Of the Head Cornerstone, Chapter 11 (3 of 3)
9 That one of their Kings vnderunder whom they yet continued one people, was King Saul, of whose annointing by the Prophet, and chusing by lot, we hauehave heard already, vnderunder the gouernment of Samuell, the last of their Iudges: and now are we to see, first, in what sort he made his entrance into his kingdom; then, what was his gouernment after. In both which we shal finde, as no where else more fully I think, two notable points: one, how carefull we all ought to be, euen Princes themselues, praecisely to obsetue the word of God, that by his seruants hee sendeth vntounto vsus; the other, that the best of vsus al do not stand in the fauor of God, by the good things that in the better sort of vsus commonly are, but only by his owne goodnesse towards vsus. For he obserued the word of God in the mouth of Samuell the Prophet maruelous well, as we could easily bee perswaded; and yet would that in no wise serue; againe, he was (no doubt) a notable man, and had many good thinges in him (at least, till that euill spirit of the Lord was sent to vexe him) and yet did those nothing auaile him to that Tremel. et I…n. Bibl. Angl. 1594. in ano…. in 1. Sam. 14: 24, 41. et 15: 13. f. …0. … 25. …. Iob. 2: 11. 4: 6. etc.purpose. But vnhappy man that he was, he is not onelyonly thus cast downe of God, but also condemned almost of all, to hauehave bin a maruelous bad man, and onelyonly, as it seemeth, on this supposall, because it pleased God to deale so roughly with him as hee did, for such offences as seemed not so great vntounto vsus. As the friendes of Iob, though they came to comfort him, yet when they saw the hand of God so grieuously vppon him, as it was cleane beyond all expectation of theirs, they changed their iudgment, and thought him to be a notable Hypocrite: otherwise, that God would neuer hauehave plagued him so as he did. But as Christ saide by those Ga…laans, whose bloud Pilate Luk. 13: 1-5.had mingled with the bloud of their sacrifice, and on those 18. on whom the Tower in Silo… fell and slew them, that they were not more sinfull than the residue: euen so do I take it, that the Text it selfe doth teach vsus to iudge of King Saule, that though it pleased God thus to deale with him (his wisedome knoweth best why) yet if we take one thing with another, and withdraw our selues from all praeiudice and partiality, no doubt it was not, that he was more offensiue therein than wee, or than others commonly are; but that it pleased God so to deale with him, and iustly might so do, & so might deal with the best of vsus, euen as iustly as he might with him. For neither do we tarry till we be so perfectly instructed in the will of God, by such as it pleaseth him to vse towards vsus, especially if we hauehave but halfe so good cause a little to hasten, as Saule then had: neither do we, in any matter of charge that lightly we hauehave (vnlesse it be in the case of Iehu, for our safety withall, for that the destruction of Achabs House, in 2. King. 10. 30plaine reason must he think to be the better confirming of him in his) goe so neere to fulfill that which God prescribeth vntounto vsus, as wee may see that Saule then did in the charge to him prescribed. But these things will better appeare in the Story it selfe. His entrance therefore in such sort he made, one way or other, as that God was therewith offended, and Saul for the same sharply reproued. So are we first to consider, wherein he offended in that his first entrance: then, how he was for it reprooued. To find out wherein he then offended, is so much the harder, because it is not in such sort described, but that it is diuersly taken: and albeit the opinions be but two, and that speciall consideration hath bin had by the learned of either of them, yet in my mind it seemeth they hauehave left (euen in that which is the likeliest) a good peece of their matter behind them. In the former of these two opinions wee are to consider; first, what the same opinion is: then, what our selues may gather out of it, if that may stand for the sense of the place. The opinion it selfe is, that as the case then was, Saule did not 1. Sam. 13: 8, 9 Lyr. Ibi. … lit. …thinke good to stay any longer on the Prophetes comming, but called for the sacrifice, and himselfe made oblation of it: so stepping into the office of the Priest, beeing occasioned thereunto by an vrgent and iust necessity, as he did take it. If that were his fault, and that the Prophet for it did first denounce vntounto him the losse of his kingdome, or that it should not nowe abide to him and his, then had wee neede to take heede of a praesupposed liberty that many of vsus hauehave vsed, and some yet do: Lay-folk, yea, Women, to Baptize Children in time of necessity. Concerning which, it shall bee good, first to consider of it, as if there were some vrgent necessity in it so to doe: then to examine, whether there be any such necessity indeed, or not. If there were some vrgent necessity in it, so to do, yet so was it in Sauls case also. For the Philistims Ibid. 5-8.were already come in very strong; many of the people hid themselues in Caues, and fled ouer Iordan; such as Saule had gathered together and followed him, began to steale away a-pace likewise; and Saul had stayed (in a manner, full out) seauen dayes already. All which notwithstanding, if the Lord would not in that case beare with him, it is hard to conceiue, that in this case of ours, he will beare with vsus. But now the truth is, there is no such neede in this case of ours to driue vsus vntounto it: but, on the other side, much good matter to hold vsus off from it. That there is no such need in this case of ours to driue vsus vntounto it, may reasonable plainely appeare; first, in it selfe: then also, in others like vntounto it. The thing it selfe being Baptizme, doth easily shew vsus there is no such necessity, both by the very nature of it: and by the vse of it in ancient time in the Church of God. The nature of it is to giuegive vsus to vnderstand, that the Children of those Congregations that doe professe the Faith of Christ, do appertaine to the kingdome of God, as much as themselues; not onelyonly when they are come into the world, but also euen in their Mothers wombes: and therefore, that for Baptisme, the outward testification of it, we need no more but onelyonly to take heed, that neyther wilfully we do refuse it; nor negligently slip the time to take it, when we may conueniently C…nt. 2. c. 6. col. 111. 44. 3. col. 124. 3. 4. 694. 7. 6. 329. 27 613. 23.hauehave it. The vse of it in ancient time hath bin in the Church of God, to hauehave Publike Baptisme ministred but certaine times in the yeare, as but at Easter, or at Easter and Whitsontide, especially for the greater sort: a sufficient Testimony in it selfe, that they had of olde no such doubt of those that departed before Baptisme. Those others that are like vntounto it, are, Circumcision vnderunder the Law: and the holy Communion in the dayes of the Gospell. Circumcision, by the appointment of God, was not to be ministred vntill the childe was eight dayes olde: before which time it is not to be conceiued, but that many departed; and yet was not their estate therefore to be doubted. The holy Communion we doo not hold needfull nor meete neither to bee ministred to any of our children at all, vntill they come to yeares of discretion; before which time it is certain, that many depart this life: yet God forbid that they should be any thing at all endangered thereby; as it seemeth men were of olde perswaded, when so farre as well they could, they hauehave ministred Cypr. Serm 5. delapsis. Cent. 3 cap. 6. c…l. 133. 59.it vntounto children at vnger age. To hold vsus off from it, we hauehave good matter, first in the thing it selfe: then, if it be compared with others. By the thing it selfe, I meane that bold vsurpation aforesaid, when women or other Lay-people take vponupon them to baptize (in a Church established) when they conceiue need to require. For the opinion of that presupposed liberty, hath hatched another misvsage besides, discomfortable to parents, vnseemly and dangerous vntounto themselues: namely, that when children are stil-borne, or dye before they are baptized, the women that are present, being fore-stalled with a preiudice already, that such children do not appertaine to the kingdom of God, send them or carry them away to be buried in some odde corner, as not meete to come to Christian buriall. A very vnaduised part, to make themselues so heauy Iudges on those silly Infants, whom they were neuer able to charge with any ill, not onelyonly in deede or word outwardly, but also not so much as with any ill thought within. If it be compared with others, then what letteth, but that if they may minister Baptisme when they think there is some vrgent necessity, they may likewise vponupon any such like praesupposed necessity, minister the holy Communion likewise, take the pulpit, meddle with any inferiour Magistracy, yea and finger the Scepter too? For the latter of them, wee are in like sort first to see, what it was wherein Saule offended, as they do take it: then, praesupposing Diuers of the Hebrew writers: as is reported by Co… ra. Pell. in 1. Sam. 13▪ 9. Tremel. & Iun.that to be fault, what we are to gather out of the same. His fault was, as these others do take it, that he did not await the Prophets comming, but began so farre to enter into his businesse before, whereas euen therein also he should hauehave stayed the Prophets comming, as he had before appointed; though as it now fell out, the Prophet had tarried altogether as long in a manner, as he had required the King to stay for him; and because the King in his answere, when he was reproued, giueth in nothing else in particular that he had done, but onelyonly that, to make supplication to the Lord, he had offered that Burnt offering, therefore go they no farther neither, and so do leaue, as I do take it, a great pecce of their matter behinde them. Which that we may the better perceiue, we are to take in (as I do take it) all the Text of this Chapter going before: and, to that end, first to cleere it in one point of the translation; then, to consider of the whole matter therein contained. That one point of the translation that is first to bee cleared, is the first part of the 1. Sam. 13: 1. Iran. Vatab. Bibl. Angl. 1594.first Verse of this Chapter, where it is saide, that Now Saule had bin King one yeare: which is not so to be taken, as though the Originall could yeelde no other Interpretation; but that such as did so interpret, thoght that to be most agreeable vntounto it, though they knew others to bee otherwise perswaded therein. But this doo I thinke cannot be the meaning of the place; but rather, that the beginning of the first yeare of Saules raigne is noted thereby, as there be others that so do take it: Tremel. Iun.or, that when Saule came first to his kingdome, he was of a quiet, gentle, & milde disposition, and as farre from any haughty or hard wayes, as a little sucking child, Chald. Paraphr Conrad. Pell.or a child of a yeare old, as others do giuegive the meaning of it. For either of these do very well agree with the Story or residue of the Text: but not the other, so far as I am able to gather, because that so it would fall out, that Samuell had adiourned the King to an assembly that should hauehave beene a tweluemonth after, and had willed him then also to stay on him there (at least seuen dayes) till he should come thither vntounto him. Whereas notwithstanding Samuel himselfe perceiued, that 1. Sam. 12: 12.they were so vrgent then for a King, vponupon a present occasion then offered: Nabash then comming against them, which could not hauehave brooked so large a delay. The matter in the first nine verses of this Chapter contained, is not onelyonly of that his hast to get the Burnt-offering to bee made, but of diuers other thinges besides, which are, as I take it, a part of his fault likewise: though I graunt, there be something that seemeth to stand somewhat hard against it. So are wee now, first to set downe, what we take his fault to hauehave been: then, what we hauehave to say to that which doth seeme to stand somewhat hard against it. His fault it seemeth was (as before is said) not onelyonly his not tarrying of Samuel in that his offering, but withal, that so he had prouoked the Philistims to come in vponupon them, both him-selfe and his sonne Ionathan withall: himselfe by gathering those forces vntounto him, and by 1. …2. 23: 2-4.stirring vp the people to batte…▪ and his sonne Ianathan, by encountering that garrison that he then dealt with. That which may seeme to stand some-what harde against this, resteth in two principall points: one, a place of the Text it selfe; another an interpretation onelyonly. That place of the Text it selfe, is, that when Samuel at his annointing had tolde him of certaine Tokens, he should finde in his way homeward, for his farther confirmation, and among others, that the Spirit of the Lord should come vponupon him, he then bad him do as occasion should serue, & told him that the Lord was with him. So it may seeme, that by vertue thereof, hee 1. Sam. 10: 7.might now gather such forces together, and so stirre vp the people to armes as hee did: and that Ionathan (vnderunder him) might so assay that garrison also, as now he had done. But it seemeth, that that liberty was giuen him but in respect of that praesent occasion that was then so instant vponupon them, the invasion of the Ammonites: and that the abiding of him that he did require at Gilgal, did necessarily imply with it, not to prouoke the Philistims, who yet were quiet; and by whose comming in, (when they were prouoked) he found himselfe as it were surprised, from staying on the Prophets comming. And how could these two in any good construction stand together, that Saule must tarry the time and place appointed, to be farther inuested in his kingdome by Samuel, before he might take vponupon him as King (but only for that present occasion, so very vrgent as then it was:) and yet, in the meane season, vnprouoked might gather such forces vntounto him, might so imploy certain of them, and so generally send the Alarum to al the people? These things indeed are appertaining to Princes: but not absolutely, vntil they be in ful possession. That which is but onelyonly an interpretation, is another vnseasonable Praeterplu perfect-tense (as I do take it) and a sense accordingly framed, that by some of our best Expositers Tremel. I…n. in 1. Sam. 13: 2.there is vsed: making those forces that Saul had now gathered togither out of the rest, and then sending home the rest againe to bee none others but those, that of their owne accord (yet inwardly gouerned by God vntounto it) gaue their attendance on him when they say, that by lot he was so chosen to be their King; and conceyuing withall, that when Saule went against the Ammonites, he left those with Ionathan to attend the garrisons of the Philistims. But besides that that is without warrant, the Text it selfe seemeth rather to note, that these were others, & otherwise Ibid. 2.employed also about the king or vnderunder his regiment, and in other places withall. This being his fault, and then we being to see what wee are to gather out of the same, the matter is plaine enough of it selfe, that seeing hee was so readye, in these things himself to be doing, & did not so praecisely await the time apointed, as he was by the Prophet inioyned; & yet was so loath to take it vponupon him before: by very good reason may we doubt, that we in such case are oftimes in our affairs ouer hasty also, & do not so precisely heed the rules that are giuen vsus, as we ought to do; especially in all such matters as whereunto our selues are so readily enclined. In the reproofe, that for this was giuen him, it appeareth, euen at the first, that it was very sharpe: & yet who so looketh more specially into it, shall finde it much sharper, than otherwise it appeareth to be. It appeareth euen at the first to bee verie sharpe, not onelyonly for that the words of the reproofe are so round as they are: but Ibid. 13, 14.also, because the losse of his kingdome is thereby likewise denounced vntounto him. If we looke into it more specially, it doth then more plainly appear, partly because it was so long first, before hee would any thing at all take vppon him: and partlie, because when hee did some-what that way, hee had such prouocation thereto at hee had. Hee had great occasion to hauehave taken much vppon before, at his first returne from Ramah: but then much more, on his beeing at Mispeh. At Ramath he was both specially honoured at the Feast; and by the Prophet Samuell 1 Sa …: 22-24. Ibid. 10: 1. Ibid. 9. Ibid. 10. Ibid. 2…▪ Ibid. 24. 2….annointed: and ere hee got home, both he found all those tokens true that Samuell, (to confirme him therein) had told him before; and himselfe was endewed with the good Spirit of God, so farre, that euen hee also prophecied. At Mispeh hee was chosen King by Lot, euen he of all the thousands of Israell: as also, both of most of the people acknowledged; and of diuers of them attended. When now hee did take so much vponupon him, as to make choyce of three thousand men, two thousand vnderunder his owne regiment, and one vnderunder Ionathans; warned the people also, to betake themselues to Armes; and at that time stayed the Prophet so long as he did, as his occasions were then: in reason wee might thinke him notably prouoked thereunto, not onelyonly in that so many of the people came so readily at his commaund to attend him against the Ammonites, three hundred and thirty thousand; but also for that Ibid. 11: 8.both he had so great successe there against his Enemies that hee gaue them a great ouerthrow, and wan such fauour of all his Army, that there they acknowledged their Ibid. 12.alleagiance vntounto him more than before. All which notwithstanding, medling so farre as now he did, before the Prophet came and fully possest him of his kingdome, albeit he had such cause to bee doing before, and that Samuell tarryed so long; and although his modesty and humility were such, that it was long before hee would bee seene, in that matter of his so great aduancement: the Prophet telleth him, hee hath doone foolishly (O the wonderfull depth of Gods seueritie;) he hath not kept the Ibid. 13: 13, 14.Commaundement of the Lorde his God; it must cost him no lesse than his Scepter and Crowne for thus farre transgrssing, euen the first charge that was giuen him. Neither yet was hee any of the Leuites, more specially brought vp in the knowledge of God; but at the most, as a young Gentleman of an ordinary education: neyther were those daies themselues such, as that any speciall acquaintance with the wayes of God, might bee expected in men much liklier than hee. And yet euen for this one slip of his, in an estate that he would faine hauehave shunned, and when hee had so great reason (as we should thinke) to doe as he did, is he now irreparably of God reiected. But a notable warning it is vntounto vsus, in all our waies to reuerence the holie direction of God; and neuer to make so bold there-with, as in any thing to goe before it; howe iustly soeuer our selues might conceiue wee were occasioned: and withall, a notable burne to all those profane waies of Popish deuotion, that, so they be doing, doe very little or nothing regard, what it is that God, by the direction of his holy word, would hauehave them to doe.