Works of Joseph Hall, Book 17 – Title page 65

Works of Joseph Hall · Book 17 – Title page 65

p. 1255Contemplations. THE SEVENTEENTH BOOKE.

ADONIJAH Defeated.

DAVID had not ſo carefully husbanded his yeeres, as to maintaine a vigorous age; he was therfore what through warres, what with ſorrowes, what with ſickneſſe, decrepit betimes; By that time hee was ſeuentie yeeres old, his naturall heat was ſo waſted, that his clothes could not warme him; how many hauehave wee knowne of more ſtrength, at more age? The holieſt ſoule dwels not in an impregnable fort; If the reuenging Angel ſpared Dauid, yet age and death will not ſpare him; Neither his new altar, nor his coſtly ſacrifice can be of force againſt decay of nature; Nothing but death can preuent the weakneſſes of age.

None can blame a people if when they hauehave a good King, they are deſirous to hold him; Dauids ſeruants and ſubiects hauehave commended vntounto his bed a faire yong Virgin; not for the heat of luſt, but of life; that by this meanes they might make an outward ſupply of fuell for that vitall fire which was well-neere extinguiſhed with age.

As it is in the market, or the ſtage, ſo it is in our life; One goes in, another comes out; when Dauid was withering, Adonijah was in his bloſſome; That ſonne, as he was next to Abſalom both in the beautie of his body, and the time of his birth, ſo, was he too like him in practice; He alſo taking aduantage of his fathers infirmity, will bee caruing himſelfe of the Kingdome of Iſrael; That he might no whit vary from his patterne, he gets him alſo Chariots and Horſemen, and fifty men to runne before him: Theſe two Abſalom and Adonijah were the darlings of their father; Their father had not diſpleaſed them from their childhood, therefore they both diſpleaſed him in his age; Thoſe children had need to bee very gracious, that are not marred with pampering; It is more then God owes vsus, if we receiue comfort in thoſe children whom wee hauehave ouer-loued; The indulgence of parents at laſt paies them home in croſſes.

p. 1256It is true that Adonijah was Dauids eldeſt ſon now remaining, and therefore might ſeeme to challenge the iuſteſt title to the Crowne; But the Kingdome of Iſrael (in ſo late in erection) had not yet knowne the right of ſucceſſion: God himſelfe that had ordained the gouernment, was as yet the immediate elector; Hee fetcht Saul from among the ſtuffe, and Dauid from the ſheepfold; and had now appointed Salomon from the ferule, to the Scepter.

And if Adonijah (which is vnlike) had not knowne this, yet it had been his part to hauehave taken his father with him in this claime of his ſucceſſion; and not ſo to preuent a brother, that he ſhould ſhoulder out a father; and not ſo violently to preoccupate the throne, that he ſhould rather be a rebell, then an heire.

As Abſalom, ſo Adonijah wants not furtherers in this vſurpation, whether ſpirituall, or temporall; Ioab the Generall, and Abiathar the Prieſt giuegive both counſell, and aid to ſo vnſeaſonable a challenge; Theſe two had beene firme to Dauid in all his troubles, in all inſurrections; yet now finding him faſtned to the bed of age, and death, they ſhew themſelues thus ſlipperie in the looſe: Outward happineſſe and friendſhip are not knowne till our laſt act. In the impotency of either our reuenge or recompence, it will eaſily appeare who loued vsus for our ſelues, who for their owne ends.

Had not Adonijah knowne that Salomon was deſigned to the Kingdome both by God, and Dauid, he had neuer inuited all the reſt of the Kings ſonnes, his brethren, and left our Salomon; who was otherwiſe the moſt vnlikely to hauehave beene his riuall in this honor; all the reſt were elder then hee; and might therefore hauehave had more pretence for their competition: Doubtleſſe the Court of Iſrael could not but know, that immediately vponupon the birth of Salomon, God ſent him by Nathan the Prophet, a name and meſſage of louelove; neither was it for nothing that God called him Iedidiah; and fore-promiſed him the honor of building an houſe to his Name; and (in returne of ſo glorious a ſeruice) the eſtabliſhment of the throne of his Kingdome ouer Iſrael for euer; Notwithſtanding all which, Adonijah backed by the ſtrength of a Ioab, and the grauitie of an Abiathar, will vnderworke Salomon, and iuſtle into the not-yet-vacant ſeat of his father Dauid. Vaine men, whiles like proud and yet brittle clay, they will be knoking their ſides againſt the ſolid, and eternall decree of God, breake themſelues in peeces.

I doe not finde that Adonijah ſent any meſſage of threats, or vnkindneſſe to Zadok the Prieſt, or Nathan the prophet, or Benaiah the ſonne of Iehoiada, and the other worthies; onelyonly he inuited them not to his feaſt with the Kings ſonnes, and ſeruants; Sometimes a very omiſſion is an affront, and a menace. They well knew that ſince they were not called as gueſts, they were counted as enemies; Ceremonies of courteſie, though they be in themſelues ſlieght, and arbitrarie, yet the neglect of them in ſome caſes may vndergoe a dangerous conſtruction.

Nathan was the man by whom God had ſent that errand of grace to Dauid, concerning Salomon, aſſuring him both to raigne, and proſper; yet now when Adonijahs plot was thus on foot, he doth not fit ſtill, and depend vponupon the iſſue of Gods decree, but he beſtirres him in the buſineſſe, and conſults with Bathſheba how at once to ſaue their liues, and to aduance Salomon, and defeat Adonijah; Gods pre-determination includes the meanes as well as the end; the ſame prouidence that had ordained a Crowne to Salomon, a repulſe to Adonijah, preſeruation to Bathſheba and Nathan, had fore-appointed the wiſe and induſtrious endeuours of the Prophet to bring about his iuſt, and holy purpoſes; If we would not hauehave God wanting to vsus, wee muſt not bee wanting to our ſelues: Euen when wee know what God hath meant to vsus, wee may not bee negligent.

The Prophets of God did not look for reuelation in all their affaires, in ſome things they were left to the counſell of their owne hearts; the policy of Nathan was of vſe as well as his prophecy: that alone hath turned the ſtreame into the right channell: Nothing could be more wiſely contriued then the ſending in of Bathſheba to Dauid, with ſo ſeaſonable & forceable an expoſtulation, and the ſeconding of hers with his owne.

p. 1257Though luſt were dead in Dauid, yet the reſpects of his old matrimoniall louelove liued ſtill; the very preſence of Bathſheba pleaded ſtrongly; but her ſpeech more; the time was, when his affection offended in exceſſe towards her being then anothers; he cannot now neglect her being his owne; and if either his age, or the remorſe of his old offence ſhould hauehave ſet him off, yet ſhee knew his oath was ſure; My Lord thou ſwareſt by the Lord thy God vntounto thine handmaid, ſaying, Aſſuredly Salomon thy ſonne ſhall raigne after me, and he ſhall ſit vponupon my throne; His word had beene firme, but his oath was inuiolable; wee are ingaged if wee hauehave promiſed, but if wee hauehave ſworne, we are bound.

Neither heauen nor earth hath any gieues for that man that can ſhake off the fe… ters of an oath; for he cares not for that God whom he dares inuoke to a falſhood; and he that cares not for God, will not care for man.

Ere Bathſheba can bee ouer the threſhold, Nathan (vponupon compact) is knocking at the doore. Gods Prophet was neuer but welcome to the bed-chamber of King Dauid; In a ſeeming ſtrangeneſſe hee fals vponupon the ſame ſuit, vponupon the ſame complaint with Bathſheba: Honeſt policies doe not miſ-become the holieſt Prophets; Shee might ſeeme to ſpeake as a woman, as a mother, out of paſſion; the word of a Prophet could not bee miſdoubted; Hee therefore that had formerly brought to Dauid that chiding and bloody meſſage concerning Bathſheba, comes now to Dauid, to ſue for the life and honour of Bathſheba, and he that was ſent from God (to Dauid) to bring the newes of a gracious promiſe of fauour vntounto Salomon, comes now to challenge the execution of it from the hands of a father, and hee whoſe place freed him from ſuſpition of a faction, complaines of the inſolent demeanure and proclamation of Adonijah; what he began with an humble obeyſance, ſhutting vp in a lowly and louing expoſtulation, Is this thing done by my Lord the King, and thou haſt not ſhewed thy ſeruant who ſhould ſit on the Throne of my Lord the King after him? As Nathan was of Gods Counſell vntounto Dauid, ſo was he of Dauids Counſell both to God, and the State; As God therefore vponupon all occaſions told Nathan what he meant to doe with Dauid, ſo had Dauid wont to tell Nathan what he meant to doe in his holy and moſt important ciuill affaires. There are caſes wherein it is not vnfit for Gods Prophets to meddle with matters of State; It is no diſparagement to religious Princes to impart their counſels vntounto them, who can requite them with the counſels of God.

That wood which a ſingle yron could not riue, is ſoone ſplitted with a double wedge; The ſeaſonable importunity of Bathſheba and Nathan, thus ſeconding each other, hath ſo wrought vponupon Dauid, that now his louelove to Adonijah giues place to indignation, nature to an holy fidelity; and now he renewes his ancient oath to Bathſheba with a paſſionate ſolemnity; As the Lord liueth, who hath redeemed my ſoule out of all aduerſity, euen as I ſware vntounto thee by the Lord God of Iſrael, ſaying, Aſſuredly Salomon thy ſonne ſhall reigne after me, and he ſhall ſit vponupon my throne in my ſtead; ſo will I certainly doe this day; In the decay of Dauids body I find not his intellectiue powers any whit impaired: As one therefore that from his bed could with a perfect (if weake) hand ſtere the gouernment of Iſrael; hee giues wiſe and full directions for the inauguration of Salomon; Zadok the Prieſt, and Nathan the Prophet, and Benaiah the Captaine receiue his graue and Princely charge for the cariage of that ſo weightie a buſineſſe. They are commanded to take with them the royall guard, to ſet Salomon vponupon his fathers Mule, to care him downe in ſtate to Gihon, to anoint him with the holy oyle of the Tabernacle, to ſound the trumpets and proclaime him in the ſtreets, to bring him backe with triumph and magnificence to the Court, and to ſet him in the royall Throne with all the due ceremonies of Coronation.

How pleaſing was this command to them who in Salomons glory ſaw their owne ſafety? Benaiah applauds it, and not fearing a fathers enuie, in Dauids preſence wiſheth Salomons throne exalted aboue his; The people are rauiſhed with the ioy of ſo hopefull a ſucceſſion; and breake the earth, and fill the heauen with the noiſe of their Muſicke and ſhoutings.

p. 1258Salomons gueſts had now at laſt better cheare then Adonijahs, whoſe feaſt (as all wicked-mens) ended in horror; no ſooner are their bellies full of meat, then their eares are full of the ſound of thoſe trumpets, which at once proclaime Salomons triumph, and their confuſion; Euer after the meale is ended comes the reckoning; God could as eaſily hauehave preuented this iollity, as marred it; But hee willingly ſuffers vaine men to pleaſe themſelues for the time in the conceited ſucceſſe of their own proiects, that afterwards their diſappointment may be ſo much the more grieuous; No doubt, at this feaſt there was many an health drunken to Adonijah, many a confident boaſt of their proſpering deſigne, many a ſcorne of the deſpiſed faction of Salomon; & now for their laſt diſh is ſerued vp aſtoniſhment, and fearfull expectation of a iuſt reuenge. Ionathan the ſonne of Abiathar the Prieſt, brings the newes of Salomons ſolemne and ioyfull enthronization; now all hearts are cold, all faces pale; and eueryevery man hath but life enough to runne away; How ſuddenly is this brauing troupe diſperſed? Adonijah their new Prince flies to the hornes of the Altar, as diſtruſting all hopes of life, ſaue the Sanctity of the place, and the mercy of his riuall.

So doth the wiſe and iuſt God befoole proud and inſolent ſinners in thoſe ſecret plots, wherein they hope to vndermine the true ſonne of Dauid, the Prince of Peace; he ſuffers them to lay their heads together, and to feaſt themſelues in a iocund ſecuritie, and promiſe of ſucceſſe; at laſt, when they are at the height of their ioyes, and hopes, he confounds all their deuices, and layes them open to the ſcorne of the world, and to the anguiſh of their owne guilty hearts.

DAVIDS end, and SALOMONS beginning.

IT well became Salomon to begin his Raigne in peace. Adonijah receiues pardon vponupon his good behauiour, and findes the Throne of Salomon, as ſafe as the Altar. Dauid liues to ſee a wiſe ſonne warme in his ſeat; and now hee that had yeelded to ſucceſſion, yeelds to nature. Many good counſels had Dauid giuen his Heire; now hee ſummes them vp in his end. Dying words are wont to bee weightieſt; The Soule when it is entring into glory breathes nothing but diuine. I goe the way of all the earth; How well is that Princely heart content to ſubſcribe to the conditions of humane mortality; as one that knew Soueraigntie doth not reach to the affaires of nature? Though a King, he neither expects, nor deſires an immunity from diſſolution; making not account to goe in any other then the common track, to the vniuerſall home of mankind, the houſe of age; Whither ſhould earth but to earth? and why ſhould we grugde to doe that, which all doe? Be thou ſtrong therefore, and ſhew thy ſelfe a man; Euen when his ſpirit was going out, he puts ſpirit into his Sonne; Age puts life into youth, and the dying animates the vigorous. He had well found that ſtrength was requiſit to gouernment, that he had need to be no leſſe then a man that ſhould rule ouer men; If greatneſſe ſhould neuer receiue any oppoſition, yet thoſe worlds powers. A weake man may obey, none but the ſtrong can gouerne. Graceleſſe courage were but the whetſtone of tyranny; Take heed therefore to the charge of the Lord thy God, to walke in his wayes, and to keepe his Statutes. The beſt legacy that Dauid bequeathes to his heire, is the care of piety; himſelfe had found the ſweetneſſe of a good conſcience, and now he commends it to his ſucceſſor. If there be any thing that in our deſires of the proſperous condition of our children, takes place of goodneſſe, our hearts are not vpright. Here was the father a King, charging the King his ſonne to keepe the Statutes p. 1259of the King of Kings; as one that knew greatneſſe could neither exempt from obedience, nor priuiledge ſinne; as one that knew the leaſt deuiation in the greateſt and higheſt Orbe, is both moſt ſenſible, and moſt dangerous: Neither would he hauehave his ſonne to looke for any proſperity, ſaue onelyonly from well-doing; That happineſſe is built vponupon ſands or Ice, which is raiſed vponupon any foundation beſides vertue. If Salomon were wiſe, Dauid was good; and if old Salomon had well remembred the counſell of old Dauid, he had not ſo foulely miſ-caried.

After the precepts of pietie, follow thoſe of iuſtice; diſtributing in a due recompence, as reuenge to Ioab and Shimei, ſo fauour to the houſe of Barzillai. The bloodineſſe of Ioab had lien long vponupon Dauids heart▪ the hideous noyſe of thoſe treacherous murders, as it had pierced heauen, ſo it ſtill filled the eares of Dauid; He could abhorre that villanie, though he could not reuenge it; What he cannnot pay, hee will owe, and approue himſelfe at laſt a faithfull debtor: Now hee will defray it by the hand of Salomon. The ſlaughter was of Abner, and Amaſa, Dauid appropriates it; Thou knoweſt what Ioab did to me: The Soueraigne is ſmitten in the Subiect; Neither is it other then iuſt, that the arraignment of meane malefactors runnes in the ſtile of wrong to the Kings Crowne and dignity: How much more … thou, O Sonne of Dauid, take to thy ſelfe thoſe inſolencies which are done to thy pooreſt ſubiects, ſeruants, ſonnes, members here vponupon earth? No Saul can touch a Chriſtian here below, but thou feeleſt it in heauen, and complaineſt.

But, what ſhall we thinke of this? Dauid was a man of Warre, Salomon a King of Peace; yet Dauid referres this reuenge to Salomon: How iuſt it was that he who ſhed the blood of warre in peace, and put the blood of war vponupon his girdle that was about his loynes, ſhould hauehave his blood ſhed in peace, by a Prince of peace; Peace is fitteſt to rectifie the out-rages of Warre; Or whether is not this done in type of that diuine adminiſtration, wherein thou, O father of heauen, haſt committed all iudgement vntounto thine eternall Sonne? Thou who couldſt immediately either plague, or abſolue ſinners, wilt doe neither but by the hand of a Mediator.

Salomon learned betimes what his ripeneſſe taught afterwards, Take away the wicked from the King, and his Throne ſhall be eſtabliſhed in righteouſneſſe; Cruell Ioab, and malicious Shimei, muſt be therfore vponupon the firſt opportunity remoued, The one lay open to preſent iuſtice, for abetting the conſpiracy of Adonijah; neither needes the helpe of time for a new aduantage; The other went vnderunder the protection of an oath from Dauid, and therefore muſt be fetcht in vponupon a new challenge. The hoare head of both muſt bee brought to the graue with blood, elſe Dauids head could not bee brought to his graue in peace; Due puniſhment of malefactors is the debt of authority; If that holy King hauehave runne into arerages; yet as one that hates and feares to breake the banke, he giues order to his pay-maſter; It ſhall bee defraid, if not by him, yet for him.

Generous natures cannot be vnthankfull: Barzillai had ſhewed Dauid ſome kindneſſe in his extremity; and now the good man will hauehave poſterity to inherite the thankes. How much more bountifull is the Father of mercies; in the remuneration of our poore vnworthy ſeruices? Euen ſucceſſions of generations ſhall fare the better for one good parent.

The dying words and thoughts of the man after Gods owne heart did not confine themſelues to the ſtraites of theſe particular charges, but inlarged themſelues to the care of Gods publike ſeruice; As good men are beſt at laſt, Dauid did neuer ſo buſily, and carefully marſhall the affaires of God, as when he was fixed to the bed of his age and death. Then did he lode his ſonne Salomon with the charge of building the houſe of God; then did hee lay before the eyes of his ſonne the modell and patterne of that whole ſacred worke, whereof if Salomon beare the name, yet Dauid no leſſe merits it: He now giues the platforme of the Courts, and buildings; Hee giues the gold and ſiluer for that holy vſe; an hundred thouſand talents of gold, a thouſand thouſand talents of ſiluer; beſides braſſe and yron paſſing weight; Hee weighes out p. 1260duplicate page p. 1261duplicate page p. 1260thoſe precious metalls for their ſeuerall deſignements; EueryEvery future veſſell is laid out already in his poiſe, if not in his forme; Hee excites the Princes of Iſrael to their aſſiſtance, in ſo high a worke; He takes notice of their bountifull offerings; He numbers vp the Leuites for the publique ſeruice, and ſets them their taskes. Hee appoints the Singers, and other Muſitians to their ſtations; the Porters to the Gates that ſhould be; And now when he hath ſet all things in a deſired order, and forwardneſſe, he ſhuts vp with a zealous bleſſings of his Salomon, and his people, and ſleepes with his fathers. Oh bleſſed ſoule, how quiet a poſſeſſion haſt thou now taken (after ſo many tumults) of a better Crowne! Thou that haſt prepared all things for the houſe of thy God, how happily art thou now welcomed to that houſe of his, not made with hands, eternall in the heauens! Who now ſhall enuie vntounto good Princes the honour of ouerſeeing the buſineſſes of God, and his Church; when Dauid was thus punctuall in theſe diuine prouiſions? What feare can bee of vſurpation where they hauehave ſo glorious a precedent?

Now is Salomon the ſecond time crowned King of Iſrael, and now in his owne right (as formerly in his fathers) ſits peaceably vponupon the Throne of the Lord; His awe and power com… on faſter then his yeeres; Enuie and ambition where it is once kindled, may ſooner be hid in the aſhes, then quite put out; Adonijah yet hangs after his old hopes; He remembers how ſweet he found the name of a King; and now hath laid a new plot for the ſetting vp of his crackt title; He would make the bed a ſtep to the throne; His old complices are ſure enough; His part would gather much ſtrength, if he might inioy Abiſhag the relict of his father, to wife; If it were not the Iewiſh faſhion (as is pretended) that a Kings widow ſhould mary none but a King; yet certainly the power both of the alliance, and friendſhip of a Queene muſt needes not a little aduance his purpoſe; The crafty riuall dare not either moue the ſuit to Salomon, or effect the mariage without him; but would cunningly vndermine the ſonne by the ſuit of that mother, whoſe ſuit had vndermined him. The weaker veſſells are commonly vſed in the moſt dangerous ſuggeſtions of euill.

Bathſheba was ſo wiſe a woman that ſome of her counſels are canonized for diuine, yet ſhe ſaw not the depth of this drift of Adonijah; therefore ſhe both entertaines the ſuit, and moues it: But what euer were the intent of the ſuitor, could ſhe chooſe but ſee the vnlawfulneſſe of ſo inceſtuous a match? It is not long ſince ſhee ſaw her late husband Dauid abominating the bed of thoſe his Concubines, that had been touched by his ſonne Abſalom; and can ſhe hold it lawfull that his ſonne Adonijah ſhould climb vp to the bed of his fathers wife? Sometimes euen the beſt eyes are dimme and diſcerne not thoſe things which are obuious to weaker ſights: Or whether did not Bathſheba well ſee the fouleneſſe of the ſuit, and yet in compaſſion of Adonijahs late repulſe (wherein ſhe was the chiefe agent) and in a deſire to make him amends for the loſſe of the Kingdome, ſhe yeelds euen thus to gratifie him. It is an iniurious weakeneſſe to bee drawne vponupon any by-reſpects to the furtherance of faulty ſuits, of vnlawfull actions.

No ſooner doth Bathſheba come in place, then Salomon her ſonne riſes from his chaire of State and meets her and bowes to her, and ſets her on his right hand; as not ſo remembring himſelfe to be a King, that he ſhould forget he was a ſonne. No outward dignity can take away the rights and obligations of nature; Had Bathſheba beene as meane as Salomon was mighty, ſhe had caried away this honor from a gracious ſonne: Yet for all theſe due complements Bathſheba goes away with a deniall; Reuerence ſhe ſhall hauehave, ſhe ſhall not hauehave a condeſcent.

In the acts of Magiſtracie, all regards of naturall relations muſt giuegive way; That which ſhe propounded as a ſmall requeſt, is now, after a generall and confuſed ingagement reiected as vnreaſonable. It were pity wee ſhould bee heard in all our ſuits. Bathſheba makes a petition againſt herſelfe, and knowes it not; her ſafetie and life depends vponupon Salomons raign, yet ſhe vnwittingly moues for the aduancement of Adonijah.

p. 1261Salomon was to dutifull too checke his mother, and too wiſe to yeeld to her: In vnfit ſupplications wee are moſt heard when we are repelled. Thus doth our God many times anſwer our prayers with mercifull denialls: and moſt bleſſeth vsus in croſſing our deſires.

Wiſe Salomon doth not find himſelfe perplexed with the ſcruple of his promiſe; he that had ſaid Aske on, for I will not ſay thee nay, can now ſweare, God doe ſo to mee, and more alſo, if Adonijah hauehave not ſpoken this word againſt his owne life: His promiſe was according to his ſuppoſition; his ſuppoſition was of no other then of a ſuit, honeſt, reaſonable, expedient; now he holds himſelfe free from that grant, wherein there was at once both ſin and danger, No man can be intangled with generall words againſt his owne iuſt and honeſt intentions.

The policies of wicked men befoole them at laſt; this interceſſion hath vndone Adonijah, and in ſtead of the Throne haſtens his graue: The ſword of Benaiah puts an end to that dangerous riuality. Ioab and Abiathar ſtill held Champerty with Adonijah, Their hand was both in his claime of the Kingdome, and in the ſuit of Abiſhag; There are crimes wherein there are no acceſſories, ſuch is th… of treaſon. Abiathar may thanke his burden that he liues; Had he not borne the Arke of the Lord before Dauid, he had not now caried his head vponupon his ſhoulders; Had he not been afflicted with Dauid, he had periſhed with Adonijah; now though he were, in his owne merit, a man of death, yet he ſhall ſuruiue his partners, Get thee to Anathoth vntounto thine owne fields. The Prieſthood of Abiathar, as it aggrauated his crime, ſo it ſhall preſerue his life: Such honor hauehave good Princes giuen to the Miniſters of the Sanctuarie, that their very coate hath beene defence enough againſt the ſword of iuſtice, how much more ſhould it be of proofe againſt the contempt of baſe perſons?

Beſides his function, reſpect is had to his ſufferings, The father and brethren of Abiathar were ſlaine for Dauids ſake, therefore for Dauids ſake Abiathar (though worthy of death) ſhall liue; He had been now a dead man, if he had not beene formerly afflicted; Thus doth our good God deale with vsus; by the rod he preuents the ſword, and therefore will not condemne vsus for our ſins, becauſe we hauehave ſuffered. If Abiathar doe not forfait his life, yet his office he ſhall, he muſt change Ieruſalem for Anathoth, and the Prieſthood for a retired priuacie. It was foureſcore yeeres agoe ſince the ſentence of iudgement was denounced againſt the houſe of Eli; now doth it come to execution; This iuſt quarrell againſt Abiathar (the laſt of that line) ſhall make good the threatned iudgement: The wickedneſſe of Elies houſe was neither purged by ſacrifice, nor obliterated by time: If God pay ſlowly, yet he payes ſure: Delay of moſt certaine puniſhment is neither any hindrance to his iuſtice, nor any comfort to our miſeries.

The Execution of IOAB, and SHIMEI.

ABiathar ſhall liue though he ſerue not; It is in the power of Princes to remit (at leaſt) thoſe puniſhments which attend the breach of humane Lawes; good reaſon they ſhould hauehave power to diſpence with the wrongs done to their owne perſons. The newes of Adonijahs death, and Abiathars remouall cannot but affright Ioab; who now runnes to Gibeon, and takes ſanctuary in the Tabernacle of God; all his hope of defence is in the hornes of the Altar. Fond Ioab, hadſt thou formerly ſought for counſell from the Tabernacle, thou hadſt not now needed to ſeeke to it for refuge; if thy deuotions had not beene wanting to that Altar, thou hadſt not needed it for a ſhelter: It is the faſhion of our fooliſh preſumption to looke for protection, where wee hauehave not cared to yeeld obedience.

Euen a Ioab clings faſt to Gods Altar in his extremity, which in his ruffe and welfare p. 1262he regarded not; The worſt men would be glad to make vſe of Gods ordinances, for their aduantage; Neceſſity will driue the moſt profane and lawleſſe man to God; But what doe theſe bloody hands touching the holy Altar of God? Miſerable Ioab, what helpe canſt thou expect from that ſacred pile: Thoſe hornes that were beſprinkled with the blood of beaſts, abhorre to be touched by the blood of men, that Altar was for the expiation of ſin by blood; not for the protection of the ſin of blood. If Adonijah fled thither and eſcaped, it is murder that purſues thee more then conſpiracie; God hath no ſanctuary for a wilfull Homicide.

Yet ſuch reſpect doth Benaiah giuegive to that holy place, that his ſword is vnwilling to touch him that touches the Altar: Thoſe hornes ſhall put off death for the time; and giuegive protraction of the execution though not preſeruation of life; How ſweet is life euen to thoſe who hauehave been prodigall of the blood of others? that Ioab ſhifts thus to hold it but ſome few houres? Benaiah returnes with Ioabs anſwer, in ſtead of his head; Nay, but I will dy here; as not daring to vnſheath his ſword againſt a man ſheltered in Gods tabernacle, without a new commiſſion. Yong Salomon is ſo wel acquainted with the Law of God, in ſuch a caſe, that he ſticks not at the ſentence: he knew that God had enacted, If a man come preſumptuouſly vponupon his neighbour, to ſlay him with guile, thou ſhalt take him from mine Altar, that he may die: He knew Ioabs murders had not been more preſumptuous, then guilefull, and therefore he ſends Benaiah to take away the offender, both from God, and men, from the Altar, and the world.

No ſubiect had merited more then Ioab; When proclamation was made in Iſrael, that who euer ſhould ſmite the Iebuſites firſt, he ſhould be the Chiefe and Captaine; Ioab was the man; When Dauid built ſome part of Ieruſalem, Ioab built the reſt; ſo as Ieruſalem owes it ſelfe to Ioab, both for recouery, and reparation; No man held ſo cloſe to Dauid; no man was more intent to the weale of Iſrael, none ſo ſucceſſefull in victories; yet now is he cald to reckon for his old ſinnes, and muſt repay blood to Amaſa, and Abner: It is not in the power of all our deſerts to buy off one ſinne, either with God or man: where life is ſo deeply forfaited, it admits of no redemption.

The honeſt ſimplicity of thoſe times knew not of any infamy in the execution of iuſtice. Benaiah, who was the great Marſhall vnderunder Salomon, thinkes not his fingers defiled with that fatall ſtroke. It is a fooliſh niceneſſe to put more ſhame in the doing of iuſtice, then in the violating of it.

In one act Salomon hath approued himſelfe both a good Magiſtrate, and a good ſonne, fulfilling at once the will of a father and the charge of God; concluding vponupon this iuſt execution, that, vponupon Dauid, and vponupon his ſeed, and vponupon his houſe, and vponupon his Throne, there ſhall bee peace for euer from the Lord; and inferring, that without this there could hauehave beene no peace.

Blood is a reſtleſſe ſuitor, and will not leaue clamoring for iudgement, till the mouth bee ſtopped with reuenge. In this caſe fauour to the offender is cruelty to the fauourer.

Now hath Ioab paid all his arerages by the ſword of Benaiah; there is no ſuit againſt his corps; that hath the honor of a buriall fit for a Peere of Iſrael, for the neere cozen to the King. Death puts an end to all quarrells; Salomon ſtrikes off the skore, when God is ſatisfied; The reuenge that ſuruiues death and will not be ſhut vp in the Coffin, is barbarous and vnbeſeeming true Iſraelites.

OnelyOnly Shimei remaines vponupon the file; his courſe is next, yet ſo, as that it ſhall be in his owne liberty to haſten his end; VponUpon Dauids remiſſion, Shimei dwels ſecurely in Bahurim, a town of the Tribe of Beniamin; Doubtleſſe, when he ſaw ſo round iuſtice done vponupon Adonijah, and Ioab, his guilty heart could not think Salomons meſſage portended ought but his execution; and now he cannot but be well pleaſed with ſo eaſie conditions, of dwelling at Ieruſalem, and not paſſing ouer the brooke Kidron; What more delightful place could he chooſe to liue in, thē that city, which was the glory of the whole earth? What more pleaſing bounds could he wiſh then the ſweet bankes of Kidron? Ieruſalem could be no priſon to him, whiles it was a Paradiſe to his betters; p. 1263and if he had a deſire to take freſh aire, hee had the ſpace of ſixe furlongs to walke from the city to the brooke; Hee could not complaine to bee ſo delectably confined; And beſides, thrice eueryevery yeere he might be ſure to ſee all his friends without ſtirring his foot.

Wiſe Salomon whiles hee cared to ſeeme not too ſeuere an exactor of that, which his father had remitted; prudently laies inſenſible twigs for ſo foule an offender; Beſides the old grudge, no doubt Salomon ſaw cauſe to ſuſpect the fidelity of Shimei; as a man who was euer knowne to be hollow to the houſe of Dauid; The obſcurity of a Country life would eaſily afford him more ſafe opportunities of ſecret miſchiefe; Many eies ſhall watch him in the citie; he cannot looke out vnſeene, hee cannot whiſper vnheard: VponUpon no other termes ſhall hee inioy his life, which the leaſt ſtraying ſhall forfait.

Shimei feeles no paine in this reſtraint; How many Nobles of Iſrael doe that for pleaſure, which he doth vponupon command? Three yeers hath he liued within compaſſe; limited both by Salomons charge and his owne oath; It was ſtill in his power (notwithſtanding Dauids Caueat) to hauehave laid downe his hoare-head in the graue, without blood; The iuſt God infatuates thoſe whom he means to plague; Two of Shimeies ſeruants are fled to Gath; and now hee ſaddles his Aſſe and is gone to fetch them backe, Either (he thinkes) this word of Salomon is forgotten, or in the multitude of greater affaires, not heeded; or this ſo ſmall an occurrence will not come to his eare: Couetouſneſſe and preſumption of impunity are the deſtruction of many a ſoule; Shimei ſeekes his ſeruants, and loſes himſelfe; How many are there who cry out of this folly, and yet imitate it; Theſe earthly things either are our ſeruants, or ſhould be, how commonly doe we ſee men run out of the bounds, ſet by Gods law, to hunt after them, till their ſoules incurre a fearefull iudgment?

Princes hauehave thouſands of eies & eares; If Shimei wil for more ſecreſie ſaddle his own Aſſe, and take (as is like) the benefit of night, for his paſſage; his iourney cannot be hid from Salomon; How warie had thoſe men need to be which are obnoxious? Without delay is Shimei complained of, conuented, charged with violation both of the oath of God, and the iniunction of Salomon; and that all theſe might appeare to be but an occaſion of that puniſhment, whoſe cauſe was more remote, now is all that old venome laid before him, which his malice had long ſince ſpit at Gods anointed: Thou knoweſt all the wickedneſſe, whereto thine heart is priuie, that thou didſt to Dauid my father.

Had this old tallie beene ſtriken off; yet could not Shimei hauehave pleaded ought for his life; For, had he ſaid; Let not my Lord the King be thus mortally diſpleaſed for ſo ſmal an offence: Who euer died for paſſing ouer Kidron? What man is the worſe for my harmeleſſe iourney? It had ſoone been returned, If the act be ſmall, yet the circumſtances are deadly; The commands of Soueraigne authority make the ſleighteſt duties weighty; If the iourney be harmeleſſe, yet not the diſobedience; It is not for ſubiects to poyſe the Princes charge in the ſcales of their weake conſtructions; but they muſt ſuppoſe it euer to be of ſuch importance, as is pretended by the Commander. Beſides the precept, here was a mutuall adiuration; Shimei ſwore not to goe; Salomon ſwore his death if he went; the one oath muſt be reuenged, the other muſt be kept: If Shimei were falſe in offending, Salomon will be iuſt in puniſhing. Now therefore, that which Abiſhai the ſonne of Zeruiah wiſhed to hauehave done in the greeneneſſe of the wound, and was repelled; after long feſtering Benaiah is commanded to doe: The ſtones that Shimei threw at Dauid, ſtrucke not ſo deepe, as Benaiahs ſword; The tongue that curſed the Lords anointed hath paid the head to boot. Vengeance againſt rebels may ſleepe, it cannot die; A ſure, if late, iudgement attends thoſe that dare lift vp either their hand, or tongue againſt the ſacred perſons of Gods Vice-gerents. How much leſſe will the God of heauen ſuffer vnreuenged the inſolencies, and blaſphemies againſt his owne diuine Maieſtie? It is a fearefull word, he ſhould not be iuſt, if he ſhould hold theſe guiltleſſe.

p. 1264SALOMONS Choyce, with his iudgement vponupon the two Harlots.

AFter ſo many meſſages and proofes of grace, Salomon begins doubtfully, both for his match, and for his deuotion: If Pharaohs daughter were not a Proſelyte, his earely choyce was (beſides vnwarrantable) dangerous: The high places not onelyonly ſtood, but were frequented, both by the people, and King; I doe not finde Dauid climbing vp thoſe miſ-hallowed hills, in an affectation of the variety of Altars; Salomon doth ſo, and yet loues the Lord, and is loued of God againe: Such is the mercy of our God, that he will not ſuffer our well-meant weakneſſes to bereaue vsus of his fauours: he rathers pities, then plagues vsus for the infirmities of vpright hearts.

Gibeon was well worthy to be the chiefe, yea the onelyonly high place; There was the allowed Altar of God, there was the Tabernacle, though (as then) ſeuered from the Arke; thither did yong Salomon go vp; and, as deſiring to begin his raigne with God, there he offers no leſſe then a thouſand ſacrifices.

Salomon worſhips God by day; God appeares to Salomon by night; Well may we looke to enioy God, when wee hauehave ſerued him; The night cannot but bee happy whoſe day hath beene holy.

It was no vnuſuall courſe with God to reueale himſelfe vntounto his ſeruants by dreams; So did he here to Salomon; who ſaw more with his eies ſhut, then euer they could ſee open, euen him that was inuiſible: The good King had offered vntounto God a thouſand burnt ſacrifices, and now God offereth him his option, Aske what I ſhall giuegive thee: He whoſe the beaſts are on a thouſand mountaines: graciouſly accepts a ſmall returne of his owne. It ſtands not with the munificence of a bountifull God to bee indebted to his creature, we cannot giuegive him ought vnrecompenſed; There is no way wherein we can be ſo liberall to our ſelues, as by giuing to the poſſeſſor of all things. And art thou ſtill, O God, leſſe free vntounto vsus thy meaner ſeruants vnderunder the Goſpell? Haſt thou not ſaid, Whatſoeuer ye ſhall aske the Father in my Name, it ſhall be giuen you? OnelyOnly giuegive vsus grace not to be wanting vntounto thee, and we know thou canſt not ſuffer any thing to be wanting vntounto vsus.

The night followes the temper of the day; and the heart ſo vſeth to ſleepe, as it wakes: Had not the thoughts of Salomon beene intent vponupon wiſdome by day, he had not made it his ſuit in his dreame: There needs no leiſure of deliberation; The heart was ſo fore-ſtalled with the louelove, and admiration of wiſdome, that not abiding the leaſt motion of a competition, it faſtens on that grace it had longed for; GiueGive vntounto thy ſeruant an vnderſtanding heart, to iudge thy people. Had not Salomon beene wiſe before, he had not knowne the worth of wiſdome, he had not preferred it in his deſires; The dung-hill cockes of the World cannot know the price of this pearle; thoſe that hauehave it, know that all other excellencies are but traſh, and rubbiſh vntounto it. Salomon was a great King, and ſaw that he had power enough, but withall, hee found that royaltie, without wiſdome, was no other then eminent diſhonour; There is no trade of life whereto there belongs not a peculiar wiſdome; without which there is nothing but a tedious vnprofitableneſſe; much more to the hieſt, and buſieſt vocation, the regiment of men; As God hath no reaſon to giuegive his beſt fauours vnasked; ſo hath hee no will to with-hold them where they are asked.

He that in his cradle had the title of Beloued of God, is now beloued more in the thron for the louelove & deſire of wiſdom; this ſoil could neuer hauehave born this fruit alone; Salomon p. 1265could not ſo much as hauehave dreamed of wiſdome, if God had not put it into him; and now God takes the ſuit ſo well, as if he were beholden to his creature for wiſhing the beſt to it ſelfe: and becauſe Salomon hath asked what he ſhould, hee ſhall now receiue both what he asked, and what hee asked not: Riches and honour ſhall bee giuen him in to the match. So doth God louelove a good choyce, and hee recompences it with ouer-giuing: Could we but firſt ſeeke the Kingdome of God, and his righteouſneſſe, all theſe earthly things ſhould be ſuper-added to vsus; Had Salomon made wealth his boone, he had failed both of riches and wiſdome; now he askes the beſt, and ſpeeds of all; They are in a faire way of happineſſe that can pray well; It was no diſ-comfort to Salomon, that he awaked and found it a dreame; for hee knew this dreame was diuine, and oracular; and he already found in his firſt waking, the reall performance of what was promiſed him ſleeping: Such illumination did he ſenſibly find in all the roomes of his heart, as if God had now giuen him a new ſoule: No maruell if Salomon now returning from the Tabernacle to the Arke, teſtified his ioy & thankfulneſſe by burnt-offerings, and peace offerings, and publique feaſtings; The heart that hath found in it ſelfe the liuely teſtimonies of Gods preſence, and fauour, cannot containe it ſelfe from outward expreſſions.

God likes not to hauehave his gifts lie dead where hee hath confer'd them; Iſrael ſhall ſoone witneſſe that they hauehave a King inlightened from heauen; in whom wiſdome did not ſtay for heires; did not admit of any parallel in his predeceſſors; The all-wiſe God will find occaſions to draw forth thoſe graces to vſe, and light, which he hath beſtowed on man. Two Harlots come before yong Salomon with a difficult plea; It is not like the Princes eare was the firſt that heard this complaint; there was a ſubordinate courſe of iuſtice for the determination of theſe meaner incidences: the hardneſſe of this deciſion brought the matter, through all the benches of inferior iudicature, to the Tribunall of Salomon; The very Iſraelitiſh Harlots were not ſo vnnatural as ſome now adaies that counterfait honeſty; Theſe ſtriue for the fruit of their wombe, ours to put thē off; One ſon is yet aliue, two mothers contēd for him. The children were alike for features, for age; the mothers were alike for reputation, here can be no euidence from others eyes; Whethers now is the liuing Child, and whethers is the dead? Had Salomon gone about to wring forth the truth by tortures, hee had perhaps plagued the innocent, and added paine to the miſery of her loſſe; the weaker had been guilty, and the more able to beare, had caried away both the child, and the victory: The countenance of either of the mothers bewrayed an equality of paſſion; Sorrow poſſeſſed the one, for the ſonne ſhe had loſt; and the other, for the ſonne ſhee was in danger to leeſe: Both were equally peremptory, and importunate in their claime; It is in vaine to thinke that the true part can bee diſcerned by the vehemence of their challenge, Falſhood is oft-times more clamorous then truth; No witneſſes can be produced; They two dwelt apart vnderunder one roofe: and if ſome neighbours hauehave ſeene the children at their birth, and circumciſion; yet how little difference, how much change is there in the fauour of infants? how doth death alter more confirmed lines?

The impoſſibility of proofe makes the guilty more confident, more impudent; the true mother pleads that her child was taken away at midnight by the other; but in her ſleepe; ſhe ſaw it not, ſhe felt it not; and if all her ſenſes could hauehave witneſſed it, yet, here was but the affirmation of the one, againſt the deniall of the other, which in perſons alike credible doe but counterpoiſe. What is there now to lead the Iudge, ſince there is nothing either in the act, or circumſtances, or perſons, or plea, or euidence that might ſway the ſentence? Salomon well ſaw that when all outward proofes failed, there was an inward affection, which if it could be fetcht out, would certainely bewray the true mother; he knew ſorrow might more eaſily bee diſſembled then naturall louelove; both ſorrowed for their owne; both could not louelove, one, as theirs; To draw forth then this true proofe of motherhood, Salomon calls for a ſword; Doubtleſſe, ſome of the wiſer hearers ſmiled vponupon each other; and thought in themſelues, What, will the yong King cut theſe knottie cauſes in peeces? Will he diuide iuſtice p. 1266with edge tooles? will hee ſmite at hazard before conuiction? The actions of wiſe Princes are riddles to vulgar conſtructions; neither is it for the ſhallow capacities of the multitude to fadome the deepe proiects of Soueraigne authority▪ That ſword which had ſerued for execution, ſhall now ſerue for triall; Diuide ye the liuing child in twaine, and giuegive the one halfe to the one, and the other halfe to the other; Oh diuine oracle of iuſtice, commanding that which it would not hauehave done, that it might find out that which could not be diſcouered; Neither God, nor his Deputies may bee ſo taken at their words, as if they alwaies intended their commands for action, and not ſometimes for probation.

This ſword hath already pierced the breſt of the true mother; and diuided her heart with feare, and griefe, at ſo killing a ſentence; There needs no other racke to diſcouer nature; and now ſhe thinks, woe is me that came for iuſtice, and am anſwered with cruelty; Diuide ye the liuing child? Alas, what hath that poore infant offended that it ſuruiues, and is ſued for? How much leſſe miſerable had I beene, that my childe had beene ſmothered in my ſleep, then mangled before mine eies? If a dead carkaſſe could hauehave ſatisfied me, I needed not to hauehave complanied; What a wofull condition am I falne into, who am accuſed to hauehave beene the death of my ſuppoſed childe already, and now ſhall be the death of my owne? If there were no loſſe of my childe, yet how can I endure this torment of mine owne bowels? How can I liue to ſee this part of my ſelfe ſprawling vnderunder that bloody ſword? And whiles ſhe thinks thus, ſhee ſues to that ſuſpected mercy of her iuſt Iudge, Oh my Lord, giuegive her the liuing child, and ſlay him not: as thinking, if he liue, he ſhall but change a mother; if he die, his mother loſeth a ſonne; Whiles he liues, it ſhall be my comfort that I hauehave a ſon, though I may not call him ſo; dying, he periſheth to both; it is better he ſhould liue to a wrong mother, then to neither: Contrarily, her enuious competitor, as holding her ſelfe well ſatisfied that her neighbor ſhould be as childleſſe, as her ſelfe, can ſay, Let it be neither mine, nor thine, but diuide it; Well might Salomon, and eueryevery hearer conclude, that either ſhee was no mother, or a monſter, that could be content with the murder of her childe, and that if ſhe could hauehave been the true mother, and yet hauehave deſired the blood of her infant, ſhee had been as worthy to bee ſtript of her childe for ſo foule vnnaturallneſſe, as the other had beene worthy to inioy him for her honeſt compaſſion. Not more iuſtly then wiſely therefore doth Salomon trace the true mother by the footſteps of louelove, and pity; and adiudgeth the child to thoſe bowels that had yearned at his danger.

Euen in morality it is thus alſo; Truth as it is one, ſo it loues intireneſſe; falſhood, diuiſion: Satan that hath no right to the heart, would be content with a peece of it; God that made it all, will hauehave either the whole, or none; The erroneous Church ſtriues with the true, for the liuing childe of ſauing doctrine; each claimes it for her owne: Hereſie conſcious of her owne iniuſtice, could be content to goe away with a leg, or an arme of ſound principles, as hoping to make vp the reſt with her owne mixtures: Truth cannot abide to part with a ioynt, and will rather endure to leeſe all by violence; then a peece through a willing conniuency.

The Temple.

IT is a weak and iniurious cenſure that taxeth Salomons ſlackneſſe in founding the houſe of God; Great bodies muſt hauehave but ſlow motions; He was wiſe that ſaid, the matters muſt be all prepared without, ere we build within; And if Dauid hauehave laid ready a great part of the metals and timber, yet many a tree muſt be felled and ſquared, and many a ſtone hewne p. 1267and poliſhed, ere this foundation could be laid; neither could thoſe large Cedars be cut, ſawne, ſeaſoned in one yeare; Foure yeares are ſoone gone in ſo vaſt a preparation: Dauid had not beene ſo intire a friend to Hiram, if Hiram had not beene a friend to God; Salomons wiſdome hath taught him to make vſe of ſo good a neighbour, of a fathers friend; he knowes that the Tyrians skill was not giuen them for nothing; Not Iewes onelyonly, but Gentiles muſt hauehave their hand in building the Temple of God; OnelyOnly Iewes medled with the Tabernacle, but the Temple is not built without the aide of Gentiles; They, together with vsus, make vp the Church of God.

Euen Pagans hauehave their Arts from heauen; how iuſtly may we improue their graces to the ſeruice of the God of Heauen; if there be a Tyrian that can worke more curiouſly in gold, in ſiluer, in braſſe, in iron, in purple, and blew ſilke, then an Iſraelite, why ſhould not hee be imployed about the Temple? Their heatheniſme is their own; their skill is their Makers: Many a one workes for the Church of God, that yet hath no part in it.

Salomon raiſes a tribute for the worke; not of money, but of men: Thirty thouſand Iſraelites are leauied for the ſeruice; yet not continuedly, but with intermiſſion, their labour is more generous, and leſſe preſſing: it is enough if they keep their courſes one monethmonth in Lebanon, two at home; ſo as euer ten thouſand worke, whiles twentie thouſand breathe. So fauourable is God to his creature, that he requires vsus not to be ouer-toyled in the workes of his owne ſeruice. Due reſpirations are requiſite in the holieſt acts. The maine ſtreſſe of the worke lyes vponupon Proſelytes; whoſe both number, and paines was herein more then the Natiues: An hundred and fifty thouſand of them are imployed in bearing burthens, in hewing ſtones; beſides their three thouſand, three hundred ouer-ſeers: Now were the deſpiſed Gibeonites of good vſe, and in vaine doth Iſrael wiſh that the zeale of Saul had not robbed them of ſo ſeruiceable drudges.

There is no man ſo meane but may bee ſome way vſefull to the Houſe of God; Thoſe that cannot worke in gold, and ſiluer, and ſilke, yet may cut and hew; and thoſe that can doe neither, yet may cary burdens: Euen the ſeruices that are more homely, are not leſſe neceſſarie: Who can diſ-hearten himſelfe in the conſcience of his owne inſufficiency, when he ſees God can as well ſerue himſelfe of his labour, as of his skill.

The Temple is framed in Lebanon, and ſet vp in Sion; Neither hammer nor axe was heard in that holy ſtructure; There was nothing but noiſe in Lebanon, nothing in Sion but ſilence and peace; What euer tumults are abroad, it is fit there ſhould bee all quietneſſe and ſweet concord in the Church; Oh God, that the axes of ſchiſme, or the hammers of furious contentions ſhould bee heard within thy Sanctuary! Thine houſe is not built with blowes, with blowes it is beaten downe: Oh knit the hearts of thy ſeruants together in the vnity of the ſpirit, and the bond of peace; that we may minde and ſpeak the ſame things, that thou who art the God of peace, maiſt take pleaſure to dwell vnderunder the quiet roofe of our hearts.

Now is the foundation laid, and the wals riſing of that glorious fabricke, which all Nations admired, and all times hauehave celebrated; Euen thoſe ſtones which were laid in the Baſe of the building were not ragged and rude, but hewne and coſtly the part that lyes couered with earth from the eyes of all beholders, is no leſſe precious, then thoſe that are moſt conſpicuous: God is not all for the eye, he pleaſeth himſelfe with the hidden value of the liuing ſtones of his ſpirituall Temple; How many noble graces of his ſeruants hauehave been buried in obſcuritie; not diſcerned ſo much as by their owne eyes? which yet as hee gaue, ſo hee crowneth: Hypocrites regard nothing but ſhew; God nothing but truth.

The matter of ſo goodly a frame ſtriues with the proportion, whether ſhall more excell: Here was nothing but white Marble without; nothing but Cedar and Gold within: VponUpon the Hill of Sion ſtands that glittering and ſnowy pile, which both inuiteth and dazeleth the eyes of paſſengers a farre off; ſo much more precious within, p. 1268as Cedar is better then ſtone, gold then Cedar; No baſe thing goes to the making vp of Gods Houſe: If Satan may hauehave a dwelling, he cares not though he patch it vp of the rubbiſh of ſtone, or rotten ſticks, or droſſe of metals: God will admit of nothing that is not pure and exquiſite; His Church conſiſts of none but the faithfull, his habitation is in no heart but the gracious.

The faſhion was no other then that of the Tabernacle; onelyonly this was more coſtly, more large, more fixed; God was the ſame that dwelt in both, hee varied not; the ſame myſterie was in both; OnelyOnly it was fit there ſhould be a proportion betwixt the worke and the builder: The Tabernacle was erected in a popular eſtate, the Temple in a Monarchy; it was fit this ſhould ſauour of the munificence of a King, as that of the zeale of a multitude; That was erected in the flitting condition of Iſrael in the deſert: this, in their ſetled reſidence in the promiſed Land; it was fit therefore that ſhould bee framed for motion, this for reſt. Both of them were diſtinguiſhed into three remarkable diuiſions, whereof each was more noble, more reſerued then other.

But what doe we bend our eyes vponupon ſtone, and wood, and metals? God would neuer hauehave taken pleaſure in theſe dead materials for their owne ſakes, if they had not had a further intendment: Me thinkes I ſee foure Temples in this one. It is but one in matter, as the God that dwels in it is but one; three yet more in reſemblance: according to the diuiſion of them in whom it pleaſes God to inhabite; For where euer God dwels, there is his Temple; Oh God, thou vouchſafeſt to dwell in the beleeuing heart; as we thy ſilly creatures hauehave our being in thee, ſo thou the Creator of heauen & earth haſt thy dwelling in vsus. The heauen of heauens is not able to containe thee, and yet thou diſdaineſt not to dwell in the ſtrait lodgings of our renewed ſoule. So then, becauſe Gods children are many, and thoſe many diuided in reſpect of themſelues, though vnited in their head, therefore this Temple which is but one in collection as God is one, is manifold in the diſtribution, as the Saints are many; each man bearing about him a little ſhrine of this infinite Maieſtie: And for that the moſt generall diuiſion of the Saints is in their place and eſtate; ſome ſtrugling, and toyling in this earthly warfare, others triumphing in heauenly glory; therefore hath God two other, more vniuerſall Temples; One the Church of his Saints on earth; the other, the higheſt heauen of his Saints glorified. In all theſe, O God, thou dwelleſt for euer, and this materiall houſe of thine is a cleare repreſentation of theſe three ſpirituall; Elſe what were a temple made with hands vntounto the God of ſpirits? And though one of theſe was a true type of all, yet how are they all exceeded each by other? This of ſtone, though moſt rich and coſtly, yet what is it to the liuing Temple of the holy Ghoſt, which is our body? What is the Temple of this body of ours, to the Temple of Chriſts body which is his Church? And what is the Temple of Gods Church on earth, to that which triumpheth gloriouſly in heauen?

How eaſily doe wee ſee all theſe in this one viſible Temple: which as it had three diſtinctions of roomes; the Porch, the Holy-place, the Holy of Holies, ſo is each of them anſwered ſpiritually: In the Porch wee finde the regenerate ſoule entring into the bleſſed ſociety of the Church: In the holy place, the Communion of the true viſible Church on earth, ſelected from the world: In the Holy of Holies (whereinto the high Prieſt entred once a yeare) the glorious heauen, into which our true high-Prieſt, Chriſt Ieſus, entred once for all to make an atonement betwixt God, and man. In all theſe what a meer correſpondence there is both in proportion, matter, ſituation?

In proportion; The ſame rule that skilfull caruers obſerue in the cutting out of the perfect ſtatue of a man, that the height bee thrice the breadth, and the breadth one third of the height, was likewiſe onelyonly obſerued in the fabricke of the Temple: whoſe length was double to the height, and treble to the breadth, as being ſixty cubits long, thirty high, and twenty broad; How exquiſite a ſymmetry haſt thou ordained (O God) betwixt the faithfull heart, and thy Church on earth, with that in heauen: how p. 1269accurate in each of theſe, in all their powers and parts compared with other; So hath God ordered the beleeuing ſoule that it hath neither too much ſhortneſſe of grace, nor too much height of conceit, nor too much breadth of paſſion; So hath he ordered his viſible Church, that there is a neceſſarie inequalitie, without any diſproportion; an height of gouernment, a length of extent, a breadth of iuriſdiction duely anſwerable to each other; So hath he ordered his triumphant Church aboue, that it hath a length of eternitie, anſwered with an height of perfection, and a breadth of incomprehenſible glory.

In matter; All was here of the beſt; The wood was precious, ſweet, laſting; The ſtone beautifull, coſtly, inſenſible of age; The gold pure and glittering; So are the graces of Gods children, excellent in their nature, deare in their acceptation, eternall in their vſe: So are the ordinances of God in his Church, holy, comfortable, irrefragable. So is the perfection of his glorified Saints incomparable, vnconceiuable.

In ſituation; the outer parts were here more common, the inner more holy, and peculiarly reſerued: I finde one Court of the Temple open to the vncleane, to the vncircumciſed: Within that, another open onelyonly to the Iſraelites; and of them, to the cleane; within that, yet another, proper onelyonly to the Prieſts and Leuites; where was the Brazen Altar for ſacrifice, and the Brazen ſea for waſhings; The eyes of the Laitie might follow their oblations in hither, their feet might not.

Yet more, in the couered roomes of the Temple, there is, whither the Prieſts onelyonly may enter, not the Leuites; there is, whither the high Prieſt onelyonly may enter, not his brethren.

It is thus in eueryevery renewed man, the indiuiduall temple of God; the outward parts are allowed common to God and the world; the inwardeſt and ſecreteſt, which is the heart, is reſerued onelyonly for the God that made it. It is thus in the Church viſible, the falſe and foule-hearted hypocrite hath acceſſe to the holy ordinances of God, and treads in his Courts; onelyonly the true Chriſtian hath intire and priuate conuerſation with the holy One of Iſrael: He only is admitted into the Holy of Holies, and enters within the glorious vaile of heauen.

If from the wals we looke vntounto the furniture; What is the Altar whereon our ſacrifices of prayer and praiſes are offered to the Almightie but a contrite heart? What the golden Candleſtickes, but the illumined vnderſtanding, wherein the light of the knowledge of God, and his diuine will ſhineth for euer? What the Tables of Shewbread, but the ſanctified memory, which keepeth the bread of life continually? Yea, if we ſhall preſume ſo farre as to enter into the very cloſet of Gods Oracle; Euen there, O God, doe wee finde our vnworthy hearts ſo honoured by thee, that they are made thy very Arke, wherein thy Royall law, and the pot of thine heauenly Manna is kept for euer; and from whoſe propitiatorie, ſhaded with the wings of thy glorious Angels, thou giueſt thy gracious Teſtimonies of thy good ſpirit, witneſſing with ours, that we are the children of thee the liuing God.

Behold, if Salomon built a Temple vntounto thee, thou haſt built a Temple vntounto thy ſelfe in vsus; We are not onelyonly through thy grace liuing ſtones in thy Temple, but liuing Temples in thy Sion: Oh doe thou euer dwell in this thine houſe; and in this thy houſe let vsus euer ſerue thee: Wherefore elſe haſt thou a Temple, but for thy preſence with vsus, and for our worſhipping of thee? The time was, when, as thy people, ſo thy ſelfe, didſt lodge in flitting Tents, euer ſhifting, euer mouing; thence thou thoughteſt beſt to ſoiourne both in Shilo; and the roofe of Obed-Edom; After that, thou condeſcendedſt to ſettle thine abode with men, and wouldeſt dwell in an houſe of thine owne, at thy Ieruſalem. So didſt thou in the beginning lodge with our firſt Parents in a Tent; Soiourne with Iſrael vnderunder the law; and now makeſt a conſtant reſidence vnderunder the Goſpell, in the hearts of thy choſen children; from whence thou wilt remoue no more, they ſhall remoue from the world, from themſelues, thou ſhalt not remoue from them.

Whereſouer thou art, O God, thou art worthy of adoration; Since thou euer wilt p. 1270dwell in vsus, be thou euer worſhipped in vsus: Let the Altars of our cleane hearts ſend vp euer to thee the ſweetly perfumed ſmoakes of our holy meditations and faithfull prayers, and cheerefull thanks-giuings: Let the pure lights of our faith, and godly conuerſation ſhine euer before thee, and men, and neuer be put out: Let the bread of life ſtand euer ready vponupon the pure, and precious tables of our hearts. Locke vp thy Law, and thy Manna within vsus; and ſpeake comfortably to vsus from thy Mercy-ſeat. Suffer nothing to enter in hither that is vncleane: Sanctifie vsus vntounto thy ſelfe, and be thou ſanctified in vsus.

SALOMON, and the Queene of Sheba.

GOd hath no vſe of the darke lanternes of ſecret, and reſerued perfections; Wee our ſelues doe not light vp Candles to put them vnderunder buſhels. The great lights whether of heauen or earth, are not intended to obſcuritie; but as to giuegive light vntounto others, ſo to bee ſeene themſelues; Dan and Beerſheba were too ſtrait bounds for the ſame of Salomon; which now hath flowne ouer all lands and ſeas, and raiſed the world to an admiration of his more then humane wiſdome. Euen ſo, O thou euerlaſting King of Peace, thy Name is great among the Gentiles; There is no ſpeech nor language, where the report of thee is not heard; The ſound of thee is gone forth through all the earth; Thy name is an ointment powred out, therefore the virgins louelove thee.

No doubt many from all coaſts came to learne and wonder; none with ſo much note as this noble daughter of Cham: Who her ſelfe deſerues the next wonder to him whom ſhe came to heare, and admire; That a woman, a Princeſſe, a rich and great Queene, ſhould trauell from the remoteſt South, from Saba, a region famous for the greateſt delicacies of nature, to learne wiſedome, is a matchleſſe example. Wee know Merchants that venture to either Indies for wealth; Others wee know daily to croſſe the ſeas for wanton curioſitie: Some few Philoſophers we hauehave knowne to hauehave gone farre for learning, and amongſt Princes it is no vnuſuall thing to ſend their Embaſſadors to farre diſtant kingdomes, for tranſaction of buſineſſes either of State, or commerce; but that a royall Lady ſhould in perſon vndertake and ouercome ſo tedious a iourney, onelyonly to obſerue, and inquire into the myſteries of nature, art, religion, is a thing paſt both parallel, and imitation; Why doe we thinke any labour great, or any way long, to heare a greater then Salomon? How iuſtly ſhall the Queene of the South riſe vp in iudgement, and condemne vsus, who may heare wiſdome crying in our ſtreets, and neglect her?

Certainly ſo wealthy a Queene, and ſo great a louer of wiſedome could not want great ſchollers at home; them ſhe had firſt oppoſed with her enigmaticall demands; and now finding her ſelfe vnſatisfied ſhe takes her ſelfe to this Oracle of God; It is a good thing to doubt, better to be reſolued: The minde that neuer doubts ſhall learne nothing; the minde that euer doubts ſhall neuer profit by learning: Our doubts onelyonly ſerue to ſtirre vsus vp to ſeeke truth; Our reſolutions ſettle vsus in the truth wee hauehave found. There were no pleaſure in reſolutions if we had not beene formerly troubled with doubts; There were nothing but diſcomfort and diſquietneſſe in doubts, if it were not for the hope of reſolution: It is not ſafe to ſuffer doubts to dwell too long vponupon the heart; there may be good vſe of them as paſſengers, dangerous as inmates: Happy are we if we can finde a Salomon to remoue them.

Fame as it is alwayes a blab, ſo oft-times a lyer. The wiſe Princeſſe found cauſe to diſtruſt ſo vncertaine an informer, whoſe reports are ſtill either doubtfull, or fabulous; p. 1271and like winds, or ſtreames, increaſe in paſſing: If very great things were not ſpoken of Salomon, fame ſhould hauehave wronged him; and if but iuſt rumours were ſpread of his wiſdome, there needed much credulitie to beleeue them. This great Queene would not ſuffer her ſelfe to be lead by the eares; but comes in perſon to examine the truth of foraine relations. How much more vnſafe is it in the moſt important buſineſſes of our ſoules, to truſt the opinions and reports of others? Thoſe eares and eyes are ill beſtowed that doe not ſerue to chooſe and iudge for their owners.

When we come to a rich treaſure, we need not be bidden to carie away what wee are able. This wiſe Lady as ſhe came farre for knowledge, ſo finding the plenty of this veine, ſhe would not depart without her full lode: there was nothing wherein ſhee would leaue her ſelfe vnſatisfied: ſhe knew that ſhe could not eueryevery day meet with a Salomon; and therefore ſhe makes her beſt vſe of ſo learned a Maſter; Now ſhe empties her heart of all her doubts, and fils it with inſtruction. It is not good neglecting the opportunities of furniſhing our ſoules with profitable, with ſauing knowledge. There is much wiſedome in mouing a queſtion well, though there bee more in aſſoiling it: What vſe doe we make of Salomons Teacher, if ſitting at the feet of Chriſt we leaue our hearts either ignorant, or perplexed?

As if the errand of this wealthy Queene had been to buy wiſedome, ſhe came with her Camels laden with gold, and precious ſtones, and rich odours: Though to a mighty King ſhe will not come to ſchoole empty-handed: If ſhe came to fetch an inualuable treaſure, ſhe finds it reaſon to giuegive thankes vntounto him that kept it. As hee is a foole that hath a price in his hand to get wiſedome, and wants an heart: So is hee vnthankfull that hath an heart to get wiſedome, and hath no price in his hand; A price, not counteruailable to what hee ſeekes, but retributorie to him of whom hee ſeekes. How ſhamefull is it to come alwaies with cloſe hands to them that teach vsus the great myſteries of ſaluation.

Expectation is no better then a kinde enemy to good deſerts. Wee leeſe thoſe obiects which we ouer-looke. Many had been admired if they had not been ouer-much befriended by fame; who now in our iudgement are caſt as much below their ranke, as they were fore-imagined aboue it. This diſaduantage had wiſe Salomon with this ſtranger; whom rumour had bid to looke for incredible excellencies; yet ſo wonderfull were the graces of Salomon, that they ouercame the higheſt expectation, and the liberalleſt beliefe: So as when ſhe ſaw the architecture of his buildings, the prouiſions of his tables, the order of his attendants, the religion of his ſacrifices, ſhe confeſſed both her vniuſt incredulitie in not beleeuing the report of his wiſedome, and the iniurie of report, in vnderſtanding it. I beleeued not the words till I came, and mine eyes had ſeene it, and loe the one halfe was not told me. Her eyes were more ſure informers then her eares. Shee did not ſo much heare as ſee Salomons wiſedome in theſe reall effects. His anſwers did not ſo much demonſtrate it, as his prudent gouernment. There are ſome whoſe ſpeeches are witty, whiles their cariage is weake, whoſe deeds are incongruities, whiles their words are Apothegmes. It is not worth the name of wiſedome that may bee heard onelyonly, and not ſeene: Good diſcourſe is but the froth of wiſedome; the pure and ſolid ſubſtance of it is in well-framed actions; if we know theſe things, happy are we if we doe them.

And if this great perſon admired the wiſedome, the buildings, the domeſticke order of Salomon, and chiefly his ſtately aſcent into the Houſe of the Lord; how ſhould our ſoules be taken vp with wonder at thee, O thou true ſon of Dauid, and Prince of euerlaſting peace, who receiuedſt the ſpirit not by meaſure? who haſt built this glorious houſe, not made with hands, euen the heauen of heauens? whoſe infinite prouidence hath ſweetly diſpoſed of all the family of thy creatures, both in heauen and earth; and who laſtly didſt aſcend vp on high, and ledſt captiuitie captiue, and gaueſt gifts to men?

So well had this ſtudious Ladie profited by the Lectures of that exquiſite Maſter, that now ſhe enuies, ſhee magnifies none but them who may liue within the aire of p. 1272Salomons wiſedome: Happy are thy men, and happy are thy ſeruants, which ſtand continually before thee, and that beare thy wiſedome; As if ſhe could hauehave beene content to hauehave changed her Throne for the footſtoole of Salomon. It is not eaſie to conceiue how great a bleſſing it is to liue vnderunder thoſe lips, which doe both preſerue knowledge, and vtter it: If we were not glutted with good counſell, we ſhould finde no relliſh in any worldly contentment in compariſon hereof: But, he that is full, deſpiſeth an hony-combe.

She, whom her owne experience had taught how happy a thing it is to hauehave a skilfull Pilote ſitting at the ſterne of the State, bleſſeth Iſrael for Salomon, bleſſeth God for Iſrael, bleſſeth Salomon and Iſrael mutually in each other; Bleſſed bee the Lord thy God which delighted in thee, to ſet thee on the Throne of Iſrael. Becauſe the Lord loued Iſrael for euer, therefore made he the King to doe iudgement and iuſtice. It was not more Salomons aduancement to be King of Iſrael, then it was the aduancement of Iſrael to be gouerned by a Salomon. There is no earthly proofe of Gods louelove to any Nation comparable to the ſubſtitution of a wiſe and pious gouernour: to him wee owe our peace, our life, and which is deſeruedly dearer, the life of our ſoules, the Goſpell. But, oh God, how much haſt thou loued thine Iſrael for euer, in that thou haſt ſet ouer it that righteous Branch of Ieſſe, whoſe name is Wonderfull, Counſellor, the mighty God, the euerlaſting Father, the Prince of peace: in whoſe dayes Iudah ſhall be ſaued, and Iſrael ſhall dwell ſafely? Sing O heauen, and reioyce, O earth, and breake forth into ſinging, O mountaines, for God hath comforted his people, and will hauehave euerlaſting mercy vponupon his afflicted.

The Queene of Sheba did not bring her gold and precious ſtones to looke on, or to re-carie, but to giuegive to a wealthier then her ſelfe. She giues therefore to Salomon an hundred and twenty talents of gold, beſides coſtly ſtones and odours. He that made ſiluer in Hieruſalem as ſtones, is yet richly preſented on all hands. The riuers ſtill runne into the Sea; To him that hath ſhall be giuen: How ſhould wee bring vntounto thee, O thou King of Heauen, the pureſt gold of thine owne graces, the ſweeteſt odours of our obediences? Was not this withall a type of that homage which ſhould be done vntounto thee, O Sauiour, by the heads of the Nations? The Kings of Tarſhiſh and the Iles bring preſents; the Kings of Sheba and Saba bring gifts; yea all Kings ſhall worſhip thee, all Nations ſhall ſerue thee. They cannot enrich themſelues but by giuing vntounto thee.

It could not ſtand with Salomons magnificence to receiue rich courteſies without a returne; The greater the perſon was, the greater was the obligation of requitall; The gifts of meane perſons are taken but as tributes of duty; it is diſhonourable to take from equals, and not to retribute: there was not therefore more freedome in her gift, then in her receit: Her own will was the meaſure of both; She gaue what ſhe would, ſhe receiued whatſoeuer ſhee would aske; And ſhee had little profited by Salomons ſchoole, if ſhe had not learned to aske the beſt: She returnes therefore more richly laden then ſhe came: ſhe gaue to Salomon as a thankfull Client of wiſedome; Salomon returnes to her as a munificent Patrone, according to the liberalitie of a King: We ſhall be ſure to be gainers by whatſoeuer we giuegive vntounto thee, O thou God of wiſedome and peace: Oh that we could come from the remote regions of our infidelitie, and worldlineſſe, to learne wiſdome of thee, who both teacheſt and giueſt it abundantly, without vpbraiding, without grudging; & could bring with vsus the poore preſents of our faithfull deſires, and ſincere ſeruices: how wouldeſt thou receiue vsus with a gracious acceptation, and ſend vsus away laden with preſent comfort, with eternall glory?

p. 1273SALOMONS defection.

SInce the firſt man Adam, the world hath not yeelded either ſo great an example of wiſedome, or ſo fearfull an example of apoſtaſie as Salomon: What humane knowledge Adam had in the perfection of nature by creation, Salomon had by infuſion; both fully, both from one fountaine: If Adam called all creatures by their names, Salomon ſpake from the Cedars of Lebanon, to the moſſe that ſprings out of the wall; and beſides theſe vegetables, there was no Beaſt, nor Fowle, nor Fiſh, nor creeping thing that eſcaped his diſcourſe. Both fell, both fell by one meanes; as Adam, ſo might Salomon hauehave ſaid, The woman deceiued me: It is true indeed, that Adam fell as all; Salomon as one; yet ſo as that this one is the patterne of the frailty of all. If knowledge could hauehave giuen an immunity from ſinne, both had ſtood: Affections are thoſe feet of the ſoule, on which it either ſtands, or fals; Salomon loued many out-landiſh women; I wonder not if the wiſe King miſ-caried; EueryEvery word hath bane enough for a man: Women, many women, outlandiſh, idolatrous, and thoſe not onelyonly had, but doted on; Sexe, multitude, nation, condition, all conſpired to the ruine of a Salomon: If one woman vndid all mankinde, what maruell is it if many women vndid one? yet had thoſe many beene the daughters of Iſrael, they had tempted him onelyonly to luſt, not to miſ-deuotion; now they were of thoſe Nations, whereof the Lord had ſaid to the children of Iſrael, Goe not ye in to them, nor let them come in to you, for ſurely they will turne your hearts after their gods; to them did Salomon ioyne in louelove; who can maruell if they diſioyned his heart from God? Satan hath found this bait to take ſo wel, that he neuer changed it ſince he crept into Paradiſe. How many hauehave we knowne whoſe heads hauehave been broken with their owne rib?

In the firſt world the ſonnes of God ſaw the daughters of men, and tooke them wiues of all they liked; they multiplyed not children, but iniquities: Balaam knew well if the dames of Moab could make the Iſraelites wantons, they ſhould ſoon make them Idolaters: All lyes open where the couenant is not both made with the eye, and kept.

It was the charge of God to the Kings of Iſrael, before they were, that they ſhould not multiply Wiues. Salomon hath gone beyond the ſtakes of the law, and now is readie to leeſe himſelfe amongſt a thouſand bedfellowes: Who ſo layes the reines in the necke of his carnall appetite, cannot promiſe where he will reſt. Oh Salomon, where was thy wiſedome, whiles thine affections runne away with thee into ſo wilde a voluptuouſneſſe? What bootes it thee to diſcourſe of all things, whiles thou miſ-knoweſt thy ſelfe? The perfections of ſpeculation doe not argue the inward powers of ſelfe-gouernment; The eye may be cleare whiles the hand is palſied. It is not ſo much to be heeded how the ſoule is informed, as how it is diſciplined; The light of knowledge doth well, but the due order of the affections doth better: Neuer any meere man ſince the firſt, knew ſo much as Salomon, many that hauehave knowne leſſe hauehave had more command of themſelues: A competent eſtate well husbanded, is better then a vaſt patrimony neglected.

There can be no ſafety to that ſoule where is not a ſtrait curbe vponupon our deſires; If our luſts be not held vnderunder as ſlaues; they will rule as tyrants. Nothing can preuent the extremitie of our miſ-cariage but early and ſtrong denials of our concupiſcence: Had Salomon done thus, delicacie and lawleſſe greatneſſe had not ledde him into theſe bogs of intemperance.

The wayes of youth are ſteepe and ſlipperie, wherein as it is eaſie to fall, ſo it is p. 1274commonly relieued with pitie; but the wanton inordinations of age are not more vnſeaſonable then odious; yet behold Salomons yonger yeares were ſtudious, and innocent, his ouer-haſtened age was licentious and miſgouerned; For, when Salomon was old, his wiues turned away his heart after other gods: If any age can ſecure vsus from the danger of a ſpirituall fall, it is our laſt; and if any mans old-age might ſecure him, it was …alomons; the beloued of God, the Oracle, the miracle of wiſedome; who would hauehave looked but that the bloſſomes of ſo hopefull a ſpring, ſhould hauehave yeelded a goodly and pleaſant fruit, in the Autumne of age? yet behold euen Salomons old age vicious. There is no time wherin we be ſafe, whiles we can carie this body of ſin about vsus; Youth is impetuous, mid-age ſtubborne, old age weake, all dangerous; Say not now; The fury of my youthfull flaſhes is ouer, I ſhall henceforth finde my heart calme and impregnable; whiles thou ſeeſt old Salomon doting vponupon his Concubines, yea vponupon their Idolatry.

It is no preſuming vponupon time, or meanes, or ſtrength: how many hauehave begunne and proceeded well, who yet hauehave ſhamed themſelues in their laſt ſtage? If God vphold vsus not, we cannot ſtand: If God vphold vsus, we cannot fal; when we are at our ſtrongeſt, it is beſt to be weake in our ſelues; and when at our weakeſt, ſtrong in him, in whom we can doe all things.

I cannot yet thinke ſo hard of Salomon, that he would proiect his perſon to Aſhteroth the goddeſſe of the Sidonians, or Milchom the Idol of the Ammonites, or Chemoſh the abomination of Moab: Hee that knew all things from the ſhrub of the Cedar, could not be ignorant that theſe ſtatues were but ſtocks, and ſtones, or metals, and the powers reſembled by them, Deuils. It is not like he could be ſo inſenſate to adore ſuch Deities; but ſo farre was the vxorious King blinded with affection, that hee gaue not paſſage onelyonly to the Idolatry of his heatheniſh wiues, but furtherance.

So did he dote vponupon their perſons, that he humoured them in their ſinnes: Their act is therefore his, becauſe his eyes winkt at it; his hand aduanced it; Hee that built a Temple to the liuing God, for himſelfe and Iſrael in Sion, built a Temple to Chemoſh in the mount of Scandall, for his Miſtreſſes of Moab, in the very face of Gods Houſe: No hill about Ieruſalem was free from a Chappell of Deuils; Each of his dames had their Puppets, their Altars, their Incenſe; Becauſe Salomon feeds them in their ſuperſtition, he drawes the ſinne home to himſelfe, and is branded for what he ſhould hauehave forbidden. Euen our very permiſſion appropriates crimes to vsus; Wee need no more guiltineſſe of any ſinne, then our willing toleration.

Who can but yearne, and feare to ſee the wofull wracke of ſo rich and goodly a veſſell: O Salomon, wert not thou hee whoſe yonger yeares God honoured with a meſſage and ſtile of louelove? To whom God twice appeared; and in a gracious viſion renewed the Couenant of his fauour? Whom he ſingled out from all the generation of men to be the founder of that glorious Temple which was no leſſe cleerely the Type of heauen, then thou wert of Chriſt the Sonne of the euerliuing God? Wert not thou that deep Sea of wiſdome which God ordained to ſend forth riuers and fountaines of all diuine, and humane knowledge to all Nations, to all ages? Wert not thou one of thoſe ſelect Secretaries, whoſe hand it pleaſed the Almighty to employ in three pieces of the diuine monuments of ſacred Scriptures? Which of vsus dares euer hope to aſpire vntounto thy graces? Which of vsus can promiſe to ſecure our ſelues from thy ruines? We fall, O God, we fall to the loweſt hell, if thou preuent vsus not, if thou ſuſtaine vsus not: Vphold thou me according to thy Word that I may liue, and let mee not be aſhamed of my hope. Order my ſteps in thy word, and let not any iniquitie hauehave dominion ouer me. All our weakneſſe is in our ſelues, all our ſtrength is in thee. O God be thou ſtrong in our weakneſſe, that our weake knees may be euer ſteddy in thy ſtrength.

But in the midſt of the horror of this ſpectacle (able to affright all the ſonnes of men) behold ſome glimpſe of comfort: was it of Salomon that Dauid his father propheſied; Though he fall, he ſhall not bee vtterly caſt downe; for the Lord vpholdeth him with his hand? If ſenſible grace, yet finall mercy was not taken from that beloued of God; In p. 1275the hardeſt of this winter, the ſap was gone downe to the root, though it ſhewed not in the branches: Euen whiles Salomon remoued, that word ſtood faſt, Hee ſhall be my ſonne, and I will be his Father. He that foreſaw his ſinne, threatned and limited his correction. If he breake my ſtatutes, and keepe not my commandements, then will I viſit his tranſgreſsion with a rod, and his iniquitie with ſtripes; Neuertheleſſe my louing kindneſſe will I not vtterly take from him, nor ſuffer my faithfulneſſe to faile; My Couenant will I not breake; nor alter the thing that is gone out of my mouth; Behold the fauour of God doth not depend vponupon Salomons obedience: If Salomon ſhall ſuffer his faithfulneſſe to faile towards his God; God will not requite him with the failing of his faithfulneſſe to Salomon; If Salomon breake his Couenant with God; God will not breake his Couenant with the father of Salomon, with the ſonne of Dauid: He ſhall ſmart, hee ſhall not periſh. Oh gracious word of the God of all mercies, able to giuegive ſtrength to the languiſhing, comfort to the deſpairing, to the dying, life. Whatſoeuer wee are, thou wilt be ſtill thy ſelfe, O holy One of Iſrael, true to thy Couenant, conſtant to thy Decree; The ſinnes of thy choſen can neither fruſtrate thy counſell, nor out-ſtrip thy mercies.

Now I ſee Salomon of a wanton louer, a graue Preacher of mortification; I ſee him quenching thoſe inordinate flames with the teares of his repentance. Me thinks I heare him ſighing deepely betwixt eueryevery word of that his ſolemne penance which he would need enioyne himſelfe before all the world, I hauehave applyed my heart to know the wickedneſſe of folly, euen the fooliſhneſse of madneſse; and I finde more bitter then death the woman whoſe heart is as nets and ſnares; and her hands as bands: Who ſo pleaſeth God ſhall be deliuered from her, but the ſinner ſhall be taken by her.

Salomon was taken as a ſinner, deliuered as a penitent. His ſoule eſcaped as a bird out of the ſnare of the fowlers; the ſnare was broken, and he deliuered: It is good for vsus that he was both taken, and deliuered; Taken, that wee might not preſume; and that we might not deſpaire, deliuered. He ſinned, that we might not ſinne; hee recouered, that we may not ſinke vnderunder our ſinne.

But, oh the iuſtice of God inſeparable from his mercy; Salomons ſinne ſhall not eſcape the rod of men; Rather then ſo wiſe an offender ſhall want enemies, God ſhall raiſe vp three aduerſaries vntounto Salomon; Hadad the Edomite; Rezon the King of Aram, Ieroboam the ſonne of Nebat; whereof two were foraine, one domeſticall: Nothing but louelove and peace ſounded in the name of Salomon; nothing elſe was found in his raigne, whiles he held in good termes with his God: But when once hee fell foule with his Maker, all things began to be troubled. There are whips laid vp againſt the time of Salomons fore-ſeene offence, which are now brought forth for his correction: On purpoſe was Hadad the ſonne of the King of Edom hid in a corner of Egypt from the ſword of Dauid and Ioab, that he might be reſerued for a ſcourge to the exorbitant ſonne of Dauid: God would hauehave vsus make account that our peace ends with our innocence: The ſame ſinne that ſets debate betwixt God and vsus, armes the creatures againſt vsus; It were pitie wee ſhould be at any quiet whiles wee are falne out with the God of peace.

Contemplations. VPONUPON THE PRINCIPALL HISTORIES OF THE NEVV TESTAMENT.

THE THIRD BOOKE.

Containing

The Widowes ſonne raiſed.

The Rulers ſonne healed.

The dumbe Deuill eiected.

MATTHEW called.

Christ among the Gergeſens; or Legion, and the Gaderene Herd.

By IOS. HALL, D. of Diuinitie, and Deane of WORCESTER.