Josephs Party-Colored Coat, Sermon 4
GOOD FROM BAD FRIENDS.
2 SAM. 15.31
And one told David, saying, Achitophel is among the Conspirators with Absalom.
THis Text is a Glasse, wherein Gods Iustice is plainely to be seen. David had formerly falsely forsaken Vriah, and now God suffers Achitophel to forsake David.
Vriah neither in loyaltie, nor valour, though placed the last in the List, of the List of Davids Worthies, was any whit inferiour to any of Davids subjects. How did hee sympathize with Gods Arke, and his fellow souldiers, stayed still in the Campe, though hee was in the Kings Court, in that hee would not embrace those delights, the Marriage-bed did afford him: No, though they practised upon him to make him drunke, yet in his drunkennesse, hee was so sober, that all thier wine washed not from him his first resolution, but hee remayned still constant. But how falsely did David forsake him, sending him with that Snake in his bosome, which was to sting him to death; I meane the Letter, which was Vriahs Pasport, to his own Grave. Well Vriah placed much confidence in the love of David, who deceives him; David with no lesse trust relyes on the loyaltie of Achitophel, and see what my Text saith. And one told David, saying, Achitophel is also among the Conspirators with Absalom.
Observ. 1.Before we goe farther, let us learne, when our friends forsake us, to enter into a serious scrutinie of our owne soules: Hast thou never played foule or false with thy friend; if not in action, yet in intention? Dost thou not mean to prove base, if put to the tryall, and if occasion he offered to deceive him? If so, know thy false friend hath only got the start of thee, and playd the fore-game, doing what thou meanest to doe. Rayle not then on the times, nor speak Satyres against the faithlesnesse of men, but laying thy hand on thy mouth, confesse God hath justly found thee out, and dealt with thee, as hee did with David.
Secondly,Observ. 2. hence we may observe: The most politicke heads have not alwayes the faithfullest hearts. Achitophel was the Iewish Nestor, or their Salomon before Salomon, and like the Oracle of God for his wisedom, but like the Oracle of the devill for his deceitfulnesse; for whilst David swaied the scepter, who more loial to him then Achitophel, and once when David is in banishment, he fals first to Absalom, he loved to worship the sun rising; yea whils David the true sun was but over-cast with a cloud, he fals adoring that blazing star, that Comet only fed with the evaporations of pride and ambition, which shined for a while, and then went out in a stink.
Reasons why the most politick are not alwayes the most faithfull.
1. Because that cement which conglutinates hearts, and makes true friends indeed, is Grace and Goodnes, wherof many politick heads are utterly devoid, 1 Cor. 1.26. For ye see your calling Brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called.
2. Politick men make their owne profit, the rule and square of their loves, they steere their course by the pole-star of their own good. And as in their actions, so in their affections, have an invisible end to themselves, which beginneth where that end endeth, which is apparent to others.
Vse.Doe not then undervalue and despise the love of those, who are of meane and inferior parts; wise men have made use of such servants, and found them more manageable, and more profitable, though their judgements were weaker, their affections might be stronger, than wiser men.
Observ. 3.Thirdly, observe. False friends will forsake thee in time of adversity. Hee that beleeveth, that all those who smile on him, and promise faire in time of prosperity, will performe it in time of his want, may as well beleeve, that all the leaves that bee on trees at Mid-summer, will hang there as fresh, and as faire on New-yeers day.
Come wee now to consider, what good uses one may make to himselfe, from the unfaithfulnesse of friends, when they forsake us.
1 First consider with thy selfe, whether thou hast not beene faulty, in entertaining Talebearers, and lending a listning eare unto them: Solomon faith, Prov. 16.28. A whisperer separateth chiefe friends. Whethersoever hee commeth, he bringeth with him, the fire, fuel, and bellowes of contention.
2 If herein thy conscience accuse thee not, examaine thy selfe, whether there was not a Laesum principium, in the first initiation of your love: How came you acquainted, whereout grew your amitie, whereon was your intimacie grounded? Didst thou not first purchase his favour with the price of a sinne? for know, friends unjustly gotten, are not long comfortably enjoyed. Thus Absalom, by sordid flattery stole the hearts of the Israelites, descending too much beneath himselfe, 2 Sam. 15.5. As alwayes ambitious spirits, when they would personate Humility, over-act their part, and play basenesse: Wee see King Hezekiah, who procured Senacharibs love by his sacriledge, enjoyed not that purchase, which he made God and his Temple pay for, 2 King. 18. 16. For Senacharib no sooner received his money, but hoc non obstante, persisted in his former enmity and hostility against the Iewes, and as it followeth in the very next verse, sent up his Captaines to besiege Ierusalem.
3. If there be no fault in the inchoation; Examine, hath there beene none in the continuance of your friendship, hast thou not committed many sinnes, to hold in with him? If so, then it is just with God, hee should forsake thee: Thus Tyrants often times cut off those staires, by which they climbe up to their Throne: Yea, good Princes have often times justly sacrificed those their Favorites to the fury of the people, who formerly have been the active Instruments to oppresse the people, though to the enriching of their Princes. Hast thou not flattered him in his faults, or at least wise by thy silence consented to him? If so, God hath now opened thy friends eyes, he sees thy false dealing with him, and hath just cause to cast thee out of his favour.
When Amnon had defiled his sister Thamar, the Text saith, 2 Sam. 13.15. that the hatred wherewith hee hated her, was greater than the love, wherewith hee loved her. Poore Lady, shee was in no fault, not the cause, but onelyonly the object, and the occasion of her brothers sinne, and that against her will, by his violence. Now to reason, A minore ad majus; If Amnon in cold blood viewing the hainousnesse of his offence, so hated Thamar, which onelyonly concurred passively in his transgression, how may our friends justly hate us, if haply we have beene the Causers, Movers, and Procurers of their badnesse. If wee have added fewell to the flame of their ryot, played the Pandors to their lusts, and spurred them on in the full speed of their wantonnesse, deserve wee not (when their eyes are opened, to see what foes we have been unto them, under pretended Friendship) to bee spit in the face, kik't out of their company, and to bee used with all contumely, and disgrace?
4. Hast thou not idolatrized to thy friend? hath he not totally monopolized thy soule, so that thou hast solely depended on him, without looking higher, or further? Tu patronus, si deseris tu perimus. Thus too many wives anchor al their hopes for outward matters, on their husbands, and too many children leane all their weight on their Fathers shoulders; so that it is just with God, to suffer these their woodden Pillars to breake, on whom they lay too much heft.
5. Hast thou not undervalued thy friend, and set too meane a rate and low an estimate on his love? If so God hath now taught thee, the worth of a Pearle, by loosing it? And this comes often to passe, though not in our friends voluntary deserting us, as Achitophel did David, yet in their leaving us against their wils, when God taketh them from us by death.
But here this question may be demanded;Quest. whether is one ever againe to receive him for his friend, and to restore him to the old state of his favour, who once hath deceived, and dealt falsely with him?
Many circumstances are herein,Answ. well to bee weighed; first did hee forsake thee out of frailty, and infirmity, or out of meer spight and maliciousnesse? Secondly, hath he since shewed any tokens, and evidences of unfained sorrow? hath hee humbled himselfe unto thee, and beg Gods, and thy pardon? If hee hath offended mischievously, and persists in it obstinately: O let not the strength of thy supposed charity, so betray thy judgement, as to place confidence in him! Samson was blind, before hee was blind; the lust of Dalilah deprived him of his eyes, before the Philistims bored them out, in that once and againe being deceived by Dalilah, hee still relyed on her word: But if hee hath shewed himselfe such a Penitent, and thou art verely perswaded of his Repentance, receive him againe into thy favour. Thus dealt our Saviour with Saint Peter, Marke 16.7. But goe your way, tell his Disciples, and Peter, Peter especially; Peter that had sinned, and Peter that had sorrowed, Peter that had denyed his Master; but Peter that went out and wept bitterly.
6. Sixthly, and lastly, it may bee God suffers thy friends to prove unfaithfull to thee, to make thee sticke more closely to himselfe: Excellent to this purpose is that place, Mica. 7.5. Trust yee not in a friend, put yee no confidence in a Guide, keepe the doers of thy mouth from her, that lyeth in thy bosome: For the Son dishonoureth the Father, the Daughter riseth up against the Mother, the Daughter in law, against her Mother in law; a mans enemies are the men of his own house. But now marke what followes; therefore will I looke unto the Lord, I will wayte for the God of my salvation. As if hee had said, is the world at this bad hand? is it come to this bad passe? That one must bee farre from trusting their neerest friends; it is well then I have one fast Friend, on whom I may relye, the God of Heaven. I must confesse these words of the Prophet, are principally meant of the time of Persecution, and so are applyed by our Saviour, Mat. 10.21. However they containe an eternall truth, whereof good use may bee made at any time: Let us therefore, when our friends forsake us, principally relye on God, who hath these two excellent properties of a friend; first he is neere to us, so saith the Psalmist, Thy name is neere, and this doth thy excellent workes declare: They have a speedy way, of conveying Letters from Aleppo to Babylon, sending them by a winged Messenger, tyed to the legs of a Dove; but wee have a shorter cut to send our prayers to God, by sending our prayers by the wings of the Holy Spirit, that heavenly Dove, whereby they instantly arrive in Heaven. As God is neere to us, so hee is ever willing, and able to helpe us: On him therefore let us ever relye; and when other Reeds bow or break, or run into our hands, let us make him to bee our staffe, whereon wee may leane our selves.