Ln.XVII. Davidsend,andSalomons beginning. A owc,and approve himfclfc at !all a faithfull dcbtcr : now hee will defray it by rhc hand ofS•lomon.The fiaughrcr was of A~n<r,and Am-f•,D•vidappropriares it;Th•• Jmon>tjlwiJAI Joahdidto mt : The Sovcraignc is [mitten in the fubjctl:; Neither is it other then ju!t,that the arcaign~mcotofmcane malefactors tuns in thcftileofwrong· to the Kmgs Crownc and d1gmty. How much more daft thou, OSonneof D•vid take to thy felfe thofe infol•ncies which are done to rhy poor<ft fubjeds, fervanrs' fonnes,memb<rs here upon earth ? No Saul can touch a Chriftian here below; bu; thou feeleft it in heaven, and complaideft. But whatflull we thinke of this~ D•vid was a man ofWarre, Sal•mo•a King of Peace,yer D•vidrefcrs this revenge to S•lomon: How juft irwas that he who lhcd the blood ofwarre in peace,and put rhc bloodofwar upon his girdle that was about B his Ioyoes,fl10uld have his blood fhed in peace,bya Prince ofpeace; Peace is firreft to rcdifie the outrages ofWar: Or whether is nor this done in type of that divine adminiftration, wherein thou, 0 Father ofheaven, haft committed all judgement unto thine et<rnall Sonne~ Thouwho couldft immediately eitherplague, or abfolvc finncrs,wilt doe neither bur by the hand ofaMediator. S•lm10n learned bctimcs what his ripcndfc taught afterwards, Ta~t '"'"'J the.,;,. kedftom tht King,and htj Thronefo•U be tjlablifhedin righttoujntjfe;Crucl 114b,& malicious Shimti,muft be therefore upon the firft opportunity removed. The one lay open to prefeot jultice, for abetting the confpiracic of Adanijah, neither needs the help oftimefor a new advantage; The other went under the protcdion ofao oarh from David,and therefore muft be fctcht in upon a new challenge. The hoare head C Of both muft be brought to the grave w\th blood, clfe Davids head could not bee brought to his grave in peace: Due punifhment ofmalefactors is the debt of authority : Ifthat holy King have runne into arrerages ; yet as qne that hates and fcarcs tobreake the banke, hegives orderto his paymafter; It fhall be defrayed, ifnot by him, yet for him. . Generous natures cannot be unthankfull: HarziUai had fhewed Da'vid fome kindneffe in his extremity ; and now the good man will hne pofterity to inherit rhe thankes. How muchmore bountiful! is the Father ofMercies, in the remuneration ofour poore unworthy fcrviccs~Even fucccllions ofgenerations lhall fare the better for one good parent. The dying words and thoughtsof the man after Gods own hem did not confine D thcmfeJyes to the ftraites of thefe pmicular charges,but inlarged themfolves to the careofGods publike fcrvicc; As good men are beft at !all, David did never fo bufily and carefully marfhall the affaircs ofGod, as when he was fixed to rhe bed of his age and death. Then did he lode his fonneSAlomon with the charge ofbuilding the houfe ofGod; then did be lay before the eyes ofhis fon the modell and patterne of that whole facrcd worke, whereof ifSa/om•n bare the name,yet Dwidno Ieffe merits it: He oo\V gives theplatforme ofthe Courts and buildings ; He gives the gold aod lilvcrfor that holy ufe ; an hundred thoufand talents ofgold, a thoufand thourand talents offilver; befides bralfe and yron palling weight; He weighes out rhofe precious metalls for their fevcrall defignemeors; Every future vdfell is laid out already in his poife,ifnot in his forme; He excites the Princes of Ifrael to their affi. E Qance,info high aworke;He takes noticeoftheir bountifull offerings ; He numbers up the Levites for the publique fcrvices, and fcts them their taskes. He appoints the Smgers, and other mufitians ro their ftations; the Porters to the gates rhat fh••uld be;And now \Yhen he bath fet all things in adefircd order,and forwardneffe,he fhuts up with a zealous blcllingofhis Salom•n,and his people,and flccpes with his fathers. Oh bleffed foule,how quieta poffellion haft thou now taken(after fo manyrumillts) of a better Crowne ! Thou that haft prepared all things for the houfe of thy God how happily art thou nowwelcomed to that houfe ofhis, not made with hands, ternall in the heavens ! Who now fhall envy unto good Princes the houourofo«r fccing rhe bufincffcs of God, and his Chrucl) ; when Da'rliJ \YaS thus ppnctuall ie thefe divine provifions ~ What fcarc can be of ufurpation where they have fo glorious a prcdefint ~ Nnw
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