vigilant ought the dispenser of things spirituall to be The Imperiall lawes haue prouided that Aduocates should not evagari stray out of the cities and places where they practised Cod. lib. 2. tit 7. leg 2. and for souldiers it is prouided milites non tractent aliena negotia They should not busie themselues with other mens affaires but attend vpon their owne calling and charge Cod. lib. 2. tit 13. leg 7. If they which doe but fight for mens bodies and such as plead for mens goods must giue such diligent attendance much more is the same requisite in those that are charged with mens soules But now a daies this at many hands is counted so ordinarie and easie a thing to be the Pastor of soules that a man will require more diligence at his seruants handes about his cattell then many doe performe in the feeding of soules God in his good time open the eyes of such that they may see the great danger which they by their negligence and carelesnesse cast themselues into and that they may feele the heauie waight of the burthen of soules that they may deliuer their owne soules 6. Lastly not to heape vp more arguments in so euident a matter This is not the least thing which should mooue Pastors to be resident among their people because they giue great offence by their vnnecessarie absence to the Church of God as seeking rather to feede vpon them then to feede them as the Prophet Esechiel complaineth of such idle shepheards Ye eate the fat and cloath you with the wooll ye kill them that are fedde but ye feede not the sheepe Esech 34.3 Saint Paul saith to the Corinthians I seeke not yours but you 2. Cor. 12.14 But such as care not for Christs flocke doe euidently proclaime that they seeke not them but theirs Of this kinde of scandall and offence Augustine had experience in his people of Hippo of whome he thus writeth Populus Hipponensis cui me deus servum dedit ita est ex omni parte infirmus vt pressura etiam levioris tribulationis poterit aegrotare eum modo cum regressus sum periculosè scandalizatum comperi de absentia mea The people of Hippo whose seruant the Lord hath made me is so altogether weake that a little trouble is able to make them very sicke I found them at my returne dangerously scandalized with my absence Epist. 7. If the people tooke offence at Augustines necessarie absence for without iust cause that holy man would not absent himselfe much more grieuous is the offence which is iustly giuen by vnnecessarie absence Of lawfull and iust causes of the Pastors absence Now whereas it hath been thus shewed that the presence resideÌ„ce of Pastors is necessarie both in respect of the great danger which they incurre thereby the cause thereof the waÌ„t of loue the inconueniences which growe vnto the people the vigilancie of the spirituall aduersarie the price and excellencie of their charge concerning soules and the publike offence and scandall yet are there some occasions which may lawfully draw the Pastor for a time from his people and especially these fowre 1. He may be absent for the publike seruice of the Church as in beeing present in generall or provinciall Councells in helping to settle and compound the variances and differences in other Churches and such like profitable employments As S. Paul when a man of Macedonia appeared vnto him in a vision saying Come and helpe vs tooke it for a sufficient warrant for him to goe into Macedonia to plaâ—â— the Gospel there Act. 16.9 10. So although in this behalfe the calling of Apostles and Pastors is much different the one beeing not limited the other tied to a charge yet it is a good occasioÌ„ of absence when the necessitie of other Churches calleth for helpe at some Pastors hands As Ambrose saith Non dubito fratres contristari vos quotiescunque absentem me à vobis necessitas facit I doubt not brethren but that you are grieued when as necessitie maketh me absent from you Ser. 39. And in an other place Alterius Ecclesiae necessitatibus evocatus minime vobis solitum studium dependisse videor beeing called forth by the necessarie busines of an other Church I seeme not to haue bestowed on you my wonted care Ser. 28. 2. An other cause of absence is when the Pastor personally is sought for and can not remaine among his flocke without perill of his life and when his sheepe are become wolues to rise vp against their own shepheard Dauid though accounted king ouer Israel beeing personally pursued by Saul with whome the Ziphims of his owne tribe conspired 1. Sam. 23. fled out of the land and S. Paul beeing sought for in Damascus was let downe in a basket by a window 2. Cor. 11.33 Athanasius whose life was sought for by his enemies the Arrians did leaue his Church of Alexandria and gaue way for the time hiding himselfe for the space of sixe yeares in a drie cisterne and fowre moneths in his fathers tombe And he himselfe maketh this Apologie Quis mihi mirabiliter divinitus erepto vitio vertat quod non in manus me quaerentium reiecerim c. Who can blame me beeing miraculously deliuered that I did not cast my selfe into their hands which sought me Tripart hist. lib. 6. c. 22. This occasion of absence is allowed by the auncient practise of the Church Si non suo vitio sed plebis contradictione aberit à parochia If he be absent not by his owne default but the contradiction and opposition of the people Antiochen can 18. Who doubteth therefore but that those holy Confessours in the late daies of persecution in England which fled out of the land seeing the life of the Pastors and Ministers was cheifly sought for therein were warranted to doe as they did beeing by this meanes preserued by Gods prouidence for the restauration of the Church afterward 3. A third lawfull cause of absence and discontinuance for a time is for recouering the health of bodie for many diseases are helped by the change of aire and in this case it is lawfull for a man if the place be such as agreeth not with the state of his bodie to leaue the charge altogether beeing called vnto an other This cause staied Epaphroditus from the Church of the Philippians whome as soone as he was recouered S. Paul sent vnto them that they might reioice when they saw him Philip. 2.25.28 The Ecclesiasticall histories make mention of Sylvanus who was made Bishop of Philippolis in Thracia by Atticus Patriarke of Constantinople but beeing of a thinne bodie and not able to endure the colde of that countrey was remooued from thence to Troas in an hotter climate Socrat. lib. 7. c. 37. 4. A Minister or Pastor may vpon his necessarie priuate occasions lawfully for a time be absent as in following necessarie suits of law to defend his right which require his personall attendance or in attending vpon some
nations Borr. 2. Yet God hauing purposed to erect among his people a kingly throne and to raise vnto them a king of whose seede the Messiah should come tooke this occasion to accomplish his purpose so turning their euill and inordinate desire vnto a good ende as God can conuert the euill thoughts and actions of men to serue for his glorie Borr. 3. Now the people in asking a king failed in diuers circumstances 1. in their curiositie that pretending the iniustice of Samuels sonnes yet indeede desired an innovation of the very gouernment it selfe for they might haue otherwise requested of Samuel to admonish his sonnes that the fault might be amended not the person remooued Pellican 2. Their impietie appeareth toward God who had hitherto raised vp vnto them Iudges and deliuerers they beeing not contented therewith because their Iudges shifted from one tribe to an other and many times were of meane parentage and not so fearefull or terrible to their enemies they desire to haue a certaintie of the kingdome as other nations had and so they offended in their distrust and diffidence toward God Osiand as the Lord himselfe saith they had reiected him v. 7. 3. Their ingratitude also was great toward Samuel by whose meanes they had receiued so many and great benefits that they would shake off his gouernment euen while he liued in these respects the petition of the people for a King seemed euill vnto Samuel 3. Quest. v. 7. Whether by asking of a King the people indeede cast off the Lords gouernment 1. Simply it is not true that the gouernment vnder kings is a shaking off the Lords yoke For the Lord is with kings and ruleth his people by them they are the ordinance of God Wisdome saith Proverb 8. By me Kings rule The Lord blessed the gouernment of Dauid Iehoshaphat Hezekiah Iosias But yet the people as much as in them lay reiected the Lords gouernment because they misliked that form of administration which the Lord had set them and desired a chaunge and innouation without any direction from God 2. But it will be further questioned whether God also doe raigne together with bad kings the answer is that euen the authoritie of wicked Kings is of God which they abuse to tyrannie and they shall giue account vnto God for abuse of their gouernment And although the persons be euill which gouerne yet the authoritie is lawfull and good and euen vnder tyrants there are many good things as enacting of politike lawes administration of iustice punishment of offenders Mart. 4. Quest. v. 11. Of Samuels description of the King whome the Israelites desired 1. Samuel describeth such manners and fashions which are incident not to true Monarchies but such as decline rather vnto a Tyrannie Osiand he setteth not downe here the office of a King what he ought to be but foresheweth by the spirit of prophesie what manner of king they should haue that they either hereby might be perswaded to desist from their enterprize or they might more willingly beare these inconueniences when they fell vpon them beeing thus forewarned of them and beeing the cause thereof themselues Pellican And thus the Lord to their owne cost graunteth their desire that for the most part they had such kings as gouerned them rather by will then law as the kings of the Gentiles did 2. Samuel sheweth how their King should haue power ouer their children and seruants their goods and lands In all which the King hath a soueraigne right mens seruants and children are to doe the king seruice in time of warre and of peace the necessitie of the Crowne is to be supported for the publike good of the Commonwealth but the manner is vnlawfull the King must rule by law not by lust nor lay vnnecessarie burdens vpon his subiects knowing that he hath also a Lord aboue him the great king of heauen to whome he must giue account 3. In these three things Samuel sheweth that their King should faile first in the manner that he should not by order or law but by violence and compulsion take from them their sonnes and daughters their lands and goods whereas yet Iezabel would not but by colour of iustice take Nabâ—oths vineyard from him Pellican Secondly he should faile in the ende abusing these things to his pleasure and giuing them to his seruants and fauorites not applying them to the common profit and benefite of the Commonwealth Borr. Thirdly in respect of their persons he should vse them altogether as seruants v. 17. putting them to base and seruile offices not as free subiects such as they were in time of the Iudges and their other gouernours Borr. 5. Quest. v. 19. Why the people would not hearken to Samuel 1. God had decreed by this occasion to set a King ouer his people as he promised to Abraham that Kings should come of his seede Gen. 17.17 yet God did not force their wills but God vseth their wills and desire whereunto they were enclined to effect his counsell Pellican 2. Therefore iustly notwithstanding the Lord by his Prophet telleth them that he will not heare them afterward when they shall crie vnto him because of the oppressions of their King for that they now wilfully cast off the counsell of God and refuse to hearken vnto his voice Pellican 3. And thus we see how many times men are snared in their owne desires and obtaine their requests vnto their owne hurt as the Lord tooke the people short in their hastie wishes Numb 14.28 As I liue saith the Lord I will surely doe vnto you as ye haue spoken in mine eares your carkesses shall fall in this wildernes c. 4. Now in this their petition the people offended because they asked him after a preposterous manner not expecting the authoritie of God therefore the Lord is said to haue giuen them a King in his anger Hosh. 13.11 their request was then against the reuealed will of God though God in his secret counsell had so determined Mar. CHAP. IX 1. Quest. v. 5. Of the land of Zuph 1. THe Septuag read the land of Siph failing both in the pronouncing of the letter which is tsaddi which is expressed by tz not semech which giueth the sound of our single s as also of the vowel which is shuree not chiric and answereth to our u. 2. The Chalde interpreteth the land where was a Prophet of which reading see before qu. 1. c. 1. 3. The land therefore of Zuph was that cuntrey where Ramah Samuels citie was situate which thereupon was called Ramah of the Zophims c. 1. v. 1. for they were now neere vnto Ramah Ioseph 2. Quest. v. 7. Whether Saul gaue any thing to Samuel and whether it were lawfull for the Prophets to receiue any thing 1. Some thinke that Saul had this opinion that Samuel might be allured with gifts and that it was not lawfull for the Prophets to receiue any gift as Gehezi was punished with leprosie because he tooke a reward and this is
made him in Carmel 1. Some thinke that he there set vp a triumphant pillar or monument of the victorie Hierom. as taking the honour thereof vnto himselfe and not giuing due thanks vnto God Osiand but this Carmel beeing in Iudah it seemeth that Saul would not haue chosen that place rather then his owne tribe and territorie of Benjamin to set vp any such triumphant monument in 2. Some thinke that Saul made some stay there to diuide the pray and spoile among the people Vat. but it seemeth by the bleating of the sheepe and the lowing of the oxen afterward that the pray was not diuided yet and Saul afterward excused himselfe that they had reserued them for sacrifice v. 14. 3. So neither is it like that Saul made him a place that is there built an altar vnto God as some Hebrewes thinke for by his answer made vnto Samuel it appeareth that he had not yet sacrificed 4. Therefore the place which in Hebrew properly signifieth an hand that is a space or elbow as it were of ground which Saul made was some conuenient plot of ground where Saul refreshed his hoast beeing newly returned from battell for he staied not there long but from thence went to Gilgal Iun. 13. Quest. v. 12. Of Carmel where Saul made his place 1. This word Carmel is sometime taken appellatiuely in Scripture and it signifieth a greene eare of corne Leuit. 2.14 or purple colour Cantic 7.5 sometime it is taken for a fertile or fruitfull field as Isa. 10.18 carmilo his fruitfull fields 2. But here it is a proper name of a towne in Iudah Iosh. 15.55 which was in the way as they returned from Amalek Iun. 3. There was an other Carmel which bounded Zebulun Ifachar and Assher Iosu. 18.24 which was diuerse from this Carmel for that was toward the Sea westward as that place of Ioshua sheweth famous for the confession of Baals priests there by the Prophet Elias 1. king 18. the other was South neere vnto mount Seir in the tribe of Iudah Borr. in Iosh. 18.24 4. Yet some doe thinke that it might be all one Carmel one ende whereof hung ouer into the Sea the other reached vp in the land toward mount Thabor Masius in Iosh. 14. Quest. v. 15. Of Sauls excuse and defense vnto Samuel Sauls hypocrisie here is discouered 1. in boasting that he had fulfilled Gods commandement wheras apparātly he had transgressed it for this is the manner of hypocrites when they follow their owne deuises to say they haue fulfilled the commandement of the Lord. Bis. 2. He excuseth himselfe in laying the fault vpon the people and putting it from himselfe Pellican 3. He cloaketh and coloureth his couetousnes with a pretense of zeale and religion as though he had spared the best things for sacrifice 4. He afterward notwithstanding iustifieth his sinne as though he had for all this done well and obeied the voice of God v. 22. Pellican 5. He maketh a semblance of sorrow and repentance at the last but it was farre from true submission v. 25. Borr. 6. He doth all vpon a vaine ostentation onely desiring that the Prophet would honour him before the people v. 25. Osiand 15. Quest. v. 23. Of the meaning of the Prophets words Rebellion is as the sinne of witchcraft 1. The Prophet to amplifie Sauls sinne compareth it with two great transgressions of soothsaying and diuining by magicall predictions and of committing idolatrie he toucheth two kindes of idolatrie one inward in the superstition of the minde called here aven which signifieth a lie or falshood as also iniustice or vnrighteousnes as the Sept. read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but here it is properly applied to false worship the other kinde is in the outward adoration of Idols here called teraphim Bor. 2. Some thinke that here is a comparison made not of the sinnes but of the punishment that rebellion deserueth as well a capitall punishment as either Idolatrie or soothsaying ex Vatab. but the Prophet speaketh directly of the sinne it selfe as before of the vertue of obedience to obey is better then sacrifice v. 22. 3. The Prophet must be vnderstood not to speake of transgressions either of ignorance or infirmitie but of the sinne of obstinacie contumacie and rebellion whē one knowing the will of God doth wilfully resist it for this proceedeth from the same cause namely infidelitie which the other sinnes of witchcraft and Idolatrie doe he which feareth not to breake Gods commandements doth in a manner not acknowledge the Lord to be God Pellican and he maketh himselfe wiser then God as though he could finde out a better way then the Lord hath prescribed Vatab. 4. By this then we see what is to be iudged of the manifold superstitions among the Romanists their leauing of Gods commandements to establish their owne traditions that although they pretend a good intention yet the wilfull forsaking of the word of God and his institution to make way for humane superstitious rites is as the sinne of soothsaying before God 5. Yet it can not be inferred hereupon that sinnes are equall and that euery transgression and disobedience of Gods cōmandement is equall to the sinne of witchcraft and Idolatrie but the qualitie of the sinne is rather here to be respected then the quantitie for rebellion and obstinacie in what thing soeuer doth proceed from infidelitie euen as the sinnes of witchcraft and idolatrie though not in the same degree and Iosephus doth seeme to expound it thus that this disobedience of Saul did preiudice his sacrifice and made it of no value or acceptance with God as if a soothsayer or Idolater should sacrifice vnto God as the Prophet in the same sense saith he that killeth a bullocke is as he that smiteth a man Isa. 66.3 that is an hypocrite is no more accepted of God then a prophane murderer and wicked person And this disobedience of Saul was a sufficient cause to depriue him of the kingdome as if he had beene guiltie of soothsaying or Idolatrie 16. Quest. v. 24. Of Sauls repentance in saying to Samuel I haue sinned There was great difference betweene Sauls repentance here and Dauids 2. Sam. c. 12. who in the very same word saith catathi I haue sinned 1. Dauid at the first as soone as his sinne was shewed vnto him confessed it but Saul is hardly brought to acknowledge his sinne it was a long time first so he is serae poenitentiae exemplum an example of slow late repentance 2. He doth not make a simple and plaine confession but minseth and extenuateth his sinne that he feared the people and so at their instigation did as he did so hard is it for hypocrites to be brought to make a true confession of their sinne but to lay the fault vpon others Osiand 3. He confesseth his sinne rather for feare to loose the kingdome then for greefe that he had offended God for till such time as Samuel had saide the Lord had reiected and cast him off
Nob beeing a citie of Priests were smitten and that onely Abiathar one of the sonnes of Ahimelech escaped 14. Quest. v. 19. How it stood with the iustice of God that the innocent Priests with the infants were slaine 1. The sentence which God had pronounced against the house of Eli the Lord had suspended vnto this time and now as that sentence was iust so is the execution thereof the children are punished not so much for their fathers sinnes as for their owne beeing found to continue in their fathers stepps so that although in this thing whereof they are accused they did nothing worthie of death yet otherwise they were not innocent 2. And concerning infants they are not voide of originall sinne which though it be not imputed vnto them in Christ vnto eternall death yet it maketh them subiect to temporall death seeing then that infants are once to die then their death may be disposed of God in the prouidence of God when it maketh for Gods glorie and the iust condemnation of the wicked Mart. 3. Herein Dauid was a type and figure of Christ at whose fleeing into Egypt the infants were slaine by Herod as here these infants are put to the sword for Dauids cause Osiand CHAP. XXIII 1. Quest. v. 2. Of Dauids asking counsell of God and by whome he did it 1. DAuid will not here enterprise battell vnlesse first he had consulted with God following therein the godly examples before his time as the Israelites asked of God who should goe vp against the Cananites and the Lord assigned the tribe of Iudah Iud. 1. so when the Israelites waged battel against their brethren the Benjaminites they went to aske counsell of God So warre is not to be taken in hand rashly but with counsell first from God and then to be taken with men Mar. 2. Now some thinke that Dauid did aske counsell of God by the Priest namely Abiathar who should now be fled vnto Dauid Mart. Borr. Osiand But it is euident by the text that Abiathar was not yet come vnto Dauid for v. 5. it is said that he fled to Dauid to Keilah but this consultation was had before Dauid came to Keilah for now he was aduising whether he should goe to Keilah or no. 3. Therefore it is rather to be supposed that Dauid consulted here with some Prophet as Iosephus well noteth and it was likely to be the Prophet Gad who was in Dauids companie c. 22.5 Iun. 2. Quest. v. 4. Whether Dauid offended not in asking counsell of God the second time about the same thing 1. Dauid did not againe aske counsell of God as doubting himselfe of the truth of his word but because of the weakenes and infirmitie of those who were with him Borr. Pellican for they were very timorous and reasoned thus seeing we are not without daunger here in the middes of Iudah how much more in Keilah beeing in the vtmost border of Iudah Vatab. if we are afraid of Saul how much more of our professed and strong aduersaries Osiand therefore for their strengthening Dauid asketh counsell againe that all might heare it as Christ praied aloud at Lazarus graue beeing without doubt that the Lord otherwise wold haue heard him for the edifying and comfort of those which were by Mar. 2. God was indeede angrie with Balaam because not contented with the Lords answer he asked againe for he did it of a couetous minde beeing desirous to goe for the rewards sake which was promised him But in these cases God hath beene wel pleased twice in the same thing to be consulted with 1. when a man desireth to be further strengthened and confirmed in his owne faith as Gedeon asked two signes one after an other Iud. 6. 2. when vpon Gods answeare the euent falleth out not answerable then for their further resolution they may againe goe vnto God as the Israelites did beeing once ouercome of the Benjaminites Iud. 20. 3. it is lawfull for the edifying of others as Dauid here doth 4. or for a more full answer if they receiue not sufficient satisfaction at the first as v. 11. Dauid propounding two questions vnto the Lord whether Saul would come downe to Keilah if he staied there and whether the lords of Keilah would deliuer him into his hands receiuing but answeare concerning the one that Saâ—uâ—l would come downe he asketh of God the second time to be resolued likewise of the other 3. This sheweth that when men receiue not full satisfaction by once hearing of the word of God they should resort vnto it often Osiand as S. Paul saith it was a sure thing for them to write the same things againe Philip. 3.1 3. Quest. v. 7. Of Sauls purpose to besiege Keilah where Dauid was 1. Saul doth promise himselfe Gods assistance saying God hath deliuered him into mine hand so the wicked and hypocrites many times doe vse the name of the Lord when God is furthest off from them so rayling Rabshakeh saide in the name of the king of Asshur Am I now come vp without the Lord vnto this place to destroy it the Lord said vnto me Goe vp against this land and destroy it 2. king 18.25 In like manner the Romanists when they enterprise warre against the seruants of God vse this posie Adiutorium nostrum in nomine Domini Our helpe is in the name of the Lord. And they vsed to begin their bloodie sentence of condemnation against the Martyrs In nomine Dei In the name of God Mar. 2. Whereas Saul leaueth the Philistims and bendeth his force against Dauid who had ouercome the Philistims and deserued to be honoured of Saul herein like minded are the Papists which leauing the common enemie the Turke doe turne their force against the professours of the Gospel yea they hold it more necessarie for them to be suppressed then the common enemies of Christianitie Mar. who in the same place yet goeth further and complaineth Nec ita pridem erant qui omitterent communem causam contra Papistas vt fratres suos quos tamen habent hostium loco condemnarent And not long since there were which did leaue the common cause against the Papists that they might suppresse their brethren whome they held as enemies And it were to be wished that both the power of the sword and the word were turned against the common aduersarie the Papists amongst vs who grow insolent and bold by our domesticall dissention 4. Quest. v. 12. Of Dauids twice consulting with God and of the Lords answer concerning the men of Keilah 1. The Rabbins suppose that they were wont to aske the Lord but one question at once and therefore Dauid propouÌ„ding two questions receiueth but one answer at the first time but this is their vaine supposall without any ground or warrant in Scripture Mart. for as it is lawfull now for the faithfull to aske not one thing at once in their praiers but whatsoeuer they stand in neede of so we doubt not but that then they might craue the
this oath Saul should haue had more iust cause to persecute him whereas now he had no pretext 2. But here this question will be mooued how Dauid kept his oath when as he caused the two sonnes of Rizpah Sauls concubine and the fiue sonnes of his daughter to be hanged because of the Gibeonites 2. Sam. 21. To this the answer is readie that Dauid for his part was so minded as much as in him lay to keepe this oath as may appeare by the punishment which he tooke of them that killed Ishbosheth Sauls sonne but in this oath was to be excepted vnlesse God gaue any speciall commandement to the contrarie as he did in the cause of the Gibeonites for Dauid asked counsell of God and followed the Lords direction in that action Mar. neither did Dauid voluntarily put thē to death but seauen of Sauls sonnes were required by the Gibeonites for oppression of whome the land was punished by famine neither was Sauls posteritie vtterly destroied for Dauid had compassion on Mephibosheth Ionathans sonne CHAP. XXV 1. Quest. v. 1. Of the death of Samuel the time and place 1. THough Saul hated Samuel because he had told him that the Lord had cast him off yet he had no power to hurt him for Samuel was of great authoritie both because he was the Lords Prophet and for that he had beene the Iudge and gouernour of Israel and had gouerned them iustly as also Samuel had giuen vp the politike administration betaken him to a priuate life in the schoole of the Prophets and therefore Saul the lesse regarded him but most of all the Lord kept Saul from doing any violence to Samuel Mar. 2. Seasonable mention is now made of Samuels death because Saul at the length had confessed that Dauid should be king Pellican the authoritie and testimonie of the Prophet was not now so needefull Dauids enemie acknowledging his right 3. Concerning the time of Samuels death Iosephus thinketh that it was in the eighteene yeare of Sauls raigne and that Samuel had iudged Israel 12. years alone lib. 6. c. 14. But this can not stand for Samuel was at the least 20. yeares Iudge alone as it may appeare c. 6.2 and Saul and Samuel had but 40. yeares betweene them Act. 13.21 then if Samuel iudged Israel 20. yeares and died in the 18. yeare of Saul there should remaine yet two yeares of the 40. yeares vnder Saul and Samuel therefore the opinion of some Hebrewes is false that Saul raigned but seauen moneths after Samuels death for after this Dauid soiourned a yeare among the Philistims c. 27.7 ex Pellican see more hereof qu. 2. c. 12. 4. The place where Samuel died and was buried was in his house that is among his familie and kinred in Ramah Osiand 2. Quest. Of the mourning for Samuel and his buriall and generally of funeralls 1. The people had great cause to mourne for Samuel the Lords Prophet and an vpright man and at this time two calamities happened together the death of Samuel so great a Prophet and the exile of Dauid Mar. and not long after Samuels death the Philistims preuailed against Saul when he and his three sonnes died in battell who were kept vnder while Samuel liued it is not like that Saul was either present or mourned for Samuel as he had done for Saul yet he did forbeare in this publike lamentation to pursue Dauid and therefore he taketh this opportunitie to escape to the vtmost parts of the land while they were busied about the buriall of Samuel Iun. 2. There was a very great assembly of all Israel to honour Samuels funerall for the bodies of the Saints are to be interred after a comely sort and according to their deserts while they liued to be brought vnto the ground with honourable solemnitie But here therefore two extreames are to be shunned that neither the bodies of Christians should be neglected and cast away as vncleane as among some heathen which had no opinion of the immortalitie of the soule they made small account of the dead and vnder the Pagane Emperours of Rome they suffered the bodies of Christians to lie vnburied and the like disgrace vnder the idolatrous Popes of Rome therein following the steppes of their predecessours hath beene offered vnto Gods Saints both keeping them from buriall and raking their bones out of their graues whereas the bodies of Christians in hope of the resurrection as the temples of the holy Ghost should with reuerence be commended and committed vnto Christian sepulture 3. The other extreame is in the superfluous and vnnecessarie cost which is bestowed vpon the sepulchres of the dead as the kings of Egypt had their costly Pyramides and Queene Artemisia made for her husband that famous tombe mausoleum famous ouer the world In time of Poperie they shrined them in siluer and cloath of gold and grew to further superstition to adore the reliques of the dead to inuocate them as their patrons whereas no such seruice was done vnder the law vnto Samuel or any of the Prophets neither did Christ or his Apostles euer command any such thing to be done This superstition euen Cicero misliked following onely the instinct and light of naturall reason for thus he writeth 1. Philippic An me censetis P. C. decreturum fuisse vt parentalia cum supplicationibus iungerentur vt inexpiabiles religiones in rempublicam inducerentur vt decernerentur supplicationes mortuorum adduci non possum vt quenquā mortuorum adiungerem cum deorum immortalium religione Doe ye thinke honourable fathers that I would haue decreed that funeralls should be ioyned with supplications that inexpiable religions should be brought into the Common-wealth that the praier to the dead should be decreed I can not be induced to ioyne any of the dead with the religion of the immortall gods Thus much Cicero one of the heathen Romanists our Christened Romanists may be ashamed then of their grosse superstition and wilfull blindnesse herein 4. Beside as they praied not here to Samuel so neither praied they for Samuel for the dead are neither to be praied vnto nor yet praied for We read that the Patriarkes Abraham Isaak Iaakob were mourned for when they died so were the Prophets Moses Samuel with others yet praiers and supplications were made for none of them wherby an other superstition of Poperie is discouered concerning Purgatorie if they answer that there was no Purgatorie before Christ surely there is lesse reason to imagine it after the comming of Christ seeing he by his death is as auaileable to purge our sinnes now as before And as in the sepulture of the Saints of the old Testament no mention is made of any prayer for the dead so neither is there in the new Testament as in the death of Iohn Baptist Stephen Iames. Act. 12. Mart. 3. Quest. v. 2 3. Of Nabal and Abigail his wife 1. Nabal is described by his place of dwelling in Maon who kept his cattell in Carmel
people of God because he saw that they so mightily encreased and so Saul was enemie to Dauid because the Lord had caused him to be Anointed King Mart. 7. Quest. v. 19. In what sense they bid Dauid goe serue other gods 1. Dauid as yet was no exile but he grieued if Saul persisted in his purpose still that he should be driuen out of the land as indeede it came shortly after to passe Pellican 2. He grieueth not so much to leaue his parents friends and countrey as that he should be sequestred from the seruice of God and be compelled to liue among idolaters and so be occasioned prouoked as much as lay in them to forsake his God it was not then the land it selfe that Dauid so much affected as because it was the land of promise in which regard Abraham preferred it before his owne countrey of Mesopotamia and Ioseph before the riches of Egypt 3. If then Dauid complaineth herof as of the greatest calamitie that he should be absent from the seruice of God and be conuersant among Idolaters then they are worthie of reproofe which neglect the assemblies of religion which they may lawfully frequent as the Recusants of both sorts among vs and carnall worldlings as also they which doe without any necessitie runne vnto the countries of Idolaters yea make no conscience of assembling with them before their Idols 4. And if this be so heauie a thing to be sent out from among the people of God Peter Martyr further thus noteth Gravissime peccant Principes qui homines pios è ditionibus suis extrudunt quod enim aliud faciunt quam vt cogantur illi miseri sub Turca vivere then such Princes doe greatly offend which thrust out godly men out of their dominions for what doe they else then that the poore men be forced to liue vnder the Turke sic Martyr 8. Quest. v. 20. What Dauid meaneth when he saith Let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of Iehouah 1. Iunius reades thus let not my blood fall procul à conspectu farre off out of the sight of Iehouah that is before I come to be tried in the presence of the iudge who is in Gods place But neither did Dauid intend to yeild himselfe to an ordinarie triall before the Iudge for he knew that there was no iustice to be had at Sauls hand and the word mineger signifieth ex adverso S. or à regione ouer against or directly as Gen. 21.16 and is better translated directly in the sight 2. Some thinke that Dauid vttereth these words by way of supplication vnto God that the Lord would not suffer his blood to be spilt but defend and protect him But it seemeth by Sauls answer that presently followed v. 21. I will doe thee no more harme that he spake these wordes to Saul 3. Others take these wordes to be spoken by Dauid positiuely and affirmatiuely that his blood should not be spilt vpon the ground doe what he could he laboured in vaine and troubled himselfe to no ende sic Borr. Mar. 4. But the best interpretation is that his blood should not fall to the ground and be spilt as water in the sight of the Lord the Lord seeing and beholding it but that the Lord would reuenge and iudge it Vatab. and therefore Dauid aduiseth Saul to take heede how he shedde his innocent blood for the Lord would see it and not suffer it to goe vnpunished 9. Quest. v. 21. How Saul is saide to haue erred There are three sorts of error 1. There is a voluntarie or wilfull error and an inuoluntarie which proceedeth of meere ignorance the first is of two sores either when there is an error in the iudgement and vnderstanding as those of whome our Sauiour speaketh they shall think they doe good seruice when they put you to death Ioh. 16.1 and the Iewes as the Apostle saith Rom. 10.2 had zeale but not according to knowledge 2. The other voluntarie error is in the will and affection when the iudgement is not corrupted but the will consenteth not beeing caried along as a violent streame to subscribe vnto that which the minde seeth to be euill And this error is of two sorts when the iudgement is obscured and cast ouer for a time with the cloudes of carnall desire and affection as Dauid yeilded vnto the temptation of lust which in his iudgement cleared though for that time obscured he condemned as when one wittingly and willingly against his iudgement and conscience doth euill as Saul persecuted Dauid knowing him to be innocent onely of malice and hatred because he was appointed to the kingdome This kinde of error excuseth not at all 3. The inuoluntarie kind of error is when there is a totall ignorance and 〈◊〉 first in the iudgement and then in the will following the iudgement as Iaakob tooke Lea for Rachel this kind of error excuseth wholly sic fere Martyr 10. Quest. v. 23. Of the rewarding or rendring vnto a man his righteousnes where also of merits 1. Some read The Lord reward euery man according to his righteousnes L.B.G.V. but it is better read The Lord render vnto euery one his righteousnes A.P.C. Iun. for the preposition eeth here is an article of the accusatiue case 2. The meaning is that as euery one hath behaued himselfe iustly or vniustly so he shall receiue at Gods hand There are two kinde of righteousnes one is the righteousnes of faith which is imputed vnto vs whereby the righteousnes of Christ is made ours there is a righteousnes of workes proceeding of faith which is imperfect of which kind Dauid speaketh here which is rewarded and crowned in the mercie of God 3. This righteousnes is called both the iustice and righteousnes of God as it proceedeth from him the fountaine and author of good things it is also called ours because it is wrought in vs as the subiect and by vs as the instruments otherwise we haue no righteousnes of our selues for our Sauiour saith Without me ye can doe nothing 4. Our works are not the cause of the reward which proceedeth from the fauour of God for eternall life is the gift of God through Iesus Christ Rom. 6.23 but they are the means and the way appointed for vs to walk in as the Apostle saith Eph. 2.10 nay they are not generally causa sine qua non the cause without the which a thing can not be for infants are saued without them but as Bernard saith via sunt regni non causa regnandi they are the way to the kingdome not the cause of the kingdome like as a man can not goe vnto the citie but by the way nor clime vp into an high place but by steppes and degrees yet the way is not the cause of our going nor the steppes of our ascending So by good works we must walke vnto the kingdome of heauen but good workes doe not procure vnto vs the kingdome 5. Then we refuse vpon these grounds the