but a moment; in his favour is life: weep- | lips with a kiss. All men, all matters, are

ing may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning."

:

soothed, saving the state and government; the censure of that is no less deep, than the applause of all others: "There is none deputed of the king to hear thee." What insinuations could be more powerful? No music can be so sweet to the ears of the unstable multitude, as to hear well of themselves, ill of their governors. Absalom needs not to wish himself upon the bench; every man says, O what a courteous prince is Absalom! what a just and careful ruler would Absalom be! how happy were we, if we might be judged by Absalom! Those qualities, which are wont single to grace others, have conspired to meet in Absalom: goodliness of person, magnificence of state, gracious affability, unwearied diligence, hu

Absalom is now as great as fair: beauty and greatness make him proud; pride works his ruin great spirits will not rest content with a moderate prosperity. Ere two years be run out, Absalom runs out into a desperate plot of rebellion: none but his own father was above him in Israel; none was so likely, in human expectation, to succeed his father. If his ambition could but have contained itself for a few years, as David was now near his period, dutiful carriage might have procured that by succession, which now he sought by force. An aspiring mind is ever impatient, and holds time itself an enemy, if it thrust itself importunately betwixt the hopes and fruition. Am-mility in greatness, feeling pity, love of jusbition is never but in travail, and can find no intermission of painful throes, till she have brought forth her abortive desires. How happy were we, if our affection could be so eager of spiritual and heavenly promotions! O that my soul could find itself so restless, till it feel the weight of that crown of glory!

Outward pomp, and unwonted shows of magnificence, are wont much to affect the light minds of the vulgar. Absalom, therefore, to the incomparable comeliness of his person, adds the unusual state of a more than princely equipage. His chariots rattle, and his horses trample proudly in the streets; fifty footmen run before their glittering master; Jerusalem rings of their glorious prince, and is ready to adore these continual triumphs of peace. Excess and novelty of expensive bravery and ostentation in public persons, gives just cause to suspect either vanity, or a plot. Truehearted David can misdoubt nothing in him, to whom he had both given life, and forgiven this. Love construed all this as meant to the honour of a father's court, to the expression of joy and thankfulness for his reconcilement. The eyes and tongues of men are thus taken up; now hath Absalom laid snares for their hearts also: "He rises early, and stands beside the way of the gate. Ambition is no niggard of her pains; seldom ever is good meaning so industrious. The more he shined in beauty and royal attendance, so much more glory it was to neglect himself, and to prefer the care of justice to his own case. Neither is Absa lom more painful than plausible: his ear is open to all plaintiffs, all petitioners; there is no cause which he flatters not: "See thy matters are good and right:" his hand flatters every comer with a salutation, his

tice, care of the commonwealth! The world hath not so complete a prince as Absalom! Thus the hearts of the people are not won, but stolen, by a close traitor, from their lawfully anointed sovereign. Over-fair shows are a just argument of unsoundness; no natural face hath so clear a white and red as the painted. Nothing wants now but a cloak of religion, to perfect the treachery of that ungracious son, who carried peace in his name, war in his heart: and how easily is that put on! Absalom hath a holy vow to be paid in Hebron: the devout man had made it long since, while he was exiled in Syria, and now he hastes to perform it: "If the Lord shall bring me back again to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord." Wicked hypocrites care not to play with God, that they may mock men. The more deformed any act is, the fairer vizard it still seeketh.

How glad is the good old king, that he is blessed with so godly a son, whom he dismisseth laden with his causeless blessings! What trust is there in flesh and blood, when David is not safe from his own loins? The conspiracy is now fully formed: there lacked nothing but this gilding of piety to win favour and value in all eyes; and now it is a wonder, that but two hundred honest citizens go up with Absalom from Jerusalem: the true-hearted lie most open to credulity: how easy is it to beguile harmless intentions! The name of David's son carries them against the father of Absalom; and now these simple Israclites are unwit tingly made loyal rebels. Their hearts are free from a plot, and they mean nothing but fidelity in the attendance of a traitor. How many thousands are thus ignorantly misled into the train of error! Their simplicity is as worthy of pity, as their misguidance of indignation. Those that will

suffer themselves to be carried with semblances of truth and faithfulness, must needs be as far from safety as innocence.

BOOK XVI.

CONTEMPLATION 1.-SHIMEI CURSING.

master, to take the utmost advantages of our afflictions. He that suffers had need to be double armed, both against pain and

censure.

Every word of Shimei was a slander. He that took Saul's spear from his head, and repented to have but cut the lap of his garment, is reproached as a man of blood. The man after God's own heart is branded for a man of Belial. He, that was sent for WITH a heavy heart and a covered head, out of the fields to be anointed, is taxed for and a weeping eye and bare feet, is David an usurper. If David's hands were stained gone away from Jerusalem; never did he with blood, yet not of Saul's house; it was with more joy come up to this city, than his servant, not his master, that bled by now he left it with sorrow: how could he him; yet is the blood of the Lord's anointdo otherwise, whom the insurrection of ed cast in David's teeth, by the spite of a his own son drove out from his house, false tongue. Did we not see David, after from his throne, from the ark of God? And all the proofs of his humble loyalty, shednow, when the depth of this grief deserved ding the blood of that Amalekite, who did nothing but compassion, the foul mouth but say he shed Saul's? Did we not hear of Shimei entertains David with curses!- him lament passionately for the death of so There is no small cruelty in the picking out ill a master, chiding the mountains of Gilof a time for mischief; that word would boa on which he fell; and angrily wishing, scarce gall at one season, which at another that no dew might fall where that blood killeth. The same shaft flying with the was poured out; and charging the daughwind pierces deep, which against it can hard-ters of Israel to weep over Saul, who had ly find strength to stick upright. The valour clothed them in scarlet? Did we not hear and justice of children condemn it for in- and see him inquiring for any remainder of juriously cowardly, to strike their adversary the house of Saul, that he might show him when he is once down. It is the murder the kindness of God? Did we not see of the tongue to insult upon those whom him honouring lame Mephibosheth with a God hath humbled, and to draw blood of princely seat at his own table? Did we that back which is yet blue from the hand not see him revenging the blood of his rival of the Almighty. If Shimei had not pre- Ishbosheth, upon the heads of Rechab and sumed upon David's dejection, he durst not Baanah? What could any living man have have been thus bold; now he, that perhaps done more to wipe off these bloody asperdurst not have looked at one of these wor- sions? Yet is not a Shimei ashamed to thies single, defies them all at once, and doth charge innocent David with all the blood both cast and speak stones against David of the house of Saul. and all his army. The malice of base spirits sometimes carries them further than the courage of the valiant.

In all the time of David's prosperity, we heard no news of Shimei: his silence and colourable obedience made him pass for a good subject; yet all that while was his heart unsound and traitorous. Peace and good success hide many a false heart, likeas the snow-drift covers a heap of dung, which once melting away, descries the rottenness that lay within. Honour and welfare are but flattering glasses of men's affections. Adversity will not deceive us, but will make a true report, as of our own powers, so of the disposition of others.

He that smiled on David in his throne, curseth him in his flight. If there be any quarrels, any exceptions to be taken against a man, let him look to have them laid in his dish when he fares the hardest. This practice have wicked men learned of their

How is it likely this clamorous wretch had secretly traduced the name of David, all the time of his government, that dares thus accuse him to his face, before all the mighty men of Israel, who were witnesses of the contrary? The greater the person is, the more open do his actions lie to misinterpretation and censure. Every tongue speaks partially, according to the interest he hath in the cause, or the patient. It is not possible that eminent persons should be free from imputations: innocence can no more protect them than power.

If the patience of David can digest this indignity, his train cannot; their fingers could not but itch to return iron for stones. If Shimei rail on David, Abishai rails on Shimei; Shimei is of Saul's family, Abishai of David's; each speaks for his own. Abishai most justly bends his tongue against Shimei, as Shimei against David most unjustly. Had Shimei been any other than

a dog, he had never so rudely barked at a harmless passenger; neither could he deserve less than the loss of that head which had uttered such blasphemies against God's anointed. The zeal of Abishai doth but plead for justice, and is checked: "What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah?" David said not so much to his reviler, as to his abettor: he well saw that a revenge was just, but not seasonable; he found the present a fit time time to suffer wrongs, not to right them: he therefore gives way rather meekly to his own humiliation, than to the punishment of another. There are seasons wherein lawful motions are not fit to be cherished: anger doth not become a mourner; one passion at once is enough for the soul. Unadvised zeal may be more prejudicial than a cold remissness.

can therefore suffer, because we have suffered, we have profited by our affliction. A weak heart faints with every addition of succeeding trouble; the strong recollects itself, and is grown so skilful, that it bears off one mischief with another.

It is not either the unnatural insurrection of Absalom, nor the unjust curses of Shimei, that can put David quite out of heart: "It may be that the Lord will look on mine affliction, and will requite good for his cursing, this day." So well was David acquainted with the proceedings of God, that he knew cherishing was ever wont to follow stripes; after vehement evacuation, cordials; after a dark night, the clear light of the morning. Hope, therefore, doth not only uphold, but cheer up his heart, in the midst of his sorrow. If we can look beWhat if the Lord, for the correction of yond the cloud of our affliction, and see his servant, had said unto Shimei, Curse the sunshine of comfort on the other side David; yet is Shimei's curse no less wor- of it, we cannot be so discouraged with the thy of Abishai's sword: the sin of Shimei's presence of evil, as heartened with the curse was his own; the smart of the curse issue: as, on the contrary, let a man be was God's. God wills that, as David's never so merry within, and see pain and chastisement, which he hates as Shimei's misery waiting for him at the door, his exwickedness: that lewd tongue moved from pectation of evil shall easily daunt all the God, it moved lewdly from Satan. Wick- sense of his pleasure. The retributions of ed men are never the freer from guilt or temporal favours go but by peradventures: punishment, for that hand which the holy" It may be, the Lord will look on mine God hath in their offensive actions: yet affliction ;"-of eternal, are certain and inDavid can say, "Let him alone, and let fallible; if we suffer, we shall reign: why him curse, for the Lord hath bidden him;" should not the assurance of reigning make as meaning to give a reason of his own us triumph in suffering? patience, rather than Shimei's impunity. The issue showed, how well David could distinguish betwixt the act of God and of a traitor; how he could both kiss the rod and burn it. There can be none so strong motive of our meek submission to evils, as the acknowledgment of their original. He that can see the hand of God striking him by the hand or tongue of an enemy, shall more awe the first mover of his arm, than malign the instrument. Even while David laments the rebellion of his son, he gains by it, and makes that the argument of his patience, which was the exercise of it: "Behold my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life; how much more now may this Benjamite do it?" The wickedness of an Absalom may rob his father of comfort, but shall help to add to his father's goodness. It is the advantage of great crosses, that they swallow up the less. One man's sin cannot be excused by another's, the lesser by the greater. If Absalom be a traitor, Shimei may not curse and rebel: but the passion conceived from the indignity of a stranger, may be abated by the harder measure of our own; if we

David's patience draws on the insolence of Shimei. Evil natures grow presumptuous upon forbearance. In good dispositions, injury unanswered grows weary of itself, and dies in a voluntary remorse; but in those dogged stomachs, which are only capable of the restraints of fear, the silent digestion of a former wrong provokes a second. Mercy had need to be guided with wisdom, lest it prove cruel to itself.

O the base minds of inconstant timeservers! Stay but a while, till the wheel be a little turned, you shall see humble Shimei fall down on his face before David, in his return over Jordan: now his submission shall equal his former rudeness; his prayers shall requite his curses, his tears makes amends for his stones: "Let not my lord impute iniquity unto me: neither do thou remember that which thy servant did perversely, the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart; for thy servant doth know that I have sinned." False-hearted Shimei! had Absalom prospered, thou hadst not sinned, thou hadst not repented; then hadst thou bragged of thine insultation over

David could say no more, to testify his sorrow for his heinous sin against God, to Nathan, than Shimei says of himself to David; whereto may be added the advantage of a voluntary confession in this offender, which in David was extorted by the reproof of a prophet; yet is David's confession seriously penitent, Shimei's craftily hypocritical. Those alterations are justly suspected, which are shaped according to the times and outward occasions. The true penitent looks only at God and his sin, and is changed when all other things are themselves.

his miseries, whose pardon thou now beg- | turn to itself; Absalom may relent; David gest with tears. The changes of worldly may remit: Where then are we that have minds are thankless, since they are neither helped to promote the conspiracy? The danwrought out of conscience nor love, but only ger is ours, while this breach may be pieced. by slavish fear of just punishment. There is no way but to engage Absalom in some further act, uncapable of forgiveness: besides the throne, let him violate the bed of his father; unto his treason, let him add an incest no less unnatural; now shall the world see that Absalom neither hopes nor cares for the reconciliation of a father. Our quarrel can never have any safe end but victory; the hope whereof depends upon the resolution of our followers: they cannot be resolute, but upon the unpardonable wickedness of their leader; neither can this villany be shameful enough, if it be secret. The closeness of evil argues fear, or modesty; neither of which can beseem him that would be a successful traitor. Set up a tent on the top of the house, and let all Israel be witnesses of thy sin, and thy father's shame. Ordinary crimes are for vulgar offenders; let Absalom sin eminently, and do that which may make the world at once to blush and wonder.

Great offences had need of answerable satisfaction. As Shimei was the only man, of the house of Benjamin, that came forth and cursed David in his flight, so is he the first man (even before those of the house of Joseph, though nearer in situation) that comes to meet David in his return with prayers and gratulations. Notorious offenders may not think to sit down with the task of ordinary services: the retributions of their obedience must be proportionable to their crimes.

CONTEMPLATION II.-AHITHOPHEL.

So soon as David heard of Ahithophel's hand in that conspiracy, he falls to his prayers: O Lord, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness." The known wisdom of his revolted counsellor made him a dangerous and dreadful adversary. Great parts misemployed cannot but prove most mischievous. When wickedness is armed with wit and power, none but a God can defeat it; when we are matched with a strong and subtle enemy, it is high time, if ever, to be devout. If the bounty of God have thought good to furnish his creatures with powers to war against himself, his wisdom knows how to turn the abuse of those powers to the shame of the owners, and the glory of the giver.

O the policy of this Machiavel of Israel, no less deep than hell itself!" Go into thy father's concubines, which he hath left to keep the house: and when all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father, the hands of all that are with thee shall be strong." The first care must be to secure the faction. There can be no safety in siding with a doubtful rebel. If Absalom be a traitor, yet he is a son. Nature may re

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Who would ever have thought that Ahithophel had lived at court, at the counciltable of a David? who would think that mouth had ever spoken well? Yet had he been no other than as the oracle of God to the religious court of Israel, even while he was not wise enough to be good. Policy and grace are not always lodged under one roof. This man, while he was one of David's deep counsellors, was one of David's fools, that said in their hearts, "There is no God;" else he could not have hoped to make good an evil with worse, to build the success of treason upon incest.

Profane hearts do so contrive the plots of their wickedness, as if there were no overruling power to cross their designs, or to revenge them. He that sits in heaven laughs them to scorn, and so far gives way to their sins, as their sins may prove plagues unto themselves.

These two sons of David met with pestilent counsel: Amnon is advised to incest with his sister; Absalom is advised to incest with his father's concubines; that by Jonadab, this by Ahithophel: both prevail. It is as easy at least to take ill counsel as to give it Proneness to villany in the great cannot want either projectors to devise, or parasites to execute the most odious sins.

The tent is spread, lest it should not be conspicuous enough, on the top of the house. The act is done in the sight of all Israel. The filthiness of the sin was not so great as the impudency of the manner.