The Kings Chronicle, Order

The Kings Chronicle · Order

IT is this three and twentieth Day of December, 1642. Ordered by the Committee of the Houſe of COMMONS in PARLIAMENT concerning Printing, that this Booke, entituled, The Kings Chronicle be printed.

John White.

p. 1SECT. II. THE KINGS CHRONICLE.

The Story of the Kings of Iudah is continued; Their wiſe ordering their Militia; their direct wayes and motions to a deſired end are recorded.

§. 1. A digreſſion, ſhewing DAVIDS Military deſigne to be loyall and lawfull: and the true Cauſes of all the Warres againſt the Church, now or in former times, diſcovered. But the lawfullneſſe of this Militia now runs-out beyond all paralels.

I Muſt turne backe that I may goe forward in the Chronicle, and begin with David, (for he fought the Battels of GOD,) To learne from his Story, Who taught his hands to warre, and his fingers to fight. That we may reade in order, we muſt looke upon him a little before he was King, when he returned to Ziglag, and found nothing there but ruines and aſhes aa1 Sam. 30. 361 Sam 30:36: The deſire of his eyes, taken captive; and heard threatning words beſides: ſo David was greatly diſtreſſed; But he incouraged himſelfe in the Lord his God. And ſee what the Lord does for His ſervant David, becauſe he truſted in Him aaver. 6.! Truely that is very notable; how God ſtrengthened David: and how An expreſſion ordinary in the Pſalmes, and a duty to be obſerved.David fortifies himſelfe in the LORD his GOD. But I cannot come to that yet; I muſt firſt ſet David cleere from Malignant ſpirits; for his Actions then, are queſtioned now p. 2in a Paralel. I will ſet downe the Caſe as fully as the moſt Malignant ſpirit can doe; and then we will ſee how the ſacred Scripture cleares it, even the Innocency of David then, and of thoſe now, who practiſe after him. But it will be ſaid at firſt entrance, and ſo I ſhall diſſolve the Story into a Dialogue, That;

Object. We muſt live by PRECEPT, not by the Godly mans practiſe.

Anſw. True; for the practiſe may vary: but the precept is a ſtandard, I meane a ſtanding rule; And yet I muſt, for I am commanded ſo, To follow Paul as he followed Christ: I may live by the godly mans practiſe, while they live by the precept, keeping cloſe thereunto.

Object.

But what is the practiſe of one man, to juſtifie the practiſe of the whole Body of a Kingdome? ſpecially when his practiſe may be a queſtion, and then it cannot be an Argument, ſeeing the lawfullneſſe of Davids practiſe was never decided.

Anſw. Yes, that it was long agoe. The ſacred Scripture decideth it, and I will reade the Records of that deciſion now;

Beſides, David was not alone; he had others joyned with him; and one, amongſt the reſt, who renders Davids practiſe in his Military deſigne to be unqueſtionable by cleare teſtimony from Truth it ſelfe; THE SPIRIT CLOATHED AMASAI bb1 Chro. 12. 18. 12. 8.1 Chr 12:181 Chr 12:121 Chr 12:8; (i e) as it is expounded in another place ccIudg 6. 34. Inſtruxit eum voluntate & facultate ad hanc expeditionem pertinante, Trem.Judg 6:34, The Spirit of JEHOVAH furniſhed Amaſai with power and a willing heart, for that expedition, The helping forwards David… Military deſigne; The Spirit of the LORD does not cloath a man, does not ſo fully ſet him forth, compleating him with heart, and hand, and councell, and ſtrength to practiſe againſt His holy will. So I come to Davids practiſe; and will heare what can be ſaid againſt it, and give the Malignants good leave for our better obſervation, to urge againſt it to the utmoſt.

Object.

David was but a private man, now a ſubject, deſigned to the Crowne indeed; and within a few houres the Crowne was ſet upon his head: But who regarded that? he was a private man now, a poore caſt-out, a miſerable creature, at the loweſt.

p. 3Anſw. Reader, I will cut off the objection by the middle for thy ſake, that thou mayeſt note here with all thy heart this firſt, That it is GODS way and method to ſay Man low, before He raiſeth them; to pluck downe the head, before he will ſet a Crowne upon it; as David here, before he muſt be higheſt in the Kingdome, he muſt be the loweſt there. 2. Note alſo, for it will cleere our caſe exceedingly, That indeed David now was but a private man, yet he did ſo and ſo, as we ſhall reade preſently: Now let the objection run-on to its full length.

Object.

And though a private Man, and at the loweſt, yet ſee how proudly he carrieth himſelfe! Surely he had treaſonable thoughts againſt his Maſter, the LODS anoynted; he that ſcrupeled, at the cutting the lap of his Coate, will not ſcruple at the taking off his Maſters head; he had treaſonable thoughts againſt the LORDS anoynted now: he purpoſed to Rebell.

Anſw. No indeed not he; not a thought that way ever came into Davids heart.

Object. But (no) anſwers not the queſtion; The caſe is apparent, David had gathered together a great Army.

Anſw. The ſame Anſwer muſt ſerve, when all is ſaid, No; David did not gather together a great Army; They gathered to him; they came in to him for his guard and reſcue; they were not called-in. The perſecution of Saul againſt David was very notorious, and at length raiſed the hearts of the people, like a great bell, which being ſet up, made a loud ſound, and called-in for Davids helpers; ſo they flocked-in to him, till his Hoaſt was as the Hoaſt of the LORD bb1 Chro 12. 221 Chr 12:22: A ſure token, that God was with him too; and that Innocency was in his hand.

Object.

That is a groſſe miſtake; and Davids carriage is miſtaken too, cleane different to what the behaviour of a ſubject ſhould be. David ſhould have dealt plainely, thus; Maſters, remember your ſelves, and me, ſubjects all: Saul is our King and Maſter; we can ſet him no bounds, and if he be no law to himſelfe, he may doe as he does, perſecute me, and overtake me. But I will out-runne him if I can, and hide me where I may; If I cannot, yet, not a hand will I lift up againſt him; no nor ſuffer any hand to be lift up againſt my Maſter p. 4Saul▪ So he ſhould have ſaid and done.

Anſw. So he ſaid and did, as appeares in the Text cc1 Sam 24. 5.1 Sam 24:5; and will more appeare anone.

Object. Nay, cleane contrary; he goes forth to meete his helpers; Tells them, his heart ſhall be knit unto them dd1 Chro. 12. 17.1 Chr 12:17.

Anſw. He tells them ſo indeed; and ſaid he not well? If yee be come PEACEABLY unto mee; if as neighbours and Brothers, and come not to betray me to mine enemies; but will helpe me againſt them, Then my heart ſhall be knit unto you. 1 Chr. 12. 1.1 Chr 12:1Ye may ſee plainely what ye take in hand; The reſcuing a poore Innocent, that keepes himſelfe cloſe becauſe of Saul and his bloody Courtiers ddver. 1.; ye ſee, there is no wrong in my hands; I can appeale to Heaven in this; The GOD of our Fathers looke thereon and rebuke it.ver. 17.

Object. Call you this a coming PEACEABLY? It will carry a ſuſpition, at the leaſt of the contrary.

Anſw. Yes: But what careth a wiſe man for ſuſpition in ſuch a caſe: doe not ſuſpect but be confident, that a wiſe man will keepe the hand of the violent man from his throat, if it be in the power of his hands ſo to doe.

Object. What! keepe Saul the King from cutting his throate?

Anſw. Yes, Saul the King: for what glory had it beene, if Saul the King had cut Davids throate, any more then if a beggar had done it. The objection holds on.

Object.

Is this a coming PEACEABLY, when Men of might come-in unto David, and Men of Warre, fit for the Battell, Armed with Bowes and Arrowes; the chiefe Captaines, ver. 8.mighty Men of valour for the Warre, and for number infinite? Is this a coming PEACEABLY, when every Tribe ſent in their thouſands, Benjamin alſo even of Sauls Bretheren?ver. 2.

Anſw. Yes; all this PEACEABLY. But I thanke you for the laſt, for that is notable, even of SAULS BRETHEREN OF BENJAMIN. Davids cauſe was ſo juſt; Sauls quarrell ſo unjuſt; Davids Innocency ſo apparent; Sauls bloody intentions ſo cleare to all the Tribes round about; That even Sauls Bretheren came-in to help David, with thouſands from each Tribe, and all to reſcue him from a p. 5Murderer; And all this coming-in was PEACEABLY.

Object. Peaceably! ſtrange! what? Men to come-in, whoſe faces were like the faces of Lyons; Armed with Bowes; could handle ver. 8.ſhield and buckler; and all this peaceably?

Anſw. Yes peaceably all this, To maintaine the peace of the King and Kingdome; To ſafe-guard Sauls life; I am not miſtaken, I ſay Sauls life, even the ſoule of his life, for it was in reſcue, if it could have beene, of Sauls body, from out of the hands of bloody men, and in compaſſion to his ſoule, It will appeare anon; only we muſt goe about a little, and it will be worth our labour, for it will inſtruct us touching this preſent Military deſigne, the loyalty and lawfullneſſe thereof: But that indeed this now is a tranſcendent buſineſſe, hath no paralel, exceeds that, in the ſacred Text, as much as a whole Kingdom is more then David (then, at that time a private man:) As much as all the faithfull in the world, are more then that one Prophet Eliſha: yet ſee what he did to preſerve his life dd2 Kin. 6. 3 …2 Kgs 6:3; Indeed, life is a precious thing, and worthy our ſafe-guarding. I adde this by the way, to ſhew, as was ſaid, That this preſent buſineſſe exceeds all paralels, as much as the publike and common good exceeds the private, and particular; As much as a thouſand thouſand heads exceed one head; But to that which is undertaken; which is this; 1. That David and his helpers helped Saul and his Kingdome; 2. That David did what he did in very compaſſion to the ſoule of his Lord, and Maſter; with reſpect to his owne ſoule too, for that was but reaſonable.

To goe-on then to the bottome of the buſineſſe, and to find-out the ground of this quarrell, and in whoſe heart warre was indeed. We may make more then a conjecture from the words we ſhall heare, for they were drawne Swords; but we will ſearch into the bottome of the quarrell. Saul was wroth with David. What had David done? He had killed Goliah, and in him Ten Thouſand aa1 Sam. …. 7.. A Glorious Act that! David had wrought Salvations for Iſrael. He had ſlaine a mighty, a proud and inſolent Adverſary, him that defied, that curſed David by his gods bb… Sam. 17. 43▪. Little David had ſlaine this great Goliah, the Champion, that CAME up out of the Campe of the Philiſtines, p. 6ver. 4.him had David ſlaine: And in that one Adverſary, David ſlew a whole Legion of Devils. Such a ſalvation had David wrought for Iſrael. But for this very Act was the King of Iſrael highly diſpleaſed; The killing of Goliah cauſed the very heate of Sauls diſpleaſure againſt David: Saul was very wrath for that, and he eyed David (marke that) from that day and forward bb1 Sam. 18. 9.1 Sam 18:9; and did againſt him, as we may reade. Why? Becauſe he had beheaded Goliah, ver 9.that was the reaſon. Indeed his rage increaſed and was exceeding; he became Davids Enemy CONTINUALLY ccver. 29.from the very day, David had ſhaved-off Goliahs head. And ſee how contrary he walketh againſt David! For it commands our obſervation; ſometimes in a rage with David, and manifeſteth his madneſſe, ſo that all may ſee it dd1 Sam. 18. 111 Sam 18:11; ſometimes he uſeth wiles and crafts. He deales treacherouſly and ſubtilly, pretending honour to David, becauſe ſo worthy, and he ſhould be Captaine (forſooth) over a thouſand. And then when that would not doe, Saul aſſureth David, he will reſpect him as a ver. 13.Father his ſonne; he will take the ſame care of David, as of his owne child, For he ſhould have his Elder daughter to wife▪ Only David muſt be valiant, and encourage himſelfe to fight the LORDS battels. Who would not truſt ſuch words as theſe? ver. 17.Truly David, a ſimple hearted man, did believe it, That Saul had a zeale for GOD, the eſtabliſhing Religion, and, a full purpoſe to honour him; He ſhould have his daughter to wife; and the condition was to Davids heart, for he could be valiant, and fight the battels of the LORD. David could not ſuſpect, That a wicked heart is like a pot-ſheard covered with ſilver droſſe hhPro. 20. 23.Prov 20:23; or that a man may ſpeake faire, when there are ſeven abominations in his heart iiver. 25.. There were no fewer in Sauls heart; he cared not what he ſaid, nor what he did, nor did he regard the hundred fore-skins of the Philiſtines; he regarded this, how he might execute His Will upon the innocent. What he ſaid to Day, he unſaid the next day, or did worſe; David ſhould have his elder daughter that he ſhould; but when ſhe ſhould have bin given to David, ſhe was given to another the very ſame day, it is worth the noting, at the ſame time. And yet 1 Sam. 18. 19.1 Sam 18:19David muſt be told, that Saul delights in him, and all his ſervants p. 7love him, (ſee what a thing the Heart is, how desperately wicked kkver▪ 22.) And if it will pleaſe David, he ſhall be the Kings ſonne in law notwithſtanding. And it pleaſed David well, for he ſaid, in effect, Saul honours the poore Shepheard very much, For is it not an honour to be the Kings ſonne in law llver. 23.? So David performes the condition, which Saul requird ^m, and Saul performed his word to David; he gave him Michal his daughter to wife mmver. 27.; but he had ſaid (in his heart) before, I will giuegive him her, that ſhe may be a ſnare unto him nnver. 21.. Thus it was almoſt viſible, That there was warre in Sauls heart, and ſeven abominations beſide: But yet Saul cannot prevail againſt David, neither by open rage, nor ſecret cunning. How ſo? Becauſe the LORD was departed from Saul, and was with David oover. 12.: Therefore David behaved himſelfe wiſely in all his wayes, for the LORD was with him ppver. 14.. And that troubled Saul moſt of all, for it defeated all his counſels; it made him afraid of David; yet he would try all wayes he could find out to kill David.

Then Saul ſpake to Jonathan his Sonne qqChap. 19. 1.(he was an honeſt man, and loved David with his heart rrver. 2., for he delighted in him) and to all his Servants (they were all wicked, for their Maſter hearkened unto lyes ssProv. 29. 12.Prov 29:12) THAT THEY SHOƲLD KILL DAVID. So the Maſter and the ſervants, did all what they could to take away his life. But the poore Worme pluck'd in his head as he could, he dealt very ſubtilly tt1 Sam. 23. 221 Sam 23:22. Good reaſon why, for, Saul ſecretly practiſed miſchiefe againſt him uuChap. 23. 9.; And David knew it. Nay, Saul had deſtroyed the City of the Prieſts xxChap. 22. 1….: His ſervants indeed would not execute their Maſters bloody command yyver. 17, 18., but Doeg did ^y; (A bloudy Maſter cannot want a bloudy Doeg) if the other ſervants will ſcruple at ſo nice a point, Doeg will not, he fell upon the Prieſts and ſlew on that day 84. perſons, that did weare a linnen Ephed▪ Nay he did more then ſo, like the Doegs of our dayes, they could not be avenged of David▪ the faithfull ſervants of the Lord, therefore they ſlew poore naked men and women, yea and dogs too. So Doeg then, he ſmote Nob, the City of the Prieſts with the edge of the Sword, both men and women, children and ſucldings, and oxen and aſſet, and ſheepe with p. 8the EDGE OF THE SWORD. It is twiſe repeated ver. 19.to expreſſe the extreame cruelty of that execution. See here what a bloudy perſecution is raiſed, when Saul ſeeks Davids life, and Doeg is his miniſter!

But what doth Saul ſay now? Can he call GOD to record upon his ſoule, That his heart is upright? That he hath a zeale for the Lords battels? So he ſaid, can he ſay ſo ſtill? Yet may be he could; but no wiſe-men regarded what he ſaid, when they ſaw Doeg was with him, and had made ſuch a miſerable deſtruction. Wiſe-men did obſerve what Saul did, and who were his miniſters; and they knew as well as David himſelfe, That the perſecution was raiſed againſt the moſt faithfull ſervant in Sauls Kingdome; and therefore it was, that who ſo were faithfull in the Kingdome, next to David, were ſlain too for his ſake. Now Saul might ſpeake, and ſweare and proteſt, and call GOD to witneſſe, it could not be regarded; his bloudy execution (for it was his, he commanded Doeg to fall) upon the Prieſts, and that cruell out-rage againſt Nob, undeceived all the people in the Land, and in point of Law. But Saul now makes no pretence; he marcheth on now (for he was now entred into blood) foreign, with open face againſt David, and ſee what an Army he hath gathered together, three thouſand choſen men out of Iſrael; mighty hunters 1 Sam. 24. 2.1 Sam 24:2all, and they all hunted David, as one hunteth a Partridge in the Mountaines kkChap. 26. 20., and once, nay twice they had him in a coop, incloſed ll1 Sam 23 26.1 Sam 23:26him in a Cave with more then five hundred drawne Swords round about; but the Lord gave David the day, and the advantage; Truely Davids deliverances and reſcues Chap. 24. 3, 4.were the greateſt miracles that GOD wrought in thoſe dayes.

But why all this proſecution and perſecution againſt David? That is the enquiry: What had David done? It was halfe anſwered before, and but the halfe; he had killed Goliah, and in him ten thouſand. Now we muſt heare the other part; but reade firſt and note it, David ſhall have enough urged againſt him; That he conſpired againſt his Maſter Saul mm1 Sam. 22. 13.1 Sam 22:13, for Saul ſaith, as if he did beleeve, that David ſought his hurt nnChap. 24. 9., and he went in danger of his life every day. Who? Saul, he was p. 9afraid of David that David would kill him; ſo he ſaid, and ſo his Courtiers ſaid alſo, but what ſaid the honeſt Prieſt, for we muſt beleeve him, Who is ſo faithfull among all thy Servants, as David ooChap. 22. 14.; and Saul knew it to be ſo too, though he ſpoke, that David conſpired againſt him, and that he ſought his life; they were but fained words, he feared David no more, then a dog feares the hare, or a wolfe a lambe: and Saul cleares David at this point alſo, in his words and in his heart both pp1 Sam. 24. 16, 17, 18. 1 Sam. 26. 21. Chap. 23. 8. 1 Sam. 23. 17.1 Sam 24:161 Sam 24:171 Sam 24:181 Sam 26:211 Sam 23:17. But Saul conſpired againſt David to take away his life, that was viſible, he called all the people together to warre to beſiege David, for the reaſon above ſaid, and for this which followes, Thou ſhalt be King over Iſrael, and that alſo SAƲL MY FATHER KNOWETH, marke that, and then you have the other part, and are come to the bottome of the buſineſſe.

What ever the pretences were, this was the ground of the quarrell; Sauls houſe ſhall not be eſtabliſhed; David muſt ſucceed, and not Jonathan, and SAƲL KNEW IT. Why then would Saul reſiſt, fighting againſt GOD, and a good conſcience? The anſwer is ſhort; becauſe he vvas an enemy to GOD, and to the good pleaſure of His will; Therefore he endeavours nothing more earneſtly, then to make void the decrees of GOD, though yet they are as the everlaſting hils and perpetuall Mountaines. Indeed this ever was, and is the great deſigne of the vvorld, What? To dethrone David, The Lord Christ King of Saints: He ſhall not rule in the Kingdomes of the vvorld; not over them; they ſtill ſaid ſo, and ſo they ſay ſtill; ſo they ſet themſelves, taking counſell together, ſtill againſt the LORD, and againſt His ANNOINTED. And ſo vve have the vvhole ground and reaſon of the quarrell, vvhichwhich vve vvill reade over again.

1. David had done vvorthily for the people of God, in one Adverſary he had ſlain ten thouſand.

2. The mercies of God vvere made ſure to David, his Kingdome muſt be eſtabliſhed for ever, Saul vvould make all this Null, and of none effect. And this hath been the cauſe of all the warres againſt the Church from the beginning of the world; and vvill be the ſame to the vvorlds end. David p. 10ſhould not be King then: Thence roſe the quarrell, and it has continued ever ſince upward to this day. What an heaving and ſhouldering doe we make now, That His Seed may not keepe His Throne, and have, according to the Promiſe, the Kingdomes of the Earth for His poſſeſſion? And yet, if we aske theſe men, they will anſwer in coole blood, That the LORD CHRIST doth raigne, and muſt raigne; He will take to Himſelfe Power, be the Nations never ſo angry: Notwithſtanding, what they thinke in coole-blood, thus they Rev. 11▪ 17, 18Rev 11:17Rev 11:18doe in their Anger; They breake His bands in ſunder, and caſt away His cords from them. This is the ground of the quarrell, the dethroning of the LORD CHRIST; as this has, Pſal. 2. 3.Ps 2:3ſo it will cauſe the bloudieſt warre, that ever was read of in the world. My Promiſe was to make a diſcovery hereof only, and no more.

Now to the maine buſineſſe, 1. To vindicate David and his helpers, from doing wrong or injuſtice againſt Saul.

2. Then I ſhall cleare Davids compaſſion to Saul, and to his owne ſoule; All this in ſtanding upon his guard, and defending himſelf.

1. The firſt is as cleare as the Sunne-ſhine, David tooke nothing from Saul, but added to him, he would have maintained Ziglag for him; All Davids deſignes were to ſafeguard Sauls life; and ſtill his in-rodes were upon Sauls Adverſaries; All his wayes were not alwayes warrantable there; then hee wandred erring from the way, when feare ſurpriſed him, and that was more then once; but not once in all his life, did he doe the leaſt hurt to Saul, but much good ſervice.

Obiect.

By your leave, David might have hurt Saul, and have ſlaine him too: For, had not the LORD told David, that the men of Keilah aa1 Sam. 23. 10, 11.1 Sam 23:101 Sam 23:11, notwithſtanding their engagements to David, yet would deale treacherouſly with him, he had ſtood upon his guard there, and fortified the Towne, and maintained it againſt Saul; who, ſo glad of that advantage, and calling together all the people to befiege bbver. 9.David, might have endangered his life there, that he might.

Anſw. Yes indeed might he; No doubt but Saul would have made a furious on-ſet upon Keilah for Davids ſake, (it was p. 11as ſome Towne our thoughts may be upon, well fortified, and had gates and barres,) for he was the very But and white wherat malice ſhot all her Arrowes; and if the Keilites had been faithfull to David, he would not have been treacherous to himſelfe; and then in the heat of the battell, and hot charge againſt David, he could not teach the arrows, or what other inſtruments of death they had, to make difference betwixt Saul and a common Man. Saul might have forborne, and have taken leiſure enough to looke to himſelf, David had work enough, to prevent Saul, and to ſave his owne throat. If Saul will runne upon the Sword, who can ſtay him? It is all the anſwer that needs to a queſtion but ſuppoſed.

But ſeeing we are upon that Chapter, let us obſerve the bold confidence of the man; David is come to Keilah ſayes he; he is ſhut in there, by entring into a Towne that hath gates and barres ddver. 7.. Well, what if he be? There is a POWER with David, that can breake Gates of braſſe and barrs of Iron. But obſerve, I ſay, how▪ confident the man is, and yet how miſtaken! He is ſure enough now, ſayes Saul, I have him now faſt enough: GOD hath delivered him into my hand. Look ye! Saul thought that GOD ſhined upon His bloudy counſels: (indeed the LORD gives ſome ſucceſſe that way, that the counſell of the wicked may be carried head-long) when as indeed GOD went cleane croſſe unto him, and declared His Name to be Wonderfull for David; onelyonly the LORD gave Saul this advantage to manifeſt the ſpirit of the man, and to diſcover the treachery of the people, that was it. But Saul underſtood none of all this, he thought, as was ſaid, that GOD bleſſed His indeavours, proſpered his deſigne, though it was the perſecution of David, throughout all the thouſands of Judah dd1 Sam. 23. 23.1 Sam 23:23.

How came Saul to be ſo blinded in an evill way? Say hardned and brawned too; Then looke in the Chapter immediately before; and that will give you anſwer to both ee1 Sam. 22.1 Sam 22. Saul had taken a bloudy Edomite to his ſide; had ruſhed furiouſly into a Towne of Prieſts, and we have read what a ſlaughter he made there. He waſhed his feet in the blood of the Lords chiefe ſervants; he muſt needs be blinded now and brawned in an evill p. 12way. This in paſſage: But I thinke I have cleared this, which was the firſt: That neither David, nor his helpers did any wrong to Saul. I come now to the ſecond thing, which is the chiefe of my undertaking; That David in ſeeking to defend and ſafeguard himſelf, did ſhow compaſſion to Saul, even to the life of his life.

2. Sauls underſtanding was now ſo clouded, the light which was in him, was overſpread with ſuch a thicke darkneſſe, that he accounted the delivering up David into his hands (which the people, ſo brutiſh and vile they were, ſo blind alſo, they followed Saul up to the knees in bloud; and ſuch enemies to their Kings peace, were ready to doe) ſo as he might ſheath his ſword in Davids bowels, even this, To be a mercy to his ſoule, Bleſſed be ye of the Lord, for yee have compaſſion on me dd1 Sam. 23. 21.1 Sam 23:21: See there, Saul bleſſeth murtherers, whom GOD curſeth, and he ſhould have put to death. And he accounts it a COMPASSION to his ſoule. What? To have the opportunity given him for the taking away Davids life. Lay this together, conſider on it, then we muſt conclude, that David, in ſtanding upon his guard, and admitting ſuch helpers, which GOD ſent-in unto him, did ſhow compaſſion even to his Maſters ſoule: As he did to his own ſoul, in reſcuing that by all faire means out of the hands of a murtherer. I ſaid, compaſſion to his Maſters ſoul; That is compaſſion indeed, to keepe a man from ſhedding innocent blood. That reſtraint is a bleſſed reſtraint, which keeps the foote from the path of the deſtroyer: That counſell, bleſſed counſell, which checks and ſtopps a man in the purſuance of bloody deſignes. We may ſay of ſuch reſtraints, and of ſuch counſellours, as we weade; Bleſſed be the LORD GOD of Iſrael, and bleſſed be the advice; and bleſſed be thoſe counſellours, who would keepe this day from ſhedding innocent 1. Sam. 25. 32, 33.1 Sam 25:321 Sam 25:33blood.

We will looke over this once more that we may obſerve in paſſage thence, and ſtand humbled at our obſervation; firſt;

1. What a thick cloud man hath caſt over his underſtanding! What does Saul call a compaſſion on him? The delivering up of David into his hands, that ſo he might ſheath his Sword in p. 13his bowells: And now that the Ziphites will (after the manner) doe Saul this kindneſſe to deale treacherouſly with David, ver 19.aand betray innocent blood, Saul will bleſſe them in the Name of the LORD. Truely here is a ſtrange compaſſion, and as ſtrange a bleſſing, yet not ſtrange from Saul, a ſtranger to the Common-wealth of Iſrael, and has made ſuch a ſlaughter, and committed ſuch an out-rage upon Nob, for that muſt be remembred ſtill all along,

2. Compare we the compaſſion the Ziphites would have ſhewne to Saul, with the compaſſion David did ſhew unto him dd1 Sam. 24. Chap. 26,1 Sam 24, Then we ſhall ſee plainly, that the Ziphites compaſſion was trencherous and bloody, they can ſhew no compaſſion; But David can; his compaſſion is compaſſion indeed, mercy to the Body, and to the Soul alſo. All this David ſhewed to Saul. Now in the next place, we muſt give David leave to ſhew,

2. Compaſſion to his owne Soule; ſo I ſaid; And is not the ſoule worthy whereto a man ſhould ſhew compaſſion? Why ſhould a man ſuffer the thred of life to be cut, his ſoule to be let-out by a bloody hand, which no ſooner is let-out, but it lancet forth into the deepes of eternity, where it muſt live for ever? Why ſhould a man neglect his life, his pretious life, which is given him here, to make proviſion for a happy life hereafter. We have heard what David a private man did, for his Maſter Saul, and for himſelfe, how juſt and innocent in all; now heare him out, what he ſaith; If you be come peaceably unto me, mine heart ſhall be knit unto you, but if ye be come to betray me to mine enemies, ſeeing there is no wrong in mine hands, the GOD of our Fathers looke thereon and rebuke it. In the next place, heare what Abigall ſaith; The LORD will certainely make my Lord a ſure houſe aa1 Sam. 25 28.1 Sam 25:28How a Chro. 12. 17.knowes ſhe that? Becauſe my Lord fighteth the Battels of the LORD. What Battels were they? Offenſive againſt the Philiſtines, defenſive againſt Saul. And evill hath not found in thee all thy dayes: Yet a man is riſen to purſue thee, and to ſeeke thy ſoule. Who was that? Saul; But the ſoule of my Lord ſhall be bound in the bundle of life with the LORD thy GOD, and the ſoule of thine enemies, them ſhall He ſling out as out of the midſt of a ſling. She was no Propheteſſe, but it p. 14was juſt as ſhe ſaid. In the laſt place, heare what Amaſai ſaith, for he ſpake by the Spirit; Then the Spirit came upon Amaſai, who was chiefe of the Captaines, and he ſaid, Thine are we David, and on thy ſide, thou Sonne of Jeſſe, peace be unto thee, and peace be to thine helpers, for thy GOD helpeth thee. Then David received them, and made them Captaines of the band, David might receive thoſe helpers, and employ them, for they came unto him with a bleſſing from GODS Mouth, and with a Warrant from His Hand. And ſo the ſacred Scripture hath cleared Davids Militia to be loyall and lawfull.

The ſame Oracle ſayes as much, and more in the juſtification of our Militia, raiſed for the Defence of our Lord the King, his Crowne and Dignity: The Malignant Party will interrupt me here; they and they only are a WALL to the King, a Defence to the Kingdome by night and day bb1 Sam. 25. 19.1 Sam 25:19So they ſay, and you may beleeve them. Now what ſhall I ſay? That our Militia (I call it ours, becauſe our Lawes, Liberties, Lives, the life of our lives, Religion and all, are concerned in it) is raiſed for the offence of the Kingdome, to open the doores and frontiers thereof, that the Beaſts of prey may enter-in thereby; to make the Nation the portion of Foxes. I may ſay ſo if I will, but no ſober man will think me ſober for ſaying ſo; Therefore I will ſpeake-out my words, That the ſacred Scripture ſays as much, and much more in juſtification of our Militia, raiſed for the fortifying the Kingdome (the King alſo, for what is good for the one; is good for the other: As what is good for the Bee-hive is alſo good for the Bee) That it may be a WALL about the Kingdome indeed by night and day; for the ſafe-guarding of All we count good there, his Majeſties Perſon, Crowne, and Dignities; our Lawes and Liberties, and the life of all, our Religion; This great Buſineſſe is managed according to the cleare mind and will of GOD, that His Glory, and the Glory of the Land, ſhould be maintained with all that we count deareſt unto us, our deareſt blood, in reſiſting thoſe, who doe oppoſe that Glory, and would ſpoile us of ſo uneſteemable a jewell; It is pure obedience in this caſe, and for thoſe in Authority, to bring, forth the Sword, and Speare, ſo p. 15to ſtop the way againſt ſuch a spurious company; A Malignant generation, a viperous brood, ſuch evill doers, bloody Edomites, who ſay now (and doe as they ſay) as their Fathers before them in the day of Jeruſalem, raſe it, ccPſal. 37. 7.Ps 37:7raſe it even to the foundation thereof, which may awaken the Nation, and ſtirre them up to defend themſelves, and avenge themſelves of ſuch Adverſaries. But I forbeare, ſuppoſing the Readers judgement (if he is not willingly ignorant) cleared in this matter, by thoſe many cleare Treatiſes in every mans hand, which doe fully ſtate the buſines, and make full anſwer to the cavils againſt it. I goe-on now where I left; I have cleared the juſtice of Davids Militia; now it is objected, The juſtice of ours is not ſo cleare.

Object.

What is all this to juſtifie the Militia now on foote? For firſt, David did this in a quiet way, ſhifting from place to place, like an hunted Partridge, to ſhelter and defend himſelfe, and no more: David was offended, but he gave no offence at all. It is granted alſo, That there came-up to David day by day, out of all the Tribes, untill he had a great Hoast, like the Hoaſt of GOD dd2 Chro. 12. 2….2 Chr 12:2and yet we reade not of any thing this Hoaſt did for Davids defence: or of any thing, that Saul did againſt David.

Anſw. To anſwer the laſt firſt, It is cleare in the Chapter, That, to the 23. verſe, thoſe are numbred, who came-up to David, to defend and ſafe-guard him, againſt the malitious attempts of Saul and his bloody ſervants, who ſought by force and fraud, to take away his life. Paſt all queſtion, that was the end, and tendency in coming to David in Troopes; and not to pick Cockleſhels, as, I reade a great Hoaſt was commanded to doe, to ſhew, I think, the authority and force of their Generalls command: They came for the purpoſe aforeſaid, there is no doubt of that; And yet the Scripture is ſilent in what they did for David: very little ſure, but ſtanding-on his ſide, and making ſuch an appearance for him, it muſt needs ſtrike ſome terrour into his Adverſaries; It is more then probable alſo, That Saul at this time, obſerved the Philiſtines gathering ſtrength againe, and they were Enemies indeed, which might take him-off from purſuing David: for ſure this appearance, p. 16on Davids ſide, was neare the time of Sauls death, and Davids coming to the Throne.

But this I would have noted in our paſſage here, That, as we reade not here of any deliverance, that God wrought for David by this great Hoaſt: So ſhall we never reade, that God wrought any greate deliverance for His Church by great Hoaſts at any time: No? What ſay you to the Yeare 88? I ſay it is our weakeneſſe, I might ſay our wickedneſſe, to give the glory of that deliverance, as we doe, to our great Hoaſt; The LORD fought againſt that Siſera, as wonderfully then, as, in ancient dayes, Hee did, when the Starres in their courſes fought againſt him eeJudg. 5. 20.Judg 5:20. And ſo He ſcattered, not the ſhips only, but the bones of them that encamped againſt us. The Lord put an hooke into the noſe of that inſolent Adverſary, as once He did into the noſe of him (ſo like a Beaſt) and turned him backe not by the way gg2 Kin. 19 28.2 Kgs 19:28, which he came forth; but ſo, that he, who came out againſt His Church one way, did flie before Her ſeven wayes hhDeut. 28. 7.Deut 28:7. Thus the LORD did, that He might be magnified and have all the glory. I might be large here and to excellent purpoſe, but then, I ſhould digreſſe from the buſineſſe in hand; only let me ſay this, That GOD wrought then for David, when David was alone, skipping from this place unto that, now from this hole into another, when Saul would ſearch him out throughout all the Thouſands of Judah: Then the LORD wrought gloriouſly for David, and then David could ſee the Bare-ARME of the LORD in his deliverance, which he not ſeene if the LORD had done it by his great Hoaſt. This is ⁿ GOD uſually hangs the greateſt weights upon the ſmalleſt wyars: He doth the greateſt works, both in the way of mercies and of judgements, by the ſillieſt and weakeſt executioners.ſpoken not to take us off from making proviſions, and taking ſuch helpes, That GOD ſends-in unto us: But that we put no confidence there; nor give glory thereunto; which, becauſe we are apt to doe, therefore the LORD workes no great matters by His great Hoaſts, unleſſe they be Hoaſts of Froggs, Liee and Flies: By theſe contemptible things, the LORD has confounded the Adverſary, becauſe the Adverſary, and His people much more, muſt ſay, The finger of GOD is here *. It pleaſeth the LORD to worke the greateſt things by the weakeſt inſtruments, That man may ſay, the p. 17Arme of the LORD was made bare here, His hand brought theſe mighty things to paſſe. So much to that part of the objection; The other is;

Object. That David paſſed-on in a quiet way, made no noiſe at all: nor made he a warre offenſive, unleſſe againſt the Philiſtines, the enemies of GOD.

Anſw. Briefly, to the laſt firſt; It was not poſſible that David ſhould defend himſelfe againſt Saul, and not offend him, as in the caſe of Keilah, had not the inhabitants there been treacherous: we reade not that they came to a ſet battle, therefore there could be no offence, and therefore little noyſe indeed;

Secondly, As little as might be, as he will doe, that ſhifts for his life; his worke was to ſave one, and then hee ſaved all, and that hee might doe, and not make much a doe, or much ſtirre in the Land. Here now a whole Kingdome, All that is deare or neare unto us in it, whether Perſons or Things are to be ſaved, defended, reſcued, delivered.

This will be a hot and ſharpe contention ſure, for it is to make a Kingdome Honourable, the head of Kingdomes, now ſet low becauſe of the abominations there; It is a contention for the Faith, and not againſt fleſh and blood only, but againſt principalities and powers, againſt the Epheſ. 6. 12.Eph 6:12Rulers of the darkeneſſe of this world, againſt ſpirituall wickedneſſe in high places. The wicked there had turned the Kingdome quite from GOD; now it muſt be turned againe, and, as was ſaid of Pauls preaching, upſide down with it's face towards GOD againe. It muſt needes follow, that we ſhall be full of ſtirres, a tumultuous people now, that the wel-poſturing a Kingdome, this Reforming Work in hand; for (I allude to that place) Hell from beneath Eſa. 14. 9.Isa 14:9is mooved to meet this worke: It ſtirreth up the dead againſt it, even all the chiefe of the Earth: It will raiſe up from their Thrones, all the Kings of the Nations. It was ever ſo, it muſt be ſo now, now that Jeruſalems wall, the breaches there are making-up, ſpecially after ſuch Ruines there; it muſt needes make the Nations angry, p. 14duplicate page p. 15duplicate page p. 16duplicate page p. 17duplicate page p. 18ſo grievous it is to the Head the Pope: To the Tayle, the Prophets, that teach lyes: To the brutiſh People, and to the King of the bottomleſſe pit. But it is the ſureſt and cleareſt ſigne, that the worke is of GOD, To promote His Glory, which is ſo oppoſed by all the Devills in hell, and his ſervants on earth. This is enough to aſſure us, wee muſt looke to heare a voyce of noyſe from the City now, and the like from the Countries: For now the worke is not to ſave one Man, no nor one Kingdome, but three Kingdomes, To poſture them againſt their Adverſaries, and to ſet them with their face towards GOD.

Obiect. Then here is like to be a confuſed noyſe, and garments rolled in blood.

Anſw. Yes, for it is the battell of the Warriour; beſides, the Land hath beene defiled with bloud, and it cannot be cleanſed, but by the bloud of them that ſhed it. Wee ſhall never r…ade, That a Kingdom was eſtabliſhed before the wicked were taken away. Therefore David begins there, as we ſhall ſee anon, and gives his ſon Salomon the like charge too, that he ſuffer not the Murtherer to live, nor the vile perſon neither, hee muſt turne the wheele over the wicked: And thou wilt doe it, ſayes he, for thou art a wiſe-mans, and thou lookeſt thy Throne ſhould be eſtabliſhed in righteouſnes.c 1 King. 2 9.1 Kgs 2:9

2. As the Nations are angry; ſo the LORD is angry too, His Sword ſhall be filled with blood, as we reade it was by His owne command, and at that very time, when the enemy thought to have power over His people ddEſt. 9. 1. & 15. 16.Esth 9:1Esth 9:15Esth 9:16. Surely the LORD has a Sacrifice now in theſe Kingdomes, as in Bozrah; and a great ſlaughter, as in the Land of Idumea, For it is the day of the LORDS vengeance, and the yeare of Recompences for the controverſie of Eſa. 34.Isa 34Zion.

Obiect. But the ſword knowes no difference betwixt the Righteous and the wicked; it may be bathed in the bloud of the Righteous too.

Anſw. True, and yet there ſhall be a great difference, for p. 19it is the LORDS ſword in whoſe hand ſoever it bee, and Hee will make a difference; and the will of the LORD be done. If now be the time when His WITNESSES must be ſlaine, the will of the Lord be done. His Antipaſſes cannot be diſcouraged in ſtanding to their Teſtimony; for what ever indignities ſhall be done unto their bodies, though in the openeſt place of the great City; what ever inſultation over them, yet they cannot bee diſcouraged, for it ſhall be done againſt them in that place, where our LORD was crucified; there is a ſtrong conſolation **See Cure of Fear, p. 56. &c..g Revel. 11. 8.Rev 11:8

I will recollect what hath been ſaid and conclude; Our MILITIA is raiſed for the Defence of King and Kingdome, of all that is deare and precious to us there; therefore in the juſtice of it, it exceeds all Paralels, and is according to the Mind and Will of GOD: His Hoſt ſentin unto us for the ſaving of His Owne Kingdome. What workes Hee may doe by it Hee knowes, wee know not; His manner is not to worke great matters by great Hoſts of men: He has broken the Ship to peeces, yet brought the paſſengers ſafe to Land bbAct. 27.Acts 27; Hee may confound all our confidences, and yet doe the worke for the magnifying His Owne Name, in creating wayes and meanes for Deliverance; making the unfaithfullneſſe in man, To advance His faithfullneſſe **Gods power is magnified by mans weaknes; His wiſdom by mans folly; His truth & faithfulnes by mans treachery and falſehood, Chr.: And Mans improvidences, To ſerve His Providence. And this wee are ſure of alſo, That the Hoſt of GOD never miſcarried; if they have turned their backe upon their enemies, as ſometimes they have done, it is to make them ſet their faces more ſtedfaſtly Heaven-ward ever after. If the Adverſary and Enemy puts them once to the worſt, they take great advantage by it, for they are made the better all the dayes of their warfare. Let us doe our Dutie, that is our worke, opening our Mouthes wide, and our hearts and our purſes: And let the LORD alone with His worke, Hee will worke like Himſelfe for the good of His Church in a good time, His owne time. His people would not have things done p. 20better or ſooner then their GOD pleaſeth to doe them: For the Time when Hee doth it is beſt of all: And there they reſt and ſtay themſelves: For His words touching this Matter alſo, Shall be fullfilled in THEIR SEASON ccLuk▪ 1. 20.Luke 1:20. Now wee paſſe-on to The ACTS of David.