The Throne of David, Treatise · Section 10
II SAM: Chap: 3. from the 17. verſe to the 22.
THe perſuaſion of Iſrael unto defection from Iſhboſeth to David, hath in it three arguments uſed by Abner, à jucundo, à pio, & ab utili.
1. A jucundo, It was your own ſuit formerly, and your pleaſure to have David to be your King, and in deliberation between David, and any of Sauls poſterity, you chooſed rather and preferred him, (as Abner well knew in his familiarity with them) now therefore take your pleaſure and chooſe him.
2. A pio, It is the will of God that ſo it ſhould be, and that by Samuel plainly declared, and notified unto all, for God hath ſaid it, whoſe word is moſt true, and which (without gainſtanding) it becometh you in piety to embrace.
3. A commodo, He will ſave you from all your Enemies, which is a great advantage, and for that end God hath appointed him to rule over you, whoſe promiſe is your warrant. And in all this he perſwadeth moſt carefully and particularly, the Benjamites, who were harder to be induced in regard of their naturall conjunction with the houſe of Saul. But at laſt having cunningly effectuate his purpoſe at all hands, he goeth accompanied with 20 ſpecialls of Iſrael to Hebron unto David, by preſence to ratifie that, which by meſſage he had covenanted, and to ſhew unto David his diligence, credit, and convoy of the errand, and what he had effectuated. Unto whom David maketh a royall banquet, as a ſymbole of their new contracted amity. Wherein for ſatisfaction of the doubt rejected to this place, we affirme plainly that David erred. 1. In temeritie or forme, not conſulting with God, according to the command, and practiſe of the Godly. And 2. In ſubſtance or matter, in entring in familiarity, and entertaining a notorious wicked man, with whom (according to the apoſtolik Canon) he ſhould not have eaten.
In the end, Abner goeth, and promiſeth to reduce all Iſrael, arrogantly challenging unto himſelfe ſo great a place in that kingdome, where there was a King of ſuch ſimplicity and puſillanimity as Iſhboſeth was.
OBSERVATIONS.
1. IN Abners perſwaſion of Iſrael to defection from Iſhboſeth to David, firſt, as we ſee the nature and practiſe of many ambitious, and crafty wicked men, who place their chiefe ſtanding and promotion, in the diſquieting of other mens eſtates, and fiſheth ever beſt in diſturbed waters, by the weakening and variance of others, ſtrengthening and enriching themſelves. So againe, we note the wonderfull working of God, in making that ſame man who perſwaded Iſrael from David to adhere to Iſhboſeth, now from Iſhboſeth to make defection, and adhere to David; and ſo to undoe that, which he had formerly done, and turne his courſe contrary: ſo powerfull is God in overruling the wicked, and here his Children want comfort, or his work for them, be unwrought, he will make their and his Enemies the workers. Pharaoh therefore in his Court ſhall bring up Moſes to be a deliverer of Iſrael; and Achab ſhall entertaine in his houſe an Obadiah, to be a hider and feeder of the Lords Prophets. Out of Sauls bowels alſo ſhall a Jonathan proceed to comfort and preſerve David, and Haman himſelfe,Eſther. 6. 7. ſhall decree and performe the honour to be done to Mordecaj, whom he thought to have hanged; yea Tatnaj and his aſſociates ſhall not only be commanded, not to hinder the work of the Temple, (farre contrary to their expectation) but alſo injoyned to further and furniſh it.Numb. 24. 10. Ezra. 6. 8. And out of Balam's mouth, who was ſent for to curſe Iſrael, a bleſſing ſhall proceed whether he will or no.
2. In that Abner ſheweth it was their former ſuit to have David, we ſee what it is to have a juſt cauſe, even the Lord will incline the hearts of men, whom we know not; and who ſeemed adverſaries, to favour the ſame: as Iſrael did here Davids title,Prov. 16. 7. though they were under Iſhboſeth. Therefore ſaith Salomon, when the waies of a man pleaſe the Lord, he will make alſo his Enemies at peace with him, for the Lord hath the hearts of men in his hands, and turneth them which way he pleaſeth.
3. We note likewiſe in Abner, damnable hypocriſie, in making Scripture ſerve his turne, and abuſing Gods Word to ſell Iſhboſeth and buy David, which the Apoſtle calleth cauponari verbum dei, and under a pretext of reverence to Gods ordinance (which hitherto he had neglected) and of obedience to the Lords appointment now concerning David, he will alleadge a divine warrant out of malice againſt Iſhboſeth, ſeeking his ruine, and his own promotion; this was the fault of Simeon, and Levi, ſo odious to Jacob; and the practiſe of Satan in the tempting of Chriſt, and the followers of this diveliſh and deteſtable example are they who cloake their particular affections and ambition with Gods Word, and will make religion, to ſerve their appetite in favour or ſeade, to deſtroy or preſerve; not conſidering that as a heavy curſe abides on them who adde or impaire, ſo likewiſe doth it on thoſe who throwe and abuſe the ſame; let holy things then be holily uſed, foreign, and not Gods Word to be forced to ſerve man, yea worſe, to ſerve ſinne and Satan and for wicked ends.
4. In the contracting of this amity with Abner, we find not that David conſulted with God, as he had formerly done Chap. 2. therefore the ſucceſs of this, is not as the former, but matter of griefe, through Joabs fact, enſueth unto David. Whereby we learne not to relye upon the arme of fleſh, or in purpoſes of any importance to be unconſulted with God, who more clearly manifeſteth now his will in his written Word, then ever he did before by Prophet or viſion, ſo that we need not to goe farre, but to the teſtimony, and to the word which is amongſt the midſt of us, elſe look for no happy ſucceſs in the end. The cauſe of all ſinne, and puniſhments for ſinne, is and hath ever been the omiſſion of this duty, amongſt all ſorts and degrees of men, when not making God their direction, they have fallen in his correction, and deſpiſing his counſell, they were defrauded of his comfort.
5. Verſ. 20. David likewiſe here entertaineth and confederates with a wicked man, which ſociety of the Godly with the wicked hath ever been diſpleaſing unto God, as in the alliance of the poſterity of Seth and Kain, which procured the deluge is moſt evident,Exod. 34. 16. and not only in the law was afterwards prohibited, but by ſundry examples made moſt apparent, as in that covenant made between Benhadad, 1 King. 20, 2 Chron. 18. 1 King. 11. 2 King. 20.and the King of Iſrael. Of Jehoſaphat with wicked King Ahab. Salomons affinity with the King of Egypt, Hezekiah's familiarity with the King of Babylon, with ſundry others; and Davids league here with a treacherous Abner.
6. Verſ. 21. In Abners pollicitation to David at his departure, we ſee not only his arrogant ſelf-confidence (noted before) but likewiſe that there is nothing more perillous, than to put wicked men in places of great credit; therefore Achitophell Davids counſellour, giveth counſell againſt him, and for Joabs authority in the camp, David dare not execute Juſtice for the blood of Abner. So Haman had almoſt brought Ahaſuerus in a fearfull guiltineſs of bloodſhed. And Rehoboam's wicked young Counſellours made him looſe his kingdome. The Roman Senat was likewiſe troubled by this meane. And the accident by Phocas, Author of the Popes creation.
7. In like manner we ſee that the puſillanimity of a Prince makes hardy Rebells, therefore Abner knew well enough that Iſhboſeth who durſt not anſwer for timourouſneſs, his words of proud threatning. Verſ. 11. doth farre leſs ſeek to repreſs his deeds, of this his headſtrong practiſing. In a Prince then, the foxes wit to rule wiſely, and Lyons heart to rule valiantly ſhould ever dwell together, parcere ſubjectis, & debellare ſuperbos; politick carriage, and polemick courage being as two twinnes: which like Gemini ſhould be in a Princes Zodiack.
8. And in regard, as is probable, by wine and good entertainment, his courage was the more ſtirred up, ſo to brag, and preſumingly to ſpeak, having attained likewiſe to Davids favour and high account, in being royally banqueted. Let us learne in proſperity not to be inſolent, but look for alteration, as in the examples of Haman, Balthaſſar and Alexander, their banquetings▪ was ſeen.