The Throne of David, Treatise · Section 6
II. SAM. Chap. 2. from the 26. Verſe to the end.
THe retraite is cauſed by four reaſons, 1. Gods providence, gathering the clouds and night, whereby he declared that it was not he will, that more blood ſhould be ſhed, otherwiſe he might have protracted the day as he did to Joſhua. 2. The ſtay and gazing of the people at the body and death of Aſahel, which greatly moved them, the 3. was the recollection of Abners forces on the hill, taking ſo the opportunity and advantage of the place, 4. the ſpeech of Abner to Ioab, taken from three places. 1. Shall the ſword devoure for ever? The meaning whereof is, of things, that are not good in themſelves, but for the reſpect of another, and have the conjunction of perill, there ſhould be ſome meaſure, but warres are ſuch, therefore an end ſhould be put unto them, the argument is taken from the right fine of warre, which is the eſtabliſhing of peace, and from humanity. The ſecond argument is from the conſequent of commodity and incommodity, proponed in this forme, knoweſt thou not Ioab, that the end of all civil warre is but ſorrow, and albeit thou haſt the Victory, yet thou haſt not paſt the perill, for if the battle be renewed, the hazard may change, and it is hard to bring men to the point of deſpare, for fury miniſtrates armour and bitterneſſe willbe in the end. The third, is from naturall and ſpirituall neceſſitudes, we have Abraham one common Father, one God, one faith, one ſort of Sacraments, and are all Brethren, therefore it is moſt charitable and beſt ſeeming, to deſiſt.
OBSERVATIONS.
1. V. 26. A Fit argument of diſſuaſion we have here, againſt all civil diſſentions within any Chriſtian Kingdome, profeſſing the truth, amongſt whatſoever Perſons within Church, or commonwealth, let the Midianites thruſt their ſwords in to one anothers bowells, and Sampſons foxes carry firebrands between them looking diverſe wayes; but let Abrahams voyce be heard amongſt profeſſours, let there be no diſcord between thee and me, for we are Brethren, and Moſes gentle rebuke accepted, to the Hebrew who was in the wrong, why ſmiteſt thou thy fellow. It greiveth Rebecca then the ſtrugling of her two Sonnes in her womb, and for the diviſions of Ruben are great thoughts of heart, and ſo ſhould it greive all godly hearts any ſchiſme, or rent in Church, or Commonwealth.
2. Abner provoked, hoping aſſuredly to have given the foile to Joabs ſmall Army, but in the mean while he receives the ſame, ſo, man propones but God diſpones,Prov. 16. 9. 1. King. 20. 11. neither ſhould he that putteth on his armour boaſt, as he that puts it off, for oftimes he that diggeth a pit for his neighbour doth unawares fall therein himſelf, witneſſe the ſword of Saul brandiſht for David, the gallowes of Haman ſet up for Mordecai, the hungry Lyons prepared for Daniel, and the judgement of ſtoning given out againſt Suſanna.
3. Vers 27. Ioab in his anſwer to Abner turning over the blame upon him, witneſſeth what was Davids part in this battle, towit defenſive onelyonly, and that he would never have made perſuit, nor ſought by bloodſhed, or cruelty violently to have enlarged his Kingdome, but contented him ſelf with his lot, and ſuffered that wrong of withholding and uſurping his right, till the Lord had redreſſed the ſame. Thus are the godly, patient and peaceable, violent in nothing, but by holy zeal taking the Kingdome of Heaven by force.
4. Vers 28. Ioab in hearkning unto the Counſell of Abner though his adverſary teacheth us, to receive the truth at whoſoevers hands, non quis, ſed quid dicat attendendo, and to make good uſe of the ſpeeches of our very Enemies like the Bee which gathereth Hony of every flower for the prejudicat opinion of Perſons, hath oftimes proved a bar to hold out wholeſome admonitions; and for the ſhels ſake the Pearle hath been rejected, as if no good thing could come out of Nazareth, therefore it hath been, that the true warnings of Gods ſervants have been deſpiſed, their words, counted lies, and their rebukes, malice. Therefore alſo it was that Ahab miſconceiting thus of Eliah, in ſaying, hast thou found me O mine Enemy, 1 King. 21. 20.and ſo hating the Prophet, rejected that wholeſome warning and prediction of his alſo, which was his utter ruine.1 King. 22. 17.
5. Ioab ſoundeth the retrait, and the ſouldiers according to military Diſcipline obey, giving therein a good leſſon to all thoſe who are under commandement, to give ready obſequie to their ſuperiours and Maſters,Math. 8. 9. as the centurion profeſſeth of his ſervants, and their ready obedience to come, or go, as they were injoyned, & to all of us to obey the direction of our Captain and Maſter Chriſt Jeſus, under whoſe ſtandard we fight, and in whoſe family we ſerve, hearkning ever unto the ſound of the Trumpet of his ſacred word, Iſai. 58. 1.
6. Vers 29. In Abner likewiſe, we ſee the laudable diligence of a faithfull ſervant journying all the night time, albeit wearied in battle to report the ſucceſſe of this late conflict, of the which his Maſter was greatly longing to hear, ſo carefull and painfull was he to gratify his Maſter, and to reſolve his minde which was held in ſuſpence.
7. We ſee here likewiſe the truth of that Apoſtoticall aſſertion, Rom. 8. All things work together for the beſt, to them that fear God, for by this battle and Victory, Abners pride is abated, and his intention diſappointed, I ſhboſeths power is weakned, and his mind daſht, and Davids faith and repoſe in Gods promiſe is more confirmed by this new proof of Gods aide and delivery. Let this therefore comfort Gods Children in all ſtraites, or croſſes, and teach them never to cenſure Gods workes by their beginnings, or firſt progreſſe, but patiently and confidently to behold the end, for we ſhall ſee oftimes that it is meer darkneſſe, out of which he is to draw light, life out of death, and glory out of Ignominy, witneſſe Ioſephs preferment, and Chriſts exaltation.
8. Laſtly, we perceive a great providence of God, in that all this while of this civil contention, the common Enemies about, lately Victorious, attempt nothing, for as he ſtirred them up againſt Saul for his puniſhment lately, ſo he reſtrains them now, that they budge not,Prov. 16. 6. againſt his ſervant David, for when the wayes of man pleaſe the Lord (ſaith Salomon) he will make alſo his Enemies at peace with him, & è contra, happy are they then, that are reconciled with their God, for the ſtones of the field ſhall be in covenant with them, when the Heaven and the Earth in their courſe with the hoſtes thereof, ſhall fight againſt their Enemies, witneſſe the plagues of Egypt &c. And O! what a gratious & wiſe Father have we alſo that will not lay more upon us, then we are able to bear, but will fit his tryals whereby he exerciſeth us, to our ſtrength, wherewith he indewes us, witneſſe the wreſtling of Jacob, and the buffetings of Paul, and Davids conflict here (being as yet weak as he ſayes, Chap. 3. 39. Not with any more at once, but onelyonly with Iſhboſeth.