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stead of blood, and confesses his own wrong, and David's integrity; and, as if he were now again entered into the bounds of Najoth in Ramah, he prays and prophesies good to him, whom he maliced for good: "The Lord render thee good for that thou hast done to me this day; for now, behold, I know that thou shalt be king."

There is no heart made of flesh, that some time or other relents not; even flint and marble will, in some weather, stand on drops. I cannot think these tears and protestations feigned. Doubtless Saul meant as he said, and passed through sensible fits of good and evil. Let no man think himself the better for good motions. The praise and benefit of those guests is not in the receipt but the retention.

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Who, that had seen this meeting, could but have thought that all had been sure on David's side? What can secure us, if not tears, and prayers, and oaths? Doubtless David's men, which knew themselves obnoxious to laws and creditors, began to think of some new refuge, as making account this new-pieced league would be everlasting they looked when Saul would take David home to the court, and dissolve his army, and recompense that unjust persecution with just honour; when, behold, in the loose, Saul goes home, but David and his men go up unto the hold. Wise David knows Saul not to be more kind than untrusty; and therefore had rather seek safety in his hold, than in the hold of a hollow and unsteady friendship. Here are good words, but no security; which therefore an experienced man gives the hearing, but stands the while upon his guard. No charity binds us to a trust of those whom we have found faithless. Credulity upon weak grounds, after palpable disappointments, is the daughter of folly. A man that is weatherwise, though he find an abatement of the storm, yet will not stir from under his shelter, while he sees it thick in the wind. Distrust is the just gain of unfaithfulness.

CONTEMPLATION II. NABAL AND ABIGAIL.

Ir innocency could have secured from Saul's malice, David had not been perse. cuted; and yet, under that wicked king, aged Samuel dies in his bed. That there might be no place for envy, the good prophet had retired himself to the schools. Yet he, that hated David for what he should be, did no less hate Samuel for what he had been. Even in the midst of Saul's

malignity, there remained in his heart impressions of awfulness unto Samuel; he feared where he loved not. The restraint of God curbeth the rage of his most violent enemies, so as they cannot do their worst. As good husbands do not put all their corn to the oven, but save some for seed, so doth God ever in the worst of persecutions.

Samuel is dead, David banished, Saul tyrannizeth: Israel hath good cause to mourn. It is no marvel if this lamentation be universal: there is no Israelite that feeleth not the loss of a Samuel. A good prophet is the common treasure, wherein every gracious soul hath a share. That man hath a dry heart, which can part with God's prophet without tears.

Nabal was, according to his name, foolish, yet rich and mighty. Earthly possessions are not always accompanied with wit and grace. Even the line of faithful Caleb will afford an ill-conditioned Nabal. Virtue is not, like unto lands, inheritable. All that is traduced with the seed, is either evil or not good. Let no man brag with the Jews, that he hath Abraham to his father: God hath raised up of this stone a son to Caleb.

Abigail (which signifies her father's joy) had sorrow enough, to be matched with so unworthy an husband. If her father had meant she should have had joy in herself, or in her life, he had not disposed her to an husband, though rich, yet fond and wicked: it is like he married her to the wealth, not to the man. Many a child is cast away upon riches. Wealth, in our matches, should be as some grains or scruples in the balance, superadded to the gold of virtuous qualities, to weigh down the scales: when it is made the substance of the weight, and good qualities the appendance, there is but one earth poised with another; which, wheresoever it is done, it is a wonder if either the children prove not the parents' sorrow, or the parents theirs.

What a

Nabal's sheep-shearing was famous: three thousand fleeces must needs require many hands: neither is any thing more plentiful, commonly, than a churl's feast. world was this, that the noble champion and rescuer of Israel, God's anointed, is driven to send to a base carle for victuals! It is no measuring of men by the depth of the purse, by outward prosperity. Servants are ofttimes set on horseback, while princes go on foot. Our estimation must be led by their inward worth, which is not alterable by time, nor diminished with external conditions.

One rag of a David is more worth than

the wardrobes of a thousand Nabals. Even | ought to relieve, we shall give a more fearthe best deservings may want. No man ful account of a savage cruelty, in trampling should be contemned for his necessity; per- on those whom God hath humbled. If haps he may be so much richer in grace, as healing with good words be justly punishhe is poorer in estate: neither hath violence able, what torment is there for those that or casualty more impoverished a David, than wound with evil? his poverty hath enriched him. He, whose folly hath made himself miserable, is justly rewarded with neglect; but he that suffers for good, deserves so much more honour from others, as his distress is more. Our compassion or respect must be ruled according to the cause of another's misery.

Wherefore serve these recorded weaknesses of holy men, but to strengthen us against the conscience of our infirmities? Not that we should take courage to imitate them in the evil whereunto they have been miscarried; but we should take heart to ourselves against the discouragement of our own evils.

The wisdom of God hath so contrived it, that commonly, in societies, good is mixed with evil: wicked Nabal hath in his house a wise and good servant, a prudent and worthy wife; that wise servant is careful to advertise his mistress of the danger; his prudent mistress is careful to prevent it.

David, which had all this while been in the school of patience, hath now his lesson to seek he, who hath happily digested all the railings and persecutions of a wicked master, cannot put up this affront of a Nabal: nothing can assuage his choler, but blood. How subject are the best of God's One good turn requires another. In saints to weak passions; and if we have the some cases, not hurting is meritorious. He grace to ward an expected blow of tempthat should examine the qualities of David's tation, how easily are we surprised with a followers, must needs grant it worthy of a sudden foil! fee, that Nabal's flocks lay untouched in Carmel; but more, that David's soldiers were Nabal's shepherds; yea, the keepers of his shepherds gave them a just interest in that sheep-shearing feast; justly should they have been set at the upper end of the table. That Nabal's sheep were safe, he might thank his shepherds; that his shepherds were safe, he might thank David's soldiers. It is no small benefit that we receive in a safe protection: well may we think our substance due, where we owe ourselves. Yet this churlish Nabal doth not only give nothing to David's messengers, but, which is worse than nothing, ill words: "Who is David, or who is the son of Jesse? There be many servants now-a-days that break away from their masters." David asked him bread, he giveth him stones. All Israel knew and honoured their deliverer; yet this clown, to save his victuals, will needs make him a man either of no merits or ill, either an obscure man or a fugitive. Nothing is more cheap than good words: these Nabal might have given, and been never the poorer. If he had been resolved to shut his hands, in a fear of Saul's revenge, he might have so tempered his denial, that the repulse might have been free from offence; but now his foul mouth doth not only deny, but revile. It should have been Nabal's glory, that his tribe yielded such a successor to the throne of Israel now, in all likelihood, his envy stirs him up to disgrace that man who surpassed him in honour and virtue, more than he was surpassed by him in wealth and ease. Many a one speaks fair, that means ill; but when the mouth speaks foul, it argues a corrupt heart. If, with St. James's verbal benefactors, we say only, Depart in peace, warm yourselves, fill your bellies, we shall answer for hypocritical uncharitableness; but if we rate and curse those needy souls whom we

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The lives of all his family were now in hazard. She dares not commit this business to the fidelity of a messenger, but, forgetting her sex, puts herself into the errand. Her foot is not slow, her hand is not empty; according to the offence, she frames her satisfaction. Her husband refused to give, she brings a bountiful gift; her husband gave ill words, she sweetens them with a meek and humble deprecation; her husband could say, Who is David?" she falls at his feet; her husband dismisses David's men empty, she brings her servants laden with provisions, as if it had been only meant to ease the repelled messengers of the carriage, not to scant them of the required benevolence: no wit, no art, could devise a more pithy and powerful oratory. As all satisfaction, so hers, begins with a confession, wherein she deeply blameth the folly of her husband; she could not have been a good wife, if she had not honoured her unworthy head. If a stranger should have termed him fool in her hearing, he could not have gone away in peace; now, to save his life, she is bold to acknowledge his folly. It is a good dis paragement that preserveth. There is the same way to our peace in heaven. The only means to escape judgment, is te com

plain of our own vileness: she pleadeth her ignorance of the fact, and therein their freedom from the offence; she humbly craveth acceptation of her present, with pardon of the fault; she professeth David's honourable acts and merits; she foretells his future success and glory; she lays before him the happy peace of his soul, in refraining from innocent blood. David's breast, which could not, through the seeds of grace, grow to a stubbornness in ill resolutions, cannot but relent with these powerful and seasonable persuasions; and now, instead of revenge, he blesseth God for sending Abigail to meet him; he blesseth Abigail for her counsel; he blesseth the counsel for so wholesome efficacy; and now rejoiceth more in being overcome with a wise and gracious advice, than he would have rejoiced in a revengeful victory.

Little do sinners know now near their jollity is to perdition. Many times judgment is at the threshold, while drunkenness and surfeit are at the board. Had he been any other than a Nabal, he had not sat down to feast, till he had been sure of his peace with David. Either not to expect danger, or not to ciear it, was sottish; so foolish are carnal men, that give themselves over to their pleasures, while there are deadly quarrels depending against them in heaven. There is nothing wherein wisdom is more seen, than in the temperate use of prosperity. A Nabal cannot abound but he must be drunk and surfeit. Excess is a true argument of folly. We use to say, that when drink is in, wit is out; but if wit were not out, drink would not be in.

It was no time to advise Nabal, while his reason was drowned in a deluge of wine. A good heart is easily stayed from sin- A beast, or a stone, is as capable of good ning, and is glad when it finds occasion to counsel as a drunkard. O that the noblest be crossed in ill purposes. Those secret creature should so far abase himself, as, checks, which are raised within itself, do for a little liquor, to lose the use of those readily conspire with all outward retentives: faculties whereby he is a man! Those, it never yielded to a wicked motion, with- that have to do with drink or frenzy, must out much reluctation; and when it is over- be glad to watch times; so did Abigail, come, it is but with half a consent: whereas who, the next morning, presents to her husperverse and obdurate sinners, by reason band the view of his faults, of his danger; they take full delight in evil, and have he then sees how near he was to death, already in their conceit swallowed the plea- and felt it not. That worldly mind is so sure of sin, abide not to be resisted, running apprehensive of the death that should have on headily in those wicked courses they been, as that he dies to think that he had have propounded, in spite of opposition; like to have died. Who would think a and, if they be forcibly stopped in their man could be so affected with a danger way, they grow sullen and mutinous. David past, and yet so senseless of a future, yea, had not only vowed, but deeply sworn, the imminent? He that was yesternight as a death of Nabal, and all his family, to the beast, is now as a stone: he was then oververy dog that lay at his door; yet now merry, now dead and lumpish. Carnal he praiseth God, that hath given the occa- hearts are ever in extremities: if they be sion and grace to violate it. Wicked vows once down, their dejection is desperate, are ill made, but worse kept. Our tongue because they have no inward comfort to cannot tie us to commit sin. Good men mitigate their sorrow. What difference think themselves happy, that since they there was betwixt the dispositions of David had not the grace to deny sin, yet they had and Nabal! How oft had David been in not the opportunity to accomplish it. If the valley of the shadow of death, and Abigail had sat still at home, David had feared no evil! Nabal is but once put in sinned, and she had died. Now her discreet mind of a death that might have been, and admonition hath preserved her from the is stricken dead. sword, and diverted him from bloodshed. And now, what thanks, what benedictions, hath she for this seasonable counsel? How should it encourage us to admonish our brethren, to see that, if we prevail, we have blessings from them; if we prevail not, we have yet blessings from God, and thanks of our own hearts!

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It is just with God, that they who live without grace, should die without comfort; neither can we expect better, while we go on in our sins. The speech of Abigail smote Nabal into a qualm: that tongue hath doubtless oft advised him well, and prevailed not; now it occasions his death, whose reformation it could not effect: she meant nothing but his amendment; God meant to make that loving instrument the means of his revenge. She speaks, and God strikes; and within ten days, that swoon

ends in death. And now Nabal pays dear for his uncharitable reproach, for his riotous excess. That God, which would not suffer David to right himself by his own sword, takes the quarrel of his servant into his own hand: David hath now his ends without sin, rejoicing in the just executions of God, who would neither suffer him to sin in revenging, nor suffer his adversaries to sin unrevenged.

Our loving God is more angry with the wrongs done to his servants than themselves can be, and knows how to punish that justly, which we could not undertake without wronging God more than men have wronged us. He that saith, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay," repays ofttimes when we have forgiven, when we have forgotten; and calls to reckoning after our discharges. It is dangerous offending any favourite of him whose displeasure and revenge is everlasting.

How far God looks beyond our purposes! Abigail came only to plead for an ill husband, and now God makes this journey a preparation for a better: so that, in one act, she preserved an ill husband, and won a good one for the future. David well remembers her comely person, her wise speeches, her graceful carriage; and now, when modesty found it seasonable, he sends to sue her who had been his suppliant. She entreated for her husband; David treats with her for his wife. Her request was to escape his sword; he wisheth her to his bed. It was a fair suit to change a David for a Nabal; to become David's queen, instead of Nabal's drudge. She that learned humility under so hard a tutor, abaseth herself no less when David offers to advance her: "Let thine handmaid be a servant, to wash the feet of the servants of my lord." None are so fit to be great, as those that can stoop lowest. How could David be more happy in a wife? he finds at once piety, wisdom, humility, faithfulness, wealth, beauty. How could Abigail be more happy in a husband, than in the prophet, the champion, the anointed of God? Those marriages are well made, wherein virtues are matched, and happiness is mutual.

CONTEMPLATION III. DAVID AND ACHISH.

Good motions that fall into wicked nearts are like some sparks that fall from the flint and steel into wet tinder, lightsome for the time, but soon out. After Saul's tears and protestations, yet he is now again in the wilderness, with three thousand men, to

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hunt after innocent David. How invincible is the charity and loyalty of an honest heart! The same hand that spared Saul in the cave, spares him sleeping in the field: the same hand that cut away the lap of his master's garment, carries away his spear; that spear, which might as well have carried away the life of the owner, is only borne away for the proof of the fidelity of the bearer. Still Saul is strong, but David victorious, and triumphs over the malice of his persecutor: yet still the victor flieth from him whom he hath overcome. A man that sees how far Saul was transported with his rancorous envy, cannot but say, that he was never more mad than when he was sober. For, even after he had said, "Blessed art thou, my son David, thou shalt do great things, and also prevail;" yet still he pursues him whom he grants assured to prevail. What is this, but to resolve to lose his labour in sinning, and in spite of himself to offend? How shameful is our inequality of disposition to good! We know we cannot miss of the reward of well-doing, and yet do it not. While wicked men cast away their endeavours upon evil projects, whereof they are sure to fail, sin blinds the eyes and hardens the heart, and thrusts men into wilful mischiefs, however dangerous, however impossible, and never leaves them till it have brought them to utter confusion.

The over-long continuance of a temptation may easily weary the best patience, and may attain that by protraction which it could never do by violence. David himself at last begins to bend under this trial, and resolves so to fly from Saul, as he runs from the church of God; and, while he will avoid the malice of his master, joins himself with God's enemies. The greatest saints upon earth are not always upon the same pitch of spiritual strength: he that sometimes said, "I will not be afraid of ten thousands," now says, “ I shall perish one day by the hand of Saul." He had wont to consult with God; now he says thus in his own heart. How many evident experiments had David of God's deliverances how certain and clear predictions of his future kingdom! how infallible an earnest was the holy oil wherewith he was anointed to the crown of Israel! And yet David said in his heart, "I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul." The best faith is but like the twilight, mixed with some degrees of darkness and infidelity. We do utterly misreckon the greatest earthly holiness, if we exempt it from infirmities. It is not long since David told Saul, that those wicked enemies of his, which cast

him out from abiding in the inheritance of the Lord, did as good bid him, Go serve other gods; yet now is he gone from the inheritance of God into the land of the Philistines. That Saul might seek him no more, he hides himself out of the list of the church, where a good man would not look for him. Once before had David fled to this Achish, when he was glad to scrabble on the doors, and let his spittle fall upon his beard, in a semblance of madness, that he might escape: yet now, in a semblance of friendship, is he returned to save that life which he was in danger to have lost in Israel. Goliah, the champion of the Philistines, whom David slew, was of Gath: yet David dwells with Achish, king of the Philistines, in Gath; even amongst them whose foreskins he had presented to Saul, by two hundreds at once, doth David choose to reside for safety. Howsoever it was weakness in David, thus, by his league of amity, to strengthen the enemies of God; yet doth not God take advantage of it for his overthrow, but gives him protection even where his presence offended, and gives him favour where himself bore just hatred. O the infinite patience and mercy of our God, who doth good to us for our evil, and, in the very act of our provocation, upholdeth, yea blesseth us with preservation!

Could Saul have rightly considered it, he had found it no small loss and impairing to his kingdom, that so valiant a captain, attended with six hundred able soldiers and their families, should forsake his land, and join with his enemies: yet he is not quiet till he have abandoned his own strength. The world hath none so great an enemy to a wicked man as himself: his hands cannot be held from his own mischief: he will needs make his friends enemies, his enemies victors, himself miserable.

David was too wise to cast himself into the hands of a Philistine king, without assurance what assurance could he have but promises? Those David had from Saul abundantly, and trusted them not: he dares trust the fidelity of a pagan; he dares not trust the vows of a king of Israel. There may be fidelity without the church, and falsehood within. It need not be any news to find some Turks true, and some Christians faithless.

Even unwise men are taught by experience how much more they who have wit to learn without it! David had well found what it was to live in a court; he, therefore, whom envy drove from the court of Israel, voluntarily declines the Philistine court, and sues for a country habitation.

It had not been possible for so noted a stranger, after so much Philistine bloodshed, to live long in such an eminency amongst the press of those, whose sons, or brothers, or fathers, or allies, he had slaughtered, without some perilous machination of his ruin; therefore he makes suit for an early remove: "For why should thy servant dwell in the chief city of the kingdom with thee?" Those that would stand sure, must not affect too much height, or conspicuity: the tall cedars are most subject to winds and lightnings, while the shrubs of the valleys stand unmoved. Much greatness doth but make a fairer mark for evil. There is true firmness and safety in mediocrity.

How rarely is it seen that a man loseth by his modesty! The change fell out well to David, of Ziklag for Gath: now he hath a city of his own; all Israel, where he was anointed, afforded him not so much possession. Now the city, which was anciently assigned to Judah, returns to the just owner, and is, by this means, entailed to the crown of David's successors. Besides that, now might David live out of the sight and hearing of the Philistine idolatries, and enjoy God no less in the walls of a Philistine city than in an Israelitish wilderness withal, a

happy opportunity was now opened to his friends of Israel to resort unto his aid: the heads of the thousands that were of Manasseh, and many valiant captains of the other tribes, fell daily to him, and raised his six hundred followers to an army like the host of God. The deserts of Israel could never have yielded David so great an advantage. That God, whose the earth is, makes room for his own everywhere, and ofttimes provideth them a foreign home more kindly than the native. It is no matter for change of our soil, so we change not our God if we can everywhere acknowledge him, he will nowhere be wanting to us.

It was not for God's champion to be idle: no sooner is he free from Saul's sword, than he begins an offensive war against the Amalekites, Gerizites, Geshurites; he knew these nations branded by God to destruction, neither could his increasing army be maintained with a little; by one act therefore he both revenges for God, and provides for his host. Had it not been for that old quarrel, which God had with this people, David could not be excused for a bloody cruelty, in killing whole countries, only for the benefit of the spoil; now his soldiers were at once God's executioners, and their own foragers. The intervention of a command from the Almighty alters the state of any act, and makes that worthy of praise,

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