ContemplationJ. LIB. XVII. terwards their difappomunem may be fa much the more gri:vous; Nodoubt, atthis A feall there wa; many a healrh drunken to Adonijab, many 3 confident boall of their profpering ddigne;many a (corn of the defpifed fatlion of Salomon 1& now fortheir Iall dilh, is ferved up allooifhmcnr,and fearefull expectation ofa juft reve•ge. lm•· th•nthe fan of Abi•thar the Priell,brings rbt oewes ofS•io7111H/s folemae aad joyfull enthronization; now 311 hearts are cold, all faces pale ; and every man harh bur life enough.to run away;Howfuddenly is this braving troupe difperfed! Ado»ij•bthtir new Pnnce flyes rothe hornes oftho Altar, as dtftrufhng 311 hopes oflife, fave the Santliry ofthe place, and the mcrcyofhis rival!. So dorh the wife and juft God befoole proud and infolenr finners in thokfecrct plots, wherein they hope to undermine the true Ion of Davirl,the Prince ofPeace . h_e luffers tbe':I/O lay their heads together,and to feall rhe~fdves in a jocond f~u: B my,and promt.eoffucctl!'c; at !aft, when they are at the betght of their joycs, and hopes,he confounds all their devices,& la yes them open to the fcorne of the world and to the aoguiflt oftheir owne guilty heartS. ' Davids end, and Salo~ons beginning. 01 well became Salo"''" to begin his reigne in peace. AJonijah receives pardon upon his good behaviour,and lindes rhi Throne of Sa/omM,as lafe as theAitar.David lives ro fee awife fonne warmein his feat; and now he that had reelded to fuccellion, yeelds to nature. Many good C counftls bad Da-vidgivenhis Htirc; now bee fummesthem up in his end. Dying words are wont to be wdghtidl; The Soule when it is eotringinto glory breathes nothing but divine. I K" tbt w•J of •11 tht urth. How well is that Princely heart content to fubfctibe to the conditions of humane mortality; as one that knew Soveraignty doth not reach to the atfJires of nature! Though a King, he -,:oither cxped:s, nor ddires an immnnity from diffoluiion ; making no account to gc• in any other then tbe common track, to the univerfall home of mankinde, the hmife of age~ Whither lhouldearth but to earth!and why ll10ul!l we grudge to doe that,which all doe~ Bt th;u jlrmg thtrtfort,And fhtw thJ filft • "'"';Even when his fpi. rif Wai goingout, he puts !'pirit into his Son ; Age puts life into youth, and thedy• ing animates the vigorous : Hee bad well found that ftrengtb was requi1ite eogo. D vernment,that he had need to be no Ieffe then a mao that Jhould rule over men; If grcatndfe lhould never receive any oppofirion, yet thofe worlds ofcares, add bu(i,. ncifes that attend the chaire ofState,are abletoover·lay anymeane powers.A weak man may obey, none but the O:rong can governe. Gracclcffe courage werebut the wbctftonc oftyraooy;T•kt hurlthtrtfort 10 thechargt f[tht Lord 1/Jy God,,. w1lk i11hil 1114Jll,lnd1Dkttp his sw.ru. The be!l: legacy thatDA-vldbequeathesto bis.heite, is the care ofpiety; himfe\fe had found the fwectneffe of a good confcicnce, and now be cornmends it to his Succeffor. If there heeany thing that in pur defires of the profperousconditian ofour cbildren,takes place ofgoodneffe,our heatts are not up. right. Here was th~ father a King, charging tb~ King his fonne to keep.c the Starures ofthe King of Kings; as one that knew greatodl"e could n~ithcrexempt from E obedienc~,nor priviledge fin; as one that knew rhe lqall deviation intbe gre~ce(l: md highe!l: Orbr,is both moll fenlible, and moft dang<rous: Neither wou!c:thee have his fonne ro look for ~ny profperiry, fave onelyfromwell-doing: That.bappineffe is built upon fand or Ice,whichis raifed npon any foundation belides vettue; IL SAIomon were wife,DAvid was gQod;and ifold S•lotno" hadwell r=membred the coub· fell ofold D•vld,he had not fo foully mif.caried. " . •. • After the precepts ofpiety, follow thofe of juftice 1 diftributiog in a due recOil!· penc~, 3S revenge to r.. b and S/Jitnti,[o favour ro the houfe of BAt"{jUAi. The blood•· neffeof 101b had lain long upon Davids heart, the hideous noifi: of thofe !ttacbe· rous mur~ers,as it bad pierced heaven, fo it ilill fillc? the cares of David ; He cou!d abhorre the villany, though he could not revenge Jt ; Whathe cannot pay he. will owe,
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