Contemplations. L I B.XVL ofl'(nds not,buc the mif-afl'(clion;thc tame cbmg had bmcommendablydone oucof a A Princely providencr,which now through the curiality, pride, miC-confidence ofthe datt,proves hainoufiy vicious;Thofe aClios which arein themfdves indifferent receiveeithertheir life, or their bane from the intentions ofche agent: Msfa numb;<rh the people with thankes, D•vid withdifpleafure: Thofo fins whichcarry the [mootheft foreheads and have the moft honeft appearances,may more provoke the wrath ofGod, then thofethat beare the moft abomination in their faces. How many thoufand wickcdndfes pafl'cd throughthe hands of Ifracl, which we men would ra. ther have branded out for judgement then this of Davids ~ The righteous Judge of the world ceofures fins, not by their illlookes, but by theirfoule hearts. Wl)o can but wonder to fee Ju~ the Sainr,and D•vidche trefpafl'er~No Prophet could fpeake better then that man ofblood ; The L~rd thy Gsdlnrrtaft the people •• B hundred fold mDrt thtn they be, andthat the eyaofmy L.rdtht King mayfee tf· h•t why dDth""J Lord tbt Kingdtjirt thilthi»g?Thcre is no man folcwdasnot to bef~mtimes ingood moods,as not to difiike fome evill:cotrarily noman on earth can be fo holy as not fometimes to overlalh: It were pity thateither Jsah orDavltllhnuld be tryed by every aet; Ho\V commonly have we feen thofe men ready to give good advice to others for the avoiding offome fins, who in more grolfe outrages have not hld grace to counfell theirown hearts?Thefame man that haddeferved death from D•- vid for his treacherous crudty,dilfwades D•viJ from an aCl that caried but a fulpiti• on ofevill; It is not fo much to be regarded who it is that admonitheth us, as what he brings;Good counfell is never the worfe for the foule cariage, there are fome di. thes that we may eateven from fiuttith hands. C The purpofe of fin in a faithful! man is odious, much more the rcfolution: Notwithftanding IMbs difcreet admonitions D•vldwill hold on his courfe1and wil know the number ofthe peoplo,onl~ that he_may kno~ irsi•Aii and the <;:aptaines addrcffe themfelves to the workelln th1ngswh•ch are not 10 themfelves ev•ll,it is not for fub. jech to difpute,but to obey;Thatwhich authority mayfin in commanding, is done oftheinferiour, notwithf:letyooely,butwithpr:life. Nine months and twenty dayes is this generallmufter in hand; at laft the number is brought in: Ifrael is found eight hundred thoufand ftrong, Iudah five hundred thouland; the ordinary companies which ferved bycourfe for the royal! guard (foure and twenty thoufand each moneth)needednot to be reckonedstheaddicion ofthem wich their feveral Captaines raifes the fumme oflfrael to the rate ofeleven hundred thoufand. A power able to D puffe upa carnal! heart;but how can an heart that is more then lleth rrufi roan arme of6.eth? Oh holy D•vid whither bath a glorious vanity tranfported thee! Thou which oncedidft ling fofweet!y, P•t notY'"' trufl in Pri11cts,mr inthefonofm•n,for thtrtis no http in him.H il hrtath atp~rttth,and he rtt•rnuh 11 hu tartb,thtn bi4tho•thls perijh.IJ!tffid is btth41 h•th the G•d•fl•c•hfir his ~tlp,wh•{t bspt iJ intht L~rdbis G•a; Howcanlt thou now lloop to fo onfafe and unworthy a confidence. As fome fiomlckful horfe chatwill not be ftopt inhis career with thelharpeft bit, but runs on beadily till he come ro fome wall or ditch, and there· ftands ftill and cwnble<1 fo did David : all the dilfwafions of lDA* could not rcftr~ine him from his imendedcourfe; almofitenmonrhsdorhhce run on impetuoufly, in a wayofhis owne,rough & dangerous,at lall his heart fmites him; the confcienceof his offence, E and che feare of judgement bath fetcht him up6 his koees,o LordI hAvtjinnedexctt· Jingly in that! bavttllnt; there/mno,..,Lifd,Ihtfiechthtt take awAy the trtfi•ffi ofthy firv•nt,for 1have done very fo•lifhly. ltis poffible for afin not to bait onely,but to fojouroe in che holiell foul : but though it fojourn there asa ftranger, it lhall not dwel cherc as an owner;the renewed hem after fome ravings oferror wil one<(ere over• long)recurne home to ir felfe, and fall out with that ill guide, wherewith ic was milled,and with it felfe for being milled;and now it is ref~lved into tearcs,and breathes forth nothing but lighes, and confeffions and deprecanons. • Here needed no Nathan by aparobolicall circumlocution to !t:rch i,.D•vid to a light and acknowledgement ofhis fin; the heart of the penitent fupplyed the Prophet· no ocher ton•ue could fmite him fodecp as his owne thoughts : But though > D ~
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