[ontemplations. LIB. XII I. Whiles bafe hearts are moved by example, the want of example is encourage- A mcnt enough for an heroycall mind: Therefore is Da11id ready to undertake 1he I qUlrrell,becaufe no man dfe dare doe it:Hiseyosfparkled with holy anger,and his heart rofc up to his mouth,when he heard thiS proud challeng<r: (Who is this uneirc•mcifodPhtll}ltm,thAI hrfbouldre'lli le thehoftofthe li11ing God? )Even fo,O Saviour, when all the generations ofmen ran away affnghted from the powers ofdeath and darkndfe,thou alone haft undertaken, and confounded them. Who ihould offer to daunt the holy courage of David, but his owne brethren~ The envious heart of Eltab conftrues this forwardndl'e, as his own difgrace: Shall I (thinkes he) be put downe by this puifne ~ lhall my fathers youngeft fonne dare to attempt thar, whicl; my llomach will notferve me to adventure~ Now therefore he rares Da11id for his prefumption; and inllc:ad of anfweringto therecom- B pence ofthe victory, (whichothers were ready to give) he recompenceth the very inquiry of Da11id witha check: It was for his brethrens fake, that David came thi· ther,and yet his very jmfrneyis caft upon him by them, for a reproach; Whmfore cam:JI thou do1vnc hither? and when thcir bitternelfe can meet with nothing c:IIC to lhame him, his fl1eep are ca(t in his teeth : Is it for thee, an idle proud boy, ·to bt medling with our martiall matters~ doth not yonder Chaml;'ion look,as ifhe wore a liemarch forthee ~ what makell thou of thy felfe,or what doll thou thin!<ofus! ywis it were litter for thee robe looking to thy iheep,then looking at Goliah 1 the ' Wilderneffe would become thee betterthen the field : Wherein art thou equall to any man thou feel!,but in arrogancy and prefumption ~ The palluresof Bahle<rn couldnot hold thce,but thou thoughtCl: it a goodly.matter to fee thewars : I know C thee, as iflwere in thy bofome ; This was thy thought, ·There is no glory to be gotamong fleeces,I will goe feeke it in armes; Now are my brethren winning honourin thdroupes oflfrael, whiles I am bafe!y tending on iheepe, why lbould not I be as forward as the belt of them! This vanitie would make thee ftraight of a ihepheard,a foldier;and of a foldier,a champion; get thee home,fooliih !triplingio thy hookc,:md thy harpe; let [words and fpeares alone to thofe, that kMw how to ufethem. Irisquarrell enough amongll many to a good action, that it is not thcirowne; there is no enemy fo ready, or fo fpightfull, as thedomefticall: The hatred ofbrethren is fo muchmore, as their blood is neerer: The malice of llrangers is fimple, but ofa brother is mixt with envy : The more unnaturallany quality is-;' the more D extreame it is; A cold wind from the fouth is inrokrabk : Davids firll victory is ofhimfelri:,next ofhis brother; He overcomes himfelfe in apatient forbearance of his brother, he overcomes the malicious rage ofhis brotherwith the mildneffe of his anfwer: If David had wanted fpirit, he had not beene troubled with the inful· tation ofa Philillim:Jfhe had a fpirit to march G•liah, how doth he fo calmely receive the affront ofa brother~ Whatha11e lnbw done!ls there nDI a eaufo!That which would have llirred the choler ofanother, allayeth his: It was abrother,rhatwronged him, and thathiseldell; neitherwas it time to quarrell with a brother, whiles the Philiftims [words were draw ne, and Goli•h was challenging. 0 that thefe two inotives couldinduceus to peace : Ifwe have injury in our perfon, in our caufe, it is from brethren,and the Philiftims looke on: I am deceived, ifthis conqueft were E leCfe glorious,thenthe following:He is fir to be Gods Champion, that hath learned to be victor ofhimfelfe. · , . , It is notthis fprinkling of cold water, that ~an quench the lireof Davids zeale, 1 but llill his courage fends up flames ofdefire,fttll he goes on to enqmre,and to pro· 1 1 fer: He whom the regard of m hers envy can difmay,lhall never doe ought wor· thy of;nvy : Neyer man ttndert?ok any exploit ?fworrh, and received not fome difcour2gement mtheway :Th1s courag10~s mouon ofDttvtd, was notmore fcor· ned by his brother,then by the other lfrachtes applauded: Therumourfiyes to the earesofthe King,that there is • young man defiro~s roencounter the c:;yant:D•:''d is brought forth: Saul. when he heard ofa Champton_, that durll goe mto the Itns with Goliah, looked for one a• much htgher then htmfelfe, as he was taller then the
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