King Solomons Solace, Book · Chapter 22
CAP. XXII.
Zadoks Reede is approved and ſecunded touching the cauſe of K. Solomons trouble. And it is ſo recorded.
THe former ſpeeches being well heard & conſidered accordingly by the Lords aſſembled, Prince Zabud the kings familiar friend anſwered. My Lord Zadoke, I ſuppoſe, ye hauehave fully pierced the centre, and hauehave plainely reuealed (though in ſecret vntounto vsus) the higheſt cauſe of this ſo ſtrange metamorphoſis and alteration of the king. Your words ſo graue and right reuerendly diſpoſed on this occaſion, wee allow (as wel worthie) and commend your plaine manner of dealing in this matter, though of ſuch waight, for howſoeuer it bee honourable to conceale the Kinges ſecrets (as my Lorde the Kings ſecretarie will confeſſe) yet in this caſe, I hold it neceſſarie that thoſe things bee manifeſted to vsus of this aſſembly, no leſſe then it ſhalbe needfull that the ſickneſſe and griefe of the languiſhing patient with the cauſes thereof bee made knowen to the faithfull Phiſician, who (at the leaſt) howſoeuer he may be able or not able to cure the malady, wil neuertheleſſe extend his good wil, endeuour his beſt, and wiſh the patient health. And out of doubt, as ye hauehave ſaid, ſo may I ſay, what I likewiſe hauehave obſerued (being ordinarily ſo neere his grace, as any one els in his Court) that he hath had very lately a meſſage ſent him from God, containing both a ſharpe reprehenſion and a fearefull commination. The meſſage was therefore irkſome to him: for who may but baſh, when God reprooueth him? and who ſhould not tremble at the ſentence of puniſhment? The reproofe toucheth to the quicke: but the threate dawnteth the guiltie conſcience: for as the one argueth a diſpleaſure for a fault committed: ſo the other awardeth iudgement for the ſame. But yet what the very cauſe thereof was, I could not vnderſtand vntill now, for ye hauehave ſaid it to be (beſides all other cauſes) the high diſpleaſure of God iuſtly conceiued againſt the King and his people, for that the King hath, contrary to the diuine law, multiplyed wiues to himſelfe in a great number: that he hath alſo combined himſelfe with ſtrange Women, yea, ſuch as are ſtrangers in Religion to vsus: and that by their ſocietie and temptations, he hath beene allured and turned his hart from Iehovah his God, then the which (alas) what can be more reprehenſible, horrible and fearefull. * The King himſelfe (ſaid Zadok) will not, at the leaſt, he ſhould not diſſemble this matter:zadoke proceedeth to tell what the prophet ſaid to K. Solomon. for the Prophet, who brought him this Embaſſady from God, deliuered it not in a corner, nor ſtaggered he to tell it to the Kings face, and that with wonderfull audacitie. For ſo God commaunded him to doe, and neither to feare, nor diſſemble, nor conceale any thing of that he had in charge, and he had his authoritie and power then from God, which emboldned him. Therefore the holy Prophets whom God authoriſeth and ſendeth forth into the world,The boldnes of the prophets. ſetting God before their eyes and their duty, nothing dread the faces of mortall men in their holy miniſtry and ſeruice, vntounto whoſe aſpect the greateſt potentates of the earth, which feare not the Lord of heauen, appeare but as ſauage beaſts or baſe things that perriſh, howſoeuer glorious they ſeeme to the conceits of prophane men. So the Prophet beholding the King charged him, and ſaid without feare, that he had tranſgreſſed and not obſerued that which firſt David the Kings father receiued from the Lord and had giuen him in charge to performe: nor that which Iehovah his God (appearing to him at two ſundry times) willed him to obſerue & keepe as he was willing to enioy and retaine his bleſſings, bee ſhadowed vnderunder the ſafe wings of his protection, poſſeſſe the peace both of mind and body and thenceforth proſper in his place. M. Recorder, ye know well where the words be recorded. I pray you to turne over the Annales till yee finde the place and then let vsus heare the wordes read openly before vsus all, that we may the better conſider, and compare the ſame with the Kings dealings,Iehoſophat the Recorder findeth the record of the matter in the Annales. Pſal. 102.18. for thus muſt one thing bee conſidered with another, if we thinke to vnderſtand that which we deſier, and to effect the thing which to our duty belongeth. * I am here ready (ſaid Iehoſophat the Recorder) and I know very wel where this matter lyeth written. Oh how neceſſary and profitable is the true record of things in writing! And this is written for them that come after: that they thereof may learne to bee wiſe as we are taught by the writings of Moſes, Ioſuah, Samuel and others both learned & godly that liued before our daies. And now (my Lords all) hearken what I hauehave founde written by Nathan the Prophet in the Kinges Annales. Moſt willingly (ſaid the Lordes) therefore read on in the name of God. I finde (ſaid Iehoſophat) that after the time Solomō was annointed King in the place of David his Father, & did ſit on his throne by his fathers goodwill,The charge that David gave to his ſonne Solomō 1. King. 2. aduiſe, conſent and direction, David ſeeing the day to draw neare, that he ſhold reſt with his fathers he called Solomon, and charged him ſaying: I go the way of all the earth: be thou ſtrong therefore, & ſhew thy ſelfe a man: keepe thou the watch of Iehovah thy God, that thou walke in his wayes, & keepe his statutes and precepts, his iudgements & his teſtimonies as it is written in the law of Moſes, that thou maiſt proſper in all that thou doeſt, & in every thing that thou medlest withall. That the Lord alſo may make good his word which he ſpake vntounto me, ſaying. If thy children take heed to their waies, that they walk before mee in truth withall their hearts, & withall their ſoules, thou ſhalt not be without a man on the ſeate of Iſrael. And all this the kings Father tooke from that holy Oracle which Nathan had before that time brought him. Wherein the Lorde had certified David, 2. Sam. 7.that Solomon his ſonne ſhould build an houſe for his name and hee ſaide: he ſhall build an houſe for my name, & I will eſtabliſh the throne of his kingdome for ever. I wilbe his father & he ſhalbe my ſonne. And if hee ſinne, I will chaſten him with the rod of men & with the plagues of the children of men: but my mercy ſhall not depart away from him, as I tooke it from Saul, whome I have put away before thee. And thine houſe ſhalbe eſtabliſhed, & thy kingdome for ever, before thee, even thy throne ſhalbe eſtabliſhed for ever. *After this I find it recorded againe, that the Lord appeared in Gibeon to King Solomon in a dreame by night. Whiles he yet walked in the ordinances and waies of David his Father. And the Lord ſaid. Aske what I ſhall give thee & the King ſaid: Thou haſt ſhewed vntounto thy ſervant David my father great mercy, when he walked before thee in truth, 1. King. 3.5: How David walked with God.in righteouſnes & in plainnes of heart with thee: And thou haſt kept for him this great mercy, that thou haſt givē him a ſon to ſit on his ſeat, as it is come to paſſe this day. And now, O Lord my God, it is thou that hast made thy ſervant King in ſteed of David my Father: And I am but yong & wot not how to go out & in. And thy ſervāt is in the middeſt of thy people, which thou haſt choſen: & verily the people are ſo many, that they cannot be tolde, nor numbered for multitude:Solomons requeſt. Give therfore thy ſervant an vnderſtanding heart to iudge thy people, that I may diſcerne betweene good & evill. For who it able to iudge this ſo mighty a people. And this pleaſed the Lord well, that Solomō had deſired this thing. Therefore God ſaid vntounto him, becauſe thou haſt aſked this thing, & haſt not aſked for thy ſelfe long life, neither haſt asked riches for thy ſelfe, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies: but haſt asked for thy ſelfe vnderſtāding & diſcretion in iudgement: beheld, I have done according to thy wordes. Lo, I have given thee a wiſe & vnderſtāding heart,The Lorde granted him his requeſt, & moreover of his louing mercies. ſo that there hath beene none like thee before thee, neither after thee ſhull any ariſe like vntounto thee. And I have givē thee that, which thou haſt not asked, evē riches & honour: ſo that there ſhalbe no King like vntounto thee in al thy daies. * And if thou wilt walke in my waies to keep mine ordinances & my commandements as thy father David did walke, I wil prolōg thy dayes, &c. Againe I find it recorded that when the King had builded the Temple, and had prayed to the Lord, that it would pleaſe him to ſanctify the ſame for his name &c.1. King. 9.2. The Lorde appeared vntounto him the ſecond time and ſaid I have heard thy praier & thine interceſſion that thou haſt made before mee. For I have hallowed this houſe which thou haſt built to put my name there for ever. And if thou wilt walke before mee, as David thy father walked in purenes of heart & in righteouſnes, to do all that I have commanded thee, & wilt keepe my ſtatutes & my lawes: then will I stabliſh the ſeate of thy kingdome vponupon Iſrael for ever, as I have promiſed to David thy father, ſaying. Thou ſhalt not be without a man vponupon the ſeate of Iſrael.
zadoke ſheweth how gratious the Lord hath beene to Solomon and his people. 1. King. 10. To what end God giveth good princes.*Lo (ſaid Zadok) ye ſee how gratious the Lord our God hath ſhewed himſelfe to the King, and by him vntounto the people of Iſrael whom the Lord hath choſen, and to whome therefore it was his pleaſure to giuegive vsus ſuch a King (as the Queen of Saba in the due conſideration thereof ſaid) for godly kings are adorned, and giuen of the Lorde, for the proſperity and peace of them whome his grace loueth. And as by him they raigne, ſo is hee carefull to defend them from euil, and to leade them foorth in all goodnes by his wiſedome and prouidence. Moreouer this is an eſpeciall grace of God beſtowed on ſuch Princes. For without this, the wiſeſt man liuing can neither follow the good nor eſchew the euill in this flattering and guilefull world. * But read on gentle Iehoſophat: Is there not ſomwhat els? Yes (quod Iehoſophat) and thus the Lorde added on the contrary part But if ye & your children turne away from me, & will not keepe my commandements & my ſtatutes, A commination on the Apoſtates and diſobedient. 1. King. 9.6.which I have ſet before you, but go & ſerve other Gods & worſhip them: then will I weed Iſrael out of the land which I have given them, & this houſe which I have hallowed for my name will I caſt out of my ſight, & Iſrael ſhalbe a proverb & fable among all nations: & this houſe ſhall be takē away: ſo that every one that paſſeth by it ſhalbe astoniſhed & ſhal hiſſe: & they ſhal ſay why hath the Lord don thus vntounto this land & to this houſe? & they ſhal anſwere: becauſe they forſooke the Lord their God which brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt, & have taken hold vponupon other Gods, & have worſhipped them and ſerved them: therefore hath the Lorde brought vponupon them all this evill. * Then aunſwered Zadoke, ye hauehave reade enough of this Argument. Loe, (my Lordes) as in the former member, the Lorde hath declared his diuine louelove and great mercies both to the King and his people, and generally to all them that belieue in him and walk in his waies, ſo in this latter, he ſheweth how much he hateth and abhorreth them that apoſtate from him, follow after other gods,Exod. 20. and bee diſobedient vntounto his will. For the Lord is a iealous God viſiting the ſins of the fathers vponupon the children vntounto the third and fourth generation of them that hate him: For hee cannot ſuffer or abide ſinne and iniquity (as both Moſes and Iob hauehave truly teſtified) ſeeing that the committing of a ſinne is a proude contempt of his law: neither wil he winke at the vngodly in their iniquities being ſuch as depart from him and ſet his commandements at nought. Therefore he doth neither in louelove reſpect them, nor in mercy regard them: but as a Iudge inexorable and a Lord moſt righteous, he deteſteth their waies, beateth them with afflictions, reiecteth them, caſteth them downe and deſtroyeth them, yea be they neuer ſo wiſe, wealthy, royal, famous, ſtrong, and glorious, he will (notwithſtanding) ſpeake to them in wrath and vex them in diſpleaſure,Pſal. 2. he ſhall beate them with a rod of iron, and teare them in peeces as a potters veſſell.
* Note this ye that hauehave taſted of the goodnes of the Lord in the aboundance of his mercies,An admonition not to depart, nor forget God. pſal. 50.22. and take heede that ye neither turne away from him, nor diſobey him, nor forget him, vnmindfull of your duties, leſt peraduenture before he giuegive you true repentance, he ſodainly come vponupon you as a theefe in the night, and all to teare you as a ramping Lyon, and there bee none found to reſcue or deliuer you. Neither is it good that any man ſhould preſume on this that God hath yet beene mercifull in the end, and hath gratiouſly pardoned one or more that hauehave ſo ſinned and offended his maieſty, when they hauehave repented: for as godly Repentance is not in the wil and power of man: but is the guift and worke of God, on them onelyonly which hee is well willing to pardon and receiue again by repentance:Againſt preſumption. ſo who is hee that knoweth (when he preſumeth to ſinne in hope of mercy) whether it ſhalbe Gods pleaſure to giuegive him repentāce and to receiue him to mercy yea or no? Was not this the deſtruction of Cain the ſonne of Adam? Becauſe hee had ſeene the Lords great mercy on his parentes, which were pardoned in the promiſed Seed, he preſumed on the ſame and murthered his brother: yea albeit the Lorde in iuſtice did both threaten and iudge him: yet hee ſaide: But is mine iniquitie more then that it may bee forgiven? Neuertheleſſe the Lorde caſt him foorth from the vpper face of the earth a fugitiue and vagabonde, and in the ende recompenced him for his brothers bloud. This was alſo the ſinne and ouerthrow of Saul whome God caſt away before David: 1. Sam. 15.9.19For notwithſtanding the Lordes commaundement giuen him againſt Agag and the Amalekites, hee preſumed to preſerue that which was by the diuine decree prepared to the ſworde, the rather to content his couetous minde, thinking that yet the Lorde woulde hauehave diſpenſed with him, and winked at his folly. But Samuel ſaide hee was a foole, in that hee tranſgreſſed the word of the Lorde and that therefore his kingdome ſhoulde bee taken from him and giuen to another. In this ſinne offended Baalam, Num, 22.28.and was both reproued of his owne Aſſe, and afterwards deſtroyed among the Lordes enemies.. Worthily therefore did the Kinges Father pray vntounto God, to keepe him from preſumptuous ſinnes.