I:Z.6z.. Contemplations. LIB. XX. word, then they fly upon the world,and plague ic for fione; Only the cry of our A !innes moves God eo call for vengeance: And ifGod once call, it muft come; How oft,how earn<ftlJI arewe called eo repentan<e, and flirre nor~ The melfengers of Gods wrath /lie forth at theleaft. _beck ; and fulfill the will of his revenge upon thofe,whofe obediencewould not fulfillthewillofhis command. After fo many proofes offidelity the Sh•n•mitt cannot diftruft 1he Prophet;; not !laying therefore to be convicted by the event, thee removes her family into the Land oftbe Philiflinr: No nation was more oppofite to lf'•tl,none more worthily odious;yer,there cloth the ShNnamitt feek and find fl1elrer; Ev<n thcthade ofthofe trers that are unwhoHome, may keep us from a fiorme; Every where will God find room for his own. The fiddsof Philiftim llourith, whiles the foyle of J{r4ll yedds nothing bur weeds and barrenncfle: Not that !frat! was morefinful,but rhar B the fione ofl(r•tlis more intolerable. The offers of~race are fo many aggravncions ofwickedndfc: In equal! offences tho[e doe juftly fmarr more, who are more obliged. No pcftilcnce is fo contagiousas that which harhtaken the pureft aire. Thefe Philljlint neighbours would never have endured rhemf<lves to be peftered with forrainers,efpocially lfr•ditts, whom they hated (befides Ueligion) for their ufurpation:ncither w<re they in all likelihood prelred with multitude : The rdt of 1[ ratl were led on with hopc;s;prefuming upon the amends ofrhe next harvefi,ril their want 'grew dcfperate,and irremediable;only the forewamed s h•nitmitt prevents the mifchief; now fl1e finds what it is to have a Prophet her friend: Happy ore rhofc foulcs char upon all occ:ifions confult with Gods Scers1 rhey thall be freed from the plagues,wherein the fecure blindnefl< ofothers is heed kfly overtaken. Seven yea res had rhis Sh•~unitt fojuurned in P4ltjline, now thee wurnes to her C own; and i$ excluded: She that found harbouramong Philiflint~, findes oppreffion and violence among Ifr•tlitts: Thofeofher kindred , tJking advantage of h<r ab· fence,had tbated her polreflions. How oft doth it fall our rhat the worft enemies of aman are thofe of his own houfe ~ All went by comrarj.,s \Vith this S hu»fZmitt 1 In the famtne !he had enough, in the common plenty !he was fcan'ted ; Philifti pts were ldQd unto her,l{rAtlitts cruell: Both our fears, and our hopes do nor fddome difappQint us 1 Iris fafe trufring to that !lay which can never-fail us, who can eafily provide us bothoffriendthip in Paltftint,and of juftice in l{rael. We may not judge ofthe Rdigi9n by particular actions; Avery Philijiint may be m<rei full, when an lfr4tlilt is unjufr; The perfon may be f.1"lcy,when the profcflion is holy. It was not long fince the Prophet made that friendly offer to the Sh•namitt, out D ofrhedelire ofa thankful! r<quitaii.What is tol>t doRt for thu?wouldejlthot~ bu (}oktn for to the KiHg ,or to tht Captain ofthe Ho4}1? and the anfwered; I drvtU •mDng "'J brtthrt11. Littledid fl1e then think ofthis injurious me.1fure; <lfe fl1e might have f,id; I dwcll.mong mtne enemies, I dwell among robbers. It is like they were then fli<pd)y,who were now cruell,and oppreflive; There is no trufi to be repofed in Bcth and blood: How thouId their favours be conftant,who are in their nature, and difpoli<ipn,variablc~ lt is the furefi way to rely on him,wboisevec I ke himfdf; the m~afur~of whofo love is eternity. Whitherlhould the sh,.n•mitt go to complain ofher wrong, hue to the Court~ There is no other refuge ofthe oppreffed,buc publike authority: All Jufrice is derive<! from Soveraignty: Kings are not called Gods for nothing; They doe both fen- E rence and execute forthe Almighty. Doubtlelre, now the poore Shll»amitt, thought of rhe courtwus proffer of Et,foJ; and milling a friend atthe Court, is glad to be the prrfcnter of her own pcmion. HawhappilydothGod coimiveall events for the ~9od of his! This fuppliant thallfall upon that in!bnrfor her fuir, when the King thall be talking with Gcht'{j: when Gthtzi thall be tal~ing ofherto the King;the words of Gtht<Oi,the thoughrs~f the Kin<> the defires of the Sh•mmitt /hall be all drawn together by the wife provtdenceofGod into the center ofonemoment, chat his oppr<fied (ervanr might re. ceive a fpeedy jufiice. Oh the infinite wifdome,power, mercy ofour God, thatirfenfibly
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