[ontemplationi. L1a.XlV. but in their extremities: It is hard forthe bell man, to fay, how far he will be tempt- / A ~d. Ifa man w1ll put h1mfdfe among Phitilhms, he cannot promife to come forth , mnocenr. I How eafily doewebeleeve that winch we wilb! The more credit <Achijb gives ; unto David,ihe more fin it was t? deceive him;_and now the conceit of thisingage- ~ menc,procures hun a further ferv1ce. The Ph1hfl1m; are alfembled to fight with Ifrael ; Achifo dares troll David on his fide ; yea ro keephis head for ever ; neither can Daviddoe any leffe then promife his aid againfl his own fle01: Never was D•- vid,inall his life,driven to fo hard an exigent: never was he fo extremely perplexed; For whatfi1ould he do now~ To fight withAchijh,he wastyed bypromife, by merit;Not to fight againfl Ifrael,he was tied by his calling,by his uncbon :'Nor to light for Achijh,were to beunthankfull3 To fight againfl Itrael, were to beunnatu- B rail;Oh what an mward battle mull Davidneeds have in his breall:,when he thinks ofthis battle ofIfrael,and the Philiflims!How doth he wilb now that he had rather flood to the hazard of S•uls perfecution, then to have put himfelfupon the favour of Achtjb!He mull fight on one fide,andon whether fidefoever helbould fight, he could not avoid to be trecherous; a condition worfethen death,to an honefl heart 1 which way he would have refolved,ifit had come to the execution,who can know fince himfell was doubtful!~ either courfe had been no better then defperate. How could the Ifraelites ever have received him for theirKing,who in theopenfield,had fought againflthem! And contrarily, ifhe would have fo"gbt againfl his fiiend, for his enemy l againfl Achifh for Saul; he was now invironed wit!) jealous Philiflims; and might rather look for the punilbment ofhis Treafon,then the gloryofa C Victory. His heart had led him intothefe llraics ; the Lord find<< way to lead him our: The fuggeflions ofhis eoemies doe herein befriend him : ThePrincesof the Philiflims (whether ofenvy, or fufpition) plead for Davids difmiffion, (Stnd 1hilftBow hack,that he may go'e againeto hu place, which thou haft appointedhim : ••d ltt him••t !' do•m to the hattle,fejl he bean adverfory to tu. )No Advocate could have faid more, himfelf durll not have C.1id fo much. Oh the wifdome and goodnelfe ofour God, rhatcan raife up an Adverfary to delivrrout ofthofe evils, which our friends cannot;That by the Sword ofan enemy,can let out that Apoflume,which no Phyfitian could tell how to cure: It would be wide with us fometimes, if it were not for others malice. · D There could not be a more jull: qudlioo, then this ofthe Philiflim Princes,Wh.rt dse thefe Hehrewd here f An Ifradite is out ofhis ~lement, when heis in an Armyof .t • Philiflims: The true fervants ofGod are in their dueplaces, when they are in oppofirion to his enemies. Profeffion ofhofiility becomes them better thenleagues of amity. YetAchifh likesDavids converfatfonand prefence fo \Vell,thathe profetfeth hi!llfelfe pleafed with him, as with an Angel of God ; How flrangc is it to heare, that a Philiflim lboulddelight in that holy man, whom an Ifraelite abhorres, and fuouldbeloathtobequitofDavid,whomSaulhathexpelled ~ Termcs of civi- . lity be equally open to all religions, to all ptofeflions: The com"?ongracesd!' Gods children, are able to attraCl: love from the moll obflm·ate cne~mes of good- E nelfe; If weaffectthemforby-refpectsofValour, WifdG>me, D1fcourfo, Wit, it is their praife,not ours; But if for divine Grace and Religion, it is our ptaifc with theirs. Such now was Davids condition, that he mull pleadforthathcfeared, and argue againfl that which hedefired: {What have I done! andwhat haft tho•folimlln I t!!J fervant that I maJ ROI got,amlfight againfl sb ecnemiu ofmy Lord''" King n Never any newes could be more cordiall to him then this, ofhis difmiffion; yet mull he feeme to flrive againfl ir, with an importunate profe11ion of his forwardnelfe to that act, which he moll detefled. . One degree ofDiffimulation drawes onanother ; thofe which have once g1ven way to a faulty courfe,cannot eafily,eirher !lopor rum back;but are iaa fort forced / to
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