History of the Old Testament Volume 5, Part 2
Nabal and Abigail.
IF innocency could hauehave ſecurd from Sauls malice, Dauid had not beene perſecuted; and yet vnderunder that wicked King, aged Samuel dies in his bed. That there might be no place for enuy, the good Prophet had retyred himſelfe to the Schooles. Yet hee that hated Dauid, for what hee ſhould bee, did no leſſe hate Samuel for what hee had beene. Euen in the midſt of Sauls malignity, there remained in his heart impreſſions of awfulneſſe vntounto Samuel: hee feared, where he loued not. The reſtraint of God curbeth the rage of his moſt violent enemies, ſo as they cannot doe their worſt. As good husbands, doe not put all their corne to the ouen, but ſaue ſome for ſeed, ſo doth God euer in the worſt perſecutions.
SAMVEL is dead, Dauid baniſhed, Saul tyranizeth, Iſrael hath good cauſe to mourne; it is no maruell if this lamentation be vniuerſall. There is no Iſraelite that feeleth not the loſſe of a Samuel. A good Prophet is the common treaſure, wherin eueryevery gracious ſoule hath a ſhare That man hath a dry heart, which can part with Gods Prophet without teares.
NABAL was according to his name fooliſh; yet rich and mighty. Earthly poſſeſſions are not alwayes accompanied with wit and grace. Euen the line of faithfull Caleb will afford an ill-condition'd Nabal. Vertue is not like vntounto lands inheritable. All that is traduced with the ſeede, is either euill, or not good. Let no mam brag with the Iewes, that he hath Abram to his father; God hath raiſed vp of this ſtone, a ſonne to Caleb.
ABIGAIL (which ſignified her fathers ioy) had ſorrow enough to bee matched with ſo vnworthy an husband; If her father had meant, ſhee ſhould hauehave had ioy in herſelfe, or in her life, he had not diſpoſed her to an husband (though rich) yet fond and wicked; It is like hee married her to the wealth, not to the man. Many a childe is caſt away vponupon riches. Wealth in our matches, ſhould bee as ſome graines or ſcruples in the balance, ſuperadded to the gold of vertuous qualities, to weigh downe the ſcales; when it is made the ſubſtancc of the weight, and good qualities the appendance, there is but one earth poyſed with another; which, whereſoeuer it is done, it is a wonder, if either the children proue not the parents ſorrow, or the parents, theirs.
NABALS ſheep-ſhearing was famous; Three thouſand fleeces muſt needes require many hands; neither is any thing more plentiful commonly then a Churles feaſt: What a world was this, that the noble Champion & Reſcuer of Iſrael, Gods Anoynted, is driuen to ſend to a baſe Carle for victuals? It is no meaſuring of men by the depth of the purſe, by outward proſperity. Seruants are oft-times ſet on horſe-backe, whiles Princes walke on foot. Our eſtimation muſt bee led by their inward worth, which is not alterable by time, nor diminiſhable with externall conditions.
ONE rag of a Dauid is more worth, then the ward-robes of a thouſand Nabals. Euen the beſt deſeruings may want. No man may be contemned for his neceſſity; perhaps he may be ſo much richer in grace, as hee is poorer in eſtate; neither hath violence or caſualty more impoueriſhed a Dauid, then his pouerty hath enriched him. Hee, whoſe folly hath made himſelfe miſerable, is iuſtly rewarded with neglect; but he, that ſuffers for good, deſerues ſo much more honour from others, as his diſtreſſe is more. Our compaſſion or reſpect muſt be ruled, according to the cauſe of anothers miſery.
ONE good turne requires another; in ſome caſes not hurting is meritorious: Hee that ſhould examine the qualities of Dauids followers muſt needes grant it worthy of a fee, that Nabals flocks lay vntouched in Carmel; but more, that Dauids Souldiers were Nabals Sheepheards; yea, the keepers of his ſhepheards, gaue them a juſt intereſt in that ſheep-ſhearing feaſt, juſtly ſhould they hauehave beene ſet at the vpper end of the table. That Nabals ſheepe were ſafe, he might thanke his Shepheards; that his Shepheards were ſafe, hee might thanke Dauids Souldiers; It is no ſmall benefit that wee receiue in a ſafe protection; well may we think our ſubſtance due, where wee owe our ſelues. Yet this churliſh Nabal doth not onelyonly giuegive nothing to Dauids meſſengers, but which is worſe then nothing, ill words; Who is Dauid, or who is the ſonne of Iſhai; There be many ſeruants now a dayes, that breake away from their Maſters▪ Dauid asked him bread, he giues him ſtones. All Iſrael knew, and honored their Deliuerer; yet this Clown, to ſaue his victuals, will needs make him a man, either of no merits of ill; either an obſcure man, or a Fugitiue. Nothing is more cheap then good words; theſe Nabal might hauehave giuen, and been neuer the poorer; If he had beene reſolued to ſhut his hands, in a feare of Sauls reuenge, he might hauehave ſo tempered his deniall, that the repulſe might hauehave beene free from offence: But now his foule mouth doth not onelyonly deny, but reuile. It ſhould hauehave beene Nabals glory, that his Tribe yeelded ſuch a Succeſſor to the Throne of Iſrael; now in all likely hood, his enuy ſtirs him vp to diſgrace that man, who ſurpaſſed him in honour and vertue, more then hee was ſurpaſſed by him in vertue and eaſe; Many an one ſpeaks faire, that meanes ill, but when the mouth ſpeakes foule, it argues a corrupt heart; If with S. Iames his verball benefactors, wee ſay onelyonly, Depart in peace, warme your ſelues, fill your bellies, wee ſhall anſwer for hypocriticall vncharitableneſſe, but if wee rate & curſe thoſe needy ſoules, whom we ought to releeue, wee ſhall giuegive a more fearefull account of a ſauage cruelty, in trampling on thoſe whom God hath humbled. If healing with good words bee juſtly puniſhable, what torment is there for thoſe that wound with euill.
DAVID, which had all this while beene in the ſchole of patience; hath now his leſſon to ſeeke; Hee, who had happily digeſted all the rayling and perſecutions of a wicked Maſter, cannot put off this affront of a Nabal, Nothing can aſſwage his choler, but bloud; How ſubiect are the beſt of Gods Saints to weake paſſions, and if wee hauehave the grace to ward an expected blow of temptations, how eaſily are wee ſurprized with a ſudden foe. Wherefore ſerue theſe recorded weakneſſes of holy men, but to ſtrengthen vsus againſt the conſcience of our infirmities? not that we ſhould take courage to imitate them in the euill, whereunto they hauehave been miſcarried; But we ſhould take heart to our ſelues, againſt the diſcouragement of our own euils.
THE wiſdome of God hath ſo contriued it, that commonly (in ſocieties) good is mixed with euill; wicked Nabal hath in his houſe a wiſe and good ſeruant, a prudent and worthy wife; That wiſe ſeruant is carefull to aduertiſe his Miſtreſſe of the danger; his prudent Miſtreſſe is carefull to preuent it.
THE liues of all his family were now in hazard: ſhe dares not commit this buſineſſe to the fidelity of a meſſenger, but forgetting her ſex, puts herſelfe into the errand; Her foot is not ſlow, her hand is not empty; According to the offence ſhee frames her ſatisfaction; Her husband refuſed to giuegive, ſhee brings a bountiful gift; her huſband gaue ill words, ſhee ſweetens them with a meeke and humble deprecation; Her huſband could ſay, Who is Dauid? ſhe fals at his feet, her husband diſmiſſes Dauids men empty, ſhe brings her ſeruants laden with prouiſion; as if it had been only meant to eaſe the repelled meſſengers of the carriage, not to ſcant them of the required beneuolence; No wit, no art could deuiſe a more pithy and powerfull Oratory: As all ſatiſfaction, ſo hers, begins with a confeſſion, wherein ſhee deeply blameth the folly of her huſband: She could not hauehave been a good wife, if ſhee had not honoured her vnworthy head; If a ſtranger ſhould hauehave termed him foole in her hearing, hee could not hauehave gone away in peace: Now to ſaue his life, ſhe is bold to acknowledge his folly: It is a good diſparagement that preſerueth. There is the ſame way to our peace in heauen; the only meanes to eſcape judgement, is to complaine of our owne vileneſſe; ſhee pleadeth her ignorance of the fact, and therein, her freedome from the offence; ſhe humbly craueth acceptation of her preſent, with pardon of the fault; ſhe profeſſeth Dauids honorable acts and merits; ſhee foretels his future ſucceſſe and glory; ſhe layes before him the happy peace of his ſoule, in refraining from innocent bloud. Dauids breſt, which could not through the ſeeds of grace, grow to a ſtubborneſſe in ill reſolutions, cannot but relent with theſe powerfull and feaſonable perſwaſions; and now, in ſteed of reuenge, hee bleſſeth God for ſending Abigail to meet him; he bleſſeth Abigail for her councell, hee bleſſeth the councell for ſo wholſome efficacy, and now reioyceth more in being ouercome with a wiſe and gracious aduice, then he would hauehave reioyced in a reuengefull victory.
A good heart is eaſily ſtayed from ſinning, and is glad when it findes occaſion to bee croſſed in ill purpoſes; Thoſe ſecret checks which are raiſed within it ſelfe, do readily conſpire with all outward retentiues; It neuer yeelded to a wicked motion, without much reluctation, and when it is ouercome, it is but with halfe a conſent; whereas peruerſe and obdurate ſinners, by reaſon they take full delight in euill, and hauehave already in their conceit ſwallowed the pleaſure of ſin, abide not to bee reſiſted, running on headily, in thoſe wicked courſes they hauehave propounded, in ſpight of oppoſition; and if they bee forcibly ſtopped in their way, they grow ſullen and mutinous. Dauid had not only vowed, but deeply ſworne the death of Nabal, and all his family, to the very dog that lay at his doore; yet now he praiſeth God, that hath giuen the occaſion and grace to violate it. Wicked vowes are ill made, but worſe kept. Our tongue cannot tye vsus to commit ſinne. Good men thinke themſelues happy, that ſince they had not the grace to deny ſin; yet they had not the opportunity to accompliſh it. If Abigail had fit ſtill at home, Dauid had ſinned, and ſhe had dyed: Now her diſcreet admonition hath preſerued her from the ſword, and diuerted him from bloudſhed. And now, what thankes, what benedictons hath ſhee for this ſeaſonable Councell. How ſhould it encourage vsus to admoniſh our brethren; to ſee that if wee preuaile, wee hauehave bleſſings from them; if we preuaile not, we hauehave yet bleſſings from God, and thankes of our owne hearts.
How neere was Nabal to a miſcheefe, and perceiues it not? Dauid was comming at the foot of the hill to cut his throat, while hee was feaſting in his houſe without feare; Little doe ſinners know, how neere their iollity is to perdition. Many time judgement is at the threſhold, whiles drunkenneſſe and ſurfet are at the boord. Had he beene any other then … Nabal, he had not ſate downe to feaſt, till he had beene ſure of his peace with Dauid; either not to expect danger, or not to cleare it, was ſottiſh; So fooliſh are carnall men, that giuegive themſelues ouer to their pleaſures, whiles there are deadly quarrels depending againſt them in Heauen. There is nothing wherein wiſdome is more ſeene, then in the temperate vſe of proſperity. A Nabal cannot abound, but he muſt be drunke and ſurfet; Exceſſe is a true argument of folly: We vſe to ſay, that When drinke is in, wit is out; but if wit were not out, drinke would not be in.
It was no time to aduiſe Nabal, while his reaſon was drowned in a deluge of wine. A beaſt or a ſtone is as capable of good councell, as a Drunkard. Oh that the nobleſt Creature ſhould ſo farre abaſe himſelfe, as for a little liquor, to loſe the vſe of thoſe faculties, whereby he is a Man. Thoſe that hauehave to doe with drinke or phrenzy, muſt be glad to watch times; So did Abigail, who the next morning preſents to her husband, the view of his faults, of his danger, He then ſees how neere hee was to death, and felt it not. That worldly minde is ſo apprehenſiue of the death that ſhould hauehave beene, as that hee dies, to thinke he had like to hauehave dyed; Who would think a man could bee ſo affected with a danger paſt, and yet ſo ſenceleſſe of a future, yea imminent? He that was yeſter-night as a beaſt, is now as a ſtone; hee was then ouer-merry, now dead and lumpiſh; Carnall hearts are euer in extremity. If they bee once downe, their deſection is deſperate, becauſe they hauehave no inward comfort, to mitigate their ſorrow; What difference there was betwixt the diſpoſition of Dauid and Nabal? How oft had Dauid beene in the valley of the ſhadow of death, and feared no euill? Nabal is but once put in minde of a death that might hauehave been, and is ſtricken dead.
It is juſt with God, that they who liue without grace, ſhould dye without comfort; neither can we expect better, while wee goe on in our ſins. The ſpeech of Abigail ſmote Nabal into a qualme; that tongue had doubtleſſe oft aduiſed him well, and preuailed not; now, occaſions his death, whoſe reformation it could not effect; ſhee meant nothing but his amendment; God meant to make that louing Inſtrument the meanes of his reuenge: ſhe ſpeakes, and God ſtrikes; within ten dayes, that ſwound ends in death. And now Nabal payes deare for his vncharitable reproch; for his riotous exceſſe; That God, which would not ſuffer Dauid to right himſelfe by his owne ſword, takes the quarrell of his Seruant into his owne hand, Dauid hath now his ends without ſin; reioycing in the juſt executions of God, who would neither ſuffer him to ſinne in reuenging, nor ſuffer his aduerſary to ſin vnreuenged.
Our louing God is more angry with the wrongs done to his ſeruants, then themſelues can be, and knowes how to puniſh that juſtly, which we could not vndertake with wronging God, more then men hauehave wronged vsus. He that ſaith, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, repayes oft-times when we hauehave forgiuen, when we hauehave forgotten; and cals to reckoning after our diſcharges; It is dangerous offending any fauorite of him, whoſe diſpleaſure and reuenge is euerlaſting.
How farre God lookes beyond our purpoſes? Abigail came only to plead for an ill husband; and now God makes this iourney a preparation for a better; So that in one act, ſhee preſerud an ill husband, and wonne a good one for the future; Dauid well remembers her comely perſon, her wife ſpeeches, her gracefull carriage; and now, when modeſty found it ſeaſonable; he ſendes to ſue to her, which had beene his ſuppliant; ſhe intreated for her husband, Dauid treates with her for his wife; her requeſt was to eſcape his ſword, hee wiſheth her to his bed; It was a faire ſuite to change a Dauid for a Nabal; to become Dauids Queene, in ſteed of Nabals drudge; ſhee that learned humilitie vnderunder ſo hard a Tuter, abaſeth her ſelfe no leſſe when Dauid offers to aduance her; (Let thine hand-maid be a ſeruant to waſh the feet of the ſeruants of my Lord) None are ſo fit to be great, as thoſe that can ſtoope loewſt: How could Dauid be more happy in a wife; he finds at once piety, wiſdom, humility, faithfulnes, wealth, beauty? How could Abigail bee more happy in an husband, then in the Prophet, the Champion, the Anoynted of God? Thoſe mariages are well made, wherein vertues are matched, and happineſſe is mutuall.