King Solomons Solace, Book · Chapter 23
CHAP XXIII.
Azariah telleth of the kings ingratitude to God. The Lordes counſell and conſent that praier be made for the king: that the beſt be conſtrued of him and that his wordes be nevertheleſſe worthy both the collection and preſervation.
ZAdoke hauing thus conſidered and adviſed, to diſſwade al other men from preſumptuous ſinnes, and ſo from deſtruction: Azariah the chiefe Prince anſwered and ſaid: Ye hauehave right wel ſaid (moſt reverend Father) and ſemblably remembred the words ſo worthily recorded. Oh that the King had well obſerued and kept thoſe holy commandements and walked in the waies of the Lorde, as did David his father, and as himſelfe at the firſt did, to the glory of God and the inſtruction and peace of his people! then had it beene well for himſelfe and profitable for vsus all, for they that obſerue this, want no manner of thing that good is.Deut. 28. But the contrary perpetrated and wrought, and now at length reuealed, the feareful wrath of God appeareth, & his hand is already ſtretched foorth: neither is there found a man to ſtand vp in the gap (as ſometimes Moſes did with our fathers, and as K. David did in his time for vsus) to pacify this deadly ire, that wee periſh not. For as there is no ſafe contending with the Lord, ſo are we not able to anſwere him one for a thouſand. And this is ſuch a griefe vntounto the King as will ſticke by him in the bone faſter then that we ſhalbe able to remoue it. For as they which hauehave once ſurfeited with pleaſant meates, are thereby occaſioned to be grieued and to lament the ſame ſome long time therafter,Salo. 5.7. (though at the preſent they think themſelues neuer therof ſatiſfied): ſo the King hath in theſe pleaſures and the deſires of his fleſh ſo glutted himſelfe (as it is apparant to vsus now) that he hath thereby not only prouoked God to anger, but alſo quite ſpoiled the right conſtitution of his health. He may therfore alas with Eſau lament, but too late and ſay, as we hauehave heard him tell of the vngodly. We have over wearied ourſelves in the way of destructiō :Sap. 5.7. It was Gods pleaſure that aſwell the faults as the vertues of his children ſhold be recorded and remembred for the poſterity. Iehoſophat. what good hath our great pleaſures brought vntounto vsus &c. But I pray you (right noble Iehoſophat) let this alſo be written and recorded for them that come after, in ſuch manner and forme as the moſt reuerend Father Zadoke, hath before declared it, I meane touching this laſt and greateſt cauſe of the kings ſorrow, which commeth of the diſpleaſure of God towards him by reaſon of his heinous offences, and aboue them all, for that he turned away his heart from God in thoſe his elder daies. * It ſhalbe done (ſaid Iehoſophat) with al ſpeede and fidelitie. And yet (as we ſee) the king hath ſomwhat declined from the common courſe of men in this world. For the greater part of them in their youth are wanton, licentious, addicted to diuers vaine luſts, and little regard the power of God, and the holy religion the which they eſteeme a thing only incident to old age, wherein men be more contemplatiue, and yet neuertheleſſe, wee alſo ſee, that of them there be ſome, which in th'end are reclaimed, do repent, come home and ſerue the Lord and ſo are more religious in their mans eſtate, or rather in their old age, then euer they were in the daies of their youth.Eccles. 12.1. But the K. in all the time of his youth (being vnderunder the education and nurtour of his father David, of Bethſabe his mother, and of Nathan the Prophet) did well remember his maker, and therby behaued himſelfe in all things moſt worthily. He was a graue wiſe man even in his yong yeeres, for he hearkened to his father when hee taught him, and to his mother when ſhee ſchooled him, and to wiſedome when ſhe directed him. Oh how wiſe was hee in his youth!Eccles▪ 47.14 filled with heauenly vnderſtanding, as with a flood, his minde couered the whole earth and filled it with graue & darke ſentences, his name went abrode in the Iles and for his peace he was well beloued. The countries meruailed at him for his ſongs,An example of Solomons ingratitude to God after his large guifts. prouerbs, ſimilitudes and interpretations. By ye name of the Lord God, which is called the God of Iſrael, hee gathered God as Tin, and had ſo much Siluer as Lead. Al this not with ſtanding as it hath been with great grief declared by the moſt reuerend father: ſo muſt it be alſo recorded here by mee. (for I cannot diſſemble it or paſſe it ouer) that the King hath bowed his loines vntounto womē, and hath been overcome by his body and turned a way his heart from the Lord. And therein ſhall appeare to all poſterities a moſt notable example of the kings ingratitude and diſobedience againſt God, and therewithall, a fearefull example of the diuine iudgements, to teach all others to take heede how they forget God and anger him with diſobedience after all his large bounties towards them. For beſides the examples of the Elephants, Storks, and other beaſts and birds without reaſon the earth which hath no ſenſe, ſhall worthily condemne him. For the very earth receiuing good ſeede of the ſowers hand, yeeldes him againe in recompence and token of thankfulnes, a farre greater quantitie, as ſome thirty, ſome ſixty, ſōe an hundred fold: teaching both how ready men ſhould be to requite benefites receiued, if they may do it without iniury, eſpecially how thankfull to God, of whoſe hand they hauehave receiued both life and liuing and alſo to fly that menſtrous ſinne of vnkindnes: then the which no ſinne can be greater, for within it, is comprehended eueryevery other ſin whatſoeuer, either againſt God or man, either to giuegive or not to giuegive, it is in a mans owne power: but to recompence or requite a good turne it is of duty required. And there where power or habilitie wanteth, a good minde is accepted. Oh God! how many graces, bleſſings and wealthy gifts hath the kings grace receiued of the Lords hand! neuer king had the like before him, and it is ſaid (which wee belieue) there ſhall neuer any ſucceede him comparable to him in all theſe things. Therfore ſhoulde his thankfulnes to God hauehave been greater, & far aboue al the reſt. For of him to whom much is giuen, is much required. Againe ſhall not the paine of ſuch vnkindnes exceede the puniſhment of others? it is much to bee feared: and the mighty ſhall bee mightely tormented. Wherefore the King vnderſtanding this, is right ſorrowfull in his ſoule:zadoke yet ſpeaketh for the King, whome wee ſhould not condemne as a reprobate. Neither can wee bee merry and glad as wee hauehave beene ſometimes in the floriſhing happy daies and proſperitye of our King. * Then Zadoke the high Prieſt (whome for his grauitie all the Lordes did reuerence and for his wiſedome they did gladly heare) replied againe againe and ſaide. Yet may we not ſo condemne the king, as if bee were vtterly caſt out of the fauour of God, for truly hee expreſſeth great tokens of repentance eueryevery day.The King is but a man & hath imperfections and infirmities The King is excellent wiſe, but yet the king is a man, neither is a man ſo perfect in this life, but that not onelyonly hee hath infirmities, but alſo many imperfections. Yea as the faireſt day hath his cloude, the ſweeteſt hony a prick, and the fineſt wheat his branne: ſo hath the beſt man liuing on this earth his fall and fault. But this I confeſſe, that ſeldom there hath bin ſeene in ſo wiſe and holy a man, ſo foule a fault: and I eſteeme the fault ſo much the more, by how much the king was wiſe and excellent before others.A little fault appeareth great in a wiſe man For as ye leaſt blemiſh wil appeare in the faireſt face, ſo a little fault ſhalbe eſteemed much in a wiſe man. How-much more this monſtrous ſinne, in the wiſeſt of all men, which hath his eyes in his head to foreſee and to preuent dangers then, when the foole runneth foorth without knowledge to his own ſhame and confuſion? Surely the King hath been in this wonderfully ouertaken. An example of mans inſecuritie vntounto all other men,A caveat. how wiſe, prudent, or politike ſoeuer they bee, and a caueat for them to beware they fall not, then when they thinke themſelues to ſtand moſt aſſuredly. For ſecuritie is a deceitfull hagge,Security. The princes verdit of the Kinges fault. and will caſt men ſodainly into dangers, whē they imagine themſelues moſt ſafe and ſure. * Indeede (ſaid the Princes) this thing being ſo indiſcreetly handled by ſo wiſe a King, wilbe an exceeding blot to his honour, a ſclander to the holy religion a ſhame to his Princes, a plague to his people, an encouragement to his enemies, and an euill example for the poſteritie, and yet it ſhalbe (as it is conuenient) in the Record leſt vntounto them. For we may not be foūd falſe witneſſes therin. Alas, that euer we ſhould with theſe our eyes behold ſuch abhominations, with theſe our eares heare ſuch euill reports, & with our hearts feare in theſe dayes of ſuch thinges as are threatned and like to fall on vsus!zadoke telles that the King is contrite and ſory for his ſins and ſo repenreth.
Howbeit (ſaid Zadoke) there is ſome hope in that I perceiue the king doth not only feel in his heart the ſeuerity of the diuine wrath & foreſeeth the miſery that is threatned & thereof is ſorowfull: but alſo knowing what is beſt to bee done (as his father David did, when he had ſinned and was reproued by the Prophet) hee is wonderfull contrite and grieued in heart for his ſinnes, which he now hateth and condemneth in himſelfe: hee is humbled on the earth, and couered with ſack-cloth and aſhes: hee maketh …rs ſtrange confeſſions of his life and behauiour. Hee abandoneth all the delights of the worlde, which hee eſteemeth and calleth vaine, and hencefoorth doth aſſay to dedicate himſelfe anew vntounto the Lorde his God, againſt whom he hath faulted. And as hee hath taught, that the iuſt man falleth ſeuen times in the day and riſeth againe: ſo hee knoweth that his onelyonly way to riſe, is by faithfull repentance, the which the Lorde hath promiſed to preſerue, keepe in ſtore and to giuegive vntounto them that bee his choſen, that thereby they may paſſe vntounto his hill in ſafetie, howſoeuer the aduerſary hath beſet them and battered their faith with ſinne, and thereby occaſioned them to be beaten with the rod of men, which is yet ſo neceſſary in them that fall, that therefore they ſhould not be aſhamed to repent, but aſhamed to ſinne. Neither doth the king deſpaire of merciemercy. * Lorde God, (ſayd Benaiah) and could it be, that ſo wiſe a perſon ſhould ſo fall? May it bee lawfull for vsus to inueſtigate the cauſes of this thing?Benaiah. * It hath beene already ſayd (anſwered Zadok) that the king was yet but a man.zadok telleth the cauſes of the kings fall. If hee had been God (as hee is not) he would not hauehave fallen in this ſort. Other cauſes of this declination in the king, are knowne onelyonly to the Lorde, who wil… hereafter (I doubt not) alſo reueale the ſame in the due time. And yet it may be, howſoeuer wee hauehave cleared ourſelues of all heynous crimes and offences,Sometimes the ſinnes of the people are the cauſe of the trouble and plague of their princes. both againſt God & the king in thoſe our owne conceits, that the cauſe of the kings fall hath riſen partly from ſome of vsus: partly by ſome thing committed in and among the people, in whom are oftentimes found that which prouoketh the Lorde in diſpleaſure to take away thoſe bleſſings which in his louing mercies he had beſtowed on them, and ſo ſuch kings and Princes by and vnderunder whoſe gouernment they hauehave, and might hauehave inioyed long peace and proſperitie. But for this time, let vsus in all ſobrietie ceaſe to ſearch after thoſe hidden things too curiouſly, remembring that the king himſelfe lately aduiſed: Search not out the things which are aboue thy reach and capacitie. And let vsus commit this with the ſucceſſe therof vntounto God, wha hath appointed theſe and all things elſe to ſucceed and come to paſſe by his Providence, after his owne will, for his glorie, and the good of his choſen, howſouer it appeareth vntounto vsus, that the King hath therein offended, and in whatſoeuer ſorte they appeare vntounto men. And let vsus hauehave a chiefe care, that our Willes bee made and conformed here in earth to his will in heauen in all things.Praye for the king, and ſpeake well of him. * Furthermore, as we be bound both by the law of God and a good conſcience, let vsus neither forget nor omit to pray, and make interceſſion vntounto God for the King, both daily and hourely, and therewith both commaund & excite the Congregation & people to doe the like. It may be the Lorde our God will heare vsus, and be mercifull. Let vsus alſo ſpeake well, and the beſt of the King, euen in our priuy chambers; and with him good in our hearts: and ſo much the ſooner, becauſe hee is the Lordes annointed, and at this preſent ſetteth not himſelfe in wickedneſſe, nor maketh a mocke of Religion and good admonition as did Pharaoh when hee ſaide: Who is the Lord? or as thoſe vngodly, which ieſt and contemne correction, and hauehave a delight in their ſinnes. But rather he is contented to heare, to bee ruled, to be reclaymed and to be directed by the wiſedome of that divine Spirite as (himſelfe hath ſayd) the wiſe-man is wont to doe.pro. 10.23. Solomon hath declared many arguments of his repētance. And therein (as vntounto vsus it appeareth) hee hath expreſſed many arguments of a true repentant heart both in his geſture and manner of life. Neither are his Sermons, words and ſpeaches to be neglected or forgotten: being right worthy the noting, obſeruation and memorie of all men. For as they ſauour of the holy ſpirit: ſo are they vttered with ſuch wiſedom, diſcretion, grauitie and deepe affects of the ſoule vponupon this occaſion, that they doe not onelyonly argue, and declare the Kings true repentance: but ſhall alſo teach, inſtruct, admoniſh and mooue the heartes of all Gods people to feare God and ſerue him with reuerence, and therfore ſhall be right profitable for the holy Congregation and worthy preſeruation for all poſterities.Solomons wordes and ſermons are meete to bee collected and preſerued. Let vsus therefore call thoſe his Wordes, and ſermons, into remembrance, let vsus collect and write them in a Booke, and let vsus (after our power) conſerue them or ſome part of them in the ſacred Regiſter among other the kings wiſe parables, Prouerbs, graue ſentences, Propheſies, and holy ſongs Let vsus neither defraude the King of that he hath deſerued, nor withhold from the holy Congregation, that which to the ſame belongeth, nor appeare negligent in our dutie to bee performed to either of them. And as in this, wee ſhall ſerue the Lorde, honour our King, and benefite the Church: ſo by thoſe his words and ſermons (being thus exemplified) he ſhall be more commended and prayſed of the Saints, then by the worldly glory of his Throne: no leſſe wiſe then thoſe wiſe Princes, Patriarks, Sages & Seers, which are much more eſteemed for their graue ſayings, words & writings,Elioreph the Notary. then exalted for their great conqueſts and worldly riches. * Then ſaid Elioreph the kings Notarie, right worthily ſpoken (reuerend father) for indeed the words of the king are ſuch as are in all things conſonant to the veritie, and ſhall witneſſe for euer the kings cōtrition and true conuerſion vntounto Iehovah his God after his ſinne committed. Moreouer, they ſhall be preached as fruitefull and godly ſermons in the Church, to teach, admoniſh, exhort, reforme, conforme, comfort & inſtruct them that come after vsus in the feare of God and the obſeruation of his Lawes,Eccles. 12. the which is (as the King hath often and yet dayly teacheth) that which chiefly appertaineth to eueryevery man, and is required of all men that liue in this world: Therefore my ſelfe with the conuenient help of Ahia my fellow Notary, and with the aduiſe of my Lord the kings Recorder, will gladly endeuour this thing to effect, In the Name of God, whom we beſéech to looke vponupon the King, and vponupon his people in the aboundance of his louing mercies.