The Garden of Zion, Part 5

The Garden of Zion · Part 5

p. 145THE GARDEN OF ZION. The Kings.

SAUL. Seeking.

THis Son of KIS from ſeeking hath his name,

His life with vice he ſtain'd, his end with ſhame:

When he began his calling was but baſe,

Before his Crowne he ſought his fathers Aſſe;

When at the firſt from the ſtuffe he came out,

Then the people with their voice made a ſhout;

The wordes they ſaid in their lovely ſhouting,

Were, that the Lord would ſafely keep the King:

About this time Nahaſh the Ammonite

Againſt Jabeſh made war with great deſpite;

p. 146Then Iabeſh ſaid, Spare us, and let us be,

A Covenant we will now make with thee;

But cruell Nahaſh burning in a rage,

By no fair words could his great wrath aſſwage,

No friends, no friends, ſaid he, now will we be,

Except we firſt now thruſt out your right eye:

Seven dayes they ſought an anſwere for to give

They ſent to Saul, that he might them relieve.

Then Saul armed with companies out three

Threw Ammon downe with a great victorie:

Saul by this valour was confirmed King,

Then all the people deſir'd him to reigne:

When he was King, even in his ſecond yeere,

The Philiſtines with forces did appeare;

They of Charets ſtrong thirtie thouſand were,

Six thouſand foot alſo prepar'd for war:

But Iſrael, which was cauſe of great fear,

Diſarmed was without both Sword and Spear:

The Philiſtines triumphing them above,

Did craftily from them all Smiths remove:

Yet for the Forks, Axe, Coulters, Goads, this while

To ſharpen them the Hebrews had a file:

When Saul this ſaw, he greatly was afraid,

In caves and rocks the people did them hide:

Then Saul, in fear not waiting on Samuel,

The ſeventh day off'red to GOD in Gilgal.

p. 147Then Samuel angry with his fooliſh haſte,

Made both his eares to tingle with this blaſt,

Thou haſt rebell'd, thou haſt done fooliſhlie,

Thy Kingdome no more ſhall abide with thee:

Then Jonathan went after ſecretly,

Between Bozez and Seneh, two rocks hie;

To his ſervant he ſaid, Let us purſue,

God can us ſave by many or by few:

Before we go, by this we will them try,

If while they ſee us they ſhall ſay, Tary,

Then will we ſtand; but if their words be ſo,

Come up to us, untill them will we go.

They ſaid, Come up, and that by way of mock,

Whē this was heard they both did climb the rock:

In that conflict, with Philiſtins children,

Stout Jonathan did there ſlay twentie men:

Terrours from GOD his foes hearts made to ſhake

All th' Hoaſt trembled, the very earth did quake;

The LORD in armes gliſt'ring did fight that day,

He made his foes like ſnow to melt away;

The LORD of Hoaſts, by his great power and might,

Made theſe his foes one 'gainſt another fight.

When th' Iſralits of this mercy heard tell,

From holes and bores they ruſhed to Battell:

Theſe who before for fear themſelves did hide,

Stoutly their foes did beat both back and ſide;

p. 148They fought like Lions but anone a jar,

A faſting oath the victory did mar;

They durſt not eat, and therefore faint and few,

They could not throughly their ſtrong foes purſue;

While Iſra'l thus did faint for fault of meat

Jonathan of a hony comb did eat:

Aſſoone as he had taſte of that honie,

His ſprite reviv'd, enlightned was his eye:

What he did then it was by ignorance,

For he knew not his fathers ordinance:

But when the matter he did underſtand,

He ſaid, My father hath troubled the land;

For want of meat mens hearts ſo weakened be,

That they can not purſue the victorie.

Still fight, ſaid Saul, and do all that ye can,

Spoile and deſtroy, of them leave not a man;

But firſt to GOD to ſeeke reſponſe they went,

To ſee what ſhould be his ſacred intent;

But God in wrath, for ought that they could ſay,

Would not make anſwere to Iſra'l that day.

Go to, ſaid Saul, there is ſome man of ſin;

By Divine lot, I truſt I ſhall him finde:

Give perfect lot, ſaid Saul to GOD, I pray,

That we may ſee by what great ſin this day

Thou haſt beene griev'd, though it my Son ſhould bee,

p. 149Stout Jonathan, he ſhall now ſurely die.

Then curiouſly Saul ſeeking out this ſpot,

Upon Jonathan fell the Divine lot

Tell, tell, ſaid Saul, tell me what thou haſt done,

Prepare for death, for thee mercy is none:

Alas, ſaid he, I hungry wanting meat,

In a faire wood of hony combs did eat;

That which I did was done ignorantlie,

Behold Jonathan muſt now ſurely die:

No more, ſaid Saul, thou haſt broken the oath

Of great JOVAH, prepare thy ſelf for death:

What? ſaid Iſra'l, ſhall ſtout Jonathan die?

Who hath for GOD now fought ſo valiantly?

As God liveth, who ever lives indeed,

No thing ſhall aile the leaſt haire of his head.

Thus the people walking in the right way

Good Jonathan they did reſcue that day.

Then unto Saul went godly Samuel.

To him from GOD this meſſage did he tell:

Remember now how Amalek laid wait

For Iſra'l by the way in his great ſtrait;

Now go and ſmite, and utterly deſtroy

Beaſt, Man and Maid, unto the ſuckling Boy,

When this was ſaid, King Saul with all his might

Againſt Aamalek ſtoutly went to fight:

He ſlew theſe men, and tooke Captive the King,

With him beſt beaſts he ſav'd alive; which thing

Acted by him 'gainſt Gods Commandement,

p. 150The faire kingdome of Iſra'l from him rent;

Then Samuel ſaid, Where is Agag the King

See ye in haſte that Tyran to me bring:

When he was come he hew'd in pieces all

Agag the King before GOD in Gilgal.

After this ſin the LORD to Samuel ſaid

Go and anoint for King the herd David:

Becauſe for Iſra'l he ventur'd his life

Againſt Goliah, he got for his wife

Michal Sauls daughter; that great victorie

Brede in Sauls breaſt diſpleaſure and envie:

This ſouleſſe Saul, by Doegs villenie,

Was mov'd to ſlay at Nob with crueltie

Foureſcore and five ſervants of the great GOD,

Who for armour had but linnen EPHOD,

Becauſe to David, in hunger and need,

They had vouchſav'd ſome peece of GODS ſhew-bread:

At divers times Saul fill'd with rage and ſtrife,

Hunted David like a flea for his life;

Whiles like a Lion, cruel he did roar,

Enrag'd at DAVID whiles like a wild boar:

He did him hunt moſt like a bloody hound.

Who cannot reſt untill his prey be found:

But God at laſt, to make of him an end,

A great armie of Philiſtins did ſend:

The Philiſtins at Shunem were gath'red,

p. 151Iſra'ls armie in Gilboah pitched:

When Saul that hoaſt of Philiſtins did ſee,

He trembled all, his heart did quake greatly:

Then he in feare unto the Lord did cry,

But God to him no anſwere would reply,

Neither by dreames, by URIM, or Prophet,

When Saul ſaw this, his heart within did fret,

If God will not, the Divell I will deſire,

To help, ſaid he, of him I will enquire.

There is a witch which doth at Endor dwell,

Said they, She can all ſecrets to thee tell.

Then Saul went to that wicked wife by night,

Deſiring her to bring to him in ſight

Whom he ſhould name, who ever was the man,

Then unto him thus anſwerd the woman

Right well thou knowſt no ſprit familiar

Is now approv'd; make not for me a ſnare:

As God liveth, ſaid Saul, now …or this thing

Thou ſhalt not ſmart: Tell mee whom I ſhall bring.

Up unto thee, ſaid ſhe, now to me tell;

Bring up to me, ſaid he, old dead Samuel:

When the woman perceived this dead man

Ariſe from grave, to tremble ſhe began;

She ſaid to Saul, Thou haſt deceived me,

That thou art Saul I know now certainly:

Feare not, ſaid Saul, no ill to thee I meane,

Declare me plainely all that thou haſt ſeene,

p. 152I have, ſaid ſhe, now perceiv'd a ſtrang thing

Gods wonderfull from the earth aſcending.

What is his forme? ſaid Saul, now tell to me,

A mantled old man, ſaid ſhe, I now ſee

When the woman theſe things to Saul did tell

He then perceiv'd that it was Samuel:

He having all things in ſuch order found,

He bow'd himſelf, and ſtouped to the ground,

Then Samuel ſaid, Why haſt thou troubled me?

I am, ſaid Saul, diſtreſſed heavily;

God hath me left and anſweres me no more,

To ſeek thy help I am conſtrain'd therefore.

In vaine, ſaid Samuel, comeſt thou to me,

Who can be friend where God is enemie?

The Lord at firſt of thee for King made choiſe,

But (thou ſtubborne) would not obey his voice:

'Gainſt Amalek to do the Lords command,

Therefore the Kingdome is rent from thine hand;

Thy foes ſhall fight, thine hoaſt ſhall fall and flee

Thou and thy ſons the morne ſhall be with me.

Then Saul afraid, fell ſtraight way all along

Upon the earth, the witch and men among:

No ſtrength in him, in him there was no might,

For he had faſted both the day and night.

When this was done, the witch prepared meat

She brought it to him and mov'd him to eat:

Behold anone the Philiſtines armie

p. 153Ready to fight, as Iſra'l was to flie:

The Archers ſhot, the battell went full ſore,

The ſhafts did flee, their rage did more and more

Increaſe; then Saul to his ſervant did ſay,

Draw out thy ſword, and quickly now me ſlay;

Take courage, do, let not this trouble thee,

Though thou me ſpare, yet will I ſurely die;

My feare is, that th'uncircumciſed band

Come and abuſe me vilely with their hand:

But the ſervant (who his Prince fear'd and lov'd)

To kill the King by no words could be mov'd.

Then Saul with rage and godleſſe furie preſt,

With his own ſword did peirce through his own breaſt.

Jonathan, Abinadab, Malchiſhuah

Sauls three ſons with Saul fell on Gilboah:

The Philiſtins after finding Saul dead

Upon the mount, they cut from him the head:

The body of that ſtout and valiant man

They faſtned to the ſtrong wall of Bethſhan;

Among the reſt this was the ſharpeſt rod,

His armour bright unto their idol god

Aſhtaroth they brought with great pomp and glory,

As though their god had given them this victory.

When Jabeſh heard what to dead Saul was done,

With one conſent they all armed right ſoone,

p. 154The bodies of Saul and of Jonathan

They pulled downe from the walls of Bethſhan:

To ſave them ſure, with fire they did them burne

Seven dayes they faſting for their death di… mourne.

The Uſe.

This hiſtory to all men well may tell,

That none ſhall ſpeed that ſeeks the divels counſ…ll;

He is moſt ſure that God relyes upon,

All other things will ſhrink and ſinke anone.

Men for a time may their ſad hearts ſolace

With ſound of harp, which ſoone will have no place,

If Kings with Saul of Gods word make no count,

He will them meet upon Gilboah mount:

Theſe who care not their lives for to amend,

Do often come unto a tragick end:

The LORD to each man his owne worke repayes,

And makes him finde according to his wayes.

If men be graceleſſe though never ſo great,

God ſhall anone ſet others in their ſeat:

p. 155So at the laſt they ſhall get ſhame and loſſe,

When God ſhall crowne theſe men whom they did croſſe.

DAVID. Beloved

THE ſpirit of God begins my heart to move,

To ſing of David whom he Lord did love:

When God him ſought to make him Iſra'ls King,

He was an herd, keeping the ewes with young:

Of Jeſſes ſons he was the leaſt and laſt,

As by the ſtory is moſt manifeſt:

When God his ſervant Samuel did appoint

To goe, and one of Jeſſes ſons annoint;

The firſt he ſaw was Eliab faire in face,

This ſaid Samuel is he who by Gods grace

Should be the King; No, not, this ſhall not be

Said God, for God ſeeth not as men doe ſee:

The outward barck men ſee of countenance,

But Gods bright eye through all the heart doth glance.

Abinadab Shammah he would not chuſe

David he tooke, the reſt he did refuſe:

When he rudie came, the Lord did appoint

Samuel with horne of oyle him to annoint:

When that was done, Gods ſpirit came him upon,

He hated Saul and left him his alone:

p. 156When God from him had his good ſprit of grace

Remov'd, the divell came quickly in his place;

He ſore troubled, thus to his men did ſay

Provide a man that cunningly can play:

I cannot pray, the divell will not depart,

My cheefe comfort muſt be by Muſicks art;

A man with harpe to warble let me finde

That he the divell may drive out of my minde:

Then David came who warbling did his beſt,

The divell departed, then Saul got ſome reſt:

After all this the Philiſtins with boaſt

Againſt Iſra'l came with a mighty hoſt:

Among the reſt a man of Gath Goliah

A champion contemning great Jehovah,

Came forth with boaſting a moſt mighty man

Whoſe height was ſix great cubits with a ſpan:

Both up and downe he thus armed did paſſe

With coat of male and with helmet of braſſe,

Graves on his legs, a target he betweene

His ſhoulders had, his ſpeare was like a beame

Of a weever; One with a ſhield before

Went; this ſtrong man all Iſra'l troubled ſore:

He cri'd aloud to all Iſra'l that day

In vaine ſet ye your battell in aray;

Let one man come and fight me hand to hand

What part prevails, they ſhall the reſt command;

If ye have hearts or hands I ſhall ſoone try,

p. 157All Iſra'ls hoſt this day I do defy:

On all Iſra'l thus he did rub diſgrace

All men did flie, but none durſt turne the face,

Untill David encourag'd from above,

This queſtion to the armie thus did move,

What ſhall be done to him who ſhall ſtoutly

Kill this vile dogge that doth our God defy?

He, then ſaid they, who ſhall performe this thing,

Shall have for wife the daughter of the King:

Let no mans heart, ſaid David, now him faile,

I will now anſwere his fooliſh appeale;

I tremble not for all his ſtrength and might

The Lord gives heart, I him reſolve to fight:

Alas, ſaid SAUL, thou greatly haſt to feare,

Thou art a youth, but he a man of warre:

Not, ſaid David, I have experience,

I am acquaint with GODS ſtrong aſſiſtance;

He made me kill a Lion and a Bear,

What needs me now this Philistine to fear?

Go to, ſaid Saul, GODS bleſſing go with thee,

With coat of male, and helmet armed be

Thou muſt; my Sword alſo gird by thy ſide,

That thou his ſtroaks the better may abide:

David thus armed all from top to toe,

Said with ſuch things to fight I can not goe:

Off with his harneſſe, his ſtaffe in hand he took,

In ſcrip five ſmooth ſtones choſen from the brook,

p. 158With ſling in hand, in a courage divine

He ſtoutly went to fight the Philiſtine:

Then great Goliah came down to the field,

Armed with braſſe, before him a great ſhield

was borne; he lofty with a moſt proud look

Diſdain'd David, ſcarce notice of him took;

This thing is ſtrange it ſeems to me uncouth,

That in Iſra'l there is none but this youth,

Faire and ruddy, ſmall token of courage,

To fight againſt a giant full of rage:

What art thou lad, what meaneſt thou to doe,

Am I a dog that ſo thou com'ſt me to

With ſtaves and ſtones? a dwarfe moſt unworthie,

By all my gods now curſed muſt thou be:

Come hither heard thy ſtones and ſtaves now yeeld,

Thy fleſh ſhall go to the beaſts of the field:

Thou ſhalt well know that I am not a beaſt,

I minde to make thy fleſh for foules a feaſt.

Words are but winde, ſaid David, I not fe…

Thy ſword or ſhield, or yet thy braſſe or ſpear;

I come to thee, in the moſt mighty name

Of great JOVAH, whom thou haſt thought t… ſhame;

Ceaſe from thy brags, no more to boaſt proceed,

I ſhall thee ſmite and from thee take the head,

p. 159Thou ſhalt ſoone know, and others ſhall it tell,

That there is a great God in Iſrael:

The Lord God ſaveth not with ſpears or ſwords,

I feare nothing, the Battell is the Lords.

This ſaid, David with a courage divine,

Ran in all haſte to meet the Philiſtine

With hand to bag, from thence he tooke a ſtone,

Which pierc'd Goliah through both fleſh and bone:

The ſtone with force throwen ſanke in his forehead,

Then like an Ox to ground he fell down dead.

Then David ran with great courage divine,

And ſtood upon that beaſtly Philiſtine;

Him treading downe with feet he made great ſpeed,

With his own ſword from him he cut the head:

When the Philiſtins ſaw their man of might

This way mangled, they tooke them to the flight,

Thus wanting courage, they both fled and fell,

Affrighted much for the men of Iſra'l:

Laſt David after Goliah was dead,

To Jeruſalem brought this monſters head:

In the way met him theſe ſongs of women,

For Sauls one thouſand David hath ſlaine ten:

From that day and forward Saul did him eye,

Having his heart ſtuft with rage and envie:

p. 160Then Saul deviſed how to make him fall,

A bloody dowry he ſought for Michal:

An hundred foreskins to David, ſaid he,

Of Philiſtins thou ſhalt bring unto me;

I ſeeke no more, no more dowrie I crave,

Do this, and thou Michal for wife ſhalt have,

By theſe his wordes which ſeemed to be faire,

He aim'd to draw David into a ſnaire:

But ſtout David brought in a bloody ſtrife,

Two hundred foreskins, and ſo wan his wife:

All theſe great things fild Sauls heart with envie,

Davids applauſe kindled his jealouſie;

His wrath like fire in fewell did increaſe

When he did hear of Davids good ſucceſſe;

From ſecret wrath to open felonnie

He went purſuing David cruellie.

For this David to Achiſh in Gath fled,

There he as mad the ſpittle on his beard

Let fall; in this moſt pitifull eſtate

Forced like fools he ſcrabled on the gate.

From thence to Keilah, from Keilah he paſt

To Ziph, where he almoſt by Saul was loſt:

At Engedi, where he revenge might have,

He ſpar'd Sauls life, incloſed in a cave:

In wilderneſſe having proviſion ſmall,

He was refuſed by churliſh Nabal:

Of all Sauls houſe the worthy Jonathan

p. 161Of Davids comforts onelyonly was the man:

David at laſt fled to the land of Gath,

Untill God had puld Saul away by death;

His death (which would have made another glad)

Made him to ſigh and many teares to ſhed.

The lamentations of David for the death of Saul and Jonathan.

ALas my heart, ſaid David, doth diſdaine

Theſe vile villains, who have unto us Slaine

The Royall blood, the beautie of Iſrael;

How they are fall'n beware in Gath to tell,

Or Askelon; let no man heare your voice,

Leſt the daughters of Philiſtins rejoice.

O Gilboa, now curſed muſt thou be,

Let neither deaw nor raine fall downe on thee:

For there thee ſhields of men armed with might,

Were caſt away like men that could not fight.

There Saul fell downe upon that curſed ſoile,

p. 162As though he had not been annoint with oyle:

Saul and Jonathan, two men moſt mighty,

Your bow and ſword returned not empty:

Saul and Jonathan in lyfe were lovelie,

They in there death would not divided be:

The Eagles, Lions, both in ſtrength and flight,

Were overcome by theſe two men of might.

O daughters worthy the name of Iſra'l;

Let floods of teares now bubble out, and fall

For worthy Saul, whoſe purpoſe was ſtill ſet,

To deck with gold and cloath you with ſcarlet:

It greeves my heart to think, or yet to tell

How theſe mightie did fall in the battell:

O Jonathan! I must moſt weep for thee,

For thou a friend and brother was to me.

Thy love to me was more then love of men,

Yea it did paſſe the beſt love of women.

Of Davids Reigne.

OF Davids reigne clearely I will record;

Who was faithfull, beloved of the Lord,

When Saul was ſlaine, and Jonathan was dead,

The Crown of Judah was on Davids head

In Hebron ſet: Then he ſent to Jabeſh,

p. 163And thanked them for their loving kindneſſe,

For taking downe from the walls of Bethſhan

The bodies of Saul and of Jonathan:

In this meane time, which did great troubles bring,

Abner annointed Iſhboſheth as king:

Joab for David was then cheefe captaine

Againſt Abner, who Sauls houſe did maintaine:

In that armie Abner began to ſay,

Let the young men now ſport, and riſe to play.

Content, ſaid Joab, then twelve on each ſide

Aroſe to fight, each man anothers head

Caught in his hand, and then moſt cruelly

His ſharp ſword thruſt in his brothers belly:

That day betweene Judah and Iſrael

Was firſt a skirmiſh and then a battell;

A battell great, laſt Abner in that fight

Was beaten ſore, he ſav'd himſelfe by flight:

While he did flie, Aſahel did purſue.

But Abner ſtraited ſwift Aſahel ſlew:

Though Abners armie was in good aray

Good David got the victory that day:

Though David was theſe great troubles among,

Yet by Gods arme he dayly was made ſtrong:

Stout Abner who did Iſhboſheth defend,

Unto David revolted in the end;

After this man by Joabs treachery

p. 164Was ſlaine, which moved David bitterly

To weep and mourne, while of it he did heare,

Laſt he himſelf mourning follow'd the biere:

Alas, ſaid he, with ſorrow and great doole,

Did valiant Abner die as doth a foole?

This great breach now can be made up hardly,

The ſons of Zerviah be too ſtrong for me.

Then Baanah and Rechab did conſpire,

To ſlay Iſhboſheth for to winne a hire;

Theſe bloody men him ſtobbed on his bed,

And after that with haſte to Hebron fled,

Where David was; they thought to have good ſpeed,

When they to him offred Iſhboſheths head:

As God liveth, ſaid David, who hath me

Redeemed out of all adverſitie,

Yee ſhall be ſlaine, by a moſt fearfull death,

I ſhall you both take away from the earth;

Come out young men, cut off their hands and feet,

And hang them up, a judgement for them meet.

Then all Iſra'l with one voice conſenting,

Appointed David there captaine and King:

When he was crown'd of yeers he was thirtie,

His reigne continued the ſpace of fourtie;

Firſt ſeven in Judah, after he did beare

His faire Scepter for three and thirty yeere:

He tooke Jebus, who thought, as they were bold,

p. 165That blind and lame might ſurely keep their hold.

When the Philiſtines heard that he was King,

A great armie againſt him they did bring,

At Baal-Perazim he them overthrewe,

With great ſlaughter theſe Philiſtins he ſlew;

Their idols there they left their hearts deſire,

Which David tooke, and after burnt with fire:

Yet came againe the Philiſtins like bees,

Whom David ſmot at the Mulberie trees:

When reſt was come he prepar'd ſpeedily,

To have Gods Ark lodg'd in his owne city;

Of good duetie he did neglect no part,

He did prepare for it a new made cart:

While it was driv'n by Ahio and Uzzah,

Great mirth by all was made unto Jovah:

Timbrels and harps, cymbals and pſalterie

With Cornets ſweet made pleaſant melodie:

While all was joy, behold anone a jar,

A fearfull breach, which all their mirth did mar;

It was both ſore and ſuddain with terrour,

For God there ſmote Uzzah for his errour:

The Levits ſhoulders for to bear the Arke

Ordained were, and not an oxen cart:

The Levits might, as the Lord did command,

It carie, but not touch it with their hand:

At this great breach good David ſore afraide,

Both Arke and Cart in this journey he ſtaide;

p. 166In Obed-Edoms houſe he did it place,

Which in three moneths it did fill with grace:

When David heard of ſuch grace and goodneſſ…

To his City he brought it with gladeneſſe;

He was ſo glad, that in all Iſra's ſight

He danc'd before the Lord with all his might:

To be more nimble in his dance to God

He was girded with a linnen Ephod;

As they came neere unto Davids citie,

Michal beheld all with a ſcorning eye:

When all was done, with gladneſſe manifold,

David returned to bleſſe his houſhold:

Him Michal met, and ſcorningly did ſay,

A beaſt, a foole, a vaine fellow this day

Thou haſt thee ſhowne; this was her bitter word,

What reck? ſad he, it was before the Lord:

Thy taunting ſpeach doth not ſinke in my minde,

The Lord me hath preferr'd to thee and thine:

From holy zeal I will not now refile,

I purpoſe yet to be more baſe and vile:

Though thou me ſcorne, and ſpeake ſo tauntinglie,

By men and maids I ſhall hence honour'd be.

After great warres when David had got reſt,

To build a houſe for God he thought it beſt:

In houſe of Cedar, ſaid he, I now dwell

p. 167But onelyonly Curtains are for th' Eternell:

What ſhall I doe? to Nathan did he ſay,

Go to, ſaid Nathan, do without delay;

But God to Nathan the next night did tell,

That in an houſe as yet he would not dwell,

But afterward ſhould come a man of fame,

Who richly ſhould build an houſe for his name:

A ſon of David, whom he would correct,

If he ſhould ſin, but not as Saul reject:

When David heard Nathan from God thus ſay,

With heart and harp he did both praiſe and pray.

After this done by an courage divine,

He boldly went and ſmote the Philiſtine;

From them he tooke Metheg, and als Ammah,

For with him then was the great JEHOVAH.

After he had ſubdued the Philiſtine,

He ſmote Moab and meaſur'd with a line:

He after that ſmote the King of Zobah,

Being aſſiſted by the great JOVAH.

After he ſtrong routed the Syrian hoaſt,

Who came againſt him with great brags and boaſt:

King Toi hearing of his courage divine,

Sent to him Joram with a rich propine:

At laſt he did conſecrate to the Lord,

Both ſpoile and preſents conquer'd by his ſword:

To Mephiboſheth in his great diſtreſſe

p. 168For Jonathan he ſhew him great kindneſſe.

After all this his ſervants courteſly,

He ſent to Hanun comforters to be,

For Nahaſh death; but that fool could not ſp…

He cut their coats, and made their buttocks bare;

This als he did more for a greater ſcoff

Of all their beards the half he ſhaved off:

Theſe men for ſhame could not lift up their fac…

But on David redounded the diſgrace:

When King Hanun did ponder well and think…

He ſaid this fact in Davids noſe doth ſtinke:

Before he know, we will make an armie,

To overthrow both him and his partie:

But David wiſe did to his captains tell,

That all ſhould be prepar'd for the Battell.

That day JEHOVAH (who is moſt mighty)

Gave unto David a great victory:

Both Syria and Ammon, with their might,

That day by Iſra'l were put to the flight.

David as yet remaining in his rage,

'Gainſt Ammon, their towne Rabbah did beſie…

He ſent Joab unto it for captaine,

But he himſelf in great eaſe did remaine

At faire Salem; while he did there abide,

It came to paſſe, about the evening tide,

He roſe from bed, and to the roofe he went,

Where he forgot the Lords commandement:

p. 169With fooliſh heart, and with a rolling eye,

He did perceive Bathſhebahs great beautie:

Goe to, ſaid he, you woman to me bring,

Make haſte, for whats unlawfull for a King?

While David thus burning in luſt did ſay,

Some vile ſervant was ready to obey:

She brought to bed, by the King was defil'd

Anone after ſhe found her ſelf with child:

Then in all haſte ſhe ſent unto the King,

To ſee how he might wiſely hide that thing:

Behold, thought David, a ſcandale and blot

Will ſoone break foorth, except I cloake this ſpot,

I ſee no way to hide from all the land

This ſecret ſin, but by her own huſband;

If he come home, and once but with her ly

My ſin is hid, hence no man ſhall it try;

Some ſervant goe, tell to Joab quicklie

That he in haſte ſend Uriah to me:

Then Joab ſoone him ſent; when he was come,

With fair ſweet words David made him welcome

How Joab did at him he did inquire,

If all did goe after their hearts deſire;

Then David ſaid, I thinke it now moſt meet,

Thou goe to thy houſe, and there waſh thy feet;

But theſe faire words the man not caring for,

Abode without, and ſleept at the Kings doore:

After that David to Uſiah ſaid,

p. 170Man, with thy wife why didſt thou not abide?

Uriah ſaid, The Arke, and Iſrael,

Joab and Judah right well I can tell

Abide in tents, during this time of ſtrife,

And ſhould I now goe to ſport with my wife?

I will not goe, as thou liveſt O King,

I will not go, I will not do ſuch thing.

When David heard this, he found out a wile

With drunkeneſſe Uriah to beguile,

That being drunk the war he might forget,

And ſo go to his wife without all let:

But God above this thing did ſo provide,

At the Kings doore this man did ſtill abide.

When David ſaw that for ought he could ſay,

To touch his wife this poore man did delay;

Then wickedly to thinke he did begin,

How by his blood he might then cloake his ſin:

Bring pen and inke, ſaid he, to me right ſoone,

When he is dead who ſhall know what is done?

His ſtrange letter to Joab this did tell,

Set this man in the front of the Battell:

When at skirmiſh in danger ye him ſee,

Retire with ſpeed, that he may ſurely die:

This David wrot: He wanting Gods true fear,

Made Uriah his death with him to bear.

Then Captaine Joab, too too ready bent;

To pleaſure Kings in their commandement,

p. 171Tooke this poor man with cruell craft and ſlight,

And ſet him where moſt valiant foes did fight,

Where men of Rabbah fiercely to Battell

Came; there they fought, and there Uriah fell.

When David heard this, he ſaid, All is well,

My ſecret ſin no man ſhall now reveale:

After Bathſhebah, by mutuall accord,

Became his wife, which diſpleaſed the Lord.

Then God to him his Prophet Nathan ſen

To let him know that God was miſcontent:

By parable he did himſelfe expreſſe,

A holy wile to make David confeſſe

His filthie fact, and for it ſore to weepe,

Who whole nine months in his vile ſin did ſleep.

Then ſaid Nathan, there was in one city

Two men, the one in richeſſe was mighty,

The other poore; the rich upon his ground

Had herds and flocks, wherein he did abound.

But the poore man (ſave an ewe lamb) had nought,

Which he in ſtrait with his poore meanes had bought,

And nouriſhed with diligence indeed,

With his children he dayly did it feed;

Of his owne cup it dranke, and of his meat

Such as he had it welcome was to eat;

p. 172Yea in his boſome ſweetly it did lye,

And was to him as daughter by and by.

But O behold! unto the rich mans Inne,

A traveiler came to abide therein;

The naughty rich man (his flocks for to ſpare)

Caught the poor lamb, it kil'd for to prepare

Meat for that man, for him it he did dreſſe,

What think ye, Sir? ſhould he not this redreſſe▪

Then Davids wrath raging againſt the man,

Sore kindled was, he ſaid unto Nathan,

As God liveth, who liveth moſt ſurely,

That beaſtly wretch for that vile fact ſhall die:

And unto that yet I will adde this more,

The Lamb fourefold he ſhall quickly reſtore:

This I ordaine, no man it ſhall repeale,

It ſeemely is that Kings for God have zeale.

Then unto David ſaid Prophet Nathan;

Even thou thy ſelf, O King, thou art the man,

Thou wouldſt for God ſeem to have zeal and love▪

Thou haſt done that which heere thou doſt reprove:

Thus ſaith the Lord, the God of Iſrael,

I unto thee this hard meſſage will tell:

Ov'r Iſra'l King I made thee for to be,

Out of Sauls hands I ſafe deliv'red thee,

Thy Maſters houſe (with thy Maſters Kingdome)

p. 173I gave to thee, his wives in thy boſome

I made to lye; yea, I moſt liberallie

Both Iſra'ls houſe and Judahs gave to thee;

If in thine eyes that too little had beene,

I would moreover unto thee have given,

Even ſuch and ſuch things; great renowne and fame,

Which I beſtow on theſe that feare my name:

Why haſt thou beene ſo fooliſh and unwiſe,

As Gods precepts thus to tread and deſpiſe,

Moſt wickedly to do evill in his ſight

To ſeeme godly, and yet to uſe ſuch ſlight?

Poore Uriah the Hittite (in a word)

Thou cruelly haſt killed with the ſword;

Thou firſt defil'd, and now haſt tae'n to wife

His deare ewe-lamb, and reft him of his life:

Thou lives ſecure, as though no ill were done,

Thou haſt him ſlaine with the ſword of Amon.

Now after ſin ſhall ſurely come the ſmart,

Hence from thine houſe the ſword ſhal not depart

Becauſe by blood, and vile adulterie,

Two ſcandals great, thou haſt deſpiſed me:

Thus ſaith the Lord, who is moſt righteous,

I will againſt thee out of thine houſe

Raiſe up much evill, I will before thine eyes

Even take thy wives; and give them for to pleaſe

Thy neighbour, who with them ſhall openly

p. 174Before the Sunne in beaſtly manner lye:

Theſe moſt vile ſins in ſecret thou haſt done,

But this before all Iſrael and the ſun

Shall be; ſee what ſhall be in end thy luck

When for ſuch ſinnes ſuch ſorrowes thou ſhal… truck

And ſo exchange, that for thy filthie luſt

Thou ſhalt ſtill ſmart, untill thou turne to duſt:

Ev'n as a bird, greev'd in a wierie gail,

Doth lowring droop, and hang the wing an… taile,

Even ſo ſhalt thou the reſt of all thy time

Perplexed be, for thy moſt bloody crime

Then David pierced through the very heart,

Of his folies began to feel the ſmart;

He was ſo lively touched for his ſin,

That how to ſpeak, or how his ſpeach begin,

He doubted much, whiles this, whiles that did ſound

Within his breaſt, his thoughts did him confound

At laſt with teares his mouth utt'red this word,

I have, alas, ſinned againſt the Lord:

By my fleſhly, and moſt uncleane deſire,

I like a ſwine have wallow'd in the mire:

I like a beaſt have not well underſtood

What guiltineſſe comes by ſhedding of blood:

Heere in thy preſence, to thy Holineſſe,

p. 175Againſt my ſelf my ſin I do confeſſe:

Theſe bloods, alas, are ever in preſence,

They weigh down ſore upon my conſcience:

How can I hence before thee lift my face,

Who have profeſt, and yet practiſd diſgrace?

Againſt thee who me from the ewes did take,

And of a ſheepheard me a King did make?

Moſt juſtly may thy wrath, with loudeſt raps.

Ev'n through my heart thrill roaring thunder claps.

But oh, O Lord, forget my hainous ſin,

Take mercies kyes, and let my ſoul come in,

Though I have ſinn'd, yet will I ſtill beleeve,

That thou in mercy wilt my ſins forgive.

Then Nathan ſaid, The Lord thy ſinnes ſurelie

Hath put away, fear not, thou ſhalt not die.

From death eternall I will thee protect,

But juſtice willeth that I thee correct:

Thy ſinne therefore I will viſit in haſt,

Ev'n blood for blood, for adulterie inceſt:

Thou ſhalt not faile to feel a greevous ſmart,

For from thine houſe the ſword ſhall not depart:

Becauſe thy ſinne hath cauſed blaſphemie,

Therefore thy Sonne ſhall now moſt ſurely die,

When Nathan was departed to his houſe

Then God the Lord who is moſt righteous,

Did ſtrike the child with great and ſore ſickneſſe,

p. 176Then David God beſought in his goodneſſe,

That he would not remove the child by death,

For this he faſting lay upon the earth;

The Elders came, and urged him to eat,

But he would not refreſh himſelf with meat.

When it was told him that the child by death

Removed was, he quickly roſe from th' earth,

He waſh'd himſelf, and chang'd his countenance,

To the Lords houſe he went with diligence,

From thence to his owne houſe; there he ſought meate,

They gave him bread, and he began to eat.

What thing is this? then did his ſervants ſay,

While thy childe liv'd, thou did both faſt and pray;

But when the child was knowne for to be dead,

Thou roſe from earth with courage to eat bread?

Then anſw'red he, While the childe was alive,

I did then pray that God would let him live:

But now h'is dead, God would it ſo to be,

I know he will no more returne to me:

After his death Bathſhebah bare a ſon

To David▪ who did call him Solomon:

But Nathan ſent from the great JEHOVAH,

Changed his name unto Jedidiah:

A man of peace, beloved of the Lord,

Of both the names the clear ſenſe doth afford.

p. 177In this meane time the great GOD JEHOVAH,

Remembred what had beene done to Ʋriah:

Then his threatnings began to take effect,

Great plagues were ſent David for to correct:

Amnon defil'd his dear ſiſter Tamar,

For this Abſalom Amnons life did mar:

This man who did excell in great beautie,

In Hebron made a lewd conſpiracie,

To ſlay David, both his father and King,

That after he upon his throne might reigne;

He not ceaſing from this ill work begun,

His fathers wives defil'd before the Sun:

He wanting the true feare of th'Eternell,

'Gainſt his father fiercely went to battell.

At Bahurim that vile rogue Shimei,

Like a cur dog did raile moſt bitterly,

Crying, Come out, thou man of Belial,

A bloody man, thou ſhalt now pay for all;

The Lord at laſt (who is moſt wiſe and good)

Hath upon thee returned all the blood

Of King Sauls houſe, in whoſe ſtead than doſt reigne;

Thy ſon ſhall rule, thou ſhalt no more be King,

The LORD hath plagued thee with ſhame and griefe,

Behold thou art taken in thy miſchief.

Then ſtout Abiſhai, ſon of Zerviah,

p. 178Davids ſiſter, not knowing that JOVAH

Made David ſmart, ſaid, Why ſhould this dogg dead

So curſe th King? I will take off his head:

He ſaid to David, Let me go anone,

That for his fault I may fall him upon.

But David knowing the minde of JOVAH,

Said, What, with you the ſons of Zerviah

Have I to do? Let him now curſe he ſaid,

For upon him the LORD this taske hath laid,

That he David ſhould curſe, who then ſhall ſay,

Wherefore haſt thou vile man ſo done this day?

Yea, more David unto Abiſhai ſaid,

A greater grief upon my heart is laid,

Behold the ſon of my bowels is come

To ſeeke my life, and to take my Kingdome;

How much more may this beastly Benjamite

Do what he doth, with a deſpightfull ſprite?

Seeing I am ſo wronged by my Son,

I pray you all to let this man alone:

Let him curſe ſtill, touch him not with you… hand,

For what he ſaith it is by GODS command;

It may be that God with compaſſion

Will looke upon my great affliction,

And that he will (though he a ſpace delay)

Requite me good for his curſing this day.

p. 179Then Davids armie ready with great might

Prepar'd themſelves 'gainſt Abſalom to fight;

When David view'd the march of his armie,

He ſaid to Joab and Abiſhai,

Deare friends, I pray, deal gently with my Son,

Deal gently with the young man Abſalom.

When this was ſaid, their was a skirmiſh rude

By the two armies made in Ephraim wood,

Like a great wind, boiſtrous with ſtormy puff,

Men fought in ſpight with mutuall counterbuff:

That day Joab with Judahs brave children

Of Iſra'l ſlew downe twentie thouſand men:

The people was ſore ſcatt'red in the wood,

Which did devoure more people then the ſword.

There Abſalom a Rebell, and a Foole,

Among the reſt was riding on a Mule;

By his long haire a branch caught him that day,

There he did hing when the Mule went away:

Then Joab with his three darts came anone,

And thurſt them through the hea…t of Abſalom.

Then Cuſhi came and cri'd, Tidings, O King,

To the great God now praiſes may thou ſing,

The LORD of Hoaſts in Battell moſt mightie

Of all thy foes hath now avenged thee.

Then David troubled, ſaid unto Cuſhi,

Is Abſalom the young man in ſafetie?

Then Cuſhi ſaid, Let all thy foes indeed,

p. 180Be like Abſalom who is ſurely dead.

When David heard this, wounded was his heart,

From ſight of men quickly he did depart

To an high chamber, for to mourne alone

The tragick death of his deare Abſolon:

His ſorrow ſuch was in his wounded heart,

That forc'd he was to weep and go apart,

With teares of grief doubling, My ſon, my ſon,

He wiſh'd his owne death had ſav'd Abſalon.

For Davids murder and adulterie,

Shebah aroſe who was ſon Bichri,

A Benjamite, he with ſterne countenance

Moſt proudly ſaid, Now what inheritance

Have we in David? Let us make a rent,

Let every man returne unto his tent.

So Iſra'l did with this ſon of Bichri,

But Judah clave to David heartily:

Then David ſaid to valiant Amaſa,

Aſſemble me the brave men of Judah:

Then he went out Captaine of that armie,

Jaob him met with heart full of envie

Cov'red with ſmiles; his right hand made a wound

Which all his bowels ſhed out to the ground;

Then Amaſa in mids of the high way

Bath'd in his blood did thus wallow that day.

This done, Joab purſued ſpeedily

After Shebah, who was ſon of Bichri;

p. 181When Joab came to the city Abel

This Shebahs head was throwne downe from the wall;

When theſe of Abel had perform'd this thing,

Joab in haſte returned to the King,

When all his foes were round about ſuppreſt,

To ſing to GOD due praiſes he thought beſt.

Yet once againe Gods wrath 'gainſt Iſrael

In Davids time upon this people fell;

He ſtirr'd by Satan, would know in his pride

How many men in his land did abide;

To Joab he gave this direction,

Who liked not the Kings commiſſion,

But yet obey'd; the Kings word did prevaile,

Therefore he went and numbred Iſrael;

In Iſra'l were eight hundred thouſand men,

Five hundred thouſand Judah their brethren

In number were: Of all, as ſaith Gods word,

Were thirteene hundred thouſand that drew ſword:

When this was done, then Davids heart him ſmot,

Gods wrath therefore was ſhortly kindled hot;

Alas, O Lord, ſaid he, now pitie me,

For I confeſſe I have done fooliſhly;

When David did ariſe in the morning,

The prophet Gad this word to him did bring,

Adviſe and chuſe one of theſe judgements three,

p. 182If ſeven yeeres of famine ſhall trouble thee;

Or if thou wilt three moneths chuſe and take,

Before thy foes to flee and turne the back;

Or if thou wilt have this great patience,

Three dayes to hazard on the peſtilence.

When David ſaw the Lords wrath thus appeare,

Hee ſaid to Gad, I am in a great feare;

Yet in Gods hand I pray thee let me fall,

For his mercies are over his works all:

Then JEHOVAH in wrath to ſtrike began,

And kill'd of Iſra'l ſeventy thouſand men;

To Jeruſalem then the Angel went

With ſword in hand, but God he did repent,

Him of the evill; Th' Angel he did command

To ſheath his ſword, and ſo to ſtay h…s hand:

Then Gad from God to David thus did ſay,

Reare up an Altar to the Lord this day.

Let this Altar be ſet for JEHOVAH,

Where is the treſhing floore of Araunah

Then David (as JEHOVAH did command)

Did buy the floore, and in Araunahs hand

He laid thirty ſhekels ſilver for price,

And there to God offred his ſacrifice.

When this was done, and David was wax'd old,

Abſaloms brother ADONIjAH bold,

Helped by JOAB and ABIATHAR,

In his great pride made a moſt fearefull jarre,

p. 183A goodly man he was, and faire in face,

But proud in Sprit a man of litle grace,

David him ſpilt, he would not him diſpleaſe,

Him to reprove at all times he did ceaſe,

Puft up by Joab in vaine aſp…ring,

He thought no more but ſurely to be King

After David; theſe three, Nathan, Zadok,

Benaiah for Solomon undertooke

With Bathſhebah; David without delay

Declard who ſhould Iſraels Scepter ſway

After his death; The man who ſhall alone,

Said he be King is my ſon Solomon

When time drew nigh that good David ſhould die,

He Solomon charged moſt carefully;

I go, ſaid he, the way of all the earth,

I muſt ſhortly walk in the path of death;

Be ſtrong therefore, and ſhew thy ſelf a man,

And keep the charge of the Lord as thou can:

Walk in his wayes, keep his commandements,

His teſtimonies, and als his judgements;

So ſhalt thou proſper both by ſea and land,

All ſhall go well that thou ſhalt take in hand:

Remember well how Joab greeved me,

When he ſlew Abner with great treacherie,

And Amaſa, and how the blood of war

He ſhed in peace, when no cauſe was of jar,

p. 184And how he put the blood of Abner ſweet

In the vile ſhooes that were upon his feet?

I know thou canſt thy ſelf wiſely behave,

Let not his hoare-head in peace go to grave:

Unto Barzillais ſons ſhew great kindneſſe,

For they were kind to me in my diſtreſſe.

Behold with thee the curſed Shimei,

Who curſt me ſore in my calamitie;

To him (humbled) I ſware by the great Lord,

I will not put thee to death with the ſword;

Becauſe he was ſo fierce in my diſtreſſe,

Therefore take heede thou hold him not guiltleſſe

I know thou canſt thy ſelf wiſely behave

His hoary-head with blood bring to the grave:

So David with his fathers ſleept ſoftly,

And after buri'd was in his city.

The Uſe.

By David learne what after ſin remaines,

The fruits of ſin are ſorrowes and great paines,

By David learne, if thou haſt gone astray,

To turne to God and walk in the right way.

By David learne to teach your children deare,

How in their time they ſhould live in GODS feare:

p. 185Too many ſpeak of Davids filthie fall,

To ſhroud their ſins, and ſo to make them ſmall:

Too many to their vile luſts licence give,

As though to rot were the way to revieve;

But few there be that weigh well in their heart,

How greatly David for his ſins did ſmart.

SOLOMON. Peaceable, who is at peace with all men.

GODS Sprit begins to move my pen anone,

To draw ſome lines concerning Solomon;

A worthy man, moſt excellent in fame,

At home abroad; from peace he had his name:

Good Nathan (ſent from the great JEHOVAH)

Changed his name unto Iedidiah:

To change this name the LORD did Nathan move,

To teſtifie that he the child did love.

When on his throne he was by good JOVAH

Eſtabliſhed, to him came Bathſhebah

From Adonijah cauſer of much ſtrife,

That he might have faire Abiſhag to wife:

Well well, Solomon ſaid, I know that thing,

Aske alſo for him that he may be King:

Conſider well, and hearken what I ſay,

p. 186Adonijah ſurely ſhall die this day.

Benaiah come, and hearken to my word,

Vaine Adonijah now kill with the ſword:

To Abiathar the Prieſt ſaid the King,

I will not now theſe ſtroaks upon thee bring

Which thou deſerves, becauſe thou had a part

In troublous times of my deare fathers ſmart;

Thou with my foes againſt me was too ſtout,

Therefore thou ſhalt from thy place be thruſt out

To povertie; thy race ſhall beggars be,

Thus was fulfil'd Gods word againſt Eli.

When Ioab heard of all was paſt and done,

Unto Gods houſe in feare he fled right ſoone;

There, as the practice of ſome had him taught,

Of Gods altars the hornes with hands he caught:

Then Benajah directed by the King

Went unto him with theſe few words, Saying,

Thus ſaith the King, Thou Ioab thou muſt come foorth,

It is not ſeemly for a man of worth

Unto the hornes of Altars for to flee,

No not, ſaid Ioab, heere I minde to die:

Then Benajah brought the King word againe,

That Ioab would at the Altar ſtill remaine:

Then ſaid the King, Go fall upon him, fall,

For the two Captains famous in Iſrael

(Abner, Amaſa men of dignitie)

p. 187Did kill, and boutcher by his treacherie;

Now let their blood returne upon his head,

But peace ſhall be on Davids houſe and ſeed:

Then Benaiah to Joab in diſtreſſe

Came, and him kill'd, and in the wilderneſſe

In his own houſe him buri'd; In ſhort ſpace

Captaine Benaiah was put in his place.

After, becauſe of Adonijah jarre,

Zadok was Prieſt in roome of Abiathar:

Then for Shimei the King in all haſte ſent,

And gave to him this ſtrait commandement,

To build and dwell in faire Salem anone,

But if, ſaid he, thou paſſe the brook Kidron

To go abroad, Let this be knowne to thee,

None ſhall thee ſave, for thou ſhalt ſurely die:

Three yeers after he forgetting this charge,

Did ſeeke his ſervants with a licence large;

Hee paſt thee brook, and the Kings charge forgot

Therefore with death ſtout Benaiah him ſmot:

Remember now, ſaid the King to Shimei,

How thou my father revil'd bitterly:

Thy wickedneſſe ſhall come upon thine head,

But I and mine ſhall be bleſſed indeede.

After he thus had ſlaine theſe men of ſtrife,

King Pharos daughter he took for his wife:

He loved God, and with his heart him fear'd,

In Gibeon the Lord to him appear'd

p. 188In dreame by night: to him in great merciemercy

The Lord ſaid, Aske what I ſhall do thee:

Then Solomon unto the Lord did ſay,

Great kindneſſe haſt thou ſhowne to me this day;

Thou haſt me choſen for Gods people King,

That I with wiſedome may them rule, and reigne…

I am a child, who am but to begin,

I know not how to go out or come in:

Of my deſirs this is the cheefeſt part,

That thou would give an underſtanding heart

To me thy ſervant, by thy grace made glade,

Whereby I may diſcerne twixt good and bad.

When God this heard, he reſted well content,

He ſaid unto him at this Parliament,

Thou haſt not asked riches or long life,

Nor yet revenge againſt the men of ſtrife

Thy foes; but haſt deſired a wiſe heart,

To rule my people well in ev'ry part,

Therefore both riches and honour to thee

Will I now give, with wiſedome in plentie;

If thou godly will walk in Davids wayes,

In great mercy I will lengthen thy dayes:

By him in ſleep theſe things were heard and ſeen,

When he awoke, Behold it was a dreame.

Then came two harlots, who before him ſtood,

Each one ſtriving to make her cauſe ſeeme good,

p. 189Behold O King, ſaid one; Wee two women

In one houſe were deliv'red of children:

I bare a ſon; after it came to paſse,

Three dayes after that ſhe delivered vvas:

Wee vvere in houſe (as ſeem'd) vvithout danger,

For in the houſe vvith us vvas no ſtranger:

Behold, O King, her childe dead in the night

By her ov'rlaid, then cunningly with flight

She roſe from bed, and vvith great treacherie

Came to my bed, and ſtall my ſon from me.

Alas, O King, What heart can this abide?

For my ſweet ſon, this dead lump at my ſide

She laid; when I aroſe my ſon to feed

With my two breaſts, behold he was cold dead:

Judge yee, O King, how great then was my ſmart,

When his cold lips did touch me neere the heart;

But when the light more clearely let me ſee,

I ſaw I was jugled with treacherie:

The dead child is hers, but the living mine,

Thou the whole matter as Judge now define.

But, Oh, the other, with tears in her eyes,

Said, All ſhe ſaith is full ſtuffed with lies:

p. 190Believe her not, ſhe hath a braſen brow,

She can right vvell falſe lyes as truth avow;

Let not thine heart incline to take her part,

Though in her ſpeach ſhe hath now the foreſtart;

A judge muſt know he hath an ear and ear,

That after one the other he may hear.

Alas, O King, the Lords vviſedome divine

Doth clearly knovv the living ſon is mine.

The other ſaid, I am not ſuch a beast,

Anothers childe to bring up on my breaſt;

If this my ſon vvere dead, and hers living,

I vvould not of him novv make a changling;

His dry dead bones ſhould dearer be to me,

Then her ſon living full of rare beautie.

While thus the two reaſon'd before the King,

The King did cry, a ſword now to me bring;

When it was brought, the King ſaid ſo and ſo

With ſword the living childe divide in two:

No man ſuch doubts can now diſcuſſe by art.

Divide, divide, let each one have her part:

When this was ſaid, and ready to be done,

The mothers bowels yerned upon her ſon;

My Lord the King, let not this ſword now fall

Upon my childe, but to her give it all:

Not ſaid th' other, the judge muſt now define,

p. 191Let it be cut, and ſo not mine nor thine.

Then ſaid the King in words both wiſe and milde

This is the mother, give to her the childe:

When all Iſra'l this wiſe judgement did hear,

Their hearts were mov'd King Solomon to fear.

This man was great, and full of Majeſtie,

Great pleaſure was his orders for to ſee:

Some were his Scribes, and others were Recorders,

Some rul'd the Hoaſt, ſome were his Prieſts by orders,

Some officers, and ſome ov'r the tribute

Were ſet; and alſo ſome did diſtribute,

Some Officers; twelve moneths in the yeer,

Twelve men did ſerve; each man a month entire

Provided for the King and his houſhold,

The beſt victuals for uſes manifold:

His houſe by day, as Gods word doth reveale,

Spent foureſcore ten meaſures of floure and meal;

Ten Oxen fat, and twenty from Paſtures

Were for his houſe, each foure and twenty hours;

An hundred Sheep, with Harts and fallow Deer,

Roe-buck and Foules for each day of the yeer

Appointed were; ſuch was the Majeſty,

Of Solomon, who was wiſe and mighty;

He for Charets had fourtie thouſand ſtalls

Of Horſes fair, and as the Scripture tells,

p. 192Twelve thouſand Horſemen skilfull and mighty,

Were for the glory of his Majeſty:

In all his time the GOD of peace JOVAH,

Made peace from Dan, even to Beerſhebah:

To him GOD gave with great largeneſſe of heart

Much underſtanding in all ſorts of art;

He was more wiſe then Ethan and Chalcol,

Then Heman Darda the ſons of Mahol:

Of godly proverbs three thouſand he ſpake,

A thouſand and five ſongs were at their back:

Of trees he ſpake ev'n from the Cedars tall,

Unto the Hyſſop that ſprings from the wall:

Of beaſts, of foules, he ſpake of creeping things,

Of fiſhes als, whoſe vertue profite brings

To mortall men, whoſe health and nourriture,

Depend much on the ſecrets of nature:

Then great Monarchs from all the earth did come,

To get from him ſome leſſons of wiſdome.

Then Hiram hearing Solomon made King,

From Tyre he ſent men congratulating,

That Davids Son was ſet upon the throne,

Of Davids friends he was a ſpeciall one.

Then Solomon to Hiram did declare,

How David could not in a time of warre,

Build for the Lord a houſe of Majeſtie,

Adorned with rareſt things of beautie;

But now, ſaid he, on every ſide is reſt,

p. 193Therefore to build for God I think it beſt;

From thee Hiram the Cedar and the Fir

Muſt now be had; thy ſervants muſt now ſtir

Their time and ſerve, for none can skill to hew

Timber like theſe of Sidon where they grew:

Then Hiram glad of Solomons deſigne,

Offred to do at his deſire each thing;

My men, ſaid he, theſe trees unto the ſea

Shall bring, and my houſhold furniſh'd by thee

With food ſhall be; this ſhall be our bargaine,

Unto the end all things ſhall ſo remaine:

Then to Hiram he gave of victuall good,

Twentie thouſand meaſures of wheat for food

With twentie meaſures of oyle pure each year,

Theſe two did make a league for peace and war.

When this was done wiſe Solomon did then,

Raiſe a levie of thirtie thouſand men;

To Lebanon ten thouſand were by courſe

Sent each monethmonth, to provide for Gods houſe;

To beare burdens threeſcore thouſand and ten

He had; with theſe were fourſcore thouſand men,

Who on the mountains were for him hewers,

Beſides other many cheefe officers:

Three thouſand and three hundred did beare rule,

Over the reſt who wrought with workmans tool;

They all buſie, each man wrought in his courſe,

To cut, to hew, to ſquare, to build Gods houſe;

p. 194The length thereof threeſcore, the breadth twentie,

Were of cubits, the height thereof thirtie;

All things before were ſo wiſely prepar'd,

That in building no ſound of toole was heard.

Then was that houſe with pomp and Majeſtie

Adorned ſo, that it was faire to ſee:

The Oracle ſpangled with golden ſparres,

Was like the heav'n imboſſ'd with twinckli… ſtarres:

For Gods preſence it ſeem'd to be a ſhrine,

From end to end, with glory it did ſhine.

The Ark was there of gold and ſhittim wood,

The Cherubins princely upon it ſtood:

This type of Heav'n with beauties manifold,

From top to ground was burniſhed with gold:

From end to to end, from the baſe to ſeeling,

Seven yeers were ſpent in that painefull buildin…

When all was finiſh'd, Solomon that day,

Both bleſſ'd the people and to God did pray.

Solomons Prayer.

O God the Lord, who art moſt rich in grace,

Hearken all prayers made towards th… place;

p. 195If any man 'gainſt his neighbour treſpaſse,

Then hear in heaven that juſtice may have place;

If by their foes Iſra'l oppreſſed be,

Then heare in Heav'n, and help them ſpeedilie:

When heaven is ſhut up, and there is no raine

Then heare in Heaven, a helper then remaine:

If thou ſhalt ſcourge with peſt blaſting, mildew,

Then heare in heav'n when Iſra'l to thee ſue:

What ever plague be in thy peoples heart,

Then heare in Heaven and help them in their ſmart.

When poore ſinners ſhall heere thee come unto,

Then heare in Heav'n, frankly forgive and do:

If ſtrangers come for heere to ſeeke thy grace,

Then heare in heav'n thy pleaſant dwelling place:

If thy people heere 'gainſt their foes compleane,

Then heare in heav'n, and their good cauſe maintaine;

If ſinners cry repenting from their heart,

Then heare in heav'n and eaſe them of their ſmart.

Thus Solomon this precious houre did ſpend,

…n bleſſing, praying, ſo he made an end.

When this was done, in the dedication

Of Gods houſe, he made a great oblation,

p. 196Of Oxen great, twenty thouſand and two,

An hundred thouſand and twenty alſo,

Of ſheep he offred at this great ſervice,

Which was a great and royall ſacrifice.

The Queene of Sheba hearing of his name,

Which through the earth was exalted with fame,

Came with great pomp hard queſtions to move,

That ſhe thereby his great wiſedome might prove:

But he all doubts that then were in her heart

Reſolv'd clearely before ſhe did depart:

When ſhe his glory did right well conſider,

Her ſprite within did faile her altogether:

When ſhe reviv'd was from her wondring ſowne,

She high extoll'd Solomons great wiſedome.

Now doe I know, ſaid ſhee, moſt perfectlie,

The truth of theſe things which I heard of thee:

I heard great things of thy moſt glorious name,

But thy preſence doth far ſurpaſſe thy fame:

Moſt happy are thy men and moſt happy

Are thy ſervants that may thee heare dayly;

Bleſſed be God, the great God eternall,

Who hath thee made the Prince of Iſrael:

Then Shebas Queene before ſhe tooke her leave,

To him rich ſtones, ſpices with gold did give;

And he againe gave unto her richly,

Great things of worth moſt precious and coaſtly;

p. 197He was enrich'd with bleſſings manifold;

He made two hundred targets of fine gold;

Three hundred ſhields of beaten gold he made,

Which in his houſe of Lebanon were laide;

He alſo made a Throne of yvorie,

And ov'rlaid it with fine gold moſt richlie;

Six golden Lions on each ſide were ſet,

A Lion placed was at every ſtep:

His drinking veſſels were all of pure gold,

He was enrich'd with bleſſings manifold:

In wealth all Kings on earth he did ſurmount,

In his time ſilver was in no account;

Silver like ſtones, Cedars like Sycomore

Were baſe and vile, yea ſo were more and more.

But oh alas, what could this wiſe man move,

Women of Moab and Edom to love?

With Pharaohs daughter, women of Ammon,

He had with Hittits, women of Sidon;

Women alſo he had, concerning ſuch

In mariage the Lord forbade to touch,

Seven hundred wives, three hundred concubins

He had for pleaſure; but oh by this meanes,

When he was old his wiſedome did depart,

Theſe wives from God did turne away his heart:

The true worſhip of God he did reject,

His heart was not like his fathers perfect;

As though he had not learned in Gods ſchoole,

p. 198With goddeſſes and gods he play'd the fool:

He ſerv d Aſhtoreth and alſo Milcom;

Theſe were the chief idols of Solomon

Whith Chemos, for which he made an high place

With great contempt before the Temples face;

This alſo was the rage of Solomon,

He ſerved Molech th'idol of Ammon:

He wiſe in youth, did in his old folie

Follow his wives in their idolatrie.

For this cauſe God in wrath did him deſpiſe,

As unthankfull unto whom clearly twiſe

He had appear'd; I will, ſaid God, ſurely

For thy great ſins rend the Kingdome from thee;

Becauſe thy father me ſought in his wayes,

This great rent I will not make in thy dayes;

But after thee thy Son ſhall feele the ſmart,

And yet I will for Davids ſake a part

Of the Kingdome of Iſra'l ſure reſerve,

That in his houſe a lamp I may preſerve.

Then God to puniſh his idolatrie,

Stirr'd up Hadad for an adverſarie

To Solomon; another call'd Rezon,

A great armie of men gath'red anone:

Hadad and Jeroboam ſtout alſo,

Unto Solomon did procure much wo:

At laſt he di'd after he had fourtie

Yeers liv'd, in peace and great tranquillitie.

p. 199Papiſts do doubt and make a queſtion,

If Solomon obtain'd ſalvation;

That which them moves unto this hard ſentence,

The Scriptures ſpeak not of his repentance:

But let ſuch know his repentance was true,

As his Sermons Eccleſiaſtes ſhew.

2 Sam. 7.14.

Yea, God himſelf unto his father dear

This promiſe made, which takes away all fear:

If this thy Son commit iniquitie,

With rods and ſtrips I will him moſt ſharplie

Correct, and chaſten, for to vexe his heart,

But my mercy ſhall not from him depart,

As from King Saul, who forſaking my path,

From his Kingdome was caſt away in wrath.

The Uſe.

Let him that would ſhunne all idolatrie,

Flie farre from ſuch that with it ſpotted be:

Where is the man that ſhould not fear to fall,

When he thinkes what befell this Cedar tall?

This is the best when man hath gone aſtray,

With Solomon to returne to Gods way.