The Kings Chronicle in Two Sections, Chapter 1
CHAPT. I.
A Change in the mind and ways of the Judges makes the Elders of Iſrael aske a change of Governement; they aske a King, are ſhewen the manner of their King; Saul is given them. He is well adviſed and ruled by Samuell, and is prosperous. An Ammonite deales proudly with Iſrael, and is accordingly dealt with, and confounded. GOD gives Saul a glorious victory over the Philiſtines, and his ſonne fullfills a Prophecy: He is charged concerning Amaleke, and does contrary: Then he heares of his rejection. David gaines him another victory, as wonderfull as the former, therein gives the Church aſſured confidence for ever, he is ill requited for it, Saul envied him to the day of his death, bent the ſtrength of his Militia againſt David. Sauls life was all along contrary to the rule of grace; and his death contrary to the light of Nature.
SAmuell is Iſraels laſt Judge, and Saul their firſt King; called to that high office, and inabled thereunto by GOD Himſelfe, raiſed quickly in his thoughts and diſpoſition to the pitch of a King. Samuell doe's not rule now (though well read and experienced in that Art) but orders and directs; gives Saul the honour of that hardeſt worke, The ruling of the people, but tels him how to doe it. Samuell ſpeakes, and Saul hearkens, and all this while it was well: So long as Samuell ruled-out the way of government to Saul, and he followed the Rule, it was well with Saul and with all the people: The Lord made their Militia ſtrong and ſucceſſefull to a wonder: When he tranſgreſſed that Rule, his ſpirits fell, and he from his princely dignity, thruſting himſelfe beſides the throne with his own hands. Notwithſtanding the LORD wrought a wonderful deliverance for Iſrael by the hand of David, for which David was ill requited, for therefore Saul envied him, and turned the edge of his Militia againſt him. Saul ſhould have fought the battels of the Lord, and have ſtrengthened himſelfe againſt the Lords and Iſraels enemies, he does the contrary, fights againſt the Lord and his ſervant David: Quickly after, his ſinne finds him out, and the Philiſtines (who gathered ſtrength, while Saul ſtrengthened himſelfe againſt the LORD) drove Saul into the ſtraits, and being there, he ſought for Death from anothers hands, and obtaines it not; his owne hand ſhall doe him that favour (ſince he counts it ſo) and ſo is his own Executioner.
Thus I have, this once, for I ſhall doe ſo no more, hudledup and crowded together, a large and famous Story, which contains many Remarkables of infinite uſe; That is it I intend: Therefore I will draw them out one after another, if at more length then is expected, the intent is good, that we may put the more obſervations upon them. The Hiſtory begins,
AGe bath overtaken Samuell; and his carefull government, which is a burden too heavy for him, he puts off from himſelfe, laying the weight thereof on his Sonnes ſhoulders, Joel and Abiah a1 Sam. 8. 1, 2., who judged the people at Berſheba, the very utmoſt City towards the South of Judea. The place was inconvenient and very remote; ſo were theſe two brothers, no leſſe removed from the juſtice and virtue of their Father; They turned aſide after lucre and tooke bribes. Bribes in the plurall ver. 3.number; he that opens his hand to a bribe once, ſeldom ſhuts it afterwards: for the thirſt of covetouſneſſe, the more it ſwalloweth, the more it drieth and deſireth, finding taſte in nothing but gaine; and ſo for in-comes that way, they ſet the Law at a price, and ſold Judgement and Juſtice to the beſt Chap-men, them that would give the beſt bribes for it: it follows, tooke bribes and perverted judgement. This injuſtice in their Judges, makes the Elders of Iſrael very earneſt with Samuell to give ver. 4.them a King: they might juſtly ask a King now (they thought) an alteration and change in government, now that their Judges were ſo changed from what they were, and ſo wicked, had quite perverted judgement and juſtice. And ſo importunate they are, that they are reſolved upon it, and will have no denyall. They might aske a King, but they ſhould not have been ſo importunate; their requeſt was good, but it was too haſty, and then good things may be ill deſired. GOD purpoſed to raiſe up a King to his People; the People (after the manner) out-pace GOD, they will have a King when they pleaſe. The government by Judges was of GODS inſtitution, and, at this time ſetled amongſt them, they ſhall have a change of government, but they are over-forward to a change, and they ſhall be well check'd for that. The Requeſt is put up to Samuell with much importunity; he knowes what to doe, he enquires of his Oracle, asketh the LORDS ver. 6.mind in this matter. The LORD reſolves, him ſaying; I was indeed their King before, and it was well with them; They have reiected Me, and not thee, that I ſhould not reigne ver. 7.over them: Now therefore hearken to their voyce, but tell them moreover the manner of their King, he will know himſelfe to be King, and then thinke hee may doe what hee liſteth.
The People muſt know this, then perhaps they will underſtand, that ever to be the beſt kind of Government, which God appoints over a people; and that, if the government be heavy, as an yron yoake upon the necks of the People, it is but meet for their neckes, which are ſtiffe as an Iron ſinnew: and becauſe their iniquity is heavy upon them, whereof they ſtand charged to complain, and not of the government, which the Lord hath ſet over them.
Samuell does according to his charge; ſpeakes unto the people in the ſame words: And they, like themſelves, turned a deafe eare to all the perſwaſions and threats, which Samuell uſed; and they ſaid, Nay but there ſhall be a King over us ever. 19.. The people will not be denied: As before, ſo they might have a god of their owne chuſing, and ſo ſoone as they pleaſed, if it were a Calfe they cared not: They were as indifferent about their King, give them a King, that they may be like the Nations, and then they were well enough: for the manner of their King, no matter at all for that. Men like their owne time beſt and their owne choiſe; then Samuell hearing the People ſay ſo, tooke a viall of oyle, and powred it upon Sauls head (who was gone forth to ſeeke Aſſes, and (ſuch was the Providence) found a Kingdome) and ſaid, The Lord hath annointed thee to be Captaine over His inheritance a1 Sam. 10. 1.. Then ſhortly after having well rebuked and diſciplined the people bver. 18., he ſhews them their King openly; And all the people ſhouted and ſaid, GOD ſave the King cver. 24.. Then Samuell told the People the Law and Statutes of the Kingdome, and wrote it in a book dver. 25., and laid it up before the LORD; ſo diſmiſſed the People; and they whoſe hearts GOD had touched, went home with their ver. 26.King: others, but they were children of Beliall (evermore as deeply in love with vice, as good men are with vertue: and as over-haſty in their choyce: ſo as quickly out of love with it) deſpiſed him ſaying, This is a King indeed; as little helpe can be expected from him, as from one of us; Shall this man ſave ever. 27.us. Saul was ſo wiſe as to hold his peace at that time, for he could not value himſelfe, as yet; he tooke no notice of their contempt. Then Nahaſh the Ammonite came up 1 Sam. 11. 1.and encamped againſt Jabeſh Gilead; the People there fall preſently upon Propoſitions for Peace, Make a Covenant with us, ſay they, and we will ſerve thee. Agreed ſaid the Ammonite, ver. 1.but upon this condition, that I may thrust out all your RIGHTEYES fver. 2.. (That is the condition of an Ammonite; you muſt never expect better from him.) Hard termes indeed! The Ammonite was perſwaded no doubt of an advantage ſufficient againſt Iſrael: for, 1. He knew that many of the Iſraelites did not willingly ſubmit to their new King. 2. He remembred that the Philiſtines had not long before ſlaine thirty foure thouſand of their men of warre g1 Sam 42. 10. Beſides, he had uſed great care and diligence, that the Iſraelites ſhould have no Smithes to make them Swords and Speares d1 Sam. 13. 19.: Neither was it long before, that the Bethſhemites periſhed by the hand of GOD more then fifty Thouſand e1 Sam. 6. 19.. Theſe reſpects, and what els I know not, made the Ammonite ſo proud in his Demands; He will have their Eyes, and their right-Eyes. It would lay a reproach upon all Iſrael indeed, and utterly diſinable them for the Warre: for, though a man may doe much by the help of the left-Eye, as ſome did with the left-Hand: yet theſe Gileadites, uſing to carry a Target upon their left-Armes, which could not but ſhaddow their left-Eyes, ſhould, by looſing their right, be utterly diſinabled to defend themſelves.
Better a juſt Warre then a diſhonourable Peace. Gold may be bought too deare: ſo may peace. Had Iſrael given their right-eyes for peace, they had done then, as ſome would doe now, purchaſe peace with the loſſe of Faith and a good Conſcience. Give Iſrael peace (Good LORD) but let them not accept of it upon an Ammonites termes, with the loſſe of their right-Eyes. We reade on. Saul obſerves the people weeping; enquires the reaſon: underſtands it was, becauſe the Ammonites had made ſuch a propoſition for peace. Marke now; And the Spirit of GOD came upon Saul. Now there is queſtion about Iſraels parting with their right-Eyes, The Spirit ver. 6.of GOD came upon Saul, raiſed up Sauls ſpirit to the height of indignation, ſo that his anger was kindled GREATLY: ver. ….And that his indignation might appeare, he hewes his Oxen in peeces; ſummons all his people, thereby aſſuring them, their Oxen ſhall be ſerved ſo too, if they doe not, every man of them fit for Warre, make their appearance preſently: for they muſt venture the beſt blood in their veines to preſerve their right-Eyes. The people will doe it, for though the blood in their veines is deare unto them, yet their right-Eyes are dearer: But wee muſt note as followes; The feare of the LORD fell on the people. What then? And they came out with one conſent. And ſo the Warre began, and was quickly ended: for this unreaſonable Demand, put courage into the King and people both. So Saul ſet his Army in Battell-aray, Then he put 1 Sam. 11. 11.the people in three Companies: and they came into the midſt of the Hoaſt in the morning watch, and ſlew the Ammonites untill the heate of the Day f. And they, that remained of the Enemies, were ſo ſcattered, that they, who demanded the two Eyes from the people, were not left, no not two of them together. And that was notable: for, as Samſon ſaid, GOD avenged them of the Ammonites, for demanding their two Eyes. Judg 16. 28.And ſo let all Thine enemies periſh (O Lord) who, thinking they have an advantage againſt Iſraell, will not give him peace, unleſſe he will give them his right-Eye.
Now the People were well pleaſed with Saul, for they judge of Perſons and things by the iſſue and ſucceſſe they have (violent lovers of the Proſperous, are baſe vaſſalls to him, that flouriſheth, and as diſpitefully cruell againſt thoſe, whom any worldly accident hath throwne downe) we have a valiant King, ſaid they, and who are they that ſpoke ſo contemptuouſly of him? bring the men that we may put them to Death. And Saul ſaid, there ſhall not a man be put to Death this Day: for to Day the Lord hath wrought ſalvation for Iſraell d1 Sam. 11. 13. He had indeed; hee gave Iſrael courage and glorious victories over that inſolent adverſary who delighted in proud wrath, and Saul did his duty in making acknowledgement, and giving the Glory to GOD.
All this while Saul proſpers, for Samuell, a good man, and well experienced in Government, do's all, and all to render Saul Proſperous, and confirmed in his Kingdome. So, according to Samuells advice, King and people went downe to Gilgall, made Saul King before the LORD there; and there they ſacrificed Sacrifices of Peace-offerings before the LORD, ver. 15.and there Saul and all the men of Iſrael rejoyced greatly.
In the next Chapter Samuell reaſons with the People before Chap. 12.the Lord of all His righteous Acts; Convinceth them mightily touching his own Innocency and uprightneſſe in judging them; and the Lords Goodneſſe towards them, from the dayes of Moſes unto that day; Adviſeth them to continue in His Goodneſſe, and quickens them thereunto with a mighty threat, and ſo concludes the Chapter.
Now Saul, the third time is acknowledged King, having Reigned two Yeares over Iſrael (he did Reigne many Yeares; Chap. 13.but no more in Gods account, He computes him but two 1 Sam. 13. 1Yeares a King for a Reaſon which followes) ſtrengthened himſelfe with a Guard of Three thouſand choſen men, of which he aſſigned a thouſand to attend upon his Sonne Jonathan. Jonathan with his ſmall Regiment ſurpriſeth a Garriſon of the Philistines, ſmites them ſo, that he did but enrage the Enemies with that ſurpriſe: for preſently the Philiſtines aſſembled Thirty thouſand Charrets, and ſix Thouſand Horſe-men, and ver. 5.People as the Sands in multitude, and ſo Invade Judea. This ſuddaine Invaſion ſtrikes ſuch a terrour into the Iſraelites, that ſome hid themſelves, others fled and went over Jordan, others (for they were all in a ſtrait, and distreſſed) went trembling to Saul yet in Gilgal, who feared as much as they. And now ver. 6, 7.was the time when Saul ſhould have cleaved faſt to GOD, and His Command, for he was affraid, and then, ſaid David, I will truſt in Thee, and waite, for my hope is in Thee. And this Saul ſeemes to doe, and but ſeemes, for, being appointed to attend the comming of Samuell Seven Dayes, He did attend till the laſt, and till part of that was ſpent too (But we muſt keepe our ſelves preciſely to GODS time, and wait-it-out to the laſt minute, which a faithleſſe man, a man of an haſty ſpirit ever, can never doe. For he will make haſte as Saul did) And then, ſeeing Samuell came not, and how the Caſe ſtood with him (for he had pollitick reaſons enough, if theſe might Our Faith is moſt commendable in the laſt Act, It is no praiſe to hold out, untill we be hard driven. Dr. Halls Contempl.guide us) He forced dver. 12.himſelfe, made a breach upon his conſcience firſt, then upon GODS Command, and an intruſion upon Samuels office, and offered a burnt-offering. Samuell comes in the Nick of Time, while Saul was upon this holy worke with his unholyed hands; heard Sauls excuſe and plea for himſelfe, which helped him not. No excuſe will ſerve our turne, nor plead our not obſervance of GODS Command from the mouth of His ſervant e1 Sam 10. 8.. He that would not heare this charge of the Lord to obſerve and doe it, muſt heare the Judgement of the Lord denounced by the ſame mouth; Thou haſt done FOOLISHLY fChap. 13. 13.; (there is folly in every ſinne, and the more ſinne the more the folly.) Thou haſt not kept the Commandement of the Lord, therefore thou ſhalt not keepe ſtill thy Kingdome: Thou wouldeſt not eſtabliſh thy ſelfe in the Power and Might of the Lord, therefore the Kingdome ſhall not be eſtabliſhed unto thee: The Lord hath ſought Him a Man after His owne heart, to whoſe ſeed the Kingdome of Iſrael ſhall be continued for ever gver. 14.; And now the Lord accounts Saul a King no longer; he has the Title, the Name of a King and no more, in Gods account, now that he hath not kept the Law, the Charge of the Lord which He commanded him. If Saul makes no account of the Law of GOD, the King of Kings, this Great King, will not account Saul His Deputy King: ſurely that is notable.
But yet Saul ſhall ſee a mighty Deliverance, and therin what the Lord can doe for thoſe, that keepe cloſe to Him, and His command, will truſt in Him, live upon Him by Faith, when all meanes faile, (for there is the tryall.) Thus it was; while the ſtate of Iſrael ſtood in theſe hard termes, and the Philiſtines full of hope, that, having parted their Army into three Troopes g1 Sam. 13. 17, they might ſpoile and deſtroy many parts at once: Jonathan ſtrengthned by GOD (in whom there is no reſtraint to ſave by many or by few h1 Sam. 14. 6.:) and followed with his Eſquire only, ſcaled a Mountaine whereupon a Company of Philiſtines were lodged, (the reſt of their Army being encamped in the plaine adjoyning) Their comming was diſcovered to the Adverſary, and he playes upon them, jeeres and mocks at them very inſolently, as men uſe to doe a little before their Deſtruction; Come up to us and wee will ſhew you a THING iver. 12.. Jonathan and his Eſquire tooke the invitation as a good preſage; climbed up upon their hands and feet, and fell upon the Adverſary: ſo the Enemies fell before Jonathan; and his Armourbearer ſlew after him kver. 13., then they ſhewed the Enemy a THING, which he little looked for. It is dangerous to put a ſcorne upon them, who carry the revenge of God along with them. Faith and a good conſcience are the ſtrongeſt guard and weapons both: and the ſureſt pollicy alwayes is; what? we ſhould not make it a queſtion, To have peace with GOD: for then He goes along with us, and will be an Enemy to all our Enemies. It followes; This Allarum on the top of the Hill, quickly amazed the next Companies, then went downe into the Valley, cauſed ſuch a confuſion there, that they ſlaughtered one another, inſtead of Enemies. There was alſo a trembling in the Hoaſt and in the Field, and among all the People: all trembled for it was a very great TREMBLING: Pſal. 15. 16.and the Earth quaked too; and behold the multitude melted away, and they went on beating downe one another. When God appeares for His Church, and in His Glory, He will ſpoile the ſtout-hearted; there will be a great Trembling; mighty men ſhall Tremble, and multitudes ſhall melt away, as the Snow before the Sunne. And remember we ſtill Jonathans confidence in his God; Faith will carry a man over rocks and mountaines; no way but is paſſible to faith, and no worke but is poſſible. It is Jonathans confidence; what can hinder God ſaid he? The Lord can doe what He will doe, and it may be that the Lord will worke for us (elſe we ſhall doe nothing) for there is no restraint to the Lord to ſave by many or few. It is poſſible, ſaid Jonathan, (it may be, ver. 16.nay it is very likely) That the Lord will work for us now; They that can truſt in God, can regard Armies of Men no more then Armies of Flis. Dr. Halls Contemp.for He hath put a ſpirit of fortitude upon us two, and being ſo few now, He ſhall have all the GLORY: That conſideration mooves ſtrongly, and ſo it workes; for thus it was, every mans Sword was againſt his fellow, and there was a very great diſcomfiture. Moreover the Hebrewes, that were with the Philistines (became of their party, fearing to be ſpoiled by them) tooke advantage of this deſtruction; ſaw ver. 20.plainely now, which ſide was ſtrongeſt, (the manner of men) fell in there, to Saul and Jonathan, and ſlew of the Philiſtines great numbers: and they that hid themſelves before, came out of their holes now, and, hearing that the Philiſtines fled, even they alſo followed hard after them in Battell. So the LORD gave Saul a glorious victory that day, and he ver. 22.ſaw the prophecy fulfilled, One did chaſe a thouſand: and two put ten thouſand to flight. And this was a good day, Saul and kDeut. 32 30.his people found a great ſpoile, they might have eate and drunke thereof and have praiſed God with the more chearfullneſſe of heart: for indeed the people were weary and faint. Saul will not have it ſo, he will be an enemy to himſelfe; hath a way by himſelfe, pleaſing in his owne eye, and that way he takes; he adjures the people ſaying, Curſed be the man that eateth any food untill evening lver. 24.: ſo none of the people taſted any food; No, though the LORD (who gave them a good day, and gave them leave to be cheery and comfortable The voluntary ſervices of Hypocrites are many times more painfull, then the duties enjoyned by God: but their manner is to leave that which is commanded, and doe that which is not required. Contmpl.on that day) did almoſt drop meate into their mouthes, yet no man put his hand to his mouth. Why? for the people feared the Oath mver. 26.. That was well; for, ſeeing they had charged themſelves with an Oath, and about abſtaining from food, a few houres, I thinke they did well not to be raſh in breaking of it, though it was Saules Oath. But Jonathan heard not the charge, and ſo meeting with a ſweet commodity, put his hand to his mouth and found a great comfort from it. It was Honey before, but how ſweete it was to Jonathan now, no man knowes but the hungry ſoule, as was Jonathans, who had ſcrabled up the hill, and done ſuch exploits there; ſurely water out of a Rock had been honey to him, what was this honey to him at ſuch a time! but he will heare that anon which will ver. 27.make him diſreliſh all. No ſooner Jonathan had taſted the honey, but he heares of his Fathers charge: Then ſaid Jonathan, my Father hath troubled the Land, for ſee what a refreſhing I have ver 28.had from a taste of honey: how much more, if happily, the ver 29.people had eaten freely of the ſpoile: ſurely then there had beene a greater ſlaughter. Behold yet a greater miſchiefe: for the ver 30.people flew upon the ſpoile; tooke Sheep and Oxen, and did eate them with the blood.ver. 32.
They that bind themſelves when they need not, will be looſe when they ſhould not; They that will put a reſtraint Wee love yoakes of our owne making, and can thinke them eaſie.on themſelves where God gives them a liberty; will take a liberty there, where God gives them a reſtraint. They might have taſted of the honey, yea and have eaten of the ſpoile freely, for God gave them a liberty; They would not take Gods allowance: they did eate with the bload, and there was Gods reſtraint.
Saul has a way now to make amends for all. And, truly, were it not that we muſt judge of Actions by the line and rule of Gods word and will, we might thinke very well of Saul now, and of his Actions: he calls for a great ſtone, that ſhall be an Altar: and then the people ſhall ſlay the Sheepe before the Lord and him, (a good way to make the people doe things decently and in order:) then Saul will purſue the Enemy; ver. 36.but ſaid the Prieſt, let us draw nearer hither unto GOD. What to doe? to enquire of him. BƲT HE ANSWERED HIM ver. 37.NOT THAT DAY. Marke that; If thou art in earneſt, and doſt expect, That God ſhall anſwer thee, thou muſt not then goe thine own way, according to the anſwer of thy own heart, but after the line of Gods word and will. Saul had done that day as his own counſell had ſuggeſted; then he asked counſell of GOD, but God anſwered him not that day.
Yet Saul goes on; asketh counſell when he pleaſeth, and when he pleaſeth he forbeareth: he had taken an Oath of the people, he ſhould have asked counſell before, and then he had not done it; But now it was done, he might have adviſed whether he ſhould now doe as he had ſworne; Though, indeed, I may adviſe about the breaking of an Oath taken raſhly: but no adviſe muſt be taken about the breaking of an Oath, which I have taken (foreign) wickedly: no queſtion about the breaking of that. Saul adviſeth neither before nor after, but ſweareth againe, That, as he had ſworne ſo he would doe, put that man to death, that had eaten that day, and ſo finds him out, that had done it, and it was his Son Jonathan; and though it was even he, yet ſince he had taſted Honey, he muſt taſte of Death too; See how eager we are in purſuit of our own wayes and counſels! it is becauſe theſe are moſt pleaſing in our own eyes! I did but taſte a little honey, and loe I muſt die, ſaid Jonathan. Yes anſwered Saul, that thou ſhalt; GOD doe ſo and more alſo, for thou ſhalt ſurely die. ver. 43.Jonathan. What! Jonathan die? ſaid the people: he who hath wrought this great ſalvation in Iſrael? God forbid! as ver. 44.the Lord liveth there ſhall not ane haire of his head fall to the ground, for he hath wrought with GOD this Day; ſo the people reſcued Jonathan that he died not.ver. 45.
Object. How now! now the people commanded, and not Saul (their King) for their word was the Law.
Anſw. It was indeed; and therefore it was the beſt reaſon that the peoples word ſhould ſtand; for their word was Law: the Law of God given them from His own Mouth; Thou ſhalt Deut. 17. 8. 19. 10.ENQƲIRE and be ſhowne the ſentence of judgement betweene blood and blood; that innocent blood be not ſhed, and ſo blood be upon thee; this was Law; Now marke the judgement upon the man, that ſhall breake this Law; he that doth violence to the blood of any perſon, ſhall flee to the pit, let no man ſtay him.Prov. 28. 17.
Object. What was this to Saul; he could make a Law, and why might not he breake a law.
Anſw. He might breake a Law of his own making, he might be bolder there; but he muſt not be bold with GODS Law?
Object. Let Saul looke to that: and the people to their obedience.
Anſw. So they will; they will obey the King conditionally, ſo he commands by Law, for that is his Booke, and his Land-marke, his directory, and boundary both: *Rex nihil poteſt niſi ia ſolum, quod de jure poteſt. Bract. Lex fraenum eſt Regis potentiae.They will obey the KING of Kings abſolutely, for ſo He muſt be obeyed. And this is His command; Thou ſhalt riſe up for the blood of the innocent, thou ſhalt not conſent to the ſhedding of it; They muſt quit their eyes in this caſe, as well as their hands; our hands have not ſhed this blood, nor have our eyes ſeen it dDeut. 21. 7.: Had their eyes ſene innocent blood ſhedding, and not come-in to reſcue the innocent, they had not been innocent; innocent blood had been upon them; what we ſuffer'd to be done and could have hindered and did not, we have done it, and blood is upon us.
Object. But Saul had ſworne.
Anſw. What of that? It may be, they were ſorry their maſter had ſworne ſo raſhly: but that ſhould not hinder them to doe according to Law; for they ſwore too: They had bound themſelves a little before with Sauls coards; it was about matters indifferent, eating and drinking; they might eate, and they might abſtaine: Here was another caſe, the caſe of innocent blood, a pretious thing; It is not ſaid, you may ſhed it, or you may forbeare: therefore Sauls Oath ſhould not bind the people now; they will ſhew Saul the ſentence of the Law, that is a binder, and ſo they reſiſted Saul, if you will call it ſo, he ſhall not ſhed innocent blood: and ſo they did well, and their duty, and he ſhould have thanked them for that; They reſiſted (we muſt heare that word) the perverſe will of Saul, and obeyed the holy will of GOD. A ſervant muſt not obey his Maſter to the prejudice of his Maſter; he muſt not obey his Maſter againſt his Maſter, his ſuddain will againſt his deliberate will. And truly it appears from the Text, that as the Peoples plea for Jonathan was the ſame which Jonathan uſed for David; [The LORD wrought a 1 Sam. 19. 5.great ſalvation for all Iſrael, thou ſaweſt it and didſt reioyce, wherfore then wilt thou ſinne againſt innocent bloud, to ſlay Jonathan without a cauſe:] So, Saul better bethinking himſelf, was as well or better pleaſed with it. Certain it is, Saul was then much encouraged; then he ceaſed from following the Philiſtines, and fought againſt all his enemies on every ſide, and whetherſoever hee turned himſelfe, he vexed them aver. 46, 47.: But he bent the ſtrength of this battell againſt the Amalekites, ſmote them and delivered Iſraël out of their hands: bver. 48.yet ſo, as he ſtrengthned himſelf ſtill againſt the Philiſtines, with whom he had ſore warre all his dayes; and when Saul ſaw any ſtrong man, or any valiant man, he tooke him unto him.
But yet;ver. 52.
Saul muſt not leave the Amalekites ſo; he had ſmote them, and delivered Iſrael out of their hands; that was well for that time: But that is not enough againſt Amaleck, an old, ſubtill Adverſary, and as bloody, and GOD remembers him of old, how treacherouſly b1 Sam. 15. 2.he dealt with His people, walking along the way, doing no hurt, would rather dye then do wrong and pillage: theſe poore people Amaleck ſmote, even all, that were feeble (not able to make any reſiſtance) when they were faint and weary he ſmote them; as he do's, that ſeares not cDeut. 25. 15, 18.GOD. Now this comes into remembrance with the LORD, for the debts of cruelty (as of mercy) are never forgot, they ſhall be repaied, and with great advantage. Saul ſtands charged with this revenge, he muſt execute this vengeance; he muſt waſh the Churches feet in the blood of theſe ſlaine: GOD has provided him a mighty Army now for this very time and end, for the execution of this vengeance; he numbers his Hoſt, finds them to be no fewer then two hundred 1 Sam. 25 4.and ten thouſand fighting men: and now he muſt powre down upon the Churches treacherous Adverſary, The fury of GODS anger, and the ſtrength of battell eEſa 42. 25.; Saul ſmote Amaleck before: now he muſt deſtroy him utterly, and all that they have; he left Amaleck a name before, now he muſt blot 1 Sam. 15. 3.out the remembrance of Amaleck from under Heaven; he muſt not forget it fDeut. 25. 19.. The charge is as full from Samuels mouth (and he was the mouth of the LORD) as could be put into words, and it is the laſt Propoſition of Peace, that Saul ſhall receive from the LORD; if he hearkens and do's accordingly, a bleſſing follows; if not, he ſhall heare the curſe and feele it too, curſed is he that doth the WORKE of the LORD deceitfully: (execution of judgement upon the Churches Adverſary, is the worke of the LORD) and (when the LORD gives the Sword a charge) Curſed is he that keepeth backe the Sword from blood. We have heard the charge.
The Iſrael of GOD have the ſame Adverſary now, as Iſrael Jer. 48. 10.had then, not in name, but in nature the ſame: An old Adverſary, as treacherous, as bloudy: If their ſuperſtition be out of ignorance, (as in part it may be) yet their cruelty is from malice. Iſrael ſtands charged againſt this Adverſary, as fully now, as Saul then; this I could make as cleare as the Sunne. But becauſe I have no ſpace to make paralells here: I muſt let it paſſe and take in three things here more eſſentiall to the Text. 1. How Saul anſwers this charge; Deceitfully. 2. What his Defence is; weak and fruitles. 3. How Samuell argues the caſe, and at length convinceth him.
1. Saul heard Samuell in all this, he gave him his eare, but his heart went his owne way; he did not obey, or, if he obeyed it was by halves, and an half obedience in GODS account is none at all; he did not obey indeed fExod. 23. 22., as the expreſſion is often, he did not follow the command FVLLY gNumb. 14. 24; he utterly deſtroyed all the people with the edge of the Sword, and every thing that was VILE and REFVSE, that they deſtroyed utterly h1 Sam. 15. 9.: But the BEST, and all that was good, he would not utterly deſtroy. Nay, the chiefeſt head of all he ſpareth, that delicate perſon, the King, him he ſpared, whoſe ver. 3.Sword had made ſo many women childleſſe; him he ſpared, he ver 32.would not ſmite him with the Sword, he was too precious in Sauls eyes being King; and the more vile in Samuels eyes, as appears afterwards, for he hewed Agag in peeces before the Lord in Gilgall. A murtherer whatever he be, King or no King, muſt not be ſpared, He has Polluted the Land: for bloud it defileth the Land; and the Land cannot be cleanſed of that bloud, but by the blood of him that ſhed it *Num. 35. 33.. Saul ſpared him, and the ſailings, as we heard: (the ſame partiality is uſed ſtill; the greateſt ſinners and ſins eſcape ſtill; that which is pleaſing in our eye and deſirable, we will have ſpared.) Thus Saul halves out his duty, and his obedience is in GODS account, as his execution upon Amaleck, VILE and REFVSE: We muſt then note once for all, That a right obedience is ſtrait to the Rule, carries levell to the command, and does fully therafter.
2. And we will take Sauls Defence, and Samuels arguing againſt it altogether. Saul has done ſo contrary, as we heard, and yet he thought in his conſcience (ſee how unable we are to ſee our ſelves; and how blind we in our own ways; how brawned alſo the conſcience may be by often forcing the ſame) Saul thought verily that he had done very well, and ſo he pleads for himſelf, and Samuell againſt him: and a great while it is (for it is the greateſt work in the world, to convince a ſinner, indeed it is GODS work, the hand of GOD muſt be there) before Samuell can convince Saul, that in ſparing the Enemies of the LORD, he has committed a ſin, which is as the ſinne of witch-craft. We muſt heare his plea (for the heart is cunning, and has a thouſand ſhifts, excuſes and puts-off) this he ſayes firſt; The people spared d1 Sam. 15. 15, &c. Samuel fits him there; a Rulers plea has not half the ſtrength he thinks it has; this excuſe will Plus Peccat Author quam. Actor.aggravate his fault. The people spared, ſaid Saul. No, thou didſt ſpare, ſaith Samuell; the charge was given to thee; it is not conſiderable, what the people do in ſuch a plain caſe, ever. 18.When thou waſt little, wast thou not made the HEAD of the Tribes. ver. 17.The HEAD, and that ſees for the body, and heares for the body, and leads-on for the body; the head has all the admirable pieces, and powers within and without, ſeated there as in a watch-Tower, for that very end; That the body receive no detriment for want of ſound counſell and direction: if the head go aright, the body cannot go wrong; if it do go crookedly the head can quickly rectifie it, if it can do it's office: The people are like Sheep, they cannot lead, but they will follow. It follows, The Lord annointed thee King over Iſrael. Then thou muſt not tell me, what the people did, That they spared; Thou haſt spared, Thine Eye hath pittied him, when it had bin mercy indeed to have ſhown no pitty. Let me tell my thoughts here, and how I was miſtaken: I thought Saul could do no wrong, for he was King; but cleare it is, as the Sun, that wrong he did, and that all the blame of that wrong is charged upon him. Why? Becauſe he was head over the people, their King.
But Saul is not convinced yet, no not with all this: See! when the conſcience is brawned and hardned in it's own way and work, how hard a matter is it to make it ſenſible! Has Saul done wrong! Heare him what he ſays; Yea, I have 2 Sam. 15. 21.obeyed the voyce of the Lord, and have gone the way, which the Lord ſent me. I took Agag alive, and have kept him alive, here he is, do with him what thou pleaſeſt; he is King, and I thought fit to ſpare him; for his People, they are utterly deſtroyed. True it is the fat ſheep and oxen, thoſe chief things ſhould have bin deſtroyed too, for that was thy charge: but the people (thinking themſelvs wiſer) reſerved thoſe chief things for excellent purpoſe: What was that? To ſacrifice unto the LORD thy GOD. As ſpecious a pretence as could be: Though Saul was lame in his obedience, as all men are, nay he was infinitly ſhort here, yet his heart was ſound to GOD-ward, and toward his Religion, as hearty a ſoul as was in the world (if we can believe words) he had reſerved the beſt things. What to do? To ſacrifice unto the LORD thy GOD.
Now Samuell will ſtop Sauls mouth, and make him ſpeechles preſently: For Religion is his pretence, the eſtabliſhed Religion now, a Sacrifice, forſooth, and burnt-offerings! Do's he flaſh ſo, with his falſe light, before the eyes of a Seer! Now Samuell will thunder.
3. Vain man! Doſt thou boaſt of Religion (A binder to God) and walkeſt looſe with Him, or faſt, but when Thou pleaſeſt! Speakeſt thou of a Sacrifice before the LORD, the Great GOD, and art a rebell before Him! Wilt thou make a ſhew to comeup to the LORD with the Sacrifice in thy hand; and yet walkeſt every ſtep contrary to His command! Tell me, for thou ſhalt be witneſſe in ſo cleare a caſe; did the Lord, or I from His mouth, ſpeak a word unto thee of a Sacrifice unto Him? Thy eare is witneſſe, thy conſcience alſo; That the Lord ſaid, OBEY MY VOYCE dJer. 11. 4. ….: He ſaid not, Thou ſhalt ſacrifice unto me. He loathes a Sacrifice from that hand, which acteth contrary to his mouth: It is an abomination, as Sorcery, or Witch-craft in the eyes of His glory. Thou haſt ſlain an Oxe for Sacrifice: it is, as if thou hadſt ſlaine a man, no better in Gods account, even ſuch an abomination: Thou wilt ſacrifice a Lambe, and the male of thy flocke, that is thy pretence; goe, cut-off a Doggs neck; it is all one, one or the other in point of acceptation, for Thou haſt choſen THINE OWN WAYS eEſa. 66. 5.. It is the obedient ear, that finds acceptance with the LORD, and his eare open: and the hand, that acts according to GODS command, from thence a Sacrifice has a ſweet ſavour.
Saul is now as a dumb-man, ſpeaks not yet, but hearkens, when he ſhall heare a word of comfort. Never. If he had hearkned before, he might have heard a bleſſing, now he muſt heare the curſe, which ſtill followes a deceitfull worke, Becauſe thou haſt rejected the word of the LORD, He hath rejected thy ſacrifice. But that is not all; Saul could have endured that, though nothing more grievous to a true Iſraelite, then the caſting forth of his prayer. Saul muſt heare more, He hath alſo rejected thee from being King. That went to his heart; The puniſhment of his ſinne, rejection from his Kingdom. High place in the world, credit and eſteeme in the eyes of men, was Sauls glory: He is touched there in the tendereſt part, and that opens his mouth to confeſſion, and that is full now and ingenious; Indeed he ſpake much better, than they, who will not be accounted half ſo wicked; I have ſinned, &c. he prayes Samuell to pardon his ſinne; Samuell cannot. Then to returne againe with him, Samuell will not: and he gives him Ver. 24. ver 25.his reaſon, puts it upon the file for everlaſting record; Thou ver. 26.haſt reiected (my word) The word of the LORD: I will not returne with thee, who haſt entertained me with a complement all this while, not regarding my word, though the word of the LORD: and that all the world may know how dangerous a thing it is to reject this word; Samuell adds, what Saul muſt here the ſecond time, nay the third time, (if we have obſerved it) and all that follow after him, for it is written for the generations to come; Thou haſt caſt GODS word behind thy backe, GOD will caſt thee from thy Royall eſtate; GOD hath reiected thee from being King over Iſrael. And it is twiſe repeated in this place, becauſe it is certaine. ver. 26.As Samuell was turning about to goe away, Saul holds him by his skirt; ſo deſirous he was of the Prophets ſtay with him, and to have a comfortable word from him; and he held him ſo faſt, and the Prophet was ſo reſolved to go his way, that he rent the Prophets mantle, and ſo received a ſad token and ſad words beſides, touching the fullfilling of what was threatned. The word of the LORD was rejected; the threat was denounced from the mouth of the LORD, all created ſtrength could not hinder the execution of the ſame word; and now Saul had the ſigne in his hand, Thou haſt rent my mantle, the LORD hath rent the Kingdome of Iſrael from thee this Day, ver 28.and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better then thou. Samuell could not give Saul a word of comfort now. Sauls time is paſt; his ſeaſon over. Samuell had ſpoken to him many words for his Direction, he would have none of them: Now he ſhall not have one word of comfort. While the Angell of GOD, His SPIRIT, or His PROPHETS in His Name, are with us, be we well aware of it, That we Exo. 23. 20, 21.obey their voyce, and provoke them not: if we do, they will depart from us, and then woe unto us, we ſhall heare heavy newes at the parting. So when Samuell had done execution upon Agag (very confident, that having eſcaped Sauls Sword, he ſhould eſcape the Prophets weake hand alſo, but it was not ſo, when Agag ſaid, The bitterneſſe of death is paſt, when he was at the height of his hopes, then Samuell laid him ver. 32.low, and hewed him in peeces) and when he had done ſo, he left Saul, and ſaw him no more, nevertheleſſe Samuell mourned for Saul. Indeed it was a ſad caſe; And ponder it well all we that forget GOD, and reject His word: for if ſo, the next newes we muſt looke to heare, is, a rejection from the Kingdome: And if it were from out of a Kingdome, that may be ſhaken, the news would be more tolerable, but it is a caſtingout from that Kingdome, which ſhall never be ſhaken. But as Saul was ſhaken, ſo ſhall we be ſhaken out of it, if we walk as he did, ſo contrary. The LORD doth not blame Samuell for this his mourning; but tels him, he may mourne too long for him, whom He hath rejected *1 Sam. 16. 1: Fill thine horne with oyle and annoint him whom I have provided, A man after Mine own Heart, and moſt pleaſing in Mine eyes, but the moſt unlikely in mans eyes, and amongſt his brethren, for man chooſeth by the Eye, and I the LORD by the heart. The Prophet ſtartled at this, goes a little backward: for the beſt Prophet that ever was in the world, had his infirmities, How can I go, ſays he, if Saul heare it he will kill me a1 Sam. 16. ….. Doe as I bid thee, ſayes the LORD, winking at his infirmity; go the way I ſet thee in, and be not affraid of a man: if there were a hundred Sauls, and every haire on their heads a Sword, they could not hurt thee: doe thy duty, goe as I bad thee, and feare not; Take all cautious wayes, be as wiſe as a Serpent, for that allowance is given thee: ſo thou beeſt as innocent as a Dove. Samuell went and did accordingly. David deſigned to the Kingdome before, is now annoynted with freſh oyle, (but ſoft) he is not King yet; he muſt go as every true Iſraelite to his Crown, he ſhall paſſe through the ſtraites; hee ſhall fetch many a weary ſtep, before he comes thither, up and downe; then up againe, and then againe ſo low, that he thinkes he ſhall never riſe againe; he thought Samuell a very lyar bPſ. 116. 11. Video Samuelem non Dei spiritu Prophetice, &c. Jun., that told him of a Crown. But more of this in a fitter place.
Saul is in the Throne now; and having turned his backe againſt the LORD, the Philiſtines turne their faces upon him: Their late Diſaſters they impute to ſecond cauſes: (A Philiſtin cannot ſee the Hand of GOD, unleſſe it be as plaine, as was the writing upon the wall cDan. 5. 5., ſo viſible) it was a chance, a miſtaken Alarum, whereby their Army, poſſeſſed with a panique feare, had fallen to rout: They have muſtered their Army againe, and encamped themſelves ſo neare Sauls Army, that they muſt try it out in a Battle. But yet to ſave ſhedding much bloud, they would decide the matter by ſingle combat: and out-ſteps Goliah a mighty fellow, that feared neither GOD nor Man; he under-takes to defie the whole Hoſt of Iſrael, provokes them with deſpightfull words, as a Philistine will doe, who perſwades himſelf, that all power in heaven and earth, is in his hands, and ſo he blaſphemed the LIVING GOD, David heard all this, and more; for he was come up to the hoſt to ſpie d1 Sam. 17. 28there in the PRIDE and NAUGHTINESSE of his heart, ſaid his naughty brother, for he envied David (he ſhall have as many diſcouragements from man as may be, yea from the ſonnes of this Maſter) Thou ſhouldeſt be with thy ſheepe, that is thy worke, what makeſt thou heare? He came downe to enquire of their welfare in this dangerous time; and he brought them Bread and Cheeſe, that might have ſtopped a brothers mouth, for that was his arrand from their father: But GOD had another buſineſſe for David to doe; now, he ſhall make a famous entrance into publike notice of the People: And ſo David ſtands out, notwithſtanding all the pull-backs, he will encounter with Goliah that he will, for he remembred well what GOD had done for him, he had taken a Lyon by the beard and a Beare too, both roſe up againſt him, but he pluck'd them downe and laid them both low enough. Did Davids hand gaine this Deliverance? No, GOD with him gave him this victory *ver. 35, 36, 37, a little before (as an experiment that David muſt truſt him now; and ſo David will truſt in GOD for ever. So he puts himſelfe in a poſture of offence, buckles his Armour about him: What Armour? Armour of proofe it was, I cannot ſhew it to your Eye, ſo Spirituall it is. That which was in ſight was very weake (as the Churches Armour is) and contemptible, both his Perſon and his Armour; Yet David ſaid to Saul, let no mans heart faile becauſe of this Philiſtine: ver. 32.Thy ſervant will goe and fight with him: Then reade the reaſonings betwixt Saul and David, (as are the reaſonings betwixt fleſh and ſpirit:) David anſwers all with an experience of Gods good hand with him; Learne we of David, to treaſure-up experience from Time paſt: and promiſes for the Time to come, and goe he will and fight with the Philiſtine. Why then ſaid Saul, goe and the LORD be with thee dver. 37.: (A gratious word,) but goe like a Warriour, in compleate Armour; take mine, and on with it, ſo David did: But he could not goe in it ever. 39.. No indeed; for no Armour will fit David, but Armour of Gods appointing be it never ſo contemptible; and that he had provided before: and being well girt with that, intimated before, he tooke a ſtaffe in his hand, and ſome Choyce ſtones cut of the Brooke: and when the Philistine thought verily to ſwallow David up, he darted a ſtone, which the Lord carried to the Philistines forehead, made it ſinke down therein fver. 49.; and down he falls upon his face to the Earth. Then David skipt to him, and, having no Sword in his Hand gver. 50.(that made the conqueſt more glorious) drew out the Philiſtines Sword, and therewith ſhaved off his crown by the neck. And having diſcomfited the whole Hoaſt now, and expoſed them to ſlaughter, away he brought the head to Jeruſalem, but the Armour he put in his Tent hver. 54..
Now we muſt turne backe, and looke over all this againe for mighty reaſon: for, as Davids ſlaying the Lyon and the Beare, made him confident he ſhould ſerve the Giant ſo too: So, Davids victory over Goliah then, gives the Church aſſured confidence for ever. We muſt then behold theſe two warriours; the diſadvantage in their perſons; their Armour and weapons, all which make the victory more glorious, and tell us plainly, That it is of mighty concernment to the Church for ever.
1. The Combitants are, Goliah, a Giant, a man of warre from his youth; and David but a Youth, as Saul ſaid, a ſtripling.ver. 33.
2. Their Armour! there is no compariſon there; for David ver. 56.has none at all; But reade I pray you, how Goliah is furniſhed; When the Church reads it, and well conſiders on it, then they thinke, they ſhall never feare their Adverſaries any more. Thus you reade; An Helmet of braſſe upon his head; a Coat of Maile about his body; Greaves of Braſſe upon his leggs; c ver. 5, 6.and a Target of Braſſe between his ſhoulders. 3. The Weapons, as unequall too; Goliah had a Sword, and a Speare, and a Man carrying his Shield before him; David is his own Man, well able to carry his Armour himſelfe, for his Armour is but a Staffe, and a Sling, and a Scrip, and a few ſmooth Stones within it: There were all the diſadvantages in ſight; and whoſoever walked by ſight would have diſdained David as Goliah did, and have given Goliah the victory before they fought. And yet there were thoſe advantages on Davids ſide, (and ſome of them in ſight) that it was not poſſible but David muſt have the victory; For 1 Goliah was a Philiſtine; David an Iſraelite: Goliah hated of GOD; David was beleved; for the Diſproportion otherwiſe, in the bulkineſſe of the body, &c. that is of no account; This is a mans advantage, and promotes him, which ſets him nearer to GOD. That heightens him, which makes him little in his owne eyes, and great in the favour of God. Goodneſſe is a better ſafeguard then Greatneſſe; No matter how bigge the Churches Adverſary is, how ſterne or how bigge he lookes, though a man of might and of warre, and has a face like a Lyon: What though? Put it downe for a concluſion drawn from the experiences of all ages; what? He is as weake as water; and as a Dove aHoſe. 7. 11.without an heart, THAT hath PROVOKED GOD. Goe-on, and feare no colours, for this was written for the generation to come. And; 2, None of all that Armour before mentioned is of proofe: It cannot keepe off the vengeance of the dJob 15. 25.Almighty. Goliah ſtretched forth his hand againſt God; and ſtrengthened himſelfe againſt the Almighty. What then? His Armour ſhall doe him no good; The LORD will runne upon ever. 26.him even on his neck, upon the thick boſſes of his bucklers. It was ſo, and it will be ſo to the worlds end.
Object. But David ſeemes to be a naked man.
Anſw. True, he ſeemed to be ſo, but he was in compleat Armour from the head to the foot. The Lord was his Defence; he had ſaid of the LORD, Thou art my ſhield and buckler.Pſal. 18.
And,
3. What is a Sword and Speare? vaine things, and ſo is he that formed them, theſe ſhall not proſper againſt David: But Eſa. 54. 17.are not theſe inſtruments as like to proſper in Goliahs hand, as a ſling and a ſtone in Davids hand? No, This ſtone and this ſling muſt proſper, for it muſt doe execution upon Gods enemies; and, becauſe theſe are unlikely things, therefore more likely to proſper; GOD will doe the greateſt matters by the ſmalleſt inſtruments. Why? That He may have all the glory: that is the reaſon. Surely the Lord will confound the enemies of His Church by means, and wayes very improbable, and unlikely, as weake as water. We cannot tell, for perhaps it never came into our thoughts, what meanes the Lord will uſe in confounding the pride of his Adverſaries: But thus we have heard and ſeene, and ſo we reade; fooliſh things (in 1 Cor. 1. 27, 28, 29.mans conceit) ſhall confound the wiſe; weake things, the things which are mighty; baſe things, and things that are deſpiſed, hath God choſen, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are. Why all this? That no fleſh ſhould glory in His preſence. And;
4. We muſt obſerve the manner how theſe Souldiers addreſſe themſelves to the Battell. Goliah marched on like a Philiſtine, curſing David as he went; David went on with ver. 43.bleſſings in his mouth. Goliah maketh toward David in his owne ſtrength, and the ſtrength of his gods; David goeth againſt him, not in his own ſtrength, but in the Name of the Lord of Hoſts, the God of the Armies of Iſrael. What follows? Whom thou haſt defied: And will God helpe them who have curſed His children; blaſphemed His Name; and defied His Hoaſt? certainly God will deſtroy them utterly. And this was Davids confidence; and touching himſelfe alſo he ſhould overcome, and be victoriovs, for he had ſought his God, and He is never ſought in vaine; he truſted in God, He will never deceive that Truſt; he went on in the Name of the Lord of Hoſts, it was not poſſible then he ſhould returne aſhamed. Let the Redeemed of the Lord ſay ſo, for His mercy endureth for ever. As David ſet his foot upon Goliah, ſo ſhall the Church, the ſervants of the Lord, ſet their foote upon the neck of their Adverſaries; nay, they ſhall waſh their feete in the blood of the ſlaine; there is the concluſion.
We reade on, and find, that after this victory Saul enquires after David; takes ſo full notice of him now, that, indeed, he Eyed him continually, from that day forward; and he bends all the force of his Militia againſt David; He ceaſeth not to offend David therewith till the day of his death. How David defended himſelfe, and how juſtly, will be enquired into, and reſolved in a fitter place: ſo as he that will underſtand it may be fully ſatisfied therein, and he that will be ignorant let him be ignorant ſtill. Saul did ſeeke the life of David; from that very day he had the victory over Goliah, in which bloody mind he continued till he dyed.
We will then turne over, and looke upon him in the power of the Enemy, and in the hands of death; and heare him what he ſaith, for there-out we may pick a great leſſon; To take our ſeaſon of ſeeking after God; We reade; When Saul ſaw the 1 Sam. 28. 5.Hoaſt of the Philiſtines, his heart greatly trembled. What ſhould he doe now? Let him goe to the Prophet; that he cannot doe, for the Prophet is dead; There are other wayes to be taken, and whereby to know Gods mind, and other Prophets alſo, if not, let him enquire of the LORD; ſo he does; Saul enquired of the Lord but no anſwer now; The Lord ver 6.had anſwered him fully and plainly, what His will and pleaſure was; Saul hearkned not, for he obeyed not; Now he askes againe and againe, all in vaine; He, that would not hearken when he might, and was commanded, ſhall enquire now and have no anſwer; Saul enquired of the LORD, the ver. 6.LORD anſwered him not, neither by Dreames, nor by Ʋrim, nor by Trophets: What will he doe now? He is reſolved to enquire of the Devill, to ſee what he will ſay. See here a ſad caſe! That man is in ſtraits indeed, who expects enlargement from the Devill. But marke his complaint, that he puts up to the Devill; I am ſore diſtreſſed: he took a bad way for ver. 15.help, to ſeek for it from his greateſt Enemy. But what troubles him? The Philiſtines make warre againſt me: Nay that was not it; ſo they did before, the Moabites too, the Ammonites, Amalekites, the Arabians alſo, all the world warred againſt Iſrael; therefore the trouble was not in that; No, but here it was, this was the trouble and ſore affliction, which was like a Sword in his bowels, yea like the gall of Aſpes there. GOD is departed FROM ME: This was it, I-cabod, the Glory is gone: the Nations are angry, they will come upon the Land from every quarter; Let them come, they ſhall not diſtreſſe the Land, with all their ſtrength; But, does this follow; God is departed from a Land, then all created ſtrength cannot ſafeguard the ſame: if the Enemies were all wounded men, yet they ſhall deſtroy all the Land, and take the ſpoile. And this was Sauls caſe, God is departed from me. The ſaddeſt complaint that ever was heard; Conſider well of it, and you will ſay ſo too; ſuppoſe the Adverſary entring the doores, treading upon the mans heele, pangs are come upon him, the paine as of a woman in travell; his Soule is upon his lipps; he is entring into the chambers of Death: and his caſe is the ſame with Sauls here, GOD is departed from him, He anſwers him not. Certainly, neither teares, nor ſighs, nor ſobbs, can point out this mans complaint; the grievouſneſſe of this caſe exceeds all compariſon. And this was Sauls caſe then, that it may not be our caſe anon, Let us conſider with all our hearts, how equall and juſt it was, that God ſhould leave Saul at this time, and afford him no anſwer. God was with Saul, proſpered him exceedingly, gave him glorious victories, Saul was not aware of all this; God anſwered him againe and againe, told him what His expreſſe will was; Saul rejected it; now God departs from him, and anſwers him no more: A man will drive hard for comfort at ſuch a time, but he will miſtake his way as Saul did his, goes for the living to the dead, nay worſe, from Eſa. 8. 16.God to the Devill, he ſeekes anſwer there at the Devils Oracle; And behold worſe and worſe, Saul cannot endure to heare it, but falls ſtraight-way all along on the Earth cver. 20.. When he ſought counſell of God, he was alwayes victorious; Now that he ſought counſell from the Oracle of the Devill, this was the anſwer; Who can be thy friend now God is thine enemy? Thou didſt not execute the fierce wrath of the Lord upon Amalek *A dangerous omiſſion not to execute the wrath of the Lord upon His Churches Adverſaries, old, fierce, and treacherous., therefore muſt that wrath be executed upon thee: and to morrow ſhalt thou and thy ſons be with me, &c. And ſo it was, for anſwerably it follows; That, both himſelfe, and his three ſons, with his neereſt and faithfull ſervants were all ſlaughtered by the Philiſtines: his body with the bodyes of his Sonnes (as a ſpectacle of ſhame and diſhonour) were hung over the walls of Bethſan: and there had remained, till they had found buriall in the bowells of ravenous Birds, had not the gratefull Gileadites of Jabes ſtolne their carcaſſes thence, and interred them. This was the end of Saul; ſuch as might tell all the world; That now the blood of Gods Prieſts *1 Sam. 22. 19, which Saul ſhed; and of David, which he would have ſhed, was required and requited. Let us note it more particularly; What was his end? very deſperate. The Battell went ſore againſt him, and he was ſore wounded of the Archers. Then he ſaid unto his Armour-bearer, draw thy Sword and thrust me *1 Sam 31. 4.throw therewith, His Armour-bearer refuſed: Did he well, in diſobeying? Yes, for he disobeyed the deſperate will of Saul, which a man may doe, and yet doe the greateſt right See Childs Patrimony. p. 36.and juſtice to the King; Yes, though he had held Saul from falling upon his own Sword, and ſo reſtrained him from being a ſelfe-murtherer. But Saul was left to himſelfe, and ſo he died; he tooke a Sword and fell upon it. A deſperate execution. He was an Enemy to good men while he lived, and now he died, he is an Enemy to himſelfe. He lived and died a murtherer: he fell upon his own Sword, and ſo Saul died. His buriall we reade before: His life, death and buriall all three well agree together; The greateſt part of his life was ſpent in perſuance of Gods friend, (ſee the Relation all along) The laſt Act of his life was violence upon himſelfe from his own hand. He had driven David (the head of his Tribes, and after Oyle had been powred upon him: and who ſo faithfull among all Sauls ſervants as David was d1 Sam. 22. 14.) from abiding in the Inheritance of the Lord: Sauls head was taken off, and his body expoſed to the weather, faſtned to a wall; no more accounted 1 Sam. 31. 9, 10.of, then a deſpiſed broken Idoll; or a veſſell wherein is no pleaſure. Saul had ſlaine the chiefe Prieſt, and all his Fathers Ier. 22. 28.houſe, then Prieſts of the Lord; he had ſmitten their City with 1 Sam. 22. 16, 17.the edge of the Sword, and all therein with the edge of the Sword, (it is twice repeated, to ſhew the bloodineſſe of that ver. 19.execution;) Now his lot ſhall fall-out unto him, and this the portion of his meaſures: All Sauls Sonnes are ſlaine; he is Ier. 13. 25.written a Man Childleſſe to all Generations; ſome of his ſeed remained, but none proſpered to ſit upon the Throne, and Rule any more in Judah *Ier. 22. 30..
We muſt repeate this once more, for ſo I find it in the Sacred Writ, becauſe we may receive from it a ſure inſtruction: That we doe not tranſgreſſe againſt the ANGELL of the LORD; nor reject His Word; That we continue ſeeking Exod 23. 20.Counſell at His mouth; and if He anſwer not, yet wait; if we die, let us die ſeeking; while we waite there is hope; depart from Him, there is no hope; goe after other gods, and then certaine deſtruction, as to Saul; So Saul died and his three Sonnes, and all his Houſe died together, for his tranſgreſſion which 1 Chro 10. 6. ver. 13.he committed againſt the Lord, even againſt the word of the Lord, which he kept not, and alſo for asking Counſell of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it, and enquired not of the LORD: ver. 14.Therefore he ſlew him, and turned the Kingdome unto David the ſonne of Jeſſe.
He ſucceeds Saul, and him, his Sonne Solomon (of them in their own place) Solomons Wives turned his heart from GOD d1 King. 11. 3; therefore the greateſt halfe of his Crown muſt be rent from his head, for the greateſt part of his people turned from Jeruſalem: but not in Solomons dayes. He had many Wives, and almoſt halfe as many Concubines; yet but one Sonne, to whom hee must leave (with ſorrow enough) all the labour he had taken under the Sunne eEccleſ. 2. 18.. At that time Solomon made it a queſtion (though we thinke he was too well reſolved at that point) who knoweth whether he ſhall be a wiſe man or a gver. 19.foole? The man that came after him a child in underſtanding, reſolves that queſtion, and puts it out of doubt before all Iſraell in the next Chapter.