L Ia.XIV. 0 A v I o and A c H I s 11. A be oncedowne,thdr dejeClion is defperatc, becaufethey have no m ward comfort tomitigate their forrow. What difference there was betwixt the di!pol!tion of D•· "'"J and N •~•l?How oft had Davidbeen in the Valley ofthe fl1adow.ofdearh, and feared no evill~ Nahal is but once put in minde ofadeath that might bave been, and is ftrikcn dead. Iris juft withGod,thattheywho live without grace,fl10u1d die without comfort; neither can weexpeCl better,whilewogoeon in our fins. The fpeech of v!higail fmoreN aha/ into a qualm; that tongue had doubtldfe oft advifcd himwdl,and prevailed not; now ,it occafions his death} whofC' reformJtion ic could nor dttct; {he meant nothing but his amendment: God meanr to make rhar loving inllrumentrhe meanes ofhis revenge: !he fpeaks,and God flrikes; and within ten daycs, that B- fwound ends indeath. And now N abal paies deare for his uncharitable reproach: for his riotous exce!fe: That God, which would nor fuAer Da'llid ro righrhimfdf by his ownSword, takes the quarrel! of his Servant into his owne hand. I> avid hath now his ends without fin; r~joycing in the juft executions ofGod,who would neither fuff~r him roftn in revenging,norfuffer his Advcrfaries to fin unrevenged. Ourloving God ismore angr-y with the wrongs donero his fervants,rhen rhemfelves can be,and knowes how to punif\1-rhat juflly, which we could nor undertake without wrongingGod,more then men have wronged us.Hethat fairh,rmgran";, mint, 1""11 repAy, repaies oft-times when we have-'forgiven, when we have foraorten,and calls ro r<ckoning after ourdifcharges: It is dangerous oll<nding any F~vorire ofhim,whofe difpleafure and revenge is everlafling. · c How far God looksbeyond our purpofes ~ .. dig•iJ came only ro plead for an ill Husband;and nowGod makes this journeya preparation for a becrc.'r:So thoc in one at't, fue preferved an ill Husband,and won a good one in the future: David well remembers her comely perfon, herwife fpeeches, her graceful! carriaj;e; and now, when modefly found it feafonable,he fends to !ue herwhich bad been hisSuppliant: !lie intreate~ for her Husband, Davtd t~eacs With her for Ius W1fe; her requefl was toefcape hlSSword,hewlfherh hercohlS bed; It was a fa1re fwrco change a David for a Nahal; tobecome Davids Qgeene,in flead of Nabals Drudge; lhethat learned humility lU1der fo hard aTutor,abaferh her felfe no le!fe when Da'Uid offers to advance her; (Let thine hand-maid be a Servant towafl1 the feet oftheServants of my Lord.)None are fo fir to be great,as thofe that can floop lowefl: how could David 107~ D be more happy in aWife; hefindesatonce Piery, Wifdome, Humility, Faithfulne!fe, Wealrh,Beaury ~How could Ahigail be more happy in an Husband, then in the Prophet,the Champien,theAnointed of God~ThofeMarriages lte well made { wherein Vercwes arematched,and Happine!fe is mutlllll. ' DAVIDitnd A eH ISH. Ood motions that fall into wicked hearts are like fome fparks ~~~~~!;~- tharfall from the flint and fleele,into wer tiQder ; lightfome for the time, but fooQe out. Afcer Sau/s teares and proreflarions, yet he i• now agai.ne, in rhc wilderndfe with three. thoufand - men to hunt aftermnocent Da'lltd : How mvmc1ble 1s the cha,. rity and loyalty of an honeil: heart~ The fame hand that fpared Saul inthe Cave,!pares him fleeping 10 the field; The.fame hand that cut away the lap of his Maflers garment, carryed away his Speare ; that Speare,whichmight as well have carryedaway the hfe ofthe owner,is onely borne away for a proofe ofthe fidelity of the bearer. Snll SaulJS flrong,but Dav id viliorious, and triumphs overthe maliC" of hiS perfecuror; Yet flill the viClor flyerh from himwhom he bath overcome. A man that fees how far Sa11l wascranfporred with his.ra11corous envy, _cannot but fay, that he was never ;x xxx ~ mor~
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