LIB. XVI. The death cf Abfalom. ~to th: world, but of ill defcrving greatndfe,t-:-h-e7b-e7 ft-o-:f:-th,-i-s-affi -=e-tl- a-ti_o_n-is A vanity;the worft, infamy and difhonour: w~ereas the memoriall ofrhe jull fhall be bleffed; and ifhis humility fhall refnfe an Epitnpb, and chufe to hide himfelf< under the bare earch,God himfdfe fhall ingrave his name upon the pillar ofeternity. There now lies Abfalom in the pit, under a thoufand grave-ftones, in every of 1vhich is writtenhis everlalling reproach: well might thts heape over-l1ve tlm pillar for when that ceafed to be a pillarit began to be 1 heap,neirher will it ceafe to be~ monument of Ahf•l•ms fhamc, whiles there are ftones to be found upon emh: Even at this day very Pagans and Pilgrims that paffe that way,call eachman a ftone unto that heape, and are wont to f.1y in a folemne execration, C11rjidbe the p~ricide Abfo!•m,andc•r(tdbe a!lunjufl perjicut•rs oftheir parents ,for ever.- Fallen youreyes upon this wofull fpethele, 0 all ye rebellious and ungracious children, W'" rife up ogainll the loynes and thighs from whichye fell : and ~now that iris the leaft part ofyour punifhmem,that your carcaffes rot in the eanh,and your name in ignomi,1y: thcfe do but fhadow out thofe et<rnall fufferings, of your loules, for your foule and unnarurall difobedience. A(al•mis dead,who fhall report it to his Father! Surdy loa~ was not fo much afraid ofthe fall, as ofthe mdlage : There are bufie fpirits that love to cary newes, though thankleffe, though purpoleldfe: fuch as vf him•ar., the fanof ZJdok, who importunately thrull himfelfein!O this fervice: wifeJoa~,who well faw,how unwdcometydings mull be the burden ofthe firft poft, diffwades him in vaine : he knew D•vldtoo well, to imploy a friend to that errand. An Ethiopian fervant was a fitter C bearer offuch a meffage, then the fon ofrhe Prieft.The entertainment ofthe perfon doth fofollow the quality ofthe news,that D•vid could argue afar off, He it • g01d m•n,he e~mmeth withg.od tydings. Oh howwelcome deferve thofe meffengers to be that bring us the glad tydin~s of falv~uon_, that affure us ofthe foy~e of all fpirituall enemies, and tell us ofnothmg but vttlones, and Crownes, and Kmgdomes! Ifwe rhinke not their feet beautifull, our heatts are foule with infidelity, and fecure worldlinelfc. So wife is Ahimaa'{ grown by Ioabs intimation, that though he out-went C•fbi in his pace, he fuffers Cujhi to our-goohim in h~s tale, cunningly fupprel!in~ that part, which he Lnew mull be moft neceffanly deltvered, and unpleafingly recctved. As our care is wont robewhere our love is;Davids firft word is not,how fares the D Holl, but l•w fires tbty•••g "' '" Abfoiom.- Like a wifeand faithfull meffenger,cujhi anfwers by an honell infinuatio,Theenemles •fmy L1rdthe King & •//thAt rife •t•lnjl thee t1d1thtt hurt,beMthAtf••ng man it; implying both what was done, and, why David lhould approve it being don, How is the good Kingthunder-llrooke, with that word ofhis Black.more!who,as ifhewere atonce bereaved ofall comfort,and cared nor eo live, but in the name ofv!bfol•m,goesand weepes and cryes out,o my (o• Abfa!Dm,my (on,my JOn llbfol•m,Would God I haddied for thee; o Abfa!ommy fin, "'J fin. What is this we heare ~ that he whofe life Ifraol valued at ten thoufand of theirs,fhould be exchanged with a traytorsnhat agood King whofelife was fought, fhould wilh to lay it down for the prefervation ofhis murderer! The beft men have not wont to bee the leall pal!ionare; But what fhall wcfay to that love of thine, 0 -Saviour, who hall faidofus wretched traytors,not,W••Id Gsd Ihaddiedfor 1'"! But Iwill dye,I doe dye,I havc,dyed for you!Oh love,li~e thy felfe,infinite, incompr~ henfible,whereat the Angels ofHeaven ftand yet amazed 1wherewith thy Saints are ravifhed, T•rne .,,., thine eyes frD1n me, for they overcomeme; Oh thou that dwellell in the Gardens, the companions hearken to thy voice : caufe us to heare its that wee may in our meafure anfwer thy love, and enjoy it for evet. Shebacs ---· ----------------------~----~----------------------~~------
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