1 [ontemplationr. L 1 a. X1V. fave his life, lhe is bold to acknowledge his folly: It is a good difparagement that A. preferv_eth. There.is the fame way to our peac~ in Heaven; theonely mcanes to efcape Judgement, 1s to complam ofour own vdeneffe; !he pleadeth heriooorance ofthe fatt,and therein her freedome from the offence : !he humbly crave~h acceptauon ofher prefent, wuh pardonofthe fault ; fl1e profeffeth Davids honourable ads and merits; !he foretels his future fucceffe and glory ; fl1e !ayes before him the happy peace ofhis foule, in refraining from innocent bloud. Davtds brelt which could not,through the Ieeds ofgrace,grow to altubbornneffc in ill refolutions can. not but relent with thefe powertull and feafonable perfwafions ; and now in head ofrevenge, he bleffeth God for fending LAbigail to meet him ; he bleffeth Abigail for her co~nfell., he bleffeth the.counfell for fo wholfome dlicacy, and now rejoy. e<th more mbemg overcomewuh a Wlfeandgracwus advJCe, then he would have' B rejoyced in a revengefull vittory. A good heart is eafily frayed from finning, and is glad wben ir findes occafionto be croffed in ill purpofes ; Thofe fecrcr checks whichare raifedwithin it felf, doe readily confpire with all outward rerentives; It never yeelded to a wicked motion, without much rduttarion, and when it isovercome, it is but with halfe a confenr; whereas perverfeand obdurate Sinners, by reafon they take full delight in evil!, and have already in tpeir conceit [wallowed the pleafure of finne, abide not to be refilted, running on beadily, in tho[c wicked courfes they have propounded in fpight ofoppolirion; and if they be forcibly ftopped in their way, they gr->w fullenand mutinous. Davi4had not only vowed, but deeply fworn the death ofNabal, and all his Family, totheveryDogge thatlayathisdoore; yet now C he praiferh God, that hath given the occafion and grace to violate it. Wicked Vowes are ill made,but worfe kept.Our tongue cannot rye us to commit fin. Good menrhink themfelves happy, that fince they had not the grace ro deny finne yet they had nor the opportunity to accomplifh it. If vtbig•il had fir frill a~ home, David had finned, and !he had dyed : Now her difcreet admonition hath preferved her from the fword,and diverted him from bloud-fhed. And now, what thanks, what benedittions harh !he for this feafonable counfdl ( How lhould it encourage us to admonifh our brethren; to fee that ifweprevaile, we have bleffings from them ; ifwe prevaile not, we have yet bleflings from God,and thanks of our owne heatts ~ How neare was N abal to a mifchiefe,and perceives it not ~ David was comming D m the foot oftbehilltocut his throat, while he was fealting in his houfewi.thour feare ; Little doe finners know,how neare their jollity is ro perdition. Many times judgement is at the threfhold, whiles drunkenneffe and Curfer are at the boord.Had he been any other then a Nabal, he had not fare down to feaft rill he had been fure of his peace with David; either not to expett danger, ornorro ckare !t, was Corrifh ; So foolifh are carnallmen,that give tliemfelves over to their pleafures,whiles there are deadly quarrels depending againlt them in Heaven. There is nothing wherein wifdome is·more feen, then in the temperate ufe ofprofpemy. A N •b.t cannot abound,bur he mult be drunk and Curfet;Excdfe is atrue argument offolly: We ufeto f.1y, that when drink is in, wit is our,but ifwit were nor our,drink would -be~ E It was no time to advife Nabal, while his reafon was drowned in a deluge of wine. A bealt or a!lone isas capableofgood counfell as a Drunkard. Oh that the nobleft Creature fl10uld fo farre abafe himfelf,as for alittle liquor to lo!e the ufe of rhofe faculties,whereby he is aMan!Thofe that haYe to doe with drinkorphrenzy, mult be glad to watch rimts;So did Abigail, who the next morning prefenrstoher Husband,the view ofhis faults,ofhis dangel ; He then fees how neare he was to death and felt it nor.That worldly mind is fo apprehenlive ofthe death that fl10uld have been,asthat he dyes, to think that he had like ro have dyed ; Who \Yould think a man could be fo affcl:led with adanger pall, and yet fo fenfleffe ofa future, 'yea imminent ~ He that was yefier-night.as abeall,is now as a fl:om:; he was then over-merry now dead and lumpi01; Carnal! beans are ever in extremities.Ifthey I ' be
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