~X I I. Saula11dSamuels meeting. JG15 A Since then they chufe to have a King, God himfdf will thufe and appoint tlie King which they fl~allhave. The Kingdome fhall begin in Bmjamm, which was to. endure in ltula.- It was no probabilityor reafon,this firll: King lhou!d prove well be. caufe hewas abortive;thcir humor ofmnovationdeferved to be pWlifhed with tl1ei( ownchoyce: K~the fatherofSatelwas mighty inell:ate,Sa11lwas mighty in per. fon, over-lookmg the rell: ofthe people mllarure, no leffe then he lltould do in dig. nity. Thefenfcs ofthe Ifraelites could nor but bewell pleafed forthetime,howfoever their hearts were afterwards; when men are carried with omward rlu:wes,it is a figne that God meanesthem adelufion. : H""" farre God fetches his purpofes about! The AffesofKiji>,Sallls f.1ther, are llrayed away: What is rlpt to the newcs ofa Kin~dome ~ God laies thefe fmall a~- B cidenrs for the groundofgreater defignes:TheAffes mull: beloll,nonebutSa11l mull. goe with his fathers fervant to feelc them.- Sam11tl fhall meet themin the fearch:Sa~l fhall be premonifhedofhis infuing Royalty;Little can we by the beginning 6f11ny a~ion,gueffe at Gods intention in the conclufion. Obedience was a fit entrance into Soveraignry : The fervice was homely for the fon ofa great man,yet he.refufeth not to goe,as afellow to his fathers fervant,upon fo meane a fearch:The difobedient and (cornfull are good for nothiog,they are neither fit to bcfubje~snor governours. Kijh was agreat man in his country, yet he drfdameth not ro fend hrs fon S.ui/ upon a thnfty errand,nelthcr doth Saul plead his difparJgemenrfora refu[rl.Pride and wamonnelfe have marred our times:Great parenrs count it a difrepur:uion to imploytheir fons in courfesoffrugaliry; and rheir C pampered children think it a fhame to dee anything: and fo beare themfelves as thofe that hold ittheonelyglory to be either idleor wicked. ' Neither doth S&r.t goe fafhionably to work, but does this fervice hear~ily and painfi1lly,as a man, that defiresrather t_o etfe~ theco'!'mand,thenpleafe the Commander: He palfeil from E~htatm to the LandofShahllu, from Shahfha to Satim, from Salim to Jemini,whence his Houfe came ; from Jemini to Zuph, nor fomuch as llaying with any ofhis kinred folong asi'o vittaile himfelf:Hethat was afterward an ill King, approved hrmfelfe a good Sodne. As there are diverlities of relations and offices, fo there isofdifpofitions ; thofe, which are excellent in fome, atraine not eo amediocrity in other: It is no arguing fi·om private vertues to publike; from dexterity in one llation,to the rell : A feverall grace belongs tothe particular D carriageofevery place whereto we are called,which ifwe w~nr,the place may well want us. There was more praifeofhis obedience in ceafingro feek,then in feeking:he rakes care, !ell his fatherfl1ould take care for him,that whilll he fho'uld fecme officious in the lelfe, he might not neg\e~ the greatdl. A blindeobedience in fome cafes doth ,vell,but it dorh far better,when it is led with the eyes ofdifcretion; oth~rwife we may more offend in pleafing,then in difobcying. Great is the benefit of awifeand religious attendant, fuch anone puts us into thofe duties and a~ions which are mof\ expedient,and !call thought of.Ifsaul had not had a difcreet Servant,hehad returned but as wife ashe came; now he Is duwn in to confult with the man ofGod, and heares mo1e then he hoped for. S411l was E nowa fullicient journey from bis fathers houfe, yet his religious fervant in this remotenelfe,takes knowledge ofthe place,where theProphet dwels,and howhonourably doth he mentionhim to his maller: J!ehold,in rhu City u a •~•n ofGod,andhu is an honot<rahle man, all that he jailhcommtth to pajfo: (iods Prophets are publique perfons; as their funCtion, fo their notice ~oncernes every man: There is no reafon God flwuld abate any ofthe refpetl due to his Minillers under the Golpell : Saint Pat< Is fuit is both univerfall and· everlalling ; I kfmh yo•, 'rethren, know them thAt labour amongffJ"'· The chide praife is to be able ro give good advice; thenexris to take it. Siuli!> eafily induced to condefcend: He whof~ ci)rioftty led him v<;>lunrad!y·at !aft, td the WitchofEndor, is now led at 6rllby good counfell to the manofGod; neither"is his care in going,lelfecomtnendable,then His will t<'Yg6e.For asa m5n,that haclbin Rrrr 3 care-
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=