1o88 1 [ontemp atzonr. Lra.X!V. ju!hce of tile Wo.-ld:how much more 0:1ou!d we learn from a frtpreme hand.ro !3ke · A hard meafures with thanks ~ It had been Abnm duty, to have given l)is King o J peaceable and humble fatisfaction, and notto flyeout ina fnulfe. Ifthe fpirit of the . Rulerrife up againO: thee, leave notthy place;for yedding pacifiethgreat offences : ; now,his impatient falling, although to the nght fide, makeshmr no better then trai- l teroufl y honeO:. So foone as Abner had enrercained a refolution ofhis rebellion;he perfwades the Elders of lfrael to accompany him in the change: and whencedorh he fetch his main motive but from the Oracleof God~(The Lordhath [poken ofDavid,[aying,BJ the handof my fcrvam Da<Jtd, wt!l I fave my people !frael, outof the handojthel'hili. jiims, and out ojtht hand of4/ltheir enemies;) Abmr knew this full well oefore, yet then was well content to (mothera known truth for hiS own turn,and now the pub• B lication of it mayferve for his advantage, he wins the heaho£ Ifi-ael; by !hewing Gods Charter for him,whom he had fo longoppofed:Hypocrites make ufeof<:;od fur rbeir own purpofes; & careoqly to makedivine authority a colour for thdr own defignes; Nom~n everheard Abnergodlytill now: neither had he been fo atthis time, if he had not intended a revcngefull departure from Ijhbojhtth : Nothing is more odious then eo make Religion a O:alking horfe to Policy. Who canbut glorifie God in his juO:ice, when he fees the bitter end of this rteacherous dillimulation! Doivid may upon confiderationsofState, eotertain his hewGudk with a FeaO:;andwell might he feeme to deferve a welcome,that tu~dertakes to bringalllfraelto the league and homageof DAviJ: but God nevct meant t<>-ufe fo unworthymeanes, for fo gooda work. uJ, returns from purfuingatroup, C and·6nding At.ner difmilfed in peace and expeCtation of beneficiall rerurn,followes him,and whether outofenvy,at a hew rivallofhonour, oroutofthe revengeof .4fahcl,herepaies himbothdiffimu:lationanddrath.God doth moll juO:Iy by T•AS that which 11.b did for himf<:lfe moO: unjuO:Iy: I know not (fctting the quarrell atlde) whetherwecan worthily blame Ahmr foe thedeathof Aflhel, whowonld needs aft« faire warnings runhimfdfe upon Al11ers Speare : yet this taCt lhall procure his paiment for worfe. Now is rP,hojhtths wtongreveoged by an enemy ; wemaynot alwaiesmeafure the JufticeofGods proceediogs,by prefent occalions: He needs normake usacquainred,or ask us leave whca hewill call for thearmages of · furgoueo linaes. . .•.
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