Lis.XJV. Abner and Joab. rb8y A aone mifcarries in the rani profecution of a good quarrel!; when the Abettors oft-----1 J the wor!l part goe awaywlrli victory. Heateofzeale, fometitties in the undifcreoc · purfuitofajuftAdverfaty, proves mortal! ro the agerir, prejudiciall to the fer vite. . . .. vthntr, whiles he kils,yet he llyes,and runs a\vay from hisowne dearh whiles heinfljasituponanother: Davids followers had the better ofthe lidda~dday.• TheSun ~s unwilling to fee any more Ifrae!itilh bloud fhed by brethren,hath with' drawne h1!nfelfe: and now both parts hav1ng got the advantage of an hill under them, liave fafe convenience.ofparley: Abmr begins, and perfwades Joah to fur ceafe the fight (Shall thejworddevo11re for tvtr? kniwejl thou not, that it•wi/1behitter mf[t in the end? How longfoal! it be, mthMbidthe plOj!le returmftom,folloi.ingtheir B hrtthrt11 ?) Itwas his fault that the fword devoured at all: and why wos not thebe ginning ofa civil! War, bittetnelfe ~ Why did' he call fotth the people to skirmilh andinvitethemtodeath! Had Ahntrbeenonrhewinninghand, this motion had beenthanbworrhy: It is a noble difpofitionin aVictor, to call for a ·celfariorl of Armes :whereas neceJ!iry wrings rhis fuit from the ovor-mallered. Thore cannor be agreater praife, to avaliantand wife Commander, then a p'ropenfioil ro all ju!l termes ofpeace :For warre as it is fometimes necelfary,foit is alwaycs evill; andif fighting have any other end propofed befides peace,it pmves murder; vfh~~tr thall finde himfelfeno letfe overcome, by Ioahin clemency, then po1v<r; He fayes nor.; J will riot fo ealily leave the advantage ofmy viCtory : lince the Dice of warre run on my lido,!will follow thechance ofmy goodfuccelfe:Thou fhouldell have con- . lideredofthis before thyprovocation:it is now too late,tomove unto forbearance. C But,as a man that meant to approve himfdfequally free from cowardife,in the- be•. ginningoftheconAict, and from cruelty in the end ;heprofe~thhis forwardnelfe to entettaine any pretence of flitaihing up the fwordsof Ifrael, and f1veares.ro 'Ahlier' that ifit had not been for his proud irritation, the people had m the motnin<>. before ceafed from that bloudy purfuit oftheir b~erhren._ As it _becomes publiqu~. perfons tobe lovers of peace,fo they mull thew 1t upon all good occa!ions: letting paffe no <?ppominity ofmaking fpare ofbloud. . · Ifo6•foeih was (it feemes) a manofno great fpirits, for being no leffe then forty. ycares old, when his father \vent into his !all field ag~inll the Philillims, he was content to llay at home i <.Abne; hath p_utambition into him1 and hathea!ily raifed D him to the headof• faaioo, againft theaMi:nted·Prince of Gods people. lf this ufurped Crowneof S•uls Son, had any worth or f$loryjn it,he ca~not but acknowledgetoowe it all unto Ahner ; yet how fOtward IS unthankfulll/hhofotth to receive a f:llre fuggellion againll his chiefe Abcttor:(Whmfort h'!fl thougonei11to my fathers Coneuhinel) He that made no confcienceofan unjullclaime to the Crowne, and a maintenance ofitwith bloud,yet feemes fcrupulous ofa leffe linne,~hat carryed in itthe colourofadifgrace;The rouchofher,who had been honoured by his fathers bed, feemed an intolerable prefumption, and fuch as could not be fevered from his owne dilhqnour: Self-love foro.etimes borrol\'<::~theface ofh9ne!l zeale. Thofe, wboout oftrue grou.rids diflike fins, doe hate them all indifferently, accordrng td ' their hainoufn~e; Hypocrites arepar.riallin their detc~ation,be":'rayin_.gever moll E\ bitterne!feagamJl thofc offences, whichmay moft preJudice the1rper!Ons.and re· putations. r · It is asdangerous as unju!HorPrinces, to give b'oih their cares and their heart ro : mifgrounded rumours oftheir innocent followers:This wrong bath !lript Ifob•fotth . oftheKingdome: d~10trin the me:tnetime cannot be excufed from a trecherous inconllancy:If Sauls fon had no trueTitJcto the Crown,why did he maintain ir1!fhe ' had,why didhe forfake the caufeand perfon~Had Ahner out of"'morfefor furtheringa falfe cl~ime,taken olfhishand,! knownot whercin'hecouldl>eblamed,excepr for not doing itfooner: Butnow to withdrawhisprofelfed alleg<"ance, upon a pri· · va:e reven!le, was totake •lewd leaveofan ill aaion :, If IJb.boP,eth were his lawfull , Prirtce, no m jury could warrant 3 revolt : Even betwll<t pnvarcperf\)nsa return of wrongs is bothUll'charitabk,andunjull,how cvei this goe .currant fouhe common . .. jlillice ,
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