The Coronation of David, Table of contents (3 of 3)
What want there was in the government then, why David ſhould be brought to the kingdome.14 The occaſion whereupon David was brought to the kingdome, was the want that was found in Saul that reigned before him. Which that we may the better perceiue, we need to conſider but theſe two things: in how ill eſtate the common wealth of Iſrael was, when he came vntounto it: and how ſlenderly he ſet in hand to redreſſe the ſame. That the common wealth of Iſrael was in ill caſe,The hard eſtate of the cōmon wealth of Iſrael, when Saul came to it. Subiect unto a forreyne people. it appeareth ſufficiently in theſe two things: that the people were ſo much ouerlayd by grieuous ſeruitude to a forreyne nation: and that the forreyne people to whom they were ſubiect, were ſo idolatrous, or ſo cleane contrarie to them in religion. How much they were ouerlayd by greeuous ſeruitude, may likewiſe appeare, both for that the text it ſelf doth plainly ſay it: and by other vndoubted tokens that there are found. The text it ſelf doth plainly ſay it, for that it telleth vsusa13.6. that at that time the people were in great diſtreſſe. Thoſe other vndoubted tokens thereof are two: one, how the people at that time demeaned themſelues: the other, what want there was of ſuch warlike furniture as was conuenient. The peoples demeanour at that time was, that they had not the heart to looke their enemie in the face, but that ſome of themb13.6. hid themſelues in caues, and in holes, and in rockes, and in towers, and in pits on that ſide of Iordan that was next to the Philiſtims: ſome others agayne did leaue that part of the countrie, andc13.7. went ouer Iordan vntounto the land of Gad and Gilead, ſo to bee farther from the daunger of them. The want that they had of ſuch warlike furniture as was conuenient, was very great: both for that the Philiſtims did not ſuffer anyd13.19. Smith or Cutler to dwell among them, by whom they might hauehave had ſome weapons made (noe13.20.21. not ſo much as for their inſtruments of huſbandrie, but either muſt carie them to the Philiſtims to bee mended or ſharpened there, or els might not hauehave but only the helpe of the file at home) and for that among all the people that followed Saul to withſtand the enemie (which alſo were but very fewe, but only aboutf13.15. ſixe hundred in all, when the others were gone thatg13.8.11. gat themſelues away for feare) thereh13.22. was not ſo much, as either a ſword, or a ſpeare found, but only with the King him ſelf, and his ſonne. That the people to whom they were ſubiect were idolatrous, and directly contrary to them in religion,And thoſe idolatrous. is moſt apparant, not only for that they were none of the people of Iſrael, but of the Gentiles, and enemies vntounto the people of God: but alſo for that the text doth make particular mention, both of one ſpeciall Idol that they worſhipped; and of their blaſphemous dealing agaynſt the true and liuing God. That one ſpeciall Idoll that they worſhipped, wasiIud. 16.23 Dagon, being as the learned do note,1. Sam. 5.2. for the vpper parts like to a beautifull woman: and for the nether like to a fiſh: as the text alſo doth aſcribe to the vpper parts bothk5.4. head and hands; and ſaith that the reſidue that remayned (as Tremelius tranſlateth) repreſenteth alIbid. fiſh. Their blaſphemous dealing agaynſt the true and liuing Lord, doth not only appeare in their deliuering vp of the Arke of the Lordm5.2. into the Temple of their Idoll Dagon, as though that their Idoll had been the better, and that by his power they had then preuayled agaynſt the God of Iſrael: but alſo in that n David doth charge that great monſterous beaſt, their champion Goliath, for to hauehave rayled on the God of the hoſt of Iſrael. And though he were but one man, yet ſeeing he was their common champion, and came foorth in the name of them all, they may all by good right be charged therewith. And then, when themſelues are not only ſo corrupt in the higheſt matter of all, euen in religion, but alſo ſo contrarie vntounto the Trueth, and ſo blaſphemous to GOD himſelf, it could not bee otherwiſe, but that in theſe things the common wealth of Iſrael muſt needes be in hard and pitifull caſe, that was in ſuch thraldome vntounto ſo ill a people as theſe.How little they were holpen by him. How ſlenderly he ſet in hand to ſéeke redreſſe in theſe matters, may ſufficiently appeare, if we do but vnfould his doings herein, and conſider of them. For certeyne it is that ſomewhat he did, and ſuch as might beare a reaſonable ſhew: and yet notwithſtanding, his doings being better conſidered, he did in a manner nothing at all.That ſomewhat he did. That which might beare ſome reaſonable ſhewe, was firſt on behalfe of ſome part of the people: then afterward ſomewhat that he did on behalfe of them all. That which he did on behalfe of ſome part of them, was that peece of ſeruice that he did ato11.1.13. Iabeſh Gilead, one of the the Cities beyond Iorden, which Nahaſh the King of the Ammonites had ſtrongly beſieged, and when the Citizens ſued for peace, he would in no wiſe graunt it vntounto them, but vponupon a very cruell and diſhonorable condition: which was, that he might thruſt out the right eye of eueryevery one of them, and ſo bring a perpetuall reproach vponupon them, and vponupon the whole nation withall. Wherevpon the ſpirit of the Lord comming vponupon Saule, he ſent foorth his meſſengers to commaund the people forth-with to followe; he quickly got a great number together; made haſte to Iabeſh; rayſed the ſiege; and gaue a notable ouerthrowe to the enemie. Inſomuch that whereas before certeyne euill perſons made light account of him, which alſo was eaſily put vp of the reſt, now were the people generally ſo farre in louelove with this their new King, that had not Saul himſelf ſtayed them, needes would they hauehave had thoſe ill perſons to hauehave been ſought out, and for that their former contempt to be put to death now. That which afterward he did on behalfe of them all, was ſome part of it of his owne accord: and ſome part agayne, by the direct commandement of God. Of his owne accord both he did ſomewhat at the firſt entrie into his kingdome: and afterward he proceeded ſomewhat further alſo. At his firſt entrie into his kingdom bothp13.2. he choſe out 3000. men to hauehave in a readineſſe vponupon all occaſions (two thouſand to attend vponupon himſelfe, and the other thouſand on Ionathan his ſonne:) andq13.5. when the Philiſtims now began to inuade them agayne, he did not onlyr13.35.16. addreſſe himſelfe to giuegive them battaile: but alſo when asſ14.1.15. by other meanes they were diſcomfited, het14.20. followed vponupon them and gaue vntounto them a great ouerthrow. That which ſomewhat after he did, was in effect no more but this, that he did his endeuour (in ſome meaſure) to deliuer his countrie from their enemies. Which thing is deliuered vntounto vsus by two ſpeciall poynts: one, how he eſteemed of ſuch as were meet for the warres: the other, in what ſort he dealt with the enemie. Concerning the former,u14 52. it is ſayd that he made much of them. Concerning the latter, it is ſayd firſt generally, thatx14.47. not only he did ſtill warre vponupon them on eueryevery ſide (and thaty14.52. right ſore agaynſt the Philiſtims) but alſo that hez14.4. euer put them all to the worſe, and dida14.48. much rid his people out of the hands of thoſe that ſpoyled them. More ſpecially there are numbred among them, not only thoſe of whom we hauehave ſome ſtorie ſet downe, as the Ammonites, Philiſtims, and the Amalekites: but others alſo of whom we hauehave no further ſtorie, as the Moabites, Idumeans, and the Kings of Zoba. That which he did by the ſpeciall commaundement of God, was his expeditionb15.1.9. agaynſt the Amalekites, at ſuch time as God was diſpoſed to be auenged on them for an old iniurie, that almoſt 400. yeres before they had done to the children of Iſrael, as in the Wilderneſſe they were paſſing on to the land of promiſe. In which expedition although he did not execute the iudgment of God agaynſt them, ſo ſtrictly and fully as he was commaunded to do: yetc15.7.8. made he a great deſtruction of the enemie: and beſides that,d15.6. had a ſpeciall care of the Kenites, certeyne auncient friends of the children of Iſrael to get them out of the way,But, that it was nothing to ſpeake of. that they periſhed not with the other. That yet (notwithſtanding all theſe goodly ſhewes) he did in a manner nothing at all, it appeareth in this, for that the Lord doth flatly reiect him for the want that he found in him. Which want of his was of the chiefe and principall matter of all: that is, of an heart, or ſetled purpoſe, in al things to awayt the Lords direction, and then to frame his doings thereafter. For ſeeing that now he was choſen to bee King of Iſrael, that is, both to ſuſteyne the perſon of God among them, and to gouerne them, not as his owne, but only as the people of God: how could he but ſee, that now of neceſſitie he muſt needes reſigne himſelfe vntounto God, euer to ſeeke his direction of him, and in all things to do as he ſhould appoynt? That ſo he did not, we hauehave deliuered vntounto vsus by two examples, that playnlie declare how ſhort he was in thoſe two poynts: one, in thate13.9. he awayted not the comming of Samuel: the other, in thatf15.9. he did not execute the ſentence of GOD agaynſt the Amalekites, with that ſeueritie that was appoynted. In both which notwithſtanding we may ſee that he grewe ſo néere to his full duetie in thoſe two poynts, that a reaſonable man would thinke, he had done very well; and yet in trueth he came very ſhort of that which he ought to hauehave done in deede. For as touching the former of them, that is, the awayting of Samuels comming, the ſtorie is this, that Samuel promiſed to come thether vntounto him;g10.8. both to inſtruct further what he ſhould do, andh11.14. to renew or eſtabliſh the kingdome vntounto him, with the generall conſent of all before the Lord: and therefore willed him there to abide till he came vntounto him,i10.8. naming in deed but ſeauen dayes, (after the manner of their kinde of ſpeach) but yet not meaning any determinate number, but that if he thought he taried ſomewhat long, yet not to be wearie for ſo ſmall a matter. This platforme being layd forth vntounto him, now are wee to ſee how néere it is that he ſeemeth to come vntounto it: and how farre in trueth he commeth ſhort of it. He may ſeeme to come néere vntounto it, both in that he taried ſo long as he did: and in that he had ſo good cauſe as he had, then to breake vp. He tariedk13.8. vntill the ſeauenth day: and, as it ſeemeth, vntil the time of the euening ſacrifice of that day: it may be alſo, that he taried fully the ſeauen dayes outright: and ſo conſequently, altogether ſo long, as the Prophet (in ſtrict letter) required of him. The cauſe that himſelf alleadgeth, why he was ſo bolde as to breake vp then, wasl13.11.12. for that the people began to ſteale away apace: and ſeeing that the enemies lay ſo neere as they did, he thought he might ſeene bee driuen to encounter with them: and that he would bee loath to do, before he had ſacrificed vntounto the Lord. But it may bee further, that ſeeing he wasm10.6.9.10. & 11.6. before endued, in ſome good meaſure, with the Spirit of God, and his kingdome ſo much eſtabliſhed asn11.12. before it was (both by his victorie againſt the Ammonites, and for that the people there, vpō that occaſion accepted of him) he was now perſwaded, that neither he needed any further inſtruction of the Prophet, nor any further inauguration by his miniſterie before the Lord: eſpecially at ſuch a time, when as thoſe other conſiderations (in reaſon) required ſuch haſt as they did. Short he cameo13.13.14. for that he awayted not that further inſtruction, and that further renewing or eſtabliſhing of the kingdome to him before the Lord: notwithſtanding that the Prophet taried ſo long as he did: and notwithſtanding thoſe reaſons he had ſo much to haſten. Now as touching the latter of them (wherein his doings do lye more open, than in the other) he might ſeeme to hauehave gon very néere to the Lords commaundement, for that hep15.8.9.10. deſtroyed ſo much as he did: and for that the reſidue that they did not deſtroy, yetq15.15. brought they away, and tor15.15. offer in ſacrifice vntounto the Lord. But yet was he ſhort,ſ15.18.19.22.23. for that vponupon his owne reaſon, and the liking of thoſe that were with him, he did not execute the ſentence of God to the vttermoſt poynt that was commanded: and withall turned vntounto the pray, or greedily ſought ſome aduantage therby.
That as good occaſion hath bin offered, now to advāce the kingdome of Chriſt, in the want of government that was before, and yet is: as before to advance the kingdome of David, for the want of government that was in Saul.15 To come to our ſelues, we are to conſider, whether the eſtate of Chriſtendome were in any ſuch miſerie now as the eſtate of Iſrael was then: and, if it were, whether ſuch as hauehave raigned among vsus, and yet do, hauehave better imploied thēſelues, then Saul did, vntounto the redreſſe of whatſoeuer they find out of ſquare. For if the eſtate of Chriſtendome alſo were of late, or yet is in many places, as far out of ſquare, as then the eſtate of Iſrael was, and thoſe that hauehave reigned, or yet do, be in moſt places as ſhort of their dutie, as Saul was then, it is not to be denied by any, but that the like occaſion being offered now, as we find to be offered then, the like hope may be conceiued now alſo of the aduancement of the kingdome of Chriſt alreadie begun, as heerein we find of the kingdome of David, that vponupon that occaſion was now firſt aduanced. Firſt therefore as towching the eſtate that Chriſtendome was in,In what eſtate Chriſtendom was, vnderunder Poperie, and yet is. before theſe daies of the Goſpell, and yet is where the Goſpell is not receiued, and among all thoſe that after a ſort receiue it, ſo far-forth as they do not ſoundly receiue it in effectuall maner, it may ſoone appeare, that it was altogether as ill, as was the eſtate of Iſrael then: as yet alſo it is, either fully agréeable thereunto, where the Goſpell is ſo much reiected, or ſomewhat fauoring of it, where the Goſpell is not ſo fully receiued, in ſuch proportion as yet they hold it out from among them. For whereas the text ſaid of them, that the people were in diſtreſſe, not onlyaMath. 24.29 Luk. 21.25.26. 2. Tim. 3.1.5. Apo. 8.13.9.1.5. the text it ſelfe doth likewiſe fore-ſhew in many places, that ſuch ſhould be thoſe daies of vengeance procéeding from the wrath of the Lord that now we ſpeake of: but alſo both the hiſtories do ſo plentifully witnes the ſame, and the experience of thoſe daies hath made ſo ſenſible demonſtration thereof vntounto vsus, that no body now can be either altogether ignorant, or but ſo much as doubtfull of it. So likewiſe where were there any then to be found, that durſt looke thoſe enimies of ours in the face? or rather who did not, either hide themſelues in the moſt ſecret places that they could thinke of: or elſe abandoning their owne countries, and houſes, got them farther off out of danger? for ſuch hath bin the power of thoſe our Philiſtims of the Church of Rome for certain ages, that it was paſt the power of Princes (and much rather of meaner eſtates) to deale with them, after that by their ſlacknes before, they had now got the bridle into their téeth. As for any furniture againſt the wars, who knoweth not, but that they ſwept all as cleane from vsus, as euer the Philiſtims did from them? For whereas the word of God is the ſwoord of our warfare (asbMath. 4.4.7.10. Chriſt in his owne perſon hath taught vsus, and as thecEpheſ. 6.17. Apoſtle likewiſe doth call it) what part thereof did they leaue vntounto vsus in our mother-toong, or in ſuch ſort as we might be able in time of néede to attaine thereunto? neither the old Teſtament, nor the new: neither the Prophets, nor the Apoſtles, nor Chriſt himſelfe: neither the preachings, nor yet the writings of any of their. And this hauehave they done in ſo greedie and watchfull maner, that as among the children of Iſrael only King Saul, and Jonathan his ſonne were found to hauehave either ſword or ſpeare (and yet being but ſixe hundred in all, it had bin but a ſmall matter, if fo many had had weapons ynow thrée-fold ouer:) ſo likewiſe with vsus, though in that corrupt time there were not many, that ſo much miſliked the ſeruititude they were in, that they could be content to take part with their Princes, againſt thoſe other Philiſtims of theirs, but that it had bin as ſmall a matter for them to hauehave had weapons ynow: yet among them alſo but few were found, heere and there one with ſome rare and principall man, and otherwiſe not ſo much as one among them all. Neither were our Philiſtims content to ſpoile vsus of our weapons only, but they tooke away all ſuch artificers alſo, or men of learning, as were able to make any mo. Inſomuch that as they for the repairing of their inſtruments of huſbandrie, were faine to ſéeke vntounto the Philiſtims, or elſe at home might neuer hauehave but the vſe of a file (a ſeely, and a buſie help for the mattok, coulter, and ſhare:) ſo we likewiſe, euen for the artes and liberall ſciences, were driuen to ſéeke vntounto theſe Philiſtims of ours, that they only might giuegive the heate, and hauehave the hammering of all thoſe matters. And if any of vsus thought much, in thoſe things to be ſo beholding to them, or would not take the paines to ſeeke ſo far, they had laid the coaſt ſo ſure in all ſuch caſes, that what we were loath to take of them, we were ſure but hardly to find any where elſe. And as a man may eaſily geſſe why thoſe Philiſtims allowed the Iſraelites to hauehave no weapons, nor any to make them: ſo is it as eaſie in theſe daies alſo, to ſay what the cauſe is why ours likewiſe allow not the people to hauehave the Scriptures among them, nor any to ſhew vsus what they require, or to leade vsus into the knowledge of them. They pretend, and boldly beare the peeple in hand, that the Scriptures are both hard, and dangerous: but the truth is, they would keepe vsus in bondage ſtill, and therefore can they in no wiſe allowe vsus to hauehave our weapons. They are hard in déede for them to anſwer: and therefore deale they ſo hardly with them. They know that to their eſtate they are dangerous and therefore make they ſo great danger to let vsus hauehave them. But now if we come to the idolatrie and to the blaſphemie of the Philiſtims, there will it moſt plainly appeare, that in both thoſe points theſe our Philiſtims do far excéede, both in number of idols, and in multitude of blaſphemies alſo. And then being ſo idolatrous as they are, and ſo blaſphemous vntounto the true and liuing God, looke how much more theſe two vices are found in them, ſo much more miſerable muſt out eſtate be vnderunder theſe, then was that other of the children of Iſrael, vnderunder that other idolatrous people. In this caſe Chriſtendome ſtoode, vnderunder that late power of darknes that ouerwhelmed the face of the earth: and whereſoeuer that power of darknes doth yet remaine, in the whole or in part, there may a man quickly find ye like miſerie as yet remaining, ſo far as will ſerue to anſwer the other in due proportion.How little the moſt of our Princes have holpen this diſtreſſe of the people. Now therefore we are to conſider, in what ſort our Princes hauehave ſet in hand to come in with their help: and namely this one thing, whether they alſo hauehave not ſo ſlenderly done it, but that it may be as néedfull now, to hauehave the Goſpel aduanced amōg vsus, to ſupply the defect that is in them, as the wiſdom of God found néedful then, to bring in David, Somewhat they have done.to ſupply whatſoeuer wanted in Saul. And firſt it is in no wiſe to be denied, but that diuers things they hauehave done, and daily do that are able to make a goody ſhew: and yet on the other ſide is it true againe, that few of them do better than Saul, and many much worſe. Some few (God be thanked) there are, that hauehave deliuered the people that are vnderunder their charge, from that cruel Nahaſh of Rome, that in no wiſe yéeldeth to conditions of peace, vnleſſe that he might thruſt out our right eies (by depriuing vsus of the word of God) and ſo bring vponupon vsus perpetuall ſhame: and not only hauehave done it, but alſo hauehave done it in as valiant maner, and with as feruent and quick a zeale, as euer Saul did accompliſh the other. Others there be, that either mind it nothing at all, as little or nothing apperteining to them, or as a matter of ſmall importance: or elſe but faintly, or very ſlenderly meddle therewith. Of thoſe that help forward ſo bad a courſe, or do no more but only beare with it, I ſay nothing at this prefent: although of that companie there be not a few, that full ill repreſent the perſon they beare. Sith leſſe will ſerue, we ſhall not néede ſo far to charge thē. In like ſort we hauehave among vsus, that before-hand prouide them of competent forces, to be imploied againſt the enimie as néede ſhall require, and to that end alſo make much of ſuch men, as they find méete for the war that they hauehave in hand; and readily ſtand, when occaſion is offered, in the face of the enimie: vſing alſo whatſoeuer aduantage falleth vntounto them the beſt that they may. It may be alſo that there are ſome (but thoſe are but few) that without intermiſſion continually war on all the enimies of the Goſpell of Chriſt, on euerie ſide: eſpecially againſt thoſe our Philiſtims, and againſt all others by whom ye people of God are ſpoiled. And yet notwithſtanding though ſo they do: yet vnleſſe they euer put them to the worſe likewiſe, in that point muſt they needs come ſhort of Saul. Neither is it to be doubted of any, but that diuers of our Chriſtian Princes there are, that by the vertue of Gods commandement, and in reſpect of iuſtice it ſelfe, alreadie hauehave executed, and daily yet do, the iudgements of God againſt all our Amalekites whatſoeuer, that heretofore hauehave bin ſo offenſiue, or yet are, vntounto any of the people of God, that at any time paſſe from the bondage of ignorance, error, or ſin, by the wildernes of this preſent life, vntounto the land of eternall promis, the kingdome of God: who being poſſeſſed with a ſpeciall care on the behalfe of all that are friends to the people of God, do neuertheleſſe deſtroy the enimie with a mightie deſtruction. Theſe things no doubt at leaſt in ſome meaſure, are found among our Chriſtian Princes: and needs muſt they make, whereſoeuer they are, a great good ſhew of performing all that is required.But the chiefe thing is wanting. A full reſignation of themſelves. But then as in Saul the chiefe was wanting: ſo is it likely, in this caſe to be with vsus likewiſe. For although they acknowledge that God hath called them thereunto, and that they are to gouerne in his name: yet are there not many, that altogether reſigne thēſelues vntounto him, and fully determin or ſet down with themſelues, than in all their waies they will be hauehave themſelues, as thoſe that repreſent the perſon of God, and as thoſe that hauehave the managing or gouernment, not of their owne, but only of his. Seldome is it ſeene, that in all things they purpoſe, and fully determin, euer to await the direction of God, and they is frame their doings according. Such an inward ſound reſolution is far to ſeeke in many of them. And as the compas of ſcripture that now we are in, ſheweth the ſame to be wanting in Saul, but only by thoſe two ſpecial points before rehearſed: ſo we likewiſe ſhall neede none other to find the ſame alſo to be wanting in vsus. For there are not many, that in ſuch caſe would await the comming of the Prophet to inueſt them further in their kingdome, and better to inſtruct them what they ſhould do: neither can they find in their hearts in ſuch ſort to puniſh certaine offendors, as God hath commanded that they ſhould.Awaiting the Prophet. As for awaiting the Prophets comming, becauſe it was (in one point eſpecialy) but extraordinarie, and peculiar to that caſe, therefore do they take no part thereof to belong to themſelues. For though it were in that caſe méete, to hauehave the miniſterie or help of the Prophet to his further inauguration at Gilgal, in a publike aſſemblie of the people: yet doth it not follow thereupon, that there is any vſe of ſuch help in their caſe alſo. It was meete for Saul, for that as yet he was not fully inueſted in the Kingdome: notwithſtanding that he was befored10.1. annointed by the Prophet at Ramah, e10.17.24.choſen by lot before the Lord in Mizpeh, f11.12.and with ſpeciall ioy and fauour acknowledged and accepted of the people at Iabeſh-Gilead. For his annointing was but ſecret,g9.27. none other being priuie thereto, but the Prophet, and him-ſelfe alone: but yet to him wardh10.2.10. notably confirmed by ſignes that followed: but election at Mizpeh was no more buti10.20.21. only an election, ſhewing vntounto them who it was, whome the Lord would hauehave to be their King: and though he were ackowledged, and accepted of the people at Iabeſh-Gilead, yetk11.7.8.12. was it but of a part of the people, only of thoſe forces that were gathered together againſt the Ammonites (and yet to the number of 330090.) And becauſe all this was no full eſtabliſhing of the Kingdom vntounto him, therefore was he firſt to awaite a further ſolemnitie of inauguration in ſome general aſſemblie of al, and wherein ye miniſterie of the Prophet was verie conuenient. Many of ours would hauehave thought, much leſſe then thus much to be ſufficient: eſpecially whē as ſo vrgēt occaſion ſhould make them to haſten to enter into it, without ſo perfect inauguration. And yet Saul as it ſeemeth, did not of any greedineſſe in himſelfe, ſo haſten his entry (for he awayted the Prophet ſeuen dayes, as before is declared) but onelyonly for that hee tooke himſelf to bee very iuſtly called vntounto it, or rather by ſtrict neceſſitie ſtrongly vrged. And as for inſtruction not many of vsus, if in our iudgement our title were good, and ſo readie a way layde open vntounto vsus, woulde hauehave thought that a ſufficient cauſe to hauehave awayted the Prophet ſo long: eſpecially if our ſelues before had receiued the ſpirite of propheciel10.10. as hee had done, and if wee had at that preſentm13.5. ſo weighty matters in hande beſides. For it is the manner with vsus, eyther altogether to ſhut out the Prophet, from all our aduices and councelles in ſuch matters, euen of contempt or inwarde diſlike that wee hauehave to ſuch a courſe: or at leaſt, vnderunder pretence of our owne ſufficiencie, if ſo bee that wee hauehave any meaſure of knowledge: or elſe vponupon eueryevery ſlight and eaſie buſineſſe, to holde our ſelues as iuſtly hindred. As for the other, that is,Puniſhment of offendors, ſuch as God appointeth. in ſuch ſort to puniſh offendors as God appoynteth, that is ſuch a matter, as hardly can wee frame our ſelues in diuers cauſes to come any thing near. Inſomuch that although Saul were in this point ſo maruellous ſhort, that chiefly for that cauſe hee caſt him away: yet if wee conſider that caſe of his, wee may finde that hee went much nearer to that which the Lorde did appoint him to doe, then wee in ſuch caſe were like to hauehave done: whether wee reſpect the nature or ſubſtaunce of that caſe it ſelfe: or certayne circumſtaunces thereunto appertaining. VntoUnto the nature of the caſe it belongeth to conſider that it was an execution: and the ſame very ſeuere. If wee hauehave to deale in an execution, commmonly we think, that ſome worke of mercy doth much better become vsus. If it taſte of ſeuerity, though neuer ſo iuſt, yet, if much it ſtande thereupon, as in this caſe it did (beeingn15.3. commaunded to deſtroy both the people themſelues, and all that did belong vntounto them, both man, and woman, infant, and ſuckling, Oxe, and Sheepe, Camell, and Aſſe, and to hauehave no compaſſion of them, and all this, for no cauſe elſe, but onelyonly for thato15.2. certaine aunceſters of theirs long before layde wayte for the Iſraelites in the way, as they came vp from Aegypt, and ſkirmiſhed with them) then doe wee ſeeke to giuegive it the ſlippe ſo much as we can, and euer lightly do but ſliue it when we hauehave any ſuch thing to doe. The circumſtaunces are two: one of the time: an other of their perſons. As for the time, it was almoſte 400 yeares ago, when that fault was made that nowe was puniſhed, And this execution was to bee done, when firſt he entred into his kindgome. As for their perſons, the time it ſelfe ſufficiently prooueth, that they were not the offendors themſelues: but their poſteritie, very neare to the tenth generation. And yet notwithſtanding although hee ſpared ſome, the Text it ſelfe doth beare him witneſſe, that, thoſe excepted,p15.8. hee vtterly deſtroyed all the people with the edge of the ſworde: and himſelfe addeth further, thatq15.15. hee deſtroyed all the reſt. Neither doe wee reade that hee ſpared any thing, for any benefite to himſelfe or his people, butr15.15.22. onelyonly to offer them in ſacrifice vntounto the Lorde: though Samuel ſ15.19.doth tharge him, that in that caſe alſo hee did no better then turne to the pray: and did exceeding wickedly before the Lorde.How much the rejection of Saul ought to touch our Chriſtian Princes. But, O mercifull God, if Saul in thy iuſtice deſerued for this to be caſt away, as altogether vnmeete to ſitte in the throne of thy iudgement on earth: howe iuſtly hauehave our Princes alſo deſerued to bee remooued, and to giuegive place to the worde of thy power, that trueth and equity may be eſtabliſhed, and ſet vp for euer! And howe commeth it to paſſe, that Saul beeing made ſo fearefull an example to vsus, wee neuertheleſſe do ſo much tranſgreſſe, wherein wee ſee that a ſmall fault in him (in compariſon of a thouſande of ours) neuertheleſſe had (and iuſtly to: it muſt needes be ſo) an heauie iudgement! But at this preſent wee néede no more, but ſo farre to conſider of the want that was founde in Saul, as that if wee finde the like in our late gouernment alſo, wee then acknowledge it to bee ſo much the more likely, that God will now aduance the Goſpell or kingdome of Chriſt, as we ſee that the want of good gouernment, in the Princes and States of Chriſtendome, hauehave iuſtly occaſioned that ſo he ſhould.
16 And ſo hauehave we heard,The concluſion: wherein, to the further raiſing up of the hope aforeſaid, divers examples are brought to ſhew, that although for a time God hath ſuffered his people, and his glorie to be held under: yet in the end he hath advaunced them both. Izhak. Iaakob. that as it pleaſed God firſt to annoint David to be in readineſſe, and to procure him the fauour of many, ſo hath hee doone in theſe dayes of ours for the Goſpell alſo: and as afterwarde it pleaſed him, by many tribulations to bring him to the kingdome, ſo hath hee brought the Goſpell likewiſe to ſo good a forwardnes for that matter, that well may we hope of the like ſucceſſe in the end. We ſee alſo what is the courſe wherein wee are to awayt this goodneſſe of God: and of howe little force it is, that out of the oddes betwixt David and vsus, may bee obiected. What therefore remayneth nowe, but to lift vp our heades, and to awayte the full aduancement of that glorious kingdome of Chriſte among vsus? In the houſe of Abraham, Iſhmael for a time was grieuous to Izhak, becauſe of the promiſe: but his mother and hee were for the ſame caſt out in the ende. In the wombe of Rebekah, Eſau ſtroue againſt Iaakob his brother: but both it was tolde Rebekah by and by that the elder ſhoulde ſerue the yonger, and afterwarde it was brought to paſſe in deede that ſo hee did. Eſau hated Iaakob agayne, becauſe of the bleſſing wherewith Father Iahak had bleſſed him: and although him ſelfe had made but very ſlender account of it, yet when hee ſawe that his brother had it, hee fully purpoſed to deſtroy him for it. But Iaakob was had to a place of ſafetie in the meane ſeaſon, while his brothers wrath was aſſwaged, and his brother himſelfe otherwiſe placed: and afterwarde was hee brought home in peace with abundance of riches, many children and a great familie, vntounto the quiet and peaceable fruition of ſo much of that bleſſing of his, as that preſent eſtate of his was capable of: peaceably ſoiourning in that lande of promis (an earneſt to him, and to his children of greater mercies intēted towards them) whence Eſau and his were already remooued, Ioſeph, Ioſeph.for the ſpeciall knowledge that God had giuen him of great aduauncement in time to come, was by his naturall (but vnnaturall) brethren ſoulde for a bond-ſlaue, and ſo by them caſt, what was in them, into the moſte yrkeſome and grieuous miſerie of perpetuall bondage and after againe by the falſe accuſation of the wicked, and by the credulitie of ſuch as had authoritie, was caſt into priſon: and there, for a time, both hee and his innocencie lay faſt bound, and in a manner buried together. Yet in the end hee was deliuered: his innocencie made knowne, and himſelfe brought to maruellous honour: vntounto whome not onelyonly the Aegyptians, but his owne brethren alſo, yeelded all the obeiſance they coulde.The children of Iſrael in bondage. The children of Iſrael for a time were in bondage, and ſerued the Aegyptians a long ſeaſon, and by them were kept in miſerable ſlauerie: and when Moſes himſelfe pitying their eſtate, was very forwarde, and would hauehave holpen them ſomewhat before the time was come, though at that true hee was in great fauour in the court, and very mightie, yet was hee not able to bring it to paſſe: but, medling with it ſomewhat to timely, made it worſe then it was before. But afterwarde, when the time was come, God himſelfe required the King of Aegypt to let his people goe to ſerue him: and when hee woulde not, hee powred foorth his plagues vponupon them in ſo plentifull manner, that hee made him fayne againſt his wil to let them goe: and to ſuffer them to take away with them all their iewels and precious thinges, euen all the ſpoyle of the Lande of Aegypt. Intangled.And when ſoone after hearing that the children of Iſrael were intangled in the Wildernes, ſo that he might hauehave them at great aduantage to deſtroy them eueryevery one, hee repented nowe that hee had let them goe before, and ſought for to get them into bondage agayne, or elſe to deſtroy them, hee quickly founde, that the date of the bondage of the people of God was nowe at end, and that hee might not in any wiſe looke, not ſo much as to bring them nowe afreſh into their former eſtate of bondage againe: much leſſe to preuaile againſt their liues, although of long time they had ſo done before. Their intangling in the wilderneſſe, was not to put them into their handes agayne: but to prouoke them to come out to receiue the vengeance that they had ſo iuſtly deſerued: that, ſeeing they would in no time finde the good and mercifull calling of God, leading them vntounto a ſounde repentaunce of the former oppreſſion and cruelty, that they had exerciſed againſt the people of God, they might now in their moſt iuſt deſtruction giuegive matter of great comfort and ioy to the people of Iſrael then, and of better aduice and moderate dealing to all poſterities that were to come. In the wildernes as they paſſed by,In the wildernes. and hauing already nowe begun that long and tedious iourney of theirs, as they trauailed on (in their owne weakeneſſe, fayntly ynough) to the lande of promis, the Amalekites that dwelt thereby coulde not finde in their heartes to ſuffer them to paſſe ſo quietly by them: but muſt needes lay themſelues in ambuſh to annoy them, and euer nowe and then cut of ſome ſtraglers of them. But ſuch order was taken with them, that both preſently they were beaten home, by a fewe ſouldiers that were ſent to encounter them, and while Moſes getting vp to an hill that was thereby, helde vp that ſtaffe of his, whereby ſo many great workes hauehave beene done, as the ſtandarde of the Lorde vntounto his people: and had withall for the time to come an heauier iudgement denounced againſt them, that for this their diſcurteſie to the people of God, they ſhoulde afterwarde bee vtterly deſtroyed from the face of the earth. A while after themſelues,Refuſing to to enter into the land of promis. euen all the whole company of them (a very fewe ſeuerall perſons onelyonly excepted) did ſo much offend the Lorde, for that they woulde not enter the lande, when the Lorde had layde it open vntounto them, that now by oath, and ſentence giuen, hee excluded them for euer, and woulde neuer ſuffer any of them all to goe in and ſee the goodneſſe of it. But yet mindefull of his promiſe to Abraham, Izhak, and Iaakob, he afterward brought in their children into it, (as many in number as their fathers were that were excluded, and ſomewhat me) after that they were growne vp to mans ſtate, and had for a time born the puniſhment of their fathers ſins. Towards the end of this their iourney, howe did the Moabites and Midianites together (when they ſawe the children of Iſrael to bee a mightier people,Secretly aſſaulted by the wicked practiſes of the Moabites and Midianites. then that by ſtrong hande they coulde hauehave any hope to preuayle againſt them) giuegive themſelues to ſecrete practiſes: howe earneſtly did they labour Balaam for that cauſe to come vntounto them, howe many ſacrifices did they willingly offer: howe earneſtly and howe often did they intreate the higheſt power of all, to hauehave giuen them ſome hande againſt the Iſraelites, the Iſraelites that meant no yll againſt them, and that quietly lay in their campe, little knowing how theſe were occupied? And yet, when they had done all that they coulde, they coulde doe nothing. Iſrael was bleſſed, and ſo muſt ſtand: it coulde not be altered. If they deſired ſo to deſtroy them that they ſhoulde bee no people, or but a fewe: it was playnly tolde them, that they ſhoulde bee as the duſt of the earth, that is, innumerable. If they deſired but to holde them vnderunder, for that point they had their aunſwere alſo, that they had the ſtrength of the Vnicorne, and that as a Lion, they ſhoulde anietly ſende on their pray,Eaſilie diſtreſſed by others when the Lord was offended with them: but afterward invincible whereſoever they cam. and riſe vp and lie downe at their pleaſure. During the time that the Lorde was offended with them, and for that cauſe, woulde not giuegive them any entrie yet into the lande of promis, nor to preuaile againſt their enimies, a fewe of the Canaanites beate them away, when they approched but ſomewhat neare to the border of them. But afterwarde, when the time of that his diſpleaſure drewe towardes an ende, and that nowe hee was diſpoſed to bring them in, and to make it known that they were his people, howe notably did they preuaile in whatſoeuer they tooke in hande.Nom. 21.3. They notably preuayled againſt certaine of the Canaanites that prouoked them in the way,Ib. 21.35. they vtterly deſtroyed the two kingdomes of the Amorites that denied them paſſage: and they did ſo great an execution againſt the Midianites (who by their wiles had wonne certaine of the Iſraelites to idolatrie,Nom. 31.32.35.49.50.25. and whoredome) that being but twelue thouſande in all, they ſtewe the fiue kinges of the Midianits, and Balaam their, lewde Prophet with them, and tooke a notable pray beſides, of ſixe hundred threeſcore and fifteene thouſand ſheepe, threeſcore & twelue thouſande beeues, threeſcore and one thouſande aſſes, and thirtie and two thouſand maidens, and yet notwithſtanding loſt not one man of their companie, whereupon they gaue a free-will offering of ſixteene thouſande, ſeuen hundred and fiftie ſhekels of golde, amounting vntounto, in our coine, about 7468 ounces. When they were to make their entrie howe did Iordan that great water ſtay his courſe (beeing at that time ſtrong, and great) and gaue them paſſage on the drie grounde: and immediatly after how did thoſe ſtrong and high walles of Iericho of themſelues fall downe on eueryevery ſide, as the people of Iſrael ſtoode about them? A while after again, when a great power of the enimies had gathered them ſelues together againſt the people of Iſrael, Ioſh. 10.11.14.howe did the Lorde deſtroy a great number of them with haile from Heauen: and howe did both the Sunne and the Mooone ſtay their courſe, and ſtoode ſtill where they were, at the commaundement of Ioſhua, to giuegive them time and light, to make an vtter deſtruction of them? And ſo proceeding in the conqueſt, hee ſlewe one and thirtie Kings, tooke away their kingdomes, and parted the ſame among the people. But the whole courſe of the ſcriptures (beſides) doe playnely witnes, that howſoeuer it hath pleaſed God oft times, to ſtay for a ſeaſon the iuſt and due aduancement of his owne glorie, and therein to holde his children vnderunder ſome harde and grieuous diſcipline: yet in the ende, and when the time appointed was come, hee hath fully declared, what regarde hee had, both vntounto the cauſe it ſelfe, and vntounto thoſe that tooke part with it. And ſeeing that by theſe fewe (not culled out of the whole, but taken as they lie together, within that compaſſe) it is apparant ynough, what comfort we might hauehave in the reſt that are of this kinde: therefore it ſhall not bee needefull to proſecute all, but to holde our ſelues contented onelyonly with theſe.
17 Wherein if (yet this once more) wee come in our ſelues, what letteth,The application of thoſe former examples unto our ſelves, and to the preſent eſtate of the Church now. but that out of the examples before ſet downe, wee alſo might rayſe vntounto our ſelues the ſelfe ſame comfort that before wee ſpake of? Hath Iſhmael beene ſo long grieuous to Izhak already, and yet may wee in no wiſe hope, that hee can bee caſt out as yet? Shall Eſau ſtill bee ſo heauie to Iaakob, for the bleſſing that is beſtowed on him, ſhall hee make him ſtill to runne his countrie, and to ſerue in ſo harde a bondage elſe-where: and ſhall the Lorde playnely pronounce that the elder ſhoulde bee ſubiect vntounto the yonger: and yet may we not, after ſo long and grieuous baniſhmentes endured, hope in the end to ſee the performaunce of that his promis: no, not nowe, when wee ſee that from Heauen hee hath giuen vsus ſuch helpes, and made vsus ſo ready a way vntounto it? May wee in Ioſeph ſo plainly behold the very cauſe, why they hauehave bin ſo grieuous vntounto vsus, liuely ſet forth in perfect colours: and yet may we in no wiſe hope to find the like iſſue likewiſe in the end? for what other cauſe hauehave they, but for that they doe perceiue, that God meaneth for to aduaunce the ſelfe ſame cauſe that wee hauehave in hande? And ſeeing that for a time they hauehave kept it vnderunder: why may we not hope, that there is a time likewiſe, when it is to preuayle againſt them, and to attayne vntounto the honour that is due vntounto it? In bondage likewiſe long wee hauehave beene, with the children of Iſrael in the lande of Aegypt: and may wee not looke, with them alſo to bee deliuered? When the Lorde, wee ſee, hath ſent his Moſes and Aaron with the worde of his mightie power, when wee ſee that thoſe his ſeruauntes faythfully doe their meſſage to Pharaoh, and require him in the name of the Lorde to let his people goe, when wee ſee it is euident alſo that the Lorde ſo ioyneth with them, that notably hee ſheweth foorth his power before them all, and ſtrongly ſhaketh certayne of thoſe ſtates that ſtande againſt him: muſt wee notwithſtanding be ſo farre out of heart without former oppreſſion, that wee may in no caſe hope (although wee hauehave ſo pregnant tokens) that nowe the Lorde is in hande to worke foorth our wiſhed deliueraunce? And what though nowe it doe repent many of them, that they hauehave ſet vsus goe ſo much as they hauehave? what, though hearing that we are ſometimes intangled in ſome wilderneſſe of theirs, thereupon they come foorth againſt vsus with a freſhe power, either to bring vsus back into bondage againe, or elſe to put vsus all to the ſword? Is it of neceſſity that becauſe they woulde ſo hauehave it, therefore it muſt bee ſo in deede? Can they in no wiſe otherwiſe take it, but that if once we bee entangled, then are they ſure to preuaile agaynſt vsus? When they hauehave ſeene ſuch iudgementes of God before, and themſelues hauehave lately ynough ſufficiently felt the hande of God in this quarrell, can they notwithſtanding neuer ſuſpect, that the wrath yt of Lord which they hauehave ſo many ways ſo iuſtly prouoked may by ſuch meanes trayne them foorth to further vengeance? Or, if the oportunitie of the place giuegive heart vntounto them (as ſometimes hauing vsus, in the cauſe that wee ſuſteine, at great aduantage, hauing the Sea before vsus, our enimies behinde, and ſuch rockes on eyther ſide, as doe yeelde no paſſage by them at al) can they in no wiſe ſo much as think, that in ſuch caſe God knoweth howe to deliuer thoſe that are his, and hath yet left him wayes ynow beyond the deuiſe and reach of man? If nowe they annoy vsus, as wee are in our way, trauelling towardes the lande of promis, what doe they elſe, but as the Amalekites did before? and if they take part with them in their ſinne: may wee not hope, that they ſhall bee made partakers of their vengeance alſo? Let Moſes on the top of the hill, in the ſight of the hoaſt of the Lord, and in the ſight of all their enimies, aduaunce the Lordes Standard, if he bee olde, and therefore ſomewhat weake, and bee not able ſtill to aduaunce it in ſuch ſort as hee ſhoulde, let Aaron and Hur bee ſupporters vntounto him, that ſo the Lordes Standard may ſtill be aduaunced: and then it neede not to bee doubted of any, but that our Amalekites alſo ſhall ſoone bee beaten backe, and taught to giuegive more quiet paſſage to the children of Iſrael, as they are (at the Lordes appointment) to paſſe by their borders. And if theſe Amalekites of ours, in this large ſpace of repentaunce that God doth giuegive them, will in no time turne to the Lorde, why may we not looke, but that on them the Lorde will at the length bring an vtter deſtruction, euen before our eyes in ſight: vnleſſe it pleaſe him, of merciemercy to ſpare them, or to reſerue them to heauier iudgements againſt that day, when he ſhall call to account all the vngodly of the earth, for all their vngodly deedes which they hauehave vngodlie committed, and for all their cruell ſpeakings which vngodly ſinners hauehave ſpoken againſt him? That (as yet) wee are not ſo fully entered into the poſſeſſion of our inheritance, whome may we thanke ſo much as our ſelues? For when God woulde hauehave brought vsus in, wee made light account of it, and did not beleeue his goodnes towardes vsus: wee woulde needes hauehave ſearchers to goe and ſee, whether it were ſo good a lande, and whether we ſhould bee able to get it. God had already told vsus, both that it was a notable land, and that hee woulde giuegive it vntounto vsus: but that woulde not ſerue. If men of our owne choyce did not tell vsus ſo too, wee thought it no wiſedome, ſo ſoone to yeelde vntounto the bare worde of God alone: and wee were not aſhamed, to put to his triall euen the trueth of God himſelfe, and to make him to ſtande at our barres, and there to bee tried by the verdict of lying men. What reaſon therefore, but that, hauing done ſo great diſhonour (or vilany rather) to the God of all trueth and glorie, wee ſhould iuſtly hee excluded for a time from that comfortable fruition of this land of promis that nowe wee would ſo fayn enioy. But ſeeing that wee the children of thoſe our great aunceſtours hauehave ſo long beene kept out, and borne the iniquitie of our parentes refuſall, what letteth but that nowe, when wee ſee that God beginneth to perfourme his mercies towards vsus, wee may hope that the time of that wrath of his is almoſt expired, and that nowe hee is willing and reedie to bring, vsus in, and to put vsus in full poſſeſſion? If wee alſo hauehave had our Moabites and Midianites, that hauehave buſily ſought to infringe our peace, and to make, a breach into the good eſtate that God hath giuen vsus, and hauehave hiered their Balaams againſt vsus, if not once or twice, but verie often they hauehave aſſayed, by ſecrete practiſes to doe vsus ſome miſchiefe: If they hauehave multiplied their maſſes againſt vsus, and neuer ſo often reiterated that ſacrifice of theirs which they call vnbloodie, but yet is bloddy and cruell in deede: muſt wee therefore doubt, that ſometime or other they ſhall preuayle, and that the Lorde will caſt vsus head-long downe, into that inſatiable gulfe of their blood-thirſtineſſe? Or many wee not rather hope, on behalfe of the quarrell that wee hauehave in hande, that as at that time he confounded all their deuices, and made fruſtrate all their attempts, and turned the cruell and deadly curſing that they had intended, into a ritche and ſpeciall bleſſing: ſo nowe likewiſe hee will in like ſort accurſe all their open attemptes and ſecrete counſels, that neuer they ſhall bee able to preuayle againſt the cauſe that wee hauehave in hande, but that, euen by their owne endeuours, they muſt come downe more and more?Eſt. 6.18. If not onelyonly the wiſer friendes of Haman but euē Zareſh his wife likewiſe eſpied, that whereas they perceiued nowe, that Mordecai whoſe deſtruction hee ſought, was founde to bee one of the people of God, he ſhould neuer preuaile againſt him, but ſhould certainly fall before him more and more: howe much rather ought wee to bee aſſured, and what dulnes were it not to perceiue, that, ſeeing they hauehave alreadie attempted the like crueltie againſt the people of God, vtterly to deſtroy them all, but now in theſe dayes hauehave begun to fall before them, they ſhoulde not nowe bee neare to their end, and dayly more and more come downe before thoſe that they woulde hauehave deuoured, the inuincible race that is borne a newe, not of corruptible ſeede, but of incorruptible, the eternall trueth of the liuing God? And if wee coulde open but the eares of our mindes by fayth, no doubt wee might finde, that euen in their ſecrete corners among themſelues, many of them hauehave ſuch ſpeaches one with another, complaining of their own ruinous ſtate, and ſetting it downe for a verie truth, and that themſelues do looke for no other, but that in this cauſe we are ſo bleſſed of God himſelf, as that their curſings can take no place, but that the cauſe we hauehave in hand muſt ſtill preuaile, and that their impugning of it can be of no force, but againſt themſelues. Not long ſince we graunt, that a few of them did verie often and very eaſily put to flight many of vsus: and, if any ſtood againſt them, they eaſily bereft them of their libertie, lands, and life. But thoſe were the daies of the heauie wrath of the Lord: and the time as then was not come, wherein God meant to ſhew forth his power on their behalf. But as the Iſraelites did ſhortly after, when the time of vengeance was ouerblowne, notably preuaile againſt the Canaanites, Amorites, and Midianites, cleane beyond all expectation: ſo, what letteth, but that the Lord hauing alredie begun to worke ſo mightily for vsus alſo, in the quarell we hauehave in hand, we may with good comfort lift vp our heads, and confidently looke for the full performance of it at his good pleaſure? Iordan with vsus alſo had filled the brinks, and ſéemed at the firſt vtterly to deny all paſſage to any that would attempt to enter: in earthly power they were ſo ſtrong apart by themſelues, and in this quarell ſo knit together the one with the other, the eccleſiaſticall and ciuile together. But when now the time was come, the Prieſts that bare the Arke of the Lord, could no ſooner by the commandement of Ioſhua ſtep into the riuer, and but profer to make their entrie, but that by and by (a wonder to ſee) the waters parted and gaue them paſſage on dry ground. Our Iericho alſo was verie ſtrongly walled about. But are not the walles thereof in good part falne alreadie: and do they not yet daily fall more and more, at leaſt whereſoeuer the Prieſts do ſound their trumpets, and the people, according thereto, lift vp their voice, and cry them downe? Many Kings and Princes there are that hauehave gathered themſelues together againſt our Ioſhua alſo, ſo ſoone as euer he hath made his entrie: and though it were in ſo wonderfull maner, that therein only they may plainly perceiue that his entrie was from aboue, by the mightie hand of God, yet were they not ſo touched therewith, but that ſtill they would bend their forces againſt him ſo much as they could. But what hauehave they gained thereby? Diuers of them hauehave ſharply felt the mightie hand of God againſt them: and what letteth, but that we may looke to ſee theſe beginnings, at the length to be brought to happy endings? Certainly our Ioſhua is to preuaile, againſt all thoſe that come againſt him, and to diuide the promiſed land to the children of Iſrael. Only let vsus take héede to this, that when God is ſo redie as to beſtow theſe mercies on vsus, our ſelues be not ſo far to ſéeke whē we ſhould receiue them, or do not endeuour in ſuch ſort to addreſſe our ſelues thereunto, as our own good, and the nature of the cauſe doth require. Let there be no want in vsus: and then ſhall we vndoubtedly ſée the goodnes of God in the land of the liuing. For he is faithfull, that ſo hath promiſed.
18 And now, O Lord what els remayneth,A Prayer upon this whole ſtorie. but that as thou haſt alreadie begun, to thy glorie and our comfort, thus farre to aduaunce thy kingdome among vsus: euen ſo it would pleaſe thee to proceede vntounto the ende, euen to the full accompliſhment of it? The Goſpell that thou haſt ſent vntounto vsus (and which as thou haſt aduaunced alreadie in ſome good meaſure, ſo wee deſire that it may be aduaunced ſtill, eueryevery day more and more) what is it els but the power, and very Scepter of thine annoynted? And what one is there among vsus all, that may reaſonably doubt, but that thine holy oyle is vponupon it? When thy holye ſpirit worketh ſo mightily with it, euen that only doth ſufficiently witneſſe that it alſo is annoynted by thee. The benefite, that thereby redoundeth to others, is ſo apparant and great, that in that reſpect alſo it may not be doubted, but that it procéedeth from thée, and right well deſerueth to be further aduaunced, that ſo the benefite that commeth with it may be thereby enlarged to mo. For by it alſo our troubled ſpirits and doubtfull hearts towards God are notably appeaſed, and deepely ſetled in ſound comfort and ioy: in that we vnderſtand thereby, how thy wrath is appeaſed towards vsus, and that there is no damnation to thoſe that are in thee. And whereas wee alſo were as much in bondage to certayne of late, as thy Iſrael was to thoſe Philiſtims then, and out faced likewiſe with a monſterous Goliath, that defied thy ſaincts, and often brake foorth into moſt blaſphemous ſpeaches agaynſt thy trueth, and of whom al thy people were ſo afrayd, that they durſt not abide his preſence: thou haſt in theſe dayes, and before our eyes, by this the power of thy out-ſtretched and mightie arme, ſo notably ouerthrowne and trodden downe, that out-growne Champion of theirs, and therewithall put the whole power of them to ſuch a flight, as that thereby thou haſt deliuered many of thy people out of their hands, and ſo vnioynted their power ouer the reſidue alſo, that now it is no hard matter for any that will, to deliuer themſelues from this their tyrannie. Neither can it bee denied but that in theſe dayes there are not a fewe that do beare it ſuch a good will, as that thereby thou haſt made vntounto it (in theſe ſecondarie meanes with vsus) a readier way to come to the height that is due vntounto it. For not only the people generally do in many places beare good will vntounto it, and leauing the glorie of a thouſand to Saul, aſcribe no leſſe then ten thouſand to it: but many Ionathans alſo there are, whoſe hearts thou haſt in ſuch ſort touched, that they hauehave it in ſo great, not eſtimation only, but euen admiration alſo, that al they can do is too little for it. Neither their furniture, nor abiliments of honour are ſo deare vntounto them, but that it muſt hauehave them all: and though it be their owne father that would do it any diſhonor, or hurt: yet can they not ſuffer it at their hands neither, but ſtill preuent it ſo much as they can. And whereas yet there are many likewiſe, that are enemies vntounto it: yet doth not that enmitie of theirs proceede of other occaſion, then that of Saul did agaynſt David; nor yet is proſecuted in other manner. For what other thing is there, that ſo kindleth their hearts agaynſt the Goſpell, but only the ill temper that is in them, and for that they playnlie ſee, that it is the thing that thou art diſpoſed now to aduance: and that themſelues, and their looſe regiment muſt now come downe, and giuegive place vntounto it? And that it might the better be knowne to bée of the ſame nature that the other was of, how doth it proceed after one and the ſelfe ſame manner: firſt in ſecret, and openly after; and yet very rageous not only agaynſt David himſelf, but alſo agaynſt many others for his ſake, euen as their furie therein doth leade them? A thing that though themſelues perceiue not, yet is it to vsus, and to all that are able to ſee, a ſufficient matter whereby to decipher, both what it is they do impugne, and who they are that do impugne it. We ſee likewiſe and muſt needes acknowledge (and as to our comfort we do behold it, ſo do wee right gladly acknowledge it alſo) that notably thou haſt begun alreadie to aduaunce thy Goſpell among vsus: that thou haſt made it a readie way, by preſeruing, encreaſing, and ſtrengthning thoſe, by whom it pleaſeth thee to aduance it: and that thou haſt alreadie ſubdued many countries and kingdomes vntounto the obedience of the ſame, and much weakned diuers of thoſe that ſtand agaynſt it. In Hebron thou doeſt already reigne, ouer the tribe of Iudah thine owne kindred: and though Iſrael (for many of them) do as yet ſtand out agaynſt thee: yet thoſe alſo haſt thou weakened much, and daily encreaſeſt in ſtrength agaynſt them. But O Lord ſuch is thy maieſtie, and ſo worthie art thou to rule ouer all, that not only thoſe that are neereſt vntounto thee, but the fartheſt alſo, euen to the vttermoſt ends of the earth, ought to yeeld their obedience to thee. True it is that in David we found very good things, and ſuch as might well commend him to vsus, vntounto the place that thou at the length didſt call him vntounto: towards thee, a ſpeciall good regard to thy will, and a delight in thee and thine: and towards others, a very good heart, not only to his acquaintance and friends, but euen to ſtraungers and enemies alſo. But whence had David theſe, but from thee? In him they were but in ſome meaſure: and, in compariſon, but in ſmall portions neither: in thee they are immeaſurable, and in greater aboundance, than can be conceiued. He was but a ſhepheard at the firſt: though it pleaſed thee after to make him a King. The baſenes of his eſtate before, might be no hinderance at all vntounto him, to his further aduancement when the time was come, wherein thou diddeſt meane to beſtowe it vponupon him. Thy Sonne our Lord, hath been, thou knoweſt, a Shepheard alreadie: he diſdayned not to abaſe himſelfe vntounto it: and he ſtucke not for any traueile or paines, that did apperteyne to the full accompliſhment of it. And ſhould he not hauehave as readie a way thence to the kingdome, as David had? Or could the ſonne of Iſhai bee ſo aduaunced: and ſhall not the eternall Sonne of the Father, the God of all power and glorie, and to whom only al kingdom and maieſtie doth only belong, hauehave as readie a way vntounto it? Our ſelues, we graunt, by whom we would hauehave this kingdom of thine to be aduanced, are farre ſhort in al ſuch graces as were meete for thoſe that ſhould bee vouchſafed that ſpeciall fauour. But neither is there any fleſh and bloud in thy ſight found worthie of any ſuch fauour: neither is it meete, that for our vnworthines, thy kingdome ſhould not bee aduanced on earth; in ſuch ſort as to thy glorie doth apperteyne, and may ſtand with thy pleaſure here on earth. And ſeeing that it pleaſed thee, in the face of thine annoynted to vouchſafe that fauour to David thy ſeruant, notwithſtanding that of himſelfe he was no better then any others, and notwithſtanding thoſe great infirmities of his that were found in him after his calling: wee humbly beſeech thee, in thoſe thy mercies ſo to couer whatſoeuer corruption is in vsus, as that for it thou ſuffer not the aduancement of thy kingdome to be hindred among vsus. Iſrael (thou ſeeſt, for a great part of vsus) is yet in bondage vntounto thoſe Philiſtims of ours, and by them kept vnderunder, in miſerable ſlauerie, and groſſe idolatrie: and, ſuch as thou haſt ſet vp among vsus, to proceede and go forward with this our deliuerance, do (for the moſt part) ſo little remember that part of their duetie, that therein they do but very little: and many of them nothing at all. Saul did ſomewhat, and merueilous well, in compariſon of many of ours: not only, when his kingdome was better confirmed (as agaynſt the Philiſtims, and Amalekites alſo) but euen at his firſt enterance likewiſe, when as he was but newly come to his kingdome, and the ſame did hang but looſely vntounto him as yet, as in that valiant expedition of his agaynſt the Ammonites at Iabeſh-Gilead. But the leſſe, O Lord, that they hauehave done, and are diſpoſed as yet to do: the more needfull is it for thée, to take ſome further order for it, both for the reliefe of thy diſtreſſed people, and for the aduancement of thy kingdome among vsus. The leſſe likewiſe, that our meane and baſe eſtate here in this life, is capable of ſo great proſperitie and glorie, as to thy kingdome of right apperteyneth, the more we deſire that it would pleaſe thee to haſten the time of the ſecond comming of our Lord and Sauiour, that he taking downe this Tabernacle on earth, may ſet vp thy pallace for euer in heauen, and there aduaunce thy glorious kingdome euen to the full. The cauſe, O Father, wee knowe is thine; and wee are thine: and now hauing made our prayers to thee, we humbly beſeech thee to heare the ſame, euen in the face of thine annoynted, Ieſus Chriſt thy Sonne our Lord, to whom with thee and the holy Ghoſt be aſcribed al power, thanks, kingdome, and glorie, for euer and euer. Amen.