1 L 1 n.XIII. Jonachans lo'!Je,and Sauls en'lJy.- - ------l051 -1 A I cion encreafeth Dtwids honour and love.; and his love and ~nr :1ggr.:wates Sa!tls --·---~ ' barred and fearc!. ' · Sau/s madnelfc: hath not bereaved him d~is·h:1fr:for p~rcdving how great Da- r vidwas grown in the reputation oflfrael, he dares not ofkr any perlonall, or di. I rea violence to him,bllt hires him imo the jawes of aluppofed death, by no lelfe price,then his elddl: Daughter, (Behold 111i11e eldejl J,wghter <Ylferdb: her .vi/itgive tket,. wift,onely be • valtant Son to me, a11d fight the Lords Ba:ttls.) Could ever man fpeakmorc gracioufiy, more holily ~ What could be moregraciouOyotfered by a King, then hisdddl: Daughter~ What ore could be more holy then ofrhe Lori:ls battds ~ yer neverdid Saul intend lo much mifchicfero Davtd, or fo much unfaithfulnelfe to God,as when he fpake thus: There is never fo much danger of the falfeB hearred,as when they make the fairdl: weather: Sa11/s Speare bade David be gone, but his plaullblewords invite him to danger. This honour was due to David before,upon the compa{l ofhis viaory : yer he, that twice enquired into the reward ofthat entcrprize, before he undertooke it, never demanded it after that atchicvement; neither had Saulthe jull:icc to offer it,as a recompence offo noble anexploit, but as a fnare roan enviedvi{lory.Charity fufpe{ls not: David conllrucs that,as an dfe{l and argumentofhisMall:ers love,whichwas no otherbutachild ofEnvy,but a plot ofmifchiefe;andthough he knew his own d&rr,and the jull:ice ofhis claime to Mtrab; yet he in a l!ncere humilirydifparagerh himfelf, and his Parentage with a who am/? As it wasno:thepurpofeofthis modell:y in David to rejed, but to follicitethe c proffered favour ofSaul; fo was it not in the power of this bafhfull humiliation to turn backthe edgeoffo keen an envy:lt helps not that David makes himfelfmcanc, whiles others magnific his worth : Whatfoever thecolour was, s "'"meant nothing to Davidbut danger and death; and finceall thofeBattleswill not effe{lthat which he dellred,himfdfwill not etfethhatwhich he promifed : Ifhe cannot kill David, he will difgrace him ;Davids honour,was S.wls difeafe.!t was not likely therefore, 1hatSau/ would addemitothat honour,whereofhe was fa lick already: <.Ylferabis given unto another;neither doe I heare David complain offa manifell: an injull:ice : He knew, thatthe God whofe battles he fought, had provided a due reward ofhis patience: If Merab faile, God batha Mic ha/ in ll:ore for him,fhe is in lovewith Da. vtd: his comelinelfe and valour have fo won her heart, that fhe 11ow emulates the 0 affedion ofher Brother lonathan: Iffhe be the yonger Sill:er, yet fhe is more affe8ionate: SAulis glad ofthe newes, his Daughter could neverliveto doe him better fervice,then to be a new fnare to his Adverfary: She !hall be therefore facrificed to his envy,and her honellandfincere love fhallbe made abait for herwonhy and innocent Husband. (l,.i/1give him her, th•tJh•may beafnare unto htm,thatth< hand • the Phdijlims inay bt againfl him:) The purpofe ofany frvour is more then the value ofit : Ev.,n the greatell: honoursmay be given with an intent ofdell:rudion:Many a man is raifedup for afall.Soforward is San/ in the match,that he fends fpokes-men ro follicit David to that honour,which he hopes will prove the high-way to death: The dowry is fetj An hundred fore-skins ofthe Philill:ims;not their heads,buttheir fore-skins, that this victory mlght be more ignominious; ll:ill thinking, whymay E not oneD•·vidmifcary,as well as an hundredPhilill:ims~ And what cloth Sarels envy all this while,but enhance Davids zeale,and valour,andglory! Thatgood Captain little imaginingthat himfelfwas the Philill:im, whomS&ll/maligned,fupererogates ofhis Mall:er,and brings two hundred for one, and rerurnes home fafe, and renowned;neithercan Saul now Ay otffor flume:There is no remedy butDavid mull: be a fon,where hewas arival! ; and Sa11/ mull: feed upon his own heatt,l!nce hecannot fee D•vids : Gods bleffing graces equally together withmens malice,neither can they devife,which wayto make us more happy,then by wifhiog ps evil!. Vuuu Mt- ~-------------------------------------~-----
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