B Contemplations. THE FIFTEENTH BOOKE· c Uzuh,4nd the tA;{e ;emoved• • Hehoufe of Saul is quiet, the Pl)ilillims beaten, vieiory cannot end bettet then in devotion ; David is no fooner ferled in his houfe at Jetufalem,theo he fetcheth God to be hisguell there ; thethoufands of Ifrael goe now inaa holy march, to bring up the Ark ofGod,to the place ofh:s reil; Thetumulrs ofWarre affurded ng opportunity ofrhls fervice ; onely peace is a friend eo Religion,neither is peace ever our friend,but when it is a ferD vane ofPiety; The ufe ofWarre is ndt more pernicious to the body,tbcnrhc abufe ofpeace is to the foule; Alas, the Riot bred ofour long eafe, rather drives the Ark ofGod from us; fo the llill fedemary life, is fubjeCl todifeafes, and (landing waters putrifie. Ir may be jull with God, to t.ake away the bl~lling whichwe doe fo much abufe;and to fcoute off our ruft with bleudy Warre,&c. The Ark ofGod had now many yeares,rellcd in the obfcure lodge of A6inada6, without the honour of a Tabernacle.David will not endure himfdfe glorious, and the Ark ofGod contemptible; his firft care is to provide a fit roome for God ih the head of the Tribes,in his own City. The ch:cfe c>re ofgood Princes, mull be the· advancement ofReligion; What fhould the Deputies of God rather doe then hanor him whom they reprefcnt~lt was no good that l frael could learn ofPhiliftims; A Thofe Pagans hadfemrhe Ark back in a new Cart; the Ifraelites fawGodbleffed that conduCl,and now they praClife it at home: But that which God will take from Philiftims, he will not brookcfromlfrael: Aliens from God are no fit potterns for children: Divineinfiitudon had mad~ this acarriage for the Levites,not for oxen : Neirherfhould thofe fons of Abin•d•> have driven the Cart,but cari<d that facred burden. Gods bufineffes mull be done after his own formes, which ifwe doe with the bell intentions alrer,we prefume. It is long lince Ifrael f.1w fo f.1ire a day as this, \)'herein they went in this holy Triumph to fetch the Ark of God' Now theirWarlike Trumpets are turned into Harps and Timbrels; and their hapds inllead of wielding the Sword and Speare, llrike Uj>On thofc muficallllrings whereby they might expreffe the joy of their heans : Here was nonoyfe bur of mirth, no motion but pkafom : Oh happy Jf. Zzzz rad
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