Samuels Encounter with Saul, Doctrine 11
Sin would lie hid, if the word did not diſcouer it.
But to proceede: the Lord bewraying his ſinne by Samuell which otherwiſe ſhould not hauehave beene knowne to vsus, or any at that time: doth ſhewe thereby that much ſinne ſhould be hidden, and not be knowne to be ſinne, and conſequently purged out and abandoned, if God did not by the light of his word reueale and diſcouer it. And being hidden frommen (when yet it is greedily and commonly committed of ſuch as liue among them) ſhould bring forth many dangerous and fearefull fruites, and that which is not the leaſt of other, poyſon ſuch as ſee it committed, but not puniſhed and diſgraced.
This is apparant how in places where the goſpel hath not beene planted or not receiued,1. The doctrine cleared by inſtances. and alſo where it is truely preached: In the firſt it is cleare, how through ignorance heatheniſh & monſtrous ſinnes, not only common and dayly committed, are entertained, and cauſe that no goodnes can be admitted and take place there. For who is bolder then the blinde? By this meanes the lurking and viperous generation of the Seminaries carry numbers into moſt peftilent errours, and the vnruly multitude, leade troupes after them to horrible abhominations. And ſauour they neuer ſo much of the faſhions of the heathens, and be their prophanenes neuer ſo groſſe, as ſorceries and witch-crafts, whoredome drunkennes and oppreſſion, may-games, lobbes of miſrule, and ſuch like, yet doe they not only preuaile and beare ſwaye, but leade the daunce to a thouſand ſilly ones, who daunce after their pipe, with many other abhominations beſides theſe, vntill the Lord bewray them by his word; and make ſome aſhamed of them that by their good meanes, other may bee reſtrayned.
And if outward and open2. euills be vnknowne to men, till God by preaching bewray them, who doubteth that ſecret ſinne of the heart, tongue and life are much more vnknowne, for want of the word preached? They that are in hell know no other heauen, and they that liue in darknes, knowe no other light: all colours are alike with them. So that as Sauls ſinne of coueting like Achans, was made manifeſt by Samuell the Lords Prophet, which fewe would hauehave thought of all others, to hauehave beene in him: ſo if God ſent forth his meſſengers into the darke corners, and townes of the world, they cauſe many to behold the treacheries which are wrought againſt God, which alſo are the bane of many thouſands of people, though before they were brought to light by preaching, men neuer dreamed of any ſuch thing. And as they do therby growe to ſee the wickednes of others, ſo doe they come to knowe the many deformities, blemiſhes, and ſtaynes, which are in themſelues, both inward and outward, which they neuer imagined to hauehave beene ſo: euen as Samaria by Philips preaching of Chriſt to them, ſaw Simon Magus ſorceries, and forſooke them. And this is done to the end, that ſo many as the Lord ſhall call, may be brought by the ſight of their ſinne to the diſlike thereof, and ſo to true repentance and ſaluation: and the reſt may either bee reſtrayned from the exceſſe of euill which before they ran after, or if they will needes goe forward, yet they may hauehave conſciences wounding and accuſing them, that ſo they may ſinne with leſſe eaſe.
Now to proue that where the goſpell is purely preached,Further proofe. much ſinne is brought to light, who can be ignorant of it? for how otherwiſe could nombers bee brought to faith and chriſtian conuerſation, as many (God bee thanked) dayly are if they did not ſee their darknes & vnbeleefe wherein they lay wrapped before? And therefore although the blinde of the world, do moſt ſcornefully and wilfully caſt of the Lords yoake, which is his holy doctrine and ſcoffe at ſuch as doe ſubmit themſelues vntounto it and receiue it: yet let all who hauehave any eyes to ſee from what Egyptian darknes and bondage the Lord hath brought them by ſending his truth and word among them, Vſe. which only maketh them free: let all ſuch [I ſay] giuegive moſt hartie thankes to the Lord for it, and pray for the continuance of the ſyncere preaching of it among them to perfect the worke of faith which is begunne in them.
VERSE. 20. 21.
And Saul ſaid vntounto Samuell; Yea, I hauehave obeyed the voyce of the LORD, and hauehave gone the way which the LORD ſent mee, and hauehave brought Agag the king of Amalek▪ and hauehave vtterly … the Amalekites.
But the people took … ſpoile, ſheepe and … chiefe of the … ſhould hauehave beene … ſtroyed, to ſacrifice … LORD thy God in Gilga… ▪
WE hauehave heard now,The words opened. how Samuell tolde Saul that the Lord was diſpleaſed with him, for his falſehood and wicked dealing about the deſtroying of the Amalakites. In the next place Samuell was about to tell him of the puniſhment which God threatned him: but he preuented and cut him of: whereby it might hauehave beene hoped and looked for, that Saul ſhould hauehave beene ſore troubled, and hauehave humbled his ſoule in faſting and prayer before God, when he ſhould hauehave heard his heauie meſſage: But what doth he? he ſtandeth moſt impudently in his owne defence, both againſt God and his owne conſcience (for afterward hee confeſſed the contrary) and euen as he had done before when Samuell had firſt told him the Lords minde: hee ſaith to the Prophet he had obeyed the commandement,