this_o discovery_n in_o the_o brief_a touch_v of_o which_o point_n i_o hope_v to_o find_v your_o patience_n a_o little_a more_o propitious_a than_o the_o time_n 6_o as_o much_o as_o the_o dignity_n of_o a_o king_n transcend_v the_o subject_n be_v the_o obligation_n of_o the_o subject_n to_o his_o king_n neither_o be_v the_o duty_n less_o we_o owe_v to_o the_o safety_n of_o our_o sovereign_n than_o the_o safeguard_n we_o challenge_v in_o his_o protection_n as_o the_o centre_n next_o under_o god_n from_o which_o we_o derive_v our_o honour_n and_o to_o which_o we_o owe_v our_o service_n of_o this_o duty_n chushai_n david_n trusty_a servant_n be_v not_o ignorant_a neither_o be_v his_o knowledge_n better_o tutour_v than_o his_o industry_n the_o same_o hand_n of_o kingly_a munificence_n which_o dispense_v he_o his_o honour_n point_v he_o out_o the_o liâ—…es_n of_o his_o oblige_a loyalty_n neither_o be_v he_o more_o slack_a to_o obey_v than_o david_n to_o command_v return_v into_o the_o 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many_o age_n from_o their_o first_o father_n adam_n shall_v break_v off_o with_o themselves_o and_o attain_v its_o high_a pitch_n in_o their_o perfection_n it_o be_v a_o noble_a though_o arrogant_a reply_n of_o iphicrates_n to_o hermodius_fw-la in_o plutarch_n boast_v too_o much_o of_o his_o continue_a line_n and_o ancient_a nobility_n nobilitas_fw-la mea_fw-la in_o i_o incâ—…pit_fw-la tua_fw-la in_o te_fw-la desijt_fw-la wherein_o he_o vaunt_v himself_o by_o providence_n and_o virtue_n to_o have_v so_o much_o improve_v as_o the_o other_o to_o have_v decoct_v his_o fortune_n and_o a_o ancient_a family_n to_o lend_v posterity_n a_o head_n may_v to_o a_o wise_a man_n seem_v a_o great_a glory_n than_o to_o borrow_v from_o ancestry_n a_o tail_n and_o on_o the_o other_o side_n to_o play_v away_o in_o sport_n our_o predecessor_n labour_n a_o great_a dishonour_n than_o to_o piss_v on_o our_o parent_n ash_n or_o raze_v their_o monument_n among_o all_o the_o temporal_a blessing_n of_o almighty_a god_n promise_v or_o derive_v as_o reward_n to_o his_o faithful_a servant_n i_o find_v none_o great_a in_o holy_a writ_n than_o the_o multiply_a of_o their_o seed_n and_o spread_v of_o their_o family_n behold_v say_v god_n to_o abraham_n i_o will_v make_v of_o thou_o a_o mighty_a people_n and_o that_o which_o god_n in_o his_o especial_a favour_n prize_n as_o so_o great_a a_o guerdon_n to_o his_o best_a favourite_n shall_v unworthy_a man_n esteem_v a_o trifle_n and_o value_v so_o far_o below_o the_o rate_n he_o that_o provide_v not_o for_o his_o familiâ—…_n be_v worse_a than_o a_o infidel_n say_v the_o apostle_n not_o i_o suppose_v that_o a_o provident_a heathen_a be_v absolute_o to_o be_v prefer_v before_o a_o negligent_a professor_n but_o that_o in_o this_o comparison_n of_o settle_v a_o man_n estate_n after_o he_o in_o regard_n of_o posterity_n a_o wise_a infidel_n may_v challenge_v a_o precedency_n before_o a_o careless_a christian_a according_a to_o that_o of_o our_o saviour_n in_o the_o gospel_n the_o child_n of_o this_o world_n be_v wise_a in_o their_o generation_n than_o the_o child_n of_o light_n herein_o achitophel_n policy_n shake_v hand_n with_o honesty_n which_o seldom_o meet_v before_o in_o consort_n but_o no_o soon_o can_v they_o meet_v but_o part_n as_o if_o they_o mean_v to_o meet_v no_o more_o he_o settle_v his_o worldly_a estate_n on_o earth_n but_o forget_v his_o eternal_a hope_n in_o heaven_n he_o reserve_v to_o himself_o out_o of_o all_o his_o legacy_n the_o worm_n of_o a_o guilty_a conscience_n which_o he_o can_v as_o well_o shake_v off_o as_o himself_o which_o lead_v our_o discourse_n to_o a_o second_o observation_n arise_v from_o this_o point_n that_o worldly_a wise_a politician_n prove_v most_o unprovident_a for_o future_a life_n and_o prefer_v temporal_a blessing_n before_o eternal_a happiness_n 6._o where_o a_o man_n treasure_n be_v there_o will_v his_o
and_o no_o grain_n so_o mean_a in_o our_o estimation_n out_o of_o which_o in_o proportion_n he_o require_v not_o a_o timely_a crop_n but_o where_o he_o find_v our_o industry_n slack_a in_o performance_n of_o this_o duty_n or_o our_o malice_n opposite_a to_o his_o profit_n he_o common_o work_v his_o own_o end_n out_o of_o our_o iniquity_n and_o what_o part_n and_o endowment_n we_o abuse_v to_o sin_n he_o just_o direct_v unto_o revenge_n 4_o a_o three_o advantage_n in_o absalon_n person_n suggest_v to_o achitophel_n observation_n be_v his_o fair_a carriage_n and_o popular_a plausibilitie_n a_o sweet_a and_o courteous_a deportment_n season_v with_o morality_n and_o religion_n never_o want_v deserve_v commendation_n as_o the_o sure_a character_n of_o a_o ingenuous_a disposition_n and_o the_o most_o powerful_a servant_n of_o honest_a policy_n for_o as_o in_o our_o most_o religious_a action_n we_o shall_v study_v rather_o to_o profit_v than_o to_o please_v our_o auditor_n yet_o who_o never_o 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disposition_n have_v no_o other_o affection_n than_o this_o possess_v the_o soul_n of_o absalon_n or_o in_o he_o present_v itself_o to_o achitophel_n observation_n discretion_n may_v have_v plead_v in_o the_o behalf_n of_o the_o former_a and_o honesty_n of_o the_o latter_a and_o neither_o have_v want_v its_o deserve_a commendation_n the_o one_o perhaps_o may_v have_v be_v think_v ambitious_a to_o inherit_v as_o well_o the_o people_n love_n as_o his_o father_n virtue_n the_o other_o to_o have_v applaud_v his_o prince_n happiness_n in_o the_o people_n love_n nevertheless_o popularity_n at_o the_o best_a be_v a_o favour_n which_o wise_a and_o discreet_a subject_n soon_o win_v than_o affect_v begin_v usual_o with_o the_o prince_n â—…ealousie_n and_o end_v with_o the_o owner_n ruin_n the_o defect_n may_v better_o become_v a_o subject_n the_o excess_n a_o king_n neither_o ever_o have_v those_o athenian_a ostracisme_n find_v place_n in_o justice_n have_v not_o popular_a greatness_n threaten_v the_o state_n with_o danger_n or_o dissolution_n how_o much_o more_o dangerous_a shall_v we_o esteem_v this_o popularity_n of_o absalon_n spring_v from_o a_o rot_a and_o corrupt_a heart_n manage_v by_o wicked_a mean_n and_o direct_v to_o a_o treacherous_a conspiracy_n three_o especial_a stratagem_n be_v here_o put_v in_o practice_n which_o may_v well_o seem_v fashion_v in_o achitophel_n forge_n for_o the_o send_n of_o absalon_n for_o achitophel_n to_o hebron_n exclude_v not_o a_o former_a consultation_n neither_o be_v it_o probable_a he_o will_v so_o far_o have_v trust_v he_o with_o his_o secret_a counsel_n have_v he_o not_o first_o find_v he_o incline_v to_o his_o faction_n the_o first_o engine_n of_o his_o seditious_a purpose_n be_v his_o gloze_a and_o fine_a compliment_n both_o in_o word_n and_o gesture_n whereby_o he_o be_v say_v to_o steal_v away_o the_o heart_n of_o the_o people_n from_o his_o father_n david_n he_o usual_o stand_v in_o the_o palace_n gate_n he_o observe_v the_o 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of_o our_o action_n and_o sufficience_n howsoever_o opposite_a to_o simple_a modesty_n or_o plain-dealing_a honesty_n be_v never_o account_v a_o solecism_n in_o the_o iudgle_a art_n of_o humane_a policy_n but_o admit_v absalon_n in_o this_o case_n have_v promise_v to_o himself_o as_o much_o as_o the_o people_n and_o suffer_v his_o confidence_n to_o spread_v her_o wing_n beyond_o his_o ability_n yet_o serve_v this_o little_a to_o excuse_v his_o action_n from_o unnatural_a disobedience_n or_o mask_v treachery_n it_o be_v the_o part_n of_o a_o shameless_a cham_n to_o be_v a_o industrious_a spectator_n of_o his_o father_n nakedness_n of_o a_o rail_a rabshakeh_n or_o curse_a shimei_n to_o divorce_v he_o from_o his_o subject_n heart_n nature_n will_v have_v persuade_v a_o gracious_a child_n with_o noah_n two_o modest_a son_n to_o have_v look_v awry_o or_o go_v backward_o no_o soon_o to_o see_v ere_o he_o can_v hide_v his_o father_n shame_n allegiance_n may_v have_v instruct_v a_o loyal_a subject_n to_o prize_v his_o sovereign_n credit_n before_o his_o own_o and_o drown_v his_o great_a honour_n in_o his_o prince_n service_n but_o set_v aside_o these_o near_a and_o high_a relation_n of_o a_o son_n to_o his_o father_n or_o a_o subject_n to_o his_o prince_n the_o division_n and_o divorce_n of_o friend_n to_o a_o generous_a temper_n even_o among_o the_o heathen_n themselves_o have_v always_o seem_v a_o wicked_a revenge_n or_o base_a ambition_n honour_n seldom_o bestow_v her_o favour_n but_o on_o such_o as_o win_v they_o in_o open_a field_n and_o heroic_a spirit_n have_v always_o choose_v rather_o dear_o to_o buy_v than_o base_o to_o steal_v a_o victory_n to_o steal_v away_o the_o heart_n of_o our_o friend_n savour_v more_o of_o a_o fleer_a parasite_n than_o a_o wise_a politician_n and_o to_o seek_v secret_a ambush_n in_o case_n of_o open_a trial_n argue_v rather_o the_o weakness_n of_o our_o cause_n than_o the_o strength_n of_o our_o discretion_n nevertheless_o this_o seem_v a_o good_a ground_n for_o absalon_n to_o set_v and_o achitophel_n to_o work_v on_o and_o little_o can_v true_a wisdom_n or_o religion_n persuade_v in_o the_o rear_n where_o wicked_a policy_n command_v the_o vanguard_n a_o second_o stratagem_n put_v in_o practice_n by_o absalon_n and_o perhaps_o plot_v by_o achitophel_n to_o augment_v his_o own_o plausabilitie_n be_v public_o to_o slander_v his_o father_n government_n with_o injustice_n and_o oppression_n the_o same_o art_n which_o teach_v he_o to_o flatter_v his_o inferior_n instruct_v he_o the_o way_n to_o calumniat_fw-la his_o superior_n so_o near_o be_v these_o two_o opposite_a vice_n knit_v together_o in_o a_o wicked_a cause_n see_v quoth_v absalon_n after_o examination_n of_o each_o suitor_n thy_o cause_n be_v just_a and_o good_a but_o there_o be_v no_o man_n depute_v of_o the_o king_n to_o hear_v thou_o david_n begin_v now_o to_o decline_v as_o well_o in_o strength_n as_o government_n age_n and_o disease_n common_o grow_v together_o and_o where_o the_o master_n begin_v once_o to_o droop_v the_o servant_n prove_v either_o careless_o negligent_a or_o lawless_o insolent_a these_o inconvenience_n perhaps_o admit_v by_o david_n officer_n and_o observe_v by_o absalon_n render_v he_o obvious_a to_o exception_n great_a place_n be_v common_o subject_a to_o the_o great_a censure_n but_o when_o almighty_a god_n be_v never_o want_v to_o david_n i_o can_v imagine_v david_n to_o be_v much_o want_v unto_o his_o people_n and_o although_o strength_n and_o valour_n the_o darling_n of_o his_o youth_n begin_v in_o he_o to_o faint_v yet_o wisdom_n and_o experience_n the_o child_n of_o his_o ripe_a age_n step_v in_o to_o undertake_v his_o quarrel_n no_o otherwise_o then_o can_v we_o interpret_v this_o exception_n of_o absalon_n against_o his_o father_n than_o a_o malicious_a slander_n devise_v for_o no_o other_o end_n than_o to_o make_v he_o odious_a and_o himself_o acceptable_a which_o he_o by_o so_o much_o the_o more_o
execution_n of_o himself_o in_o distrust_n of_o god_n mercy_n and_o dare_v his_o justice_n to_o the_o last_o extremity_n the_o latter_a clause_n concern_v his_o ceremonious_a funeral_n which_o howsoever_o in_o itself_o a_o passion_n as_o we_o respect_v achitophel_n as_o the_o subject_n yet_o so_o far_o as_o it_o may_v have_v reference_n to_o his_o former_a testament_n and_o ordination_n wherein_o this_o may_v seem_v include_v it_o may_v be_v term_v a_o action_n wherein_o he_o show_v himself_o ambitious_a to_o file_v and_o furbish_v over_o the_o stain_n of_o his_o shameful_a life_n and_o end_n with_o a_o honourable_a burial_n these_o be_v the_o list_n of_o my_o present_a meditation_n wherein_o as_o god_n shall_v enable_v my_o discourse_n and_o your_o christian_a patience_n second_o i_o shall_v proceed_v in_o order_n and_o first_o of_o the_o first_o he_o saddle_v his_o ass_n 3._o so_o contagious_a have_v be_v the_o sin_n of_o our_o first_o parent_n that_o it_o not_o only_o usurp_v jurisdiction_n on_o mankind_n the_o spawn_n of_o our_o father_n adam_n but_o invade_v without_o resistance_n nature_n universal_a monarchy_n in_o so_o much_o as_o the_o heaven_n element_n plant_n and_o beast_n themselves_o by_o the_o divine_a institution_n of_o their_o creation_n as_o disdain_v to_o serve_v ingratitude_n be_v by_o the_o apostle_n say_v to_o groan_n under_o their_o tedious_a burden_n and_o desire_v to_o be_v at_o liberty_n why_o the_o creature_n shall_v desire_v this_o freedom_n four_o reason_n be_v allege_v by_o peter_n martyr_n on_o the_o roman_n first_o because_o of_o his_o perpetual_a turmoil_n &_o labour_n serve_v only_o for_o the_o use_n of_o man_n second_o because_o they_o together_o suffer_v the_o same_o affliction_n three_o out_o of_o the_o sympathy_n and_o fellow-feeling_n of_o one_o another_o adversity_n four_o and_o last_o which_o be_v the_o great_a of_o all_o because_o they_o be_v constrain_v to_o become_v the_o servile_a instrument_n of_o sin_n and_o by_o consequence_n the_o subject_n of_o god_n fury_n this_o wrath_n of_o god_n though_o general_a as_o we_o have_v say_v to_o all_o the_o creature_n we_o find_v no_o where_o more_o legible_a than_o the_o silly_a ass_n a_o beast_n create_v as_o it_o may_v seem_v to_o torture_v itself_o to_o supply_v the_o defect_n of_o man_n industry_n wherein_o according_a to_o the_o egyptian_a hieroglyphic_n nature_n seem_v to_o have_v patternd_a forth_o unto_o we_o the_o exact_a image_n of_o patience_n fortitude_n and_o frugality_n gift_n not_o unworthy_a the_o choice_n of_o the_o most_o generous_a temper_n have_v not_o the_o sin_n of_o man_n expose_v they_o rather_o to_o scorn_v than_o imitation_n such_o be_v the_o unchristian_a censure_n of_o our_o supercilious_a time_n who_o disdain_n to_o salute_v virtue_n except_o she_o come_v accoutre_v in_o golden_a garment_n of_o this_o poor_a creature_n notwithstanding_o whereof_o they_o scorn_v the_o name_n they_o can_v want_v the_o use_n the_o ignominy_n of_o a_o servile_a disposition_n be_v the_o reward_n of_o his_o best_a service_n the_o profitable_a fruit_n of_o his_o painful_a industry_n the_o glory_n and_o improvement_n of_o his_o master_n ambitious_a husbandry_n if_o such_o injustice_n offer_v by_o a_o man_n to_o a_o servile_a beast_n seem_v opposite_a to_o the_o law_n common_a equity_n which_o command_v every_o thing_n his_o own_o how_o huge_a in_o the_o eye_n of_o every_o christian_a judge_n swell_v their_o tyranny_n who_o command_v their_o servant_n and_o inferior_n to_o carry_v the_o burden_n of_o their_o transgression_n as_o though_o they_o mean_v to_o ride_v they_o on_o the_o spur_n with_o themselves_o to_o hell_n the_o obedience_n of_o achitophel_n ass_n to_o serve_v he_o in_o this_o wicked_a action_n be_v only_o passive_a as_o of_o one_o to_o who_o the_o law_n of_o nature_n have_v prescribe_v no_o other_o rule_n than_o his_o master_n reins_n but_o the_o sacred_a image_n of_o god_n stamp_v in_o the_o reasonable_a soul_n of_o man_n be_v to_o we_o both_o law_n and_o liberty_n as_o well_o to_o preserve_v the_o right_n of_o magistrate_n as_o our_o own_o privilege_n a_o obedience_n we_o just_o owe_v to_o our_o superior_n both_o active_a and_o passiuâ—…_n so_o far_o forth_o as_o it_o may_v stand_v with_o the_o right_n of_o nature_n and_o god_n honour_n as_o that_o which_o god_n express_o command_v and_o no_o community_n can_v want_v but_o when_o the_o sword_n of_o the_o magistrate_n pretend_v a_o title_n to_o any_o part_n of_o divine_a prerogative_n it_o find_v always_o in_o the_o way_n of_o resistance_n the_o right_a of_o the_o cause_n or_o sincerity_n of_o a_o good_a conscience_n whereon_o as_o on_o a_o rock_n of_o adamant_n it_o may_v soon_o hack_v itself_o to_o piece_n than_o make_v a_o breach_n for_o entry_n hence_o wise_a magistrate_n may_v be_v teach_v to_o exact_v no_o more_o of_o their_o inferior_n than_o their_o commission_n from_o god_n dare_v to_o countenance_n or_o their_o duty_n to_o he_o command_v much_o less_o in_o regard_n of_o their_o own_o worth_n to_o sleight_v the_o good_a office_n of_o the_o mean_a servant_n our_o conscience_n and_o opinion_n be_v seldom_o so_o flexible_a as_o our_o joint_n to_o fawn_v on_o greatness_n neither_o be_v the_o judgement_n of_o the_o wise_a governor_n able_a so_o much_o to_o challenge_v a_o monarchy_n in_o the_o weak_a understanding_n as_o to_o command_v opinion_n balaams_n ass_n can_v see_v the_o angel_n of_o the_o lord_n with_o his_o sword_n draw_v against_o he_o when_o his_o master_n eye_n be_v shut_v and_o therefore_o have_v good_a reason_n to_o leave_v beat_v his_o poor_a beast_n when_o he_o open_v his_o mouth_n to_o prevent_v his_o danger_n but_o if_o any_o wise_a christian_a desire_n the_o ministerial_a office_n of_o these_o servile_a creature_n let_v they_o imitate_v the_o example_n of_o our_o saviour_n christ_n who_o come_v meek_o on_o a_o ass_n ride_v into_o jerusalem_n where_o the_o ensign_n of_o gracious_a acceptance_n and_o the_o shout_n of_o hâ—…sanna's_n applaud_v his_o arrival_n not_o as_o achitophel_n who_o arise_v in_o haste_n and_o go_v home_o to_o his_o house_n not_o like_o our_o saviour_n to_o save_v but_o like_o himself_o to_o betray_v his_o friend_n which_o be_v the_o next_o circumstance_n which_o await_v our_o observation_n an_o he_o arise_v and_o go_v home_o to_o his_o house_n 4_o the_o true_a touch_n stone_n of_o friendship_n be_v adversity_n which_o common_o unmask_v our_o enemy_n to_o discovery_n and_o single_v out_o our_o best_a friend_n for_o trial_n here_o achitophel_n as_o a_o ill_a actor_n faint_v in_o the_o last_o scene_n and_o choose_v rather_o to_o show_v himself_o what_o he_o be_v than_o what_o he_o ought_v his_o master_n absalon_n who_o he_o have_v engage_v to_o so_o great_a a_o danger_n he_o leave_v to_o great_a sink_v he_o may_v or_o swim_v for_o he_o as_o the_o windy_a guâ—…t_n of_o his_o new_a counsel_n or_o the_o inconstant_a tide_n of_o occasion_n please_v to_o befriend_v he_o his_o great_a hope_n ground_v on_o the_o rise_n of_o absalon_n have_v promise_v so_o much_o in_o the_o bud_n begin_v to_o wither_v ere_o they_o see_v the_o blossom_n and_o a_o vain_a project_n it_o seem_v unto_o he_o to_o venture_v with_o a_o bankrupt_a and_o out_o of_o his_o master_n blast_v field_n to_o expect_v a_o harvest_n if_o absalon_n will_v needs_o wed_v himself_o to_o his_o own_o will_n and_o his_o seducer_n counsel_n let_v he_o run_v his_o own_o hazard_n achitophel_n stand_v engage_v no_o far_o than_o his_o own_o direction_n if_o absalon_n fall_v so_o short_a of_o his_o ambitious_a wish_n as_o achitophel_n wise_a augury_n let_v he_o suffer_v alone_o himself_o as_o not_o deserve_v achitophel_n pity_n or_o society_n he_o be_v once_o warn_v and_o therefore_o twice_o arm_v to_o withstand_v so_o weak_a a_o assailant_n as_o chushai_n his_o feign_a friend_n and_o why_o shall_v achitophel_n show_v himself_o so_o superstitious_a to_o observe_v he_o who_o neglect_v himself_o and_o sleight_n his_o friend_n two_o danger_n here_o offer_v themselves_o at_o once_o the_o one_o the_o desertion_n of_o his_o young_a master_n the_o other_o the_o neglect_n of_o his_o own_o estate_n but_o with_o a_o politician_n the_o choice_n be_v easy_a and_o therefore_o it_o be_v time_n to_o hie_v he_o home_o to_o order_v his_o own_o house_n which_o have_v leave_v the_o commonwealth_n in_o a_o combustion_n his_o master_n may_v as_o well_o find_v he_o absent_a as_o neglect_v he_o present_v and_o soon_o meet_v he_o in_o his_o death_n than_o counsel_n from_o who_o example_n a_o good_a christian_a may_v be_v teach_v so_o much_o policy_n to_o try_v his_o friend_n in_o adversity_n ere_o he_o trust_v they_o in_o prosperity_n those_o vermin_n which_o undermine_v the_o house_n be_v teach_v to_o run_v from_o the_o ruin_n and_o quit_v that_o mansion_n which_o preserve_v they_o because_o they_o never_o love_v it_o further_o than_o