oyle and yet drawn swords as we read But when we see the hand besmeared with bloud then we certainly conclude that the thoughts were of a scarlet colour and this is the sight or prospect we shall take a view of presently A bloudy execution done upon Nob yet bloudy though it be Saul pretends hee does it by helpe of God and the Law by the knowne Lawes of the Kingdome which that we may examine we will handle it not as an execution done but ready to be done else Saul might be said to doe as the Judge at Lidford who hanged a man in the forenoone and then heard his inditement and passed sentence over him in the afternoone not called the knowne Law of the kingdome then Mr. Iueil defence but Lidford Law to this day Saul was not to bad as to do so he hath slaine Abimelech but hee impleaded him first objects against him and heares what hee can say for himselfe Saul hath this to say against him That Abimelech and the son of Iesse Saul meanes David Ob. whom hee names with as little honour as can be were confederate together and had conspired against him 1 Sam. 22.13 Why have ye conspired against me thou and the sonne of Iesse A sore accusation Ans but of no weight validity or strength from Sauls mouth who calls all conspirators who will not shew Saul where David is that so he may shed innocent bloud according to the power in his hands Vers 8. that so he may shed innocent bloud according to the power in his hands Vers 13. All of you have conspired against me But what had the Priest done which might be called a Conspiracy a taking part with David That he should rise against Saul to lye in wait as it is at this day Thus Saul sayes and so he impleads Abimelech In that thou hast given bread Ob. and a sword and hast enquired of God for him We will take the last first Ans enquired of God for David It was the Priests office so to do nor was that the first time that the Priest enquired of the Lord for David Vers 15. nor did the Priest know the second amongst the many thousands of Israel who deserved better from the hands of Saul and all Israel then Dauid did and therefore why might not Abimelech enquire of the Lord for him There is all Reason and Law both that so the Priest should doe enquire of the Lord for David but reason will not serve nor the resolution of the Lord neither The enquiry was saith Iunius about the Shew-bread c Vt cognoseeree an sacros panes tantùm Sacerdotibus concessos gladium semel Deo sacratum ad alios usus transferre fas esset lawfull for the Priests onely to eat and the Sword consecrated to God Whether that or this might be translated unto other uses whereunto no doubt the Priest had full satisfaction That they might In such an extremity David might refresh his hungry soule with that bread and in such a danger which God was privie to hee might take Goliah sword to defend himself therewith and to prevent Saul from seizing upon it first 1 Sam. 21 10. the more easily thereby to further his bloudy designe upon David But yet there is some more question touching the Sword as for the bread it was made for man and not man for bread That is a cleared case from the Lord Christs owne mouth Touching the Sword there is all the question now Saul a King pretends himselfe Master of the same as of Keilah for all the strong holds and ammunition there did belong to Saul they were all his proper goods and therefore Abimelech giving the sword to David he did it that he should use it against Saul to lye in wait So Saul forceth the accusation Whereunto Abimeleth makes a faire and full answer That Saul was no more Lord of the one then of the other he had no more propriety or right in the sword then in the bread nor the one nor the other were Sauls but the Lords laid-up both before the Lord and consecrated to Him But the Lord hath no nead of bread or of a sword His people Israel have need of both and as their need required so Israel might take the Bread thereby to sustaine life and the Sword thereby to defend life David tooke it for that end and according to the minde and will of God whose intent was cleare That Goliabs sword now lawfully wrested out of his hand and in Davids hand then layed up before the Lord should be for the defence of Israel and to fortifie Israel against their enemies to the worlds end And so the case is resolved about Keilah too a City that had gates and bartes not Sauls City now to batter downe though he would presume so farre about Davids eares but His City whose the kingdome was the Lords kingdome and trusted onely to Saul for the defence of Israel and no further And yet that Abimelech may deliver no more to Saul but what is justifiable by the Law of heaven and earth he assureth him that what he sayes is from Gods Mouth for there he enquired and received answer as aforesaid and thereupon his warrant to give David Bread and Sword both Moreover he addes be it far from him 1 Sam. 22.14 the Priest of the Lord to entertaine a disloyall thought against his Master the Lords Anointed enquiring of the Lord for David and giving him bread and a sword he knew David to be a faithfull person none like him in all Sauls house nor more honourable being the Kings Son-in-Law and for any thing else hee knew nothing lesse or more As honest and satisfying an answere had it been spoken to any mans eare but Sauls as ever came from a Priests mouth for it was taken from Gods Mouth but Saul is resolved before hand upon the Question for nothing can satisfie Sauls thirst but Davids bloud and because Abimelech stood in Sauls way and for reliefe of David Saul will have the Priests bloud Vers 16. And the King said thou shalt surely dye Abimelech See! There is an argument Abimelech cannot answere when a man drives furiously onward in a bloudy way neither law nor reason shall stop him nor the Angel with his drawne sword in the way Nay Saul stops not there he speaks more bloudy words yet and will doe as he speakes What I am loth to mention it from the mouth of a King and King of Israel the great Fiductary of the kingdome there I had rather a Philistin said it such an unkingly word so devoid of all reason and humanity but yet Israels King sayes it and we must repeat it after him Thou and all thy fathers house Ah Lord what a bloudy word is this what a bloudy man is that An Evill spirit came upon Saul indeed haunts him still and drives him on Lord deliver us from him for the man is
flie to the Pit He that ruleth over men must be just ruling in the feare of God b 1 Sam. 23.3 Therefore made He thee King over them c 2 Chro. 9.8 Psal 72.2 Wherefore To doe judgement and justice He shall judge THY People with Righteousnesse and THY Poore with Iudgement There is a must and a shall for the greatest King that ever was It is very emphaticall too and as notable Thy People Thy Poore GODS People and GODS Poore must be judged with Righteous Judgement But so it cannot be but by enquiring of The LORD what He saith taking Counsell from His Mouth and from His Law-Booke which the King stands charged to write for himselfe for it must be with him Deut. 17.18.19 and therein be must reade all the dayes of his life that he may learne to feare The LORD his GOD to keepe all the words of the Law and the statutes to doe them This the Parliament doe They enquire of The Lord by prayer and fasting They take direction from His Law-book which is continually with them wherein they reade and whereby they order the great affaires of The Kingdome Great use of a Law-booke and to have it continually with them before their eyes And this is all the Crime that can be objected and proved against them They enquire of The LORD and consult with This Law-booke It is well they doe They can thanke God for that Sauls accusation runs on 2. The Priest has given David Bread The King by his wicked Counsell accuseth his Parliament even so They have given his good People bread that is life in our sense which by a Figure we may call bread They have given a poore dead People life againe and bread to maintaine life They have given we thanke them heartily life to their lawes life to their liberties life to the soule of their life to their Religion and this they had not done but by enquiring of the LORD and doing all by Statute Law and this we call bread There has been something like this bread given to the People Shew bread rather bread in shew stone indeed and something they had given them like a fish but indeed a Serpent Now the Kings good People will desire no more of their King but that he would give his People Bread bread under this figure which we may call life or bread indeed and properly so called which more then too cruelly was and is denyed to David The third charge followes and that is grievous 3. And a sword sayes Saul then That seemes to be the quarrell now and but seemes that the Sword Forts Castles Townes Ships Ammunition of the Kingdome all which we understand by the Sword is put into Davids hand Trusty welbeloved and faithfull Well and well indeed may we poore people say that the Sword is given into Davids hand the Parliaments hand for they will manage it for our good to defend us and offend the Philistines The Parliament will not cut our throats we are very assured and confident thereof But the Edomite wee shall know him anon if wee know him not yet would have cut our throats before this time all their throats that had their hand with David had he had the Sword delivered into his hand We can confide in none but David no wise man will blame us for him we know a man after Gods owne heart and the Edomite we know and shall know him better anon a Right man for he is the right hand of the Devill We are glad that the Sword is in Davids hand But yet this was charged against the Priest then and the Parliament now that David had the sword And what shall I say to this whereunto GOD Nature and Law speakes Reason and more that so it ought to be the Sword ought to be given into Davids hand a faithfull Man in whom the people may confide A Man will trust no other in shutting-in the windowes doores and gates of his house great Reason there should be the same care had about the great house and Trust of the Kingdome the frontier-Towns there But why given out of his Majesties hand and given into Davids hand Because the Sword was never in the Kings hand as his proper right there any more then the Sword was in Sauls hand as his proper goods there Therefore we speake not properly given-out The Sword is Israels Sword the Common Trust of the Kingdome belonging indeed to the great Fiduciary there and yet is the Sword not out of the Kings hands but given into Davids hands for a second Reason 2. Because as the Edomite was nearest to Sauls hand and heart too at that time So the Papist is so neare to the Kings heart now that he is as deare to him as he is neare even as his Right Arme and Right Eye eternally his for ought we can gather from his writ I will conclude this with the words of an honest Servant to an overbearing Master I will serve you Sir if you wil serve The Lord. You may command me when God commands you I will heartily obey your commands when you shall so obey Gods commands * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The head hath an Head All things shall be done as you will have it But you must command as God will have it Ignatius to a Priest Chryso I pray you heartily give me leave to be honest and faithfull If you will not so I will be whether you will or no. Doe you what you will I will do what I ought No man can dislike this except Saul and his Edomite I need say no more in a case which is so fully opened and cleared that all the Malignants in the world shall not be able to darken it to the worlds end I will not say looke upon Mr. Pryn's booke I will name him for honour sake and to spight the Devil reade him or choose you whether you will or not we must say Blessed be God for His servant who has stood-up in the gap by the power of His might and held up His hand for him ever since against the Mighty Blessed be God But notwithstanding all this is cleared to be all Truth Reason and Law and more yet and that is most of all a Command for all this the Parliament has done from Gods mouth too Yet such Evill Counsels over-rule the King and the case that he does now as Saul did then and much more kils the Priests and destroyes Cities So far as his Arme can reach he has overthrowne those Tunc vere victus quando tot vicis prudentes Walfing Edw. 2. p. â—5 whose hand is with David therein giving himself the greatest overthrow for no such victory against the King as for him to have victory against his good people as was said of Edward the second overcomming his Parliament once and destroying himselfe for ever Thus Saul did in his dayes thus and more the King seduced by Evill Counsell and acted by evill instruments
does in these dayes as followes and what Saul did first Saul was Davids Lord on earth but he hunts after Davids soule that hee might not live upon the ground Saul is Davids King and Davids persecutor The Priests King and the Priests murtherer by the hand of an Edomite Ah Lord who can expresse the miserable plight and how dolefull the condition is the evill spirit has driven Saul into He is Israels King and he is smiting Israels City The great Fiduciary of the Kingdome and the greatest Traytor there This tells us what is done now David is persecuted now and his King seduced by Edomites Davids adversaries persecutes him because who so faithfull as he in all the Kingdome A defendor of the Faith and by his evill Counsell a destroyer of the Faith A maintainer of the Gospel in profession and a persecutor of the faithfull Ministers publishers of the same the Messengers of the Church and the glory of Christ The great Fiduciary of the Kingdome yet seduced by an evill Councell he betrayes that great Trust Englands King and Englands destroyer The Lord of their Cities and waster of the same Are not these grievous words Yes they must be so plaine Truth direct and home what expectation of any good but from such-like-words If ever the King come to himselfe finde himselfe lost for murtherers have stolne him away then such words as these will be to his heart and may serve to usher-in Pardon peace and comfort for the sowrer the herbes the sweeter the Passeover whereas pleasing words from vile flatterers his Court Chaplaines have wounded their Master and left him more then halfe dead Such words as these may kill him out-right and by Gods grace quicken him againe to a life indeed I am glad I have spoken for first I have said no more but what is already told in Gath and published in the streets of Aschalon Secondly what if it were not told by me nor as aforesaid yet all created strength cannot stop the mouth of blouds so loud it cries Irelands bloud what an Ocean of bloud is there Cyciters bloud Burminghams bloud Banburies bloud shedding of this bloud was counted a fine device as Bristols bloud intended to be shed Oxfords bloud Bloud here and there and everywhere whereto the hand could reach O what a voice is here as the voice of many waters or Thunders Is there a voice that can out-cry I meane cry louder to Heaven and in the Eares of the Lord then can the voice of blouds yes the voice of bloud cries louder then the bloud of Abel or the blouds shed from righteous Abel unto this day and there is the hope of Israel concerning their King The voice of the bloud of sprinkling Heb. 12.24 that speakes better things then that of Abel Better things that cryed from the earth for a curse upon the earth and Cain there Gen. 4.12 This cries in Heaven for mercy to such sinners on earth who can say not with Cain My punishment but my sin is greater then I can beare yet not too great for Christ to beare a Redeemer that is strong a Saviour to the utmost There is hope in Israel concerning that And here is ground of hope too because these Stephens the slain all the day long can pray for their King all the day long crying with a loud voice not more for themselves at such a time then for their King saying Lord lay not this sinne to our Kings charge Amen Amen CHAP. 4. Quaeries touching the Edomite whether by the knowne Lawes of Israels Kingdome Saul might entertaine him in his Court grant him a Commission to smite a City of Priests whether any reason for that whether single or plurall and whether by any possible meanes an Edomite may be made serviceable to Israel How it relates to the present exemplifying the History of our Time VVHy does King Saul take an Edomite into his Court Qu. to be an Officer there It is answered in effect before Ans Saul is King and he knew himselfe so to be Qu. and will chuse his owne Officers may he not No indeed Ans he may not unlesse it be to be his Heardsman and there should be caution and some consultation about that too Questionlesse he must not chuse a servant to be chiefe in his house to transact the great affaires of his Kingdome there without the allowance and consent of All Israel because Saul does not chuse for himselfe but for the whole Kingdome But it is written Ob. Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite Yes Ans that is most true it is the charge of the Lord and we have the Reason Deut. 23.8 For he is thy brother Nor shalt thou ab or an Egyptian because thou wast a stranger in his land What is the meaning of this This we must not be unnaturall nor must we forget old favours But it does not follow from hence I hope that therefore Saul might take an Edomite make him a Chiefe Ruler in his house or that he might put considence in an Egyptian for the charge is contrary And if Saul will entertaine an intimacy and familiarity with an Edomite an old adversary to Israel as we have heard and seene and shall make it more legible yet It does plainly argue 3 Sect. Saul to be no true friend to Israel Sauls heart cannot be upright toward Israel when it cleaves to Israels adversary in love He cannot heartily desire the peace of Israel and heartily love an enemy to that peace I pray let us aske some more questions touching the Edomite I will answer by the Booke then good Law and Reason both Why did Saul make the Edomite Generall in this warre against David Qu. Saul gives someanswer to that with a little Reason Ans Because his sonne Ionathan stirred-up David to lye in wait for Saul as at this day 1. Sam. 22.8 As at this day indeed Qu. But this answer makes us more unresolved then before for all the world knowes that Ionathan was a good man and David as good as he besides we finde David fleeing away from the face of Saul like a Partridge and Saul hunting him like a Dog Let us heare Reason I pray you Was it not That the Edomite might recover the sword our of Davids hand No no that could not be it Ans for when Saul speakes out his minde freely as sometimes he did for a wicked heart will discover it selfe amongst his Servants he does not bid them fetch the sword from David but kill him And Saul spake to Ionathan and to all his servants 1 Sam. 19.1 that they should kill David It is Davids life not the sword that is aimed at And the Edomite was a Right man for that service for he was a mighty man mighty to do mischiefe and skilfull to destroy Whom David and All them that had an hand with David That is the direct Answer Saul indeed spake
merrily to the people as he went along by the way and would make them beleeve that he had taken the Edomite to his side and sealed him a Commission because he is affraid of David he tells them more then twice David lay in wait to kill him therefore he tooke the Edomite to his side for who so faithfull as he to defend his master from Davids violence a poor-hunted Partridge or a more Right handed man to execute his masters command against David True it was David never durst stand to it till hee came to Keilah and there had not the Inhabitants proved themselves ingratefull and treacherous he had guarded himselfe and fenced his throat and hazarded Sauls But Saul feared David no more then the Birds of Prey a hunted Partridge that is the expression And kill David that was his charge There is one doubt more and occasions another question Was this Edomite singular or plurall Qu. The singular number sure Doeg was but one But let us note Ans that One is mentioned sometimes not to exclude a second but to imply the first chiefest in place and so more mighty and principall then the second because of his place as Iehoram is said to compell Iudah to commit fornication When Athaliah was as masculine and imperious yea as mischievous that way and yet not named in that verse because shee acted by power from her husband not so cleare to every mans eye And so Doeg the Edomite is mentioned single as if he did all because the chiefest in favour with his King The meaning of the question then is Was there but one Edomite imployed in that war or were there more There were more sure Ans for it is not imaginable that Doeg alone could destroy the City of Priests men women and children there doubtlesse there were more Edomites there or bastard Israelites as Right-men for Sauls service as the word is if men can be Right who are the seed of the Crooked Serpent as Doeg was Nay it is probable there were many in Sauls Camp Right-men Edomites I meane of that generation for thus it is When a Doeg is entertained at Court is favoured there he will work for his Country-men what he can and according to his power that they may have place and respect thereabouts that they may be of use and service when the King shall rise-up against David One question more with a resolution touching the Edomite Saul his master has entertained him Qu. Is there no meanes to be taken whereby he may be made a faithfull servant to Israel No Ans by no meanes What! Qu. not possible to make him a Right-man No Ans not to Israel but to Sauls service he will be right and straight Me thinkes Israel might have dealt with him Qu. as we with Papists bring him to Church might they not have done so Yes Ans and to no purpose at all for he will goe to the house of Abimelech himselfe that is to the Church as we too commonly call it and a mischievous person though he be yet he will sit there close to his solemne service and pretend there he has a vow upon him you cannot worke upon him that way to make him Right for Israel Then try him another way Qu. give him as we to the Papists the Oath of Allegeance sweare him faithfull to God and his King an Oath is a sacred band that will binde him to Israel sure will it not an Oath I meane such a sacred Band Hang him Ans for like the possessed man no Bands will hold him he will breake all Cords such a childe of Belial is he except one and that the Hangman must pluck-up-close to his neck then turne him downe for by no meanes can you make an Edomite stand right to Israel This is very sutable to the time But for the first Questions How farre the Kings power reacheth for the choice of his owne Ministers I leave as in manners I ought to the determination of the High Court which is this That the King must choose such Ministers as his good people may confide in and by no meanes such who are sworne enemies to the peace of the King and prosperity of the Kingdome A mans private judgement may be steeped in his affections he may cleave more in love to a private person then to a whole Kingdome and in choice of persons to places he may stand byassed to his owne will and ends which All Israel a Parliament there cannot doe Therefore it is against the knowne lawes of Israels Kingdome That Israels King should by himself alone make choice of Persons to high place there for it is against the SUPREME LAW the welfare of the People And Saul taking that liberty against that knowne Law had destroyed the Cities of Iudah and had slaine David too had not the Lord interposed His Almighty Arme. To the other which I should not make a question whether by any meanes a Papist may be made serviceable to Israel It is Answered as before by no meanes which man can use You cannot change the Ethiopians Skin not the Leopards spots Ier. 13.23 He will goe to Church as the Edomite to Abimilechs House and yet be mighty to doe mischiefe You may sweare him to the King and Kingdome Bind him with that Sacred Band he will bee willingly bound for he was a reservation Or if you presse him hard hee is informed very well That he cannot be bound to Heretickes as he cals them in any bands you may put bands upon him he will beake them as easily as you can breake burnt Flaxe The Doctrine of his Church and her Lawes written in blood doe absolve and set free This Child of Belial from all bandsand at liberty to doe all manner of mischiefe And so he has done and it is the very purpose of his heart to doe according to the Power in his hand All the mischiefe as his manner is to Israel being the fruitfull Parent of all the Rebellions Treasons Massacres and so forth for there is no end That have beene acted thorow the Christian World as at this day You may then proclaime them Traytors to the Peace and Crowne of the King and Kingdome for so is every Papist said a great States man in our Kingdom holding to the Tenets of the Romish Church Traytors in hand or in heart in action or affection And so said Luther of himself once an Aug. Moncke and of all his fraternity or Brother-hood there Wee are all Men of Blood * Nemo nostrum non erat vir sanguinum si non opete tamen corde Abhorrebam vel ipsum Nomen W. Hus in Galas Cap. 1. p. 15. sayes hee wee hate a true Protestant such an one as Iohn Huss with our heart and we will presecute him with our hand to the death We abhorretheir very Name we would not have a man of that profession to live upon the Earth so
Reason why David could not bee delivered one day sooner then he was which being handled as I hope by Gods strength it may bee will give mighty establishment and encouragement to Israel touching the distractions of this present time My question will be this first VVhat might hold back neighbouring Israel from comming-in to help their Brethren and Sisters now in the day of their trouble and tredding downe by the foot of pride The answere to this question is CONSCIENCE did with-hold Israel then and the same CONSCIENCE must with-hold Israel now in the very same case from comming-in to succour their oppressed Brethren So sayes Doctor Ferne I will name him to comfort and refresh the Divel and his Servants his Edomites in their war against the LAMB for they shall have hot service of it and to honour their cause that they have not onely a Master but a Doctor in Israel on their side a conscientious man who is as he sayes and makes men beleeve a man of a tender spirit he can behold Cities wasted Townes fired Men VVomen Children Sucklings Oxe Asse Sheep slaughtered there and tender Soul he is moved as much as a Rocke beaten upon with the waves But if so be one or more shall lift up their hand for David and to help him in the day of his distresse with Bread and with a Sword or lift up the sword for David then the good man melts and good soule his conscience is troubled O! sayes he beware what yu doe yu resist the King Clap your hand upon the breast consult with CONSCIENCE remember the Battle and doe no more so A man of a tender spirit no doubt Let him alone we know him well enough he is wiser in his owne conceit then seven men Prov. 26.16 that can render SCRIPTVRE and REASON both for what they doe I shall not goe a step out of my way to meet with this good man that has so tender a conscience Onely this for the History leads me directly to it I must necessarily doe and by GODS helpe and His good WORD I shall doe it to purpose and make good That had Israels hand beene with David now and beene so bold and strong as to have been able to have wrested the Commission out of Sauls hand which he was giving into the Edomites hand and the Sword out of the Edomites hand too had any Israelite done so he had shewn as great a kindnesse to Saul the King and done as great a service to his Kingdome as is imaginable Therefore CONSCIENCE could not hold backe Israel from helping The LORD against the mighty But this with much more as I doe conceive not without the Booke of high and excellent concernment now and will occasion a large discourse I must referre to the next Section unto which I shall hasten as fast as I can Because I have a strong hope and confidence That I shall be inabled therein to nonplus the Divell and put his Edomite cleane out of office if Law will bee hearkned to and the best Reason For as Law and Reason both did call-in and authorize all Israel to rise-up in armes in succour of David at the last when Gods time was come so it followes That all Israel will move now upon the same grounds and will not be slacke And yet they shall have no allowance to Resist their King but allowance granted them from Heaven and Earth to resist the evill Spirit working mightily now-a-dayes with the Kings of the earth and with their Edomites there carrying-on their great designe to dethrone The LORD JESUS CHRIST But when I have all done I have little hope That I shall sati fie the tender hearted-man I meane Doctor Fearnes Tender Conscience I suspect rather I shall leave his Conscience as I found it if not asleep then seared That I may begin I will end with this Doe we that which is before us our worke and duty with all our might Set we our hands and our hearts thereunto it is to help The LORD against the mighty and we will not dare to make question for Conscience sake 1 Pet. 3.16 having a good Conscience That whereas they speak of us as of evill doers they may be ashamed that falsly accuse our good conversation in Christ Finis secundae Sectionis