1060 [ontemplationr. ao innocemovoyding Murd<r; not aTraitor countenancedagainfl hisSovcrlignc, A but theDehvereroflfrad harboured ma SanCtuaryofProphets ull his peace might be made. Even thitherdoth Saul fend ro apprehend David: All his raoe did not inccnfe him againf\Samsttlas theAbettor ofhis Adverfary;Such an impr~flion ofreverence had the perfon,and calling ofthe Prophet left in the minde of Saul, that he cannot think of lifting up his hand againflhim: The fame God which did atchcfirfl put an awe ofman m the fierce!! creatures, haeh llamped m the crucllefl hearts a reverent refpe&ro his owne image in hisMinillers ; fo as even they that hate them, doe yet honour them. Sauls meffengerscame to by hold on David, God laies hold on them:No fooner doe they fee a company ofProphets bufie in thofe divine Exercifcs, under rhemo- B deration of Sam11e!,then they are turned from Executioners ro Prophets. It is good going up to Najoth,inro the holy A!femblies; who knowes how we may be changed befideour intention~ Many one hathcomeinto Gods Houfe to carp, or fcofte, or fie~pe,or gaze,that hath returned a Convert. The fame heart that was thus difquietedwith Davids happy fucceifc, is now vexedwith theboline!fe ofhis other Servams.It angers him that Gods Spirit could finde no othenime to feizc upon his Agents, then when he had fcnt them to kill : And nowout ofan indignation at this difappoinrmcnt, himfelfe will goe and behis owncServant; His guilty foule findes it felfe our of the danger ofbeing thus furprized; And behold Sa11l is no fooner come within thefmdl ofthe fmoakof Najoth, then he alfo prophefies; The fame Spirit that, when he went firll from C Samt~d, inobled him to prophefie, returnes in the fame effeC! now that he was going (his bft) unto Sam11<l: This wa$ fuch a grace as might well ftand with reje&ion pn extraordinary gift of the fpirit, but not f.1nClifying: Many men have had their mouthes opened to prophefie unto others,whofe hcam have bin deafe to God; But this (futh as it was) was far from Sa11ls purpofc,who in !lead ofexpoftulating with SAmuel, fall~downe before him; and laying afide his WCO!JOns, and his Robes,ofa Tyrant proves(for the timc)a Difciple:All heartsare inthe hand oftheir 1 Maker; how eafie is it for him that gave them their being to frame them to his own benr~Who can be affraid ofmalicc,that knows what hooks God bath in the nollrils of men and Devils~ Wharcharmes he bath for the moft Serpentine hearrs ~ D DA vI o and A H I M a L .11. c H. ~~~""!"~~ 1-Jioca!) ever judgeofthe Children byrhe Parents, that knowes 14nath•n was the fon of Smtl? There was never a falfer heart then Sa11ls; there was never a truer friend then Ionathan; Ncitherd1e hopeofa Kingdome,nor the frownes ofa Father, nor the feare of death can remove him from his vow~d amity: No fon could be moreofficious, and dutiful! to a good father; yet he laies downe E nature at ofgrace; and for the prefervarion of his innocent Rinll for the Kingdomc, cro!fcs the bloudy defignes ofhis own Parent: David needs no other Counfellor, noorher Advocate, no other Inrclligencer :hen he: It 1s not m the power of Sa11ls unnatural! reproachcs,or ofhis Speare, to make Jonathan any orher then a fricnd,and patron ofinnocence:Even after al! th~fcdifficulties,doth UnJth.•n lhoot beyondVavid, thatSa11/may lhoo: OJOrto~him, mvam are thofe profeflions oflove,which are not anfwcred wnh aCl10n; He IS no true fnend that (befides talk) is norready bo:h to doe and [uffer. . . Saul is no whit the better for his prophefymg; he no fooner nfes up from before Samuel,thcn he purfuesDavid. Wicked men are rather theworfe forthofctranfitory good motions they have received. lftl\C fwine benever fo cleane walhcd, !hewill Wl1i~v __ ~--~------------~------------~-
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