to hiJ,generation. 5 89 Pals we now to explain what it is to ferve our Generation. To ferVe it,is to dill V), charge our cOnfciences 'according to Gods will in his.word,tootir flipariors,ecluals, inferiors, all perlons to whom we Band related inour generation. Andthe more eminentthe perfon is in Church and State, the more are his ieferencei multiplied, and the more publickand ponderous thefervice is which he isM. perforrn.Nor it be forgotten that Davidwas a King, in which rape it was proper for him to rule and command his own Generation ; and yet it is laid he ferved the tame: Princes are not priviledged by theirgreatnefs, only to tyraniieover others, but are accountable to God, howwell they difcharge their duty to all Inch to whom they arerefpeded. Proceed we to fee how Davidferved his generation, which he did in an eight- et foldcapacity. Firft, as a dutiful fon to his Fatherand Mother, i,S'ath. ;Z. 3.. And Davidwent thence toNizpeh of Moab,and he[aid unto the King ofMok,Let my Fa- therandMother, Ipraythee,comeforth, and bewithyou,till I knowwhat Godwill& for me. And he brought them befori the Kingof Moab, and theydweltwith hint ail the while that David was in the hold. The cafe was thus, Davidforefaw that the tern- peft ofSax& fury would fall full heavy on his Fathers Family ; he forepaw alto that though he hitnfelf might be always on the wing, hunted from place toplace as a Partridge on theMountain, yet his aged Parents couldnot keep pace with his fud- densuncertain, unfeafonable, late and longremovance, and'thereforeasa dutiful fbn, he provided for them a private place of peaceable repofe. Secondly,liefervedhis generationas avery loving Brother,witnefs the dangefinis ft. vifit (which at his Fathers command) he gave his Brethren in the Camp, (when Goliah was in the field ) vidualling them withall neceffary provifion, on the fame token that he received nothingfor his pains lave a jeetfromEliab his eldeft brother x Sam. :7. z8. Why carneft thou down hither and withwhom haft thou left thofe few fheep in the wildernefi I know tin, pride, andthe natightinefi ofthine heart; for thou art come down, that thou mighteftfee the battle. Thirdly, he ferved hisgeneration as akind and carefull Husband: I will not ex- curs hisPolygamy, havingmany wives at once, nor dare I flatly condemn it, God conniving thereat in the ancient Patriarchs. However David cannot be charged with want of love amongft his Bore of wives. Once I confefs he made a tart and Tharp return to tAlichal, a Sam. 6. ed. mockinghim for dancing before the Ark. But was there not a carafe, when through the fides of David the ftruckatall true de- votion ? ,and fmartnéfs on fuch oecafion is zeal, andno trefpafs againft Marital af- feaion. Fourthly, he ferved his generation at a tender Father indeed; he faulty, it was 11:; inthe fuccefs, being over-indulgent to Abfolom and Adoniah, wheimhenever took to tasknor called to account, (tKingsr. 6.) why have you done 12) ? (and feeinghe would not ufe the rod on them, God therefore ufed them as a rod on triin ) futh cockeringswe confefs is a catchingdifeafe antongft-us Parents ; but to giveDavid his due,for themain,he behaved himfelfno doubt as a difereet and tender Father to his numerous Mite Fifthly, hewas a fait and faithful th4end witnefs the exchange ofheartsas well tià as clothes, which paired betwixt him and Jonathan : yea Davidmadea tripartite expreffion ofhisaffeaion. it, He loved Jonathanin his life. z.- Lamented him at, 3. Shoved mercy tohimiafter hit death, zSam. 6. J. in reftoring c...7ctephibofith to all his lands, and making him Fellow-Commoner at his own Tabld ; So that we may truly fay and juftifie the expreffion, There we twomen, Jonathan andDaiict; and it will be made good by the Rules of Amity, ifany queftion the phrafe in theRule ofGrammer. Sixthly, hewas a loyal Subje&, whereofhe gave two fignal teftimonies, like to 10! findmore to admire than to imitate them arnongft pofterity,ifany fhouldchante td be eftated inhis conditionwith the ratite advantage: For being Reverfion'd to the Crown, he twicehad an opportunity (if fo pleafed) to,puthimfelfinto the prefent poffeffion thereof. Once when he had Said inthe Cave, s son. 24. 5. and hiS heart fmote himfor being over-bold withGods anointed, though he did but cutoff eggg a aakirt
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=