The Kings Chronicle, Chapter 1

The Kings Chronicle · Chapter 1

p. 21THE ACTS OF DAƲID.

CHAP. I.

David is delivered out of the ſtraits, and enlarged. Before hee ſate downe in his Throne, he does Juſtice, ſhedding the blood of the Murtherer. He ſets his heart and hope in GOD; therefore he had dominion over the mighty. His care is about the Arke; GOD careth for him: He does his duty, that is mans worke; GOD ſafeguards him; makes proviſion for him; that is GODS worke. There's a breach made upon him, which hee makes up by Repentance, and is made better by it. He doe's Judgement and Juſtice, chargeth his ſonne Solomon ſo to doe: Directeth him the way to make Himſelfe and People prosperous; Hee dyeth.

GODS Servant, David, is deſtitute of an harbour▪ GOD provides for him a Kingdome. Now his ſtrait was greateſt, his Deliverance was neareſt; he is ſet on the Throne preſently after he thought himſelfe on the dung-hill at the loweſt. David knew his head was long before annoynted, yet he will not ſtirre till he conſults with the Lord, reſolving to doe nothing, without a word from His mouth, and, having that, he orders his Militia, purſues his enemies, and overtakes them: redeemed all the enemy had taken from him, returned to Ziglag with the ſpoyles of them, 1 Sam. 30. 7▪1 Sam 30:7that ſpoyled him; Devides the prey into equall portions; and then a few hours after, he heares of his Crowne, which he p. 22might have received from an unhollowed hand, before that time, even from the hand of an Amalekite; but David had 2 Sam. 1. 7, 8, 9 10.2 Sam 1:72 Sam 1:82 Sam 1:9good experience of GODS faithfullneſſe; He could poſſeſſe his ſoule in patience, he would not now make haſte, for he is going to his Throne. A man had need walke ſoftly, that is going thether, and be very circumſpect, that is laying his hand upon a Crowne; for of all ornaments, he muſt be carefull how meetly the Crowne is ſet upon his head: As it is ſet on at the firſt, ſo it ſtands ever after, either firme and ſteddy; or, like a tottering wall and broken fence. David is very wiſe and exemplary at this point; for, he that was a Subject but now, and in a very low eſtate, begins to be lifted-up on high, he is entring upon his Government **Great caution, providence and circumſpection is to be uſed at our entrance upon an office: ſo alſo about our firſt actions there.; now he muſt look, with all his eyes, how he begins, and not ſo much how he Times his beginning, (though that be a great point of wiſdome) but with what diſcretion he enters the government, and ſits down in his Throne. We will obſerve now with what circumſpection he layes hand on a Crowne: How hee ponders his ſteppes, now hee is entring the Throne. Thus it was;

There comes a man to him out of the Campe from Saul, like a mourner, but with joyfull news in his mouth (he thought) for though he muſt tell David, That the people of Iſrael were many of them fled, and many fallen; and many dead, and Jonathan dead alſo: yet this would make amends for all, and comfort David, even over the death of Jonathan; and Saul is dead alſo cc2 Sam. 1. 4.2 Sam 1:4: Thus the wicked man muſeth as he uſeth; and judgeth of Davids heart by his own; That David will not thinke of Jonathan in the day he heares of Sauls death: and quite forget the affliction of Iſrael (for that is the manner of men) now he heares of a Kingdom: and will kiſſe that mans hand (though an Amalekite) which tenders him a Crowne. We reade on,

David queſtions the man, and the man is as ready in his anſwer, aſſuring David concerning the truth of the whole matter; but cleares this, which he thought would be moſt welcome, and ſweeten all the bitterneſſe in Iſraels ſlaughter, and Jonathans death, That Saul is dead alſo; I am ſure of that p. 23ſayes he, very ſure, for I my ſelfe ſtood upon him and ſlew him; And, becauſe I would be yet ſurer, I have, (like Souldiers) pillaged ver. 10.him too, I have taken the Crowne from his head, and the Bracelet from his Arme, and have brought them hither unto my Lord: So he has tendred David a Crown, expecting a reward; he ſhall have it anon.

This ſounds very ill in Davids eare; he is not glad to heare his Enemie was fallen; No, though he ſtood betwixt him and a Crowne: David does, as a man, that cannot ſee matter of joy, no not in being ſet-up, and chief in the Kingdom, When Iſrael is ſet under: Iſrael mournes, he mournes alſo; and as the Maſter, ſo all the Servants do, likewiſe all the men that were with him ddver. 11..

David queſtions the man yet farther, whence and what he was? He tels him, That he is the ſonne of a ſtranger, an Amalekite ccver. 13.. The very ſame; his actions told David as much before; he ſhall have the reward of an Amalekite; he deſtroyed Saul (his own confeſſion was ſo) he was not afraid to ſtretch his hand againſt the LORDS annoynted; The hand of Juſtice ſhall be now ſtretched out againſt him (ſince it was not ſtretched out before, when GOD commanded gg1 Sam. 15. 3.1 Sam 15:3) to cut him off from the Earth. The Crowne of an Iſraelite is tendred by the hand of an Amalekite unto David; he looked upon it with diſdaine; and his head ſhall be taken from his ſhoulders, becauſe he was ſo bold to take an Iſraelites▪ Crown into his hands.

It was a cuſtome (it may be it continues ſtill) That at ſolemne times, when the Crowne is ſetting upon the head, Priſoners are looſed; the Jewes had ſuch a cuſtome on the day of their Feaſt ddMat 7. 15.Matt 7:15; They had it by tradition, and took-it-up, as they did other things, upon truſt: but they had it not from David; he ſlew that notable Murtherer at that ſolemn time.

I heard a great man ſay, that this great work now in hand, The well▪ Poſturing the Kingdom, could not be proſperous. Why not proſperous? Becauſe the very firſt ſtep into it was in blood, he ſpake feelingly that ſpake thus; But, the more likely to proſper will every wiſe-man ſay; If there had bin more blood-ſhed, it had proſpered the more, even ſo much, as that the Church p. 24might have waſhed her feet in the blood of her Enemies. But we muſt leave the iſſue of theſe things in GODS hands. We have obſerved how David enters into his Throne; we have found his firſt Act very exemplary for Judgement and Juſtice, though very croſſe to the cuſtome of after times; He is ſtepping-up now to the Pinnacle of honour; That he may ſtand ſure on that tottering place, his firſt ſtep unto it ſhall be exemplary for Juſtice to all Kings and Princes after him; his firſt ſtep ſhall be underlayed with Juſtice and paved with Judgement.

We go-on, obſerving all along, how direct a way David goes in ſtill (he is going to a Throne) to eſtabliſh his Throne for ever, and make his Crowne flouriſh upon his head; He enquires of the Lord (He will not move a ſtepp but by direction 2 Sam. 2. 1.2 Sam 2:1from GODS mouth) touching the place of his annoynting. And God ſo orders all for him, that all might know he was deſigned, preſerved and called to the Kingdome (as miraculouſly as Queen Elizabeth was) by GOD Himſelf. And yet he finds oppoſites, as ſhe did (The Kingdome of David ſhall have all the oppoſition, the Devils in hell, and all their Angels on Earth, can make againſt it:) but David prevailes over them all; he waxed ſtronger and ſtronger dd2 Sam. 3. 1.2 Sam 3:1, and the houſe of Saul weaker and weaker.

Davids Militia was ſo ſtrong now (for God was with him) That he tooke courage, and marched to Jeruſalem, laid ſiege to 2 Sam 5. 6.2 Sam 5:6that ſtrong-hold, which held out all the dayes of the Iudges: The Adverſary thought it impoſſible, that David could take it, and that the lame and blind would defend it: and ſo they jeered at him; not conſidering, that they had to doe with more then a Man. David comes againſt his Adverſary in the ſtrength of God: He looked not how ſtrong the City was, for then he had been diſcouraged, he conſidered how ſtrong God is, and the more eaſily prevailes againſt his Aduerſaries, the more ready they were to mocke and jeere at him: Nevertheleſſe David ver. 7.tooke the ſtrong-hold of Sion, the ſame is the City of Dauid. And David went on and grew great; How ſo? The Lord God of Hoſts was with him ^h. Then what could ſtand againſt him … His enemies could not ſtand before him, for the LORD p. 25brake forth upon them like the breach of waters iiver. 20.. GOD was with him, no matter how many were againſt him: The God of all the Hoſts in Heaven, Earth and Sea, they ſhall all fall and be deſtroyed; and the gods, they in their haſty flight left behind them, David and his men burnt in the fire, that is notable. ver. 21.Note this alſo, GODS being with, or departing from a people, is the cauſe of all the reall comforts and ſorrowes in the world: It is the cauſe alſo of our ſtanding or falling before our enemies. We reade on,

Now Davids care was about the Arke…; It was well his 2 Sam. 6.2 Sam 6care was ſo well placed. Be carefull for that, and be carefull for nothing; (that is) let your care be about the ſervice of GOD, that it be according to rule, after His Will, Whoſe ſervice it is, and then you may caſt all your care upon GOD, for He careth for you kk1 Pet. 5▪ 7.1 Pet 5:7. Let a man ſeeke what he ſhould ſeek in the firſt place; and let GOD alone with all the reſt; Though they be many things, yet all ſhall be added llMat. 6. 33. foreign.Matt 6:33unto him; (i. e.) they ſhall be caſt in to him without his care, as an advantage or ſurpleſage to his reckoning. Let a man doe his duty, which is his worke; and let GOD alone to ſafeguard him, to make proviſion for him, for that is GODS worke. Againe;

Davids chiefe and firſt care was about the Arke. It was moſt fit it ſhould be ſo. Indeed a good Prince muſt needs bethinke himſelfe firſt, how to advance Religion; what ſhould the Deputies of GOD rather doe, then honour Him, Who hath honored them, and Whom they repreſent?

But they ſhould have looked to the manner, and what Law 2 Sam. 6.2 Sam 6the LORD had ſet-downe, for the removing and carrying ver. 3.of the Arke: The Teſtimony of Gods preſence is in their hands, and they handle it rather as Philiſtines then as Iſraelites: The Arke ſhould have been carried on the Priests aaNumb. 7. 9.Num 7:9ſhoulders, they ſet it upon a Cart. See how ready Iſrael is to follow an example againſt the Rule, and to doe as the Philiſtines did; ſo did they, and a way they went merrily, a very little way, for quickly, (See the Tides and changes in worldly things!) The Lord turned their dancing into mourning; He made a Breach upon them, and ſo He taught the generations following, this great p. 26leſſon; That when we cannot doe any thing in the degrees that GOD requireth, yet we muſt learne to doe all things in the FORME that He requireth: David hath learnt his leſſon Pſ. 2. 11.Ps 2:11now, ſettles to the worke againe, doth all according to the Law, Decently and in Order, he ſerves the LORD with feare, and rejoyceth with trembling; he will account of worldly joy and contentment as it is, a thing very momentany, of very ſmall continuance; he will never truſt proſperity againe, there may be a change within an houre, nor will he let himſelf looſe to a fearleſſe joy.

1. The breach is made upon Ʋzzah, but it ſtrikes David alſo to the heart, and ſee how ſoftly he walks, and humbly before his GOD, (His judgements were before his eyes) he was afraid of the LORD that day, and ſaid, how ſhall the Arke of the LORD come unto me?2 Sam▪ 6. 9.2 Sam 6:9

Thus a good man learnes much by affliction, and is made better by anothers ſtroakes, for the hand of GOD, that was ſore upon Ʋzzah, pointed to Davids ſin alſo, and the LORD might have been as quicke with him, being the chiefe perſon there, and a Leader to His people: So David enquires wiſely into the matter and cauſe of this the LORDS diſpleaſure, and he finds it out and expreſſeth it; Our GOD made a breach upon us, for that we ſought Him not after the DƲEORDER cc1 Chr. 15. 13.1 Chr 15:13. See how that breach made-up Prince, People and Levites, and made them all whole againe; So the Priests and Levites ſanctified themſelves to bring up the Arke of the LORD GOD of Iſrael; SANCTIFIED THEMSELVES ddver. 14., that is to be noted; Take we heed of an inconſiderate ruſhing into, or upon Gods ſervice, ſuch, eſpecially, as concerne the Arke: A man muſt be prepared and ſanctified for ſuch works. 2. Looke to thy feet (thy heart, thy affections) when thou art going into▪ Gods houſe: He is in Heaven, thou art on Earth. The Admonition is ſeaſonable; when our foot is entring upon Gods worke, when we would doe a worke for God, Ioſhuahs direction is as uſefull as it was to the Prieſts, when they ſhould ſee God working for them; Sanctifie your ſelves, Ioſh. 3. 5.Josh 3:5for to morrow the LORD will doe wonders among you: So, Sanctifie your ſelves (for to morrow you are to worke p. 27for GOD;) as you expect He ſhould worke gloriouſly for you.

3. This is of high concernment for us ſimple ones, who are all for the work, not regarding the manner; It is ſpoken to us in a figure. We alſo are all for the matter and ſubſtance of the work; if our prayers be ſaid (as we ſay) If we have ſat out the hour, and heard the Sermon; and, when that is done, have received the Sacrament, that is enough, the work is done. Aſſuredly this is as if we ſhould thinke; if the Arke be carried, and brought to his place of reſt; no matter for the manner how, though it be put in a Cart, and the Oxen drew it. We muſt looke to the manner of our performance, or elſe looke for a breach upon us: Sooner or latter God will make it, for He is the ſame, He was in Davids dayes ggSieut Deus eſt ſemper, ſic juſtitia Dei ſemper; ſicut omnipotentia Domini indeficiens, ſic cenſura inde mistabilis: ſicut Deus jure perpetuus, ſic juſtitia perſeverans Sal. de. Gub l. x p. 60. 1 Cro. 15 3.; and then thus it was; Our God made a breach upon us, for that we ſought Him not after the due order. Then we muſt remember, how they ordered themſelves after this breach was made upon them, and as they did, ſo ſhould we doe in our ſervices, before God make a breach upon us (Becauſe you did it not at THE FIRST mm1 Chr. 15. 13 ver. 14.1 Chr 15:13, therefore the breach was made upon them at the laſt) So the Priests and the Levites ſanctified themſelves to bring up the Arke of the LORD GOD of Iſrael. So muſt we doe according to the charge in Ioſhuab, and this here, Sanctifie your ſelves both you and your Brethren, ſpecially ye that are the chiefe of the Fathers, that yee may doe the ſervice of the LORD after the DƲEORDER.

David has given the charge, and he leads the way▪ the breach upon Ʋzzah is ſtill in his eye, not to diſhearten him from removing the Arke, for he ſaw, that a bleſſing did accompany the Arke, and was viſible there, where the Arke was: but to make him wary and very circumſpect in his walke now about to remove the Arke. And ſee with what deliberation he does it, ſtill eying the Rule, and his way, and the breach upon Ʋzzah, ſo having gone ſix paces, he ſacrificeth. Then he goes-on rejoycing carrying the Arke into his owne City. His wife ſees no beauty in her husbands zeale and holy mirth but folly rather and madneſſe. David cannot endure a reproach from her, whom he loved, caſt upon his zeale for God, he checks her very ſharply: And becauſe her mouth was ſo open p. 28againſt her husband in the cauſe of his God, The Lord ſhut-up her wombe, ſhe ſhould beare no child unto him, Whom ſhe had contemned, Shee had no child to the day of her death: a great reproach that in thoſe dayes, among men bbLu 1. 25.. But David riſeth the higher by his outward abaſement: And that, which in his wives eye would make him vile and contemptible, ſhould 2 Sam 7. 3.2 Sam 7:3make him honourable and gracious; for what he did was before the Lord, and His abaſement before Him, is his way to Glory, therefore he is reſolved to be yet more vile then ſo, and baſe in his own eyes.

Thus K. David, and his people have done now, touching the Arke, it is brought in a due order to it's place. But David takes not his eye from off it, his care is ſtill about the Ark, That, now the Lord had given him rest, the Ark might reſt too, and in a fitting houſe w^ch he will build for it. No, but he ſhall not; and yet the Lord takes it very kindly from him, That it is the purpoſe of his heart to build GOD an houſe bb1 Kin. 8. 18.1 Kgs 8:18; Go and tell him, ſaith the LORD, I will build thee an houſe **1 Sam 7. 11. 1 Chro. 17. 10. 1 Chron. …9. 3.1 Sam 7:111 Chr 17:101 Chr 9:3, that I will: wilt thou lay out thy ſelf for Me and My Houſe, I will build thee an houſe, and it ſhall be a ſure houſe, It ſhall continue for ever; Thou ſhalt be no looſer for the good-will thou intendeſt to Me, or the good ſervice thou wilt doe for Me, I will build thee an houſe, and it ſhall be eſtabliſhed for ever. Reade-on and obſerve how comfortably the Lord ſpeakes to David, and how ſweetly David anſwers the Lord: I obſerve only this, That

The only way David could take to eſtabliſh his houſe for ever, was to take care of Gods Houſe on Earth **The reaſon why our houſes, many of them melt away, as if they were made of Snow, is, becauſe we mind not Gods houſe, and His ſervice there.: So he did, and 2 Sam 8. 14, 152 Sam 8:142 Sam 8:15ſee what proviſion he made for that building, becauſe he had ſet his AFFECTION thereupon; and ſee how he proſpered? What exploits his MILITIA wrought! No Enemies could ſtand before him, for the LORD preſerved David wh… therſoever he went. The Enemy had no power to ſtand before David, for GOD was with him. We ſee then where our ſtrength lyeth, not in multitudes of Charets, and troopes of Horſe-men: Though our Arme be weake, and our Adverſary ſtrong, yet his gods are but fewell for the fire; GOD is with us, and He is ſtrong. We reade-on, That David grew mighty, got himſelfe a name; for it followes, preſently after, David p. 29reigned over all Iſrael, and executed judgement and juſtice to all ver. 13.his People ^b. JUDGEMENT and JUSTICE! Theſe ver. 15.are like the two Pillars JACHIN and BOAZ cc1 King. 7. 21.1 Kgs 7:21, the upholders of the Throne. David executed judgment and juſtice: To whom? To ALL the People; to the poore and needy, to the Dumbe ddPro. 31. 8.Prov 31:8man, that cannot open his mouth for himſelfe, or his purſe to bribe another to ſpeake for him; whom the vile Judge, as an evening Wolfe, has appointed to deſtruction: David will open his mouth for this man, for this Dumbe man, for he will doe judgement and juſtice to ALL the People. To his Courtiers alſo; if they be proud and ſtout, David would not ſuffer ddPſ. 101. 5.Ps 101:5them; and if they be privy SLANDERERS, David will CƲT THEM OFF; He would turne the WHEELE over the wicked: Heare him what he ſaies, for never any King did ſpeak and practiſe better.

I will EARLY (marke that, he would begin betimes. Iudgement and Iuſtice ſhould be his firſt worke, as we heard) I will EARLY deſtroy all the wicked of the Land: that I may CƲT OFF ALL wicked doers from the City of the LORD.

This is to execute judgement and juſtice, to doe it EARLY, and to have a ſpeciall eye to the Slanderer; and to him that hath an high looke, and a proud heart; to the deceitfull perſon alſo, and to him that telleth lyes. Theſe ſhould be rooted-out, they are the Peſts and Plagues of the Court, and of the Kingdom.

But upon whom were Davids Eyes faſtned for good? Upon the faithfull in the Land, they ſhould dwell with him; and they, that walked in a perfect way, they ſhould be his Servants. An infallible ſigne of a good man this; Marke you, doe you ſee a man ſetting his Eyes upon (i. e. do's he favour, do's he take by the hand) Doegs wicked bloody men? He is a Saul. Do's, he ſet his eyes upon the faithfull in the Land? He is a David. Signes and tokens may deceive you, but this never failed; do's he delight in wicked men? Doe they dwell with him? Doe ſuch vile perſons ſerve him? Will he not ſuffer them to be cut off, he is a wicked man, for his eyes are upon the wicked to favour them; he will not execute Iudgement and Iuſtice. Has he a reſpect, doth he heartity favour (i. e. does he take by the hand) p. 30good men? Do's he delight in ſuch? Is his heart towards them? he is a good man.

The government is upon Davids ſhoulders, he will do Iudgment and Iuſtice, for he is ſet upon GODS THRONE, (as 2 Chro. 9. 8.2 Chr 9:8Solomon was) to be King for THE LORD HIS GOD (a mighty conſideration) Therfore made He thee King over them. What them? over Iſrael. Why King over Iſrael? To do Iudgement and Iuſtice to ALL the people.

But David did ſome injuſtice too in the matter of Ʋrijah the Hittite.1 Kin. 15. 5. 2. Sam. 12. 9.1 Kgs 15:52 Sam 12:9

True, he did indeed, He killed Urijah with the Sword, and ſo he called for the Sword home to his houſe; It came, and never departed from his houſe, according to the word of the Lord: ver. 10.And ſo we may reade-on and of nothing but the Sword, the Sword, now in the brothers hand, and therewith he ſlew his brother: Now againe in the ſonnes hand, the beloved Son, and he would dethrone his Father. It is very notable, but it belongs not to this place. We may look upon the Sword in Davids houſe, ſo as to keep it from our owne: And thinke of the Saints fals, ſo as to make us looke to our ſtanding; we may ponder their ſtepps and their failings in the way, ſo as that we admire free Grace. We may ſpeak of their fals too, when there is juſt reaſon ſo to doe, but with trembling; pointing at them, as SEA-MARKS to bid us beware, that no man preſume to come thither; though one man plunged in there, and yet eſcaped, many have fallen-in and were drowned.

David did tranſgreſſe in the matter of Ʋrijah; but David watred his bed with his tears. David did according to the deſire and pleaſure of his Eyes; but he was over-whelmed with ſorrow. We have our direction at this point in theſe words; He that once perſecuted the faith, now preacheth the Faith, which hee once destroyed. What then? And they glorified God in me ddGal. 1. 23, 24Gal 1:23Gal 1:24. There is a direction for us, when we thinke or ſpeake of the godly mans fals. But indeed, in this place, we are to ſay nothing touching this matter, unles we will go againſt the rule, and the practiſe of all the godly, even of God Himſelfe. Sarah had her infirmities, ſo had Moſes too, though the meekeſt man upon Earth; their FAITH is only mentioned and no more. p. 31David himſelfe might have ſaid much in the diſpraiſe of Saul; he do's not ſo, he fills his mouth with Sauls commendation. 1 Sam. 1. 17.1 Sam 1:17Iob did ſpeak when time was, unadviſedly vvith his lips, as an impatient man. See in his third Chapter, he breaks out a little. A little! You vvill ſay, he breaks-out a great deale, he curſeth the day and the night both. True, and yet I ſaid well enough, he breakes out a little; a little in reference to thoſe breakings, that vvere upon him, under vvhichwhich he vvas preſſed down, and lay flat, then behold a little impatiency; I may vvell ſay ſo: I or indeed St. Iames mentions none at all, he tells Iam. 5. 11.Jas 5:11us only this, You have heard of the patience of Job, as if we never heard of his impatiency. Matthew the Publican, ſaith he of himſelf, but no Evangeliſt beſides himſelf. Of Paul before. Luther another Paul, but of a more hot temper (the fitter for thoſe cold days, and the vvork he vvas upon) Epiſt.contended, upon a time, vvith Mr. Calvin, ſomwhat too eagerly. Well, ſaid Calvin, though Luther in his haſte, overtaken vvith infirmity, ſhould call me Devill. yet I muſt call him, as I do account of him, An excellent Servant of the LORD. And ſo we ſee vvhat the ſervants of the LORD have done; and yet vve are ſhown a more excellent way. For ſee vvhat the LORD do's in this caſe, My Servant David, a man after My Owne Heart, who did that which was right in 1 Kin. 15. 5.1 Kgs 15:5Mine Eyes, and turned not aſide from any thing, that I commanded him all the dayes of his life, ſave onelyonly in one thing, And that I have paſſed over, as if it had never bin done; And ſhall vve recall it? Surely the LORD ſpeaks much for our comfort, Ier. 31. 34.Jer 31:34and for our inſtruction too, I WILL FOR GIVE their iniquity, and I will remember their ſinne NO MORE. Shall vve then remember it? We heard what David did, and from GODS owne mouth; And when we reade what he did in the matter of Urijah, we muſt do as St. Paul ſaith the Iews Gal. 1. 24.Gal 1:24did, when they heard what Paul had bin, And they glorified God in mee.

And now we will draw towards the ſhutting-up of Davids day, for we muſt heare of him, as of the longeſt lived man, that ever was, AND HE DIED. We will paſſe-on in his ſtory, and make a ſtand there, where David found himſelf p. 32even in the hands of death. Then we reade with what affection he ſpeaks to the people; even as one that had ſet his affection upon them, as he had done upon the Houſe of GOD: He vvas now leaving them and that houſe, vvhichwhich muſt know him no more; and now, marke vvith vvhat affection he ſpeaks; Heare me my brethren and my people bb1 Chr. 28. 2.1 Chr 28:2. Then reade vvhat hee 1 Chr. 29. 3.1 Chr 29:3ſpake, and what his charge was to the people, that they and their ſouls might proſper ccver. 8, 6.; then how he bleſſeth Solomon, and chargeth him, but that requireth double obſervation; he chargeth him to keep the charge of the Lord, for that was the way to proſper in all that he did, and whitherſoever hee turned himſelfe ee… Kin. 2. 2.. We will ſet a Marke upon the charge to his ſonne; And thou Solomon my ſonne, KNOW thou the GOD of thy Father. Is that all? No, there is much more, which 1 Chr. 28. 9.1 Chr 28:9commands our obſervation, but upon this we ſet the marke, it is the greateſt part of that charge, and in obſervance of it, hath the greateſt recompence of Reward. If a dying Father can bequeath it to his children, he leaves them a richer legacy then is imaginable. And thou, my Sonne, KNOW the GOD of thy Father; He is JEHOVAH, has His Being in Himſelfe; gives Being to All; The Great and Terrible GOD, The gracious and mercifull GOD; That gives Being to all His Promiſes, to all His Threatnings. NOT ONE THING HATH FAILED eeIoſh 23. 14. 1 King. 8. 56. Exod. 15 11. Gen. 48. 15, 16Josh 23:141 Kgs 8:56Exod 15:11Gen 48:15Gen 48:16. Know this God, none like Him, Glorious in holineſſe, fearefull in Praiſes, doing wonders. The GOD of thy Father, before Whom thy Father walked; The GOD Who …ed him all his life long, and redeemed him from all evill; My ſonne, KNOW this God. They that ſo KNOW Him, will love Him, will feare Him, will ſerve Him with a perfect heart, and a willing mind They that love Him not, nor feare Him, nor ſerve Him, they KNOW Him not; ſo we reade ſtill; they KNEW not the LORD: VVe have ſet the mark theron, as the chief part of the charge; and it muſt bee remembred firſt and laſt.

The ſecond part is, touching Gods Houſe, whereunto the Father had ſet his Affection, and made anſwerable proviſion; his ſonne now muſt put to his hand and his heart to make an p. 33Houſe like GODS Houſe, exceeding MAGNIFICALL, WONDERFƲLL GREAT, for ſo is the God, to Whoſe Name it 1 Chro. 22. 5.1 Chr 22:5muſt be built. The remaining part of the charge is, touching the 2 Chro. 2. 5.2 Chr 2:5execution of Judgement and Juſtice; and there we muſt ſet a marke too: how David chargeth Solomon touching cruell Joab ff1 King. 2. 5.1 Kgs 2:5, and malicious Shimei ggver. 8., both theſe muſt be removed upon the firſt opportunity, for Solomon muſt learne by-times, what he muſt never forget; That the droſſe muſt be remooved from the ſilver; The wicked muſt be taken from the King, elſe his face cannot ſhine, nor can his Throne be eſtabliſhed in Righteouſneſſe hhProv. 25. 5.Prov 25:5. Then David, having ſeen his ſonne ſitting upon his Throne, and charged him concerning His Duty to GOD and to His Houſe, that he muſt build it exceeding MAGNIFICALL, as we heard; and having bleſſed the LORD, and 1 Chro. 22. 5. 1 Chro. 29. 10. 1 King. 1. 48.1 Chr 22:51 Chr 29:101 Kgs 1:48his ſonne, and the people, and commanded them to bleſſe the LORD mm1 Chron. 29. 20.1 Chr 29:20, DIED in a good old-age, with Bleſſings and Supplications in his mouth, full of Dayes, Riches, and Honour.ver. 28.