 1. 7. so God hath rewarded me Even so us our Abnor our great man in the Text falls by the hâ—nd of Joab so Joab must look to have his fall too although it be many years after by Benaiah 1 Kings 2. 31 32 33 34. and the curse of Jehoiakim King of Judah shall follow him to his grave Jer. 22. 18. There shall be none to lament him saying Ah my Brother or ah Lord or ah his glory And let all true hearted Israelites speak as Cushi did to David of Absolom 2 Sam. 18. 32. So let all the Enemies of the Lord their King perish and be as Joab is The Text is a vindication of Davids innocencie in and a lively description of Abners death wherein let us consider these five particulars 1. His qualities and so he was no mean man sprung from the dunghil or Ale-tap no broken Citizen or bankerout Gentleman no Mechanick or Artificer none of the base condition of Davids followers when he fled from Saul 1 Sam. 22. 2. but he was Ishbosheths staff the supporter of Sauls house and the glory of that Diadem and so the Pen-man sets him out two waies 1. As a Prince 2. As a great man 1. As a Prince unto which the Latine word hath a near relation Princeps the which signifies a chief head or ruler secretly inssinuating that as of a head he ought to be defended and made much of because life consists so well in the head as in the heart then as a Ruler he ought to be obeyed and feared according to Saint Paul's rule Rom. 13. 1. Let every soul be subject to the higher Powers but Joab had learned instead of Obsta principiis Obsta Principibus withstand the beginnings of sin stifling the first conception of murther in his heart to promote it and give life unto it by the fall of a Prince and so hath received to himself condemnation ver 2. 2ly The Hebrews use many words signifying a Prince but I shall make use but of one and that is Naghidh carrying this sence Dux Princeps a Captain and chief Commander ordering disposing and giving rules to Souldiers to go out and come in to draw and to sheath their swords and such a Prince was Abner and a valiant Prince but whom Ajax cannot conquer Vlysses will undermine by treason For know ye not that a Prince and a great man is fallen And so I passe to the second Branch 2. As a great man As when Ephraim spake there was trembling Hos 13. 1. As when the Lion roars who will not be afraid Amos 3. 8. even so when this great man speaks not onely the inferiour beasts of the Forest but even the Lion himself coucheth as is clear in the 11 verse before the Text and if a bare hand upon the wall did so starcle Belshazzar in his cups when men are most Pot-valiant and in the Guard of his Princes and making metry with his wives and concubines that his countenance changed the joints of his loins were loosed and his knees smote one against another Dan. 5. 6. How will Joab look How will Joab stand How will he shift when the great God shall make inquisition for this great mans blood Psal 9. 12. Davids heart smote him for cutting off but the Lap of Saul's garment 1 Sam. 24. 5 6. How then deeply may they be touched that had a hand in cutting off the head of the Lords anointed for the greater the person the greater is the sin in them that conspire his death Kings and Princes and great man in authority are termed gods by Gods own mouth Psal 82. 6 and to act Treason against such is to be treacherous to God himself for which cause God spared not the Angels that had finned but cast them down into hell and delivered them into chains of darknesse to be kept unto damnation 2 Pet. 2. 4. What Christ spake in another kind holds true in this Matth. 25. 40. In as much as ye have done it unto them ye have done it unto me Another particular is the manner of this great Princes death so he is not threatned a fall as God told Adam that if he should eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil in that day he should die the death Gen. 2. 17. for then he would have looked about him either to prevent his fall or to make a good preparation for his soul against his fall as the wise Steward did for his body Duke 26. 4. but in the present tense occidit is fallen noting the suddennesse of his death and his unprovidenesse for his grave Joab not onely labouring to kill his body but so far as he could his soul too like as the Italian I read of endevoured to serve his enemy overcome in duel wherein we may observe 1. Prov. 12. 10. The mercies of the wicked are truel 2ly The uncertainty of our death we have one way into the world but many out Ferro peste fame vinclis algore calore Mille modis miseros mors rapit una viros as sometimes by fire famine plague water sword like Abner and Joab And this consideration should move us to look for that in every place which every where looks for us Pharaoh tasted of deaths Cup in the deep Sea Herod upon his throne Eglon sunning himself in his Summer Parlour Amnon when his heart was merry with wine Ahab in the battel Zenecharib in the house of his God And who amongst us can coast of to morrow for we know not what a day may bring forth Prov. 27. 1. Let it be our wisedom then 1. So to live as if we were alwaies dying and giving up our accounts to the great judge of Heaven and Earth of our several stewardships 2ly With Joseph in the time of famine with Solomons Pismire in the harvest time and with the wise Virgins in the acceptable time to provide oyl for our Lamps that we may be found a people ready prepared for our God when he shall knock at our door and call us 3ly To pray alwaies as the Church hath taught us From sudden death Good Lord deliver us 3ly The next particular is the time of Abners fall and that is said to be hoc die this day Know ye not that there is a Prince and a great man this day fallen in Israel This was a day of darknesse and of blacknesse a day of clouds and obscuritie Joel 2. 2. a day of heavinesse and mourning a stormy and watery day and in a word such a sad day to David and all Israel as if as one man they had combined to revive their Abner with their tears as Christ did Lazarus John 11. or if they could not do that for him yet they would witnesse to the world their love to him and how wonderfully they lamented his losse To love a rich man and a great man living is no news the living dog being better than the dead Lion Eccles 9.
4. and moreover every mans affection almost extending more propter sua than propter se for his private profit or preferment than for any parts or goodnesse he finds in him like drones which haunt the Hive for the honny sake but to love him dead when he can do him neither good nor harm is rara avis nigroque similima cygno a rare quality hardly to be found among the sons of men and yet this was Davids case Israels case for Abner and ought to be our case for our Prince and great man that is this day fallen in our Israel And so this leads me to the next particular 4ly The place where he fell and that is said to be Israel he fell not amongst the barbarous Gothes and Vandals amongst the Turks and Cannibals amongst the inhuman Switzers in the Conquest of the Thuricences in battel Anno Dom. 1443. or amongst the Numantines who vowed not to break their fast but with the flesh of a Roman nor drink till they had tasted of the blood of an Enemie or amongst the heathen and uncircumcised but in Israel where God was known in her Palaces Psal 48. 3. but in Israel where his wonderfull acts were manifested but in Israel a peculiar people chosen to himself but in Israel where his Prophets taught and his name was called upon Quis talia fando temperet à lacrimis who can restrain tears that where there was such gracious means there should be such gracelesse practices by a brotherhood like Simeon and Levi brethren in evil Gen. 49. 5. If this had been done at Rome where degrading of Princes murthering of heretical Princes with their whole families is a warrantable and meritorious tenet the world would not have trembled at it nor wondered or admired it but to be practiced in Israel the wonder of the world for as it is Deut. 47 8. What Nation is so great unto whom the Gods come so near unto them in all that they call unto the Lord for And what Nation is so great that hath ordinances and Laws so righteous Surely this makes Israels condition equivalent to Chorozins and Bethsaidaes Mat. 11. 21. Wo to thee Corazin wo to thee Bethsaida for if the great works which were done in you had been done in Tyrus and Sidon they had repented long agone in Sackeloth and Ashes Wherefore it shall be easier for Tyrus and Sidon at the day of judgement than for you than for Israel Joab and Abishai his brother were men of War and so the lesse marvell they neither respected the person nor place where they shed blood but the hunters of our Prince and great man to death were not only Sword-men but Gown-men even wolves in sheeps clothing and if God spared not the old world nor Sodom nor Gomorrah 2 Pet. 2. 5 6. how shall they escape the judgement of God to come and the judgement of God is according to truth against them that commit such things Rom. 2. 2. Wherefore as Daniel counselled King Nebuchadnezzar 4. 27. Break off thysins by righteousness and thine iniquities by mercy towards the poor that there be a healing of thine errour even so my counsel to all Israel that have had a hand in the Princes death and great mans fall is according to that we read of Amos 4. 12. Prepare to meet thy God O Israel For repentance may heal where thy sin hath wounded 5ly Davids Proclamation throughout all Israel and Judah to take notice of his losse and their losse his and their losse as if they had with him lost the brightest star in the Firmament or had lost their right eyes right hands or their right feet or as the Church complained Lam. 4 20. The breath of our Nostrils the Anointed of the Lord is taken from us of whom we said Vnder his shadow we shall be preserved alive among the Heathen How hath the Lord darkened the Daughter of Zion in his wrath and hath cast down from Heaven unto earth the beauty of Israel draw near behold and see what a Prince what a great man is this day fallen Know ye not that there is a Prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel 1. The causes moving David to publish this Proclamation were v. 37. his Innocency to clear him in the face of all the people that he had no hand in spilling this innocent blood finding no fault in the man of those things whereof others accused him as Pilate said of Christ although with a better mind Lu. 23. 14. 2ly To make Joab the more odious to the people for executing such a rash and malicious and unnatural fact As Jeroboam is stigmatized with this brand-mark lying in his Grave Jeroboam the Son of Nebat who made Israel to sin and as Judas the Traytor with this Judas Iscariot who betrayed his Master So Joab hath this spot and blot upon his Coat of Arms to be seen read of all ages Joab that in the time of peace slew Abner in the Gate v. 27. And for this David and let all Israel curse him in the words verse 29. Let the blood of Abner fall on the head of Joab and on all his Fathers House that the House of Joab be never without some that have running Issues or Leper or that leaneth on a staff or that doth fall on the sword or that lacketh bread 3ly That Joab by the sight of the publick mourning and vent which the King and People gave to their full hearts might be convinced of his sin and so brought to repentance Know ye not and thou Joab too that there is a Prince and a great man this day fallen in Israel The Observations from what hath been said are Observ 1. That great mens death and Princes fall ought to be lamented by all This David confirms both by Precept and Example and it is said Praecepta ducunt Exempla trahunt Precepts do sweetly allure but examples do violently draw men to obedience So that if the one or the other be of force to work upon our hearts and eyes to weep with Jeremiah day and night for our Abner then look upon David Lissen to his charge to all the people that were with him vers 31 32. Rent your clothes and put on Sackcloth and mourn before Abner and King David himself followed the Beer And the King lift up his voice and wept besides the Sepulchre of Abner and all the people wept and vers 33 34. The King lamented over Abner and all the people wept again for him As if such a mans death can never be over-lamented Know ye not saith David as if no man should be ignorant of this his duty to his Prince to his Country When Josiah was buried there was so great mone made for him 2 Chron. 35. 22. that it grew into a Proverb Zech. 12. 11. Like the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon Yea when Jacob but a mean man although father to a Prince was buried they made so great such an
our father our nursing father It is observed that the love of Parents descends and flows with a greater stream to their children than childrens love ascends upwards to their Parents and this God shews Isaiah 49. 15. Can a father forget his child or a woman not have compassion on the son of her womb but he saith not Can a child forget his father as if that were too frequent too common and lay at every mans door but spero meliora de vobis I hope better things of you and that ye have learned better things and your duty better than to set light by your father Deut. 67. 16. We take much notice of those whose consciences are so seared and hearts hardened that have not a tear at their fathers grave and God and angels will take notice of us for stupidity and blockishnesse if we will not weep for our Abner our Prince and great man that is fallen 3ly If prayers and Supplications ought to be made for all men but especially for Kings and all that are in authority 1 Tim. 2. 1. then consequently it must follow that their deaths ought to be lamented more than other mens and if so then Vse 2. Is for reproof 1. If those that rejoice and glory in their shame Phil. 3. 19. whose end without great Repentance will be their damnation One boasteth that he subscribed to the lions death another that he tried the lion another that he sentenced the lions damme another that he slew the lion another that he shared of the lions skin but if there be a wo unto them that speak good of evil and evil of good which put darkness for light and light for darkness that put bitter for sweet and sweet for sowre Isa 5. 20. then as Jacob said of Simeon and Levi Brethren in iniquity Gen. 49. 6. Let not my soul enter into their secret and my glory be not joyned with their Assembly for an horrible curse and wo like the sin of Cain lieth at their door 2ly Of those that had the least hand in or approved of Abners fall Certes many men with Pilate will seem to wash their hands clean from his blood because they were no principal actors in it but qui non vetat peccare quum potest iubet saith Seneca He that is not with me saith Christ is against me or he that hinders not a foul fact but approves of it is as guilty as the principal in it Abner is fallen by whom and whose means the scruple is resolved verse 30. of this Chapter so Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner Abishai being privy to the murther and not preventing it is counted by the Spirit of God as deep in blood as the bloody executioner of the Treason Joab himself David killed not Vriah but the men of Rabbab yet because he plotted and conspired against his life and was well pleased with his death Nathan tells him point-blank and in plain terms 2 Sam. 12 9. Thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house Ahab was not accessary unto Naboth's stoning but his wife Jezabel who made use of his Seal unto the Elders and Nobles that were in his City that they might deprive him of life and Vineyard yet he approving of what was done and rejoycing in his spoil and prey that he had taken Elijah the Tishbite meets him and upbraids him of cruelty covetousnesse and blood 1 Kings 21. 19. Hast thon killed and also taken possession therefore in the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs even lick thy blood also And in this sence Saul bewailed his sad condition and acknowledged his unworthinesse and unfitnesse to be a Minister of the Gospel to the Gentiles because he persecuted the Church of God and had a hand in Stevens death not as one that murthered him as a cut-throat but allowed and applauded them that acted that villany as his own words best speak it Acts 22. 20. Lord when the blood of thy Martyr Steven was shed I also stood by and consented to his death and kept the clothes of them that slew him Now the Marginal Note saith this is properly spoken for Steven was murthered of a sort of rude rakehels not by order of Justice but by open force and he liking of what was done and lulling and spurring them forward unto it accounts himself a chief instrument in the conspiracy of robbing God of a Saint the Church of a pillar and the world of a bright shining light which would have enlightened them that fit in darkness to the true light Iohn 1. 9. and so to the light of heaven As the intruders into other mens Rectories plead for themselves that they thrust them not out when they are contented to inherit their possessions and eat up the bread that should feed the right owners and their children approving of the Sequestration even so there be that plead not guilty of Abners fall when in their hearts they cryed Câ—ucifige let him die and stroked the contrivers of his ruine but how one or the other can answer their juggle before God who judgeth righteously taketh the affection and will for the deed I am ignorant unlesse it be with speechlesness like to him that came to the wedding feast without a wedding garment Matth. 22. 1â— and so partake of his portion and bitter potion 3ly Those that reviled Abner living and detract from him much more being fallen their greatest religion is ill byassed which is to speak evil of their Prince He that is most foul mouthed like Shimei is held fitest to be a States-man and have a hand in reformation When Paul had called Ananias whited wall and the standers by check'd him for reviling Gods high Priest he acknowledged his errour saying I knew not that he was the High Priest for it is written thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people Acts 23. 5. from whence may be inferred that to calumniate him is sin 4ly This highly reproves those Servants of this Prince this great man that helped to pull him down Gravior inimicus qui latet sub pectore a bosome enemie is of all the worst When Caesar was stabbed in the Senate house and seeing Brutus acting his part amongst the Conspirators it cut him to the heart using these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what and thou too my son Brutus then fall Caesar even so for a Prince to bring up birds to pick out his own eyes and breed vipers to sting him to death it cannot but much adde to the bitternesse of his fall and this made David to complain so sadly Psal 41. 9. That his friend his familiar friend whom he trusted which did eat of his bread lifted up his heel against him that is like a wild horse to kick at him and trample him under his seet Of all injuries there are none stick
his integrity and best meaning misconstrued and misinterpreted 24 25. ver Even so our Prince our great man was calumniated and reproched in the Army by rude Souldiers In the City by ignorant Ephesians Factious Schismaticks and many pratling Diotrephe's In the Countrey by Copper-Smith Alexanders and giddy-brained Athenians stil longing to hear and tell news sucking in all poison and then spewing it out to the disgrace of their Prince This was Christs lot and portion Isa 53. 3. to verse 12. and certainly how ever the world deem of it that servant is highly honoured that is admitted to drink of his Masters cup. If they have done these things to the green tree what may they not will they not do to the dry Luke 23. 31. 4ly Abners fall was lamented by all Israel unlesse it were by cursed Joab and his wicked brood verse 32. Even so our great mans subversion did afford much lamentation in our Rhama where among the more godly and constant godly ones there was weeping and mourning and howling for thâ—ir Abner for their Prince because he was not Matth. 2. 18. Perhaps there might be some greedy of prey might rejoice in his fall that they might rise and step into his seat but as Christ prayed for his malefactors so pray I Father forgive them for they know not what they do Luke 23. 34. That Crown must needs be dear bought which is purchased with blood and an ill conscience and the losse of a soul as Alexander the sixth sold his soul to the Devil to advance him to be Pope The Romans were wont to begin their Epicedies after the death of their Worthies with Augustus mortuus est the King is dead the tidings of Augustus death made a Land flood over all Rome And why should not Abijahs sad tidings of Princeps occidit our Prince is fallen turn our Israel into Bochim a valley of tears Unlesse we have eyes and will not see and hearts that will not understand the which was one of Pharaoh's plagues We never had more cause to pour out water before the Lord than this day 1 Sam. 7. 6. 5ly Abner falling Ish-bosheth presently fell with those adherents to them both 2 Sam. 4. 7. Even so our Prince and great man falling how many hundred Families that are bread at his Table and were cherished by our good Abner were utterly ruined The Peers lost the honour of their birthright and some of them their lives The Bishops Deans Arch-Deacons with the learned Clergy lost their Livings and Liberties The Gentry their Estates and have not all cause to cry out as Elisha did after Elijah when he was taken up into heaven 2 Kings 2. 12. My father my father What shall we do as the servant of the man of God said Chap. 6. 15. 6ly Abner signifies the fathers Candle and what he was by name our Prince was by nature a bright shining light and Candle as it was said of John Baptist John 5. 35. and this Candle being put out we must needs walk in Egyptian darknesse and darknesse is none of the least plagues 7ly Abner was gulled of his life under a colour of kindnes v. 27. Joab pretended love but intended murther Mol in ore verba lactis fel in corde fraus in factis he had honey in his mouth but gall in his heart he spake to him peaceably but struck him to the heart Even so our Prince was fed with golden promises and Naphthalies goodly words that they would make him the greatest Prince in Christendom if he would null Bishops Confirm the Parliament during their own pleasure Resign the Militia into their hands which having obtained and all they could ask at last cut off his head with his own sword as David served Goliah 1 Sam. 17. 51. And so let us pray From the Crafty Counsel of Abithophel From Rabshakeh's railing Shimei's cursing From Iudas's kisse and Joab's bloody hands Good Lord deliver us From all false Doctrine and Heresie From hardnesse of heart and privy conspiracy From sudden death and Jesuitical cruelty Good Lord deliver us Absaloms unnatural rebellion against his father SERM. II. 2 Sam. 18. 33. And the King was moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept and as he went thus he said O my son Absalom my son my son Absolom I would God that I had died for thee Absolom my sonne my sonne DIC mihi Musa virnm Tell me of any man but the son of man that ever was so soaked in sorrows and soused in tears as David was his whole life seemed nothing else from the Cradle to the Grave but a map of miserie the ground on which he stood a red sea of blood or a wild wilderness full of sharp briars and thorns that pricked and peirced him which way soever he moved his diet like Micaiahs 1 Kings 22. 27. Bread of affliction and water of affliction so that he said truly of himself Psal 102. 6. I am like a Pellican in the wilderness whose nature is to trickle down tears on her bill continually and in this sence saith Job Chap. 57. Man is born to sore travell and trouble as sparks flie upward and this ye shall find in the survey of his life 1. He was a shepherd and he that follows that calling duram servit servitutem serves an hard Apprentiship as Jacob speaks and shews Gen. 31. 40. I was in the day consumed with heat and with frost in the night and my sleep departed from mine eyes 2ly He was despised by Eliab his eldest brother 1 Sam. 17. 28. 3ly He was defied by Goliah the Philistim v. 42. 4ly He was assaulted by a lion and a Bear v 34. 5ly He was persecuted by Saul 6ly Despised by Michal his own wife 7ly He was betrayed by the Ziphims chap. 23. 19. 8ly He was envied by Philistims 9ly And in a word to fill up the measure of his griefs his own son his bosome son his Isaac son his darling son seeks his life and Crown a once and yet for this bird that would have picked out his eyes this cuckoe that would have devoured his damme that bred and fed and cockered him he good man weeps and in the midst of his inundation thus he said O my son Absalom my son my son Absalom I would God that I had died for thee Absalom my son my son From whence we learn after his example Obs 1. To love our enemies to blesse them that curse us to do good to them that hate us and to pray for them which hurt us and persecute us Matth. 5. 44. for saith Christ v. 46 47. If we love them which love us what reward shall we have Do not the Publicans even the same Or if we be friendly to our brethren onely what singular thing do we Do not even sinners likewise but to be perfect even as our heavenly father is perfect but with Steven to render good for evil Acts 7. 60. but with David to mourn and grieve
for the losse of a Rebel son Est hic labor hoc opus praise-worthy indeed as it is Rom. 13. 3. and Christian-like I must confess with Christs disciples durus est hic serm◠that this is a hard saying but verus est hic sermo this is a true saying 1 Tim. 1. 15. for unlesse we deny our selves and as Abraham was commanded exire de patria sua to go out of his Countrey Gen 12. 1. so we go out of our selves and cast off flesh and blood we cannot go into Christ or ever come where he is Obs 2. That many are the troubles of the righteous Psal 34. 19. As the stones that were for Solomons Temple were sawen and squared and endured many an hard knock before they were fitted for that place and their place even so the godly must be sawn with the Saw of Correction and squared with the ax of tribulation and suffer miserie upon miserie before they can become lively stones of the spiritual building whereof Christ Jesus is the head corner stone As the ground is rent under the Plough again and again and harrowed and sown and endures many an hard frost and cold blast and showers before the harvest cometh even so this is the condition of Gods Holy Land to be tilled and harrowed and tumbled about and water-furrowed but then comes the Harvest and the Wheat is gathered into his Garner when the chaff is burned with unquenchable fire Mat. 5. 12. Afflictions as it is said of Gad come by Troop◠and as there were many Lepers and many widows in Israel in the dayes of Elizeus and as it was a mighty host of the Aramites compassed about Samaria 2 Kings 6. 14. even so the righteous like the man of God are compassed about with a mighty Host and Troops and a multitude of calamities yet nevertheless in all these things they are conquerours through him that loveth them saith Paul Rom. 8. 37. as if he had said these things come not to make us mourners but conquerors and the conqueror leaves alwayes the field with honour and triumph and joy Many are the troubles of the Righteous Here is asharp breakfast but we must through many afflictions enter into the Kingdom of God as Paul and Barnahas taught Acts 14. 22. there is a delicious Supper and amends for all I read of Jovinian the Emperor that he had two sorts of Wine in his Palace the one sweet and the other sowr but he decreed that whosoever would tast of the sweet should first tast of the sowr Even so Qui vult cum Christo conregnare in Regno Coelorum debet cum Christo compati in valle lachrymarum he that will reign with Christ in the Kingdom of glory must first suffer with Christ in this vale of tears he must first take up his Crosse before he shall put on a Crown First drink Vineger then Wine he must first wear a Crown of thorns and then a Crown of glory and good reason for it For the Disciple is not above his Master nor the servant greater than his Lord Mat. 10. 24. But it is enough for the disciple to be as his Master and the servant as his Lord verse 25. Obs 3. That although many are the troubles of the righteous yet the Lord is their deliverer out of them all He is their City of refuge to secure them from the hands of the avenger he is their shield and buckler to defend them he is that brazen serpent unto which if they look and run will preserve them Many are the troubles of the righteous they have many as deliverers out of them all for they that are with them for thē are more than they that are against them as the servant of the man of God can witnesse 2 Kings 6. 16. and in the multitude of the sorrows which they have in their hearts this is their comfort Psal 119. 50. that God is able to deliver them as the three children said Dan. 3. 17. and pitcheth his Life-guard about them Psal 34. 7. 91. 11 So that they may now sing with the Church Psal 124. If the Lord had not been on our side may Israel now say if the Lord had not been on our side when men rose up against us they had then swallowed us up quick when their wrath was kindled against us Then the waters had drowned us and the stream had gone over our soul then had the swelling waters gone over our soul Praised be the Lord which hath not given us as a prey to their teeth Our soul is escaped even as a bird out of the snare of the foulers the snare is broken and we are delivered Our help is in the name of the Lord which hath made heaven and earth So that as Christ asked the adulteress Ioh. 8. 10. Where are thine accusers and she said they are gone even so if any shall demand where are the troubles of the righteous answer may be made they are vanished like mists at the rising of the Sun for the Lord scattered them as he did the Army of the Syrians 2 Kings 7. 6. Many were Iobs afflictions and as sharp as any but the Lord delivered him out of them all and made his comforts at last to exceed his sorrows at first chap. 42. 12. David was a figure of Christ and so was hedged about with the Crosse For 1. As Christ was contemned of his Country men so was he of his brethren 2ly As Christ fled into Aegypt to save his life so David to Gath to preserve his 3ly As Christ was glad to receive food of women so David of Abigail 4ly As Herod persecuted Christ so Saul David 5ly As there was a wicked combination of Priests Elders Scribes Pharisees Jews c. against Christ so the Philistims Ammonites Edomites and Moabites were all against David 6ly As Iudas one of the twelve Disciples and Purse-bearer to Christ was one of his greatest enemies so Absalom his own bowels was against David but God delivered him out of his hands and rendred the evil he conceived and plotted against his father into his own breast and bosom and for grief thereof David sobbed forth this heavy lamentation O my son Absalom my son my son Absalom would God I had died for thee Absalom my son my son In the Text consider these 2 parties treated of 1. Of a most indulgent affectionate kind and cockering father that is King David And the King was moved c. 2ly Of an unnatural unkind undutiful and ungracious son more cruel than the savage Tygre against his Sire and that is Absalom a King new erected but is pulled out of his seat before he was fledge from whence we learn Obs 1. Soon ripe soon rotten as we use to say Ionah's Gourd sprang up suddenly in a night and withered the next even so Israel had no sooner proclaimed Absalom King but the men of Iudah mar his pride and depose him and herein is Gods promise fulfilled Psal 55. 23.
had stood in his place Would God I had died for thee Absolom my son my son 3ly He had repenting tears being assured that his own sinne so well as his sons hastened him to the grave 4ly He had whining murmuring tears as may be gathered by his excessive impatience and immoderate weeping And the king was moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept and as he went thus he said O my son Absolom c. And so I passe to the next particular in the first general point 3ly The effect of his passion and as he went thus he said wherein let us consider these two particulars 1. Quod dixit that he said 2ly Quid dixit what he said 1. The vessel of his body was so overcharged with grief that if he had not given it vent his heart would have burst But his own words best speak it Ps 39. 3. Mine heart was hot within me and while I was missing the fire kindled and I spake with my tongue David was an expert and skilful Musician and here he sheweth it For first he begins with still Musick And the king was moved Then he strikes a note higher And he went up to the chamber over the gate and wept 3ly Then he played upon loud Musick and loud Cymbals and as he went thus he said O Absalom my son my son Absalom and so I am fallen upon the next particular 2ly What he said A man would have thought that David had more cause to blesse God for his great deliverance from the hands of his enemy than to whine and murmur and weep and hang down his head like a bull-rush I but thinks David if he were mine enemy yet he was filius meus my childe my son But if he were thy son yet he was cast into a wretched mould like one of those that the Apostle speaks of 2 Tim. 3. 2 3 4 5. A Lover of himself proud unthankful disobedient to parent without natural affection intemperate fierce no lover at all of them which are good a traitor heady high-minded having a shew of godliness but denying the power thereof I But saith David love covereth a multitude of faults for he was filius meus dilectus in quo mihi complacui my beloved son in whom I was well pleased But if he were thy son and thy beloved son yet why should'st thou cast such a pearl to such a swine and be more prodigal of thy love to him than to Solomon Adonijah and the rest of thy children better deserving I but saith David he was filius iste meus the prettiest man that ever eye beheld there was none in all Israel like him and therefore I cannot but sigh and sobb and eccho forth this sad lamentation for him O Absalom my son my son Absalom From whence we learn Obs 1. That love is blinde according to that of the Poet Quisquis amot ranam ranam putat esse Dianam Quisquis amat servam servam putat esse Minervam Quisquis amat luscam luscam putat esse venustam David beheld his son with the eye of flesh and blood but was blind to look into the deformities of his soul his body was not so lovely as his soul was filthy and therefore it was a wonder how good David should so much forget himself who was a man after Gods own heart and knew what God affected most Prov. 23. 26. to be transported with love to the outward man not regarding how leprous and diseased the inward man was Surely David for the present was not David and as the Philosopher told his old Concubine so he might have said of himself Ego non sum ego the which I may interpret by that which is said of the Prodigal in his ranting and ruffling fit and humour he was not himself Luk. 15. he was as blind as Bartimeus the Begger neither was this his case alone but Adams for he and his wife Hevab rejoiced exceedingly in their first-born child but as for their second they called him Habel which signifies vanity as if he were lightly esteemed of by them in competition to Cain but whom they accepted God rejected and whom they rejected God accepted For God seeth not as man seeth for man looketh on the outward appearance but God looketh on the heart 1 Sam. 16. 7. And after the pattern of God himself Parents should love their children for their vertue and godlinesse more than for their painted outside Samuel was a good man and a Prophet and he was enamoured with Eliabs feature and stature and goodly proportion of body and said surely the Lords anointed is before him v. 6. but how blind he was in judgement and affection the Sequel sheweth For a father not to love his child is unnatural for a father to love his body more than his soul is unchristian-like for a father to over-love him is not to love him nor himself for God commonly crosseth him in his inordinate love David render a reason why thou delightedst in Absalom more than in the rest wert thou taken with his goodly head of hair Alas that is a sorrie excrement Wert thou captivated with his fair face Alas that the Pox or age quickly defaceth Wert thou ravished with his straight body Alas every wrinch decrepits it Wert thou overcome with the lustre and splendor of his eyes as Christ was wounded with one of the eyes of his Spouse Cant. 4. 9 Alas they are haughty and will soon wax dim and cease to look out at their Windows Eccles 12. 3. Wert thou delighted in his legs Alas as God Psal 117. 10. So shouldest not thou take pleasure in the legs of a man Speak David speak what was the object of thy love and if thou canst give no better reasons than these surely thy love to Absalom was blind Beware lest any of you with the Aramites be smitten with this blindness Obs 2. Carnal Passion breaks all bounds of reason and true Religion If God question Jonah chap. 4. 4. Dost thou well to be angry he will justifie himself and stand it out I do well to be angry to the death v. 9. Jonah had pity on a Gourd and yet he quarrels with God for having pity on Niniveh and shewing mercy to that City Wherein were six score thousand persons that could not discern between the right hand and the left Jonah What was thy Gourd to a great stately and eminent City What was thy Gourd to the treasures in that City What was thy Gourd to much cattel in that City What was thy Gourd to the men women and children in that City truly but as a straw to the Gold in Ophir Here then passion makes thee to break the bounds of reason ut to take one step and measure more What was thy Gourd to all the souls in that City and in having more compassion on that than on them thou breakest the bounds of true Religion Job was a good man an upright and just man and as a lillie
art not given over to a reprobate sense Rom. 1. 28. then these things cannot but melt thee relent thee and dam up thy way from prosecuting thy devilish purposes any farther I but thinks Absalom that is not the way to the Kingdom and Sceptre and to reign and therefore be it never so foul I will thorow it and as Caesar said Vel inveniam vel faciam I will hack and hew it out with my sword and so having gathered together all the men of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and made him self strong for the battel he prepares to divide the spoil Oh unparalleld traytor for 1. He sought the death of the Lords anointed and that it is aggravated in these Circumstances 1. His anointed child And right dear and precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints Psal 116. 15. 2ly His Prophet who was as the apple of Gods eye very tender to him Zech. 2. 8. and concerning whom he hath given so strict a chatge Psal 105. 15 Touch not mine anointed nor do my Prophets no harm 3ly That he was anointed his King a King of Gods own pointing out 1 Sam. 16. 12. a King after Gods own heart 1 Sam. 13. 14 A typical King of Christ a King-father and a father to his people so well as to his own children a nursing father Isa 49. 23. And for Absalom to rob God and men of such a King who would not should not fight it out to the death like Zebulun and Nephtali Judg. 5. 18. to save him but Absalom and some of his Faction who love to fish in troubled waters but hence we learn Obs That one sin if not in time stifled makes way for a bigger as a little wedge doth for a greater Read backward and ye shall find that his sin grew like a snow-ball to a very great pitch and height and so I may compare it to Elijahs cloud 1 Kin. 18. 44. the which at first seemed no bigger than a mans hand but by and by it overspread the heaven or like to Ezekiels waters chap. 47. 3 4 5. which came to the ancles then up to the knees then to the loins and afterward waxed so deep that they could not be passed oveâ— or like to that fountain which became a river Ezek. 10. 6. and as our Proverb is Give the Devil an inch and he will take an ell We read Matth. 12. 43 44 45. of an unclean spirit in a man Which goeth forth and taketh seven other spirits worse than himself and they enter in and dwell there Even so if we give way to one unclean spirit one sin yea and as Lot sayd of Zoar a little sin we make way for all sin that we may say as Jacob did of Gad A Troop cometh As the Sea making the least breach be it thorow a mole-hole presently grows bigger and bigger upon it and pours in an inundation to the destruction of man and beast and as the Story goeth of Hatchet which begging a withered bough of an Ash to make it a helve instantly falls to work and cuts down the tall Cedar and strong Oke and green Elm and Ash which stood before secure and as Pompey marching with his Souldiers to take a great and rich City and finding the gates shut and the opposition strong he craves leave of the Citizens to give entertainment to some few of his wounded and sickly men and he would passe away without their least disturbance the which having obtained they in the night opened the gates to the General and the stronger men to the sacking and utter undoing of a famous City Even so if the Devil can but beg a helve for a hatchet or make a breach in mans heart to get in his little finger he will strain hard to make room for his head and if he can get in his head he will draw in his whole body or if he can procure the favour from us to give entertainment to some weakling and puling sins then he cries out with Moah now Moah to the spoil now Devil to thy prey and therefore Vse Is for our instruction to kill the Crocodile in the egge lest it grow to be a serpent and so kill us to quench the fire whilst it is but a spark lest it get head and so consume us Obsta Principiis withstand the beginnings of sin lest they grow to be so mountainous that they crush thee down to hell Venienti occurre morbo faith the Physician Prevent the disease by taking Physick in time lest it run on and destroy thee before thy time If Absolom had observed this rule he had never fallen so shamefully so suddenly like a child new born so wonderfully like Jerusalem Lam. 1. 9. 2ly Absaloms Treason is aggravated in that he sought the death of his father his father that begat him and his father that so well loved him He was troubled with a new disease at that time for he was sick of his father and nothing could cure him but his removal out of his eye that he might sit at Helm an steer the ship from whence we learn Obs That when Kings Princes Governors and Magistrates shall suffer sin to go unpunished in others God will make them so spared instruments to punish them David permitting Absalom to run on in sin out of one sin into another not executing the Law or justice upon him God makes him as the Canaanite to the Israelite Num. 33. 55. A prick in his eye and a thorn in his side We have a Proverb Save a Thief from the Gallows and he will hang thee at last if he can Amnons Murther deserved severe punishment by the Law of God but David out of foolish pity omitting it and winking at it God sets him home to him at last and raiseth up the son of his bowels and love too to hunt after his life Absalom may grieve God and yet that doth not much grieve David wherefore God takes his own quarrel in hand and causeth him to be the greatest grief that ever he encountred withall and so hear him roaring and howling forth this sad lamentation and Dittie for him O Absalom my son my son Absalom would God I had died for thee O Absalom my son my son And so I passe to the last point 4ly Which is Absaloms death The two Generals Absalom and Joab joyned Battel to dispute the Controversie about the Crown and at last Absalom being worsted flieth and flying the Mule came under a great thick Oke And his head caught hold on the Oke and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth and Joab took three darts and thrust them thorow Absalom and so he died verse 9. 14. Died between heaven and earth as unworthy by reason of his debauchednesse to go to the one or to have a burial place in the other the which is a most terrible and fearfull example of Gods vengeance 1. Against Rebels to their King 2ly Against those that are disobedient to
is it become Treason for the heir to use means to sit in his own Throne How now Athaliah shall the greatest Traytor complain of Treason if Treason as indeed thou callest the omnipotent Justice it self be so hatefull to thee now why didst thou not abhor it at first Why didst thou learn others the Trade of high Treason and why didst thou manage it with an irrelenting heart and strong hand against others Look up now and see how just God is maintaining the cause of the righteous according to that of David Psal 37. 25. I have been young and now am old yet I saw never the righteous forsaken Look up now and blush to see upon what a sandy foundation thou didst build thy nest and how thy trust is but as a Spiders Web Job 18. 14. and thy confidence cut off Look upon the men of Judah and behold how soon their hearts are turned from thee and they that were accustomed to make the air to ring with their Hosannaes now clamour crucifige and they that used to cry God save the Queen now cry God save the King and laugh at thy out-cry Treason Treason from whence we may gather Obs 1. De male quaesitis vix gaudet tertius haeres Goods and possessions and Kingdoms ill gotten seldome hold out to the third generation our eyes have read of and seen such changes in our time and pluris est oculatus testis unus quam auriti decem what our eyes have been spectators of carries more certain credit with us many degrees than what we hear and therefore I shall not enlarge my self herein Athaliah speaks enough this truth whose eyes did see her rising and setting her mounting up and falling down for wickednesse overthroweth the finner Prov. 13. 6. and therefore Stringat tenuis mea littora puppis Let others sail in the middest of the swelling Ocean and climb high yet my desire shall be to go by the shore side For a little that a righteous man hath is better than the Revenues of the wicked although they be large and great Ps 37. 16. Because there is a moth and a cancker and a Jonah's worm in them to blast them and smite them and destroy them Have ye not read nor heard of nor seen one by fraud and lying and hypocrisie and swearing and forswearing step into the Regal Chair and his son to keep it warm for a short time after him and then the old Prophesie and this Doctrine to be verefied Nullus Obs 2. According to that of Solomon Prov. 21. 30. There is no wisdome nor understanding nor Counsel against the Lord. Athaliah thought that she had made all cock-sure but how easily and suddenly doth the Lord defeat the counsel of Ahithophel How quickly doth the Lord break her arm of flesh and how instantly doth the Lord turn all her wisdome into foolishness as it is written 1 Cor. 1. 19. I will destroy the wisdome of the wise and cast away the understanding of the prudent Obs 3. Is that although the Lord be slow yet is he sure although he hath leaden feet yet he hath iron hands Psal 2. 9. although he suffers the wicked to reign long in their wickedness yet at last he puls down the mighty from their seat as Mary the Mother of our Lord said Luk. 1. 52. brings them to a sharp account for all Athaliah steered the Ship governed the Kingdome sate fast in the saddle six years together that men began to think it impossible for her Chariot-wheels to be overturned and overthrown but then when she and others least dreamed of such a change God makes himself known in Iudah and his works in Israel Psal 76. 1. and casts her out of the Throne and stripps her of all her pomp Obs 4. There is no constancy nor stability to be found in earthly things They are like the Heliotropium which opens and shuts like unto the sea ebbing or flowing like unto the Moon waxing and waining like unto the Journall of the Israelites sometimes sweet sometimes marah If there be joy in the morning there is sorrow in the Evening If the Skie be one day clear it is ten to one but the next it is cloudy and waterish If Athaliah now pricks and trims up her self and smiles and laughs by and by she is at her wits end crying out Treason Treason and herein is that fulfilled in her which Christ spake Luke 6. 5. Wo he to you that now laugh for ye shall wail and weep and this Consideration should afford us much wisdome 1 If honour or riches encrease upon us not to set our hearts upon them Psal 62. 10. for alas they are but for a short season as Moses said of the pleasures of sin Heb. 11. 25. and either we must leave them or they will leave us and saith Solomon Prov. 23. 5. Wilt thou cast thine eyes upon it which is nothing for they take their wings like an Eagle and flie away Proud Pharaoh in his brags said Who is the Lord that I should serve him I Pharaoh is it so Is thy heart so lifted up against thy Maker Surely if thou wilt not know God in thy prosperity thou shalt be made to confesse him and his power in thy adversity If thou wilt not hear Moses thou shalt hear the Red sea preaching thy destruction and so with the glory of Egypt he sinks like Lead under the returning waters Exod 5. 2. 14. 27 28. Herod vaunted himself upon his Throne and thought like Babylon that he was and none else likâ— him but the next news we hear of him is Job 14. 10. Vbi est Where is he for he is eaten up of worms Acts 12 23. Haman was frolicking at Queen Esthers Banquet at Noon but hanging on the Gallows befoâ—e night Esthâ—r 7. 10. Great Frederick the Emperor was at last brought so low that he became an humble suter to his servants for a singing mans place in the same Cathedral Church which he had builded and yet went without it Nero one while plaid the Devil 1. In causing Rome to be fired 2ly Playing upon the harp all the time it was burning 3ly Singing the destruction of Troy over it 4ly Persecuting the Saints 5ly Tyrannising over his own Subjects 6ly Slaying his own mother Agrippina causing her to be ripped up that he might see the womb wherein he was conceived but at last his own people not able to endure any longer his unparalleld cruelty drave him out of his Kingdome and pursuing him slew him like a mad dog That famous Captain Bellizarius who so successively prevailed in all his Battels at last he had his eyes put out like Sampson and he was seen begging by the high way side in this Language Date unum obulum Bellizario give a half penny for Gods sake to poor Bellizarius Thus we see what pitifull moveables earthly things are constant in nothing but inconstancy Thus we see how ticklish this sea of glasse upon which the children of men