The Throne of David, Treatise · Preface
THE PREFACE.
TO omit any generall or prolix diſcourſe concerning the utility and delectation of hiſtorie, and in ſpeciall of theſe regiſtred in Holy Scripture, and to come in particular to this preſent Hiſtory contained in this ſecond of Samuel. In it we have the pattern of a pious and prudent prince, and in the eſtate of the Kingdome of Iſrael under David we have typified the eſtate of the Church militant under Chriſt Jeſus.
But before we come to the particular explication of this Book, we will ſpeak. 1. Of the Author and penman thereof. 2. Of the inſcription and reaſon thereof. 3. Of the Subject and matter thereof. and 4. The utility and profit thereof.
Firſt then, there is no doubt of the Author, but as is ſaid of the whole Scripture in generall: ſo of this in particular, that the ſame is by divine inſpiration, and that the ſpirit of God is the Author and indyter thereof. But as for the penman, ſome ſuppoſe that the ſame was written by the Prophets Gad and Nathan who lived in the reign of David. Others that Samuel, from whom it hath the denomination was the writer of it till the 25. chapter (where his death is recorded) and the reſt ſupplied by ſome of the forenamed Prophets. But the moſt probable is thought to be that it was the office of the highprieſt to regiſter the Hiſtory of the Jewiſh church and what fell out every one in his own time. But herein ſeeing Scripture is ſilent, we need not curiouſly inquire further hereof.
2. Concerning the title and inſcription. The Hebrews give this reaſon thereof, becauſe they containe the whole courſe of the life of Samuel, and of theſe two Kings Saul and David, whom he (according to Gods ordinance) anointed. But the Greeks (as the 70. or ſeptuagint) whom Jerome and moſt part of the Latines do follow, rejecting the inſcription of theſe two bookes from Samuel, they call theſe two, the firſt and ſecond book of the Kings, becauſe of the life and acts of the Kings that are ſet down therein, to wit, Saul and David: as in the other two bookes that followes the lives and acts of the reſt of the Kings of Judah and Iſrael are ſet down therein.
3. As for the argument or matter contained in this ſecond book of Samuel, the ſame is the whole Hiſtory of the eſtate of the Church of God, of their Kings and Commonweale, from the death of Saul to the decrepit age of David, which is the ſpace of 40 yeares, wherein is declared, the noble acts of David, his entrie to the kingdome, and how he inlarged the ſame, alſo what troubles he had both inteſtine and forraine, from all which at laſt the Lord did deliver him, and gave him victory over all his enemies, and how in the end, in peace and reſt, he finiſhed his daies.
4. The utility and profit which this Hiſtory affords is manifold, which may be reduced to two heads, the firſt for confirmation of Faith, the ſecond for example of Life, which Paul joyneth. 2. Tim: 3. 10. The firſt appeareth in the verifying of the promiſe made by Samuel to David in the Lords name, that he ſhould be King after Saul, albeit (for the triall of his faith) after many great ſufferings, and deſperate like dangers, the ſame came to paſs, and he all this while did relye on the Lords promiſe. The ſecond appeares in the prudence, piety, zeale, humility, equity and good government of David, and all other his heroick and godly virtues worthy of imitation. As alſo is ſet down David's infirmities and fall's, as examples of the weakneſs of the beſt when they watch not over themſelves, or are left to themſelves, proponed to be eſchewed, ut majorum ruina ſit minorum cautela, as likewiſe his repentance to be imitated, and the ſharp corrections notwithſtanding, as medicinall corraſves, wherewith he was chaſtiſed: as we ſee in the Lords dealing with his deareſt ſonnes and ſervants. Heb: 12. 6, 7. And therefore what ſharper puniſhments may the impenitent, and Satans ſlaves expect?
In this Hiſtory likewiſe of David's reign and kingdome, we have typified Chriſt Jeſus the Sonne of David his condition, and eſtate of his Church to the end of the world. for,
1. As David was anointed to be king over Iſrael: ſo was Chriſt anointed to be King over his Church.
2. But as David endured many troubles, perſecutions and ſufferings before he entred into his kingdome, ſo did Jeſus Chriſt here on earth before he entred in his.
3. After his entry he was mightily oppoſed and oppugned by them of Saul's houſe, his enemie by armes force and violence, and ſo was Chriſt Jeſus, and his Church, and Goſpell, by the bloody perſecution of the heathens Roman Emperors.
4. Notwithſtanding Davids houſe waxed ſtill ſtrong and Sauls houſe weake: ſo the Chriſtian Church and profeſſion did the more flouriſh, and heatheniſh, idolatry, and hereſies decay.
5. Hiram alſo a Gentile, and King of Tyrus joyned in Amity with David, and contributed to the building of his houſe in Sion, both furniture and workmen, typifying thereby how the gentiles ſhould come into the profeſſion of the Goſpell, and ſhould contribute to the building of the Church of Chriſt, as myſticall members thereof.
6. Then doth David bring home the Arke of God, and ſet it in his houſe at Sion: and then in like manner was the true worſhip of God eſtabliſhed in his Church, which is the true Sion.
7. But hereafter did Abſolon craftily under a faire pretence of the good of Iſrael riſe againſt David and ſtole away the hearts of Davids people, who joyned themſelves with him in rebellion, many following him in the ſimplicity of their hearts, and being deceived by his ſimulat and faire pretence of piety: even ſo did Antichriſt ariſe againſt Chriſt under a like faire pretence to be for him, and therefore is ſaid to be horned like the lamb, though ſpeaking like the dragon, and who fraudulently ſtole away the hearts of Gods people, who in like manner (except a few like thoſe who followed David) followed him in the ſimplicity of their hearts, till the time of evocation out of Babel, Revel. 18. 2. And that as David was thereafter brought back to Jeruſalem by his people, ſo that the truth of the Goſpell and profeſſors thereof was brought back in like manner, which ſeemed before to be exiled, as David and his followers were, and driven, like him, and the church, Revel. 12. 14. Into the wilderneſs and deſert.
But as Abſolon was at laſt overthrown, and Davids kingdome under him was thereafter peaceably eſtabliſhed: ſo ſhall Antichriſt according to that prediction Revel. 18. And the Church of Chriſt ſhall thereafter injoy peace and quietneſs.